The world is still such a bright place

Chapter 37

Jiang Cheng was only standing in place, completely frozen. He had never understood what his sister saw in that arrogant and shameless peacock. Even now, looking at Jin Zixuan's leaving back, he could not help himself but to curse under his breath. He could not believe that even after what he had said, the Lanling Jin sect heir did not feel any shame nor remorse and just walked away, going to meet whoever he was now favouring.

Jiang Cheng was feeling sorry for Jian Yanli who was apparently actually in love with this unsupportable person but did not know how to approach him. She had always been too shy and reserved, thinking about others and trying not to bother them too much, only silently taking care of everyone except for herself.

He was still boiling with anger, not sure if he should follow after Jin Zixuan or go back to console his sister who was still eagerly waiting for the Lanling Jin sect heir to come visit her every day. But Jin Zixuan never did, although Jiang Cheng was trying to confront him about it on regular basis – without his sister's knowledge of course, she would not stand for him to bother her fiancé too much –, the Lanling Jin sect heir was only disappearing who knew where. Well, now Jiang Cheng knew but he would not tell his sister, it would hurt her deeply to learn that her fiancé was seeing another girl.

In the end, as already several times, he decided to not chase after Jin Zixuan for today, he did not want to see the girl who took the place of his sister, he knew himself quite well to understand that he would cause a scene in such a situation. He was even considering to go talk to Jiang Yanli again, to try and convince her to just let go of such a person and find someone better. Jin Zixuan did not deserve her.

He turned on his heel and stomped back in the direction he had come from just moments ago. He had however been in such a hurry before that he had not been paying attention to where he had been going, only following Jin Zixuan's golden robes, blind to anything else. So it was to be expected that he had gotten himself lost. Why was the Lanling Jin sect heir having his secret meeting so far away from any residential areas anyway? Now Jiang Cheng would not be able to find his way back easily.

He was even angrier now, cursing both Jin Zixuan and his own stupidity. He was looking all around, trying to spot any landmarks which he would recognize, he did not even know if he had chosen the right direction and was coming back to the residential areas or if he was moving away from them instead. He could have also been walking in circles, he had no idea.

Suddenly, he bumped into someone and he cursed loudly, reprimanding the person a second later: "What are you doing? Are you blind or what?" He knew fully well that he was only letting out his anger on a completely unrelated person, but he was just fuming and needed to let it out one way or another. Even if that meant to offend another disciple.

However, when he looked at the person in front of him more closely, he realized that it was perhaps not a good idea to offend just him. The one who was standing a little out of balance in front of him was no other than the youngest brother of the Twin Jades of Gusu.

He did not know too much about him, actually nearly nothing now that he was thinking about it. He did not even know that there were three brothers in the main Lan clan family, he had always thought there were only two of them. There had been no information nor rumours about this person. He had only learned about him from Nie Huisang after the lectures had started, and not in detail either, just his name.

"What was it again? It did not have the Lan family surname in it... Ah, Wei Wuxian... I have never heard of any family with this surname. Why does he have a different name from his brothers? Could it be that they do not have the same parents? Or that they are actually not related by blood at all? Anyway, it does not concern me. I do not know him and I do not intend to either. But I suppose I should not insult him... It would be bad if there was some misunderstanding which could affect our sects' relationship."

He sighed silently and bowed in apology: "Young Master Wei, I am sorry for running into you. I will be more careful in the future."

He waited for the Gusu Lan sect disciple's reaction and was surprised when he received a bow in response. It seemed like Wei Wuxian was polite and more open than ta least one of his brothers. Jiang Cheng did not have an opportunity to really meet Lan Xichen outside of the official opening ceremony of the lectures, but he had already gotten to know Lan Wangji. A stoic, cold and unapproachable, the name as one of the Jades was fitting for him.

Relieved that Wei Wuxian would probably not make an incident out of Jiang Cheng being rude to him, the Yunmeng Jiang sect heir was already considering to leave when he had a thought of asking the other for directions. It was not probable he would encounter anyone else this far from the residential area and he did not want to wander around aimlessly for hours, looking for his way back.

Already half turned away from Wei Wuxian, he faced him again and asked, somewhat ashamed that he had gotten lost in the back mountains, the Cloud Recesses were not such a big place: "Young Master Wei, could you please help me find my way back to the residential area?"

Wei Wuxian seemed surprised for a bit but did not comment on it, for which Jiang Cheng was glad. The Gusu Lan sect disciple only nodded his head and gestured to him to follow him. It did not even take a whole minute for them to arrive to a road and at the end of it, the Yunmeng Jiang sect heir could see a warehouse he recognized, he had not wandered very far at all.

They bowed to each other again and then Jiang Cheng hurried back to his sister's side, sad that he would have to inform her that Jin Zixuan was not coming to see her today either. He had quickly forgotten all about Wei Wuxian and the strange feeling he got while interacting with him, his thoughts were already circling about how he would be able to convince the Lanling Jin sect heir to come see Jiang Yanli tomorrow.

Or alternatively, if he could convince his sister to give up on him and find someone better suited for her, someone kinder and less arrogant who would actually appreciate her. For he was sure that Jin Zixuan was neither of those and would only cause Jiang Yanli pain. But if his sister did not want to do so, he would not give up either and would drag the Lanling Jin sect heir to see her if there would be no other option.