Back To the Past

Chapter Eighteen

Finally, we arrived at the Conference hosted by the Wens. I glanced toward where my father and the other sect leaders were taking their seats. Wen Ruhan hadn't arrived yet—that arrogant, overconfident bastard.

"Uh, Jiang-xiong?" Huaisang's voice cut through my thoughts as he tapped my shoulder, directing my attention across the hall. "Look... Wei-xiong is clinging to the Second Young Master of Gusu?"

I whip my head around, and my eyes nearly bulge from their sockets. Sure enough, Wei Wuxian was hanging onto none other than Lan Wangji.

"Shouldn't we be keeping a low profile?" He mutters.

Without a second thought, I shouted, "Wei Wuxian!" My voice carried through the hall, drawing the attention of nearby cultivators. "Get back here!"

In response, Lan Wangji shoots me a glare colder than winter frost. In the past, that intense stare would've made me falter. But now, his icy glares had lost their sting.

"Just hurry up!" I hissed.

Although the Lan disciples turned their faces away, their hushed whispers weren't hard to catch.

Hypocrites, I think, biting back a scoff. So much for their 'no backbiting' rule.

Behind me, someone murmurs, "Look at him, throwing himself at Lan Wangji. Absolutely shameless."

"Right? He's just a servant's son, while Lan Wangji—"

My jaw tightened, and a sharp heat prickled up my spine, and I spun around, silencing them with a single look. Two juniors from my own sect stood there, paling under my gaze.

"I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you," I warn, my voice low. "Wei Wuxian may be a servant's son, but he's also the head disciple—far better than either of you."

They drop their heads, stammering apologies before shuffling away, cowards.

A chuckle came from beside me, and suddenly Wei Wuxian's arm slung over my shoulder. "No need to go scaring our own clan members, Jiang Cheng," he teased, grinning with that familiar, irritating charm.

"Oh, I think I do."

"Anyway, do you think it was a good idea for A-Ning to stay back home? It might have been nice if he'd come with us," Wei Wuxian says, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"If he had, he would have been forced to stay here. Wen Qing asked us to keep him safe, not drag him into trouble," I reply as a trumpet's hollow blast echoes across the area.

"The great leader! The Sect Leader of the Wen Clan is arriving!"

"ThE GrEAT LeaDEr! SeCT LeaDER oF the WEn Clan iS CoMinG!" A-Xian mimics in a loud, mocking whisper, though I catch every word.

I nearly laugh as he parodies the announcer. Wen Ruhan finally settles onto his throne, and I notice the other sect leaders masking their reactions. Only Jin Guangshan seems openly pleased, his gaze cast down and slightly to the side. For a moment, I think he's looking at me—but I realize my mistake quickly.

I glance back. Wei Wuxian, too, is staring at Jin Guangshan, clearly unsettled.

"Chengcheng," he murmurs, breaking eye contact. "Doesn't it feel like this has happened before? And why is that weasel-looking pervert staring at me?"

I look back. Jin Guangshan hasn't taken his eyes off him.

"Maybe it has..." I mutter, unable to shake the feeling either.

// TIME SKIP \

"That filthy cheater!" Wei Wuxian bursts out as Wen Chao smugly shoots another target.