Backlash Part 1

Chapter 65: Girl Talk

"What have you been practising?" Wen Qing asked.

"Yanli's learning to use a sword! And I've been helping her with forming a golden core!" Luo Qingyang announced to Wen Qing, her voice full of excitement and pride. Wen Qing did not miss the slight widening of Jiang Yanli's eyes, or the way her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Jiang Yanli was suddenly very interested in closely observing the treats she was carrying. Wen Qing was surprised, but not at all in a bad way.

Wen Qing remembered that Jiang Yanli had never shown much interest in cultivation. She recalled some people even making nasty comments about her being unworthy of Jin Zixuan because of her lack of cultivation. Wen Qing hadn't put too much thought in it. If Jiang Yanli didn't want to use a sword or work on cultivation, that was her choice. Wen Qing knew that Wei Wuxian had asked Jiang Yanli to learn some means of defending herself, but even he had not suggested she learn to truly fight. So what had influenced Jiang Yanli to pick up a sword and begin to actually work on cultivation.

"How has it been going?" Wen Qing asked in a warm tone.

"Yanli has been doing SO good! She's been working really hard! She was nervous about it, and didn't want to join in the classes yet. So I have been helping her during free time! She wanted to start practising but didn't want to be doing it with a bunch of other people. She said it would be too embarrassing to tell people yet..." And that was when Luo Qingyang suddenly stopped talking. Her excited eyes suddenly widened in realization and she looked horrified as she audibly slapped both of her hands over her mouth like she was trying to put the words back in.

'So it was meant to be kept secret? Why?' Wen Qing wondered to herself. Jiang Yanli was technically a cultivator even if her cultivation was previously minimal. Her learning and practising wasn't exactly strange. True she would currently be behind a lot of the cultivators her age, but that wasn't exactly a unique situation. Nie Huaisang's cultivation was also incredibly low for his age. Wen Qing would have had to do an assessment to tell you which one was lower. The main difference that Wen Qing was aware of, was that Nie Huaisang had someone forcing him to engage in cultivation classes.

Wen Qing wasn't entirely certain what was embarrassing about taking a greater interest in cultivating. Wasn't that more or less why everyone was in Cloud Recesses? Wen Qing tried to observe more carefully. She had been getting a lot of practice in deciphering Lan Wangji based on his expressions. Perhaps those skills could be transferable? Jiang Yanli's hands were fidgeting nervously even as they were occupied by the earlier purchases. She had yet to raise her eyes to look at Wen Qing or Luo Qingyang.

"Yanli! I... I'm so sorry. I was just so proud of you and it just..." Luo Qingyang was speaking quickly. Her tone was full of regret. Her words were stopped by Jiang Yanli giving her a small knowing smile. Jiang Yanli's eyes still seemed anxious, but she did her best to keep the anxiety off of her face.

"It's okay Mianmian. I know you didn't mean any harm. I... I need to get used to letting people know anyway." Jiang Yanli's calm voice hesitated slightly on the last sentence. Wen Qing considered the time. There was a lot of day left. The other girls they had come to town with seemed to have gotten separated from them. While Wen Qing didn't fully grasp the situation she had just become aware of, she knew it was definitely something significant.

"Why don't we get lunch? If you'd like, we can talk about what is bothering you," Wen Qing offered calmly. Wen Qing didn't know Jiang Yanli very well yet. Although they'd had meals together with Wei Wuxian quite frequently, those were almost always focused around Wei Wuxian. They had talked a few times, but again these talks were always related to Wei Wuxian. Mostly about how Jiang Yanli wanted to help him, but felt like she was failing to do so.