Backlash Part 1

Chapter 111: Branding Iron

"I'm not here to waste my time with waiting. Get someone hung up. Bleed them. We'll lure this monster out in no time." Wen Chao's voice broke through Luo Qingyang's musings and her blood ran cold.

'Is he insane?' Luo Qingyang questioned. Luring a beast with fresh blood? It would send the thing into a murderous frenzy. This was common knowledge for cultivators. Was Wen Chao that stupid? There was no way he had night hunted with these tactics and not gotten people killed. The fact that he was alive was already... Luo Qingyang paused. 'He has Wen Zhuliu babysitting him at all times. That's probably the only reason he is still alive.'

"You can't lure a monster with flesh and blood. You'll be condemning us all to death." Jin Zixuan said in outrage.

'You're not wrong, but you can't expect Wen Chao is actually going to listen to you.' Luo Qingyang commented silently.

"Jin Zixuan, did I not make myself clear earlier?" Wen Chao asked menacingly.

Luo Qingyang resisted the urge to scowl. Wen Chao had loved to bully and hurt anyone he could throughout indoctrination. He seemed to especially like to pick on Jin Zixuan, Lan Wangji, and Wei Wuxian. Two of those people were basically attached at the hip, but once you added Jin Zixuan there was only one thing that came to mind for Luo Qingyang that connected them all. All three of them placed in the archery competition.

Four people placed in total, but only three of them were here. It was no secret how Wen Chao made a spectacle out of embarrassing himself. Luo Qingyang was not a notable archer. She had watched the competition, but other disciples of her sect competed. Wen Chao's hubris followed by his abysmal display in the competition were well known, even if people pretended not to talk about it.

Wen Chao had been picking on all three of them since day one, but Jin Zixuan had started to take the brunt of it recently. Mostly because bullying Lan Wangji was like trying to bully a brick wall. Bullying Wei Wuxian was equally likely to blow up in your own face. Jin Zixuan on the other hand was just a chronically self-important jerk. As the heir of the LanlingJin sect, he had probably never been bullied a day in his life. No one would dare. Except they were at the Education Office in Qishan, and the QishanWen sect was one insult away from declaring open war on the entire cultivation world.

"How about her?" Wang Lingjiao said, gesturing towards Luo Qingyang casually. Luo Qingyang was momentarily stunned.

'Me? What?' Luo Qingyang could not help but stare wide eyed at Wang Lingjiao.

"Mn..." Wen Chao hummed in thought. "Maybe someone else." He said slowly. Luo Qingyang did not feel relieved. Wang Lingjiao was not blind, she had caught Wen Chao making advances on Luo Qingyang many times. Apparently the fact that Luo Qingyang never reciprocated them didn't matter to the woman. Wang Lingjiao's face transformed into a nasty sneer.

"Why are you so reluctant? Is she pretty?" Wang Lingjiao questioned.

'Fuck.' Luo Qingyang cursed soundly in her head.

"Of course not. What would I be reluctant about?" Wen Chao covered quickly. "It's your call my Jiaojiao." Wen Chao said, trying to placate his mistress.

"Mn." Wang Lingjiao hummed happily. She turned towards Luo Qingyang, her face becoming cold. "Grab her." She ordered the QishanWen disciples.

Lan Wangji quickly moved to stand in front of Luo Qingyang as well as Jin Zixuan. Lan Wangji wasn't really a surprise. While he had a reputation for being cold and unfriendly, he also had an honourable character. It was no surprise he would stand up to prevent the death of someone innocent. On the other hand, Luo Qingyang could hardly believe Jin Zixuan was putting himself in danger for someone else. It was surprisingly courageous for someone who usually acted arrogant and selfish. It didn't make up for all the things Luo Qingyang disliked about Jin Zixuan, but she supposed Jiang Yanli had not been completely wrong about him having a few redeeming qualities.