Mo Dao Zu Shi rereading commentary || chapters 101-110 (Patreon)

Chapter 101: Hatred (Part Four)

Hearing the dog, Wei WuXian immediately felt his hair rise. He shrunk back into Lan WangJi’s arms, half-dead with fright, “Lan Zhan!”

Lan WangJi had already embraced him without needing any reminder, replying, “I am here!”

Wei WuXian, “Hug me!”

Lan WangJi, “I am hugging you!”

Wei WuXian, again, “Hug me tight!”

Lan WangJi, also, “I am hugging you tight!”

Even without the view, just listening to the voices was enough to make Jiang Cheng’s facial muscles twitch.

They turned from complete angst to being completely disgusting! XDDDDd hahahaha

I'll add this drawing here:

Before he even finished, notes of the guqin sounded from behind the Guanyin Temple. However, back on Burial Mound, Jiang Cheng had already suffered quite a lot because of the dark melody. He was naturally more than alert. The moment the first note echoed, he kicked the ground, using the tip of his foot to bring up a sword that a cultivator dropped. With his left hand, he tossed away the paper umbrella and grabbed the sword, and with his right he unsheathed Sandu from his waist. With a sword in each hand, he slashed them against each other with force.

The two blades scraped, letting out an extremely harsh noise that overcame Jin GuangYao’s guqin.

I have to say, this is a pretty genius move! You're so hot Sect Leader Jiang <333

It was quite the effective method! But there was only one shortcoming—the sound was just too painful to hear! It was so painful that it felt as if one’s ears would be pierced through by the terrible noise. And to Lan XiChen and Lan WangJi who grew up in the GusuLan Sect, it was even more unbearable. Both of the two frowned slightly. However, Lan WangJi was in the middle of doing his job, hugging Wei WuXian, and was unable to cover his ears. And so, as Wei WuXian trembled, listening to the dog barks, he reached out and covered Lan WangJi’s ears for him.

I don't know why but it's so funny to me that the Lan sect can't tolerate bad music LMAO like, how posh! Let me add this art here too:

He whispered, “He really is the same as Xue Yang.”

Lan WangJi, however, didn’t say anything. Having received no answer, Wei WuXian looked up to realize that he was still covering Lan WangJi’s ears. Lan WangJi didn’t hear what he said at all, and that had to be why he didn’t answer. He let go at once.

Two of the strongest and deadliest cultivators acting so silly right now

Yet, immediately after, he laughed lightly. With his left hand, he whipped out another string and attacked Wei WuXian!

Jiang Cheng’s pupils shrank to become just a point. With a flip of his wrist, he turned Zidian’s direction to defend against the guqin string.

Seems like Jiang Cheng was really afraid of Wei Wuxian getting hurt. Do you think this feeling for him returned after the golden core reveal, or that it was always there, even if the older Jiang Cheng was portrayed as hating Wei Wuxian?

Chapter 102: Hatred (Part Five)

Jin Ling, on the other hand, let out a sigh of relief. Seeing Jiang Cheng sit on the ground, still dark-faced, he turned to Lan WangJi after some hesitation, “HanGuang-Jun, are there any more sitting mats?”

The four mats that they’d been sitting on were all gathered by Lan WangJi. However, there were only four within the temple. After some silence, Lan WangJi stood up and pushed over the one he’d been sitting on.

Jin Ling hurried, “Thank you! It’s fine. I’ll just give him mine…”

Lan WangJi, “There is no need.”

As soon as he finished, he sat down beside Wei WuXian.

I love that in the temple scene we see small acts of courtesy between Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng, and this is especially striking in contrast to the scene in the Jiang Ancestral Hall where they passed cruel words and fought.

Wei WuXian paused in surprise, turning to him along with Lan WangJi. Jiang Cheng covered his wound with one hand, his voice chilly, “Wei WuXian, you’re such a great, selfless person. You did the best things possible, and you swallowed all the suffering and didn’t let anyone know. What a touching story. I should kneel down and cry in gratitude, shouldn’t I?”

Hearing the mocking tone that lacked any courtesy, Lan WangJi’s face grew cold. Jin Ling saw the displeased expression and immediately stood in front of Jiang Cheng, scared that Lan WangJi would kill him with one strike, “Uncle!”

Wei WuXian’s expression worsened as well. He never expected Jiang Cheng to make up with him after he found out the truth, but he didn’t think his tone would be as unkind as ever, either. With a moment of silence, he replied, voice muffled, “I never asked you to thank me.”

Jiang Cheng let out a hah, “Of course. Giving without expecting anything in return. What a high level. Unlike me, of course. So that’s why my father always said you were the one who truly understood the Jiang Sect’s motto and did things the Jiang way, back when he was alive.”

Wei WuXian couldn’t keep on listening any longer, interrupting him, “Enough.”

Jiang Cheng’s voice harshened, “What do you mean, enough? It’s enough as long as you say so? You know everything! You’re better than me at everything! Whether it be talent or cultivation or spirituality or personality, you guys knew everything while I was much lower—then what am I?!?!”

The things Jiang Cheng says in this final meeting with Wei Wuxian seem so in character. Out of all characters, he was the one who had to have another's core transferred to him. Of course he'd be disappointed, in himself most of all. A competitive guy like him turned to be this way because he was always compared to others, and now once again has to deal with the idea that he didn't accomplish things on his own. I can imagine how hard it must be for him understanding that the person whom he thought to be the reason for the fall of his family, the one he dedicated his life to to haunt and kill, is the one thanks to whom he is still alive, strong, and a part of the cultivation world.

He suddenly reached out, as if to seize Wei WuXian’s collar. Lan WangJi grabbed Wei WuXian’s shoulder with one hand, letting Wei WuXian stand behind him, and with his other hand he forcefully pushed away Jiang Cheng’s hand. Rage could be seen hidden within his eyes. Although his push held no spiritual energy, it was quite powerful in terms of strength. The wound at Jiang Cheng’s chest ripped apart again. Blood surged.

Jin Ling cried, “Uncle, your wound! HanGuang-Jun, spare some mercy!”

However, Lan WangJi’s voice was cold, “Jiang WanYin, spare some virtue!”

Damn, Lan Zhan! I don't blame Lan Wangji's rage. The core reveal was a shock to him too. He must think of everything Wei Wuxian had to sacrifice for Jiang Cheng's sake, and now to see Jiang Cheng act in such an ungrateful way, he must really can't stand it.

On the other hand, Jiang Cheng refused to give up, shouting, “Wei WuXian, who was the one who broke his promise and betrayed the Jiang Sect first? Tell me. That I’d be the sect leader and you’d be my subordinate, that you’d help me your whole life, that so long as the GusuLan Sect had its Two Jades, the YunmengJiang Sect would have its Two Prides, that you’d never betray me or betray the Jiang Sect—who was the one that said these?! I’m asking you—who was the one that said all these?! Did you eat all your fucking words?!”

He is so valid though. He really trusted Wei Wuxian as his friend, of course he hated to see him leave. You COULD say that what he says is unfair because he treats Wei Wuxian as a subordinate, meaning that he thinks that Wei Wuxian staying by him is his act of gratitude towards the Jiang Sect taking him in. But on the other hand, it was Wei Wuxian who promised him this thing. In my eyes it was like a vow of friendship, that they will always be together no matter what. And yet Wei Wuxian was the one who had to break this promise. But what Jiang Cheng didn't know is that Wei Wuxian made the greatest sacrifice for him, and him deciding to protect the Wens was also because of Jiang Cheng. He owed Wen Qing and Wen Ning for their help. Jiang Cheng could never know, therefore he'd be the one to pay the price.

Ahhh this is really tragic :(

“Just how much do you owe the Jiang Sect? Am I not supposed to hate you? Can I not hate you?! Why is it that now it’s like I’m supposed to have wronged you?! Why do I have to feel like I’m a fucking clown all these years?! What am I? Do I deserve to be blinded by all your dazzling splendor?! Am I not supposed to hate you?!”

[...]

But after the slap, Jin Ling froze. Not only him, Wei WuXian, Lan WangJi, and Lan XiChen all stopped moving.

Jiang Cheng was crying. Tears poured from his eyes as he forced through his teeth, “… Why… Why didn’t you tell me?!”

Honestly this last scene with Jiang Cheng's monologue is one of the best, most character-fitting monologues I've ever read. I really don't understand how can people hate Jiang Cheng. I adore his complexity so much. He really turned to be the way he turned to be because of things happening to him. But he never hated Wei Wuxian, not until he felt betrayed and wronged by him. Oooof :<

In the beginning, it was precisely because he didn’t want to see such a Jiang Cheng that he decided not to tell him.

He remembered every single thing he promised Jiang FengMian and Madam Yu—to help and take care of Jiang Cheng. If someone as unhealthily competitive as him found out about this, he’d be dispirited his whole life, too tortured to face himself. There’d always be something he could never overcome, reminding him that he could only reach where he was because of another’s sacrifice. It wasn’t at all his cultivation and his achievement. No matter if he won or lost, he’d long since lost the right to compete.

Afterwards, it was because Jin ZiXuan and Jiang YanLi died for him that he had no face to let others know. To tell Jiang Cheng after what happened then would be like shirking responsibility, hurrying to demonstrate that he’d contributed as well. It’d be like telling Jiang Cheng, don’t hate me, look I’ve contributed to the YunmengJiang Sect too.

The first reason was clear, it shows that Wei Wuxian really knows Jiang Cheng's character. However the second reason is something that Wei Wuxian probably has never anticipated, yet it turned to be a reality. He's right, if he was the one who was perceived as responsible for Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan's deaths, revealing the truth of the golden core to Jiang Cheng at such a point would be very ugly.

Poor Wei Wuxian T^T Nothing good he did ever got gratitude.

He choked, “… You said I’d be the sect leader and you’d be my subordinate, you said you’d help me your whole life, you said you’d never betray the YunmengJiang Sect… You said so yourself.”

“…” After a moment of silence, Wei WuXian replied, “I’m sorry. I broke my promise.”

I wonder if Wei Wuxian really meant it with regret, or if it was just a thing he said to end the conversation and leave the matter in the past.

Chapter 103: Hatred (Part Six)

Wei WuXian pressed his temples, “Forget it. It’s all in the past now. Let’s not mention it again.”

It wasn’t something he liked to reminisce about. He didn’t want to be reminded again and again of what it felt like when his core was cut out or what price he had to pay. If this were exposed in the past, he’d most likely laugh and comfort Jiang Cheng, ‘It’s not that big of a deal anyways. Look at me all these years. Without the core, I still managed to come through, didn’t I? Beating everyone I wanted to beat, killing everyone I wanted to kill.’ But now, he indeed didn’t have the strength left to put up such a confident, nonchalant pretense.

From the bottom of his heart, he knew he wasn’t so indifferent about it after all.

I really appreciate this part, because it breaks the character we were used to know to show his real feelings and emotions about it. And of course he would feel that! It's not easy at all, not only the difficult operation he had to endure but also knowing that everything you worked hard to get, everything that could lead you to a promising future- you have to let it all go.

In truth, when Wei WuXian was seventeen or eighteen, his pride wasn’t much lower than Jiang Cheng’s. He once had strong spiritual powers, more talented than others. No matter how much he fooled around, staying up all night pulling pranks on others, he was still far ahead of his classmates who worked so hard.

But every time he tossed and turned as he lay awake at night, knowing he’d never reach the stars using proper means, knowing he’d never wield his sword with the excellence that was supposed to bring astonishment to so many eyes, he wondered if Jiang FengMiang hadn’t take him back to Lotus Pier, perhaps he wouldn’t cross paths with cultivation his whole life. Then he would have never known that such a magnificent path existed in this world. He’d only be a head beggar who roamed the streets, fleeing at first sight of a dog, or maybe looking after cows and stealing other people’s crops in the countryside, playing his flute to pass his time. He wouldn’t have known to cultivate, and he definitely wouldn’t have had the chance to form a core. With such thoughts, he’d felt much better.

Take it as repayment, or take it as redemption. Take it as he’d never received the golden core to begin with.

After explaining things to himself like this again and again, it was as though he was truly as confident and as nonchalant as he made it seem like on the surface, and along the way he could even praise himself for such a state of mind, whether he was lying or not.

But that was in his past life.

I really wonder what Wei Wuxian's real thoughts about this matter now are. Was he really forcing himself to be this carefree and nonchalant? In truth, what he says about the Jiang Sect being the reason he got to cultivate in the first place a kinda good argument, but I wonder why he doesn't believe in it anymore.

At this point, still enveloped in Lan XiChen’s robe, Nie HuaiSang gradually woke up. Moaning lightly, he managed to crawl up, still bleary-eyed, “Where am I?”

Yet, the instant he got up, he saw Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi sitting together so tightly on the same sitting mat. The YiLing Patriarch was basically sitting on HanGuang-Jun’s lap. He immediately let out a wail, as if he was about to faint again.

Nie Huaisang's expectations: to bring Wei Wuxian back to life to take revenge on Jin Guangyao for murdering his brother.

Reality: Wei Wuxian turns gay with one of their world most renowned cultivators.

Chapter 104: Hatred (Part Seven)

If so, the reason behind Jin ZiXun being cursed with a Hundred Holes had nothing to do with him. But in the end, he was the one who bore the charge.

The cause of the attack at the Qiongqi Path was that Jin ZiXun was cursed with a Hundred Holes. If this cause didn’t exist, the LanlingJin Sect would’ve had no reason to attack him, Wen Ning wouldn’t have lost control and gone on the rampage, Wei WuXian wouldn’t have had to be responsible for a life as heavy as Jin ZiXuan’s, and the things that happened later wouldn’t have had to happen.

Yet now, he finally realized even the reason behind culprit’s curse wasn’t to frame him. Even the cause didn’t have anything to do with him!

Such a fact was truly difficult to accept.

As he laughed, Wei WuXian’s eyes reddened. He mocked, whether at himself or otherwise, “I can’t believe it’s because of someone like you… because of such a ridiculous reason!”

But Jin GuangYao seemed like he knew what he thought, “Young Master Wei, you really shouldn’t think like this.”

Wei WuXian, “Oh? You know what I think?”

Jin GuangYao, “Of course. It’s quite easy. You’re definitely thinking about how unfortunate you are. In reality, you’re not. Even if Su She didn’t curse Jin ZiXun, Mr. Wei, you’d receive a siege sooner or later, because of some other reason.” He smiled, “Because that’s what kind of a person you are. At best, you’re the untamed hero; at worst, you offend people wherever you go. Unless all those whom you’ve offended lived their lives safely, as soon as something happened to them or someone did something to them, the first person they suspect would be you and the first person they seek revenge on would also you. And this is something you have no control over.”

Somehow, Wei WuXian smiled, “What should I do? For some reason, I think you make a lot of sense.”

Jin GuangYao, “And even if you didn’t lose control at the Qiongqi Path, could you guarantee you didn’t lose control sometime in the rest of your life? Thus, someone like you is destined to have a short life. You see? Doesn’t it feel a lot better if you think about it this way?”

I сan really understand Wei Wuxian's frustration here! Just as he began to suspect that the whole deal with Jin Zixun's cure was to frame him deliberately, in the end it turned out that it was a private revenge on Zixun on Su She's part, and had nothing to do with Wei Wuxian. But Jin Guangyao is right. Even if the immediate cause had nothing to do with Wei Wuxian, the reason that he was involved in this was because he has already become an "evil" figure who could be blamed for anything. It really wasn't a ridiculous coincidence like Wei Wuxian thought.

He looked toward Jiang Cheng. After some thought, he began in a lukewarm tone, “Sect Leader Jiang, calm down a bit, won’t you? I understand what you’re feeling right now. You’re in such a terrible mood only because you know the truth behind your golden core. When you think back on what you did all these years, your proud heart feels a tinge of guilt, and so you’re anxious to find a culprit for what happened to Young Master Wei in his past life, a villain onto whom you can push all liability. Then, you’d lash out at him, both in vengeance for Young Master Wei and to ease some of your burden.

“If being determined that everything from the Hundred Holes curse to the attack at the Qiongqi Path was part of my singlehanded scheme would ease your troubles, then feel free to think whatever you please. But what you have to understand is that, for what happened to Young Master Wei in the end, you are responsible too and in fact, you are very much so. Why did so many people crusade against the YiLing Patriarch? Why did they shout their support, no matter if they were involved or not? Why was he one-sidedly condemned by so many?

Was it really their sense of justice? Of course not. A part of the reason is you.”

Jiang Cheng laughed coldly. Lan XiChen knew Jin GuangYao was going to start calling white black again. He shouted in a hushed voice, “Sect Leader Jin!”

Jin GuangYao wasn’t swayed, continuing with a smile, “… Back then, the LanlingJin Sect, the QingheNie Sect, and the GusuLan Sect had already finished fighting over the biggest share. The rest could only get some small shrimps. You, on the other hand, had just rebuilt Lotus Pier and behind you was the YiLing Patriarch, Wei WuXian, the danger of whom was immeasurable. Do you think the other sects would like to see a young sect leader who was so advantaged? Luckily, you didn’t seem to be on good terms with your shixiong, and since everyone thought there was an opportunity, of course they’d add fuels to your fire if they could. No matter what, to weaken the YunmengJiang Sect was to strengthen themselves. Sect Leader Jiang, if only your attitude towards your shixiong was just a bit better, showing everyone that your bond was too strong to be broken for them to have a chance, or if you exhibited just a bit more tolerance after what happened, things wouldn’t have become what they were. Oh, speaking of it, you were also a main force of the siege at Burial Mound…”

One of the most important parts in this novel, in my opinion. MXTX understand the world of politics so well, it's really incredible! Not only the content of Jin Guangyao's words make us reflect on the entire political scheme and silent power wars happening behind the scenes of the prominent sects, but also the way Jin Guangyao manipulates Jiang Cheng's feelings by the words he uses to stick in like  "When you think back on what you did all these years, your proud heart feels a tinge of guilt, and so you’re anxious to find a culprit for what happened to Young Master Wei in his past life, a villain onto whom you can push all liability." It seems that at this moment this is also what we, the readers, expect everyone in that room to see how Wei Wuxian wasn't to blame for what happened. But I think that in the end we don't get that gratification, at least not in its full form. What was understood in the temple scene is that Wei Wuxian was responsible, but now it was uncovered that he was not the ONLY ONE responsible. This story doesn't think in terms of the classic good-bad classification, but it really follows the way things work in the real world, where good people can do bad things and bad people can do good things. This also explains the way Jin Ling will feel about this entire situation, which I will soon add.

Chapter 105: Hatred (Part Eight)

She was over twenty when she met the man. At such an age, she’d lose her popularity in just a few years.

OUCH???? Just how young were the prostitutes then? It's so sad really...how you can work and be popular only for a set period of time and then afterwards everybody will treat you bad.

Meng Yao didn’t say anything. AnXin giggled, poking a finger painted bright red at Meng Yao’s forehead, “Little one, you angry?”

She pressed quite hard. A light, red mark appeared in the center of Meng Yao’s forehead, almost like a shadow of a vermillion mark. He touched his forehead, “No…”

Nice symbolism!

With a loud scream, the woman had her hair pulled by the client again, all the way until she was dragged downstairs, stripped, and tossed onto the street. He spat on her naked body, cursing, “Hags do nothing but haggle—an old whore thinks she’s fresh meat!”

Panicking, the woman lay prone in the center of the street, scared to get up. With one move, everyone would see everything. The passersbys on the street were both astonished and thrilled, lingering as they pointed with glinting eyes. The doors to the brothel were also cramped with the women inside, chuckling as they told the story of the poor old woman to their clients just like AnXin did. Only one of the ladies squeezed through the doors. She took off the gauze robe that was so flimsy to begin with, revealing half of her full, snowy breasts enwrapped by a crimson slip, her waist was exceptionally thin as well. She was more than eye-catching and everyone hurried to take a look at her.

This is just so cruel and sad. Again, the way to treat a woman solely by her age and looks. Ugh....this is disgusting.

Chapter 106: Hatred (Part Nine)

Jin GuangYao, “Did I not love her with all my heart?! But I had no choice, that’s all there is to it! Yes! It was my marriage, but could I really not have married her with just my word?! Brother, there has to be a bottom line to your naivety—I spent so much effort, went through such lengths for Qin CangYe to answer my proposal, and as the wedding day approached, I finally satisfied both Qin CangYe and Jin GuangShan, but now you’re telling me I should have called off the wedding just like that? What reason should I have used? What should I have told the two of them?!

“Brother, do you know how I felt when Madam Qin came to me to secretly reveal the truth, just as I thought everything was perfect?! It wouldn’t have scared me more if a streak of lighting sliced through my skull! Do you know why she didn’t go to Jin GuangShan and instead begged me in secrecy? It was because she was raped by Jin GuangShan! That good father of mine, he didn’t even let the wife of the subordinate who’s been with him for so long go. He didn’t even remember he had a new daughter! For so many years, she didn’t dare tell this to her husband, Qin CangYe. If I suddenly broke off the engagement, they would have noticed what was going on and Jin GuangShan and Qin CangYe would have fallen out with each other. Who do you think would be the one that was shunned by both sides and met the worst end?!”

He actually makes sense. What could he do that he fell in love with her and only found out that she was his sister the night before their wedding? If he called it off right at that instant, the truth would be revealed and it would indeed cause trouble between the Jin and Qin sects, perhaps ending in blood. His choice to keep the marriage was a political step at that moment and not at all strange from other political steps people used to do in history. Yet in this novel, the point is exactly how things that were made with a logic reason get spread out in the most negative way, so of course everyone say that he was a perverted man who chose to marry his sister even after getting to know the truth. Just like how they twisted everything that happened with Wei Wuxian.

Jin GuangYao hugged his head, his voice bitter, “… I never touched A-Su again after our marriage. A-Song… we had him before we married. Back then, I was afraid of further delay and additional issues…”

So he and Qin Su consummated their marriage beforehand. If not because of this, he wouldn’t have somehow ended up engaging in incest with his younger sister.

This too. Nobody would stop to think how this whole thing was a chain of unfortunate events.  The mob will chant the Jin Guangyao married his sister knowingly and then consummated the marriage.

Jin GuangYao continued, “But I’ve never thought of planning everything that happened afterward either. You don’t have to think of me as so clever and faultless. Many things can’t be controlled at all. How could I have known that he’d definitely die by Wei WuXian’s hands together with Jin ZiXun? How could I have predicted that Wei WuXian would definitely lose control and the Ghost General would definitely run riot?”

Wei WuXian’s voice was harsh, “And you said you didn’t run into him by accident? Isn’t that self-contradiction?!”

Jin GuangYao, “I don’t deny that I told him about the attack at Qiongqi Path on purpose, but I only thought that he’d encounter some difficulties if he ran into you when you were being troubled by his cousin since he’d never been on good terms with you. How could I have known that you would simply kill everyone present, Mr. Wei?”

And this is exactly what I meant when I said that this novel doesn't have the classic good and bad characters. Yes, Jin Guangyao did part A of everything that happened on Qiongqi path, but he had no control of the turn of events that led to part B because Wei Wuxian had no control of the weapon he himself created, a thing that Wei Wuxian states clearly and is aware of in previous chapters. So now we understand that Wei Wuxian wasn't the only one who was to blame for Jin Zixuan's death, but he is absolutely not 100% innocent. It was an unfortunate mistake, but a mistake caused by his negligence and lack of full understanding of the method he used.

And I love it this way. It really shows how complex the reality is. That everything you think you know you don't really know.

“A-Ling, then could you tell me why? Why is it that even if I face everyone with a smile, I might not even receive the lowest form of respect, while even though your father was extremely arrogant, people flocked to him? Could you tell me why we were born from the same person but your father could relax at home with the love of his life playing with his child, while I never even dared be alone for long with my wife, shivering out of fright at first glance of my son? And I was ordered to do such a thing by my father as if it was natural—to kill an extremely dangerous figure who could flip out and conjure up a bloody massacre with his corpses anytime!

[...]

“Brother, don’t be surprised that I can call him such dirty things. To this father of mine, I once had hopes as well. In the past, as long as it was his command, whether it be to betray Sect Leader Wen or protect Xue Yang or remove anyone who disagreed, no matter how foolish it was, how hated I’d be, I’d obey regardlessly. But do you know what it was that made me lose hope completely? I’ll answer your first question now. It wasn’t that I’d never be worth a single hair on Jin ZiXuan or one of the holes in Jin ZiXun, it wasn’t that he took back Mo XuanYu, it wasn’t that he tried every possible way to make me a mere figurehead either. It was the truth he once told the maid beside me when he was out indulging himself again.

“Why was a sect leader who spent money like water unwilling to do the smallest favor and buy my mother’s freedom? Simple—it was too much trouble. My mother waited for so many years, weaving together so many difficult circumstances when she talked to me, imagining for his sake so many hardships. And the real reason was only a single word: trouble.

“This is what he said, ‘It’s especially women who’ve read some books who think they’re a level higher than other women. They’re the most troublesome, with so many demands and unrealistic thoughts. If I bought her freedom and took her back to Lanling, who knows how much fuss she’d make. It was best that I let her stay where she was just like that. With her conditions, she’d probably be popular for a few more years. She wouldn’t have to worry about her spendings for the rest of her life.’

“‘Son? Oh, forget it.’”

I love MXTX so much for the logic she gives to all character's actions!! Jin Guangyao's real weakness was his mother, and so it seems that even though he could endure many things, the real moment that he snapped was when people insulted his mother.

With Jin Ling under control, Jin GuangYao stood up, “Sect Leader Jiang, there’s no need to be so agitated. I watched A-Ling grow up, after all. Same as before, after we walk our own paths for a while, you’ll see a perfectly unharmed A-Ling in some time.”

Jiang Cheng, “A-Ling, don’t move! Jin GuangYao, if you want hostage, it’s the same if it’s me!”

This makes me think again of the differences between the two uncles. One is nice and calm yet will have no problem to harm and kill his nephew, the other always threatens to harm him as his act of harsh education but he would never do that, and would willingly take his place.

At the fourth strike, the door bolt finally broke. Dense strands of rain as well as a pitch-black figure whirled through the door.

Jin GuangYao’s figure trembled, as though he wanted to dodge, but soon he stopped the urge. The figure didn’t fly in his direction, but instead in Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi’s. Calmly, the two parted for an instant before naturally standing side-by-side again. Turning around, Wei WuXian called, “Wen Ning?”

Wen Ning crashed into the Guanyin statue within the temple. With his feet above his head, he hung for a while before he plopped down and answered, “… Young Master.”

LMAO Wen Ning always has such funny entrances.

The blood that came from where Jin GuangYao’s hand broke off splashed right onto Jin Ling, drenching over half of his body and a portion of his face. He was still muddled, having not realized what happened yet. Wei WuXian, however, pulled him into a tight hug, “Stand farther away from dangerous people next time, you brat, why did you go so close?!”

If the only son of Jiang YanLi and Jin ZiXuan died in front of his eyes, Wei WuXian would truly be at a loss as to what to do.

Jin Ling wasn’t used to being hugged by someone like this. Blood immediately flushed to his pale face as he pushed away from Wei WuXian’s chest. Grabbing him, Wei WuXian hugged a couple more times, with more force, slapping his shoulder hard before he shoved him towards Jiang Cheng, “Go! Don’t run around anymore. Go to your uncle!”

Finally an uncle who treats him and talks to him right!

Jiang Cheng caught Jin Ling, who still felt a bit dizzy. Looking across at Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi standing together, he hesitated for a moment before he turned to Lan WangJi, lowering his voice, “Thank you.” Although his voice was low, there was no vagueness.

That's right, thank Hanguang Jun for saving your nephew, after all the shit you talked about him to his face!

Chapter 107: Concealment (Part One)

At the same time, Lan XiChen led Nie HuaiSang to somewhere that was safe. Su She searched for extra medicine on him, but to no avail, turning to Lan XiChen, “Sect Leader Lan! Sect Leader Lan, do you have medicine? Help him out—Sect Leader has always treated you with respect! Just take it as doing him a favor!”

Su She really has no shame! Asking for help from none other than the leader of the sect he constantly shits on.

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?!”

[...]

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.

The irony strikes again in this novel. The characters go the hardship of realizing that those who harmed them can also be the ones who save them. The reality is indeed complex, but the context is what's important. Wen Ning never wanted to kill Jin Zixuan, he did so because he felt the rage from Wei Wuxian, when he was under his control. However right now, he did save Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling out of his own will.

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.

EWWW GET A ROOM YOU TWO

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.

Making a scene on purpose so that the corpse of his brother wouldn't be sealed before it took revenge on Jin Guangyao?

Chapter 108: Concealment (Part Two)

Wei WuXian flipped nimbly on top of the coffin. He stuck Chenqing back at his waist with his left hand and quickly bit into his right hand’s finger, smoothly painting an entire string of wild, bloody incantations without a moment of pause from top to bottom!

He's soooo coooolll

He was much taller standing on the coffin. Lan WangJi put his guqin away and looked up at him with the pair of light eyes. Wei WuXian looked down and couldn’t help but touch the fair face with his right hand, adding a few blood-red marks, by accident or on purpose.

Lan WangJi didn’t worry too much about it, “Come down.”

Wei WuXian hopped down with a grin before he was caught right inside those arms.

GET A ROOMMMM

Lan XiChen was beyond both disappointment and sorrow, “Sect Leader Jin, I told you. If you act again, I would show no mercy.”

Jin GuangYao spat, his voice fierce, “Yes! You said so. But did I act?!”

He’d always kept up a gentle, graceful appearance in front of others, yet right now he displayed such a savage look.

[...]

“Lan XiChen! In this life, I’ve lied countless times, killed countless times. Like you said, I killed my father, my brother, my wife, my son, my teacher, my friend—of all the evil in the world, what haven’t I done?!”

He took in a breath, rasping, “But I’ve never even thought of harming you!”

Lan XiChen was astonished.

[...]

Lan WangJi summoned Bichen, which shot at them with at speed of lighting, but Nie MingJue wasn’t at all afraid of these spiritual weapons. Even if Bichen hit him, it would likely be unable to stop him from closing the small gap between him and Lan XiChen’s throat.

Yet, just as the hand was an instant from grasping Lan XiChen’s neck, Jin GuangYao used the only hand he had left to strike Lan XiChen’s chest, pushing Lan XiChen away.

I really do believe that Jin Guangyao never intended to hurt Lan Xichen. He probably really did have good relationship with him and will to help him. Same goes with Nie Huaisang. I guess Jin Guangyao never had any ill intentions towards anyone who didn't treat him wrong or looked down on him. And once again this is the complexity of life shown in this novel.  We are so used to things being painted as good or evil, even in our real life, that we tend to think that if a person did something bad he can't do anything good, or if a person treats everybody good, he can't do anything bad. But life and human psychology is so complex. You can absolutely treat one person good, but to another person you can have really ill intentions. This is striking especially when you hear news about someone who murdered somebody and their family and friends are always shocked, saying that the killer was such a nice, good person, always caring for everyone. 

Chapter 109: Concealment (Part Three)

Before he finished, Wei WuXian suddenly felt both his body and his line of sight tilt. Lan WangJi held one end of the coffin and lifted it up.

Which meant, with only a left hand, he lifted the wooden coffin, the two dead bodies within the coffin, the Guanyin statue above the coffin, and Wei WuXian atop the statue.

Wei WuXian gaped in astonishment. He’d long since known that Lan WangJi had shocking arm strength, but this… was a bit too shocking!

Lan WangJi’s expression hadn’t changed. His right hand unleashed a silver guqin string. As if on wings, the string zipped dozens of times around the coffin and the Guanyin statue, tying the two tightly together. And then a second one, and a third… Having determined that Nie MingJue and Jin GuangYao were sealed away properly, he finally his left hand drop. The one end of the coffin plummeted to the ground, letting out a loud echo. Wei WuXian tilted as well. 

Lan WangJi welcomed him by breaking his fall with his arms before he placed him steadily on the ground. The hands that had just conquered almost a thousand pounds were more than gentle when wrapped around Wei WuXian.

Ahhhh this scene is so cute! Lan Wangji is so awesome, and yes, soon you will feel how those arms can be both strong and gentle on you Wei Wuxian hehehe

ChiFeng-Zun’s corpse was buried by the QingheNie Sect. In all these years, did Nie HuaiSang, who had always admired his elder brother, really fail to notice that the corpse had been switched?

Wei WuXian prefered this other case instead.

Perhaps before Nie MingJue passed away, Nie HuaiSang really knew nothing. But after Nie MingJue’s death, he knew everything. Including that Nie MingJue’s corpse had been switched. Including the true colors of the brother he once trusted.

He tried to search for his elder brother’s corpse, but after so many years and so much hard work, he could only find a single left hand.

I really don't understand this part. If the corpse was buried in the QingheNie sect, what motive could Jin Guangyao have to dig it out, cut it to pieces and keep the head in his palace? What was that all about?

Chapter 110: Concealment (Part Four)

While Lan QiRen raised his sword and shouted, “Wei…”

Before he even finished a few white-clothed figures rushed out from behind his back, all of them shouting, “HanGuang-Jun!”

“Senior Wei!”

“Senior Patriarch!”

The last boy bumped into Lan QiRen so hard he almost tipped over. He fumed, “No running! No making clamor!”

Apart from Lan WangJi, who turned to him and called, “Uncle”, nobody paid him any attention.

LOLOLOLOLOL Lan Qiren has to see how everyone of his perfect students start to love the most vile person on earth!

At the time, the GusuLan Sect was also about to leave Lotus Pier. Lan QiRen, however, was stopped by Fairy. It hopped up, tore off a thin white fabric from the hem of Lan SiZhui’s robe, and used his paws to shove it onto its its head, as if it wanted to make the white cloth into a circle around its forehead. It then lay on the ground and pretended to be dead. Lan QiRen had no idea what was happening, but Lan SiZhui had a moment of epiphany, “Mr. Lan, does it not seem like it is imitating the forehead ribbon of our sect? Does it want to tell us that either HanGuang-Jun or someone from the Lan Sect is also in danger?”

This thing Fairy did is SOOOOOOOOO underrated! I remember wanting to draw it

“Look at its face! Doesn’t it look like Jin GuangYao?”

Everyone mused after they looked, “It’s his face indeed! Why would Jin GuangYao make such a thing?”

Sect Leader Yao, “To declare himself a god with wild arrogance, of course.”

“Arrogant indeed, then, hahaha.”

Wei WuXian thought to himself, No, not necessarily.

Jin GuangYao’s mother was seen as the lowest prostitutes, so he decided to carve a Guanyin statue with his mother’s appearance, receiving the worship of tens of thousands.

But there was no use in saying all that. Nobody knew with more clarity than Wei WuXian that nobody would care and nobody would believe him. Anything related to Jin GuangYao would be given the most malicious conjectures and passed through the mouths of the crowd.

I believe the things we learn from parts like this is really the main idea of this novel. That people are quick to judge and point fingers and spread rumors without investigating or trying to understand the context of things. Wei Wuxian felt it on his own skin and eventually being in the center of everyone's hated brought him to a situation and to actions that later lead to his death. Because it comes to the point that if everybody believes a lie or a twisted version of the truth, you, being alone, can not do anything to change their mind or explain your POV. They will just use everything you say or do against you.

This is why many chapters ago I pointed to Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian saying that one should not comment before they understand the whole picture. While the mob of sects here jumps on every piece of news, Wei Wuxian remains sceptic and wants to know if those things are true, and if they are, why did they happen? What lead them to happen? Whose motive could be behind it?

He didn’t know why, but he felt like he couldn’t hate or blame anyone. Wei WuXian, Jin GuangYao, Wen Ning—every one of them should be responsible to some extent for the deaths of his parents, every one of them gave him a reason to loathe them with all he had. But it also seemed like every one of them gave him a reason that made him unable to do so. But if he didn’t hate him, whom could he hate? Did he deserve to lose both his parents when he was young? Was he not only able to seek revenge, but also unable to hate someone purely and entirely?

These are Jin Ling's feelings I mentioned above. Again, it has to do with the fact that there's no plain good or bad. It all depends on many things.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Cheng shook his head, “There’s nothing to say.”

What could he say?

That, back then, I wasn’t caught by the Wen Sect because I wanted to go back to Lotus Pier to retrieve my parents’ corpses. That, at the town we passed on our way, when you were buying food, a group of Wen Sect cultivators caught up. That, I discovered them early and left where I sat, hiding at the corner of the street and didn’t get caught, but they were patrolling the streets and would soon run into you outside.

That this was why I ran out and distracted them.

But just like how the past Wei WuXian couldn’t tell him the truth of giving him his golden core, the current Jiang Cheng wasn’t able to say anything either.

Jiang Cheng really deserves recognition! T^T

MDZS rereading commentary || Chapters 111-113

MDZS rereading commentary || Chapters 91-100