Wen Ning broke apart a boulder with his bare hands and lifted it high up in the air, blocking as many arrows as he could. After the rain of arrows had ended, around a hundred cultivators leaped down the walls and charged at the two standing in the terrain. Wei WuXian walked back a few steps. With a sidestep, he dodged the sneak attack of a sword blade.

"They really attacked you." Jin Zixuan said in disbelief.

"Oh this is not good." said Nie Huaisang as he shook his head.

"It was never good the moment Wei Wuxian took a step on that path." said Jiang Cheng.

While Wen Ning was dealing with the hundred people, Jin ZiXun used the chance to attack. Seeing that Wei WuXian didn’t carry a sword and only carried a flute that was temporarily useless, he laughed, “This is the price you’ll pay for your arrogance. Without a sword, let’s see how you resist.”

With a flick of his hand, Wei WuXian sent out a row of talismans burning in green flames, diminishing Jin ZiXun’s sword glare as they collided. With such an attack right after he laughed, Jin ZiXun immediately focused on the fight. The two had been fighting for some time when something suddenly flew out of Wei WuXian’s sleeve. His gaze froze as he realized what had happened.

It was the present that he prepared for Jin Ling. Since he cared about it too much, scared that he’d accidentally break it while at the same time wanting to take it out and admire it from time to time, he only placed it shallowly inside of his sleeve. During the fight now, however, it accidentally slipped out, flying toward Jin ZiXun. Jin ZiXun thought that it was something along the lines of a hidden weapon or some obscure poison. He was going to dodge when he saw the change in expression on Wei WuXian’s face. Changing his mind, he caught it at once. It was a delicate little wooden box with a row of small characters carved on it—Jin Ling’s name and date of his birth. Jin ZiXun paused in surprise before he came to a realization, laughing loudly.

"Give it back!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed angrily.

"You're not worth it to give a gift to him." said Jin Zixun.

"How could you say that?" Jin Ling asked angrily.

"Because it's evil." said Jin Zixun.

"You're really dumb and stupid at the same time." Wei Wuxian muttered angrily.

Jin Zixun just laughed at him coldly.

Wei WuXian’s face darkened, speaking one word at a time, “Give it back.”

Jin ZiXun raised the wooden box, mocking, “A present for A-Ling?”

Wen Ning was standing not far away in the distance. Alone worth more than a hundred soldiers, he battled amid the chaos. Jin ZiXun, “You didn’t really think that you could attend A-Ling’s full-month celebration, did you?”

The sentence made Wei WuXian’s hands tremble slightly.

"They planned it. They really planned to kill me knowing how important that event for me is." said Wei Wuxian.

"Oh a-xian, it's my fault." said Jiang Yanli.

"Don't blame yourself, shijie. You don't know about it." Wei Wuxian smiled.

"Wen Ning and I could still defend ourselves against those people." he said.

At this point, a voice shouted, “Stop!”

A white-clothed figure leaped down the valley lightly, blocking between Wei WuXian and Jin ZiXun. Seeing who had come, Jin ZiXun exclaimed, “ZiXuan? Why are you here?!”

"Out of all the people, why is it you?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"It won't be solved just by your presence." he added.

"Yeah, it would be more better if you brought someone with you." said Wei Wuxian.

Jin ZiXuan placed one hand on the hilt of his sword, enraged, “Why do you think I’m here?!”

Jin ZiXun, “Where’s A-Yao?”

Jin ZiXuan was the helper who was supposed to be here to assist him. Just last year, he still held much contempt toward Jin GuangYao. Now that the two’s relationship had become better, however, he began to call him in a more intimate manner. Jin ZiXuan, “I stopped him at Koi Tower. If not for how I exposed him after I saw that he looked strange, you two are just going to continue with this? Why didn’t you tell me at all that you were cursed with Hundred Holes and instead came to do this without saying anything?!”

"That's because they only plan to kill me even if I am not the one who cursed him." said Wei Wuxian.

"What would my cousin do when I told him about the curse?" Jin Zixun asked sarcastically.

"Find the one who put it to you. What do you think of me? Going to let you suffer when we can find solution for such problem?" Jin Zixuan asked angrily.

"Killing Wei Wuxian will solve the problem." said Jin Zixun.

"It won't solve anything." said Jin Zixuan.

The fact that Jin ZiXun had been cursed with Hundred Holes was indeed an unspeakable matter. First of all, he had both a good appearance and a good physique. He’d always thought of himself as handsome and couldn’t bear for others to know that he was under such an unsightly, repulsive curse. Second of all, to have been cursed meant that his level of cultivation wasn’t high enough, since his spiritual energy was too weak to be able to hold against the curse. This made it even more inconvenient to explain to others. And thus, Jin GuangShan was the only one to whom he told about the curse, pleading with Jin GuangShan to find him the medics and curse specialists. Yet, neither of the two were able to do anything.

"Your pride and ego won't give you anything." said Nie Huaisang.

"If others knew about it, many could have give a solution and help you." he added.

"You guys don't know how to use your brains if you even manage to have one." he said, fanning himself.

Jin Ling’s full-month celebration just so happened to be near, to which Jin ZiXuan actually invited Wei WuXian. Jin GuangShan wasn’t too fond of this idea to begin with, and so he suggested that Jin ZiXun use this as an opportunity, killing Wei WuXian on his way to the banquet. This way, he wouldn’t have to come to Koi Tower either.

"What kind of a person are you?" Jin Zixuan asked Jin Guangshan angrily.

"Are you that greedy of power that you'll kill someone who had nothing to do with you?" he added.

"What a shame having you as a father." he said.

Jin Guangshan remained silent when he felt the glares of Lans, Jiangs, and Wen Rouhan.

"You used the affection Wei Wuxian have for his shijie for you to plot your plans." said Wen Rouhan.

"I didn't knew you could be that cunning. It makes me want to kill you." he added with a smirk.

Wei WuXian was Jiang Yanli’s shidi, and the couple was quite affectionate toward each other. Jin ZiXuan told his wife everything, no matter what a trivial matter it was. A few people were worried that he might give the plan away, causing Wei WuXian not to come, and so they had been keeping Jin ZiXuan in the dark. This was indeed a bit unfair.

Seeing that everything had fallen through, Jin ZiXun couldn’t help but feel somewhat guilty. But, no matter what, his life was the most important, “ZiXuan, hide it from Sister-in-Law for now. I’ll give you two a formal apology after I get rid of these things on my body!”

"He really did expect me to hide it." Jin Zixuan said in disbelief.

"I'll try to stop you instead." he said.

"Even a formal apology can't help me forgive you for what you are doing, Jin Zixun." said Jiang Yanli.

"That's my brother." she added.

The last time Wei WuXian saw Jin ZiXuan, he still had the youthful pride on him. Now that he was married, he seemed a lot more mature. His voice was steady as well, although his face had darkened, “It is still possible to turn things around. All of you, stop for the time being.”

Jin ZiXun was both angry and impatient, “What is there to turn around now that things are already like this? Haven’t you seen these things on me?!”

He seemed as if he wanted to lift his shirt again to reveal his chest full of holes. Jin ZiXuan quickly stopped him, “There’s no need! I’ve heard about it from Jin GuangYao already!”

Jin ZiXun, “Since you’ve heard it from him already, you should know that I can’t wait. Don’t tell me that you’ll disregard your brother’s life for the sake of Sister-in-Law’s shidi?!”

"How is it hard to understand that I am not the one who cursed him?" Wei Wuxian asked in anger.

"No, it's not hard to understand." said Jiang Cheng.

"They only want to get rid of you in the name of that curse." he added.

"They're sick. I'm not that kind of a person!" Wei Wuxian shouted.

"A-niang, please. He got what he truly deserved that time." said Sizhui, calming him.

"Like what? He's death? Their death? Jin Zixuan's death?" Wei Wuxian asked.

"That can't calm me, Little Radish." he said.

Jin ZiXuan, “You clearly know that I’m not that kind of person! He might not necessarily be the one who cursed you with Hundred Holes either. Why are you so rash? I was the one who invited Wei WuXian to A-Ling’s full-month celebration anyways. If this is the way you do things, where does that leave me? Where does it leave my wife?”

Jin ZiXun raised his voice, “It’s best if he doesn’t attend! What does Wei WuXian think he is—does he deserve to attend our sect’s banquet? Whoever touches him gets nothing but a splash of black! ZiXuan, when you invited him, weren’t you worried that you, Sister-in-Law and A-Ling would receive an irremovable stain for the rest of your lives?!”

Jin ZiXuan shouted, “Shut up right now!”

"I don't know what to say anymore." Wei Wuxian whispered.

"He will pay for it, Wei Ying." said Lan Wangji, holding him tightly.

"Why can't he just stop?" Jin Zixuan asked.

"Because he's already dedicated to kill Wei Wuxian. Any reasons about the curse, he will not listen to it." said Jiang Cheng.

"And it seems that you can't stop him at any moment." he added.

"You know, it's really unacceptable. Wei Wuxian just wants to enjoy the banquet of a-ling's." he continued.

Deeply infuriated, Jin ZiXun clenched down. The wooden box that held the bell and the jade tassel was clenched into dust at once!

Wei WuXian watched the object break to pieces with his own eyes. Pupils shrinking fast, he lunged at Jin ZiXun. Jin ZiXuan, however, didn’t know what was inside the box yet. He raised his hand and blocked the attack, shouting, “Wei WuXian! Have you had enough yet?!”

"I didn't do anything yet!" Wei Wuxian shouted.

"You shouldn't stop me." he added.

"He ruined the gift I am supposed to give to my nephew." he said.

"If I won't stop you, it will be more worse." said Jin Zixuan.

Wei WuXian’s chest heaved up and down. His eyes were red. Jin ZiXuan and Jin ZiXun were cousins who had known each other well ever since they were young. With almost twenty years between them, at this point, it was indeed difficult for him to defend an outsider. And, in truth, he didn’t like Wei WuXian as a person either.

Wei Wuxian turned to look at Jin Zixuan.

"Me and that person are different." said Jin Zixuan.

"You could at least tried your best to stop him." said Wei Wuxian.

"Lets prepare ourselves." said Zizhen.

"I don't think I could take it." said Jin Ling.

"We're here." said Jingyi.

"Always." said Sizhui.

Collecting himself, he spoke, “Tell Wen Ning to stop first. Don’t let him continue his rampage and make the situation worse than it already is.”

Wei WuXian’s voice was coarse, “… Why don’t you make them stop first?”

"If I stop first, I'll be dead." said Wei Wuxian.

"If those on Zixun's sides stops first, they're the one who will die." said Jin Guangshan.

"They wouldn't be in that situation if you didn't let them ambush Wei Wuxian in the first place!" Jin Zixuan shouted.

"It's all you fault." he added.

Relentless shouts and roars came from all around them. Jin ZiXuan raged, “Why are you still so stubborn at such a time? When everyone calms down, you can follow me back to Koi Tower to explain things and answer some questions. With everything clear, if you aren’t the one who did it, of course you’ll be fine!”

Wei WuXian, “Tell him to stop? As soon as I tell Wen Ning to stop right now, the arrows would fly straight at my heart and I wouldn’t even die a whole corpse! And you think I could explain things at Koi Tower?”

Jin ZiXuan, “They would not!”

"How can you ensure that?" Wei Wuxian asked.

"They won't even listen to you." he added.

"My head aches just watching it." said Nie Huaisang.

"No one will cease the attack, afraid of death. They shouldn't have attacked each other in the first place." he added.

"And Jin-xiong, you could have at least brought Jiang-xiong with you or even Wangji-xiong knowing that one of them could help control the situation." he continued.

"Why? Because those two are on Wei Wuxian's side? I won't stop my attack." said Jin Zixun.

"You're really is an idiot." said Jin Ling.

Wei WuXian laughed, “They would not? How can you ensure it? Jin ZiXuan, I have a question—when you invited me at first, did you really not know about their plan to kill me?!”

Jin ZiXuan paused for a second before he raged, “You! Wei WuXian, are… are you mad?!”

Wei WuXian was suppressing a blazing flame of hatred. His voice was cold, “Jin ZiXuan, move away right now. I won’t touch you, but you’re not going to provoke me either.”

"Wei-daijiu, a-die really don't know about it." said Jin Ling.

"How would I know? We hated each other." said Wei Wuxian.

"It really is best if Jin Zixuan and just leave and let me handle his stupid of a cousin." he added.

"If only." Jin Ling sobs.

"If only a-die left." he continued.

Jiang Yanli immediately scooped him in her arms.

Seeing that he still refused to yield, Jin ZiXuan suddenly lunged forward, as if trying to hold him down, “Why can’t you just back off for once?! A-Li is still…”

Just as he reached toward Wei WuXian, he heard a strange, heavy noise.

The noise was almost a bit too near. Jin ZiXuan paused in surprise. He looked down and finally saw the hand that pierced his chest.

"Zixuan!" Madam Jin exclaimed in horror and in shock.

Jin Zixuan paled, Jiang Yanli paused, and Jin Ling sobs loudly this time.

"T-that's h-how I died?" Jin Zixuan asked with a stutter.

Everyone was still in shock that they didn't dare say anything.

Without anyone noticing, Wen Ning had already joined them. On half of his expressionless face was splattered a few searing, glaring drops of blood.

"That Wen is supposed to be burn. He killed my son." said Jin Guangshan making the Wen siblings pales.

"My nephew did nothing wrong." said Wen Rouhan.

"How is it not wrong? My son didn't even do anything." said Madam Jin.

"As you can see Wei Wuxian is in rage while your son lunged at him. Whoever attack Wei Wuxian is an enemy for him." said Wen Rouhan.

"Do you think with that explanation, I will believe? That's my son he harmed to death." said Jin Guangshan.

"All Wens are supposed to be dead in the first place. If Wei Wuxian didn't save them then none of this will happen." he added.

"Jin Guangshan, it was you. You're the reason why it happened in the first place." said Qingheng-jun.

"Are you guys blind?" asked Madam Jin.

"Madam Jin, I thought you fully understand that in the first it was your nephew who ambushed him. With what Wen Ning did is just to protect Wei Wuxian. Jin Zixuan's death is inevitable the moment he stepped in." said Wen Rouhan.

"If only you knew how to control your nephew but oh the future you dislikes Wei Wuxian so you don't mind it at all." he added.

"But it was still my fault. I am supposed to control Wen Ning and be careful to not harm Jin Zixuan." said Wei Wuxian.

"None of it is your fault, Wei-daijiu. You're the victim there, after all." said Jin Ling.

Jin ZiXuan’s lips moved. His expression was somewhat blank. Yet, still, he managed to continue the sentence that he couldn’t finish:

“… is still waiting for you to go to Koi Tower and attend A-Ling’s full month celebration…”

"Why do you still think of me when you're dying." Jiang Yanli sobs.

"Because maybe that's the only reason why I invited Wei Wuxian in the first place." Jin Zixuan smiled.

"Muqin, it's not Wei Wuxian's nor Wen Ning's fault." he said to his mother.

"But he killed you." said Madam Jin.

Jin Zixuan just smiled.

"Remember when I said that maybe I died for someone's benefit. Don't worry, the person behind all of this will be punished." he said.

"Wei Wuxian, Wen Ning, don't blame yourselves." he said to the two.

The same blankness was on Wei WuXian’s face. In the short period of time, Wei WuXian hadn’t realized what happened yet.

What was happening?

Why did things become like this in just a few seconds?

No.

It shouldn’t be.

Something must’ve went wrong somewhere.

"I must have lost control in the middle." said Wei Wuxian.

"But how can you lose control when yiu can clearly control him well without fail?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"His mind is in turmoil. Add to that, he was also in rage for what had Jin Zixun did." said Jiang Cheng.

"Right, I forgot. Wei-xiong isn't supposed to be provoke in the first place or else, he will lose control." said Nie Huaisang.

Wen Ning took out the hand that he used to pierce through Jin ZiXuan’s chest, leaving behind a gaping hole.

Jin ZiXuan’s face twitched in pain, as though he felt that the wound wasn’t anything big, that he could still stand up. Yet, his legs finally gave out as he kneeled on the ground.

"A-die." Jin Ling whispered.

"Since I grew up, I've been wondering what reason you really died. I knew the cause but not the real reason." he said.

"Don't worry, I won't die in this lifetime." said Jin Zixuan.

"Of course you won't, I won't let you." said Jin Ling.

"You're strong, a-die. You could be a great father." he smiled faintly.

"I will be great, for the future you." Jin Zixuan smiled as he hugged his son together with Jiang Yanli.

Screams of fear sounded from all around him.

“The… The Ghost General has gone mad!”

“He killed, he killed him. Wei WuXian made the Ghost General kill Jin ZiXuan!”

Jin ZiXun yelled, “Release! What are you waiting for?! Release the arrows!”

However, as he turned around, a black silhouette approached him with the stealth of the inhuman. He felt his throat tighten as a large, pale hand, lined with blue veins, clenched around his neck.

“Ahhhhhhh…!!!”

"He's going to kill me!" Jin Zixun shouted.

"No one cares." said Nie Huaisang.

"You deserved it." said the juniors with a glare.

Wei WuXian stood helplessly where he was, unmoving.

No.

That wasn’t it.

He was clearly controlling Wen Ning properly.

Even though he activated Wen Ning’s rampage mode, he should still be able to control him.

He’d clearly always been able to control him perfectly.

"It's because of the situation." said Lan Wangji.

"You lose because of your surroundings and because of your rage." he added.

"We were all trying to understand it." said Wei Wuxian.

"But, I wouldn't lose control that easily especially when I don't have any plans to harm Jin Zixuan." he said.

"There might be an explanation to it." said Jiang Cheng.

He didn’t want to kill Jin ZiXuan at all.

He never had the intention to kill Jin ZiXuan at all! It was just that moment. He didn’t know why, but all of a sudden he wasn’t able to control it… He had suddenly lost control!

"Even if how many times I will say that I want to beat Jin Zixuan to death, it never crosses my mind that I will really kill him for real." said Wei Wuxian.

"I don't blame you at all." said Jin Zixuan.

"That's it, you two should really start developing a real friendship." said Jin Ling.

"In his grave." Wei Wuxian grumbles.

Jin ZiXuan’s body finally couldn’t hold up any longer, leaning forward. With a slam, he collapsed on the ground.

He’d been arrogant and self-satisfied throughout his whole life, regarding with importance his appearance and mannerisms. He liked to be clean to the point that he was almost somewhat mysophobic. Right now, however, with the side of his face landing on the ground, he had fallen into the dirt in a most undignified way. The spots of blood on his face and the mark of vermilion between his brows were of the same color.

Staring at the light that slowly faded from his eyes, Wei WuXian’s mind was in complete shambles. Everything around him had become an ocean of blood and screams, but he couldn’t hear anything any longer.

"This date marked the fall of the Jin Sect heir." said Jiang Cheng.

"Now what? What do you think will happen now?" Wei Wuxian asked.

"Chaos. What else?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"They will put all the blame on you and—wait!" Jiang Cheng suddenly shouted.

"Jin Zixuan died." he said.

"Yes, he did." said Wei Wuxian.

"That means a-jie will also–" Jiang Cheng paled as he look at his sister.

"Shijie." Wei Wuxian whispered but Jiang Yanli just smiled at the two of them.

The only thing he could hear was a voice inside him that questioned him over and over again:

Didn’t you say you know what you should and shouldn’t do?

Didn’t you say you could control it?

Didn’t you say that there couldn’t possibly be a problem, that nothing could possibly ever happen?!!

"It's resentment, of course there's a possibility of losing control and putting things in shambles." said Wen Rouhan.

Wei Wuxian was blank.

Wei WuXian’s head was blank. He didn’t know how long had passed when his eyes finally shot open again.

What he saw was the dark ceiling of the Demon-Slaughtering Cave.

Both Wen Qing and Wen Ning were inside.

"He's back in Burial Mound." said Nie Huaisang.

"Isn't that great? He's safe." said Wen Rouhan.

"I'm safe?" Wei Wuxian asked.

"There's an upcoming deaths." he whispered.

"I don't know if I could still take it before losing my mind here." he added.

"Be strong, a-niang. I know you can do it." Sizhui smiled at him.