Backlash Part 1

Chapter 31: The Jingshi

'So this actually worked?' Nie Huaisang wasn't sure if he was impressed with himself or just surprised. The fight had ended, though not by the two parties calming down. Lan Qiren came in and ended it in short order. His furious countenance as he commanded both of them to kneel in separate areas had every disciple shrinking back. The looming threat about how Lan Qiren would come back to tell them their punishments and they were not to move until then left no room for argument. The menacing way he mentioned that he would be talking with their parents...

All Nie Huaisang could think was that if Lan Qiren wanted to speak with their parents anyway, there wasn't any harm in directing him towards the location of one particular parent. Lan Qiren being the patient and tolerant person he was probably wouldn't react negatively towards said parent if they happened to be shouting and cursing.

Nie Huaisang didn't actually know if Madam Yu was shouting and cursing. It was more of an educated guess.  Based on the stories of the former disciples he had spoken to and, well, Jiang Wanyin had to learn it from someone didn't he? Nie Huaisang thought it would take some effort to direct Lan Qiren towards Madam Yu. At least some plausible reason for why he was mentioning it. He even had half of an excuse worked out in his head before he opened his mouth. He never ended up needing to use it though. As soon as the words.

"I saw a disciple leading Madam Yu towards the disciple residences," left his mouth, Lan Qiren was already demanding Nei Huaisang show him exactly where the disciple had led her. They weren't even in sight of the courtyard and Nei Huaisang could already hear an enraged female voice shouting like she wanted to murder someone.

"From the moment you wormed your way into our home you've destroyed everything you touch. Everyday my husband sees you he is reminded of the love he lost. He gives his affection to a ghost he sees when he looks at you. Affection you steal from my son. Was everything else not enough for you? Did you have to steal my son's father from him?" The distant shouts held a venomous rage that sent chills down Nie Huaisang's spine. He shivered involuntarily and temporarily froze in his step. Lan Qiren apparently didn't need him to lead anymore and continued walking ahead of him now.

"Of course you don't care about the damage you cause. You make trouble at every turn and bring my family endless suffering. One day you'll bring us a true disaster beyond what we can recover from. We'll be fortunate if Lotus Pier is still standing." Her raging voice was more than scolding. Nie Huaisang was starting to understand why those disciples weren't afraid of Nie Mingjue. He at least was usually scolding them. This was not scolding. This felt more personal, more hostile. It was not directed toward Nie Huaisang at all, but he already felt terrified to ever have this directed at him. The way the words were spoken, and the words that were chosen. All with that sharp bitter tone. It was like everything was chosen to attack where you were weakest. It was truly painful to the ear.

"You never have a thought about remorse or consideration for the people who saved you from the streets. If you did, you wouldn't bring us trouble at every opportunity." Nie Huaisang's gaze landed on Lan Qiren's back. The elder was standing in a rigid way, slightly trembling with rage. Nie Huaisang was well aware that Madam Yu was breaking several rules right now. He didn't know how many exactly. He was pretty sure there were several that all sort of related to how you speak to others. Surely she must have been breaking most of those ones at least.

"Fengmian should have left you where he found you. On the streets like the garbage that you are." Nie Huaisang felt his eyes go wide.

'What did she just say?'  Nie Huaisang could not believe his ears.  Of course he knew Madam Yu's scoldings struck fear into the disciples who had left Lotus Pier, but he still didn't expect such cruel words to be used.