Hearing this, Wei Wuxian did not reply. He smiled and reached out to take out the bamboo flute that Lan Wangji had prepared for him in advance. A melodious sound of the flute rang out, and soon, Wen Ning flew in—dressed in black with loose hair, his body bound by several iron chains. The crowd hurriedly drew their swords and pointed them at Wen Ning.
Guided by the flute music, Wen Ning walked step by step until he stood before Wei Wuxian. The music stopped, and Wen Ning halted as well.
Su She and Sector Chief Yao demanded, "Wei Wuxian, are you the Yiling Patriarch Wei Wuxian?"
Wei Wuxian said nothing in response. He walked around Wen Ning, feeling around on the back of Wen Ning's head. Soon, a long nail was pulled out from the back of Wen Ning's head, followed by a second and a third. Terrifying, miserable cries burst from Wen Ning's mouth, making everyone present feel the agony he was enduring.
As the nails were pulled out, Wen Ning's eyes gradually returned to normal. He stood in a daze for a brief moment, then looked at Wei Wuxian and asked, "Young Master, why are you here?"
"Wen Ning, long time no see," Wei Wuxian said.
"Long time no see?" Wen Ning echoed. "Young Master, did you remember wrong? We haven't been apart for that long, have we? Are Granny and the others doing well?"
"Wen Ning, sixteen years have already passed," Wei Wuxian told him. "Granny and the others died long ago, and I have been dead for sixteen years as well. Wen Ning, what happened to you and Wen Qing sixteen years ago?"
"Sixteen years?" Wen Ning said, confused. "Young Master, my sister and I went up to Jinlin Tai. They wanted to scatter my sister's and my ashes. I watched with my own eyes as my sister died before me. After that, everything went black for me, and the next time I woke up was just now, when I heard Young Master's flute."
Hearing Wen Ning recognize him, Wei Wuxian no longer bothered to hide. He reached up and removed his mask. Everyone stared in shock, unable to understand how someone who had been dead for sixteen years could suddenly return to life.
Wei Wuxian turned to Jin Guangyao. "Sector Chief Jin, let's talk. What were you trying to accomplish by hiding Wen Ning? Jin Guangyao, you stole the Lan Clan's Luanpochao, instigated Su She to place a curse on Jin Zixun, disordered Wen Ning's mind and made him kill Jin Zixuan, brought my Shijie—who had no spiritual power—up to Nightless City, and then accidentally killed her. Over these past sixteen years, you also murdered Jin Guangshan, your own son, and Nie Mingjue. Why on earth did you kill all these people? Tell them yourself!"
At these words, all the cultivation sects were utterly astonished.
Lan Xichen asked, "A-Yao, is everything Young Master Wei said true? Was it you who killed Big Brother?"
Nie Huaisang cried out, "Third Brother, why?"
Jin Guangyao looked at Wei Wuxian, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "Young Master Wei is truly formidable. Even after being dead for sixteen years, you managed to return, and now you are just spouting nonsense and framing me."
Wei Wuxian burst into laughter. "Framing you? Jin Guangyao, since I dared to say it, I have sufficient evidence. Let's go, let me take all of you to see what our Chief Cultivator's secret chamber has to offer."
Jin Guangyao turned pale with fright. "Wei Wuxian, how dare you!"
Inside Fanghua Hall, Qin Su rushed out at the sudden intrusion and demanded sharply, "What do you all think you're doing?"
"Madame Jin, do not be afraid," Wei Wuxian said. "We came here simply seeking the truth. Haven't you always wanted to know who killed your son?"
Soon, everyone entered Jin Guangyao's secret chamber. Inside the chamber rested Wei Wuxian's saber, Suibian; Nie Mingjue's head; the residual pages of the Luanpochao; and the title deed to the Guanyin Temple in Yunping Town, all sitting quietly in plain view. Seeing these items, the crowd finally believed Wei Wuxian's words.
Lan Xichen asked with a face full of disbelief, "A-Yao, what else do you have to say?"
Realizing the game was up and that all was exposed, Jin Guangyao offered no resistance. "I have nothing to say. I did it all. They deserved to die! Nie Mingjue and the others—did they not look down on me? Did they not curse me as the 'son of a whore'? Then let them all die! But Second Brother, I never betrayed you."
The truth of the events from sixteen years ago came to light. Jin Guangyao was killed by Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang, leaving the cultivation sects in utter chaos. The return of Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning also filled everyone with deep apprehension and dread.