Lan WangJi’s sword had slashed across Xue Yang’s chest. Not only did he bleed, the Spirit-trapping Pouch that he hid in his lapels had been taken out by the Bichen’s tip as well. Wei WuXian, though, couldn’t see what was happening, “Xue Yang! What do you want him to give back to you? Shuanghua? It’s not like Shuanghua is your sword to begin with, so why do you say ‘give it back’? Do you know no shame?”

"I really hate it when you guys acting like giving pity yet saying something like that to me. Unbelievable." said Xue Yang.

"The people in the future is different from us." said Wei Wuxian.

"I don't believe you." said Xue Yang.

Xue Yang laughed loudly, “Senior Wei, you really don’t want to show me any mercy, do you?”

Wei WuXian, “Laugh. Go on. Even if you die laughing, you won’t be able to piece together Xiao XingChen’s soul. He was so disgusted by you, yet you still want to bring him back to play games.”

"You're laughable, Senior Wei." laughed Xue Yang.

"Don't say something like that to my a-niang." said Sizhui.

"What an overprotective son." said Xue Yang with a smile.

Abruptly, Xue Yang shouted, “Who wants to play games with him?!”

Wei WuXian, “Then why did you kneel and beg me so that I can help you mend his soul?”

Of course, someone as sharp as Xue Yang knew that Wei WuXian was purposely diverting him, first to distract him with anger, second to make him raise his voice so that Lan WangJi could tell where he was and attack. Even so, he replied in spite of himself. He spoke in a cruel voice, “Why did I do so? Hah! How can you not know? I want to make him into a fierce corpse, an evil spirit, so that I can control him! Didn’t he want to be a virtuous person? Then, I’ll make it so that he never stops killing, so that he’ll never be at peace!”

"I refused to believe that. I know you are not really thinking of doing such thing." said Wei Wuxian.

"Stop lying. I will never believe your words." said Xue Yang.

"Xue Yang!" Wei Wuxian shouted.

"What? Do you think I will be scared of you, Yiling Patriarch?" asked Xue Yang.

"Stop it you two." said Jiang Cheng while glaring at the two.

"You're disturbing my focus." he added.

Wei WuXian, “Hmm? You hate him that much? Then why did you kill Chang Ping?”

Xue Yang sneered, “Why did I kill Chang Ping? Did you really need to ask, Patriarch YiLing?! Haven’t I told you? I said that I was going to wipe out the entire YueyangChang Clan, so I won’t even leave a dog behind!”

Whenever he talked, it was as though he was announcing his location. The sounds of a blade piercing through flesh kept coming, but Xue Yang’s tolerance for pain was much higher than those of normal people. Wei WuXian had seen during Empathy that even if he was pierced through the stomach, he could laugh as if nothing had happened.

Wei WuXian continued, “That’s a great reason you came up with. Unfortunately, the years don’t add up. Someone like you who seeks revenge for the smallest things and murders in such ruthless ways wouldn’t have waited so many years to finish off one clan, would you? You know the reason why you killed Chang Ping.”

"I also thought the same." said Wei Wuxian.

"The future Xue Yang could have just wiped put the whole clan together with Chang Ping but why did he for years to come by." said Wei Wuxian.

"Then, what do you think?" asked Xue Yang.

"For revenge." said Wei Wuxian with a smile.

"Yeah, he did that for revenge. It's just still the same." said Jin Zixuan.

"But not for himself." said Wei Wuxian making everyone confused except some people.

"I get it." said Jiang Cheng.

"It's easy to understand." he added and Wei Wuxian nodded.

Xue Yang, “Then, tell me. What do I know? What do I know?!”

He shouted the last sentence. Wei WuXian asked again, “You didn’t just kill him. Why did you choose to use lingchi, the torture that represents ‘punishment’? If you were avenging for yourself, why did you use Shuanghua, instead of your own Jiangzai? Why did you dig out his eyes and make it so that he was just like Xiao XingChen?”

Xue Yang shouted himself hoarse, “Nonsense! That’s all nonsense! It’s revenge—why in the world would I have let him die comfortably?”

"Did you get it?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"He might have done that so called revenge for Xiao Xingchen since eversince Chang Ping withdraw his words, Xiao Xingchen's life started to become miserable." said Nie Huaisang.

"What an intelligent friend I have." said Wei Wuxian with a smile.

Xue Yang scoffed with an eye roll.

Wei WuXian, “You were indeed seeking revenge, but whose revenge were you actually seeking? What a joke. If you wanted to seek revenge, the one you should’ve executed lingchi on is yourself!”

With two whooshes, the sharp noises of something slicing the air came right at him. Wei WuXian didn’t even flinch. Wen Ning darted in front of him and intercepted two nails that shone a cruel, black light. Xue Yang let off a series of horrifying laughter, as though he was a screeching owl. The laughter died down at once, and he quieted. He ceased to pay heed to Wei WuXian and went back to fighting with Lan WangJi amid the fog.

"You almost got me there if not for Wen Ning." laughed Wei Wuxian.

Xue Yang just smiled at him.

"You both stop smiling with each other. It gives me a creepy vibes." said Jiang Cheng.

Wei WuXian thought in silence, The little delinquent has got such a high vitality. It’s as if he can’t feel pain at all and will be fine no matter where he’s injured. If only he talks a bit more and Lan Zhan stabs him a few more times. I’m sure that he won’t be able to jump around anymore after his arms and legs are chopped off. Well, unfortunately, he’s no longer taking the bait!

Suddenly, a series of crisp knocks came from within the fog.

"Oh! It's maiden A-Qing!" exclaimed Nie Huaisang.

"What is she trying to do? It's dangerous for her." said MianMian.

"She's already dead, though." said Jin Zixuan.

"But it's still dangerous since Xue Yang can dissipate her spirit." said Jiang Cheng.

Thinking quick, Wei WuXian shouted, “Lan Zhan, attack where the pole knocks!”

Lan WangJi lunged at once. Xue Yang let out a suppressed moan. A moment later, the bamboo pole sounded again, at a place a few meters away!

Lan WangJi continued to attack where the noise came from. Xue Yang threatened, “Little Blind, aren’t you scared that I’ll break you into pieces, following me around like that?”

"Please don't." said Zizhen.

"I will." said Xue Yang and the juniors turned to glare at him.

Ever since she was killed by Xue Yang, A-Qing had always been hiding so that he didn’t find her. However, for some reason, Xue Yang didn’t really care about such a ghost either, as though he felt that she was too weak to be cautious of. Now, though, A-Qing followed behind Xue Yang as if she was his shadow. Knocking her bamboo pole and revealing his location, she pointed out to Lan WangJi where he should attack!

Xue Yang’s movements were extremely quick. He immediately appeared somewhere else. When she lived, A-Qing had also been a fast runner. Now that she was a ghost, she stuck closely to him as though she was a curse. She knocked her pole on the ground as quickly as she could. The crisp taps sounded near and far, left and right, in front and behind. They were impossible to avoid. As soon as they sounded, Bichen’s sword glare followed immediately!

"At least show some mercy to the boy." said Jiang Cheng while giving Lan Wangji a look.

"He almost harmed Wei Ying." said Lan Wangji.

"Whaterver." said Jiang Cheng with an eye roll.

In the beginning, Xue Yang moved through the fog as though a fish amid water. He could both hide and sneak attacks however he wanted to. Yet, now, he had to spare attention to deal with A-Qing. With a curse, he quickly threw a talisman behind him. Immediately after the split second of distraction, following A-Qing’s bone-chilling screech, Bichen pierced through his chest!

"You really did?" asked Zizhen in disbelief.

"You should've expected that already. I'm a person who doesn't show any mercy even if she is a maiden." said Xue Yang.

"Besides, I almost died because of her." he added.

"You still died though." Jingyi mumbled.

Although A-Qing’s ghost had already been destroyed by Xue Yang’s talisman and there ceased to be any noise that revealed where he was, the attack was vital. Xue Yang couldn’t continue to be as unpredictable as before!

From amid the fog came the noises of someone coughing up blood. Wei WuXian tossed out a Spirit-trapping Pouch for it to save A-Qing’s soul. With heavy steps, Xue Yang walked for a while, then suddenly launched forward. With his hands extended, he roared, “Give me it!”

Bichen’s blue light split through the air. Lan WangJi cleanly severed off one of his arms.

"Lan Zhan!" exclaimed Wei Wuxian in shock.

"You chopped off his arm?" he asked in disbelief.

"He is going to hurt you." said Lan Wangji.

"But still." said Wei Wuxian.

"Wangji-xiong is so scary." said Nie Huaisang.

"My poor arm." said Xue Yang with a glare.

Jiang Cheng laughed at him.

"Lesson learned, do not harm his precious Wei Ying or else you are going to lose a limb." he laughed.

"Only me is the one who can do that to Wei Wuxian without getting myself in danger." he added.

Blood spurted out at once. In front of Wei WuXian, a large area of white fog had been stained red. The scent of blood was so overwhelming that even a single breath brought in a moist, rusty odor. However, he didn’t care about it at all. He concentrated on solely searching and absorbing the soul of A-Qing that had been scattered. On the other hand, although Xue Yang didn’t make a single noise, there came the heavy sound of knees dropping onto the ground. It seemed that he had lost so much blood that he finally collapsed, unable to walk any further.

Lan WangJi summoned Bichen again. The next attack would cut off Xue Yang’s head!

"Don't!" shouted Wei Wuxian.

"I can't imagine you cutting someone's head off." he said while looking at Lan Wangji.

"At least Xue Yang deserve to have a complete limbs when he is buried." said Jiang Cheng.

"Oh, but it's not complete anymore." he added.

"Are you making fun of me?" asked Xue Yang.

"No, I'm just telling what I think is right." said Jiang Cheng.

Yet, suddenly, blue flames shot from the fog-covered earth to the sky.

It was fire from a transportation talisman!

Wei WuXian knew that the situation wasn’t bright. Not caring for the dangers within the fog, he rushed over. Immediately afterward, he had almost slipped on the ground. Where the bloody scent was strongest, the ground was covered in wet, still-fresh blood, all from Xue Yang’s severed arm.

However, Xue Yang was gone.

"Who could it be?" asked MianMian.

"Why did he took Xue Yang?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"We don't know either." said Jin Zixuan.

Lan WangJi walked over. Wei WuXian asked, “The gravedigger?”

Xue Yang’s most vital organ had been injured by Bichen, and he lost an arm as well. Judging from the amount of blood loss, he’d die for sure. It’d have been impossible for him to still have enough energy and spiritual powers to use a transportation talisman.

Lan WangJi nodded slightly, “I gave the gravedigger three blows. As he was close to being captured, a group of walking corpses attacked and allowed him the opportunity to escape.”

"I'm going to kill that mysterious gravedigger myself if I find out who he is." said Jiang Cheng.

"Just what's up with that person?" he asked.

Wei WuXian spoke with a serious expression, “Although he was injured, the gravedigger still brought away Xue Yang’s corpse, even though it cost him extensive spiritual powers. He probably knew who Xue Yang was and what he could do. Bringing away Xue Yang’s corpse… was to search if he carried the Stygian Tiger Seal with him.”

It was rumored that, after Xue Yang had been “eliminated” by Jin GuangYao, the Stygian Tiger Seal was lost. But, seeing from the current situation, it was very likely that he carried the seal with him. Tens of thousands of walking corpses, even fierce corpses, had been gathered in Yi City. They would’ve been extremely difficult to control with only corpsepoisoning powder and nails through the skull. Only the Stygian Tiger Seal could explain how Xue Yang commanded them at his wish, ordering them to obey him and attack for him. Somebody as crafty and mistrustful as him definitely wouldn’t put the Tiger Seal somewhere they couldn’t see. Only keeping it on him at all times would’ve made him feel a sense of security. When the gravedigger brought away his corpse, he brought away the Stygian Tiger Seal as well.

"That weapon seemed so interesting." said Wen Rouhan.

"Please stop, you don't want happen to the future will happen to you too, right?" asked Sizhui.

"I'm just saying it's interesting. I'm not planning anything." said Wen Rouhan.

"But someone is." he added with a smile.

This was no trivial matter at all. Wei WuXian’s voice was stern, “Now that the situation is already like this, we can only hope that there’s a limit to the powers of the Tiger Seal that Xue Yang restored.”

Suddenly, with a light toss, Lan WangJi passed something to him.

Wei WuXian caught it perfectly, “What is it?”

Lan WangJi, “The right hand.”

"He still got that?" asked MianMian.

"I even forget the real reason why we are there in the first place yet my Lan Zhan still got it." said Wei Wuxian.

"See, Jiang Cheng. My Lan Zhan is the best." he said proudly and Jiang Cheng could only roll his eyes.

He had tossed over a new Qiankun Pouch. Having finally remembered why they had came to Yi City at the first place, Wei WuXian brightened up, “The right hand of our dear friend?”

Lan WangJi, “Mnn.”

Under the obstructions of the gravedigger, the groups of walking corpses, and the thick fog, Lan WangJi still managed to successfully find the right hand of the corpse. Wei WuXian was more than pleased. He praised, “I expected no less from HanGuang-Jun! Now, we’re one step ahead of them again. What a pity that it’s not the head. I wanted to see what our dear friend looks like. Well, I guess it’d happen soon enough… Where’s Song Lan?”

"Wanna bet on who the mysterious corpse is?" asked Jingyi.

"Please stop little Jiang-xiong, I am going to be poor because of you." said Nie Huaisang.

"What about you, a-niang?" asked Jingyi.

"If Jiang Cheng will bet, I wonder who will win since the two of you are so good at it." said Wei Wuxian.

"Okay." said Jiang Cheng.

"If I won, you won't be out of Lotus Pier for the whole month." he added and Jingyi almost throw a tantrum if it's not for Lan Xichen who comforted him.

"Fine. Who is it?" he asked.

"Nie Mingjue." said Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang glared at him.

"Why my da-ge?" he asked.

"I never lose a bet." Jiang Cheng only said and the whole Nie Sect was glaring at him.

Jin Ling was laughing secretly at Jingyi who is having a pale face but immediately turned all smiley to not show the others.

"We can help you sneak out." Zizhen whispered and Jingyi only glared at his friends.

"But why him, ChengCheng?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Take a guess." said Jiang Cheng with a smile which is unusual.

After Xue Yang’s corpse disappeared, the circulation of the fog quickened. It seemed to have thinned and the surroundings became somewhat easier to see. Because of this, Wei WuXian suddenly noticed that Song Lan was gone. At where he had originally lay, only Wen Ning still squatted on the ground, staring at them blankly.

Lan WangJi put his hand back to Bichen, which he had already unsheathed. Wei WuXian stopped him, “It’s fine. There’s no need to be alarmed. Song Lan, or the fierce corpse back there, probably doesn’t have killing intentions anymore, or else Wen Ning would’ve alerted us. It’s likely that he regained consciousness and left on his own.”

He whistled lightly. Wen Ning stood up and proceeded to leave, his figure disappearing into the fog. The noises of chains dragging on the ground gradually faded into the distance. Lan WangJi didn’t say anything more. He calmly turned to Wei WuXian, “Let us go.”

"Where are they going?" asked MianMian.

"Maybe to the junior disciples." said Jin Zixuan.

"Thank God! The mystery of Yi City is finally solved." said Wei Wuxian while stretching his body.

"I want to see happy moments. At least before another tragedy." said Nie Huaisang.

Just as they were about to leave, suddenly, Wei WuXian stopped, “Wait.”

He saw something lying alone in the blood.

It was a severed left arm. Four of the fingers were closed tightly. The little finger was missing.

"What are you going to do with it?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Maybe roast it since I'm kinda hungry as of the moment." laughed Wei Wuxian.

"Oh please not my arm, Senior Wei." said Xue Yang.

"Oh for f*ck sake Wei Wuxian. Keep that disgusting thought of yours to yourself." said Jiang Cheng.

The fist of the arm was firmly clenched. Wei WuXian squatted down. Only by using most of his strength did he succeed in prying the fingers open one by one. After the fist had been opened, he found that it held a small piece of candy.

The piece of candy was tinted slightly black. It was definitely not edible anymore.

It had been clenched so tightly that it was almost crushed.

"That's the last candy that Xiao Xingchen gsve to him." said MianMian.

"Maybe he didn't eat it because he wants to have it as a memory if Xiao Xingchen." said Nie Huaisang.

"How I wish it didn't happened to them." said Wei Wuxian.

"We can guide him to the right path." said Song Lan while giving Xue Yang a look.

"I know that you won't do such thing again." he added.

"We already forgiven you. You're nothing like your future self. You can still change and choose to he good." said Xiao Xingchen.

"And you can have as many candies as you want." he added getting Xue Yang's attention.

"Really?" he asked.

Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen nodded their heads and for the first time, Xue Yang gave them a genuine smile he never used to anyone.