Wen Chao turned around as well, doubting, “Really? You? Good at archery? Why haven’t I ever heard of this?”
Wen QiongLin’s voice was low, “… I… I only started practicing recently…”
His voice was not only low but also staggering. It sounded as if it could be stopped at any moment, and it was indeed often stopped. Wen Chao interrupted impatiently, “Alright, there’s a target over there. Quickly shoot an arrow for us to see. If it’s good then go, if it’s not good then don’t.”
The area around Wen QiongLin was immediately emptied. The hand that he clutched the arrow with tightened as he looked around, seemingly looking for help. Watching how unconfident he looked, Wei WuXian patted his shoulder, “Relax. Just do as you did before.”
Wen QiongLin looked at him gratefully. With a deep breath, he drew his bow.
Unfortunately, with the draw of the bow, Wei WuXian shook his head secretly, Uh-oh.
It was likely that Wen QiongLin had never shot an arrow in front of other people. He was shaking all the way from his arm to his fingertips. The arrow flew out. It didn’t even land on the target. The Wen Sect’s people that watched from aside all laughed mockingly, “How is this good?!”
“I can shoot better than this with my eyes closed.”
“Okay, okay, stop wasting time. Let’s quickly pick somebody to enter the arena!”
Red seeped through Wen QiongLin’s face to even the bottom of his ears. There was no need for others to beckon him away; he fled self-consciously. Wei WuXian chased after him, “Hey, don’t run! Uh… QiongLin-xiong right? Why are you running?”
Hearing his name called from behind him, Wen QiongLin finally stopped. Head hanging low, he turned around. It seemed as though shame rippled from his head to his toes as he stammered, “… I’m sorry.”
Wei WuXian mused, “Why are you telling me you’re sorry?”
Wen QiongLin replied with guilt, “You… You recommended me… but I made you lose face…”
Wei WuXian, “How did it make me lose face? You haven’t really shot in front other people, have you? You were nervous?”
Wen QiongLin nodded. Wei WuXian continued, “Have some confidence. Let me tell you the truth—you shoot better than everyone in your sect. Out of all of the disciples whom I’ve seen, no more than three people are better in archery than you.”
Jiang Cheng walked over, “What are you doing this time? Three of what?”
Wei WuXian pointed at him, “There, this one, for example, he’s not as good as you.”
Jiang Cheng raged, “Do you want to die?!”
Wei WuXian suffered a strike from him. Face unchanging, he continued, “Really. There isn’t anything to be nervous about, to be honest. You’ll get used to it after practicing a few more times in front of other people. Next time, you’ll definitely impress everyone.”
Wen QiongLin was probably one of Wen Clan’s disciples furthest in bloodline. His status was neither high nor low, yet his personality was timid. He didn’t dare do anything and even his speech stuttered. Through much practice, he had finally conjured up the courage to enter the competition, but he blew it because he was too nervous. If he didn’t receive the right guidance, perhaps the boy would hide his true self more and more from now on and never dare to perform in front of other people again. Wei WuXian encouraged him a couple of times and touched on a few areas of growth, correcting some miniscule problems that he had when he was shooting in the garden. Wen QiongLin listened so attentively that he didn’t even turn his eyes away, nodding uncontrollably.
Jiang Cheng, “Where did you find so much nonsense? The competition is starting soon. Get into the arena right now!”
Wei WuXian spoke to Wen QiongLin in a serious tone, “I’ll be off to the competition now. Later, you can see how I shoot when I’m in the arena…”
Jiang Cheng dragged him away, short of patience. He spat as he dragged, “See how you shoot? Do you think that you’re a model or something?!”
Wei WuXian thought for a moment before replying, “Yeah. Am I not?”
“Wei WuXian! I haven’t seen anyone as shameless as you!”
…
As he recalled this, Wei WuXian’s gaze turned from Wen Ning toward Jiang Cheng, whose body was covered in blood and eyes were tightly shut. His fingers couldn’t help but clenched into fists.
They first went through the water path and down the river. When they arrived ashore, they travelled in the carriage that Wen Ning had prepared. The second day, they had arrived in Yiling.
Chapter 60 —Poisons—Part Five
Translated by K of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Wen Ning called over a few dozens of disciples and protected them in person until they arrived at a large, beautiful residence. He snuck inside from the back door and led Wei WuXian to a smaller building.
However, just after Wen Ning turned around and closed the door, before he could even stop and take a break, Wei WuXian grabbed his neck again and questioned in a hushed voice, “Where is this place?!”
Even though he had been saved by Wen Ning, he couldn’t let down all of the guard he held against the Wen Sect’s people just like that. He had always be alert. Back then, following Wen Ning through the large residence, they had passed by many rooms. Most of the people inside spoke with Qishan accents. He caught all of the fragments of conversations that had passed through the window slits and heard the words ‘supervision office’!
Wen Ning quickly waved his hands, “No… I…”
Wei WuXian, “What do you mean no? This isn’t the supervision office set in Yiling? Which unfortunate sect’s region did you take this time? Just what do you want to do by bringing us here?”
Wen Ning tried hard to protest, “Young Master Wei, l-listen to me. This is a supervision office. But… But I really don’t have any intention of harming you. If I wanted to, last night after I entered Lotus Pier, I could’ve gone back on my word right away. I-I wouldn’t have had to lead you here.”
Wei WuXian had always been maintaining high alert. He hadn’t relaxed at all and was ready to explode any moment. His head was dizzy. Hearing this, he still didn’t believe him fully. Wen Ning continued, “This really is a supervision office. If there’s anywhere that the Wen Sect’s people won’t search, it’d be here. You two can stay here. But, you mustn’t let anyone find you…”
After a pause, Wei WuXian finally forced himself to let go. In a low voice, he said to him ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’ before laying Jiang Cheng’s body flat onto the wooden bed inside the room.
However, suddenly, the doors of the house suddenly opened. The voice of a woman called, “I was just searching for you! Explain to me properly…”
Just as he said not to let anyone find them, they were discovered at once!
Wei WuXian immediately broke into a cold sweat. He quickly blocked himself in front of the bed. Wen Ning was so scared that he couldn’t even say anything.
Frozen, the two stared at the woman standing before the entrance. Or, one could call her a maiden. Her skin was on the dark side. Although her features were sweet, her expression was with utmost arrogance. The sun robe that she wore glowed red, its flames almost dancing around her sleeves and her collar.