Nie MingJue’s heavy fist punched through a body.
But the body was neither Jiang Cheng’s nor Jin Ling’s.
Wen Ning blocked himself before the wall, in front of the two of them. With both his hands, he grabbed Nie MingJue’s iron arm and slowly pulled it out of his chest, leaving behind a large, hollow hole. There was no bleeding. Only a couple of black organ crumbs fell out.
Wei WuXian, “Wen Ning!!!”
While Jiang Cheng looked as though he could lose his mind right there. He stammered, “You? You?!”
The punch was too strong. Not only did it pierce through Wen Ning’s chest, it also shattered a part of his larynx. Unable to say a single thing, he collapsed. With where he stood, he fell right onto Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling’s bodies. He was momentarily unable to move, but his eyes were still open, staring at them unblinkingly.
Jin Ling originally loathed the murderer, the weapon that pierced his father’s heart. Ever since he was young, he’d sworn countless times that if he had the opportunity, he’d definitely cut off the flesh from Wei Ying’s and Wen Ning’s bodies, piece by piece. Later, as he didn’t want to hate Wei WuXian, he hated Wen Ning with double the energy. But right now, as he watched the murderer, the weapon had his heart be pierced in the same way, he couldn’t even push Wen Ning rudely away so that he didn’t lean on them.
He knew he was dead. Much less having a hole in his body, even if he were to be snapped into two from his waist, he might not even end up with any serious consequences. But for some reason, he couldn’t stop his tears from spilling over his eyes.
After the punch, Nie MingJue’s movements paused as well.
With a duet from Lan WangJi and Lan XiChen, the guqin was like an icy river while the xiao like high winds. Both sounds stirred up hatred within Nie MingJue, while the duet pained him even more, stirring up a thickness around him almost as if somebody bound him with an invisible rope. As the rope tightened, his anger rose as well before he finally exploded, forcing his way out of the constraint of Sound of Vanquish as he flew at the person playing the guqin. Calmly, Lan WangJi twirled to dodge his attack. The melody didn’t stop for the slightest. Nie MingJue’s fist punched through the wall, this time. As he was about to turn around, he suddenly heart two bright chirps.
He jerked his fist out of the wall and looked toward the direction of the sound.
Wei WuXian whistled two more times, grinning, “Hello, ChiFeng-Zun. Do you recognize who I am?” Nie MingJue’s hideous white eyeballs were glued to him. Wei WuXian, “It’s fine if you don’t, as long as you recognize the whistles.”
Lan XiChen moved Liebing slightly to the side, “Young Master Wei!”
He wanted to remind Wei WuXian that his current body belonged to Mo XuanYu, and Mo XuanYu was related to Jin GuangYao by blood as well, with even more proximity than Jin Ling. If Nie MingJue directed his resentful energy to him because of this, the situation would be even more difficult. But before he continued, Lan WangJi’s gaze shifted over. Calm and collected, he shook his head.
Lan XiChen understood at once that he was telling him—there was no need to worry.
Lan WangJi believed that Wei WuXian would be fine.
Whistling, Wei WuXian sauntered around. The whistles were light and relaxed, yet within this Guanyin Temple amid a heavy storm, overflowing with corpses, the clarity of the sound appeared to be abnormally eery. As Wen Ning heard it, still lying at the corner on top of Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling, he seemed to have a strangely strong urge to stand up. Whether he held it back or he hadn’t regained the strength to move yet, he struggled for a while and collapsed again. Without thought, Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling went to catch him in unison, but after they caught him, they displayed the same hesitating expression of wanting to throw him down right then.
Grinning widely, Wei WuXian whistled the almost jocular tune as he backed away calmly, hands behind his back. Nie MingJue stood where he was. With the first step Wei WuXian took, his reaction was cold; at the third step, he still remained motionless; yet at the seventh step, it seemed as if he finally couldn’t hold his urge back any longer, taking a stride toward the direction in which Wei WuXian backed away.
And the direction in which Wei WuXian controlled him to walk was precisely the almost luxurious empty coffin at the back of the Guanyin Temple. As long as he got inside, Wei WuXian had a way to seal him.
The white, poisonous smoke had long since evaporated. It was too thin to pose as threat. Dark-faced, Nie MingJue was led towards the empty coffin, even though he instinctively felt resistance. Wei WuXian walked a circle around the coffin. Everyone held their breaths as they stared at the scene, especially Lan WangJi. As Wei WuXian whistled unhurriedly, he sent his unhurried gaze over there. As soon as their eyes met, he blinked his left eye almost flirtatiously at Lan WangJi.
As though he’d been pricked by a pin made of sugar, an unnoticeable wave rippled within the melody played by Lan WangJi’s fingers before quickly disappearing. Wei WuXian turned around, somewhat pleased with himself and patted the coffin before Nie MingJue.
At last, Nie MingJue slowly bent down. But just as he was about to tilt his upper body inside, a scream suddenly came from behind Lan XiChen.
Nie MingJue’s movements immediately stopped. Like everyone, he spun around to look. Su She carried the half-conscious Jin GuangYao on his back, with one hand holding his leg and another holding a bloodied sword. On the other hand, Nie HuaiSang lay on the ground, rolling on the ground in pain as he hugged his leg.
With this, Shuoyue’s sword energy smashed into the hand with which Su She held the sword. Su She’s face was full of shock as the sword fell out of his hand. The blade had already injured Nie HuaiSang. The scent of blood wafted through the air. Wei WuXian cursed in silence, How could this be—how dare he mess things up for me at such a critical time!
Nie HuaiSang and Nie MingJue were half-brothers with the same father. If Nie MingJue caught the scent of his blood, no killing intent would be agitated within him, but it’d make him extremely curious. And with curiosity, when his attention was directed over there, he’d notice Jin GuangYao for sure. After he killed Jin GuangYao, his killing intent would definitely become stronger, and he’d be more difficult to subdue!
As expected, gurgles came from within Nie MingJue’s throat. His body turned away from the empty coffin as well. At once, he realized whom the person lying on Su She’s back was. Wei WuXian’s whistles could no longer stop him either. Like a gust of wind, Nie MingJue rushed over, his palm flying towards Jin GuangYao’s head.
Su She dodged to the side with force. With the tip of his foot he picked up the sword that had fallen to the ground and conjured up all of his spiritual energy in one thrust at Nie MingJue’s heart. Perhaps because of the dire situation, the attack was abnormally swift and ruthless. Brimming with spiritual energy, the blade glowed brightly, enveloped by swirling radiance. It was so much better than all of the previous seemingly-elegant attacks that even Wei WuXian wanted to praise its excellence. Nie MingJue was forced a step back by the explosion of an attack as well. As the light dimmed somewhat, Nie MingJue went forth again, clawing at Jin GuangYao unstoppably. Su She threw Jin GuangYao at Lan XiChen with his left hand, while with his right he sliced at Nie MingJue’s throat.
Nie MingJue’s entire body was as impenetrable as fine steel, but not the thread that stitched his neck together!