Although she didn’t know whether he was dead or alive, most likely thinking that it’d be a drag either way, she obviously didn’t want Xiao XingChen to find the person. She urged him, “Let’s go, let’s go. Let’s rest a bit at that whatever city that’s ahead. I’m so tired!”

"Why?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Maybe because it's dead already." said Jiang Cheng.

"She didn't knew if it's dead, they must help the person." said MianMian.

"Whatever." said Jiang Cheng.

Xiao XingChen, “Didn’t you twist your ankle? Do you want me to carry you?”

A-Qing was ecstatic, knocking loudly on the ground with her bamboo pole, “Yes, yes, yes!” Smiling, Xiao XingChen turned around with his back to her and kneeled down with one leg. Just as A-Qing was about to throw herself over, Xiao XingChen suddenly stopped her. With a serious expression, he stood up, “Something smells like blood.”

A-Qing could also smell a faint hint of blood. Amid the night wind, it was indeed discernible at times. She bluffed, “Really? Why can’t I smell it? Are any families around the area killing livestock?”

"Why is she lying?" asked MianMian.

"It is important to save a person." she added.

"They're going to regret it." said Jin Ling.

"It will be more good if they didn't help." he added.

Just as she finished speaking, as if Heaven wanted to go against her wishes, the person in the bushes coughed.

Even though the sound was almost imperceptible, it couldn’t escape Xiao XingChen’s ears. He immediately found the direction, stepped into the bushes, and squatted down beside the person.

"It's still alive." said Nie Huaisang.

"Who could it be?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"We will know sooner." said Wei Wuxian.

Due to how Xiao XingChen discovered the person anyway, A-Qing stomped on the ground, then pretended to find her way over, “What happened?”

Xiao XingChen was feeling the person’s pulse, “Someone is lying here.”

A-Qing, “So that’s why the smell of blood is so strong. Are they dead? Should we make a ditch and bury them?”

"A dead person can't cough. It's alive, obviously." said Jiang Cheng.

"At least she is thinking of giving that person a proper burial when they're really dead." laughed Nie Huaisang.

Of course, a dead person was less of a hassle than a living one, so AQing couldn’t wait for the person to die. However, Xiao XingChen replied, “Not yet. He’s just badly injured.”

After giving it some thought, he gently carried the person onto his back.

"Oh they save him." said Jin Zixuan.

"Of course, my shishu won't let an ordinary person to die without helping them first." said Wei Wuxian with a proud face while looking at Xiao Xingchen.

"Which will be a regret later on." Sizhui murmured.

Seeing that a filthy, bloodstained man took the position where she would’ve been and that Xiao XingChen wouldn’t be able to carry her to the city anymore, A-Qing pouted and poked a few deep holes on the ground with her pole. Yet, she knew that Xiao XingChen wouldn’t not help the person, so complaining wouldn’t work anyway. They went back onto the road and continued walking. The more they walked, the stronger Wei WuXian’s sense of familiarity grew. He suddenly recalled, Isn’t this the road that Lan Zhan and I used to get to Yi City?

Sure enough, Yi City could be seen looming at the end of the road.

"Is that man-" said Wei Wuxian while glancing at Jiang Cheng.

"If they're going to Yi City then we will find out what really happened to that place." said Nie Huaisang.

As of this time, the city gates weren’t as run-down. The tower was still in fair condition and there weren’t any scribbles on the walls. Entering the city, the fog was somewhat denser, but compared to the unnatural density in later times, it was not a hindrance at all. On the sides of the road, lights and even human conversations leaked from the doors and windows of houses. Although it was an obscure place, it had some liveliness to it.

"The city was so different from the present." said Nie Huaisang.

"How did the city end up like that?" asked MianMian.

Carrying a person with severe injuries and drenched in blood on his back, Xiao XingChen definitely knew that no shops would let someone like him inside. Thus, he didn’t search for places to rest, but instead directly asked a night watchman who walked by if there were any idle coffin homes in the city. The watchman told him, “There’s one over there. The guy who guarded it passed away last month. There’s currently nobody there.” Seeing that Xiao XingChen was blind and might have difficulties finding the way, he decided to lead them over.

This was precisely the coffin home where Xiao XingChen’s corpse was put after he had died.

"So they stayed there for a long time." said Jin Zixuan.

"It makes me more curious of how he died." said Nie Huaisang.

"We will find out and if not, I'm going to force this son of mine to tell me." said Jiang Cheng while giving Jingyi a look.

"It will show you, I'm sure of that." said Jingyi.

They thanked the watchman, and Xiao XingChen carried the injured person into the chamber on the right. The room wasn’t large, but wasn’t too small either. Including a low bed by the wall, the room had all of the necessities. He carefully laid the person onto the bed. Taking an elixir from his qiankun pouch, he pushed it through the person’s clenched teeth. A-Qing felt around in the room for a while before she beamed, “There are so many things here! Here’s a basin!”

Xiao XingChen, “Is there a stove?”

“There is!”

Xiao XingChen, “A-Qing, why don’t you try to boil some water? Be careful and don’t hurt yourself.”

"Can a blind person do that?" asked Wen Chao.

"Are discriminating a blind person?" asked MianMian.

"She's not blind." said Wen Xu.

"Remember all the information so that you won't comment or ask wrong questions." he added with a furrowed brow while looking at his brother.

A-Qing pouted some more and got to work. Xiao XingChen touched the person’s forehead, then took out another elixir and fed it to him. Wei WuXian really wanted to take a good look at the person’s face, but A-Qing was clearly not interested in him. She was rather annoyed and refused to spare him a single glimpse. After the water had been boiled, Xiao XingChen slowly wiped off the blood on his face. Out of curiosity, A-Qing gave him a glance, and made a soundless huh.

Now that the person’s face had been cleaned, she could see that his looks were actually quite decent.

As Wei WuXian saw the face, his heart immediately sunk.

Just as he had expected, it was Xue Yang.

"Told you it will be him." said Wei Wuxian while everyone looked at Xue Yang who is looking at the screen with a bored look.

"When are you guys going to release me?" he asked.

"After the whole truth." said Wei Wuxian.

"Enemies meet at the wrong time." said Nie Huaisang with a sigh.

He sighed in silence, Enemies really can’t avoid each other, can they? Xiao XingChen, you really are… hopelessly unlucky.

At this point in time, with a childish charm, Xue Yang looked nothing more than a boy. However, who could’ve known that a boy like him whose canine teeth showed when he smiled was a maniac who wiped out entire clans.

"You can really do that?" asked Wei Wuxian curiously.

Xue Yang smiled at him in return.

"I guess you really can." said Wei Wuxian.

"He must have a reason." said MianMian.

"I refused to believe that an innocent looking boy like him can do that." she added.

"Don't let the physical appearance deceive you. For example, that straight face Lan Wangji can be as shameless as my brother or even more." said Jiang Cheng.

"Don't trust their physical appearance." he added.

"Like ChengCheng, he has a grumpy and always angry face yet he is the most caring and a soft kind of a brother." laughed Wei Wuxian.

"I am not." said Jiang Cheng.

"Stop lying." said Wei Wuxian.

Counting the years, this was probably after Jin GuangYao became the Chief Cultivator. In such a difficult situation, Xue Yang had probably just escaped Jin GuangYao’s “elimination”. Since he couldn’t kill him, Jin GuangYao naturally didn’t want to let anything out. Or, maybe because he believed that he wouldn’t be able to live, he told the public that Xue Yang had already been eliminated. However, villains always tended to outlast heroes. On the brink of dying, he was saved by his old rival XingChen. It was unfortunate that Xiao XingChen wasn’t cautious to the point of feeling and examining his face. By accident, he had saved his enemy—the one who made his life this way. Although A-Qing could see, since she wasn’t a cultivator, she didn’t know of Xue Yang, much less the immense hatred between the two of them. She didn’t even know what Xiao XingChen’s name was…

"Don't make the same mistake again." said Song Lan.

"That was so unfortunate of him." said Nie Huaisang.

"Why did you let him live?" Nie Mingjue asked Meng Yao with a clear anger in his voice.

"I don't know. I am not that person." answered Meng Yao with a straight up innocent face.

Wei WuXian sighed again. Xiao XingChen couldn’t be any more unlucky. It was as though all of the ominous energy in this world had tainted him.

Suddenly, Xue Yang frowned. Xiao XingChen was in the middle of inspecting and bandaging his wounds. Sensing that Xue Yang was about to wake up, he spoke, “Don’t move.”

"After that, please stay away from him." said Song Lan.

"He brought danger to himself." said Wei Wuxian while looking at his shishu.

Xiao Xingchen was silent.

Someone like Xue Yang who had done countless bad deeds in their life would naturally be more alert than ordinary people. Hearing this voice, his eyes sprang open and he sat up at once. Tumbling to the corner of the room, he glared at Xiao XingChen with a fierce expression and a careful posture. His eyes resembled those of a beast who had been trapped, not at all concealing the malice and cruelty within them. Watching the scene, AQing’s scalp tingled. The sensation also passed onto Wei WuXian’s head, who shouted silently, Talk! Xiao XingChen definitely wouldn’t have forgotten Xue Yang’s voice.

"Let him talk then everything will be over." said Song Lan.

"That's impossible. I have a feeling that it will not end just like that." said Wei Wuxian.

Xue Yang, “What…”

As soon as he spoke, Wei WuXian knew that there was no hope. Even after he spoke, Xiao XingChen wouldn’t be able to discover who he was.

Xue Yang’s throat was injured as well. After coughing up a large quantity of blood, his voice was so hoarse that nobody could tell they were the same person!

"See, I know that it will not end like that. A lot of happenings will happen." said Wei Wuxian.

"Which will be more miserable for him." said Jiang Cheng while looking at Lan Xichen.

"It's weird watching your self on the screen." said Xue Yang.

"Get use to it." said Jin Zixuan.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Xiao XingChen assured, “I told you not to move. You’re wounds are going to open. Don’t worry. Since I saved you, of course I won’t hurt you.”

Xue Yang was quick at adjusting to sudden changes of situation. He immediately inferred that Xiao XingChen most likely didn’t recognize him. With a roll of his eyes, he coughed, “Who are you?”

"Don't you know how to be thankful?" asked Song Lan.

"Do I need to?" asked Xue Yang.

"I don't thank my enemies." he added.

"He is your saviour." Song Lan argued.

Xue Yang just scoffed.

A-Qing interrupted, “If you have eyes can’t you see for yourself? He’s a roaming cultivator. He went to such lengths to carry you back and saved you and even gave you magical elixirs, yet you’re so mean!”

Xue Yang turned to her at once. He spoke in a cold voice, “You’re blind?”

Wei WuXian was alarmed.

"He's going to find out." said MianMian in alarm.

"God! Please keep them safe." said Nie Huaisang.

"She should watch her words." said Wei Wuxian.

The little delinquent was both crafty and vigilant. Even though A-Qing had a pair of white eyes, he didn’t let down his guard. Not passing any points of suspicion, he immediately caught A-Qing’s slip of the tongue. Xue Yang had only spoken four words. With only these four words, it was impossible to determine if he was mean or not, unless A-Qing had seen his expression.

The good thing was that A-Qing grew up lying. She replied on the spot, “Do you discriminate against blind people? Well a blind person saved you. Or else, nobody would care even if you rotted on the side of the road! The first words you said weren’t even to thank Daozhang. How rude! And you called me blind in such a tone. Hmph… What’s wrong with being blind…”

"Good girl." said Nie Huaisang.

"Such a smart girl." said MianMian.

"That won't work on me." said Xue Yang.

"Leave the maiden alone." said Jin Zixuan.

"I'm not doing anything." said Xue Yang.

She successfully switched the topic and the point of the conversation. As A-Qing muttered nonstop in an unyielding yet dejected manner, Xiao XingChen immediately went over to comfort her. In the corner, Xue Yang rolled his eyes. Xiao XingChen turned to him again, “Don’t sit by the wall. I didn’t bandage the wound on your leg yet. Come here.”

"You really have an attitude." said Jiang Cheng.

"Coming from you, Young Master Jiang." he said sarcastically.

Jiang Cheng scoffed.

With an indifferent expression, Xue Yang continued to think. Xiao XingChen added, “If it’s not treated soon, your might end up crippled.”

Hearing this, Xue Yang decisively made his choice.

Wei WuXian could speculate what he was thinking. With a body covered in severe wounds, he couldn’t go anywhere if nobody helped treat him. Since Xiao XingChen was such an idiot that he placed himself right at his disposal, why not accept the help?

Thus, he changed his expression at once. In a voice filled with gratitude, he replied, “Then, thank you, Daozhang.”

"You finally thanked him." said Song Lan.

"Oh! You should feel happy that I thanked your friend." said Xue Yang.

"I rarely thanked people." he added.

"Do not fight." said Xiao Xingchen seeing that the two are glaring at one another.

Having seen Xue Yang’s skill of changing from merciless to affectionate within fractions of a second, Wei WuXian was truly worried for the two blind ones, both real and fake, in the room, but especially for A-Qing. She could see everything. If Xue Yang discovered this, to prevent the secret from leaking out, she’d definitely die. Although he knew that, in the end, AQing probably died in Xue Yang’s hands anyway, Wei WuXian still felt anxious since he’d be going through the same experience.

"I'm also worried about them." said Nie Huaisang.

"Don't tell me he killed the two of them." said MianMian.

"That's possible." said Jin Zixuan.

"Why?" asked Song Lan.

"Because they're liars. What do you think?" asked Xue Yang with a smile.

"Hey! At least be kind so that we can lessen your punishment in the end." said Wei Wuxian.

"Do I look like I'm scared?" asked Xue Yang.

"Don't test my patience. I might be the one to end you." said Jiang Cheng.

"It would be my pleasure." said Xue Yang.

Jiang Cheng could only glare at him since Lan Xichen was holding him tightly while Wei Wuxian was also held by Lan Wangji.

All of a sudden, he noticed that Xue Yang had been discreetly preventing Xiao XingChen from touching his left hand. Taking a closer look at it, he found that the little finger of Xue Yang’s left hand was severed. From where it cut off, it could be seen that it wasn’t a new wound. Back then, Xiao XingChen definitely knew that Xue Yang only had nine fingers. So this was why Xue Yang wore a black glove on his left hand when he was putting up his act.

Xiao XingChen was rather dedicated to helping him. After applying medicine to his wound, he bandaged it in a remarkably neat manner, “It’s finished, but it’s best if you don’t move, or else your bones will dislocate again.”

"It's really hard to be kind because people are taking advantage of it." said MianMian.

"It's okay to be kind but just don't be naive." said Jiang Cheng.

"Xingchen isn't naive." said Song Lan.

"Did I say he is?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"What happened to your fingers?" asked Xiao Xingchen and Xue Yang's face darkened.

"Don't ask question like that. It might be a part of his past that he want to forget." said Lan Xichen.

Xue Yang had already ascertained that Xiao XingChen was so gullible that he didn’t recognize him. Although he was covered in blood and surrounded by other messes, the lazy grin appeared on his face again, “Daozhang, so you aren’t going to ask who I am? Why I was injured so badly?”

"Do you want to be recognized?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"What do you think?" asked Xue Yang.

"Stop fooling people." said Song Lan.

"Am I? I'm only asking." said Xue Yang.

"Only dumb people are easy to fool." he added with a smirk.

"Stop it you two. At least be kind to one another to prevent what happened in the future to happen to us." said Xiao Xingchen.

"I don't think so." said Sizhui.

If someone else were at his position, they would’ve carefully avoided the topic so that they didn’t reveal details that would expose their identity. He, on the other hand, deliberately did the exact opposite. Turning to clean the medical kit and bandages, Xiao XingChen softly replied, “If you won’t say it, then why should I ask? I just happened to have seen you and decided to lend a hand. It’s nothing difficult for me, anyways. After your injuries heal, we’d go our separate ways. If I were you, there’d also be a lot of things that I don’t want others to ask about.”

Wei WuXian commented, Even if Xiao XingChen asked, the little delinquent would probably make up a seamless explanation and fool him around. It was natural for people to have complicated pasts. Xiao XingChen only avoided inquiring too much out of respect. Yet, it made it convenient for Xue Yang to use his respect. Wei WuXian was sure that he was not only going to get Xiao XingChen to heal all his wounds, after he recovered, he definitely wouldn’t let them “go their separate ways” either.

"I'm right. What if he take his revenge in him?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"It will be his death." said Xue Yang.

"I know you're capable of changing yourself so please do it now. We can help you." said Qingheng-jun.

"I don't need your help nor any help from any cultivator." Xue Yang said with a glare.

"Let him take his time on accepting us." said Lan Qiren.

Xue Yang rested in the bedroom of the coffin home’s guard, while Xiao XingChen went to the main hall. Opening up a new coffin, he picked up some of the straws on the ground and thickly spread them over the bottom of the coffin. He turned to A-Qing, “The person inside is injured, so let’s let him have the bed. Would you mind making do with this? I put straws on the bottom, so it shouldn’t be too cold.”

A-Qing had been roaming in the streets ever since she was young. Having lived alongside wind and hunger, there was nowhere she hadn’t slept. She replied nonchalantly, “Not at all. It’s good enough that I have somewhere to sleep. It won’t be cold. Don’t take off your coat for me again.”

"They really looked like siblings." said MianMian.

"It makes me want to have a sister." said a male cultivator.

"After this, we're going to find her." said Xiao Xingchen.

"Sure." said Song Lan.

Xiao XingChen stroked the top of her head. With both his sword and horsetail whisk on his back, he walked outside again. To ensure safety, Xiao XingChen never let her follow when he was on night-hunts. After crawling into the coffin and lying for a while, she heard Xue Yang call her from the other room, “Little Blind, come over.”

"What does he want now?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Don't tell me he is going to harm her now that Xiao Xingchen isn't there." said Jin Zixuan.

"Please let the maiden be safe." mumbled MianMian.

A-Qing poked her head out, “What?”

Xue Yang, “Do you want candy?”

The end of A-Qing’s tongue felt sour, as though she really wanted candy. Despite this, she still refused, “I’m not eating it. I’m not going.”

Xue Yang threatened sweetly, “Are you sure you’re not eating it? Are you too scared of coming? But, did you think that I actually can’t move? That if you don’t come, I’m not going to go over and find you?”

"His voice is giving me creepy vibes." said Nie Huaisang.

"Same here." said a younger disciple.

"Don't listen to him." said MianMian.

Hearing the strange tone of his words, A-Qing shuddered. She imagined the malicious grin suddenly appear on top of the coffin, and felt that it was even creepier. With some hesitation, she finally picked up her pole and slowly tapped her way to the room’s door. Before she could speak, a small object flew straight at her.

Wei WuXian instinctively wanted to dodge, worried that it was some sort of weapon. Of course, he couldn’t control this body. Immediately afterward, he finally realized, It’s a trap!

"What is he trying to do?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"What did he throw?" asked MianMian.

"Lets just pray it's not a weapon." said Jin Zixuan.

Xue Yang was testing A-Qing—if she was truly blind, she wouldn’t be able to avoid it!

"He isn't easily be fooled." said Jiang Cheng.

"Of course. A little blind girl can't fool me." said Xue Yang with a grin.

As both a quick-witted person and someone who pretended to be blind throughout the year, A-Qing didn’t dodge at all. She didn’t even blink as she saw the object rush toward her. Instead, she let it hit her chest, then jumped back and fumed, “Hey! What did you throw at me?”

With A-Qing having passed the test, Xue Yang replied, “It’s candy, for you. I forgot that you’re blind and can’t catch. It landed by your feet.”

"Oh! Thank God!." muttered MianMian.

"I'm not that cruel to kill her." said Xue Yang.

"I want her to suffer first." he added with a glint in his eyes.

"Leave the maiden alone." said Xiao Xingchen.

"Make me." said Xue Yang.

A-Qing humphed and squatted down. Searching around as if she really were blind, she found a piece of candy. She had never eaten something like this before. She gulped, wiped it, then put it into her mouth, happily crunching it with her teeth. Xue Yang lay on his side with one hand holding his chin, and asked, “Is it good, Little Blind?”

A-Qing, “I have a name. I’m not called Little Blind.”

Xue Yang, “You didn’t tell me your name, so I could only call you this.”

"He's kinda kind." said MianMian while looking at the screen intently.

"He might have become like that because of people around him." said Nie Huaisang.

"Strange. People are calling me kind." said Xue Yang.

"I think you are. Just don't be cruel, we can help you change yourself in order for you to have a bright future." said Lan Xichen.

"Really?" he asked with a scoff making Jiang Cheng glare at him.

A-Qing had always told her name only to people who were nice to her, but she didn’t like the way Xue Yang said it, so she told him, “Listen up. My name is A-Qing. Don’t keep on calling me Little Blind and Little Blind!” After she said it, she felt that her voice was somewhat harsh. Afraid that she’d anger the person, she immediately started another topic, “You’re such a strange person. You’re covered in blood and this injured, but you have candy with you.”

Xue Yang grinned, “When I was young, I really liked candy, but I couldn’t get them no matter what and I could only watch people eat. So, I’ve always thought that if I become wealthier one day, I’d carry an infinite amount of candy with me.”

Xue Yang's face turned dark hearing that.

"Is it connected to you past?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Leave me alone." he said in a low voice.

Everyone was curious why he seemed angry when he spoke about candies.

A-Qing just so happened to have finished the candy that he gave her. Licking her lips, she wanted more. Her desire for candy outweighed her fear of the person in front of her, “Then do you have any more?”

Xue Yang laughed, “Of course I do. I’ll give you more if you come over here.”

"It will be more dangerous." said Jin Zixuan.

"Please be careful, he is testing him if he is really blind." said Wei Wuxian.

"She must come over to prove that she isn't lying to him." said Jiang Cheng.

A-Qing stood up and, with her bamboo pole, she walked toward him. Yet, when she was halfway there, Xue Yang started to look at her in an eerie way, his smile unchanged. Without making a sound, he pulled a sharp edged sword out of his sleeve.

It was Jiangzai.

"The f*ck!" cursed Jiang Cheng and Jin Zixuan.

"Are you really going to kill him?" asked Wei Wuxian.

Xue Yang was smirking at them.

He pointed the tip of the sword toward A-Qing. If she walked just a few more steps forward, she’d be impaled by the sword. However, if A-Qing hesitated for the slightest moment, the fact that she wasn’t actually blind would be revealed!

"Please don't kill her." murmured MianMian.

"You're really going to harm her?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Take a guess." Xue Yang said with a creepy smile.