ã€ŠGrandmaster of Heavenly Charm [BL]ã€‹


 1. Wei Wuxian is dead, and its an absolute delight!

    "Wei Wuxian is dead."

    The words hung in the air like a heavy mist, spreading across the cultivation world faster than wildfire. The siege of the Burial Mounds had barely concluded, yet before the dawn of the next day, the news had already taken flight on swift wings.

    In teahouses and taverns, in grand halls and humble abodes, cultivators from renowned clans and solitary practitioners alike buzzed with fervent discussions about the joint operation that had brought down the infamous Yiling Patriarch.

    "Excellent! Justice has been served at last!" exclaimed a grizzled cultivator, his fist pounding the table. "Which heroic soul had the honor of ending that scourge?"

    A younger man, eyes gleaming with excitement, leaned in. "Who else but his own sworn brother, Sect Leader Jiang Cheng of Yunmeng Jiang? The four great clans led the charge - Yunmeng Jiang, Lanling Jin, Gusu Lan, and Qinghe Nie. They stormed the Burial Mounds and razed that nest of evil to the ground."

    "Good riddance," spat an elderly woman, her face etched with lines of bitterness. "The Jiang Sect raised him like a son, and how did he repay them? With betrayal and death. If that''s not the very definition of an ingrate, I don''t know what is."

    The tavern erupted in a chorus of agreement, but a dissenting voice cut through the clamor. "That''s not what I heard," a hooded figure mumbled from a dark corner. "They say he was torn apart by his own fierce corpses, devoured by the very forces he sought to control."The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    A moment of stunned silence followed, broken by a burst of raucous laughter. "Poetic justice!" someone shouted. "Hoist by his own petard!"

    As the night wore on, the discussions grew more heated, fueled by wine and long-held grudges. Tales of Wei Wuxian''s misdeeds grew more outrageous with each retelling, his crimes multiplying like rabbits in spring.

    "Five thousand cultivators in one night, they say."

    "No, it was ten thousand!"

    "He was a menace, a blight upon our world."

    Yet, as dawn approached and the wine ran dry, a sobering thought settled over the gathering. One brave soul dared to voice what many were thinking:

    "The Stygian Tiger Seal... did they destroy it?"

    The name of that dreaded artifact silenced the room, a chill running through even the most inebriated cultivators.

    "They say he shattered it before his death," someone finally offered. "Perhaps his last good deed."

    "Or his final curse," another countered darkly.

    As the first light of morning crept through the windows, the patrons began to disperse, their jubilation tempered by an undercurrent of unease. Wei Wuxian was dead, yes, but his spirit had not been captured. Some whispered that it had been devoured along with his flesh, while others feared he had escaped, biding his time for a terrible revenge.

    In the years that followed, the cultivation world remained vigilant. Stone beasts were placed atop the Burial Mounds, and soul-summoning rituals were performed with increasing desperation. Yet as one year bled into the next, and a decade passed without incident, the fear began to fade.

    Thirteen years after that fateful siege, life had largely returned to normal. The name of Wei Wuxian was spoken less often, relegated to cautionary tales and whispered ghost stories.

    But in the hearts of those who remembered, a tiny seed of doubt remained. For legends, no matter how terrible, are not so easily forgotten. And in a world of cultivators and demons, even death is not always the end.

 2. As soon as Wei Wuxian opened his eyes, he was met with a swift kick.

    Wei Wuxian''s eyes had barely fluttered open when a brutal kick landed squarely on his chest. The impact sent him reeling, his head slamming against the hard floor.

    "Playing dead, are we?" A voice like thunder crashed above him.

    As he lay there, stunned and gasping for air, a wry thought flitted through Wei Wuxian''s mind: "Who dares kick the great Yiling Patriarch? Quite the audacious fellow."

    It had been an eternity since Wei Wuxian had heard a living person''s voice, let alone such a strident barrage of insults. Through the ringing in his ears, he caught snippets of a young man''s tirade, his voice cracking with adolescent rage:

    "Whose roof are you under? Whose rice do you eat? Whose money do you spend? Taking a few of your things is the least I''m owed!"

    The cacophony of crashing and banging filled the air as unseen hands ransacked the room. Gradually, Wei Wuxian''s vision cleared, revealing a dim ceiling and a face hovering above him. The young man''s eyes bulged with fury, spittle flying as he continued his rant:

    "You dare complain? As if anyone in this household would take your side!"

    Two burly servants appeared, reporting, "Young Master, we''ve destroyed everything as ordered."

    "Already?" The young master''s voice dripped with satisfaction. He turned back to Wei Wuxian, jabbing a finger mere inches from his face. "Let''s see you tattle now, you mangy cur! A few years in some fancy sect, and you think you''re above us? Look at you now, crawling back like the dog you are!"

    As the trio swaggered out, slamming the door behind them, Wei Wuxian''s mind raced:

    "I''ve been dead for years, this is no act."

    "Who are these people?"

    "Where am I?"

    "Since when did I start body-snatching?"

    Attempting to sit up, Wei Wuxian found his limbs uncooperative. He managed to roll onto his side, taking in the unfamiliar, ransacked room through bleary eyes.

    A shattered bronze mirror lay nearby. Wei Wuxian grasped it, only to recoil at the ghostly visage staring back at him. A face as white as death, with two asymmetrical splotches of rouge on the cheeks. If he were to stick out his tongue, he''d be the spitting image of a hanged man.

    Disturbed, Wei Wuxian dropped the mirror and wiped his face, his hand coming away coated in white powder. At least this body wasn''t naturally so bizarre-looking - just adorned with a truly abysmal attempt at makeup.

    The shock seemed to jolt some strength back into his limbs. As he managed to sit up, Wei Wuxian noticed a circular array beneath him. It was crudely drawn in blood, still wet and reeking of copper. Within the circle were twisted, chaotic incantations, partially smeared by his body.

    Wei Wuxian''s eyes widened in recognition. He may have been called the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, but this array was clearly bad news, even by his standards.

    He hadn''t possessed someone - he had been summoned through a sacrificial ritual!If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "Sacrificial summoning" was, at its core, a curse. The caster would use their own blood to draw an array, sit within it, and offer their body to an evil spirit in exchange for the fulfillment of a wish. It was the antithesis of possession, and far less common. Few desires were strong enough to drive someone to such extremes.

    Wei Wuxian felt indignant. How dare they classify him as some sort of "ultimate evil spirit"? Sure, his reputation wasn''t stellar, and his death had been... unpleasant. But he''d never haunted anyone or sought revenge! He''d challenge anyone to find a more well-behaved ghost!

    Unfortunately, the ritual operated on the caster''s intent. By accepting the summons, Wei Wuxian was now bound by contract to fulfill their wish, or face total obliteration of his spirit.

    Examining his new body, Wei Wuxian found angry red gashes across both wrists. These wounds wouldn''t heal until the summoner''s wish was granted. The longer he delayed, the worse they''d become, eventually tearing him - body and soul - to shreds.

    "Preposterous!" Wei Wuxian muttered, struggling to his feet.

    The room was spacious but sparse and shabby. The bedding reeked of mildew. In one corner lay an overturned basket, its contents - mostly crumpled papers - strewn across the floor. Curious, Wei Wuxian gathered the papers and began to read.

    The writings were clearly the ramblings of this body''s original occupant, full of anxiety and disjointed thoughts. As Wei Wuxian pieced together the story, a grim picture emerged.

    The body belonged to one Mo Xuanyu, of the Mo Family Estate. His grandfather had been a wealthy local landowner with two daughters. The elder daughter married into the family, while the younger - a servant''s child - had a fateful encounter with a passing cultivator. Their tryst resulted in Mo Xuanyu''s birth.

    Initially scorned, the affair became a source of pride for the Mo family once the cultivator''s status became known. He would visit occasionally, bringing gifts and status. But after a few years, the novelty wore off, and the visits stopped entirely after Mo Xuanyu turned four.

    At fourteen, Mo Xuanyu was finally summoned to join his father''s sect. His mother''s pride soared, certain her son would become a great cultivator. But it was not to be.

    Mo Xuanyu was sent back in disgrace. Not only was he attracted to men, but he had the audacity to pursue his fellow disciples. Combined with his lackluster talents, there was no place for him in the sect.

    To make matters worse, Mo Xuanyu returned a changed man - unstable, prone to fits of madness. His mother, unable to bear the shame, died of grief.

    Now under the care of his aunt, Mo Xuanyu faced constant ridicule and abuse. His cousin, Mo Ziyuan - the young man who had just ransacked the room - was particularly cruel. Convinced that he should have been the one chosen for cultivation, Mo Ziyuan took out his frustrations on Mo Xuanyu, stealing his possessions and tormenting him relentlessly.

    When Mo Xuanyu finally worked up the courage to complain, it only made things worse.

    Wei Wuxian''s head throbbed as he finished reading. "No wonder the poor fool resorted to summoning a vengeful spirit," he thought. "What a miserable existence."

    But now Wei Wuxian faced a dilemma. Normally, the summoner''s specific wish would be clear to the summoned spirit. But Mo Xuanyu had botched the ritual, leaving Wei Wuxian in the dark. Revenge was the obvious goal, but to what extent? Reclaim stolen possessions? Beat up the Mo family? Or... total annihilation?

    Given Wei Wuxian''s reputation for being "ungrateful" and "insanely cruel," Mo Xuanyu likely expected nothing less than utter destruction.

    Wei Wuxian sighed heavily. "I''m afraid you''ve summoned the wrong man, Mo Xuanyu," he muttered to the empty room. "I''m not the monster they made me out to be."

    As he stood there, contemplating his next move, Wei Wuxian couldn''t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for Mo Xuanyu. Abandoned, abused, and driven to such desperate measures - it was a fate he wouldn''t wish on anyone.

    "Well," Wei Wuxian said, straightening his robes and wiping the last traces of powder from his face, "I may not be the vengeful spirit you wanted, Mo Xuanyu, but perhaps I can still set things right in my own way."

    With that, he strode towards the door, ready to face whatever this new life had in store for him. The Yiling Patriarch was back - but this time, he would write his own story.

 3. Unleashed and Unhinged

    He had intended to wash his face and pay his respects to the body of his new host, but there wasn''t a drop of water in the room¡ªnot for drinking, not for washing. The only basin-like object was likely for relieving oneself, not for ablutions.

    Wei Wuxian tried the door, but it was bolted from the outside. Clearly, they feared he might wander off.

    Nothing about this rebirth brought him even a glimmer of joy!

    Resigned, he decided to meditate and acclimate to his new vessel. This meditation lasted an entire day. When he opened his eyes, sunlight was seeping through the cracks in the door and window. Although he could now stand and walk, he still felt dizzy and weak. Wei Wuxian pondered, "Mo Xuanyu''s cultivation level was so low it was practically non-existent. There''s no reason I shouldn''t be able to control this body. Why is it so uncooperative?"

    It wasn''t until his stomach growled that he realized this had nothing to do with cultivation or spiritual energy. This body, unaccustomed to fasting, was simply hungry. If he didn''t find food soon, he might become the first vengeful ghost or evil god in history to starve to death immediately after being summoned.

    Just as Wei Wuxian was about to kick down the door, footsteps approached. Someone kicked the door and grumbled, "Food''s here!"

    Despite the announcement, there was no sign of the door opening. Wei Wuxian looked down to see a small flap at the bottom of the door, just big enough for a small bowl to be shoved through.

    The servant outside barked, "Hurry up! Stop dawdling and eat. Put the bowl out when you''re done!"

    The flap was smaller than a dog door, preventing escape but allowing the bowl to be passed through. The meal consisted of two dishes and rice, all looking utterly unappetizing. Wei Wuxian stirred the food with the two mismatched chopsticks, feeling somewhat melancholic:

    The infamous Yiling Patriarch had just returned to the world of the living, only to be kicked and cursed. His welcome-back feast was nothing but leftovers. Where was the bloodshed? The annihilation? The complete destruction of his enemies? Who would believe this tale? Truly, a tiger fallen to the plains is bullied by dogs, a dragon in shallow waters is teased by shrimp, and a phoenix without its feathers is worse off than a chicken.

    Just then, the servant outside spoke again, this time in a sickeningly sweet tone as if transformed into a different person: "Ah Ding! Come here."

    A crisp female voice responded from afar, "Ah Tong, are you feeding that guy in there again?"

    Ah Tong spat, "What else would I be doing in this unlucky courtyard?"

    Ah Ding''s voice drew closer, "You only feed him once a day, and no one says anything even if you slack off sometimes. You''ve got it easy. Look at me, I''m so busy I can''t even go out to play."

    Ah Tong complained, "It''s not like feeding him is my only job! Besides, who dares to go out these days? With all these walking corpses around, everyone''s keeping their doors tightly shut."

    Wei Wuxian crouched by the door, eating from the bowl with the mismatched chopsticks while eavesdropping.

    It seemed that Mo Village had been far from peaceful lately. Walking corpses, as the name suggested, were dead bodies that could walk¡ªa common and low-level form of the undead. Generally glassy-eyed and slow-moving, they weren''t particularly dangerous, but they were enough to terrify ordinary people, if only for their putrid stench.

    However, to Wei Wuxian, these creatures were the easiest to control and the most obedient puppets. Hearing about them almost made him feel nostalgic.

    Ah Tong seemed to be making suggestive faces, "If you want to go out, you should take me with you. I''ll protect you..." Ah Ding retorted, "You? Protect me? Don''t be ridiculous. As if you could fight off those things." Ah Tong sulked, "Well, if I can''t, no one else can either." Ah Ding laughed, "How do you know others can''t? Let me tell you, cultivators from a prominent sect arrived at Mo Manor today. I heard they''re from a very prestigious family! The Madam is entertaining them in the hall, and people from town have gathered to see the spectacle. Can''t you hear the commotion? I don''t have time to fool around with you, I might be called to help at any moment."

    Wei Wuxian listened intently and indeed heard a distant clamor from the east. After a moment''s consideration, he stood up and kicked the door. The bolt snapped with a sharp "crack."

    The two servants, in the midst of their flirtatious banter, screamed in unison as the door suddenly flew open. Wei Wuxian tossed aside the bowl and chopsticks and walked out, only to be momentarily blinded by the sunlight. His skin tingled slightly, and he had to shield his eyes with his hand, closing them for a moment.

    Ah Tong, who had screamed even louder than Ah Ding, regained his composure upon realizing it was just the harmless madman. Eager to save face, he jumped forward, waving his hands and scolding as if shooing away a dog, "Go! Go back! What are you doing out here?"

    Even beggars or flies wouldn''t be treated with such disdain. These servants must have been accustomed to treating Mo Xuanyu this way, and his lack of resistance had only emboldened them. Wei Wuxian gave Ah Tong a light kick that sent him tumbling, and said with a smile, "Who do you think you''re mistreating?"

    After dealing with Ah Tong, Wei Wuxian followed the noise eastward. The eastern courtyard and hall were crowded with people. As he stepped into the courtyard, he heard a woman''s voice rising above the others: "...we have a young relative who once had spiritual potential..."

    It was clear that Madam Mo was once again trying to establish connections with the cultivation world. Without waiting for her to finish, Wei Wuxian eagerly pushed through the crowd into the hall, waving enthusiastically, "I''m here, I''m here!"

    Seated at the head of the hall was a middle-aged woman, well-maintained and richly dressed¡ªMadam Mo. Seated below her was her husband, who had married into the family. Opposite them sat several white-clad young men wearing swords. As the disheveled stranger suddenly appeared amidst the crowd, all voices fell silent. Wei Wuxian, seemingly oblivious to the tense atmosphere, brazenly declared, "Who was calling for me just now? The one with spiritual potential¡ªthat''s me, isn''t it?"

    Madam Mo''s heavily powdered face cracked as she smiled, causing a flurry of powder to fall. One of the white-clad young men nearly burst out laughing, but a disapproving look from the apparent leader of the group quickly sobered him.

    Wei Wuxian''s gaze swept over the scene, and he was slightly taken aback. He had assumed the servants were exaggerating, but the visitors truly were disciples from a prestigious sect.

    The young men wore light, flowing robes that seemed to float on air, exuding an otherworldly elegance. Their uniforms were unmistakably from the Gusu Lan Sect. Moreover, they were direct descendants of the Lan family, as evidenced by the white forehead ribbons adorned with cloud patterns that each of them wore.

    The Gusu Lan Sect''s motto was "righteousness," and the forehead ribbon symbolized "self-discipline." The cloud pattern was the Lan family''s insignia. Guests or disciples affiliated with the sect but not of Lan blood would wear ribbons without this pattern. Wei Wuxian always felt a toothache when he saw members of the Lan Sect, often joking in his previous life that their uniforms resembled mourning clothes. There was no mistaking their identity.

    Madam Mo, having not seen her nephew for years, took a moment to recognize the garishly made-up figure. Annoyed but unwilling to lose her composure in front of guests, she hissed at her husband, "Who let him out? Get him back in there!"

    Her husband, forcing a smile, rose reluctantly to grab Wei Wuxian. However, Wei Wuxian suddenly dropped to the floor, his limbs seemingly glued to the ground. Try as he might, the husband couldn''t budge him. Even with several servants helping, Wei Wuxian remained immovable. If not for the presence of guests, the husband would have resorted to kicking him. Noticing Madam Mo''s increasingly sour expression, he broke into a sweat and snarled, "You crazy fool! If you don''t go back now, see how I''ll deal with you!"If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Although everyone in Mo Village knew about the Mo family''s mentally ill young master, Mo Xuanyu had been confined to his gloomy room for years. Seeing him now, with his bizarre appearance and behavior, the onlookers began to whisper, anticipating a spectacle.

    Wei Wuxian said, "I''ll go back, but on one condition." He pointed at Mo Ziyuan, "Have him return what he stole from me first."

    Mo Ziyuan, caught off guard by the madman''s audacity, flushed red and white. "What nonsense! When did I ever steal from you? As if I''d need to steal anything of yours!"

    Wei Wuxian retorted, "Right, right! You didn''t steal, you robbed!"

    Madam Mo now realized that Mo Xuanyu was clearly in his right mind and had come prepared to embarrass them. Furious and shocked, she hissed, "You came here deliberately to cause trouble, didn''t you?!"

    Wei Wuxian replied innocently, "He stole from me, and I''m here to reclaim what''s mine. How is that causing trouble?"

    Before Madam Mo could respond, Mo Ziyuan, enraged, aimed a kick at Wei Wuxian. One of the white-clad young men subtly moved his finger, causing Mo Ziyuan to lose his balance. His foot barely grazed Wei Wuxian as he fell. Wei Wuxian, however, rolled dramatically as if he had been kicked, pulling open his robe to reveal a footprint on his chest from yesterday''s beating.

    The villagers watched with gleeful excitement: surely Mo Xuanyu couldn''t have inflicted that bruise on himself. Despite being of Mo blood, it seemed the family had treated him cruelly. He hadn''t been this mad when he first returned; they must have driven him to this state. Regardless, as long as there was a show to watch, they were content. This drama was even more entertaining than the arrival of cultivators!

    With so many eyes on them, unable to beat or banish Wei Wuxian, Madam Mo choked on her anger. She forced herself to smooth things over, saying coolly, "What''s all this talk of stealing and robbing? How unseemly. We''re family. Ziyuan merely borrowed a few things to look at. He''s your younger brother; what''s wrong with him taking a few of your possessions? As the elder brother, how can you be so petty? Making a fuss over such a trifle, throwing a childish tantrum. It''s not as if he won''t return them."

    The white-clad young men exchanged glances, and one who was drinking tea nearly choked. Raised in the refined environment of the Gusu Lan Sect, they had likely never witnessed such a scene or heard such remarkable reasoning. Today was certainly an eye-opener for them. Wei Wuxian, inwardly howling with laughter, extended his hand and said, "Well then, return them."

    Of course, Mo Ziyuan couldn''t return anything. What hadn''t been discarded had been dismantled, and even if he could return them, he was too resentful to do so. His face turned ashen as he called out, "Mother!" His eyes pleaded with her: Are you going to let him humiliate me like this?

    Madam Mo glared at him, warning him not to make the situation worse. But Wei Wuxian wasn''t done. He continued, "Come to think of it, not only should he not have stolen my things, but he definitely shouldn''t have done it in the middle of the night. Everyone knows I have a fondness for men. He might not care about propriety, but I certainly do!"

    Madam Mo gasped, exclaiming, "How dare you say such things in front of everyone! Have you no shame? Ziyuan is your cousin!"

    When it came to causing a scene, Wei Wuxian was a master. In his previous life, he had to maintain some semblance of dignity, but now, as a madman, what need was there for face? He could go all out, as outrageously as he pleased. He stuck out his neck defiantly and declared, "He knew he was my cousin and still didn''t avoid suspicion. Who''s the shameless one here?! You might not care about your reputation, but don''t ruin my virtue! I still want to find a good man!!!"

    Mo Ziyuan let out a furious roar and lifted a chair to strike. Seeing that he had finally snapped, Wei Wuxian nimbly rolled away. The chair shattered as it hit the ground, scattering the crowd of onlookers who had been gleefully watching the Mo family''s humiliation. They scattered like birds, fearing injury. Wei Wuxian darted towards the stunned Lan disciples, shouting, "Did you all see that? Did you see? The thief is now beating people! How utterly despicable!"

    As Mo Ziyuan lunged to attack him, the lead disciple quickly intervened, saying, "Young Master... let''s talk this through calmly."

    Seeing the young man''s intent to protect the madman, Madam Mo felt a twinge of apprehension. She forced a smile and said, "This is my sister''s son. He''s... not quite right in the head. Everyone in Mo Village knows he''s insane and often spouts nonsense. Please don''t take him seriously, Cultivator..." Before she could finish, Wei Wuxian poked his head out from behind the young man: "Who says my words can''t be taken seriously? Let anyone try to steal from me again, and I''ll chop off a hand for each theft!"

    Mo Ziyuan, who had been restrained by his father, was about to explode again. Wei Wuxian darted away, singing loudly. The young disciple quickly blocked the doorway, changing the subject with a serious expression: "Well then... we''ll use your western courtyard tonight. Please remember what I said earlier. After dusk, keep your doors locked, don''t wander outside, and especially don''t approach that courtyard."

    Madam Mo, shaking with rage but unable to push past him, could only say, "Yes, yes, thank you for your trouble..."

    Mo Ziyuan, incredulous, exclaimed, "Mother! That madman just slandered me in front of everyone, and we''re letting him get away with it?! You said he was nothing but a..."

    Madam Mo snapped, "Shut up! We''ll discuss this later!"

    Mo Ziyuan, having never been so humiliated or harshly reprimanded by his mother, roared in frustration, "That lunatic is dead tonight!"

    After causing chaos, Wei Wuxian strolled out of the Mo residence, taking a leisurely tour around Mo Village, shocking countless villagers. He reveled in the experience, beginning to enjoy the perks of being perceived as insane. He even started to appreciate his ghoulish makeup, reluctant to wash it off. He thought to himself: There''s no water anyway, so why bother cleaning up? He adjusted his hair and glanced at his wrist, noticing that the scars showed no signs of fading. It seemed that this minor act of revenge on Mo Xuanyu''s behalf was far from sufficient.

    Did he really need to annihilate the entire Mo family?

    ...To be honest, it wouldn''t be that difficult.

    As Wei Wuxian pondered, he meandered back to the Mo residence. Taking small, cautious steps past the western courtyard, he noticed the Lan disciples standing on the rooftops and eaves, engaged in serious discussion. He tiptoed back, gazing up at them curiously.

    Although the Gusu Lan Sect had played a significant role in the campaign against him, these young disciples were either unborn or mere infants at the time. It had nothing to do with them. So Wei Wuxian stood and observed, wondering how they would handle the situation. As he watched, something caught his eye.

    Why did those black flags fluttering on the rooftops and eaves look so familiar?

    These flags were called "Yin-Summoning Flags." When planted on a living person, they would attract all manner of spirits, vengeful ghosts, fierce corpses, and evil entities within a certain range, focusing their attacks on that individual. As the flag-bearer essentially became a living target, they were also known as "Target Flags." They could also be planted on buildings, but only if there were living people inside, which would expand the attack range to all occupants. Due to the gathering of yin energy around the flags, creating a swirling black miasma, they were also called "Black Wind Flags." These young disciples were setting up a flag formation in the western courtyard and preventing others from approaching, likely intending to lure and trap the walking corpses.

    As for why they looked familiar... how could they not? The creator of the Yin-Summoning Flags was none other than the Yiling Patriarch himself!

    It seemed that despite the cultivation world''s cries for his death, they had no qualms about using his inventions...

    One of the disciples standing on the eaves noticed Wei Wuxian watching and said, "Go back. This is no place for you."

    Though dismissive, the words were well-intentioned, and the tone was markedly different from that of the Mo family servants. Seizing the opportunity, Wei Wuxian leapt up and snatched one of the flags.

    The disciple, alarmed, jumped down from the wall to chase him. "Don''t touch that! It''s not for you!"

    Wei Wuxian ran, shouting with wild hair and flailing limbs, the perfect image of a madman: "Not giving it back! Not giving it back! I want this! I want it!"

    The disciple caught up to him in two steps, grabbing his arm. "Will you return it or not? If not, I''ll hit you!"

    Wei Wuxian clutched the flag, refusing to let go. The lead disciple, who had been arranging the flag formation, was alerted by the commotion and lightly leapt down from the eaves. "Jingyi, let it go. Just take it back gently. There''s no need to argue with him."

    Lan Jingyi protested, "Sizhui, I wasn''t really going to hit him! Look at what he''s done to our formation!"

    During the struggle, Wei Wuxian had quickly examined the Yin-Summoning Flag in his hands. The patterns and incantations were correct and complete; there would be no issues in its use. However, the artist lacked experience; the drawn talisman could only attract evil spirits and walking corpses within a five-mile radius. Still, it would suffice.

    Lan Sizhui smiled at Wei Wuxian, "Young Master Mo, it''s getting dark. We''re about to start capturing walking corpses. It''s dangerous at night, so you''d better return to your room."

    Wei Wuxian sized up the young man, noting his refined and elegant demeanor. With a faint smile playing on his lips, he was truly a praiseworthy seedling. His flag formation was well-arranged, and his upbringing was evident. Wei Wuxian inwardly approved, wondering who in the rigid and stuffy Gusu Lan Sect could have nurtured such a promising disciple.

    Lan Sizhui continued, "This flag..."

    Before he could finish, Wei Wuxian tossed the Yin-Summoning Flag to the ground, snorting, "It''s just a stupid flag! What''s so special about it? I can draw better ones than you!"

    With that, he ran off. The disciples still perched on the rooftop, who had been watching the scene unfold, nearly fell off laughing at his brazen claim. Lan Jingyi, both amused and annoyed, picked up the flag and dusted it off. "He really is crazy!"

    Lan Sizhui said, "Don''t say that. Come on, let''s get back to work."

    Wei Wuxian continued to wander aimlessly for a couple more rounds before returning to Mo Xuanyu''s small courtyard as night fell. The door bolt was broken, and the room was in disarray, but he paid it no mind. He found a relatively clean spot on the ground and resumed his meditation.

    However, before dawn broke, a commotion from outside pulled him out of his meditative state.

    A cacophony of footsteps mixed with wails and screams rapidly approached. Wei Wuxian heard phrases repeated over and over: "...Burst in and drag him out!" "Call the officials!" "Forget the officials, beat him to death on the spot!"

    He opened his eyes as several servants stormed in. The entire courtyard was ablaze with torchlight, and someone shouted, "Drag this murderous lunatic to the main hall! Make him pay with his life!"

 4. Beware the Malevolent Spirits

    Wei Wuxian''s first thought was that perhaps those young disciples had made a mistake in setting up the spirit-attracting flags. His creations were known to cause great calamity if used carelessly, which was why he had earlier taken pains to verify the correct method of drawing the flags. As several pairs of hands roughly dragged him outside, Wei Wuxian remained stiff, allowing himself to be pulled along, saving himself the effort of walking.

    They hauled him to the east hall, which was unexpectedly bustling with activity. The crowd rivaled that of Mo Village during daytime, with servants and relatives all gathered, some still in their nightclothes and disheveled hair, their faces etched with fear. Madam Mo sat slumped in her seat, seemingly just awoken from a faint, tear stains still visible on her cheeks and fresh tears glistening in her eyes. However, the moment Wei Wuxian was dragged in, her tearful gaze transformed into a venomous glare.

    On the ground lay a shrouded figure, its body covered with a white cloth, revealing only the head. Lan Sichui and the other young disciples stood around it, their expressions grave as they examined the body, conversing in hushed tones. Fragments of their conversation reached Wei Wuxian''s ears:

    "...discovered less than an incense stick''s time ago?"

    "We had just subdued the walking corpse and were heading from the west courtyard to the east when we found the body in the corridor."

    The shrouded figure was none other than Mo Ziyuan. Wei Wuxian glanced at it briefly, then found himself compelled to look again.

    This corpse both resembled and differed from Mo Ziyuan. While the facial features were undoubtedly those of his adopted cousin, the cheeks were deeply sunken, the eye sockets and eyeballs protruding, and the skin wrinkled and withered. Compared to the youthful Mo Ziyuan of before, this corpse appeared to have aged two decades. It was as if all blood and flesh had been drained, leaving behind a skeleton barely covered by a thin layer of skin. If the original Mo Ziyuan had been merely unattractive, his corpse was now both aged and grotesque.

    As Wei Wuxian scrutinized the body, Madam Mo suddenly lunged forward, a glint of steel in her hand¡ªshe was wielding a dagger. Lan Sichui swiftly knocked it away, but before he could speak, Madam Mo shrieked at him, "My son has been brutally murdered! I must avenge him! Why are you stopping me?"

    Wei Wuxian ducked behind Lan Sichui, crouching as he said, "Your son''s tragic death has nothing to do with me."

    Lan Sichui, who had witnessed Wei Wuxian''s earlier antics in the east hall and heard various exaggerated rumors about this illegitimate son, felt sympathy for the seemingly ill young man. He couldn''t help but speak up in his defense: "Madam Mo, the state of your son''s corpse¡ªwith all blood and essence drained¡ªclearly indicates he fell victim to an evil spirit. It''s unlikely to be his doing."

    Madam Mo''s chest heaved as she retorted, "What do you know? This madman''s father was a cultivator, and he must have learned all sorts of dark arts!"

    Lan Sichui glanced back at the seemingly dazed Wei Wuxian and said, "Madam, you have no evidence. Perhaps we should¡ª"

    "The evidence is on my son''s body!" Madam Mo pointed at the corpse on the ground. "See for yourselves! My Ziyuan''s body tells us who killed him!"

    Without waiting for others to act, Wei Wuxian rushed forward and yanked the white cloth off the body, revealing it from head to toe. One thing was conspicuously missing from Mo Ziyuan''s corpse.

    His left arm, from the shoulder down, had vanished!

    Madam Mo exclaimed, "Do you see now? You all heard what this lunatic said earlier today, didn''t you? He threatened that if Ziyuan touched his things again, he''d chop off Ziyuan''s arm!"

    After her outburst, she covered her face, sobbing, "My poor Ziyuan never touched any of that madman''s belongings. Not only was he falsely accused, but he was also brutally murdered by this heartless monster..."

    Heartless monster!

    It had been years since Wei Wuxian had heard such an assessment of himself, and it felt oddly familiar. He pointed at himself, momentarily at a loss for words. He wasn''t sure who was truly ill¡ªhimself or Madam Mo. In his youth, he had often spouted vicious threats about exterminating clans and causing rivers of blood, but most of the time, they were just empty words. If he had acted on every threat he''d made, he would have conquered the cultivation world long ago. Madam Mo wasn''t truly seeking vengeance for her son; she was merely looking for someone to vent her anger upon.

    Wei Wuxian, unwilling to engage further with her, thought for a moment before reaching into Mo Ziyuan''s robes. After a brief search, he pulled out an object¡ªa spirit-attracting flag.

    In that instant, everything became clear to him, and he thought to himself, "You reap what you sow."

    As Lan Sichui and the others saw what Wei Wuxian had retrieved from Mo Ziyuan''s robes, they too understood what had transpired. Considering the day''s earlier commotion, it wasn''t difficult to piece together the sequence of events: Mo Ziyuan, humiliated by Mo Xuanyu''s outburst, had harbored a grudge and sought revenge. When Mo Xuanyu disappeared for hours, Mo Ziyuan planned to teach him a lesson upon his return.

    However, when night fell and Mo Ziyuan snuck out, he passed by the west courtyard and noticed the spirit-attracting flags on the eaves. Despite being repeatedly warned not to go out at night, stay away from the west courtyard, or touch the black flags, Mo Ziyuan assumed these were merely attempts to prevent theft of valuable talismans. Unaware of the ominous power of the spirit-attracting flags, he couldn''t resist the temptation to steal one, having developed a habit of pilfering his cousin''s magical items. Taking advantage of the cultivators'' preoccupation with subduing the walking corpse in the west courtyard, he quietly removed one flag.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    The array had employed six spirit-attracting flags, with five placed in the west courtyard to lure evil spirits using the Lan Sect disciples as bait. However, those young cultivators were protected by numerous magical artifacts. Mo Ziyuan, on the other hand, had stolen only one flag and carried no protective items. Like a predator choosing the weakest prey, the evil spirit was naturally drawn to him. Had it been just a walking corpse, a few bites wouldn''t have been immediately fatal, and he might have been saved. Unfortunately, the spirit-attracting flag had inadvertently summoned something far more terrifying than a mere walking corpse. It was this unknown evil entity that had killed Mo Ziyuan and taken his left arm!

    Wei Wuxian raised his wrist, noticing that the wound on his left hand had healed. It seemed the soul-sacrificing contract had credited Mo Ziyuan''s death to him, albeit indirectly. After all, the spirit-attracting flags were Wei Wuxian''s creation and legacy, making this an ironic twist of fate.

    Madam Mo, well aware of her son''s petty vices but unwilling to admit that Mo Ziyuan''s death was self-inflicted, found herself both flustered and enraged. In a fit of anger, she grabbed a teacup and hurled it at Wei Wuxian''s face, shrieking, "If you hadn''t falsely accused him in front of everyone yesterday, he wouldn''t have gone out in the middle of the night! This is all your fault, you bastard!"

    Wei Wuxian, anticipating her reaction, easily dodged the projectile. Madam Mo then turned her fury on Lan Sichui, screaming, "And you! You useless lot! What good is your cultivation and evil-suppressing if you can''t even protect a child! Ziyuan was only in his teens!"

    The young disciples, still inexperienced and on one of their first missions, had failed to detect the unusual presence in the area and never imagined such a vicious entity lurked nearby. They had felt guilty about their oversight, but Madam Mo''s indiscriminate verbal assault left them with flushed faces. Coming from noble families, they had never been treated with such disrespect. The Lan Sect''s strict upbringing forbade them from retaliating against ordinary people, even verbally, so they struggled to contain their displeasure, their faces darkening with suppressed anger.

    Wei Wuxian, however, couldn''t stand by silently. He thought to himself, "After all these years, the Lan Sect is still like this. What''s the use of all that restraint if it only leads to self-torment? Watch how it''s done!"

    He spat forcefully and said, "Who do you think you''re yelling at? Do you really see these people as your servants? They''ve traveled from afar to exorcise demons and suppress evil without asking for anything in return, and this is how you repay them? How old is your son? Seventeen this year, right? Is that still a ''child''? At what age do children start understanding human speech? Weren''t you repeatedly warned yesterday not to touch anything in the array or go near the west courtyard? Your son sneaks out in the middle of the night to steal, and you blame me? Blame them?"

    Lan Jingyi and the others let out a sigh of relief, their faces no longer flushed with suppressed anger. Madam Mo, consumed by grief and hatred, could only think of death¡ªnot her own to join her son, but the death of everyone around her, especially those standing before her. Accustomed to relying on her husband, she pushed him, demanding, "Call everyone in! Bring them all here!"

    Her husband, however, remained motionless, perhaps too shocked by the loss of his only son. Unexpectedly, he pushed her back. Madam Mo, caught off guard, fell to the ground, stunned by this unprecedented act of defiance.

    In the past, her husband would have obeyed without question, even at the slightest raise in her voice. Today, he had dared to push back!

    The servants, terrified by her reaction, scrambled to help. Ading, trembling, helped her to her feet. Madam Mo, clutching her chest, her voice quavering, said, "You... you... get out of here too!"

    Her husband seemed not to hear. Ading exchanged several meaningful glances with Atong, who quickly moved to escort the master out. The east hall was in utter chaos. Wei Wuxian, seeing that the family had finally quieted down, prepared to continue examining the corpse. However, he had barely looked at it when another piercing scream erupted from the courtyard.

    Everyone in the hall rushed outside. In the east courtyard, two figures lay convulsing on the ground. One, Atong, was still alive but collapsed. The other, lifeless, appeared to have had all flesh and blood drained, leaving behind a shriveled husk missing its left arm. The wound, devoid of blood, mirrored Mo Ziyuan''s corpse exactly.

    Madam Mo, having just shaken off Ading''s support, caught sight of the new corpse. Her eyes widened in shock, and she finally lost all strength, fainting on the spot. Wei Wuxian, who happened to be nearby, caught her and handed her over to the rushing Ading. Glancing at his right hand, he noticed the wound there had also vanished.

    Just steps away from the hall''s threshold, before even leaving the east courtyard, Madam Mo''s husband had met a gruesome end in mere moments. Lan Sichui, Lan Jingyi, and the others paled at the sight. Lan Sichui, the quickest to regain his composure, urgently questioned the trembling Atong, "Did you see what it was?"

    Atong, too terrified to speak, could only shake his head repeatedly, his jaw locked in fear. Lan Sichui, growing increasingly anxious, instructed his fellow disciples to take Atong inside. He then turned to Lan Jingyi, asking, "Has the signal been sent?"

    Lan Jingyi replied, "Yes, but if there are no senior cultivators nearby to respond, our people will take at least half an hour to arrive. What should we do now? We don''t even know what we''re dealing with."

    They knew they couldn''t leave¡ªabandoning others in the face of evil spirits would not only disgrace their sect but also go against their own principles. The terrified Mo family members couldn''t be evacuated either, as the malevolent entity was likely hiding among them, rendering escape futile. Lan Sichui gritted his teeth and said, "We hold our ground and wait for reinforcements!"

    Having sent out a distress signal, support from other cultivators would arrive soon. To avoid further complications, Wei Wuxian knew he should retreat. If the arriving cultivators didn''t recognize him, it might be fine, but if someone who had crossed paths or clashed with him before showed up, the situation could become unpredictable.

    However, bound by the curse, he couldn''t leave Mo Village. Moreover, the entity summoned had claimed two lives in such a short span, demonstrating unprecedented ferocity. If Wei Wuxian were to abandon them now, by the time reinforcements arrived, the entire Mo Village might be littered with corpses missing their left arms, including some young disciples of the Lan Sect.

    After a moment''s deliberation, Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "Time for swift action."

 5. Battle of the Undead

    The young disciples, newly initiated into their roles, stood guard around the Mo residence with palpable tension. They had meticulously placed talismans throughout the main hall and its surroundings. Inside, the servant A-Tong lay motionless, with Lan Sizhui frantically attempting to treat both him and Madam Mo simultaneously. Just as the situation seemed dire, A-Tong suddenly stirred and sat up.

    "A-Tong, you''re awake!" A-Ding exclaimed, her relief palpable.

    However, before joy could fully register on her face, A-Tong raised his left hand and began to strangle himself.

    Witnessing this, Lan Sizhui swiftly struck three of A-Tong''s pressure points. Wei Wuxian knew that despite their refined appearance, the Lan clan members possessed formidable strength. Such strikes should have immobilized anyone instantly. Yet, A-Tong seemed unaffected, his grip tightening as his expression contorted in agony. Lan Jingyi attempted to pry A-Tong''s hand away but found it as unyielding as iron. Within moments, a sickening crack resonated through the room as A-Tong''s neck snapped, his hand finally releasing its grip.

    In full view of everyone, A-Tong had strangled himself to death.

    "A ghost!" A-Ding''s voice quavered. "An invisible spirit made A-Tong kill himself!"

    Her shrill cry sent chills through the onlookers, many instantly believing her words. Wei Wuxian, however, reached a different conclusion: this was not the work of a malevolent ghost.

    He had observed the talismans the young disciples had chosen¡ªall designed to repel spirits. They had covered the entire hall so thoroughly that any malevolent ghost entering would have triggered the talismans to burn with green flames. Yet, they remained inert.

    It wasn''t that the novices were slow to react; the entity they faced was simply too formidable. In the world of the occult, the term "malevolent ghost" had strict criteria: one kill per month for three consecutive months. Wei Wuxian had set this standard, and it was likely still in use. He excelled at dealing with such entities and considered a ghost killing once a week to be highly active. But this... three kills in such rapid succession? Even seasoned cultivators would struggle to devise a strategy, let alone these inexperienced youths.

    As these thoughts raced through Wei Wuxian''s mind, a gust of icy wind swept through the courtyard, extinguishing every lantern and candle in an instant.

    In the sudden darkness, chaos erupted. Screams pierced the air as people stumbled and fled in panic. Lan Jingyi''s voice cut through the commotion, "Stay where you are! Don''t run! I''ll catch anyone who tries to escape!"

    His warning wasn''t unfounded. Malevolent entities thrived on chaos, often striking when their victims were disoriented. Separating from the group or losing composure in such moments could be fatal. However, with fear gripping their hearts, few heeded his words. Within moments, the main hall fell eerily silent, save for muffled sobs and ragged breathing. It seemed many had already fled.

    Suddenly, a flame flickered to life¡ªLan Sizhui had ignited a talisman designed to resist supernatural winds. He used it to relight the candles while the remaining disciples worked to calm the others. In the wavering light, Wei Wuxian absently glanced at his wrist, noticing another scar had vanished.

    This observation gave him pause. Originally, he had two scars on each wrist. One had healed when Mo Ziyuan died, another when Mo Ziyuan''s father passed, and a third with A-Tong''s demise. By that count, only the deepest scar¡ªthe one harboring the most intense hatred¡ªshould remain.

    Yet his wrists were now completely unmarked.

    Wei Wuxian was certain that Madam Mo was among Mo Xuanyu''s primary targets for vengeance. The longest, deepest scar had been reserved for her. Its disappearance could only mean one thing, and it wasn''t that Mo Xuanyu had suddenly forgiven her¡ªhis soul had already been sacrificed to summon Wei Wuxian. For the scar to heal, Madam Mo must be...

    His gaze slowly shifted to Madam Mo, who had recently regained consciousness and was now surrounded by concerned onlookers, her face ashen.

    Unless she was already dead.

    Wei Wuxian was certain that something had taken possession of Madam Mo''s body. If not a spirit, then what could it be?

    Suddenly, A-Ding''s cry broke the tense silence: "The hand... A-Tong''s left hand is gone!"

    Lan Sizhui moved the flame talisman over A-Tong''s body, confirming that indeed, his left hand had vanished.

    The left hand!

    In a flash of insight, Wei Wuxian connected the dots¡ªthe entity, the missing left arm¡ªand burst into laughter. Lan Jingyi, exasperated, muttered, "This fool, laughing at a time like this!" But then, remembering Wei Wuxian''s supposed condition, he thought better of scolding him further.

    Wei Wuxian, however, grabbed Lan Jingyi''s sleeve, shaking his head. "No, no, you don''t understand!"

    Irritated, Lan Jingyi tried to pull away. "What don''t I understand? That you''re not a fool? Stop this nonsense! No one has time for your antics."

    Pointing at the bodies of Mo Ziyuan''s father and A-Tong, Wei Wuxian declared, "These aren''t them."

    Lan Sizhui, intervening, asked, "What do you mean by ''these aren''t them''?"

    With an uncharacteristically serious expression that seemed at odds with his painted face, Wei Wuxian explained, "This isn''t Mo Ziyuan''s father, and that isn''t A-Tong."

    In the flickering candlelight, his words sent a chill through those present. Lan Sizhui, momentarily taken aback, pressed, "Why do you say that?"

    Wei Wuxian, with a hint of pride, replied, "It''s the hands. They''re not left-handed. When they used to hit me, it was always with their right hands. That much I remember clearly."

    Lan Jingyi scoffed, "What are you so proud of? Look how pleased you are with yourself!"

    Lan Sizhui, however, felt a cold sweat break out as he pondered Wei Wuxian''s words. He recalled that A-Tong had strangled himself with his left hand, and Mo Ziyuan''s father had pushed his wife with his left hand as well.

    Yet earlier that day, when Mo Xuanyu had caused a commotion, both men had instinctively used their right hands to restrain and expel people. It seemed unlikely that they would suddenly become left-handed just before their deaths.

    While the exact reason remained unclear, it was evident that the key to unraveling this mystery lay in the significance of the "left hand." As this realization dawned on Lan Sizhui, he cast a questioning glance at Wei Wuxian, thinking, "His sudden insight... it can''t be mere coincidence."

    Wei Wuxian maintained his impish grin, aware that his hint had been rather obvious, but he had little choice. Lan Sizhui, choosing not to pursue the matter further, reasoned, "Regardless, if this Mo Gongzi is willing to offer guidance, his intentions are likely not malicious." He shifted his attention from Wei Wuxian to the recently fainted A-Ding, and finally to Madam Mo.

    His gaze traveled from her face down to her hands. Her arms hung at her sides, mostly concealed by her sleeves, with only the fingertips visible. The fingers of her right hand were pale and delicate, befitting a woman of leisure unaccustomed to manual labor.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    However, the fingers of her left hand were noticeably longer and thicker than those of her right. The joints were curved, exuding strength.

    This was no woman''s hand¡ªit was unmistakably that of a man!

    Lan Sizhui''s voice cut through the tension: "Restrain her immediately!"

    As the young disciples of the Lan Clan restrained Madam Mo, Lan Sichui stepped forward with an apologetic "Excuse me," ready to slap a talisman onto her. However, Madam Mo''s left arm twisted at an impossible angle, reaching for his throat with inhuman speed.

    For a living person''s arm to bend like that, the bones would have to be broken. Just as her fingers were about to close around Lan Sichui''s neck, Lan Jingyi let out a yelp and threw himself in front of his clansman, taking the blow.

    A flash of green fire erupted where the hand touched Lan Jingyi''s shoulder, causing the ghostly arm to recoil. Lan Sichui, relieved at his narrow escape, turned to thank Lan Jingyi for his sacrifice. But he found his savior in a sorry state, half of his uniform burned to ashes. Lan Jingyi, struggling to remove what remained of his clothes, whirled around angrily, "Why did you kick me, you lunatic? Are you trying to get me killed?!"

    Wei Wuxian ducked away, protesting, "It wasn''t me!"

    Of course, it had been him. The Lan Clan''s uniforms were embroidered with protective spells on the inside, capable of saving lives. But against such a powerful entity, they could only be used once. In desperation, Wei Wuxian had kicked Lan Jingyi, forcing him to shield Lan Sichui''s vulnerable neck.

    As Lan Jingyi continued to fume, Madam Mo collapsed to the ground. Her face was a horrifying sight, flesh and blood drained until only skin clung to her skull. The unnatural male arm detached from her left shoulder, its fingers flexing as if stretching, veins and tendons visibly pulsing beneath the skin.

    This, then, was the evil summoned by the Ghost-Calling Flag.

    Dismemberment was a cruel way to die, only slightly less gruesome than Wei Wuxian''s own demise. Unlike bodies ground to dust, severed limbs retained some of the deceased''s resentment, yearning to reunite with the rest of their body. They would search relentlessly, either finding peace upon reunion or causing even greater havoc. Failing that, they would settle for the next best thing: attaching to a living host.

    This left arm was no exception. It would consume the flesh and blood of its victims, moving from one host to another until it found the rest of its original body.

    Once attached, the arm killed its host instantly. However, it could control the corpse, making it appear alive until all the blood and flesh were consumed. Its first vessel had been Mo Ziyuan, followed by his father. When Madam Mo had told her husband to leave earlier, his uncharacteristic aggression wasn''t grief, but the emptiness of death.

    The third vessel was A-Tong, and Madam Mo became the fourth. During the chaos of the extinguished lights, the ghostly hand had transferred to her. As Madam Mo perished, the last scar on Wei Wuxian''s wrist vanished.

    Realizing their talismans were ineffective, the Lan disciples resorted to using their uniforms. They piled their outer robes onto the severed arm, creating a cocoon-like barrier. Moments later, the bundle burst into eerie green flames. Though effective temporarily, the arm would break free once the uniforms burned away.

    Seizing the moment of distraction, Wei Wuxian darted towards the west courtyard.

    There, he found ten corpses standing silently, held in place by an array drawn on the ground. With a swift kick, Wei Wuxian broke the spell, then clapped his hands twice. The corpses jerked to life, their eyes rolling back as if struck by lightning.

    "Rise," Wei Wuxian commanded. "Time to work!"

    His control over corpse puppets had never required complex incantations, just simple, direct orders. The corpses in the front struggled forward, but as they neared Wei Wuxian, they seemed to lose their nerve, collapsing to the ground like terrified humans.

    Wei Wuxian couldn''t help but laugh. He clapped again, more gently this time. But these corpses, having lived and died in Mo Village, were clearly out of their depth. Though compelled to obey, they cowered on the ground, whimpering in fear of the one giving orders.

    Usually, the more vicious the spirit, the easier Wei Wuxian found it to control. These untrained corpses couldn''t handle his direct manipulation, and he lacked the materials to create a buffer. As the green flames in the east courtyard began to dim, a sudden idea struck Wei Wuxian.

    Why search for vengeful, vicious spirits when they were right here in the east hall?

    He dashed back to the east courtyard. Lan Sichui and the others had resorted to forming a sword array, barely containing the ghostly arm as it thrashed within. Too focused on their task, they failed to notice Wei Wuxian slip into the hall.

    Inside, he grasped the bodies of Madam Mo and Mo Ziyuan, one in each hand. "Awaken!" he commanded in a low voice.

    In an instant, their souls returned.

    Madam Mo and Mo Ziyuan''s eyes rolled back, their mouths emitting the sharp, piercing screams characteristic of newly-risen ghosts.

    Amid the high and low wails, another corpse trembled to life, adding a weak cry to the chorus¡ªMadam Mo''s husband.

    Satisfied with their loud cries and potent resentment, Wei Wuxian smiled. "Do you recognize that arm outside?"

    He ordered, "Tear it apart."

    The Mo family, like three dark gusts of wind, rushed out.

    The left arm had just broken through the sword array when the three armless, ferocious corpses pounced on it.

    Driven by both their inability to disobey Wei Wuxian and their own hatred for what had killed them, the family unleashed their fury on the ghostly limb. Madam Mo led the assault, transformed into a terrifying specter. Her hair wild, eyes bloodshot, and nails grotesquely elongated, she shrieked with a madness that threatened to tear the roof off. Mo Ziyuan followed his mother''s lead, matching her ferocity, while his father filled in any gaps in their relentless attack. The young Lan disciples, who had been struggling moments before, now watched in stunned silence.

    They had only read about such battles between fierce corpses in obscure texts and rumors. Witnessing the bloody spectacle firsthand left them speechless, unable to tear their eyes away. It was... captivating!

    As the three corpses and the arm fought viciously, Mo Ziyuan suddenly leapt back with a screech. The arm had torn into his abdomen, spilling intestines. Madam Mo, seeing this, roared in fury, shielding her son and attacking with renewed vigor. Her nails sliced through the air with the force of steel blades. But Wei Wuxian noticed she was beginning to falter.

    Even three freshly-risen, vengeful corpses working together couldn''t overpower this single arm!

    Wei Wuxian observed intently, his tongue curled and lips pursed, holding back a sharp whistle. If released, it would heighten the ferocity of the corpses he controlled, potentially turning the tide of battle. But it might also reveal his involvement. In the blink of an eye, the arm moved like lightning, viciously snapping Madam Mo''s neck.

    As the Mo family began to lose ground, Wei Wuxian prepared to unleash his whistle. But just then, two clear, resonant notes rang out from the distance.

    The sound, as if plucked casually by an expert hand, carried an otherworldly purity tinged with the chill of mountain pines. The battling monstrosities in the courtyard froze at the sound.

    The young Lan disciples'' faces lit up with renewed hope. Lan Sichui wiped the blood from his face, looking up excitedly. "Hanguang-jun!"

    Upon hearing those two distant notes, Wei Wuxian turned to leave.

    Another string vibration followed, higher in pitch, cutting through clouds and sky with a hint of killing intent. The three fierce corpses recoiled, covering their ears with their right hands. But the Lan Clan''s barrier-breaking music was not so easily blocked. Before they could retreat far, faint popping sounds emerged from their skulls.

    The left arm, fresh from its fierce battle, went limp at the sound of the strings. Though its fingers still twitched, the arm itself lay motionless.

    After a brief silence, the young disciples couldn''t contain their cheers. Their jubilation was filled with the wild joy of survivors, having endured a harrowing night and finally receiving support from their clan. Even the prospect of punishment for "improper behavior unbecoming of their sect" couldn''t dampen their spirits.

    As they waved at the moon in celebration, Lan Sichui suddenly noticed someone was missing. He tugged at Lan Jingyi''s sleeve, "Where is he?"

    Lan Jingyi, caught up in the excitement, asked, "Who?"

    "That Mo young master," Lan Sichui replied.

    "Huh? Why are you looking for that madman?" Lan Jingyi said. "Who knows where he ran off to, probably afraid I''d beat him up."

    Lan Sichui knew Lan Jingyi was straightforward and rarely thought things through. He decided to wait for Hanguang-jun''s arrival to report about the mysterious young man and the night''s events.

    Mo Village slumbered on, though whether it was true sleep or feigned ignorance was unclear. Even with the fierce battle raging in the Mo family''s east and west courtyards, no one stirred in the pre-dawn hours. Some spectacles were best left unwitnessed, especially those filled with blood-curdling screams.

    Wei Wuxian swiftly destroyed any remaining traces of the sacrificial array in Mo Xuanyu''s room and darted out the door.

    What rotten luck! Not only were the Lan Clan members arriving, but Lan Wangji was among them!

    This was someone he had both interacted and fought with before. Time to make a hasty retreat. Urgently seeking a mount, he passed by a courtyard with a large millstone, to which a flower-patterned donkey was tethered. The animal, chewing lazily, seemed almost human-like as it side-eyed Wei Wuxian''s hurried approach. Their gazes met briefly, and Wei Wuxian was instantly charmed by the hint of disdain in the donkey''s eyes.

    He stepped forward, grabbing the rope and tugging the animal out. The donkey brayed loudly in protest. With a mix of coaxing and pulling, Wei Wuxian managed to lure it onto the road. As the first light of dawn broke across the sky, the odd pair clattered down the main path and away from Mo Village.

 6. My Little Spotted Donkey: A Treasure I Never Ride

    It didn''t take long for Wei Wuxian to realize he might have made a regrettable choice.

    The colorful donkey he had casually acquired was proving to be more trouble than it was worth. Despite being just a simple beast of burden, it insisted on eating only the freshest grass, still glistening with morning dew. If the tips of the blades showed even a hint of yellow, it would turn its nose up in disgust. When Wei Wuxian attempted to feed it some wheat straw stolen from a nearby farm, the donkey chewed a few times before spitting it out with a loud, indignant "pfft!" ¡ª a sound more befitting a human than a stubborn equine.

    When its culinary standards weren''t met, the donkey refused to budge. It would throw tantrums, kicking its hind legs dangerously close to Wei Wuxian''s face. And its braying? It was nothing short of an auditory assault.

    "You''re useless as a mount and even worse as a pet!" Wei Wuxian grumbled, finding himself longing for his lost sword. He imagined it now, probably hung as a trophy on some clan leader''s wall.

    After dragging the reluctant animal through several stretches of road, they came upon a vast expanse of village fields. Under the scorching sun, a large locust tree by the path offered a tempting patch of shade. Nearby stood an old well, complete with a bucket and ladle thoughtfully left by villagers for thirsty travelers.

    The donkey, apparently deciding it had had enough, planted its hooves firmly by the well. Wei Wuxian dismounted with a sigh, patting its rump. "You''ve got quite the princely temperament, even more demanding than I am."

    The donkey snorted in response.

    As Wei Wuxian idly contemplated his situation, he noticed a group of people approaching from the distant fields. They were clearly villagers, with their woven bamboo baskets and simple cloth shoes. Among them was a young girl with a round face, her features plain but pleasant. The group seemed eager for a break in the shade, but hesitated at the sight of the eccentric-looking man and his unruly donkey.

    Wei Wuxian, ever the gentleman, shifted to make room. Reassured by his non-threatening demeanor, the villagers approached. They fanned themselves and drew water from the well, their faces flushed from the heat. The young girl, settling by the well, offered Wei Wuxian a shy smile of gratitude.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    One of the men in the group held a peculiar compass, its markings and needle unlike any ordinary navigational tool. Wei Wuxian recognized it as a "wind evil compass," used not for direction but for detecting malevolent spirits. He realized these must be members of a modest cultivator family, likely heading to join a night hunt with a larger clan.

    The leader of the group, a middle-aged man, urged the others to drink quickly. "We''re almost at Mount Dafan. We can''t afford to linger here and risk others getting there first."

    Wei Wuxian''s interest was piqued. Night hunts were opportunities for cultivator clans to prove their worth by capturing fearsome beasts or exorcising evil spirits. It had once been his specialty, but recent days had yielded only minor spirits from the graves he''d explored. Perhaps Mount Dafan would offer better prospects.

    As the group prepared to leave, the round-faced girl approached Wei Wuxian. She pulled a small, not-quite-ripe apple from her pack and offered it to him with a kind gesture. Wei Wuxian grinned and reached for it, but the donkey, suddenly alert, attempted to snatch it first. A mischievous idea struck Wei Wuxian. He fashioned a makeshift fishing rod from a branch and some string, dangling the apple just out of the donkey''s reach.

    The effect was instantaneous. Driven by its desire for the fruit, the donkey charged forward with unexpected speed, easily outpacing any prized horse Wei Wuxian had ever seen.

    They arrived at Mount Dafan as night fell, only to find the area bustling with activity. Cultivators from various sects filled the streets, their diverse robes creating a colorful tapestry. An air of tension permeated the crowd, with heated debates breaking out over the nature of the threat they faced.

    Wei Wuxian, his curiosity growing, eavesdropped on the discussions. It seemed seven villagers had fallen victim to a mysterious ailment that left them soulless husks. Some argued it must be the work of a soul-eating beast, while others insisted their compasses would have detected such a creature.

    As he pondered the situation, Wei Wuxian''s reverie was broken by a collision. A young woman had bumped into him, her eyes glazed and unfocused. She began to dance wildly, her movements erratic and unsettling. A distraught older woman ¡ª her mother, Wei Wuxian guessed ¡ª tried in vain to stop her.

    Through snippets of conversation, Wei Wuxian pieced together the story. Months ago, a storm had ravaged the local cemetery on Mount Dafan, unearthing old graves. Since then, villagers had been falling victim to this strange affliction.

    As night deepened, Wei Wuxian made his way up the mountain, his mind racing with theories. Whatever was plaguing this town, he was determined to uncover its secrets ¡ª and perhaps find a powerful spirit to command in the process.

    Little did he know, his arrival had not gone unnoticed. As he ascended, a group of dejected cultivators passed him on their way down, muttering about a formidable clan leader who had asserted his authority over the hunt. The name "Jiang Cheng" hung in the air, a ghost from Wei Wuxian''s past that would soon collide with his present.

 7. Awaiting Lan Wangji: A Long-Anticipated Arrival

    As dusk deepened into night, the forest grew increasingly treacherous. Soon, torches would be necessary to navigate the shadowy paths. Wei Wuxian had been walking for some time, surprised by the scarcity of cultivators. He wondered if most of the clan members were still engaged in fruitless debates in Buddha''s Foot Town, or if they had all retreated in frustration like the group he''d encountered earlier.

    Suddenly, desperate cries for help pierced the silence.

    "Someone, please!"

    "Help us!"

    The voices, both male and female, rang with genuine panic. In these wild mountains, such pleas often signaled the tricks of malevolent spirits luring unsuspecting victims. But Wei Wuxian''s eyes lit up with excitement.

    The more sinister, the better. He craved a true challenge!

    Urging his donkey forward, he galloped towards the source of the commotion. As he approached, he spotted not spirits or demons, but the family of commoners he''d met earlier by the field. They were suspended high in a tree, ensnared by an enormous, shimmering golden net.

    The middle-aged man, who had been patrolling the forest with his kin in hopes of finding prey, explained their predicament. They had stumbled into this trap, likely set by some wealthy cultivator. The net, though gossamer-thin, was crafted from materials of the highest quality. Once caught, even gods, demons, or spirits would struggle to break free without a superior magical weapon.

    Seeing Wei Wuxian approach, the trapped family''s hopes rose briefly, only to plummet upon recognizing the "madman" they''d encountered earlier. They doubted he could even comprehend their situation, let alone help.

    Just as they were about to call out for him to fetch assistance, a lithe figure emerged from the shadows. A young man in pale, exquisitely embroidered robes gracefully entered the clearing. Despite his youth ¨C he appeared no older than Lan Sizhui ¨C he carried himself with an air of authority. A crimson mark adorned his forehead, and he was armed with a quiver of arrows, a longbow, and a dazzling golden sword. His chest bore an intricate white peony emblem, glimmering faintly in the darkness.

    "Rich kid," Wei Wuxian mused silently.

    This had to be a young master from the Jin clan of Lanling. Only they used the white peony as their emblem, likening themselves to the "king of flowers" and, by extension, the kings among cultivators. The cinnabar mark on his forehead symbolized their motto: "Illuminate wisdom, shine with brilliance."

    The young Jin had nocked an arrow, ready to loose, but lowered his bow upon seeing humans caught in the net. His expression shifted from disappointment to irritation. "You fools again," he spat. "There are over four hundred spirit-trapping nets in these mountains, and you idiots have already ruined more than a dozen before we''ve caught a single beast!"

    Wei Wuxian''s thoughts lingered on the Jin clan''s ostentatious display of wealth. One spirit-trapping net alone was worth a fortune, yet they had scattered hundreds throughout the forest. Such indiscriminate use of powerful artifacts was less about hunting and more about monopolizing the area, denying other cultivators any chance of success. No wonder the other cultivation sects had withdrawn ¨C they knew better than to provoke such a prominent clan.

    During his recent wanderings and eavesdropping in Buddha''s Foot Town, Wei Wuxian had gleaned much about the current state of the cultivation world. The Jin clan had emerged victorious from the great upheaval a century ago, and now held sway over all other sects. Their clan leader was even honored with the title of "Chief Cultivator." Always known for their pride and love of luxury, the Jin''s dominance had only amplified these traits. Their younger generation, in particular, had grown accustomed to unchecked arrogance. Lesser sects and common folk alike knew to suffer their insults in silence.

    Thus, despite the young cultivator''s callous words, the trapped family could only swallow their anger. The middle-aged man pleaded meekly, "Young Master Jin, please show mercy and release us."

    But the youth, frustrated by his fruitless hunt, was in no mood for compassion. "You''ll hang there until I''m done," he declared, crossing his arms. "At least this way you won''t interfere with my hunt. Once I''ve captured the soul-devouring beast, I might remember to let you down."

    A night suspended in these woods could prove fatal. If the mysterious creature rumored to stalk Dafan Mountain should appear while they were helpless... The round-faced girl who had offered Wei Wuxian an apple earlier began to sob in terror.

    At the sound of her cries, Wei Wuxian''s donkey ¨C until now docile beneath him ¨C suddenly sprang into action. With a discordant bray that aspired to heroism, it charged towards the young Jin cultivator. The unexpected movement nearly unseated Wei Wuxian, who barely managed to keep his grip on the reins.

    The Jin youth, bow still in hand, smoothly redirected his aim towards the oncoming "steed." Not wishing to lose his unconventional mount so soon, Wei Wuxian struggled to rein in the overzealous animal.

    As he fought with the donkey, the young cultivator''s eyes fell upon Wei Wuxian. His expression morphed from shock to disgust. "It''s you," he sneered. "I see being exiled back to your backwater home has driven you mad. How dare you show your face in public, looking like that!"

    Wei Wuxian''s eyebrows shot up. This reaction hinted at some connection he hadn''t anticipated. Could it be... was Mo Xuanyu''s father not some minor sect leader, but the infamous Jin Guangshan himself?!

    Jin Guangshan, the previous leader of the Lanling Jin Clan, had been a man of... complicated reputation. Though cowed by his formidable wife, he had still managed to pursue affairs with everyone from noble ladies to common prostitutes. While he fathered numerous illegitimate children, only one ¨C the current clan leader, Jin Guangyao ¨C had been officially recognized. Even Jin Guangshan''s death had been scandalous, the result of overexertion during a liaison with multiple women. The clan, desperate to save face, had claimed their patriarch succumbed to exhaustion from his duties.

    If Mo Xuanyu was truly Jin Guangshan''s son, it added a layer of complexity to Wei Wuxian''s current situation. After all, Jin Guangshan had played a significant role in the siege of the Burial Mounds, second only to Jiang Cheng. The irony of Wei Wuxian now inhabiting the body of Jin Guangshan''s cast-off son was not lost on him.

    The young Jin, disgusted by Wei Wuxian''s silent contemplation, snarled, "Get out of my sight! You sicken me, you degenerate."

    Given the likely family connection, Mo Xuanyu might even outrank this arrogant youth. Wei Wuxian felt compelled to defend the body he now inhabited, if nothing else. "My, what a mouth on you," he drawled. "It''s clear you were born noble, but raised in a barn."

    Rage flashed in the young cultivator''s eyes. He drew his sword with a metallic hiss. "What. Did. You. Say?"

    The blade gleamed with golden light, marking it as a treasure beyond the means of most cultivation sects. Wei Wuxian felt a niggle of recognition, but dismissed it. He''d seen plenty of golden swords in his day. Instead, he fingered a small pouch at his waist ¨C a makeshift "spirit trap" he''d cobbled together from scraps.

    As the Jin youth brought his sword down in a vicious arc, Wei Wuxian deftly sidestepped. In one fluid motion, he withdrew a small paper talisman from the pouch and slapped it onto his attacker''s back.

    Though the young cultivator moved with impressive speed, Wei Wuxian''s countless battles had honed his reflexes to a razor''s edge. The Jin felt a numbing sensation spread across his back, followed by an overwhelming pressure. He collapsed face-first onto the ground, his sword clattering beside him. Try as he might, he couldn''t rise. It felt as though a mountain was pressing down upon him.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    In truth, the talisman had summoned a gluttonous ghost to perch on the youth''s back. While such a minor spirit posed little threat to seasoned cultivators, it was more than enough to immobilize this fledgling Jin.

    Wei Wuxian casually retrieved the fallen sword. With a single swing, he severed the spirit-trapping net above.

    The trapped family tumbled to the ground in an undignified heap. Without a word of thanks, they scrambled to their feet and fled into the night. The round-faced girl hesitated, seemingly wanting to express her gratitude, but her elder pulled her along. They feared lingering would only invite further retribution from the humiliated Jin cultivator.

    From his prone position, the young Jin sputtered with fury. "You... you deviant! So this is how far you''ve fallen. Unable to cultivate properly, you''ve resorted to these twisted techniques. You''d better watch yourself! Do you have any idea who''s here today? I''ll..."

    Wei Wuxian clutched his chest in mock terror. "Oh my, how frightening!"

    In truth, Wei Wuxian''s unconventional cultivation method, while controversial, had always attracted those seeking a shortcut to power. It offered rapid results without the limitations of innate talent or spiritual energy. Many cultivators secretly dabbled in these techniques, despite the long-term risks to their spiritual foundations. The young Jin clearly assumed Mo Xuanyu had turned to this "dark path" after being cast out of the clan.

    This misunderstanding suited Wei Wuxian perfectly. It would save him a great deal of unnecessary explanation.

    The young man, face flushed with exertion and humiliation, struggled to rise from the ground. After several failed attempts, he snarled through gritted teeth, "If you don''t back off, I''ll tell my uncle. You''ll be dead meat!"

    Wei Wuxian cocked his head, curiosity piqued. "Your uncle? Why not your father? Who''s this uncle of yours?"

    Suddenly, a voice as cold as ice and sharp as steel cut through the air from behind:

    "I am his uncle. Any last words?"

    The sound of that voice sent a jolt through Wei Wuxian''s body, blood rushing to his head before draining away entirely. Fortunately, his face was already pale, so the sudden change went unnoticed.

    A young man in purple robes approached with measured steps. His sleeves billowed slightly, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword. A silver bell hung at his waist, silent despite his movement.

    This newcomer possessed a striking beauty, with fine brows and almond-shaped eyes. His gaze burned with intensity, carrying an implicit threat. He stopped ten paces from Wei Wuxian, his posture taut like a drawn bowstring, exuding an aura of arrogance and superiority.

    The man in purple frowned. "Jin Ling, why have you taken so long? Did I need to come fetch you myself? Get up, you look pathetic!"

    Shaking off his momentary stupor, Wei Wuxian quickly regained his composure. With a subtle gesture, he retracted the paper doll. Feeling the pressure on his back disappear, Jin Ling scrambled to his feet, snatching up his sword. He darted to his uncle''s side, pointing accusingly at Wei Wuxian. "I''ll break your legs for this!"

    Standing together, the uncle and nephew bore a striking resemblance, almost like brothers. Jiang Cheng flicked his fingers, and the paper doll flew from Wei Wuxian''s grasp into his own hand. His eyes flashed with murderous intent as he examined it. With a clench of his fist, the paper burst into flames, incinerating amidst the shrieks of the trapped spirit.

    Jiang Cheng''s voice dripped with venom. "Break his legs? Didn''t I tell you? When you encounter such vile creatures, kill them outright and feed them to your dogs!"

    Wei Wuxian, abandoning even his donkey, leapt backward. He had hoped that after so many years, Jiang Cheng''s hatred might have dissipated. But it seemed to have only intensified, like a bitter wine aging into potent poison. Now, it appeared to extend to anyone who dared to practice cultivation methods similar to his own.

    Emboldened by his uncle''s support, Jin Ling lunged forward with renewed ferocity. Wei Wuxian''s fingers dipped into his spirit-locking pouch, ready to counter. Suddenly, a flash of blue light streaked through the air, clashing with Jin Ling''s sword and instantly dispersing its golden glow.

    The disparity in power between the wielders was evident. Wei Wuxian, caught off-guard by the unexpected intervention, stumbled and fell face-first at a pair of pristine white boots. After a moment of stunned silence, he slowly raised his head.

    The first thing he saw was a translucent, icy-blue sword blade of legendary repute.

    Among the great clans, this sword was infamous. Wei Wuxian had experienced its power countless times, both as an ally and an adversary. The hilt was forged from pure silver, treated with secret techniques. The blade itself was incredibly thin yet indestructible, radiating a bone-chilling aura. Despite its ethereal appearance, it was deceptively heavy ¨C an ordinary person could scarcely lift it.

    This was "Bichen" ¨C to avoid dust.

    The sword reversed and slid back into its sheath with a crisp ring. At the same time, Jiang Cheng''s voice carried from afar: "Well, well. If it isn''t the second young master of the Lan clan."

    The white boots stepped around Wei Wuxian, unhurried, taking three paces forward. As Wei Wuxian rose to his feet, their gazes met briefly in passing.

    The newcomer was bathed in moonlight, a seven-stringed zither strapped to his back. The instrument was narrower than most, its body a soft, lustrous black.

    This man wore a cloud-patterned forehead ribbon, his skin fair and features exquisitely handsome, as if carved from jade. His eyes were an incredibly pale shade, almost glassy, lending his gaze an air of detachment. His expression was frosty, bordering on rigid solemnity. Even upon seeing Wei Wuxian''s absurd countenance, he remained impassive.

    From head to toe, he was the picture of immaculate perfection, not a single hair out of place. Despite this, four words sprang unbidden to Wei Wuxian''s mind:

    "Mourning clothes and hemp!"

    Indeed, he looked as though he were in mourning. No matter how much praise was heaped upon the Gusu Lan sect''s uniform as the most beautiful in the cultivation world, or how Lan Wangji was lauded as an unparalleled beauty seen once in a century, it couldn''t overcome the fact that his face bore the expression of a man who had just lost his wife.

    Talk about bad luck and old enemies crossing paths. When it rains, it pours.

    Lan Wangji stood silently before Jiang Cheng, his gaze unwavering. Though Jiang Cheng was considered exceptionally handsome, standing face-to-face with Lan Wangji made him appear somewhat lacking, a touch too volatile. He raised an eyebrow and said, "The famed Hanguang-Jun, true to his reputation of ''appearing wherever chaos reigns.'' What brings you to these remote mountains today?"

    Cultivators of their status typically disdained to deal with low-level evil spirits, but Lan Wangji was an exception. He never discriminated in his night-hunts, never refusing to help simply because a spirit or monster wasn''t fierce enough to boost his reputation. If someone asked for aid, he would come ¨C this had been his way since youth. Thus, "appearing wherever chaos reigns" was both a description of Hanguang-Jun''s night-hunting habits and a praise of his character. Jiang Cheng''s tone, however, was far from respectful.

    The disciples accompanying Lan Wangji bristled at the slight. Lan Jingyi, known for his directness, retorted, "Isn''t Sect Leader Jiang here as well?"

    Jiang Cheng''s voice turned glacial. "Tch. When elders are speaking, what right do you have to interject? Is this how the self-proclaimed most courteous sect of Gusu Lan teaches its disciples?"

    Lan Wangji, seemingly uninterested in engaging with Jiang Cheng, glanced at Lan Sizhui. Understanding the silent command, Sizhui stepped forward to address Jin Ling, allowing the juniors to converse. "Young Master Jin, night-hunts have always been about fair competition between sects. By littering the mountain with traps, you''ve made it nearly impossible for other cultivators to move freely without fear of being caught. Isn''t this a violation of night-hunting etiquette?"

    Jin Ling''s cold demeanor mirrored his uncle''s perfectly. "If they''re stupid enough to fall into my traps, that''s their problem. We can discuss this after I''ve caught my prey."

    Lan Wangji''s brow furrowed slightly. As Jin Ling attempted to speak again, he suddenly found himself unable to open his mouth or make a sound. Panic flickered across his face. Jiang Cheng, noticing Jin Ling''s lips sealed as if glued shut, felt his temper flare. What little civility he had maintained evaporated. "Lan Wangji! What''s the meaning of this? Jin Ling is not yours to discipline. Release him at once!"

    This silencing spell was a Lan clan technique used to punish misbehaving disciples. Wei Wuxian had fallen victim to it numerous times. Though not particularly complex, only members of the Lan clan knew how to undo it. Attempting to speak while under its effects would result in either torn, bleeding lips or days of hoarseness. The spell forced silence and self-reflection until the punishment duration ended.

    Lan Sizhui spoke up, "Sect Leader Jiang, please don''t be angry. As long as he doesn''t try to force the spell, it will dissipate on its own after the time it takes an incense stick to burn."

    Before Jiang Cheng could respond, a cultivator in Jiang sect colors came running from the forest, calling out, "Sect Leader!" Upon seeing Lan Wangji, he hesitated. Jiang Cheng sneered, "Well? What bad news have you come to report now?"

    The disciple lowered his voice, "A short while ago, a blue sword destroyed all of the spirit-binding nets you had set up."

    Jiang Cheng shot Lan Wangji a venomous glare, his displeasure plainly visible. "How many were destroyed?"

    The disciple responded timidly, "...All of them..."

    Over four hundred nets!

    Jiang Cheng''s fury reached a boiling point.

    He hadn''t anticipated such an inauspicious turn of events. He had come to support Jin Ling, who at nearly fifteen was ready to make his debut and compete with other young cultivators. Jiang Cheng had carefully selected the hunting grounds of Mount Dafan, spreading nets and intimidating other sects'' disciples to clear the way for Jin Ling to claim the first prize. The cost of over four hundred spirit-binding nets, while steep, was insignificant to the Yunmeng Jiang sect. But the destruction of the nets was a minor issue compared to the loss of face. Lan Wangji''s actions had stoked a fire of resentment in Jiang Cheng''s heart, growing hotter by the moment. His eyes narrowed as he absently fingered the ring on his right index finger.

    It was a dangerous gesture.

    Everyone knew that ring was a formidable and lethal magical artifact. When the Jiang sect leader began to touch it, it meant he harbored killing intent.

 8. A Fresh Look: Realizing My Own Handsome Charm

    However, after a moment of hesitation, Jiang Cheng forced himself to suppress his hostility. Despite his displeasure, as the leader of a sect, he had to consider more than just his personal feelings, unlike the impulsive Jin Ling. Since the decline of the Nie clan of Qinghe, the Jin clan of Lanling and the Lan clan of Gusu had grown closer due to the friendship between their leaders. This left Jiang Cheng, solely managing the Jiang clan of Yunmeng, in a rather isolated position among the three great sects.

    Lan Wangji, known as Hanguang-Jun, was a highly respected cultivator, and his elder brother, Lan Xichen, was the leader of the Gusu Lan clan. The brothers were known for their harmony, and it would be unwise to create unnecessary conflict with them. Moreover, Jiang Cheng''s sword "Sandu" had never officially clashed with Lan Wangji''s "Bichen," leaving the outcome of such a confrontation uncertain. While Jiang Cheng possessed the powerful heirloom ring "Zidian," Lan Wangji''s guqin "Wangji" was equally renowned. Jiang Cheng, unable to tolerate being at a disadvantage, wouldn''t consider confronting Lan Wangji without absolute certainty of victory.

    Slowly, Jiang Cheng withdrew his left hand from the ring. It was clear that Lan Wangji was determined to intervene, making it inconvenient for Jiang Cheng to play the villain. He decided to let this matter slide for now. Turning to Jin Ling, who was still angrily covering his mouth, Jiang Cheng said sarcastically, "If Hanguang-Jun wants to punish you, just accept his discipline this time. It''s quite an achievement for him to manage disciples from other sects."

    His tone was mocking, though it wasn''t clear who the target of his derision was. Lan Wangji, never one to engage in verbal sparring, remained silent. Jiang Cheng, his words still laced with sarcasm, continued: "Why are you still standing here? Waiting for the prey to impale itself on your sword? If you can''t handle whatever''s in this mountain today, don''t bother coming to me again!"

    Jin Ling glared fiercely at Wei Wuxian but didn''t dare to do the same to Lan Wangji, who had silenced him. He sheathed his sword, bowed to the two elders, and retreated with his bow. Lan Sizhui said, "Sect Leader Jiang, the Gusu Lan sect will replace the spirit-trapping nets that were destroyed."

    Jiang Cheng sneered, "That won''t be necessary!" He chose the opposite direction and casually descended the mountain. His retainers followed silently, their faces gloomy with the knowledge that punishment awaited them upon return.

    As their figures disappeared, Lan Jingyi exclaimed, "How can Sect Leader Jiang be like this!" Realizing he had violated Lan sect rules about speaking ill of others, he quickly glanced at Hanguang-Jun and fell silent. Lan Sizhui smiled gently at Wei Wuxian, saying, "Master Mo, we meet again."

    Wei Wuxian managed a strained smile. Lan Wangji then spoke, his instructions concise and unembellished: "Get to work."

    The young disciples, suddenly remembering their purpose on the mountain, set aside their other thoughts and respectfully awaited further instructions. After a moment, Lan Wangji added, "Do your best. Don''t overexert yourselves."

    His voice was low and magnetic, capable of making one''s heart tremble if heard up close. The disciples responded obediently and headed into the depths of the forest. Wei Wuxian thought to himself that Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji were indeed completely different people, even their words of caution to the younger generation were polar opposites. As he pondered this, he noticed Lan Wangji giving him an almost imperceptible nod, which slightly startled him.

    Lan Wangji had always been incredibly serious, seemingly devoid of any playfulness since his youth. He was strict and inflexible, with no tolerance for misconduct, and strongly disapproved of Wei Wuxian''s use of demonic cultivation. Lan Sizhui must have informed Lan Wangji about Wei Wuxian''s suspicious activities at the Mo manor, yet he still acknowledged him with a nod, presumably in gratitude for helping the Lan sect disciples. Wei Wuxian instinctively returned the gesture, and when he looked up again, Lan Wangji had vanished.

    After a moment''s pause, Wei Wuxian turned and began walking down the mountain.

    Whatever prey lurked in the mountain, he couldn''t pursue it now. Wei Wuxian would compete with anyone but Jin Ling.

    It had to be Jin Ling, of all people.

    Among all the disciples of the Lanling Jin sect, he never imagined he would encounter Jin Ling. Had he known, how could he have mocked Jin Ling for being "born but not raised by a mother"? If anyone else had said such a thing to Jin Ling, Wei Wuxian would have taught them the meaning of "words have consequences." But it was he himself who had uttered those cruel words.

    After a moment of stillness, Wei Wuxian raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face.

    The slap was loud and forceful, leaving his right cheek stinging. Suddenly, there was a rustling in the nearby bushes, and Wei Wuxian glanced over to see a flowery donkey''s head poking out. He lowered his hand. This time, the donkey approached him of its own accord. Wei Wuxian tugged gently on its long ears and said with a wry smile, "You wanted to play the hero, but you made me the righteous one instead."

    As the flower-crowned donkey brayed softly, a group of cultivators appeared at the end of the slope, heading towards them. After Lan Wangji had destroyed all four hundred spirit-trapping nets with a single sword strike, the cultivators who had been hesitating in Buddha''s Feet town had surged back up the mountain. This group was now Jin Ling''s competition. Wei Wuxian considered for a moment whether he should drive them away again but ultimately decided to silently step aside.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    The group of disciples from various sects complained as they walked: "This young Master Jin, spoiled by both the Jin and Jiang sects, is already so domineering at such a young age. If he takes over the Lanling Jin sect in the future, we might as well not live!"

    Wei Wuxian slowed his pace to listen.

    A compassionate female cultivator sighed, "How can they not spoil and dote on him? He lost both parents at such a young age."

    "Sister, you shouldn''t say that," another retorted. "So what if he lost both parents? There are many orphans in this world. If everyone behaved like him, where would that leave us?"

    "Wei Wuxian was really ruthless. Jin Ling''s mother was Jiang Cheng''s own sister, the shijie who raised him."

    "Jiang Yanli was truly wronged, raising such an ungrateful brat. Jin Zixuan''s fate was even more tragic, meeting such an end just because of some past conflict with Wei Wuxian."

    "It seems Wei Wuxian had conflicts with everyone..."

    "Indeed. Have you ever heard of him having a good relationship with anyone besides those mad dogs he raised? He made enemies everywhere, angering both gods and men. Even Hanguang-Jun despises him; they''re like fire and water."

    "Speaking of which, we were fortunate to have Hanguang-Jun''s help today..."

    As they walked on, the sound of a babbling brook gradually reached Wei Wuxian''s ears.

    This is what Wei Wuxian heard upon his return, a sound unfamiliar to his ears when he first arrived. It dawned on him that he had taken a wrong turn on his descent, veering onto an unfamiliar path.

    Leading his donkey, Wei Wuxian found himself at the edge of a stream. The moon had risen, its light unobstructed by branches above the bank, casting fractured silver reflections on the water''s surface. In those rippling mirror images, Wei Wuxian saw a face that shifted and changed with the current.

    Frustrated, he struck the water with his palm, dispersing the ridiculous visage. He raised his dripping hand and, using the stream water, scrubbed away the facade he had worn.

    The reflection that emerged was that of a strikingly handsome young man. His features seemed purified by the moonlight - clear brow, bright eyes, and lips curved in a slight smile. Yet, as he gazed down at himself, droplets clung to his eyelashes, falling like tears.

    This youthful, unfamiliar face bore no resemblance to the infamous Yiling Patriarch, Wei Wuxian, who had once turned the world upside down in a storm of blood and chaos.

    After staring at this face for a long while, Wei Wuxian rubbed his eyes and slumped down by the stream''s edge.

    It wasn''t that he couldn''t bear the criticisms of others. When he had made his choices, he had been fully aware of the path that lay ahead. He had steeled himself with the Jiang Clan''s motto: "Attempt the impossible."

    Yet, despite believing his heart to be as unyielding as stone, he found that he was still flesh and blood after all.

    His little flower donkey, seeming to sense his melancholy, refrained from its usual impatient braying. After a moment of quiet, it wandered off, swishing its tail. Wei Wuxian remained motionless by the stream. The donkey looked back, stomped its hooves, but still got no response. Reluctantly, it returned, tugging at Wei Wuxian''s clothes with its teeth.

    Realizing he could either stay or go, but the donkey was intent on moving, Wei Wuxian allowed himself to be led. The flower donkey guided him to a clearing surrounded by trees. There, nestled in the grass, lay a Qiankun pouch. Above it hung a torn golden net, likely dropped by some unfortunate cultivator during their escape.

    Wei Wuxian picked up the pouch and examined its contents: a jumble of items including medicinal wine gourds, talismans, and a small demon-detecting mirror.

    As he rummaged through, he absently pulled out a talisman. Suddenly, a flame erupted in his hand.

    It was a Yin-Burning Talisman, designed to ignite in the presence of yin energy. The stronger the yin energy, the more fiercely it burned. Its immediate combustion indicated the proximity of a spirit.

    Alert now, Wei Wuxian used the burning talisman to probe his surroundings. As he turned east, the flame weakened; when he faced west, it flared violently. He took a few steps in that direction and saw a hunched white figure beneath a tree.

    The talisman burned out, its ashes falling from his fingertips. An old man stood with his back to Wei Wuxian, muttering to himself.

    Wei Wuxian approached cautiously, the old man''s words becoming clearer.

    "It hurts, it hurts so much," the old man whimpered.

    "Where does it hurt?" Wei Wuxian asked.

    "My head, my head," came the reply.

    "Let me take a look," Wei Wuxian said.

    As he moved to the old man''s side, Wei Wuxian saw a gaping, bloody hole in his forehead. This was a dead soul, likely murdered by a blow to the head. He wore fine burial clothes, indicating he had been properly laid to rest. This was no lost soul of the living.

    Yet, such a spirit should not exist on Mount Dafan.

    Troubled by this anomaly, Wei Wuxian leapt onto his donkey''s back, gave it a firm pat, and urged it towards the direction Jin Ling and the others had taken into the mountain.

    Near the ancient burial mounds, cultivators lingered, hoping to catch any wandering spirits. Some boldly waved yin-attracting flags, only to summon wailing ghosts. Wei Wuxian reined in his donkey and called out, "Excuse me, may I ask a question? Where have the young masters from the Jin and Lan families gone?"

    His cleaned face seemed to garner more respect, and a cultivator replied, "They left for the Celestial Maiden Shrine."

    "The Celestial Maiden Shrine?" Wei Wuxian echoed.

    A young girl with a round face, part of a family that had sneaked back after the spirit-trapping nets were destroyed, pointed the way. "It''s over there. It''s a cave shrine on this mountain."

    Wei Wuxian pressed further, "Which deity is enshrined there?"

    "I think it''s a natural stone statue of a celestial maiden," the girl replied.

    Wei Wuxian nodded. "Thank you."

    Without delay, he spurred his donkey towards the shrine.

    The pieces were falling into place: a lazy groom, a lightning-struck coffin, a bridegroom devoured by wolves, father and daughter losing their souls, ornate burial clothes... Like beads on a string, they formed a complete picture. No wonder the wind chimes couldn''t detect it, nor could the yin-attracting flags summon it. They had all underestimated what lurked within Mount Dafan.

    It wasn''t at all what they had assumed it to be!

 9. Soul-Eater Maiden

    In the shadowy recesses of Mount Dafan, Lan Sizhui and his companions had exhausted their search of the ancient burial grounds. Their quest for clues now led them to an unexpected location: the Celestial Maiden Shrine.

    This shrine, nestled within the mountain''s embrace, stood apart from the typical Buddhist temples. Instead of Buddha or Guanyin, it housed a peculiar statue known as the "Dancing Celestial Maiden."

    Centuries ago, a local hunter stumbled upon an extraordinary stone formation deep in the mountain caves. Standing nearly ten feet tall, this natural wonder bore an uncanny resemblance to a human figure, complete with limbs frozen in a dance-like pose. Most remarkably, the stone''s upper portion vaguely resembled a smiling woman''s face.

    The discovery sparked the imagination of the townsfolk. They wove fantastical tales around the statue''s origin: some said it was an unfinished sculpture of a celestial maiden, abandoned after incurring her wrath; others claimed it was the crystallized memory of the Jade Emperor''s beloved daughter. Regardless of the story, the people''s faith transformed the cave into a shrine, with the stone figure elevated to divine status as the "Dancing Celestial Maiden."

    As Lan Sizhui surveyed the spacious interior of the cave-turned-shrine, his eyes were drawn to the central figure. From afar, the statue''s human-like quality was striking, its waist almost lifelike in its curve. Up close, however, the rough edges of nature''s handiwork became apparent, yet it remained an awe-inspiring sight.

    Lan Jingyi waved his spiritual compass, frowning as the needle remained stubbornly still. The altar before them was a mess of melted candles and thick ash, with rotting offerings emitting a sickly sweet odor. Being from the fastidious Lan clan, he wrinkled his nose and remarked, "I heard this shrine grants wishes. How did it fall into such disrepair? Couldn''t they at least clean it?"

    Lan Sizhui explained, "Seven people have lost their souls. Rumors say it''s due to an evil spirit released from the ancestral graves by lightning. No one dares to come up the mountain anymore. Without worshippers, there''s no one to maintain it."

    Suddenly, a disdainful voice cut through the air from outside the cave: "A mere rock, arbitrarily declared divine, dares to accept offerings and worship!"

    Jin Ling strode in, the silencing spell on him having worn off. His first words were far from kind as he sneered at the statue, "These ignorant villagers, instead of working hard, waste their time burning incense and praying to false gods. There are countless people in the world; how could the gods possibly care for each one? Especially not some nameless, wild deity. If it''s truly divine, then I wish for whatever is eating people''s souls in this mountain to appear before me right now. Let''s see if it can grant that!"

    The group of junior cultivators who followed him in laughed in agreement. The once-quiet shrine buzzed with noise and activity. Lan Sizhui shook his head silently, then glanced at the statue''s face. Its features, though indistinct, seemed to wear a benevolent smile.

    Yet, something about that smile tugged at Lan Sizhui''s memory. It felt eerily familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.

    Where had he encountered such a smile?

    As Lan Sizhui stepped closer to the altar, intent on examining the statue''s face more closely, someone suddenly bumped into him.

    A cultivator who had been standing behind him collapsed without a sound. The others reacted with alarm, immediately on guard. Jin Ling asked warily, "What happened to him?"

    Lan Sizhui knelt beside the fallen cultivator, sword at the ready. The man''s breathing was normal, as if he had simply fallen asleep, but he wouldn''t wake no matter how they shook or called him. Lan Sizhui stood up and began, "It looks like he''s..."

    Before he could finish, the dim cave was suddenly flooded with light. A red glow, reminiscent of a blood waterfall, cascaded down the walls. The candles on the altar and in the corners of the cave ignited spontaneously.

    The sound of unsheathing swords filled the air as the cultivators drew their weapons and talismans. At that moment, someone burst into the shrine, wielding a gourd of medicinal wine. He doused the statue, filling the air with a pungent alcoholic scent. He then produced a talisman, slashed it through the air, and threw it onto the statue. Instantly, the altar erupted in flames, illuminating the cave as bright as day.

    Wei Wuxian, having emptied the contents of his borrowed qiankun pouch, tossed it aside and shouted, "Everyone, get out! Beware the soul-eating Celestial Maiden inside!"

    Someone cried out, "The statue''s pose has changed!"

    Indeed, the statue that had previously stood with arms raised, one pointing to the sky and one foot lifted in a graceful dance, now lowered its limbs amidst the raging orange flames. There was no mistaking it ¨C this was no trick of the eye.

    A moment later, the statue lifted one foot ¨C and stepped out of the fire!

    Wei Wuxian yelled, "Run! Don''t try to cut it! It''s useless!"

    Most of the cultivators ignored him, unwilling to let their long-sought quarry escape. However, despite their barrage of swords, talismans, and magical artifacts, they couldn''t impede the statue''s advance. Standing nearly ten feet tall, it moved like a giant, its presence overwhelming. It grabbed two cultivators and lifted them to its face. Its stone mouth seemed to open slightly, and the cultivators'' swords clattered to the ground as their heads drooped, their souls apparently consumed.

    With all attacks proving ineffective, the others finally heeded Wei Wuxian''s words and fled, scattering in all directions. In the chaos, Wei Wuxian frantically searched for Jin Ling, riding his donkey into a bamboo grove. Spotting some Lan juniors, he called out, "Children!"

    Lan Jingyi retorted, "Who are you calling children? Do you know whose clan we belong to? You think washing your face makes you our elder?!"

    Wei Wuxian conceded, "Alright, alright. Brothers, then. Send a signal to summon your... your Hanguang-jun!"

    The juniors nodded repeatedly, fumbling as they ran. After a moment, Lan Sizhui admitted, "The signal fireworks... we used them all that night at Mo Manor."

    Wei Wuxian was shocked. "You didn''t restock?!"

    Lan Sizhui, ashamed, confessed, "We forgot."

    Wei Wuxian admonished them, "How could you forget something like that? Just wait until Hanguang-jun finds out. You''ll be in for it!"

    Lan Jingyi''s face turned ashen. "We''re done for. Hanguang-jun will punish us severely this time..."

    Wei Wuxian nodded. "He should. You deserve it! How else will you learn?"

    Lan Sizhui, running alongside, asked, "Young Master Mo, how did you know it was the Celestial Maiden statue consuming souls, not a soul-eating fierce corpse or beast?"

    Wei Wuxian, still searching for Jin Ling, replied, "How did I know? I saw it."

    Lan Jingyi caught up, flanking Wei Wuxian''s other side. "Saw what? We saw plenty too."

    "You saw, and then what? What was near the ancient graves?"

    "What could there be? Dead souls."

    "Exactly, dead souls. So it couldn''t be a soul-eating beast or fierce corpse. It''s obvious. If it were either of those, with so many dead souls floating around, wouldn''t they have eaten those? They wouldn''t pass them up."

    Several voices chimed in, "Why not?"

    Wei Wuxian couldn''t hold back his exasperation. "Your Gusu Lan Sect... Why teach so much about cultivator etiquette and the long-winded histories of cultivation clans that you have to memorize, instead of something actually useful? This isn''t difficult to understand. Dead souls are much easier to consume than living ones. A living person''s physical body acts as a barrier. To eat a living soul, you need to break through that barrier. It''s like..." He glanced at his panting, eye-rolling donkey. "It''s like having an apple right in front of you, and another apple locked in a box. Which one would you choose to eat? Of course, the one in front of you. This entity only eats living souls, and it has a way to do so. It''s picky, but also very powerful."This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Lan Jingyi exclaimed, "So that''s how it is! It makes sense! Wait, so you''re not actually crazy?"

    Lan Sizhui, still running, explained, "We all thought the landslide and lightning strike on the coffins caused the soul loss, so we assumed it was a soul-eating fierce corpse."

    Wei Wuxian responded, "Wrong."

    "What''s wrong?"

    "The order is wrong, the cause and effect are wrong. Let me ask you, between the landslide and the soul-eating incidents, which came first? Which is the cause, and which is the effect?"

    Lan Sizhui answered without hesitation, "The landslide came first, followed by the soul-eating. The former is the cause, the latter the effect."

    Wei Wuxian shook his head. "Completely wrong. The soul-eating came first, then the landslide. Soul-eating is the cause, landslide is the effect! Remember, on the night of the landslide, there was a sudden downpour and lightning, which struck a coffin. The first victim, that lazy fellow, was trapped on the mountain for a night, and within days he was married."

    Lan Jingyi asked, "What''s wrong with that?"

    Wei Wuxian explained, "Everything is wrong! How could a poor, idle man suddenly afford a lavish wedding?"

    The young disciples were stunned into silence. It was understandable; the Lan Clan of Gusu had never needed to worry about matters of wealth and poverty. Wei Wuxian continued, "Have you examined all the wandering souls on Mount Dafan? There was an old man killed by a head injury, buried in exquisite funeral robes. With such lavish attire, his coffin couldn''t have been empty. It must have contained burial goods. The coffin struck by lightning was likely his, and the person who collected the remains didn''t find any burial items. They must have been taken by that lazy fellow, explaining his sudden wealth. He married right after the landslide, so something unusual must have happened that night. It was raining heavily, and he sought shelter in the mountain. Where on Mount Dafan could one take refuge? The Celestial Maiden Shrine. And what''s the one thing people always do in a shrine?"

    Lan Sizhui answered, "Make a wish?"

    "Exactly. He probably wished for good fortune, wealth, or money to marry. The Celestial Maiden granted his wish, sending lightning to open the grave and reveal the treasures. But as payment for fulfilling his wish, she appeared on his wedding night and consumed his soul!"

    Lan Jingyi asked skeptically, "You''re just guessing, aren''t you?"

    Wei Wuxian admitted, "It is a guess. But this theory explains everything."

    Lan Sizhui inquired, "What about Miss Yan?"

    Wei Wuxian replied, "Good question. You should have asked about her before coming up here. Yan had just gotten engaged. All newly engaged girls have the same wish."

    Lan Jingyi, confused, asked, "What wish?"

    Wei Wuxian explained, "Something like, ''I hope my husband will love and cherish me forever, and only me.''"

    The young disciples were bewildered. "Can such a wish really come true?"

    Wei Wuxian shrugged. "It''s simple. If her husband''s ''forever'' ends immediately, then he will have loved only one person ''his whole life,'' right?"

    Lan Jingyi''s eyes widened in realization. "Oh! So, after Miss Yan got engaged, her fianc¨¦ was killed by wolves the next day because she had probably made a wish at the Celestial Maiden Shrine!"

    Wei Wuxian pressed on, "It might not have been wolves. There''s something else unique about Yan: why was she the only one whose soul returned? What made her different? She had a relative who lost their soul. Or rather, someone took her place! Blacksmith Zheng is Yan''s father. What would a loving father do when his daughter''s soul is lost, and medicine proves useless?"

    This time, Lan Sizhui answered quickly, "He would place his last hope in the heavens. So he also went to the Celestial Maiden Shrine and wished for his daughter''s soul to return!"

    Wei Wuxian nodded approvingly. "That''s why only Yan''s soul came back, and why Blacksmith Zheng became the third victim. Although Yan''s soul returned, it was damaged. After its return, she began unconsciously mimicking the Celestial Maiden''s dance and smile."

    The common thread among the victims was that they had likely made wishes before the Celestial Maiden statue. The price for their wishes coming true was their souls.

    This Celestial Maiden statue was originally just an ordinary rock that happened to resemble a human figure. After centuries of inexplicable worship, it gained spiritual power. But it grew greedy and misguided, deciding to accelerate its power growth by consuming souls. The souls obtained through wish exchanges were essentially voluntarily offered, making it seem like a fair trade. This is why spiritual compasses didn''t react, yin-attracting flags didn''t work, and swords and talismans were ineffective. The entity in Mount Dafan wasn''t a demon or ghost, but a deity! It was a wild god nurtured by centuries of worship and offerings. Using tools meant for evil spirits and demons against it was like fighting fire with fire!

    Lan Jingyi exclaimed, "Wait! But just now in the shrine, someone''s soul was taken without us hearing them make a wish!"

    Wei Wuxian''s heart skipped a beat as he halted. "Someone lost their soul in the shrine? Tell me exactly what happened, don''t leave anything out."

    Lan Sizhui recounted the events clearly and quickly. When he reached Jin Ling''s statement, "If it''s really that powerful, I wish for whatever is eating people''s souls in this mountain to appear before me right now. Can it do that?" Wei Wuxian interrupted, "Isn''t that a wish? That''s exactly what a wish is!"

    The others who had agreed with Jin Ling were assumed to have made the same wish. The soul-eating Celestial Maiden was right in front of them, so the wish had already been fulfilled. Now, it was time to collect payment!

    Suddenly, the flower donkey stopped and turned in the opposite direction. Wei Wuxian was caught off guard and nearly thrown off, barely managing to grab the rope. Then they heard a crunching, slurping sound coming from the bushes ahead. A massive figure was hunched in the undergrowth, its enormous head moving back and forth over someone''s abdomen. Hearing the commotion, it suddenly raised its head, meeting their gaze.

    The soul-eating Celestial Maiden, originally with indistinct features, had now developed clear facial features after consuming several cultivators'' souls. It wore a smiling woman''s face, with blood dripping from the corners of its mouth as it chewed on a torn-off arm.

    Everyone immediately turned tail and ran along with the flower donkey.

    Lan Sizhui cried out in distress, "This isn''t right! The Yiling Patriarch said that high-level entities eat souls, and only low-level ones eat flesh!"

    Wei Wuxian replied exasperatedly, "Why are you blindly believing everything he said? He got plenty of things wrong! Rules aren''t set in stone. Think of it like a baby ¨C when it has no teeth, it can only drink milk and soup, but once it grows up, of course it wants to use its teeth to eat meat. Now that her power has greatly increased, she naturally wants to try something new!"

    The Celestial Maiden stood up, towering and massive, using both hands and feet in a wild, joyful dance, seemingly ecstatic. Suddenly, an arrow whistled through the air, striking her forehead and exiting through the back of her head.

    Hearing the bowstring, Wei Wuxian looked towards the sound. Jin Ling stood on a nearby hill, already nocking a second arrow. He released it with tremendous force, causing the Celestial Maiden to stagger back a few steps.

    Lan Sizhui shouted, "Young Master Jin! Use your signal!"

    Jin Ling ignored him, focused solely on taking down the monster. He nocked three arrows at once this time. Despite being shot in the head twice, the Celestial Maiden remained unfazed, still smiling as she advanced towards Jin Ling. Although she moved in a dance-like manner, her speed was terrifying, closing half the distance in an instant. A few cultivators rushed out to engage her, momentarily hindering her progress. Jin Ling''s arrows hit their mark with every shot, and he was determined to exhaust his quiver before engaging in close combat. His aim was steady and accurate, but unfortunately, all spiritual weapons were useless against her!

    Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji were still waiting for news in Fozu Town, unaware of the unfolding crisis. If spiritual weapons were ineffective, then it was time for some unorthodox methods!

    Wei Wuxian grabbed Lan Sizhui''s sword, cut a length of bamboo, and quickly fashioned a flute. He brought it to his lips and took a deep breath. A piercing note shot through the night sky like an arrow.

    Under normal circumstances, he wouldn''t resort to this. But now, it didn''t matter what he summoned, as long as it was fierce and powerful enough to tear the soul-eating Celestial Maiden to pieces!

    Lan Sizhui was completely stunned, while Lan Jingyi covered his ears, complaining, "Is this really the time to play the flute? It''s awful!"

    In the battlefield, three or four of the cultivators fighting the Celestial Maiden had already lost their souls. Jin Ling drew his sword, now less than twenty feet from her. His heart pounding and blood rushing, he thought, "If I can''t cut off her head with this strike, I''ll die here ¨C so be it!"

    At that moment, a tinkling sound arose from the forests of Mount Dafan.

    Ding-ding-dang-dang, ding-ding-dang-dang. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes halting, sometimes loud. It echoed through the silent forest, sounding like clashing chains or dragging iron links. It grew closer and louder.

    For some reason, this sound carried an extremely unsettling, threatening aura. Even the Celestial Maiden stopped her dance, arms raised, staring blankly into the dark depths where the sound originated.

    Wei Wuxian lowered his flute, focusing intently on the source of the sound.

    Although the ominous feeling in his heart grew stronger, the fact that something responded to his summons meant it was at least willing to listen to him.

    The sound abruptly ceased, and a figure emerged from the darkness.

    As they recognized the figure and its face, several cultivators'' expressions contorted.

    Even when faced with the soul-devouring Celestial Maiden statue, these cultivators hadn''t flinched or shown fear. But now, their voices were filled with undisguised terror as they cried out:

    "...It''s the ''Ghost General,'' it''s the Ghost General, it''s Wen Ning!"

    The title "Ghost General," like that of the Yiling Patriarch, was infamous and known to all, and the two were often mentioned together.

    This term referred to only one entity. It was none other than the Yiling Patriarch Wei Ying''s number one henchman, the one who had caused chaos and destruction, who should have been ground to dust long ago ¨C the fierce corpse, Wen Ning!

 10. This Person, Iâ€™ve Taken Them Back to the Lan Clan

    Wen Ning stood motionless, his head slightly bowed and arms hanging limp at his sides, reminiscent of a marionette awaiting its puppeteer''s command.

    His face, though pale and delicate, bore a haunting beauty tinged with melancholy. Yet, the absence of pupils in his eyes, leaving only stark whiteness, coupled with the black fissures creeping up his neck onto his cheeks, transformed his melancholy into something truly terrifying. His tattered robes revealed wrists as pallid as his face, adorned with jet-black iron shackles and chains that also bound his ankles. The eerie clanking of metal accompanied his every movement, only to be replaced by an oppressive silence when he stood still.

    It was no wonder the cultivators present were paralyzed with fear. Even Wei Wuxian, despite his familiarity with the supernatural, felt waves of shock crashing over him.

    Wen Ning''s presence here was more than unexpected¡ªit was an impossibility. He should have been reduced to ashes long before the siege at Burial Mounds!

    Jin Ling, hearing Wen Ning''s name uttered by those around him, instinctively redirected his sword from the Soul-Devouring Goddess. Seizing this moment of distraction, she gleefully extended her arm, hoisting Jin Ling into the air.

    As the Goddess opened her mouth wide, inching towards Jin Ling''s face, Wei Wuxian pushed aside his inner turmoil and raised his flute once more. His hands trembled slightly, causing the melody to waver. The crude craftsmanship of the instrument only added to its haunting, almost grating sound. With just two mournful notes, Wen Ning sprang into action.

    In the blink of an eye, Wen Ning appeared before the Soul-Devouring Goddess. With a swift, open-palmed strike, he sent her head spinning a full rotation, though her body remained motionless, her face still locked in an eerie smile as it now faced backward. Another lightning-fast chop from Wen Ning severed the Goddess''s right arm, freeing Jin Ling from her grasp.

    The Goddess glanced down at her cleanly severed wrist, but instead of adjusting her head, she simply rotated her body to face Wen Ning with both her front and back simultaneously. Wei Wuxian, not daring to let his guard down, took a deep breath and bent his head, focusing intently on controlling Wen Ning in the ensuing battle. However, as the fight progressed, he found himself growing increasingly alarmed.

    Unlike lower-tier walking corpses that required constant guidance, or even the more powerful fierce corpses with their muddled consciousness, Wen Ning was unique. As Wei Wuxian''s creation, he could be considered the most formidable fierce corpse in existence. He possessed the ability to think and reason, immune to injury, fire, cold, poison, and all mortal fears¡ªessentially indistinguishable from the living.

    But now, Wen Ning clearly lacked his own consciousness!

    As Wei Wuxian grappled with this unsettling realization, gasps of astonishment erupted from the onlookers. Wen Ning had pinned the Soul-Devouring Goddess to the ground with a flurry of kicks and strikes. He then lifted a massive boulder, easily twice his height, and brought it crashing down upon her. The thunderous impacts continued relentlessly until the Goddess''s stone body was reduced to nothing but rubble.

    Amidst the sea of white stone fragments, a pearl emitting a snow-white glow rolled into view¡ªthe condensed essence of the dozen or so souls the Goddess had devoured. If retrieved and handled with care, there was hope of restoring those whose souls had been consumed. However, at that moment, not a single person dared to reach for the pearl. Every sword that had been pointed at the Goddess now turned towards Wen Ning.

    A cultivator cried out in a voice raw with fear, "Surround him!" Some hesitantly responded, while others wavered, taking tentative steps backward. The same cultivator shouted again, "Fellow Daoists, we must not let him escape! This is Wen Ning!"

    His words jolted the crowd into action. The Ghost General was far more formidable than any soul-devouring monster. Though they didn''t understand why he had appeared, capturing Wen Ning would be a feat worth a thousand slain demons. After all, he was the most obedient and vicious hound of the Yiling Patriarch¡ªsubduing him would bring instant fame and glory! The cultivators had come to Night-Hunt on Mount Dafan to prove their worth by defeating monsters and fiends; this unexpected opportunity was too tempting to resist. But those who had witnessed Wen Ning''s terrifying rampages in the past still hesitated to move. Seeing this, the outspoken cultivator added, "What are you afraid of? The Yiling Patriarch isn''t even here!"

    This final push was enough to sway the crowd. After all, what was there to fear when Wen Ning''s master had already been torn to shreds?

    As these words sank in, the circle of swords surrounding Wen Ning suddenly constricted. Wen Ning swung his arms, the heavy black chains sweeping through the air and deflecting the flying swords. In a single stride, he seized the nearest cultivator by the throat, effortlessly lifting him off the ground. Realizing that his earlier flute melody had been too forceful, unleashing Wen Ning''s violent nature, Wei Wuxian steadied himself and began to play a different tune.

    This new melody emerged naturally from his mind, gentle and soothing, a stark contrast to the earlier eerie notes. Wen Ning froze at the sound, slowly turning towards its source. Wei Wuxian stood his ground, meeting Wen Ning''s pupilless gaze.

    After a moment, Wen Ning released the cultivator, letting him crumple to the ground. With arms hanging limply, he began to walk towards Wei Wuxian, his chains dragging behind him in a dejected manner. Wei Wuxian continued to play as he retreated, luring Wen Ning away. As they moved deeper into the forest, a faint scent of sandalwood drifted through the air.

    Suddenly, Wei Wuxian''s back collided with someone, and a sharp pain shot through his wrist, abruptly silencing his flute. He turned, his eyes meeting the ice-cold gaze of Lan Wangji.

    This was bad¡ªLan Wangji had witnessed him controlling corpses with his flute before.

    Lan Wangji''s grip on Wei Wuxian''s wrist was unyielding. Wen Ning stood motionless barely ten paces away, his head swiveling slowly as if searching for the vanished flute melody. In the distance, the glow of torches and the clamor of voices approached. Wei Wuxian''s mind raced, and he made a split-second decision: So what if Lan Wangji had seen? Countless people could play the flute, and many had learned to control corpses in imitation of the Yiling Patriarch. He would deny everything!

    Ignoring the hand restraining him, Wei Wuxian raised the flute to his lips once more. This time, he played with even greater urgency, the notes sharp and commanding, his breath unsteady and the final tones breaking harshly. He felt Lan Wangji''s grip tighten painfully, threatening to snap his wrist. Unable to endure the agony, Wei Wuxian''s fingers loosened, and the flute clattered to the ground.

    Fortunately, his command had been clear enough. Wen Ning swiftly retreated, vanishing silently into the shadows of the forest. Wei Wuxian, fearing Lan Wangji might pursue Wen Ning, instinctively grabbed him. To his surprise, Lan Wangji hadn''t spared Wen Ning a single glance, his eyes fixed solely on Wei Wuxian. They stood there, locked in a silent standoff, each gripping the other tightly.

    It was at this moment that Jiang Cheng arrived on the scene.

    He had been impatiently waiting for news in Baofoot Town, barely finishing a cup of tea when a disciple came rushing down the mountain with tales of a formidable and vicious entity. Alarmed, Jiang Cheng had hurried up the mountain, calling out, "A-Ling!"

    Jin Ling, who had narrowly escaped having his soul devoured, now stood unharmed. "Uncle!" he responded.

    Seeing Jin Ling safe, Jiang Cheng felt a wave of relief wash over him, quickly followed by anger. "Didn''t you bring any signal flares? You encounter something like this and don''t even think to use them? Why are you trying to act tough? Get over here now!"Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    Jin Ling, frustrated at failing to capture the Soul-Devouring Goddess, retorted angrily, "Weren''t you the one who told me not to come back unless I caught it?!"

    Jiang Cheng was tempted to smack some sense into the impudent boy, but he couldn''t deny his own words. Instead, he turned his attention to the battered cultivators strewn about, sneering, "What kind of creature could have defeated you all so thoroughly?"

    Among the cultivators in various sect robes were several Cloud Recesses disciples in disguise, secretly assisting Jin Ling on Jiang Cheng''s orders¡ªa testament to the uncle''s concern for his nephew''s success. One of the cultivators, still dazed, stammered, "Sect Leader, it... it was Wen Ning..."

    Jiang Cheng doubted his own ears. "What did you say?"

    The man repeated, "Wen Ning has returned!"

    In an instant, a maelstrom of emotions¡ªshock, disgust, anger, and disbelief¡ªflashed across Jiang Cheng''s face.

    After a long moment, he spoke in a cold voice, "That thing was ground to dust and displayed for all to see. How could it possibly come back?"

    The disciple insisted, "It really was Wen Ning! There''s no mistake! I saw him with my own eyes!" Suddenly, he pointed towards the forest, "...He summoned him!"

    Wei Wuxian, still locked in a standoff with Lan Wangji, suddenly found himself the center of attention. Jiang Cheng''s gaze, sharp as lightning, slowly turned in his direction.

    After what felt like an eternity, Jiang Cheng''s lips twisted into a distorted smile. His left hand unconsciously began to fidget with his ring as he whispered, "...Well, well. You''ve returned?"

    He released his left hand, and a whip unfurled from it.

    The whip was incredibly thin, true to its name¡ªZidian, a crackling stream of purple lightning. It looked like a bolt of lightning plucked from a storm-laden sky, firmly grasped in Jiang Cheng''s hand. When he swung it, it was as if he was hurling a bolt of lightning itself!

    Before Wei Wuxian could react, Lan Wangji had already flipped his guqin into position. With a single pluck of the strings, ripples of sound waves spread through the air, clashing with the purple lightning. The two forces ebbed and flowed against each other.

    Jiang Cheng''s earlier resolve to "avoid rash confrontations" and "not antagonize the Lan Clan" seemed to have vanished entirely. Above the night-shrouded forests of Mount Dafan, flashes of purple light alternated with blinding white, accompanied by crashes of thunder and soaring guqin notes. The other cultivators quickly retreated to a safe distance, watching with a mix of fear and fascination. It was a rare opportunity to witness two renowned clan leaders in combat, and many secretly hoped for an even fiercer battle. Some even harbored unspoken wishes for a true rift to form between the Jiang and Lan clans. Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian, seizing his chance, broke into a run.

    The crowd gasped in unison. The whip hadn''t struck him only because Lan Wangji had been shielding him. By running away, wasn''t he courting death?

    Indeed, it seemed as if Jiang Cheng had eyes in the back of his head. The moment Wei Wuxian left Lan Wangji''s protective range, Jiang Cheng seized the opportunity. With a flick of his wrist, he sent Zidian flying like a venomous dragon, striking Wei Wuxian squarely in the back!

    The force of the blow nearly sent Wei Wuxian flying. Fortunately, his donkey blocked his path, preventing him from crashing into a tree. However, the successful strike caused both Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng to pause, bewildered.

    Wei Wuxian, rubbing his back and leaning on the donkey for support, shouted from behind the animal, "Oh, how impressive! The mighty can do as they please, huh? Just attacking people at random! Tsk, tsk, tsk!"

    Lan Wangji: "..."

    Jiang Cheng: "..."

    Jiang Cheng, both shocked and enraged, demanded, "What''s going on?!"

    Zidian possessed a unique ability: if it struck someone who had been possessed, it would instantly separate the invading soul from the body. The possessing spirit would be forcibly ejected, without exception. Yet this man, after being struck, continued to move normally, even energetically. There could be no other explanation¡ªhe was not possessed.

    Wei Wuxian, however, thought to himself, "Of course Zidian couldn''t expel my soul. This isn''t possession; it''s willing sacrifice. Forced sacrifice!"

    Jiang Cheng''s face was a mask of doubt and suspicion. He was about to strike again when Lan Jingyi called out, "Sect Leader Jiang, isn''t that enough? That was Zidian, after all!"

    A spiritual weapon of Zidian''s caliber wouldn''t fail on the first try and succeed on the second. If it didn''t expel a soul, it meant there was no possession. Otherwise, its reputation would be for naught. Lan Jingyi''s outburst forced Jiang Cheng, who valued his reputation above all, to stay his hand.

    But if it wasn''t Wei Wuxian, who else could have summoned Wen Ning?!

    Unable to accept this, Jiang Cheng pointed at Wei Wuxian and demanded, "Who exactly are you?!"

    At this point, an onlooker eager for drama chimed in, clearing his throat, "Sect Leader Jiang, you might not be aware, but this Mo Xuanyu was once a disciple of the Lanling Jin Sect. However, due to his weak spiritual power and lack of dedication to cultivation, along with... certain inappropriate behaviors towards fellow disciples, he was expelled. I heard he even went mad? In my opinion, he probably turned to unorthodox methods out of frustration with his lack of progress in proper cultivation. It''s unlikely that he''s actually possessed by the... Yiling Patriarch."

    Jiang Cheng asked, "Certain... what?"

    "You know... that thing..."

    Someone finally blurted out, "He likes men!"

    Jiang Cheng''s eyebrow twitched, his gaze towards Wei Wuxian becoming even more disdainful. There were other things left unsaid in Jiang Cheng''s presence.

    Despite his notorious reputation, it had to be acknowledged that Wei Wuxian, before betraying the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, had been a renowned beauty, accomplished in the six arts, ranking fourth among the most handsome young masters of the cultivation world¡ªdescribed as "graceful and elegant." This hot-tempered Jiang Sect Leader ranked fifth, just behind him, which was why no one dared mention it. Wei Wuxian had been known for his flirtatious nature, often entangling himself with beautiful women, but no one had ever heard of him being interested in men. Even if he were to possess someone or return from the dead... given Wei Wuxian''s tastes, he would never choose a mad, fruit-eating donkey rider with a face painted like a hanged ghost!

    Someone else muttered, "It doesn''t seem likely... and that flute playing was so awful... Such a poor imitation, like the ugly Dong Shi trying to copy Xi Shi''s frown."

    During the Sunshot Campaign, the Yiling Patriarch had played his flute on the battlefield, commanding an army of fierce corpses and ghosts that swept through everything in their path, unstoppable as a force of nature. His flute''s melody had been likened to celestial music¡ªhow could it be compared to the pathetic wailing produced by this Jin Sect reject? Even if Wei Wuxian had been of questionable character, such a comparison was too insulting.

    Wei Wuxian felt slightly dejected: ...Try not practicing for over a decade, then carve out a crude flute and see how well you can play it! I''ll kneel before you if you can make it sound good!

    Earlier, when Jiang Cheng had been convinced this person was Wei Wuxian, his blood had boiled with rage. But now, Zidian had clearly proven otherwise. Zidian would never lie to him or make a mistake. He quickly regained his composure, thinking to himself: It''s not a big deal. I''ll find an excuse to take him back, then use every means necessary to interrogate him. He''s bound to slip up eventually. It wouldn''t be the first time I''ve done something like this. Having made up his mind, he made a gesture. His disciples understood and began to close in. Wei Wuxian hurriedly jumped behind Lan Wangji, clutching his chest dramatically, "Ah, what are you planning to do to me?"

    Lan Wangji glanced at him, tolerating this extremely discourteous and noisy behavior.

    Seeing that Lan Wangji had no intention of moving aside, Jiang Cheng said, "Second Young Master Lan, are you deliberately trying to obstruct me?"

    Everyone knew that the young Jiang Sect Leader''s vigilance against Wei Wuxian had reached an almost manic level. He would rather make a mistake than let a potential threat slip by, often taking anyone suspected of being possessed by Wei Wuxian back to Lotus Pier for severe interrogation. If he were to take this person back, he would surely torture him half to death. Lan Sizhui spoke up, "Sect Leader Jiang, the facts are clear. Young Master Mo has not been possessed. Why trouble yourself with such an insignificant person?"

    Jiang Cheng coldly retorted, "Then may I ask why Second Young Master Lan has been so intent on protecting this ''insignificant person'' from the start?"

    Suddenly, Wei Wuxian let out a couple of suppressed laughs.

    He said, "Sect Leader Jiang, you know, your persistence is making me uncomfortable."

    Jiang Cheng''s eyebrow twitched twice, instinctively sensing that whatever this person was about to say would not be to his liking.

    Wei Wuxian continued, "You''re being too enthusiastic. Thank you, but you''re also overthinking things. Even if I do like men, it doesn''t mean I like all men, and I certainly wouldn''t follow just any man who beckons. Your type, for instance, doesn''t interest me at all."

    Wei Wuxian was deliberately trying to provoke him. Jiang Cheng, who hated being outdone in any way, no matter how trivial, would always become irritated if someone suggested he was inferior to another. True to form, Jiang Cheng''s face turned ashen: "Oh? Then pray tell, what type do you like?"

    Wei Wuxian replied, "What type? Hmm, someone like Hanguang-Jun here, for example. I quite like him."

    Lan Wangji was someone who absolutely could not tolerate such frivolous jokes. When disgusted, he would always actively distance himself. Wei Wuxian thought he had succeeded in offending two people at once, killing two birds with one stone!

    To his surprise, Lan Wangji turned around at these words.

    With an expressionless face, he said, "You said it yourself."

    Wei Wuxian: "Huh?"

    Lan Wangji turned back, his tone polite but brooking no argument, "I''m taking this person back to the Lan Sect."

    Wei Wuxian: "..."

    Wei Wuxian: "...What?"

 11. The Tyrannical Lan Wangji and His Chaotic Runaway Bride???

    Nestled deep within the mountains outside Gusu City, the Lan Clan''s ancestral home, Cloud Recesses, stood as a testament to ethereal beauty and spiritual tranquility. Its name, "Yun Shen Bu Zhi Chu" - a place so deep in the clouds that its location remains unknown - perfectly captured its essence.

    As dawn broke, a misty veil enveloped the sprawling complex of elegant pavilions and meandering gardens. The white walls and dark-tiled roofs of the buildings seemed to float amidst the sea of clouds, creating an otherworldly atmosphere that blurred the line between the mortal realm and the abode of immortals.

    The early morning silence was profound, broken only by the rhythmic tolling of distant bells emanating from the highest towers. Despite not being a Buddhist monastery, Cloud Recesses exuded a sense of Zen-like serenity that permeated every corner of its grounds. Disciples and students, accustomed to this tranquil environment, went about their morning routines of studying and practicing swordmanship with quiet dedication.

    However, this carefully cultivated peace was suddenly shattered by a long, mournful wail that echoed through the mountain air. The unexpected sound caused many of the cultivators to start, their concentration broken as they instinctively turned their gaze towards the main gate where the commotion originated.

    There, at the entrance to Cloud Recesses, a peculiar scene unfolded. Wei Wuxian, the infamous Yiling Patriarch, was sprawled dramatically on the ground, his arms wrapped tightly around a rather bewildered-looking flower-patterned donkey. His cries of despair echoed off the stone walls, causing more than a few raised eyebrows among the onlookers.

    Lan Jingyi, one of the younger Lan disciples, couldn''t contain his exasperation. "What are you crying about?!" he exclaimed, his voice a mixture of annoyance and disbelief. "Weren''t you the one who said you liked Hanguang-Jun? Now that he''s brought you back, what''s there to wail about?"

    Wei Wuxian paused his theatrics momentarily to shoot Lan Jingyi a pitiful look, his face the very picture of woe. "You don''t understand!" he whined, burying his face in the donkey''s mane. "I never asked to be brought here!"

    Indeed, Wei Wuxian''s predicament was more complex than it appeared on the surface. The events at Dafan Mountain had unfolded so rapidly that he had been left with no opportunity to summon Wen Ning again or investigate the ghost''s sudden loss of consciousness. Even more perplexing was Wen Ning''s unexpected reappearance in the mortal realm. Before Wei Wuxian could begin to unravel these mysteries, he found himself unceremoniously whisked away to Cloud Recesses by the stoic Lan Wangji.

    As a youth, Wei Wuxian had spent three months studying at Cloud Recesses, and the memory of its stifling atmosphere and countless rules still filled him with dread. The infamous wall of discipline, etched with over three thousand rules when he last saw it, now boasted an additional thousand precepts. The very thought of being confined within these strict boundaries again made Wei Wuxian shudder.

    Lan Jingyi, growing increasingly irritated by the continued disruption, snapped, "Enough already! Silence is golden in Cloud Recesses, remember?"

    This admonishment only served to fuel Wei Wuxian''s determination. It was precisely because he didn''t want to enter Cloud Recesses that he was making such a ruckus. Once inside, he knew escape would be nearly impossible. He recalled the jade tokens given to visiting disciples years ago, necessary for passing through the spiritual barriers surrounding the complex. He could only imagine how much more stringent the security measures had become in the intervening years.

    Throughout this commotion, Lan Wangji stood impassively at the gate, seemingly oblivious to the chaos unfolding before him. His golden eyes, as calm and inscrutable as ever, observed Wei Wuxian''s antics with detached interest. When Wei Wuxian''s cries finally began to subside, Lan Wangji spoke, his voice as cool and composed as a mountain stream:

    "Let him cry. When he tires, bring him inside."

    This pronouncement only intensified Wei Wuxian''s despair. He clutched the donkey even tighter, resting his forehead against its neck as he continued to sob dramatically. The absurdity of his situation was not lost on him. He had thought that after surviving Zidian''s lash, any suspicions about him would have been dispelled. In a moment of misplaced confidence, coupled with his habitually flippant nature, he had teasingly flirted with Lan Wangji. To his shock, the Second Jade of Lan had responded in a completely unexpected manner.

    "Has his cultivation made his heart grow narrower instead of broader?" Wei Wuxian wondered incredulously.

    In a last-ditch effort to dissuade his captors, Wei Wuxian raised his head and declared with mock seriousness, "You know, I have a thing for men. With so many handsome gentlemen in your clan, I''m afraid I won''t be able to control myself!"

    Lan Sizhui, ever the voice of reason, attempted to explain the situation calmly. "Young Master Mo, Hanguang-Jun has brought you here for your own protection. If you hadn''t come with us, Sect Leader Jiang wouldn''t have let the matter rest. Over the years, countless people have been taken to Lotus Pier for interrogation, and none have ever returned."

    Lan Jingyi, unable to resist adding his own commentary, chimed in, "That''s right. You haven''t seen Sect Leader Jiang''s methods, have you? They''re utterly ruthless..." He paused, suddenly remembering the rule against gossiping. Glancing nervously at Lan Wangji and seeing no sign of disapproval, he continued in a lower voice, "It''s all because of the bad influence left by the Yiling Patriarch. So many people trying to emulate his unorthodox methods instead of cultivating properly. And Sect Leader Jiang, always suspicious... He can''t possibly detain everyone, can he? Besides, just look at you. The way you play that flute... Heh."

    That final scoff spoke volumes. Wei Wuxian felt compelled to defend himself, "Hey now, you might not believe it, but I''m actually quite skilled with the flute under normal circumstances..."

    Before he could finish his explanation, a group of white-robed cultivators emerged from the main gate. They were clad in the distinctive uniform of the Lan Clan, their flowing robes as pristine as freshly fallen snow. Leading them was a tall, elegant figure who, in addition to the sword at his waist, carried a white jade xiao.

    Upon seeing this man, even the implacable Lan Wangji inclined his head slightly in respect, a gesture that was reciprocated. The newcomer''s gaze then fell upon Wei Wuxian, a gentle smile gracing his features. "Wangji rarely brings guests home," he observed. "And who might this be?"

    As the man stood facing Lan Wangji, the resemblance between them was striking, almost like looking at a reflection in a mirror. The only noticeable difference lay in their eyes - while Lan Wangji''s were a pale, almost translucent shade reminiscent of fine porcelain, the other man''s were a deeper, warmer hue that radiated kindness and serenity.

    This was none other than Lan Xichen, the Sect Leader of the Gusu Lan Clan and the renowned Zewu-Jun.

    It was often said that the environment shapes its inhabitants, and the Lan Clan was living proof of this adage. Long renowned for producing exceptional beauties, the current generation''s Twin Jades of Lan were particularly outstanding. Despite not being twins, the two brothers shared such a striking similarity in their appearance that it was difficult to determine who was more handsome. However, their demeanors couldn''t have been more different. Where Lan Xichen exuded warmth and gentle grace, Lan Wangji was the epitome of cold aloofness, his stern countenance keeping others at arm''s length. It was for this reason that in the unofficial rankings of young masters in the cultivation world, Lan Xichen claimed the top spot, with Lan Wangji following closely in second place.

    True to his reputation as a consummate sect leader, Lan Xichen didn''t bat an eye at the sight of Wei Wuxian clinging to a flower-patterned donkey. Wei Wuxian, sensing an opportunity, released his grip on the animal and stepped forward with a mischievous grin. He knew that the Lan Clan placed great importance on seniority and propriety; if he could just provoke them with a few choice words, surely they would have no choice but to expel him from Cloud Recesses.

    However, just as he opened his mouth to unleash what he was sure would be a masterful performance of impropriety, Lan Wangji fixed him with a single, penetrating gaze. To Wei Wuxian''s shock and dismay, he found himself suddenly unable to part his lips, as if they had been sealed shut by some invisible force.

    Unperturbed by this silent exchange, Lan Wangji turned back to his brother and inquired with his characteristic solemnity, "Brother, are you on your way to meet with Lianfang-Zun again?"Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    Lan Xichen nodded, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Yes, we''re to discuss the arrangements for the next discussion conference at Carp Tower."

    Frustrated by his magical muteness, Wei Wuxian sulkily retreated to the side of his donkey companion.

    The Lianfang-Zun they spoke of was none other than Jin Guangyao, the current leader of the Lanling Jin Clan. He was the only illegitimate son acknowledged by Jin Guangshan, and the uncle of Jin Ling. More importantly to Wei Wuxian''s current situation, Jin Guangyao was also the half-brother of Mo Xuanyu, the body Wei Wuxian now inhabited.

    The contrast between their fates was stark. While Mo Xuanyu had been relegated to sleeping on cold stone floors and surviving on scraps at the Mo estate, Jin Guangyao had risen to one of the highest positions in the cultivation world. He now wielded enough influence that even the esteemed Zewu-Jun would seek his counsel for important matters like the discussion conference.

    Of course, the close relationship between the Lan and Jin clan leaders was hardly surprising, given that they were sworn brothers. Still, the inequality of it all didn''t escape Wei Wuxian''s notice.

    Lan Xichen''s voice drew Wei Wuxian from his musings. "The items you brought back from the Mo estate, Wangji - Uncle has taken a look at them."

    At the mention of the Mo estate, Wei Wuxian''s ears perked up, even as he found the invisible seal on his lips suddenly lift. Lan Xichen, noticing Wei Wuxian''s renewed ability to speak, turned to Lan Wangji with a gentle admonishment:

    "It''s rare for you to bring a guest home, and you seem pleased about it. We must treat our visitors with proper courtesy, Wangji."

    Pleased? Wei Wuxian scrutinized Lan Wangji''s impassive face carefully. How on earth could anyone discern pleasure from that stoic visage?

    As Lan Xichen took his leave, Lan Wangji''s next words sent a chill down Wei Wuxian''s spine:

    "Take him inside."

    And so, despite his vehement protests and dramatic pleas, Wei Wuxian found himself being forcibly escorted into the very place he had sworn never to set foot in again.

    The young Lan disciples, unused to such an unorthodox guest, pushed and jostled around Wei Wuxian with barely concealed excitement. Had it not been for the strict rules of conduct ingrained in them, the path would surely have been filled with the sound of their laughter and chatter.

    As they made their way deeper into Cloud Recesses, Lan Jingyi voiced the question on everyone''s mind: "Hanguang-Jun, where are we taking him?"

    Lan Wangji''s reply was as succinct as ever: "The Jingshi."

    A collective gasp of surprise rippled through the group. "The... Jingshi?!"

    Wei Wuxian, still oblivious to the significance of this decision, looked around in confusion. The other disciples, however, exchanged wide-eyed glances, not daring to voice their thoughts aloud.

    For the Jingshi was Lan Wangji''s personal sanctuary - his private study and bedchamber combined. It was a place where even other members of the Lan Clan rarely, if ever, set foot.

    The Jingshi was a study in elegant simplicity. As Wei Wuxian was ushered inside, he couldn''t help but marvel at the stark contrast between the room''s austere beauty and the chaos of his own living spaces.

    The chamber was devoid of unnecessary ornamentation, each item carefully chosen and placed with purpose. A large folding screen dominated one wall, adorned with an exquisite ink painting of clouds that seemed to drift and change as if by magic. Before it stood a guqin table, its polished surface reflecting the soft light that filtered through the paper windows.

    In one corner, a three-legged incense table held a white jade censer, intricately carved with delicate openwork patterns. Wisps of fragrant smoke curled upwards, filling the room with the cool, crisp scent of sandalwood. The aroma was subtle yet pervasive, creating an atmosphere of tranquility that even the restless Wei Wuxian couldn''t help but respond to.

    As Lan Wangji left to discuss important matters with his uncle, Wei Wuxian found himself alone in this haven of serenity. However, true to his nature, he wasted no time in attempting to escape. He slipped out of the Jingshi and made a quick circuit of Cloud Recesses, only to confirm what he had already suspected: without a jade token, escape was impossible. Even scaling the high white walls proved futile, as he was immediately repelled by the spiritual barrier and quickly drew the attention of nearby patrols.

    Resigned, Wei Wuxian returned to the Jingshi. Despite the setback, his mind was already working on potential solutions. He never truly panicked in any situation, always believing that a way out would present itself eventually. As he paced back and forth in the room, hands clasped behind his back, the soothing scent of sandalwood continued to permeate the air.

    "So this is the fragrance that clings to Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian mused, a small smile playing on his lips. "It must seep into his robes as he sits here, practicing the guqin or meditating."

    This idle thought drew him closer to the incense table in the corner. As he approached, he noticed something peculiar about the floorboards beneath his feet. One plank felt distinctly different from the others. Intrigued, Wei Wuxian knelt down and began tapping on the wooden floor, his ear pressed close to listen for any telltale hollow sounds.

    Years of grave-robbing and tunnel-digging had honed his skills in detecting hidden spaces. Within moments, he managed to pry up one of the floorboards, revealing a secret compartment beneath. What he found inside left him utterly astonished.

    As the board lifted, a new aroma mingled with the sandalwood, one that had been expertly masked until now. In the small, square cache lay seven or eight rotund, jet-black ceramic jars, nestled tightly together.

    "Well, well," Wei Wuxian chuckled to himself. "It seems our righteous Hanguang-Jun has indeed changed. Hiding alcohol, of all things!"

    The irony wasn''t lost on him. Cloud Recesses strictly prohibited alcohol, a rule that had led to his very first confrontation with Lan Wangji. During that initial meeting, Lan Wangji had knocked over a jar of "Emperor''s Smile" that Wei Wuxian had smuggled up from Caiyi Town.

    After returning to Lotus Pier from his studies in Gusu, Wei Wuxian had never again had the chance to taste the famous "Emperor''s Smile," a liquor unique to the region. He had often spoken of returning one day to savor it again, but the opportunity had never arisen. Now, without even needing to open the jars, he recognized the distinct aroma ¨C it was undoubtedly "Emperor''s Smile."

    "Who would have thought," Wei Wuxian mused, a mischievous glint in his eye, "that the day would come when I''d discover the ever-proper, teetotaling Lan Zhan hiding a stash of alcohol in his own room? Truly, the heavens have a sense of humor."

    Unable to resist the temptation, Wei Wuxian helped himself to one of the jars, savoring every sip of the potent liquor. His exceptional tolerance for alcohol, coupled with his fondness for drink, soon led him to rationalize opening a second jar. "After all," he reasoned, "Lan Zhan still owes me for that first jar he spilled. After all these years, some interest is only fair."

    As he indulged in the smooth, fragrant wine, a sudden idea struck him. The issue of the jade token might not be as insurmountable as he had initially thought. Within Cloud Recesses, there was a secluded area housing cold springs, used by the male disciples of the Lan clan for cultivation purposes. These springs were said to have remarkable properties, including the ability to calm the mind and suppress excessive yang energy.

    "Of course!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed, nearly spilling his drink in excitement. "They must remove their clothes to enter the springs. They can''t possibly keep hold of their jade tokens while bathing!"

    Pleased with his cleverness, Wei Wuxian finished the last of the wine in his current jar. Finding no suitable place to dispose of the empty containers, he filled them with water, carefully resealed them, and returned them to their hiding place, making sure to replace the floorboard exactly as he had found it.

    With his plan in mind, Wei Wuxian set out to locate the cold springs. Although Cloud Recesses had been destroyed and rebuilt after the Sunshot Campaign, its layout remained largely unchanged. Navigating the winding paths with the confidence of familiarity, he soon found himself approaching the secluded area where the springs were located.

    To his delight, the security around the springs was minimal. The female disciples had their own separate bathing area, and the very idea of anyone spying on the male cultivators was so unthinkable within the strict confines of Cloud Recesses that little effort had been made to guard against such impropriety. This lax security played perfectly into Wei Wuxian''s admittedly unscrupulous plan.

    As he crept closer, he spotted a set of neatly folded white robes resting on a stone slab partially hidden by clumps of orchids. The garments were arranged with such meticulous precision that Wei Wuxian almost felt guilty as he began to search through them for a jade token. Even the forehead ribbon was folded with painstaking care.

    His search was interrupted when his gaze drifted past the orchids to the spring itself. The cold water, free from the obscuring steam of hot springs, offered a clear view of its sole occupant. Wei Wuxian''s breath caught in his throat as his eyes locked onto the figure in the water.

    The man in the spring cut an impressive figure. Tall and lean, with skin as pale as jade and long, wet black hair cascading down one shoulder, he presented an image of classical beauty. The smooth lines of his back spoke of both grace and strength, a testament to years of rigorous cultivation.

    Yet it wasn''t the man''s beauty that held Wei Wuxian transfixed. It was what marred that perfect skin that shocked him to his core.

    Crisscrossing the man''s back were dozens of scars, their pattern unmistakable to Wei Wuxian''s experienced eye. These were the marks left by a discipline whip, a tool used in cultivation sects to punish severe transgressions. The wounds inflicted by such a whip never fully healed, leaving permanent scars as a lifelong reminder of one''s misdeeds.

    Wei Wuxian had never felt the sting of a discipline whip himself, but he had seen its effects on Jiang Cheng. He knew all too well how these marks of shame resisted all attempts at removal or concealment. The sight before him now was far worse than anything he had witnessed before.

    Typically, one or two lashes from a discipline whip were considered a harsh punishment, enough to ensure the offender would never forget their mistake. The back before him bore the marks of at least thirty lashes, possibly more. Wei Wuxian''s mind raced, trying to imagine what grievous offense could have warranted such brutal punishment. And yet, if the crime had been truly unforgivable, wouldn''t execution have been the more likely outcome?

    As these thoughts whirled through his mind, the man in the spring turned, unknowingly revealing more to his hidden observer. Wei Wuxian''s eyes widened as he caught sight of a clear, unmistakable brand just below the collarbone, near the heart.

 12. Flirting with Danger: Climbing into His Bed

    The crimson mark captured Wei Wuxian''s full attention, making him doubt if he had seen correctly. He was so focused on it that he couldn''t spare a glance at the other person''s face, his breathing becoming erratic. Suddenly, a white flash appeared before his eyes, as if a snow curtain had fallen. The curtain then split apart, revealing a blue sword radiance imbued with an icy chill rushing towards his face.

    The renowned sword "Bichen" of Hanguang-jun was known to all. Wei Wuxian''s heart sank - it was actually Lan Wangji!

    Escaping from deadly situations was second nature to Wei Wuxian. He executed a practiced roll on the ground, narrowly avoiding the sword strike. As he burst out of the cold spring, he even had the presence of mind to pluck a leaf that had stuck to his hair. Like a headless fly, he crashed into a group of night patrollers, who seized him and reprimanded, "Why are you running about? Rushing is forbidden in the Cloud Recesses!"

    Recognizing Lan Jingyi and the others, Wei Wuxian was overjoyed. He thought to himself that now he could finally be chased down the mountain with a barrage of blows. Eagerly, he offered himself up: "I didn''t see anything! I absolutely didn''t see anything! I definitely wasn''t trying to peep at Hanguang-jun bathing!"

    Upon hearing this, the young disciples were struck dumb by his audacity. Hanguang-jun was a revered and untouchable figure, especially to the younger generation of the clan who regarded him with utmost respect. The mere thought of spying on Hanguang-jun while he bathed was an unforgivable sin. Lan Sizhui''s voice trembled as he exclaimed, "What? Hanguang-jun? Hanguang-jun is in there?!"

    Lan Jingyi, enraged, grabbed Wei Wuxian by the collar. "You... you... you perverted cut-sleeve! How dare you peep at such a thing?!"

    Wei Wuxian, seizing the opportunity to solidify his supposed crime, declared dramatically, "I absolutely did not see Hanguang-jun without his clothes on!"

    Lan Jingyi retorted furiously, "A guilty conscience needs no accuser! If you didn''t, then why were you skulking around here? Look at you, too ashamed to show your face!"

    Wei Wuxian covered his face with both hands and said in a mock-chiding tone, "Don''t be so loud. Remember, shouting is prohibited in the Cloud Recesses."

    As the commotion escalated, Lan Wangji emerged from behind the layers of orchids, clad in a white robe with his long hair unbound. In the brief span of their conversation, he had managed to dress himself impeccably, though Bichen was not yet sheathed. The young disciples hastily bowed in greeting. Lan Jingyi hurriedly reported, "Hanguang-jun, this Mo Xuanyu is truly despicable. You brought him back out of consideration for his assistance at Mo Manor, but he... he..."

    Wei Wuxian thought that this time he would surely be kicked out of the mountain gates in exasperation. To his surprise, Lan Wangji merely gave him a cursory glance, remained silent for a moment, then sheathed Bichen with a crisp sound. He simply said, "Disperse."

    These three calm words, backed by his imposing presence, left no room for argument. Everyone immediately scattered. Lan Wangji then calmly grabbed Wei Wuxian by the back of his collar and began dragging him towards the Jingshi. In their previous life, the two had been of similar height, both exceptionally tall. Wei Wuxian had only been slightly shorter than Lan Wangji, the difference barely noticeable when they stood together. But in this life, having awakened in a different body, although still considered tall among ordinary people, he was now a full two inches shorter than Lan Wangji. In Lan Wangji''s grasp, he had no chance of struggle. As Wei Wuxian stumbled along, about to cry out, Lan Wangji coldly stated, "Those who make noise shall be silenced."

    Being thrown down the mountain would have been a welcome outcome, but being silenced was not something Wei Wuxian could accept. He was utterly perplexed: since when had the Lan Clan become so tolerant of such shameless crimes as peeping on their esteemed cultivators while bathing? How could they endure this?

    Lan Wangji dragged him into the Jingshi, heading straight for the inner chamber. With a thud, he tossed Wei Wuxian onto the bed. Wei Wuxian let out an "ouch" as he was thrown, unable to get up immediately. He sat up awkwardly, intending to throw out a few coquettish remarks to make Lan Wangji''s skin crawl. But as he looked up, he saw Lan Wangji standing over him, holding Bichen, his gaze fixed upon Wei Wuxian.

    Accustomed to seeing the Second Young Master Lan with his forehead ribbon neatly tied and his appearance impeccable, Wei Wuxian had never seen him like this - with slightly disheveled black hair and light, casual clothing. He couldn''t help but steal a few extra glances. The scuffle had loosened Lan Wangji''s originally tightly closed collar, revealing his clear collarbone and below it, that deep red mark.

    At the sight of that mark, Wei Wuxian''s attention was once again captivated.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    This mark, before he had become the Yiling Patriarch, had also been on his own body.

    The one on Lan Wangji''s body now, both in position and shape, was identical to the one he had in his previous life. He couldn''t help but find it familiar and strange.

    What was odd was not just this mark, but also the more than thirty lash scars on Lan Wangji''s back.

    Lan Wangji had been famous since his youth, highly regarded as one of the most orthodox cultivators of the righteous path. He had always been one of the Twin Jades that Gusu Lan Sect took pride in, his every word and action viewed by the elders of various sects as the model for excellent disciples of the cultivation world. What unforgivable mistake could he have possibly made to deserve such a severe punishment?

    More than thirty lash marks - it was practically a beating meant to kill. Once such disciplinary scars were inflicted, they would never disappear in this lifetime, serving as an eternal reminder to never repeat the offense.

    Following Wei Wuxian''s gaze, Lan Wangji slightly lowered his eyelids and casually pulled at his collar, covering his collarbone and hiding the scar. Once again, he was the frost-like Hanguang-jun. Just then, a deep bell sound echoed from afar.

    The Lan Clan had strict rules and a rigorous schedule - rest at the hour of Hai, rise at the hour of Mao. This bell was a reminder of that. Lan Wangji listened intently until the bell''s echo faded, then said to Wei Wuxian, "You will sleep here tonight."

    Without giving Wei Wuxian a chance to respond, he turned and entered the inner chamber of the Jingshi, leaving Wei Wuxian lying awkwardly on the bed, his mind in a whirl of confusion.

    He had indeed suspected that Lan Zhan might have guessed his true identity. But this suspicion didn''t make sense, emotionally or logically. Soul possession was a forbidden technique, known to very few. Even the texts that had been passed down were mostly incomplete and ineffective, leading to even fewer believers over time. Mo Xuanyu must have stumbled upon some secret scroll to summon Wei Wuxian back. Lan Wangji couldn''t possibly have recognized him just from that broken flute melody he had played.

    Wei Wuxian didn''t feel that he and Lan Wangji had shared any deep, unforgettable bond in his previous life. Although they had been classmates, had adventures together, and fought side by side, it had always been fleeting, coming and going in a rush. Lan Wangji was a disciple of the Gusu Lan Sect, which meant he was destined to be both "refined" and "righteous," quite incompatible with Wei Wuxian''s nature. Wei Wuxian felt their relationship couldn''t be called bad, but he also wouldn''t dare to call it good. He guessed Lan Wangji''s evaluation of him was probably the same as others: overflowing with negative energy and lacking in positive energy, bound to become a major problem one day. After Wei Wuxian had betrayed the Yunmeng Jiang Sect and become the Yiling Patriarch, the grudges he had formed with the Gusu Lan Sect were not small, especially in those last few months before his death. If Lan Wangji had truly recognized him as Wei Wuxian, they should have been fighting tooth and nail by now.

    Yet the current situation was both laughable and crying: in the past, even the slightest thing Wei Wuxian did would irritate Lan Wangji, but now, no matter how outrageously Wei Wuxian behaved, Lan Wangji seemed able to tolerate it all. Should this be considered great progress, worthy of celebration?

    After lying awake for what seemed like an eternity, Wei Wuxian rolled off the bed and silently made his way to the inner chamber.

    Lan Wangji was lying on his side on the bed, seemingly in deep sleep. Wei Wuxian approached without a sound.

    Still not giving up, he prepared to feel around, hoping to find that elusive jade token he had been searching for. But just as he reached out his hand, Lan Wangji''s long lashes quivered slightly, and his eyes opened.

    Wei Wuxian steeled himself and pounced onto the bed.

    He remembered that Lan Wangji greatly disliked physical contact with others. In the past, even a slight touch could send Wei Wuxian flying. If Lan Wangji could tolerate this, then he definitely wasn''t the Lan Wangji Wei Wuxian knew. He would suspect that Lan Wangji had been possessed!

    Wei Wuxian positioned his entire body above Lan Wangji, his knees straddling Lan Wangji''s waist, his hands pressing against the wooden bed, effectively trapping Lan Wangji between his arms. He slowly lowered his face. As the distance between their faces grew shorter and shorter, to the point where Wei Wuxian was almost having difficulty breathing, Lan Wangji finally spoke.

    After a moment of silence, he said, "Get off."

    Wei Wuxian, with brazen audacity, replied, "I won''t."

    A pair of extremely light-colored eyes, now mere inches away, met Wei Wuxian''s gaze. Lan Wangji stared at him steadily and repeated, "... Get off."

    Wei Wuxian said, "No. If you let me sleep here, you should have expected something like this to happen."

    Lan Wangji asked, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

    "..." For some reason, Wei Wuxian felt he needed to seriously consider his answer.

    Just as he was about to curl his lips into a smirk, he suddenly felt a numbness in his waist, and his legs went weak. In the next moment, with a thud, he collapsed onto Lan Wangji.

    The half-formed smirk froze on his lips as his head rested against the right side of Lan Wangji''s chest, his entire body immobilized. Lan Wangji''s voice came from above.

    His words were low and deep, his chest vibrating slightly with each syllable:

    "Then you can stay like this all night."

    Wei Wuxian had never anticipated this outcome. He tried to move, wanting to get up, but his waist remained weak and powerless. He could only maintain this embarrassing posture, pressed tightly against another man''s unyielding body, his mind completely blank.

    What on earth had happened to Lan Zhan over these years to change him like this?

    Was this really the same Lan Zhan as before?

    Wasn''t he the one who was supposed to have been possessed?!

    As his inner turmoil raged on, suddenly, Lan Wangji shifted slightly. Wei Wuxian thought he had finally reached his limit of tolerance and felt a spark of anticipation. However, Lan Wangji merely raised his hand slightly.

    The light went out.

 13. When Classmates First Meet: A Hint of Destiny

    Years later, Wei Wuxian reflected that the roots of his strained relationship with Lan Wangji could be traced back to those three months when he and Jiang Cheng came to study at the Gusu Lan Sect at the age of fifteen. The memory of that time still brought a wry smile to his face, a mixture of fondness and exasperation.

    The Gusu Lan Sect boasted an elder of great renown, Lan Qiren, who was known throughout the cultivation world for three distinct qualities: his pedantry, his stubbornness, and his ability to produce exceptional disciples. While the first two traits often made people keep their distance or secretly dislike him, the last one had parents sharpening their wits to get their children under his tutelage. Many outstanding Lan disciples had been trained under his guidance, and even the most unruly students who spent a year or two in his classes would emerge as polished individuals, their manners and deportment vastly improved from before. More than a few parents had been moved to tears of joy upon receiving their transformed sons back.

    When reminded of this, Wei Wuxian had quipped, "Am I not already sufficiently presentable?"

    To which Jiang Cheng, ever the voice of reason, had prophetically replied, "You''re bound to become the most disgraceful mark in his teaching career."

    That year, in addition to the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, many young masters from other prominent families had been sent by their parents to study under Lan Qiren''s tutelage. These young men, all around fifteen or sixteen years of age, were already familiar with each other due to the frequent interactions between their families. Everyone knew that although Wei Wuxian didn''t bear the Jiang surname, he was the son of Jiang Fengmian''s old friend and the head disciple of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, treated as if he were Jiang Fengmian''s own child. Moreover, young people often cared less about lineage and bloodlines than their elders did, so they quickly warmed up to each other, tossing around terms of brotherly endearment within moments of meeting.

    One of the young disciples asked, "Your Lotus Pier must be much more fun than this place, right?"

    Wei Wuxian grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Fun is what you make of it. But I''ll admit, there are far fewer rules there, and we certainly don''t have to wake up at the crack of dawn."

    The Gusu Lan Sect was known for its strict schedule: rise at 5 AM, retire at 9 PM, without exception. Another disciple chimed in, "What time do you usually get up? What do you do all day?"

    Jiang Cheng snorted derisively. "Him? He rises at 9 AM and doesn''t sleep until 1 AM. And instead of practicing sword work or meditation, he spends his days boating, swimming, picking lotus pods, and hunting pheasants."

    Wei Wuxian''s grin widened. "And no matter how many pheasants are hunted, I''m always the best at it."

    A young man from the group exclaimed, "I want to go study in Yunmeng next year! No one can stop me!"

    His enthusiasm was immediately doused by a sardonic voice, "No one would stop you. Your elder brother would merely break your legs, that''s all."

    The young man''s excitement deflated instantly. This was Nie Huaisang, the second young master of the Qinghe Nie Sect. His elder brother, Nie Mingjue, was known for his strict and thunderous manner, with a formidable reputation among the great sects. Although the brothers were born of different mothers, their relationship was close, and Nie Mingjue was particularly strict in guiding his younger sibling, especially concerning his studies. As a result, while Nie Huaisang respected his elder brother, he dreaded any mention of his academic progress.

    Wei Wuxian, ever the optimist, chimed in, "Actually, Gusu can be quite fun too."

    Nie Huaisang leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Wei-xiong, let me give you a piece of sincere advice. The Cloud Recesses is not like Lotus Pier. There''s one person here you absolutely must not provoke."

    Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Who? Lan Qiren?"

    Nie Huaisang shook his head. "Not that old man. You need to be wary of his prized student, Lan Zhan."

    "Lan Zhan? You mean Lan Wangji, one of the Twin Jades of Lan?" Wei Wuxian''s curiosity was piqued.

    The two sons of the current Lan Sect leader, Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji, were renowned as the Twin Jades of Lan. Their reputation had spread far and wide, with elders from various sects holding them up as exemplars for their own disciples to emulate. Their names were as familiar as thunder to the younger generation.

    Nie Huaisang nodded vigorously. "Yes, that''s the one. Good heavens, he''s our age, but he doesn''t have an ounce of youthful spirit in him. He''s even more rigid and severe than his uncle, if you can believe it."

    Wei Wuxian let out a thoughtful "Oh," before asking, "Is he the rather handsome one?"

    Jiang Cheng scoffed. "The Gusu Lan Sect? When have they ever had anyone who wasn''t good-looking? They even reject disciples with imperfect features. I dare you to find one among them who''s just average-looking."

    Wei Wuxian insisted, "No, I mean exceptionally handsome." He gestured to his forehead, "All in white, with a forehead ribbon, carrying a silver sword. Pretty as a picture, but with a face like he''s attending a funeral."

    Nie Huaisang''s eyes widened in recognition. "That''s him alright!" He paused, confusion crossing his features. "But he''s been in seclusion recently. You only arrived yesterday, when did you see him?"

    "Last night," Wei Wuxian replied nonchalantly.

    "Last night?!" Jiang Cheng exclaimed, taken aback. "The Cloud Recesses has a curfew. Where did you see him? Why didn''t I know about this?"

    Wei Wuxian pointed casually. "Over there."

    He was indicating a high eave of the wall.

    The group fell silent, at a loss for words. Jiang Cheng felt a headache coming on. He gritted his teeth and asked, "What did you do this time?"Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Wei Wuxian grinned mischievously. "It''s not a big deal. Remember that ''Emperor''s Smile'' wine shop we passed on our way here? Well, I couldn''t resist last night, so I snuck down to town and brought back two jars. You can''t get that stuff in Yunmeng, you know."

    Jiang Cheng''s eyes narrowed. "And where''s the wine now?"

    "Well," Wei Wuxian began, his grin turning sheepish, "I had just climbed over the wall, one foot barely inside, when he caught me."

    One of the young disciples exclaimed, "Wei-xiong, you''re so lucky! He must have just finished his seclusion and was on night patrol. You were caught red-handed!"

    Jiang Cheng frowned. "Those who return after curfew aren''t allowed in until dawn. How did he let you in?"

    Wei Wuxian spread his hands. "He didn''t! He actually insisted I take my foot back out. Can you believe it? So there I was, straddling the wall, when he swooped up light as a feather and asked what I was carrying."

    Jiang Cheng felt a sense of impending doom. "And what did you say?"

    "''Emperor''s Smile!'' I told him. ''I''ll share a jar with you if you pretend you didn''t see me, deal?''"

    Jiang Cheng sighed heavily. "... The Cloud Recesses prohibits alcohol. That''s another offense."

    Wei Wuxian nodded. "That''s exactly what he told me. So I asked him, ''Well, why don''t you tell me what isn''t prohibited here?'' He seemed a bit annoyed and told me to go read the rules carved on the rock at the mountain entrance. Honestly, over three thousand rules, written in seal script no less. Who''s going to read all that? Have you read it? Have you? I certainly haven''t. I don''t see why he got so upset about it."

    "Exactly!" The group collectively agreed, launching into a litany of complaints about the Cloud Recesses'' bewildering array of rules. "What kind of place has over three thousand non-repetitive family rules? ''No killing within the grounds,'' ''No fighting,'' ''No licentiousness,'' ''No night-wandering,'' ''No excessive noise,'' ''No running''... those are somewhat understandable. But then they have things like ''No smiling without reason,'' ''No improper sitting postures,'' ''No eating more than three bowls at a meal''..."

    Wei Wuxian''s eyes widened. "Wait, fighting is prohibited too?"

    Jiang Cheng''s voice was flat. "Yes, it is. Please don''t tell me you fought with him."

    Wei Wuxian''s silence was answer enough. "We did. And I may have spilled a jar of Emperor''s Smile in the process."

    The group collectively groaned, lamenting the waste of good wine.

    Realizing the situation couldn''t get much worse, Jiang Cheng''s focus shifted. "You said you brought two jars. What happened to the other one?"

    "I drank it," Wei Wuxian replied matter-of-factly.

    "Where?" Jiang Cheng pressed.

    "Right in front of him. I said, ''Alright, alcohol is prohibited inside the Cloud Recesses. So if I drink it while standing on the wall, that doesn''t count as breaking the rules, right?'' Then I downed the whole jar in one go, right there in front of him."

    "And then?" Jiang Cheng prompted, already knowing the answer.

    "Then we fought," Wei Wuxian confirmed.

    "Wei-xiong," Nie Huaisang gasped, "You''re so brazen!"

    Wei Wuxian shrugged, a hint of admiration in his voice. "Lan Zhan''s pretty skilled, I''ll give him that."

    "You''re dead meat, Wei-xiong!" Nie Huaisang exclaimed. "Lan Wangji has never been challenged like this before. He''s bound to keep an eye on you now. Be careful! Even though he doesn''t study with us, he''s in charge of punishments in the Lan Sect!"

    Wei Wuxian waved off the concern. "What''s there to be afraid of? Isn''t Lan Wangji supposed to be some kind of prodigy? He''s probably learned everything his uncle could teach him ages ago. He spends all his time in seclusion cultivating. How could he have time to focus on me? I..."

    His words trailed off as they rounded a corner, passing a latticed window. There, sitting ramrod straight in the classroom, was a young man in white robes. His long hair was bound neatly, a forehead ribbon in place, and an aura of frost seemed to emanate from his very being. He cast a cold glance their way.

    Suddenly, all dozen or so mouths fell silent, as if struck by a silencing spell. They filed into the classroom quietly, each choosing a seat, leaving a conspicuous space around Lan Wangji''s desk.

    Jiang Cheng patted Wei Wuxian''s shoulder, whispering, "He''s got his eye on you now. Good luck."

    Wei Wuxian turned his head, catching a glimpse of Lan Wangji''s profile. His eyelashes were long and delicate, his features exquisitely refined. He sat with perfect posture, gazing straight ahead. Wei Wuxian was about to strike up a conversation when Lan Qiren entered the room.

    Lan Qiren was tall and thin, his back as straight as a pine. Despite his long, black goatee, he didn''t look particularly old; and true to the Lan Sect''s tradition of producing beautiful men, he certainly wasn''t ugly. However, he exuded such an air of rigidity and pedantry that calling him an old man didn''t seem out of place at all. He entered carrying a scroll, which he unfurled to reveal an impossibly long list that rolled across the floor. To everyone''s dismay, he began reciting the Lan family rules from this scroll. The young disciples'' faces turned various shades of green as they listened.

    Wei Wuxian, bored out of his mind, let his gaze wander, eventually landing on Lan Wangji''s profile. To his amazement, Lan Wangji''s expression was one of genuine attention and seriousness. "How can he listen to such dull stuff so intently?" Wei Wuxian marveled.

    Suddenly, Lan Qiren slammed the scroll down, his cold laughter cutting through the air. "The rules are carved on stone walls, yet no one bothers to read them. That''s why I''m reciting them one by one, to ensure no one can use ignorance as an excuse for breaking them. And yet, some still allow their minds to wander. Very well, let''s discuss something else."

    While this statement could have applied to anyone in the room, Wei Wuxian had a feeling it was directed at him. Sure enough, Lan Qiren called out, "Wei Ying."

    "Yes, sir," Wei Wuxian responded, his tone light.

    "I ask you, are demons, ghosts, and monsters the same thing?"

    Wei Wuxian smiled. "No, they''re not."

    "Why not? How do you distinguish between them?"

    "Demons are non-human living things that have transformed; monsters are transformed from living humans; ghosts are transformed from the dead; and strange beings are transformed from non-human dead things."

    "''Demons'' and ''strange beings'' are easily confused. Give an example to distinguish them."

    "Certainly," Wei Wuxian said, pointing to the lush trees outside the classroom. "If a living tree, steeped in scholarly energy for a hundred years, gains consciousness and causes mischief, that''s a ''demon''. If I were to take an axe and chop it down, leaving only a dead stump, and that stump then gained consciousness, that would be a ''strange being''."

    "What was the ancestral occupation of the Qinghe Nie Sect?"

    "Butchers."

    "The Lanling Jin Sect''s emblem is a white peony. Which variety?"

    "The Golden Star Snow Wave."

    "Who was the first person to elevate family clans over sects in the cultivation world?"

    "The ancestor of the Qishan Wen Sect, Wen Mao."

    As Wei Wuxian answered each question without hesitation, the other students listened with a mix of admiration and relief, silently praying that he would continue to answer correctly and spare them from being called upon. However, Lan Qiren seemed unimpressed.

    "As a disciple of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, you should know these facts by heart. There''s nothing to be proud of in answering them correctly," Lan Qiren said dismissively. "Let me ask you this: A executioner, with living parents, wife, and children, has beheaded over a hundred people in his lifetime. He dies a violent death in the streets, his corpse left exposed for seven days. Resentful energy accumulates, and he becomes a vengeful spirit causing havoc. What would you do?"

    This time, Wei Wuxian didn''t immediately respond. The other students, assuming he was stumped, grew uneasy. Lan Qiren barked, "Why are you all looking at him? Think for yourselves. No peeking at books!"

    The disciples hastily withdrew their hands from the books they were about to consult, now also grappling with the difficult question. A violent death in the streets, a corpse exposed for seven days - this was undoubtedly a powerful, malevolent ghost, a dangerous corpse. It would be extremely difficult to deal with. They all silently hoped Lan Qiren wouldn''t call on them to answer.

    Seeing Wei Wuxian lost in thought, Lan Qiren turned to Lan Wangji. "Wangji, you tell him how to handle this situation."

 14. Canâ€™t Stand You

    Lan Wangji didn''t look at Wei Wuxian as he bowed slightly and spoke in a cool tone, "First, we attempt to guide the spirit to peace. If that fails, we suppress it. Only as a last resort do we eliminate it entirely. We begin by appealing to the spirit''s memories of loved ones - parents, wife, children - and try to fulfill its final wishes to dispel its lingering attachments. If this proves ineffective, we move to suppression. For those who committed grave sins in life and whose resentful energy refuses to dissipate, we must cut off the problem at its root and eliminate them completely. Those who practice the mystical arts must strictly adhere to this order, without exception."

    The crowd let out a collective sigh of relief, silently thanking the heavens that the old man had called on Lan Wangji. If it had been their turn, they might have missed one or two items or gotten the order wrong. Lan Qiren nodded with satisfaction, saying, "Not a single mistake." After a brief pause, he continued, "Whether in cultivation or in life, one must be this thorough and solid. If one becomes complacent and arrogant due to defeating a few insignificant mountain spirits or ghosts, or because of some undeserved fame, they will inevitably bring shame upon themselves."

    Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow, glancing at Lan Wangji''s profile. He thought to himself, "So this old man is coming for me. He''s making his star pupil listen to this lecture to put me in my place."

    Aloud, he said, "I have a question."

    Lan Qiren replied, "Speak."

    Wei Wuxian, his eyes gleaming with mischief, asked, "Although we say ''pacification'' is the primary goal, it''s often impossible. ''Fulfilling their last wishes and dispelling their obsessions'' sounds easy, but what if the obsession is to slaughter an entire family for revenge? What should be done then?"

    Lan Wangji, his voice cool and controlled, answered, "Thus, pacification is the main approach, suppression is secondary, and elimination is the last resort if necessary."

    Wei Wuxian smiled slightly, a hint of challenge in his expression. "What a waste," he said, pausing for effect before continuing, "I actually knew this answer already. I was just considering a fourth option."

    Lan Qiren, his brows furrowing, responded, "I''ve never heard of any fourth option."

    Wei Wuxian, his eyes sparkling with a dangerous idea, elaborated, "If this executioner dies violently and becomes a fierce corpse, it''s inevitable. Since he beheaded over a hundred people in life, why not dig up the graves of those hundred people, stir up their resentful energy, gather a hundred severed heads, and have them fight against the fierce corpse..."

    Lan Wangji finally turned to look at him, his expression cold and disapproving. Lan Qiren''s beard quivered with anger as he shouted, "You don''t know your limits!"

    The people in the Orchid Room were shocked. Lan Qiren stood up abruptly, his voice trembling with rage, "We subdue demons, exorcise evil spirits, and eliminate ghosts for the purpose of pacification! Not only do you not consider methods of pacification, but you even suggest stirring up resentful energy? This is completely backwards and disregards human morality!"

    Wei Wuxian, unfazed by the outburst, continued his argument, "Some things can''t be pacified anyway, so why not make use of them? Even the Great Yu knew that blocking was an inferior strategy to diverting when it came to flood control. Isn''t suppression just another form of blocking, and therefore an inferior strategy?"

    Lan Qiren hurled a book at him, which Wei Wuxian deftly dodged, his face unchanged as he continued his outrageous speech, "Spiritual energy is energy, and resentful energy is energy too. Spiritual energy is stored in the dantian and can be used to split mountains and fill seas. Why can''t resentful energy be used by people as well?"

    Lan Qiren threw another book, his voice sharp with anger, "Then let me ask you this! How can you guarantee that this resentful energy will be under your control and not harm others?"

    Wei Wuxian, still dodging, replied cheerfully, "I haven''t figured that out yet!"

    Lan Qiren, his face red with fury, roared, "If you had figured it out, none of the hundred sects would let you live! Get out!"

    Wei Wuxian, all too happy to comply, quickly made his exit.

    He spent half the day wandering around the Cloud Recesses, enjoying the flowers and grass. The others, having finished their lessons, finally found him sitting on a high wall, perched on the blue tiles. He had a piece of orchid grass between his teeth, his right hand propping up his chin, one leg bent, the other dangling and swinging gently. Someone below pointed at him and called out, "Brother Wei! I''m impressed. He told you to get out, and you really did! Hahaha..."

    "For a while after you left, he couldn''t even comprehend what had happened. His face was as dark as iron!"

    Wei Wuxian, still chewing on the grass, shouted down, "I always answer when asked, and I leave when told to leave. What more does he want from me?"

    Nie Huaisang, his voice tinged with curiosity, asked, "Why does the old Lan seem to be particularly harsh on you, singling you out for scolding?"

    Jiang Cheng snorted, "He deserves it. What kind of answer was that? It''s one thing to spout such nonsense at home, but to dare say it in front of Lan Qiren? He''s asking for death!"

    Wei Wuxian, his voice light and carefree, replied, "He doesn''t like me no matter how I answer, so I might as well speak my mind. Besides, I didn''t insult him. I just answered honestly."

    Nie Huaisang, after a moment of thought, showed a mix of envy and longing as he said, "Actually, what Brother Wei said is quite interesting. Spiritual energy requires self-cultivation, painstakingly forming a golden core. For someone like me, whose talent seems to have been chewed up in the womb, who knows how many years it would take. But resentful energy comes from fierce ghosts and evil spirits. If we could just use it directly, wouldn''t that be wonderful?"

    The so-called golden core was a pill-like essence formed within cultivators after reaching a certain level, used for storing and circulating spiritual energy. After forming a golden core, one''s cultivation would progress rapidly, allowing for further refinement and reaching new heights. Otherwise, one would only be considered a low-level cultivator. If a young master from a prominent family formed their golden core too late, it would be a source of great shame, but Nie Huaisang didn''t seem embarrassed at all. Wei Wuxian laughed and agreed, "Right? Might as well use it if it''s there."If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Jiang Cheng warned, "Enough. You can talk about it, but don''t actually go down that evil path."

    Wei Wuxian smiled, "Why would I choose to walk a treacherous path when there''s a perfectly good main road? If it were that easy, someone would have done it already. Don''t worry, he just asked, and I just answered. Hey, do you want to come with me? Let''s go hunt some pheasants while there''s no curfew."

    Jiang Cheng scolded, "What pheasants? Where would you find pheasants here? Go copy the ''Collection of Righteousness'' first. Lan Qiren asked me to tell you to copy the ''Chapter on Superior Righteousness'' three times, so you can learn about the ways of heaven and human morality."

    The ''Collection of Righteousness'' was the Lan clan''s family rules. Their family rules were so long that Lan Qiren had compiled them into a thick book, with the ''Chapter on Superior Righteousness'' and the ''Chapter on Etiquette'' taking up four-fifths of the entire book. Wei Wuxian spat out the grass he was chewing, brushed the dust off his boots, and said, "Copy it three times? I''d ascend to immortality after just one time. I''m not a member of the Lan clan, nor do I plan to marry into it. Why should I copy their family rules? I won''t do it."

    Nie Huaisang quickly offered, "I''ll copy it for you! I''ll do it!"

    Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow, "Unsolicited favors are either treacherous or thieving. What do you want from me?"

    Nie Huaisang began, "It''s like this. Brother Wei, the old Lan has a bad habit, he..."

    He suddenly stopped mid-sentence, coughed dryly, and retreated behind his folding fan. Wei Wuxian sensed something was amiss and turned to look. Sure enough, Lan Wangji stood beneath a lush ancient tree in the distance, his Bichen sword on his back, gazing in their direction. He was like a jade tree, dappled with leaf shadows and sunlight, but his gaze was far from friendly. Being stared at by him felt like being plunged into an icy cavern. The others, realizing they had been speaking too loudly and had likely attracted his attention, fell silent. Wei Wuxian, however, jumped down and called out cheerfully, "Brother Wangji!"

    Lan Wangji turned and walked away. Wei Wuxian, still in high spirits, chased after him, calling, "Brother Wangji, wait for me!"

    The white-robed figure with its fluttering sash disappeared behind the trees in an instant, making it clear that Lan Wangji had no desire to converse with Wei Wuxian. Left staring at Lan Wangji''s retreating back, Wei Wuxian returned to the group, complaining, "He ignored me."

    "Indeed," Nie Huaisang said, "It seems he really dislikes you, Brother Wei. Lan Wangji usually... no, he''s never this impolite."

    Wei Wuxian shrugged, "Is this what dislike looks like? I was planning to apologize to him."

    Jiang Cheng mocked him, "It''s too late to apologize now! He probably thinks the same as his uncle, that you''re beyond redemption, rotten to the core, and not worth acknowledging."

    Wei Wuxian remained unperturbed, chuckling, "If he won''t acknowledge me, so be it. Is he that beautiful?" Then, reconsidering, he admitted to himself that Lan Wangji was indeed beautiful, and promptly dismissed any lingering desire to pout.

    Three days later, Wei Wuxian finally learned about Lan Qiren''s bad habit.

    Lan Qiren''s lectures were excruciatingly long, and worse still, he required everything to be memorized for tests. The history of several generations of cultivation clans, the division of spheres of influence, famous sayings, family genealogies... It was like listening to heavenly scriptures and selling one''s soul to memorize them.

    Nie Huaisang, having copied the ''Chapter on Superior Righteousness'' twice for Wei Wuxian, pleaded before the test, "Please, Brother Wei, this is my third year coming to Gusu. If I don''t pass the assessment with at least a B grade this time, my brother will really break my legs! All this stuff about distinguishing between direct and collateral lineages, main and branch families... We young masters from prominent families can barely keep our own family relationships straight, calling anyone beyond second cousins ''aunt'' or ''uncle'' indiscriminately. Who has the extra brain capacity to remember other families'' relationships?"

    The consequence of the rampant use of cheat sheets was Lan Wangji''s sudden appearance during the test, catching several of the main culprits. Lan Qiren was furious and sent flying messages to various major clans to complain. He was seething with anger: previously, although these young masters from prominent families couldn''t sit still, at least no one had taken the lead, and they had managed to keep their bottoms somewhat attached to their calves. But since Wei Ying''s arrival, those with mischievous hearts but lacking the courage had been instigated and provoked by him. Some were sneaking out at night, others were drinking, and bad influences were growing. This Wei Ying was indeed, as he had suspected, the number one menace in the human realm!

    Jiang Fengmian responded, "A-Ying has always been like this. Thank you for your efforts in teaching him, Master Lan."

    As a result, Wei Wuxian was punished again.

    Initially, he didn''t take it seriously. It was just copying books, and he never lacked people willing to help him. However, this time, Nie Huaisang said, "Brother Wei, I can''t help you this time. You''ll have to endure it on your own."

    Wei Wuxian asked, "Why?"

    Nie Huaisang explained, "Old... Master Lan said that this time you have to copy both the ''Chapter on Superior Righteousness'' and the ''Chapter on Etiquette''."

    The ''Chapter on Etiquette'' was the most tedious of the twelve chapters of the Lan clan''s family rules, full of classical references, long-winded, and filled with obscure characters. Copying it once was soul-crushing; copying it ten times would be enough to achieve instant enlightenment. Nie Huaisang continued, "He also said that during your punishment, no one is allowed to mingle with you or help you copy."

    Wei Wuxian asked curiously, "How would he know if someone helps me copy or not? It''s not like he can have someone watch me the whole time."

    Jiang Cheng replied, "That''s exactly what''s happening."

    "..." Wei Wuxian said, "What did you say?"

    Jiang Cheng explained, "He''s ordered you to stay in the Lan clan''s library pavilion every day to copy and reflect for a month. Of course, someone will be watching you. As for who, I don''t need to spell it out, do I?"

    In the library pavilion.

    A blue mat, a wooden desk. Two candle stands, two people. One sat upright with perfect posture, while at the other end, Wei Wuxian had already copied more than ten pages of the ''Chapter on Etiquette''. His head was spinning, and his heart was bored. He put down his brush to catch his breath and glanced at the person opposite him.

    Back in Yunmeng, many girls had envied him for being able to study with Lan Wangji, saying that the Lan clan of Gusu produced handsome men generation after generation, and that the current generation''s Lan brothers were especially extraordinary. Wei Wuxian hadn''t had the chance to examine Lan Wangji''s face closely before, but now that he did, he thought to himself, "He is indeed quite handsome. His appearance and demeanor are flawless. But I wish those girls could see him in person. If someone always looks like they''re carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders, frowning and cold, even the most beautiful face can''t save them."

    Lan Wangji was re-transcribing ancient texts from the Lan family''s library pavilion, texts that were too old or not suitable for outsiders to view. His brush moved slowly and steadily, producing neat and elegant characters. Wei Wuxian couldn''t help but exclaim sincerely, "Beautiful handwriting! Top-notch!"

    Lan Wangji remained unmoved.

    Wei Wuxian, unused to being silent for so long, felt stifled. He thought to himself, "This person is so dull. Making me sit across from him for hours every day for a month... isn''t this asking for my life?"

    With this thought, he couldn''t help but lean forward a bit.

 15. Flirting with Trouble

    Wei Wuxian was a master at finding amusement, especially in the direst of circumstances. With nothing else to entertain himself, he decided to make Lan Wangji his unwitting playmate. "Brother Wangji," he called out, his voice lilting with mischief.

    Lan Wangji remained motionless, a statue of perfect composure.

    "Wangji," Wei Wuxian called out, his voice playful and teasing.

    Silence met his words, as if they had never been spoken.

    "Lan Wangji," Wei Wuxian tried again, his tone more insistent.

    "Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed, his voice rising with each attempt.

    Finally, Lan Wangji paused his writing and lifted his gaze, his eyes cold and distant as they met Wei Wuxian''s. Wei Wuxian instinctively leaned back, raising his hands in mock defense. "Don''t look at me like that," he said, a hint of laughter in his voice. "I only called you by your name because you wouldn''t respond to anything else. If you''re not happy about it, you can call me by my name too. Fair''s fair, right?"

    Lan Wangji''s voice was cool and controlled as he spoke, "Put your leg down."

    Wei Wuxian had been sitting in an extremely improper manner, his body slanted and one leg propped up. Realizing he had finally provoked a response from Lan Wangji, he felt a secret thrill of victory. He lowered his leg as instructed, but unconsciously leaned closer, his arms resting on the desk in a still less than proper posture. With exaggerated seriousness, he asked, "Lan Zhan, let me ask you something. Do you... do you really dislike me that much?"

    Lan Wangji lowered his eyelids, his long lashes casting faint shadows on his jade-like cheeks. Wei Wuxian hurriedly continued, "Don''t be like that. Don''t go silent on me again. I want to apologize to you. Look at me, please?"

    After a pause, he added, "You won''t look at me? Fine, I''ll just say it then. That night, I was wrong. I admit it. I shouldn''t have climbed over the wall, I shouldn''t have drunk alcohol, and I shouldn''t have fought with you. But I swear! I wasn''t trying to provoke you deliberately. I really hadn''t seen your family rules. In the Jiang family, rules are just spoken, never written down. If I had known, I definitely wouldn''t have..." He thought to himself, "...definitely wouldn''t have drunk that entire jar of Emperor''s Smile in front of you. I would have smuggled it back to my room and drunk it in secret, every day, sharing it with everyone, drinking to our heart''s content."

    Wei Wuxian continued, his voice taking on a more reasonable tone, "And let''s be fair here, who struck first? It was you. If you hadn''t made the first move, we could have talked it out, cleared things up. But when someone hits me, I have to hit back. You can''t blame me entirely for that. Lan Zhan, are you listening? Look at me. Young Master Lan?" He snapped his fingers. "Second Brother Lan, do me a favor and look at me, won''t you?"

    Without even lifting his eyes, Lan Wangji said coolly, "Copy it one more time."

    Wei Wuxian''s body immediately slumped. "Don''t be like that. I said I was wrong, didn''t I?"

    Lan Wangji mercilessly exposed him: "You have no intention of repenting at all."

    Wei Wuxian, abandoning all dignity, pleaded, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry. I''ll say it as many times as you want. I''ll even kneel down and say it if you like."

    Lan Wangji put down his brush. Wei Wuxian thought he had finally pushed him to the point of violence and was about to flash a cheeky grin when he suddenly found his lips stuck together as if glued, unable to smile.

    His face changed dramatically as he struggled to speak, managing only muffled sounds: "Mmph? Mmph mmph mmph!"

    Lan Wangji closed his eyes, exhaled softly, then opened them again, his expression once more calm and composed. He picked up his brush and resumed writing as if nothing had happened. Wei Wuxian had heard of the Lan Clan''s Silencing Spell but had never believed it could be so effective. After struggling for a while, even scratching his mouth red, he still couldn''t open it. So he grabbed a piece of paper, wrote furiously, and tossed it over. Lan Wangji glanced at it and said, "Childish," before crumpling it up and throwing it away.

    Infuriated, Wei Wuxian rolled on the mat, then got up and wrote another note, slapping it down in front of Lan Wangji. This too was crumpled and discarded.

    The Silencing Spell wasn''t lifted until he had finished copying. The next day when he came to the library pavilion, all the paper balls that had been strewn about the day before had been cleared away.

    Wei Wuxian, always quick to forget past injuries, found himself itching to speak again after just two incense sticks'' worth of time, despite having suffered from the Silencing Spell just the day before. Recklessly, he had barely uttered two sentences before being silenced again. Unable to speak, he resorted to scribbling on paper and passing it to Lan Wangji, only to have it crumpled and thrown to the ground. The third day proceeded in the same manner.

    After being repeatedly silenced, on the last day of his punishment, Wei Wuxian''s behavior seemed unusual to Lan Wangji.

    Since arriving in Gusu, Wei Wuxian had always carelessly tossed his sword about, never wearing it properly. But today, he brought it with him, placing it with a loud thud next to the desk. Even more surprising, contrary to his usual persistent attempts to provoke Lan Wangji, he sat down silently and began writing, his obedience bordering on the uncanny.

    Lan Wangji had no reason to use the Silencing Spell on him, and even found himself glancing at Wei Wuxian more than usual, as if unable to believe this sudden change in behavior. Sure enough, it wasn''t long before Wei Wuxian reverted to his old ways, sliding a piece of paper across the desk, gesturing for Lan Wangji to look at it.

    Lan Wangji had expected more nonsensical scribblings, but as if possessed, he glanced at the paper. To his surprise, it was a portrait. It depicted someone sitting upright by a window, reading quietly, with features unmistakably his own.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    Wei Wuxian, noticing that Lan Wangji''s gaze lingered on the drawing, smirked and raised an eyebrow, winking at him. Without words, his meaning was clear: Does it look like me? Is it good?

    Lan Wangji spoke slowly, "If you have this much free time, you should be copying instead of doodling. I don''t think you''ll ever be free from punishment at this rate."

    Wei Wuxian blew gently on the still-wet ink, responding nonchalantly, "I''ve already finished copying. I won''t be coming back tomorrow!"

    Lan Wangji''s long fingers, resting on the yellowed pages of his book, seemed to pause for a moment before he turned to the next page. Surprisingly, he didn''t silence Wei Wuxian this time. Seeing that his provocation hadn''t worked, Wei Wuxian casually tossed the drawing onto the mat, saying, "It''s yours. Keep it."

    The drawing lay on the mat, and Lan Wangji made no move to pick it up. This had been the fate of all the papers Wei Wuxian had written over the past few days - whether they contained insults, flattery, apologies, pleas, or random doodles. Lan Wangji was used to it and didn''t care. Suddenly, Wei Wuxian said, "Oh, I forgot. I need to add something to it."

    He picked up the paper and his brush, made a few quick strokes, looked at the drawing, then at the real person, and burst into laughter, falling back onto the ground. Lan Wangji put down his book and glanced at the drawing. Wei Wuxian had added a flower to the side of his hair.

    The corner of Lan Wangji''s mouth seemed to twitch slightly. Wei Wuxian scrambled up, saying quickly, "''Childish,'' right? I knew you were going to say that. Can''t you use a different word? Or maybe add a couple more?"

    Lan Wangji said coldly, "Utterly childish."

    Wei Wuxian clapped his hands. "You really did add two more words. Thank you!"

    Lan Wangji looked away and picked up the book he had set aside earlier, opening it again. He had barely glanced at it when he threw it away as if it had burned him.

    What he had been reading was originally a Buddhist scripture, but when he opened it just now, what met his eyes were explicit images of intertwined naked bodies, too vulgar to behold. The book he had been reading had been swapped for an erotic art book disguised as a Buddhist text.

    It didn''t take much thinking to know who was behind this mischief. It must have been done when Wei Wuxian distracted him with the portrait. Moreover, Wei Wuxian made no attempt to hide his involvement, laughing uproariously at the table: "Hahahahahahahahaha!"

    The book landed on the ground, and Lan Wangji retreated to the corner of the library as if avoiding a venomous snake. Furious, he shouted, "Wei Ying!"

    Wei Wuxian was laughing so hard he nearly rolled under the desk, barely managing to raise his hand and say, "Here! I''m here!"

    Lan Wangji swiftly drew his sword, Bichen. Wei Wuxian had never seen him so flustered before. Quickly, he grabbed his own sword, drawing it slightly from its sheath, and warned, "Manners, Second Young Master Lan! Mind your manners! I brought my sword today too. If we fight, what will become of your family''s library?" He had anticipated Lan Wangji''s anger and brought his sword for self-defense, to avoid being accidentally stabbed in a fit of rage. Lan Wangji pointed his sword at him, his pale eyes almost shooting flames: "What kind of person are you?!"

    Wei Wuxian replied cheekily, "What kind of person could I be? A man, of course!"

    Lan Wangji berated him, "Shameless!"

    Wei Wuxian countered, "Is this really something to be ashamed of? Don''t tell me you''ve never seen this kind of thing before. I don''t believe it."

    Lan Wangji''s weakness was that he didn''t know how to curse. After a moment of struggle, he raised his sword, pointing it at Wei Wuxian, his face frosty: "Get out. We''ll settle this outside."

    Wei Wuxian shook his head repeatedly, feigning obedience: "No fighting, no fighting. Don''t you know, Young Master Lan? Private duels are forbidden in the Cloud Recesses." He moved to pick up the discarded book, but Lan Wangji beat him to it, snatching it away. Wei Wuxian, guessing that Lan Wangji intended to use it as evidence against him, deliberately said, "Why are you grabbing it? I thought you didn''t want to look at it anymore. Want to take another peek? Actually, if you want to look, you don''t need to snatch it. I borrowed it especially for you to see. Now that you''ve seen my erotic art, you''re my friend. We can continue to exchange more..."

    Lan Wangji''s face turned completely white as he enunciated each word, "I. Do. Not. Want. To. Look."

    Wei Wuxian continued to twist the truth: "If you don''t want to look, why did you grab it? To keep it for yourself? That won''t do. I borrowed it from someone else, you need to return it after you''re done... Hey, hey, hey, don''t come closer! I''m getting nervous. Let''s talk this out. You''re not thinking of turning it in, are you? To whom? To your eld... to your uncle? Second Young Master Lan, can you really show this kind of thing to your family elders? He''d definitely suspect you looked at it first. With your thin skin, wouldn''t you die of embarrassment..."

    Lan Wangji channeled his spiritual energy into his right hand, and the book shattered into thousands of pieces, fluttering down from the air. Seeing that he had successfully provoked Lan Wangji into destroying the evidence, Wei Wuxian felt relieved. Feigning regret, he said, "What a waste!" He picked up a piece of paper that had fallen on his hair and held it up for Lan Wangji, whose face had turned pale with anger, to see. "Lan Zhan, you''re good at everything except that you like to throw things around. How many paper balls have you thrown on the ground these past few days? Today you''re not even satisfied with throwing paper balls, you''re tearing up paper. You tore it, you clean it up. I''m not responsible for this."

    Lan Wangji, having endured and endured, finally couldn''t take it anymore. He shouted in anger, "Get out!"

    Wei Wuxian said, "Well, well, Lan Zhan. They say you''re a gentleman as pure as jade, a pearl that illuminates the world, the most courteous and well-mannered of all. But it turns out you''re no different. Don''t you know that noise is forbidden in the Cloud Recesses? And you actually told me to ''get out.'' Is this the first time you''ve used such a word on someone..."

    Lan Wangji thrust his sword at him. Wei Wuxian quickly jumped onto the windowsill. "Alright, I''m going. I''m the best at getting out. No need to see me off!"

    He leapt from the library, laughing like a madman as he crashed through the trees, where a group of people were waiting for him. Nie Huaisang asked, "How did it go? Did he look at it? What was his expression?"

    Wei Wuxian replied, "What expression? Ha! Didn''t you hear how loudly he shouted just now?"

    Nie Huaisang''s face was full of admiration: "We heard it! He told you to get out! Brother Wei, that''s the first time I''ve ever heard Lan Wangji tell someone to ''get out''! How did you manage it?"

    Wei Wuxian, beaming with pride, said, "It''s a joyous occasion indeed. Today, I helped him break that taboo. You see, the composure and family education that Second Young Master Lan is so praised for all crumble in the face of yours truly."

    Jiang Cheng, his face dark, scolded, "What are you so proud of? Is being told to get out something to be proud of? You''re really bringing shame to our family!"

    Wei Wuxian retorted, "I genuinely wanted to apologize to him, but he wouldn''t even look at me. He silenced me for so many days, what''s wrong with teasing him a bit? I was being kind, offering him a book to read. It''s a pity about that precious erotic art book of yours, Brother Huaisang. I hadn''t even finished looking at it, it was so fascinating! Lan Zhan is truly unromantic. He wasn''t even happy when I showed it to him. What a waste of that face of his."

    Nie Huaisang said, "Don''t worry about it! I have as many as you want."

    Jiang Cheng sneered, "You''ve thoroughly offended both Lan Wangji and Lan Qiren. You better prepare for your death tomorrow! No one will be there to collect your corpse."

    Wei Wuxian waved his hand dismissively and went to drape an arm over Jiang Cheng''s shoulders. "Who cares about that? Let''s have fun first and worry later. You''ve collected my corpse so many times already, what''s one more time?"

    Jiang Cheng kicked at him. "Get lost! Next time you do something like this, don''t let me know about it! And don''t call me to watch!"

 16. Teasing You, My Little Mister Serious

    To avoid being dragged out of bed in the middle of the night for punishment by the stern Lan elders, Wei Wuxian slept with his sword in his arms. Surprisingly, the night passed peacefully, and the next day, Nie Huaisang came to him with great excitement: "Brother Wei, you''re in luck! The old man left for Qinghe last night to attend a discussion at my family''s place. We don''t have to attend classes for the next few days!"

    With the older one gone, only the younger one remained, which shouldn''t be too hard to deal with! Wei Wuxian sprang up, pulling on his boots while rejoicing, "Truly, fortune smiles upon me! The heavens are on my side!"

    Jiang Cheng, meticulously cleaning his sword nearby, poured cold water on Wei Wuxian''s enthusiasm. "When he returns, you still won''t escape punishment."

    Wei Wuxian retorted, "Why worry about what happens after death when you''re still alive? Let''s enjoy each day as it comes. Come on, I refuse to believe we can''t find a few pheasants on this Lan mountain."

    The three of them, arms around each other''s shoulders, passed by the guest hall of the Cloud Recesses. Suddenly, Wei Wuxian let out a surprised "Oh!" and stopped in his tracks, exclaiming, "Two little anc... Lan Zhan!"

    Several people walked out of the elegant room, led by two young men. Their appearances were equally sculpted from ice and jade, their white clothes as pure as snow. Even the sword tassels on their backs swayed in the wind in unison with their ribbons. Only their demeanors and expressions differed greatly. Wei Wuxian immediately discerned that the one with the stern face was Lan Wangji, while the serene one must be the other of the Twin Jades of Lan, Zewu-jun Lan Xichen.

    Upon seeing Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji frowned, almost "glaring" at him, as if looking for a moment longer would taint him. He quickly averted his gaze to the distance. Lan Xichen, on the other hand, smiled and asked, "And who might you two be?"

    Jiang Cheng bowed respectfully, "Jiang Wanyin of Yunmeng."

    Wei Wuxian also bowed, "Wei Wuxian of Yunmeng."

    Lan Xichen returned the greeting, and Nie Huaisang''s voice, as faint as a mosquito''s buzz, said, "Brother Xichen."

    Lan Xichen said, "Huaisang, I recently came from Qinghe. Your elder brother asked about your studies. How are they? Will you pass this year?"

    Nie Huaisang replied, "I should be able to..." He looked like a wilted melon hit by frost, turning to Wei Wuxian for help. Wei Wuxian grinned and asked, "Zewu-jun, where are you all headed?"

    Lan Xichen answered, "To exorcise a water ghost. We''re short-handed, so I came back to fetch Wangji."

    Lan Wangji coldly said, "Brother, there''s no need for further explanation. Time is of the essence, let''s depart now."

    Wei Wuxian quickly interjected, "Wait, wait, wait. Catching water ghosts? I''m good at that. Zewu-jun, can you take us along?"

    Lan Xichen smiled without speaking, while Lan Wangji said, "It''s against the rules."

    Wei Wuxian argued, "How is it against the rules? We often catch water ghosts in Yunmeng. Besides, we don''t have any lessons these days."

    Yunmeng, with its many lakes and rivers, was known for water ghosts, and the Jiang clan was indeed skilled in dealing with them. Jiang Cheng, also eager to make up for the face Yunmeng Jiang had lost in the Lan household these past days, said, "That''s right, Zewu-jun. We can definitely be of help."

    "There''s no need. The Gusu Lan Sect also..." Before Lan Wangji could finish, Lan Xichen smiled and said, "Very well then, thank you. Prepare yourselves, and we''ll depart together. Huaisang, will you join us?"

    Although Nie Huaisang wanted to tag along for the excitement, the mention of Lan Xichen reminded him of his own older brother, making him nervous. He didn''t dare to indulge in fun, saying, "I won''t go. I''ll go back and review..." He hoped that next time, Lan Xichen might put in a good word for him to his brother. Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng returned to their rooms to prepare.

    Lan Wangji watched the two leave, frowning in confusion. "Brother, why bring them along? Exorcising ghosts is not a matter for jokes and play."

    Lan Xichen replied, "The head disciple and only son of Sect Leader Jiang are well-known in Yunmeng. They might not just be here to play around."

    Lan Wangji remained noncommittal, but his face clearly showed his disagreement.

    Lan Xichen added, "Besides, didn''t you want him to come along?"

    Lan Wangji was taken aback.

    Lan Xichen explained, "I could tell from your expression that you seemed to want Sect Leader Jiang''s senior disciple to join us. That''s why I agreed."

    Silence fell like ice in front of the elegant room.

    After a long moment, Lan Wangji struggled to say, "Absolutely not."

    He was about to defend himself further when Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng returned at lightning speed with their swords. Lan Wangji had no choice but to remain silent as the group set off on their swords.

    The place where the water ghosts were causing trouble was called Caiyi Town, more than twenty li from the Cloud Recesses.

    Caiyi Town was crisscrossed with waterways, making it hard to tell if it was a small city interwoven with a dense network of rivers, or if the spider web-like waterways were lined with tightly packed houses on both banks. White walls and grey tiles, the waterways crowded with boats and baskets, men and women. Flowers and vegetables, bamboo carvings and pastries, beans and tea, silk and cotton were all sold along the river.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Gusu, located in the Jiangnan region, was filled with soft, melodious sounds. Even when two boats collided, spilling a few jars of sticky rice wine, the argument between the two boatmen sounded like the chirping of orioles. Yunmeng had many lakes, but few water towns like this. Wei Wuxian found it fascinating. He bought two jars of sticky rice wine, handed one to Jiang Cheng, and said, "The Gusu people speak so sweetly. This isn''t an argument at all. They should see how people in Yunmeng argue, it would scare them to death... Lan Zhan, why are you looking at me like that? It''s not that I''m being stingy and not buying for you, but your family can''t drink alcohol, right?"

    Without further delay, they boarded over a dozen slender boats and headed towards the water ghost gathering spot. Gradually, the houses on both banks became fewer, and the waterway grew quieter. Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng each occupied a boat, racing to see who could row faster while listening to the details about the local water ghosts.

    This waterway led to a large lake called Biling Lake. Caiyi Town had never had water ghost troubles in decades, but in recent months, people had been frequently falling into the water in this waterway and Biling Lake, and cargo ships had been mysteriously sinking. A few days ago, Lan Xichen had set up an array and cast nets here, expecting to catch one or two, but surprisingly caught over a dozen water ghosts. When they cleaned the faces of the corpses and brought them to nearby towns for identification, many bodies remained unclaimed, unrecognized by the locals. Yesterday, they set up the array again and caught even more.

    Wei Wuxian said, "If we''re talking about people who drowned elsewhere and floated here, it doesn''t seem likely. Water ghosts are territorial creatures. They usually stick to the area where they drowned and rarely leave."

    Lan Xichen nodded, "Indeed. That''s why I feel this matter is not trivial, and I asked Wangji to come along, just in case."

    Wei Wuxian asked, "Zewu-jun, water ghosts are quite clever. If we just slowly row around looking for them, what if they keep hiding at the bottom and never come up? Won''t we just keep searching forever? What do we do if we can''t find them?"

    Lan Wangji coldly replied, "We search until we find them. It''s our duty."

    Wei Wuxian asked, "Just using nets to catch them?"

    Lan Xichen confirmed, "That''s right. Does the Yunmeng Jiang Sect have other methods?"

    Wei Wuxian smiled without answering. Of course, the Yunmeng Jiang Sect also used nets, but he, relying on his excellent swimming skills, always jumped into the river to drag the water ghosts up directly. This method was too dangerous to use in front of the Lan Sect members; if word got back to Lan Qiren, he''d surely be scolded again. He changed the subject, "If only there was something like fish bait that could attract water ghosts, or something that could point out their location, like a compass."

    Jiang Cheng said, "Keep your head down and focus on looking for them in the water. Stop with your wild ideas."

    Wei Wuxian retorted, "Cultivating and sword-flying were once wild ideas too!"

    As he lowered his head, he could see the bottom of Lan Wangji''s boat. An idea struck him, and he called out, "Lan Zhan, look at me!"

    Lan Wangji, who had been concentrating and on guard, instinctively looked towards him. He saw Wei Wuxian sweep his bamboo pole through the water, sending a splash of water flying towards him. Lan Wangji lightly tapped his foot and gracefully leaped onto another boat, avoiding the splash. Annoyed that Wei Wuxian was indeed here to joke around, he said, "Childish!"

    However, Wei Wuxian kicked the side of the boat Lan Wangji had just been on, using his bamboo pole to flip it over, exposing the bottom. To everyone''s surprise, three water ghosts with bloated faces and deathly pale skin were clinging tightly to the wooden planks of the boat''s bottom!

    The disciples nearby immediately subdued the three ghosts. Lan Xichen smiled and said, "Young Master Wei, how did you know they were under the boat?"

    Wei Wuxian tapped the side of the boat, "Simple! The water displacement was off. There was only one person standing on the boat, but it was sitting lower in the water than boats with two people. Something must have been clinging to the bottom."

    Lan Xichen praised, "Indeed, you''re quite experienced."

    Wei Wuxian gently pushed his bamboo pole through the water, sending his small boat gliding until it was parallel with Lan Wangji''s. With the two boats side by side, he said, "Lan Zhan, I wasn''t trying to splash you earlier. Water ghosts are clever; if I had said anything, they would have heard and run away. Hey, pay attention to me. Look at me, Second Young Master Lan."

    Lan Wangji deigned to acknowledge him, glancing his way and asking, "Why did you come along?"

    Wei Wuxian replied sincerely, "I came to apologize to you. Last night was my fault. I was wrong."

    A faint darkness seemed to appear between Lan Wangji''s eyebrows. He probably hadn''t forgotten how Wei Wuxian had "apologized" to him before. Wei Wuxian, feigning ignorance, asked, "Why do you look so upset? Don''t worry, I''m really here to help today."

    Jiang Cheng, unable to watch any longer, said, "If you''re here to help, stop talking nonsense and come here!"

    A disciple shouted, "The net is moving!"

    Sure enough, the net ropes suddenly began to shake violently. Wei Wuxian perked up, "Here they come!"

    Dense, long black hair like black silk surged up around the dozens of small boats, and pairs of pale hands grasped the sides of the boats. Lan Wangji drew his sword, Bichen, slicing off more than a dozen wrists on the left side of the boat, leaving only fingers deeply embedded in the wood. Just as he was about to cut those on the right side, a red flash passed by¡ªWei Wuxian had already drawn and resheathed his sword.

    The disturbance in the water ceased, and the net ropes settled back down. Wei Wuxian''s sword strike had been incredibly fast, but Lan Wangji had seen that the sword he carried must be a high-quality spiritual sword. He solemnly asked, "What is the name of that sword?"

    Wei Wuxian replied, "Whatever."

    Lan Wangji looked at him. Wei Wuxian thought he hadn''t heard clearly and repeated, "Whatever."

    Lan Wangji frowned, refusing to accept this: "This sword has a spirit. To address it casually is disrespectful."

    Wei Wuxian sighed and said, "Think outside the box a bit. I''m not telling you to call it whatever you want. The name of my sword is actually ''Whatever.'' Look, see for yourself." He handed the sword over, letting Lan Wangji see the characters clearly. Indeed, engraved within the patterns on the scabbard were two ancient characters that spelled out "Whatever."

    Lan Wangji was speechless for a long moment.

    Wei Wuxian considerately said, "You don''t need to say anything. I know what you''re thinking. You want to ask why it''s called this, right? Everyone asks that, wondering if there''s some special meaning. Actually, there isn''t any special meaning. When Uncle Jiang was bestowing the sword on me, he asked what I wanted to call it. At the time, I thought of more than twenty names but wasn''t satisfied with any of them. I thought I''d let Uncle Jiang name it, so I just said, ''Whatever!'' Who knew that when the sword was forged and came out, these two characters were on it. Uncle Jiang said, ''Well then, let''s call this sword Whatever.'' It''s not a bad name, right?"

    Finally, Lan Wangji managed to squeeze two words through his teeth: "...Absurd!"

    Wei Wuxian rested the sword on his shoulder and said, "You''re no fun at all. This name is so playful. It''s perfect for teasing uptight people like you. Gets them every time, haha!"

    At that moment, a long black shadow flashed by in the green lake water, circling around the small boats. Jiang Cheng, having finished dealing with the water ghosts on his side, was still on alert for any stragglers. Seeing the black shadow, he immediately shouted, "Here comes another one!"

 17. Water Ghosts, Loquats, and Sweet Kisses

    The dark waters of Biling Lake rippled ominously as several disciples propelled their small boats forward, wielding nets in pursuit of elusive shadows beneath the surface. Suddenly, a shout rang out from the other side of the lake: "Over here! I see something!"

    On the other side of the water, another black shadow flashed by. Several small boats trailing nets sped after it, but they caught nothing. Wei Wuxian said, "That''s strange. The shape of this shadow doesn''t look human. And it keeps changing, sometimes long, sometimes short, sometimes big, sometimes small... Lan Zhan, by your boat!"

    Bichen, Lan Wangji''s sword, flew from his back and plunged into the water. A moment later, it emerged with a sharp whistle, trailing an arc of water. But it hadn''t struck anything.

    Lan Wangji gripped his sword, his expression grave. Just as he was about to speak, another disciple nearby sent his sword flying towards a black shadow that darted through the river.

    But after this sword entered the water, it never came back out. Despite the disciple''s attempts to summon it with sword incantations, nothing emerged from the water. It was as if the lake had swallowed his sword, making it vanish without a trace. This disciple, who looked about the same age as Wei Wuxian and the others, grew increasingly pale at the loss of his sword. An older disciple nearby said, "Su She, we haven''t even identified what''s in the water. Why did you recklessly send your sword in?"

    Su She seemed a bit flustered, but his expression remained relatively composed. "I saw the Second Young Master send his sword into the water..."

    He trailed off, realizing how shallow his words sounded. Neither Lan Wangji nor Bichen could be compared to others. Lan Wangji could safely send his sword into unknown waters, but the same couldn''t be said for everyone else. Su She''s face, already pale, now flushed with shame, as if he had been insulted. He glanced at Lan Wangji, but Lan Wangji wasn''t looking at him, instead focusing intently on the water. In a moment, Bichen unsheathed again.

    This time, the sword didn''t plunge into the water. Instead, its tip flicked upward, scooping a black shadow from the water''s depths. A wet, pitch-black mass plopped onto the boat''s deck with a squelch. Wei Wuxian stood on tiptoe to look and saw that it was actually a piece of clothing.

    Wei Wuxian laughed so hard he nearly fell into the river. "Lan Zhan, you''re amazing! This is the first time I''ve seen someone catch a water ghost''s clothes instead of the ghost itself."

    Lan Wangji merely examined Bichen''s tip for any abnormalities, seemingly having decided not to engage in conversation with Wei Wuxian. Jiang Cheng said, "Shut up. What just swam by underwater wasn''t a water ghost at all, just a piece of clothing!"

    Of course, Wei Wuxian had seen this too, but he couldn''t help teasing Lan Wangji. It made him uncomfortable not to. He said, "So that thing slipping around was just this piece of clothing? No wonder the nets couldn''t catch it and the swords couldn''t pierce it. Its shape kept changing. But a piece of clothing surely can''t swallow a spiritual sword. There must be something else in the water."

    By now, the boats had drifted to the center of Biling Lake. The water was extremely dark, an inky green. Suddenly, Lan Wangji lifted his head slightly and said, "We need to leave immediately."

    Lan Xichen asked, "Why?"

    Lan Wangji replied, "Whatever is in the water deliberately lured our boats to the center of Biling Lake."

    As soon as he finished speaking, everyone felt their boats suddenly sink.

    Water rapidly spread across the decks. Wei Wuxian suddenly realized that the water of Biling Lake was no longer a dark green, but nearly black. Especially near the center of the lake, a massive whirlpool had formed unnoticed. All of their boats were spinning with the vortex, sinking lower and lower, as if about to be sucked down by a giant black maw!

    The sound of unsheathing swords rang out as people began to rise into the air on their swords. Wei Wuxian, already airborne, looked down to see that the deck of Su She''s boat, the disciple who had lost his sword in the water, was already submerged. Su She was knee-deep in water, his face filled with panic, but he didn''t cry out for help, perhaps too shocked to do so. Without hesitation, Wei Wuxian bent down and grabbed Su She''s wrist, pulling him up.

    The extra weight caused Wei Wuxian''s sword to suddenly dip, but it continued to rise. However, they hadn''t risen far when a great force suddenly pulled from Su She''s direction, nearly dragging Wei Wuxian off his sword.

    Su She''s lower half had already been sucked into the black whirlpool in the lake. As the vortex spun faster and faster, his body sank deeper and deeper, as if something lurking at the bottom of the water was grabbing his legs and pulling him down. Jiang Cheng, who had been comfortably hovering about twenty zhang above the lake''s surface on his Sandu, looked down and descended with visible annoyance. "What are you doing now?!"

    The suction from Biling Lake grew stronger and stronger. Wei Wuxian''s sword, while nimble and agile, lacked raw power. It was being forced down to a dangerously low altitude, nearly touching the lake''s surface. Struggling to maintain his balance while using both hands to hold onto Su She, Wei Wuxian shouted, "Someone lend a hand! If I can''t pull him up, I''ll have to let go!"

    Suddenly, Wei Wuxian felt a firm grip on the back of his collar, lifting him into the air. He turned his head to see Lan Wangji holding him by the collar with one hand. Although Lan Wangji''s gaze remained indifferent, focused elsewhere, he alone, with a single sword, was bearing the weight of three people while simultaneously resisting the unknown force from the lake. Yet, their position continued to rise steadily higher and higher. Jiang Cheng was secretly amazed: "If I had rushed down to pull Wei Wuxian up on Sandu, I probably couldn''t have risen this quickly or steadily. Lan Wangji is about the same age as me..."

    At this moment, Wei Wuxian said, "Lan Zhan, your sword is pretty strong, huh? Thanks, thanks, but why are you grabbing my collar? Couldn''t you just hold my hand? This is really uncomfortable. I''ll reach out my hand, you can grab it instead."This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Lan Wangji coldly replied, "I don''t touch others."

    Wei Wuxian said, "We''re so close now, how can you still consider me ''others''?"

    Lan Wangji stated, "We''re not close."

    Wei Wuxian feigned hurt, "How can you say that..."

    Jiang Cheng couldn''t take it anymore and scolded, "How can YOU be like this?! Can you talk less when you''re being dangled in mid-air by your collar?!"

    The group quickly retreated from Biling Lake on their swords, landing on the shore. Lan Wangji released his grip on Wei Wuxian''s collar and turned calmly to Lan Xichen, saying, "It''s a Waterborne Abyss."

    Lan Xichen shook his head, "This complicates matters."

    Upon hearing the term "Waterborne Abyss," both Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng understood. The most terrifying thing in Biling Lake and this river wasn''t the water ghosts, but the water itself.

    Some rivers or lakes, due to their terrain or water flow, frequently experienced shipwrecks or people falling in. Over time, these bodies of water developed a personality of sorts. Like a spoiled young lady unwilling to go without fine clothes and food, they demanded sacrifices of ships and living people at regular intervals. If they didn''t receive them, they would cause trouble to obtain them on their own.

    The people of Caiyi Town were all skilled in water, and shipwrecks or drowning incidents were extremely rare. It was impossible for a Waterborne Abyss to have formed here naturally. Since one had appeared, there was only one possibility: it had been driven here from somewhere else.

    Once a Waterborne Abyss forms, the entire body of water essentially becomes a monster, extremely difficult to eliminate. Unless the water could be drained, all sunken people and objects retrieved, and the riverbed left to bake in the sun for three to five years. But this was nearly impossible to accomplish. However, there was a selfish method to solve the immediate problem and local trouble. That was to drive it into other rivers and lakes, letting it wreak havoc elsewhere.

    Lan Wangji asked, "Which places have recently been troubled by a Waterborne Abyss?"

    Lan Xichen pointed to the sky.

    He wasn''t pointing at anything else but the sun itself. Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng exchanged a glance, understanding dawning in their minds: "The Qishan Wen Sect."

    In the world of cultivation, numerous sects and clans, both large and small, were scattered like stars across the sky. However, above them all stood an absolute giant, the Qishan Wen Sect.

    The Wen Sect used the sun as their family emblem, symbolizing their ambition to "rival the sun in brilliance and longevity." Their spiritual domain was vast, comparable to a city, named the Nightless City, also known as the "Nightless Celestial Capital." It was said that there was no darkness within its walls. The Wen Sect was called a giant because, in terms of disciples, power, territory, and spiritual tools, other clans could only look up to them in awe, with none able to compete. Many cultivators considered it the highest honor to be a guest cultivator in the Wen Sect. Given the Wen Sect''s style of doing things, it was highly likely that they were responsible for driving the Waterborne Abyss to Caiyi Town.

    Although they now knew the source of the water trouble, everyone fell silent.

    If the Wen family was behind this, no amount of accusations or condemnations would make any difference. First, they would never admit to it, and second, there would be no compensation.

    One disciple said indignantly, "They''ve driven the Waterborne Abyss here, and it''s going to devastate Caiyi Town. If the Waterborne Abyss grows and spreads into the town''s waterways, so many people will be living their daily lives on top of a monster. This is just..."

    Faced with such a difficult problem dumped on them by others, the Gusu Lan Sect would undoubtedly face endless troubles from now on. Lan Xichen sighed, "Enough. Let''s head back to town."

    They boarded new boats at the dock and headed towards the more densely populated areas of the town.

    As they passed under an arched bridge and entered the waterway, Wei Wuxian was at it again.

    He tossed aside his bamboo pole and put one foot on the edge of the boat, checking his reflection in the water to see if his hair was messy. He didn''t look like someone who had just fought water ghosts and escaped from the maw of a Waterborne Abyss. With a calm and composed demeanor, he started flirting with people on both banks: "Sister, how much are the loquats per jin?"

    He was extremely young and handsome, full of vibrant energy, truly like a frivolous peach blossom carried by the flowing water. A woman adjusted her bamboo hat and looked up with a smile, "Young master, why pay? I''ll give you one for free, how about that?"

    Her Wu dialect was soft and sweet, dripping with charm. The speaker''s words were honeyed, and the listener''s ears were filled with fragrance. Wei Wuxian cupped his hands and said, "If sister is giving it, of course I''ll take it!"

    The woman reached into her basket and tossed out a round, golden loquat: "Don''t be shy, you''re so handsome!"

    The boats were moving quickly, passing each other in an instant. Wei Wuxian caught the loquat perfectly, saying with a smile, "Sister is even more beautiful!"

    While Wei Wuxian was busy flirting and causing a commotion, Lan Wangji maintained his dignified posture, eyes fixed straight ahead. Wei Wuxian proudly tossed the loquat in his hand and suddenly pointed at Lan Wangji, saying, "Sisters, look at him. Isn''t he handsome?"

    Lan Wangji was completely unprepared for Wei Wuxian to suddenly involve him and didn''t know how to respond. The women on the river chorused, "Even more handsome!" Amidst their voices, there seemed to be a few men''s laughter as well.

    Wei Wuxian said, "Then who''s going to give him one? If you only give to me and not to him, he might get jealous when we get back!"

    The entire river rippled with melodious laughter. Another woman came rowing towards them and said, "Alright, alright, I''ll give two. Eat mine, young master, catch!"

    The second loquat also landed in his hand. Wei Wuxian shouted, "Sister is beautiful and kind-hearted. I''ll come back to buy next time. I''ll buy a whole basket!"

    That woman''s voice was bright, and she was even bolder. She pointed at Lan Wangji and said, "Bring him too, you can come buy together!"

    Wei Wuxian held the loquat in front of Lan Wangji''s face. Lan Wangji, still looking straight ahead, said, "Take it away."

    Wei Wuxian withdrew it, saying, "I knew you wouldn''t want it. That''s why I never intended to give it to you. Jiang Cheng, catch!"

    Just then, Jiang Cheng was passing by on another small boat. He caught the loquat with one hand, revealing a slight smile before snorting, "Flirting again, are you?"

    Wei Wuxian, full of spring spirit, retorted, "Get lost!" Then he turned and asked, "Lan Zhan, you''re from Gusu, so you must speak the local dialect, right? Teach me, how do you curse in Gusu dialect?"

    Lan Wangji threw him a "Childish" look and boarded another boat. Wei Wuxian hadn''t really expected him to answer; he just found the local accent amusing and wanted to tease Lan Wangji, imagining him speaking like that as a child. He took a sip of the sticky rice wine, holding the small, round, shiny black jar, grabbed his bamboo pole, and went to bother Jiang Cheng.

    Meanwhile, Lan Wangji stood side by side with Lan Xichen. This time, even their expressions were similar, both looking deep in thought, pondering how to deal with the Waterborne Abyss and how to explain the subsequent matters to the town chief of Caiyi.

    A heavily laden cargo boat approached from the opposite direction, filled with baskets of heavy, golden loquats. Lan Wangji glanced at it and then continued to look straight ahead.

    Lan Xichen, however, said, "Do you want to eat loquats? Should we buy a basket to take back?"

    "..."

    Lan Wangji turned away, his sleeves fluttering: "I don''t want any!"

    He moved to stand on yet another boat.

 18. Bunny, Beatings, and Goodbye

    Wei Wuxian bought a bunch of random trinkets in Caiyi Town and brought them back to the Cloud Recesses, which were quickly divided up among the other young disciples. As Lan Qiren had gone to Qinghe, there were no classes for the next few days. The young men played recklessly, crowding into Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng''s room to sleep on the floor, staying up all night arm wrestling, rolling dice, eating, drinking, and looking at picture books. One night, Wei Wuxian lost at dice and was sent to sneak out of the Cloud Recesses to buy Emperor''s Smile. This time, everyone finally got to taste the famous liquor. However, the next day before dawn, while everyone was still sprawled across the floor in a drunken stupor, someone suddenly opened the door.

    The sound of the door opening startled a few people awake. Through bleary eyes, they saw Lan Wangji standing in the doorway with an icy expression, which instantly sobered them up. Nie Huaisang frantically shook Wei Wuxian, who was sleeping with his head down and bottom up, saying, "Brother Wei! Brother Wei!"

    Wei Wuxian, still half-asleep, mumbled, "Who? Who else is coming? Is it Jiang Cheng? Bring it on, I''m not afraid!"

    Jiang Cheng, who had drunk too much the night before and still had a headache, lay on the ground with his eyes closed. He blindly grabbed something and threw it in the direction of Wei Wuxian''s voice, saying, "Shut up!"

    The object hit Wei Wuxian''s chest and its pages fluttered open. Nie Huaisang looked closely and realized that what Jiang Cheng had thrown at Wei Wuxian was one of his prized rare spring books. He looked up again at Lan Wangji''s stern face and nearly fainted. Wei Wuxian hugged the book, muttered something, and fell back asleep. Lan Wangji stepped into the room, grabbed the back of Wei Wuxian''s collar with one hand, and began dragging him towards the door.

    Wei Wuxian was dragged for a while before he finally woke up a bit more. He turned his head and said, "Lan Zhan, what are you doing?"

    Lan Wangji remained silent and continued to drag him along. Wei Wuxian became more alert, and the others sprawled on the floor gradually woke up. When Jiang Cheng saw that Wei Wuxian was once again being grabbed by Lan Wangji, he rushed out and said, "What''s going on? What are you doing?"

    Lan Wangji turned back and said word by word, "Punishment."

    Jiang Cheng, who had been slow to react due to his drunken sleep, suddenly remembered the mess in the room and realized how many rules of the Cloud Recesses they had broken the night before. His face stiffened.

    Lan Wangji dragged Wei Wuxian to the ancestral hall of the Gusu Lan Sect, where several older Lan disciples were already waiting. There were eight in total, four of them holding incredibly long discipline rulers made of sandalwood, densely carved with square characters. They all had solemn expressions. Seeing Lan Wangji dragging someone in, two of them immediately came forward and firmly held Wei Wuxian down. Wei Wuxian, kneeling on the ground and unable to struggle, said, "Lan Zhan, are you going to punish me?"

    Lan Wangji stared at him coldly, without speaking.

    Wei Wuxian said, "I don''t accept this."

    At this moment, the other young disciples who had mostly sobered up rushed over but were stopped outside the ancestral hall. They all scratched their heads anxiously, looking at the discipline rulers with fear. However, they saw Lan Wangji lift the hem of his white robe and kneel down next to Wei Wuxian.

    Seeing this, Wei Wuxian was shocked and tried to get up with all his might, but Lan Wangji shouted, "Hit!"

    Wei Wuxian stared in disbelief and quickly said, "Wait, wait, I accept, I accept, Lan Zhan, I was wrong... Ah!"

    Both of them received over a hundred strikes on their palms and the backs of their legs. Lan Wangji didn''t need anyone to hold him down; he knelt straight and properly throughout. Wei Wuxian, on the other hand, howled and wailed without any restraint, making the watching disciples from various sects wince in pain. After the punishment, Lan Wangji stood up silently, bowed slightly to the disciples inside the ancestral hall, and then walked out, showing no signs of injury. Wei Wuxian was completely opposite; even after Jiang Cheng carried him out of the ancestral hall on his back, he was still moaning continuously. The young disciples crowded around them, asking, "Brother Wei, what exactly happened?"

    "It''s understandable that Lan Wangji punished you, but why did he also get hit?"

    Wei Wuxian, lying on Jiang Cheng''s back, sighed deeply, "Ah! Miscalculation! It''s a long story!"

    Jiang Cheng said, "Stop talking nonsense! What exactly did you do?"

    Wei Wuxian said, "I didn''t do anything! Last night, didn''t I lose at dice and go down to buy Emperor''s Smile?"

    Jiang Cheng said, "...Don''t tell me you ran into him again."

    Wei Wuxian said, "You guessed it right. I don''t know what kind of luck it was, but when I was climbing back up with the Emperor''s Smile, he caught me red-handed. I suspect he''s really watching me every day."

    Jiang Cheng said, "You think everyone is as idle as you. Then what?"

    Wei Wuxian said, "Then I still greeted him, I said ''Lan Zhan! What a coincidence, it''s you again!'' Of course, he didn''t respond to me and just struck out with his palm without a word. I said, hey, what''s the need for this? He said if outside guests repeatedly violate curfew, they must go to the Lan ancestral hall for punishment. So I said, there are only two of us here, if you don''t tell and I don''t tell, who would know whether I violated curfew or not? I promise there won''t be a next time, we''re so familiar with each other now, can''t you do me a favor?"

    Everyone looked at him with a painful expression.

    Wei Wuxian continued, "Then he said with a straight face that he''s not familiar with me and attacked with his sword. I had no choice but to put the Emperor''s Smile aside and fight back. He used both fists and palms, chasing me so closely that I couldn''t shake him off! Finally, I got really impatient with his chase, and I said, ''Are you really not letting go? Not letting go?!''

    "He still said: ''Accept punishment!''"

    The young disciples listened with bated breath. Wei Wuxian was so excited in his storytelling that he completely forgot he was still on Jiang Cheng''s back. He suddenly slapped Jiang Cheng''s shoulder and said, "I said: ''Fine!'' Then I stopped dodging, rushed forward, hugged him, and toppled over the wall of the Cloud Recesses!"

    "..."

    Wei Wuxian said, "So we both fell outside the boundary of the Cloud Recesses! We were so dizzy from the fall."

    Nie Huaisang was already stunned, "...He didn''t break free from you?"

    Wei Wuxian said, "Oh, he tried, but I locked him tightly with my arms and legs. He couldn''t break free and couldn''t get up from on top of me. He was as stiff as a board. I said, ''How about that, Lan Zhan? Now you''re also outside the Cloud Recesses'' boundary. We''ve both violated curfew. You can''t be strict with others and lenient with yourself. If you punish me, you have to punish yourself too. Fair and square, right?''"

    Wei Wuxian continued, "After he got up, his face looked terrible. I sat beside him and said, ''Don''t worry, I won''t tell anyone. Only heaven, earth, you, and I know about this.'' Then he just walked away without a word. Who knew he would do this this morning... Jiang Cheng, walk slower, I''m about to fall off."

    Jiang Cheng not only wanted to throw him off but also wanted to smash his head into the ground a few times: "You''re being picky even though I''m carrying you!"

    Wei Wuxian said, "It wasn''t me who asked you to carry me in the first place."

    Jiang Cheng was furious: "If I didn''t carry you, I bet you''d be rolling around on the floor of their ancestral hall all day without getting up, too embarrassed to move! Lan Wangji got fifty more strikes than you, and he walked away on his own. How dare you pretend to be so badly injured? I don''t want to carry you anymore, get off now!"

    Wei Wuxian said, "I won''t get off, I''m injured."

    As the group was pushing and shoving along the white stone path, they encountered someone in white robes carrying books passing by. He stopped in surprise. Lan Xichen smiled and said, "What''s going on here?"

    Jiang Cheng was very embarrassed and didn''t know how to answer, but Nie Huaisang had already blurted out, "Brother Xichen, Wei-xiong was punished with over a hundred strikes. Do you have any medicine?"

    Since Lan Wangji was in charge of punishments at the Cloud Recesses, and Wei Wuxian had been moaning pitifully in the midst of the crowd, seemingly in severe pain, Lan Xichen immediately came forward and said, "Was it Wangji who punished him? Young Master Wei, are you unable to walk? What exactly happened?"

    Jiang Cheng naturally didn''t want to say what Wei Wuxian had done, and after all, it was their group that had urged Wei Wuxian to go buy alcohol. If anyone were to be punished, everyone should share the blame. He could only vaguely say, "It''s nothing, it''s nothing, it''s not that serious! He can walk. Wei Wuxian, get down now!"

    Wei Wuxian said, "I can''t walk." He stretched out his swollen, red palm to Lan Xichen and complained, "Zewu-jun, your brother is too fierce."

    Lan Xichen looked at his palm and said, "Ah, this punishment was indeed a bit severe. I''m afraid it won''t heal for three or four days."

    Jiang Cheng, who didn''t know the punishment had been so severe, exclaimed in surprise, "What? It won''t heal for three or four days? His legs and back were also hit with the discipline ruler. How could Lan Wangji do this?!" The last sentence inadvertently carried a tone of dissatisfaction. Wei Wuxian secretly patted him, and he realized his mistake. Lan Xichen, however, didn''t mind and smiled, "But it''s not a big deal. There''s no need for medicine. Young Master Wei, I''ll tell you a method that will make it better in just a few hours."

    Evening, in the Cold Springs of the Cloud Recesses.

    Lan Wangji was soaking in the icy spring water with his eyes closed, meditating, when suddenly a voice spoke near his ear: "Lan Zhan."

    "..."

    Lan Wangji''s eyes snapped open. Sure enough, Wei Wuxian was lying on the blue stone by the edge of the cold spring, tilting his head and smiling at him.

    Lan Wangji blurted out, "How did you get in here?!"

    Wei Wuxian slowly got up, untying his belt as he said, "Zewu-jun let me in."

    Lan Wangji asked, "What are you doing?"

    Wei Wuxian kicked off his boots and started stripping, scattering his clothes all over the ground as he said, "What do you think I''m doing when I''m taking everything off? I heard that your family''s cold springs not only help with meditation and calming the mind, but also have healing properties for injuries. So your brother let me come in and soak with you. But it''s not very considerate of you to come here alone to heal. Wow, it''s really cold, hiss¡ª"

    He got into the water and started rolling around the pool, stimulated by the bone-chilling spring water. Lan Wangji quickly distanced himself by ten feet, saying, "I came here for cultivation, not for healing¡ªstop splashing!"

    Wei Wuxian said, "But it''s so cold, so cold..."

    This time, he wasn''t exaggerating or causing trouble on purpose. It was indeed difficult for outsiders to adapt to the Gusu Lan Sect''s cold springs in a short time. It felt as if staying still for a moment would freeze one''s blood and limbs. So he had to keep moving around, trying to warm up. Lan Wangji, who had been peacefully meditating, was now splashed with water droplets sliding down his long eyelashes and black hair. He couldn''t bear it anymore and said, "Don''t move!"

    As he spoke, he reached out with one palm and pressed it on Wei Wuxian''s shoulder.

    Wei Wuxian immediately felt a warm current flowing from where their bodies connected, making him feel a bit better. He unconsciously moved closer to Lan Wangji, who alertly asked, "What are you doing?"

    Wei Wuxian innocently said, "Nothing, it just seems warmer on your side."

    Lan Wangji firmly held his palm between them, maintaining distance, and sternly said, "It is not."

    Wei Wuxian had originally wanted to get closer to him, to get on his good side and make conversation, but being unable to do so and getting rebuffed, he didn''t get angry. He glanced at Lan Wangji''s palm and shoulders, and indeed, the marks from the punishment had not yet faded. He really wasn''t here for healing. Wei Wuxian sincerely said, "Lan Zhan, I really admire you. You said you would punish yourself and you really did, without any leniency. I have nothing to say."

    Lan Wangji closed his eyes again, remaining silent and still.

    Wei Wuxian continued, "Really, I''ve never met anyone as serious and true to their word as you. I definitely couldn''t do what you do. You''re amazing."

    Lan Wangji still ignored him.

    After Wei Wuxian was no longer cold, he started swimming around in the cold spring. After swimming for a while, he couldn''t resist swimming to Lan Wangji''s front and said, "Lan Zhan, didn''t you realize what I was doing just now?"

    Lan Wangji said, "I don''t know."

    Wei Wuxian said, "You don''t know? I was complimenting you, trying to get on your good side."

    Lan Wangji looked at him and said, "What do you want to do?"

    Wei Wuxian said, "Lan Zhan, let''s be friends. We''re so familiar with each other now."

    Lan Wangji said, "We are not familiar."

    Wei Wuxian splashed the water and said, "You''re no fun like this. Really. Being friends with me has many benefits."

    Lan Wangji asked, "Such as?"If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Wei Wuxian swam to the edge of the pool, leaned his back against the blue stone, rested his arms on the stone, and said, "I''m always loyal to my friends. For example, when I get new spring pictures, I''ll definitely let you see them first... Hey, hey, come back! It''s fine if you don''t want to see. Have you been to Yunmeng? Yunmeng is a lot of fun, and the food there is delicious. I don''t know if it''s a problem with Gusu or just the Cloud Recesses, but the food at your place is too bland. If you come to Lotus Pier, you can eat many delicious things. I can take you to pick lotus seeds and water chestnuts. Lan Zhan, will you come?"

    Lan Wangji said, "No."

    Wei Wuxian said, "Don''t always start your sentences with ''no'', it sounds so cold. Girls won''t like it. Let me tell you, the girls in Yunmeng are especially beautiful, different from the beauties in your Gusu." He winked his left eye at Lan Wangji and said proudly, "Are you sure you won''t come?"

    Lan Wangji paused for a moment, but still said, "No..."

    Wei Wuxian said, "You reject me like this, not giving me any face at all. Aren''t you afraid I''ll take your clothes when I leave?"

    Lan Wangji said, "Get out!!!"

    After Lan Qiren returned to Gusu from Qinghe, he didn''t make Wei Wuxian copy the Lan Sect rules in the library pavilion again. Instead, he scolded him harshly in front of everyone. Excluding the parts where he quoted classics, the simplified version of his speech was essentially that he had never seen such a mischievous, shameless person, and that Wei Wuxian should leave, leave quickly, and leave as far as possible. He should not get close to other disciples, and especially not taint his prized student Lan Wangji.

    While Lan Qiren was scolding him, Wei Wuxian listened with a grin, not feeling embarrassed or angry at all. As soon as Lan Qiren left, Wei Wuxian sat down and said to Jiang Cheng, "Telling me to leave now, isn''t it a bit late? The person has already been ''tainted'' and now you''re telling me to leave. It''s too late!"

    The water ghoul in Caiyi Town brought great trouble to the Gusu Lan Sect. It couldn''t be eradicated, and the Lan family couldn''t drive it away to other places like the Wen Sect would. The Lan family''s leader was in seclusion year-round, and Lan Qiren was greatly exhausting himself over this matter. His teaching hours became shorter and shorter, while Wei Wuxian''s time wandering in the mountains with others became longer and longer.

    On this day, he was again surrounded by seven or eight young disciples wanting to go out. As they passed by the Lan family''s library pavilion, he looked up from below and, through the obscuring magnolia branches, could just see Lan Wangji sitting alone by the window.

    Nie Huaisang puzzled, "Is he looking at us? That''s odd, we weren''t even being noisy just now. Why is he giving us that look?"

    Wei Wuxian said, "He''s probably thinking about how to catch us making mistakes."

    Jiang Cheng said, "Wrong. It''s not ''us'', it''s ''you''. I think he''s only staring at you."

    Wei Wuxian said, "Heh. Just wait. You''ll see how I deal with him when I get back."

    Jiang Cheng said, "Didn''t you say he was boring and uninteresting? Then stop provoking him. You''re pulling the tiger''s whiskers, stirring up trouble. You''re always courting death."

    Wei Wuxian said, "Wrong. It''s precisely because a living person can be as uninteresting as he is that makes it so interesting."

    It was nearly noon when they returned to the Cloud Recesses. Lan Wangji was sitting at his desk, arranging a stack of papers he had written, when he suddenly heard a light tapping on the window lattice. He looked up and saw someone climbing in from outside the window.

    Wei Wuxian had climbed up the magnolia tree outside the library pavilion, and with a mischievous expression, he said, "Lan Zhan, I''m back! How about it? After not copying books for a few days, did you miss me?"

    Lan Wangji remained as still as an old monk in deep meditation, seeing all things as nothing, and almost mechanically continued to organize the mountain of books and scrolls. Wei Wuxian deliberately misinterpreted his silence: "You don''t need to say it, I already know. You must have missed me, otherwise why were you looking at me from the window earlier?"

    Lan Wangji immediately glanced at him, his gaze full of silent reproach. Wei Wuxian sat on the windowsill and said, "Look at you, taking the bait after just two sentences. You''re too easy to provoke. You can''t keep your cool at all."

    Lan Wangji: "Leave."

    Wei Wuxian: "If I don''t leave, will you throw me out?"

    Judging by Lan Wangji''s face, Wei Wuxian suspected that if he said one more word, Lan Wangji would abandon his remaining composure and directly nail him to the windowsill. He quickly said, "Don''t be so scary! I came to bring gifts and apologize."

    Lan Wangji, without even thinking, immediately refused: "Don''t want it."

    Wei Wuxian said, "You really don''t want it?" Seeing the wariness in Lan Wangji''s eyes, he pulled out two rabbits from his chest like a magician. Holding them by their ears, they looked like two round, fat snowballs. The snowballs were still randomly kicking their legs. He brought them right under Lan Wangji''s nose: "It''s strange here, there are no pheasants, but there are many wild rabbits that aren''t even afraid of people. How about it? Aren''t they fat? Do you want them?"

    Lan Wangji coldly looked at him.

    Wei Wuxian said, "Alright. If you don''t want them, I''ll give them to someone else. It just so happens that I''ve been craving some meat these days."

    Hearing the last sentence, Lan Wangji said, "Stop."

    Wei Wuxian spread his hands: "I haven''t left yet."

    Lan Wangji said, "Who are you going to give them to?"

    Wei Wuxian said, "Whoever can roast rabbit meat the best."

    Lan Wangji said, "Killing is forbidden within the Cloud Recesses. It''s the third rule on the Wall of Discipline."

    Wei Wuxian said, "Fine. I''ll go down the mountain, kill them outside the boundary, then bring them back to roast. Since you don''t want them anyway, why do you care so much?"

    "..." Lan Wangji said word by word: "Give them to me."

    Wei Wuxian sat on the windowsill, grinning: "Now you want them? See, you''re always like this."

    The two rabbits were both fat and round, like two fluffy snowballs. One had dead fish eyes, lying on the ground motionless for a long time, chewing vegetable leaves slowly and deliberately with its pink three-petaled mouth. The other seemed as if it had eaten some sort of stimulant, jumping up and down non-stop, climbing, rolling, and tumbling over its companion, twisting and bouncing, never staying still for a moment. Wei Wuxian tossed a few vegetable leaves he had picked up from somewhere, then suddenly said, "Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan!"

    The more active rabbit had previously stepped on Lan Wangji''s inkstone, leaving a black inky footprint on the desk. Lan Wangji didn''t know what to do and was seriously considering how to wipe it off with a piece of paper. He didn''t want to respond, but hearing Wei Wuxian''s unusual tone, he thought there might be something important and asked, "What is it?"

    Wei Wuxian said, "Look at how they''re stacked on top of each other, aren''t they...?"

    Lan Wangji said, "They''re both male!"

    Wei Wuxian said, "Male? How strange." He picked them up by the ears to check and confirmed, "Indeed, they are male. So what if they''re male? I hadn''t even finished speaking, why are you so stern? What were you thinking? By the way, I caught these rabbits, and I didn''t even notice if they were male or female. How come you''ve already looked at their..."

    Lan Wangji finally threw him out of the library pavilion window.

    Wei Wuxian shouted in mid-air, "Hahahahahahahahahahaha!"

    With a loud "bang", Lan Wangji slammed the window shut and collapsed back into his seat by the desk.

    He glanced at the messy papers and inky footprints all over the floor, and the two white rabbits rolling around with vegetable leaves, closed his eyes, and covered his ears.

    The trembling magnolia branches were now shut outside the window, but no matter how he tried to resist, Wei Wuxian''s joyful and unrestrained laughter simply couldn''t be shut out.

    The next day, Lan Wangji finally stopped attending classes with them.

    Wei Wuxian had changed his seat three times. He was originally sitting with Jiang Cheng, but Jiang Cheng was serious about his studies and wanted to perform well to bring honor to the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, so he moved to the front row. This position was too conspicuous and didn''t allow Wei Wuxian to misbehave, so he abandoned Jiang Cheng and moved to sit behind Lan Wangji. When Lan Qiren was lecturing, Lan Wangji sat as straight as a wall, and Wei Wuxian would either sleep soundly or doodle aimlessly behind him. Except for the occasional times when Lan Wangji would suddenly raise his hand to intercept paper balls Wei Wuxian was throwing at others, it could be said to be a prime location. But later, Lan Qiren discovered this arrangement and switched their positions. From then on, whenever Wei Wuxian''s posture was slightly improper, he would feel two cold, sharp gazes pinned on his back, and Lan Qiren would also glare at him fiercely. Being constantly monitored by both the old and the young, from front and back, was extremely uncomfortable. After the spring book incident and the rabbit incident, Lan Qiren determined that Wei Wuxian was a bad influence, fearing that his prized student would be tainted by him. Believing that one takes on the color of one''s company, he hurriedly told Lan Wangji not to come anymore. So Wei Wuxian moved back to his old spot, and things were peaceful for about half a month.

    Unfortunately, for someone like Wei Wuxian, good times never last long.

    Within the Cloud Recesses, there was a long wall with lattice windows. Every seven steps, there was a carved flower window on the wall. Each carving was different, depicting scenes such as playing the guqin in the mountains, flying on swords, or slaying monsters. Lan Qiren explained that each lattice window on this wall depicted the life story of an ancestor of the Gusu Lan Sect. Among them, the four oldest and most famous windows told the life story of Lan An, the founding ancestor of the Lan Sect.

    This ancestor was born in a temple, grew up listening to Buddhist chants, was intelligent and spiritual, and was a famous monk at a young age. At the age of twenty, he took "Lan" from "Qielan" (Sanskrit: Sangh¨¡rama) as his surname and returned to secular life as a musician. While seeking the Dao, he met his "destined person" in Gusu, became Dao partners with them, and together they laid the foundation for the Lan family. After his immortal partner passed away, he returned to the temple to end his mortal life. These four lattice windows depicted "Qielan," "Learning Music," "Dao Partners," and "Returning to Stillness" respectively.

    For the first time in many days, something interesting was being taught, and although Lan Qiren made it sound as dry as a chronology, Wei Wuxian finally paid attention. After class, he laughed and said, "So the Lan family''s ancestor was a monk, no wonder. Entering the mortal world to meet one person, when the person is gone, I too shall leave, this body not lingering in the dust. But with such an ancestor, how did they produce such unromantic descendants?"

    Everyone was surprised to learn that the Lan family, known for being rigid, had such an ancestor, and they began to discuss it. As the discussion went on, the focus shifted to "Dao partners," and they started to talk about their ideal immortal companions and evaluate the famous young cultivators of various sects. At this point, someone asked, "Brother Zixuan, which young lady do you think is the most outstanding?"

    Upon hearing this, Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng simultaneously looked towards a young man in the front row of the Orchid Room.

    This young man had proud and handsome features, with a cinnabar mark between his eyebrows. His collar, cuffs, and belt were embroidered with golden stars, snow waves, and white peonies. He was Jin Zixuan, the young master of the Lanling Jin Sect who had been sent to Gusu for education.

    Another person said, "You shouldn''t ask Brother Zixuan this. He already has a fianc¨¦e, so of course he''ll say it''s his fianc¨¦e."

    Hearing the word "fianc¨¦e," Jin Zixuan''s lips seemed to twitch, revealing a hint of displeasure. The disciple who first asked the question, unable to read the atmosphere, continued to ask happily, "Really? Which sect''s young lady is it? She must be incredibly talented and beautiful!"

    Jin Zixuan raised an eyebrow and said, "There''s no need to mention it further."

    Wei Wuxian suddenly said, "What do you mean there''s no need to mention it further?"

    Everyone in the Orchid Room turned to look at him in surprise. Usually, Wei Wuxian was always smiling, even when scolded or punished, he never truly got angry. But at this moment, there was a visible trace of hostility between his brows. Even Jiang Cheng, who usually reprimanded Wei Wuxian for causing trouble, sat beside him with a very unpleasant expression.

    Jin Zixuan arrogantly said, "Is ''no need to mention it further'' so difficult to understand?"

    Wei Wuxian coldly laughed, "The words aren''t difficult to understand, but what exactly are you dissatisfied with about my shijie? That''s hard to comprehend."

    Others whispered among themselves, and after a few words, they finally understood. It turned out that those few sentences had unintentionally stirred up a hornet''s nest. Jin Zixuan''s fianc¨¦e was none other than Jiang Yanli of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect.

    Jiang Yanli was the eldest daughter of Jiang Fengmian and Jiang Cheng''s older sister. She had an unassuming personality, without striking looks; her speech was steady, without any memorable flavor. She was of above-average appearance, and her talents were not world-shaking. Among the group of young cultivators from various sects, she inevitably appeared somewhat lackluster. Her fianc¨¦ Jin Zixuan, on the other hand, was quite the opposite. He was the only son of Jin Guangshan''s main wife, with outstanding looks and dazzling talent. Judging by Jiang Yanli''s own qualities, she indeed didn''t seem to match him. She didn''t even have the qualifications to compete with other young ladies from prominent sects. The reason Jiang Yanli was able to be engaged to Jin Zixuan was because her mother was from the Meishan Yu Sect, and the Meishan Yu Sect was friendly with Jin Zixuan''s mother''s family. The two madams had grown up together and were close friends.

    The Jin family was known for their pride, and Jin Zixuan had inherited this trait completely. He had very high standards and had long been dissatisfied with this engagement. Not only was he dissatisfied with the choice, but he was even more dissatisfied that his mother had decided his marriage for him, making him increasingly rebellious. Today, he seized the opportunity to act out. Jin Zixuan retorted, "Why don''t you ask, what is there about her that satisfies me?"

    Jiang Cheng stood up abruptly.

    Wei Wuxian pushed him aside and stepped in front, sneering, "Who do you think you are to be so picky? Where do you get the confidence to be so choosy?"

    Because of this engagement, Jin Zixuan had never had a good impression of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, and he had long disliked Wei Wuxian''s behavior. Moreover, he prided himself as being unparalleled among the younger generation and had never been looked down upon like this. In a moment of anger, he blurted out, "If she''s not satisfied, you can tell her to break off the engagement! In any case, I don''t care for your precious shijie. If you care so much, why don''t you ask her father for her hand? Doesn''t he treat you better than his own son?"

    Hearing the last sentence, Jiang Cheng''s gaze hardened, and Wei Wuxian, unable to contain his anger, flew at Jin Zixuan with his fist raised. Although Jin Zixuan was prepared, he didn''t expect Wei Wuxian to attack so swiftly. Before he could finish speaking, Wei Wuxian was upon him. He took a punch that immediately numbed half his face, and without a word, he immediately struck back.

    This fight alarmed both great sects. Jiang Fengmian and Jin Guangshan rushed to Gusu from Yunmeng and Lanling that very day.

    The two sect leaders looked at the two young men kneeling in punishment, then faced Lan Qiren to receive a harsh scolding. Both wiped their sweat and exchanged a few pleasantries before Jiang Fengmian proposed to dissolve the engagement.

    He said to Jin Guangshan, "This engagement was originally insisted upon by A-Li''s mother. I didn''t agree. Now it seems that neither party is very happy with it, so we shouldn''t force it."

    Jin Guangshan was surprised and hesitated slightly. After all, breaking off an engagement with another great sect was not a good thing. He said, "What do children know? Let them have their quarrel, Brother Fengmian. We don''t need to pay attention to it."

    Jiang Fengmian said, "Brother Guangshan, although we can arrange engagements for them, we can''t fulfill the engagements on their behalf. After all, it''s they who will have to spend their lives together."

    This marriage wasn''t originally Jin Guangshan''s idea. If he wanted to form alliances with other sects to consolidate power, the Yunmeng Jiang Sect wasn''t the only choice, nor was it the best choice. He had always been afraid to go against Madam Jin''s wishes. Since it was the Jiang family who proposed to break off the engagement, and the Jin family was the groom''s side, they didn''t have as many concerns as the bride''s side. So why should they persist? Moreover, he knew that Jin Zixuan had always been dissatisfied with Jiang Yanli as his fianc¨¦e. After some consideration, Jin Guangshan boldly agreed to this matter.

    At this time, Wei Wuxian still didn''t know what his fight had dissolved. He was kneeling on the stone path designated by Lan Qiren. Jiang Cheng walked over from afar and sarcastically said, "You''re kneeling quite obediently."

    Wei Wuxian gloated, "You know I''m used to kneeling. But that Jin Zixuan must be pampered and has never knelt before. If I don''t make him cry for his parents today, I''ll change my surname."

    Jiang Cheng lowered his head for a moment, then said flatly, "Father is here."

    Wei Wuxian asked, "Shijie didn''t come, did she?"

    Jiang Cheng replied, "What would she come for? To see how you embarrass her? If she had come, wouldn''t she be here keeping you company and bringing you medicine?"

    Wei Wuxian sighed and said, "...It would''ve been good if shijie had come. It''s fortunate you didn''t throw a punch."

    Jiang Cheng said, "I would have if you hadn''t pushed me away. Jin Zixuan''s other cheek wouldn''t be looking so good either."

    Wei Wuxian said, "Better not. His face being asymmetrical now makes him even uglier. I heard that this peacock really cherishes his face. I wonder what he thinks when he looks in the mirror now? Hahahaha..." After laughing heartily for a while, Wei Wuxian continued, "Actually, I should have let you hit him, and I could have stood aside watching. Maybe then Uncle Jiang wouldn''t have come. But I couldn''t help it!"

    Jiang Cheng snorted and said softly, "You wish."

    Wei Wuxian''s words were just casual talk, but his emotions were actually quite complex. Because he knew very well that this wasn''t a lie.

    Jiang Fengmian had never rushed to another sect within a day because of anything he had done. Whether it was good or bad, big or small.

    Never.

    Seeing Jiang Cheng''s gloomy expression, Wei Wuxian thought he was still upset about what Jin Zixuan had said. He said, "You should go, don''t stay with me. In case Lan Wangji comes again, he''ll catch you too. Go watch Jin Zixuan being punished if you have time."

    Jiang Cheng was slightly surprised, "Lan Wangji? What would he come for? He still dares to see you?"

    Wei Wuxian said, "Yeah, I''m also surprised he still dares to see me. Really admirable courage. Probably his uncle sent him to check if I''m kneeling properly."

    Jiang Cheng had an instinctive bad feeling, "So were you kneeling properly then?"

    Wei Wuxian said, "I was kneeling properly at first. After he walked away for a bit, I took a tree branch and started digging a hole in the dirt next to me, right by your feet. There''s an ant nest there that I had trouble finding. When he turned back, he saw my shoulders moving and probably thought I was crying or something, so he came over to ask. You should have seen his expression when he saw the ant nest."

    "..." Jiang Cheng said, "You should just hurry back to Yunmeng! I think he never wants to see you again."

    So, that evening, Wei Wuxian packed his things and rolled back to Yunmeng with Jiang Fengmian.

 19. Eloping Down the Mountain!!!

    Wei Wuxian lay awake for the entire night, spending the first half pondering what had happened to Lan Wangji over the years, and only falling into a drowsy sleep in the latter half. The next morning, when he opened his eyes, Lan Wangji was nowhere to be seen, and he found himself lying properly on the bed, hands at his sides, arranged in a well-behaved posture.

    Wei Wuxian threw off the blanket covering him, burying his right hand''s fingers in his hair, the absurd and eerie feeling in his heart still refusing to dissipate.

    At this moment, there was a gentle knock on the wooden door of the quiet room, and Lan Sizhui''s voice sounded from outside: "Young Master Mo? Are you awake?"

    Wei Wuxian: "Why are you calling me so early?!"

    Lan Sizhui: "Ear-early? ...But, it''s already 9 AM..."

    The Lan family members all rose at 5 AM and rested at 9 PM, extremely regular. Wei Wuxian, on the other hand, rose at 9 AM and rested at 1 AM, also very regular, exactly two hours later than their family. He had been lying awake for half the night, his back and waist aching, and he said straightforwardly, "I can''t get up."

    Lan Sizhui said, "Uh, what''s wrong now?"

    Wei Wuxian said, "What''s wrong? I''ve been slept with by your Hanguang-jun!"

    Lan Jingyi''s voice also rang out fiercely: "If you keep talking nonsense, we won''t let you off. Come out!"

    Wei Wuxian complained wrongfully, "It''s true! He slept with me all night! I''m not coming out, I can''t face anyone!"

    The young disciples outside looked at each other in bewilderment. No one could enter Hanguang-jun''s residence casually, and they were at a loss, unable to directly go in and drag him out. Lan Jingyi angrily said, "How shameless! Hanguang-jun isn''t even interested in men, he slept with you?! You should thank the heavens he didn''t sleep you instead. Get up! Take your donkey away and treat it properly, it''s making too much noise!"

    Mentioning his mount, Wei Wuxian quickly scrambled up: "What did you do to my Little Apple?! Don''t touch it, it might kick you."

    Lan Jingyi said, "What''s Little Apple?"

    Wei Wuxian said, "My donkey!" He left the quiet room, urging the young disciples to take him to find his mount. They led him to a patch of green grass where the spotted donkey was indeed braying non-stop, causing a commotion. The reason for its braying was that it wanted to eat grass, but the grass patch was occupied by dozens of rolling white fluffy balls, preventing it from getting to the grass.

    Wei Wuxian exclaimed happily, "So many rabbits! Come on, let''s skewer them and roast them!"

    Lan Jingyi was fuming, "Killing is forbidden in the Cloud Recesses! Hurry up and make it shut up, the early readers have come to ask several times already! If this continues, we''ll be scolded to death!"

    Wei Wuxian gave it the apple from the breakfast they had brought him, and sure enough, the spotted donkey stopped braying as soon as it started munching on the apple, its jaws moving with crunching sounds. While stroking its neck, Wei Wuxian was eyeing the jade tokens on the young disciples'' bodies and pointing at the round white rabbits all over the ground, saying, "Really can''t roast them? Will I be kicked out of the mountain if I do?"

    Lan Jingyi, as if facing a great enemy, hurriedly spread his arms to block him, saying, "These are raised by Hanguang-jun, we just help look after them occasionally. Don''t you dare roast them!"

    Hearing this, Wei Wuxian almost fell to the ground laughing, thinking to himself: "Lan Zhan is really something! He wouldn''t take them when I gave them to him before, but now he''s secretly raising a whole bunch. Still saying he doesn''t want them, who is he fooling? Mercy, he actually likes these white fluffy little things in secret! Hanguang-jun holding a rabbit with a straight face, oh my goodness, I can''t take it..."

    But then, thinking back to the scene of him lying on top of Lan Wangji last night, he suddenly couldn''t laugh anymore.

    Just then, from the west side of the Cloud Recesses, a series of bell sounds rang out.

    These bell sounds were completely different from the time-telling bells, urgent and intense, as if a madman had gone berserk and was striking them. Lan Jingyi and Lan Sizhui''s faces changed dramatically, no longer in the mood to joke with him, and they ran off, leaving him behind. Wei Wuxian sensed something was amiss and quickly followed.

    The bell sounds were coming from a corner tower.

    This corner tower was called the "Dark Room," its walls made of special materials inscribed with spells, a building specifically used by the Lan family for soul summoning. When the bells on the corner tower started ringing on their own, it meant one thing had happened: the person conducting the soul summoning ritual inside had encountered an accident.

    Outside the corner tower, more and more Lan family disciples and students gathered, but no one dared to enter rashly. The door of the Dark Room was a black wooden door, firmly locked, which could only be opened from the inside. Forcibly breaking in from the outside was not only difficult but also against taboos. An accident during a soul summoning ritual was a terrifying thing because no one knew exactly what might be summoned, or what might happen if someone rushed in recklessly. And since the establishment of the Dark Room, there had almost never been a case of a failed soul summoning, which made people even more anxious.

    Wei Wuxian noticed that Lan Wangji hadn''t appeared and had a bad feeling. If Lan Wangji were still in the Cloud Recesses, he should have rushed over immediately upon hearing the alarm bells, unless... Suddenly, the black door burst open with a bang, and a white-robed disciple stumbled out.

    He lost his footing and tumbled down the steps as soon as he came out. The door of the Dark Room immediately closed automatically, as if someone had angrily slammed it shut.

    Others hurriedly rushed to help the disciple up. Once on his feet, he immediately collapsed again, uncontrollably weeping, grabbing onto people and saying, "Shouldn''t have... shouldn''t have summoned..."

    Wei Wuxian grabbed his hand and said in a deep voice, "What soul were you trying to summon? Who else is still inside? Where''s Hanguang-jun?!"

    The disciple seemed to be having great difficulty breathing and opened his mouth to say, "Hanguang-jun, let me escape..."

    Before he could finish speaking, bright red blood gushed out from his nose and mouth. Wei Wuxian pushed him into Lan Sizhui''s arms. The roughly made bamboo flute was still tucked at his waist. He took two steps up several stairs, kicked the door of the Dark Room, and shouted sternly, "Open!"

    The door of the Dark Room opened suddenly, as if laughing wildly. Wei Wuxian immediately flashed inside. The door closed tightly behind him. Several disciples were greatly alarmed and rushed up as well, but the door wouldn''t open no matter what. A guest cultivator threw himself at the door, both shocked and angry, blurting out, "Who on earth was that just now?!"

    Lan Sizhui, supporting the disciple, gritted his teeth and said, "...Come help me first. He''s bleeding from all seven orifices!"The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    As soon as Wei Wuxian entered the Dark Room, he felt a wave of oppressive dark energy rushing towards him.

    This dark energy seemed to be a mixture of resentment, anger, and madness, almost visible to the naked eye. Surrounded by it, one''s chest felt compressed and vaguely painful. The interior of the Dark Room was over thirty feet in length and width, with several people collapsed unconsciously in the four corners. In the center of the floor''s formation stood the target of this soul summoning.

    It was nothing but an arm. The very one brought back from Mo Village!

    It stood rigidly like a stick, with the cut end on the ground, four fingers clenched into a fist and the index finger pointing skyward, as if angrily accusing someone. The endless dark energy filling the entire Dark Room was emanating from it.

    Among those participating in the soul summoning ritual, some had fled, some had collapsed, only Lan Wangji still sat upright in the main position to the east.

    A guqin lay horizontally beside him. Though his hands were not on the strings, they continued to vibrate and hum on their own. He seemed to have been deep in thought, or perhaps concentrating on listening to something, only raising his head when he sensed someone intruding.

    Lan Wangji''s face was always impassive, and Wei Wuxian couldn''t discern his thoughts. Lan Qiren, who had been presiding over the ritual, was now slumped to one side, like the disciple who had escaped from the Dark Room, bleeding from all seven orifices and completely unconscious. Wei Wuxian took his place, spinning to stand in the western position, pulling out the bamboo flute from his waist and raising it to his lips, facing Lan Wangji from afar.

    On that night in Mo Village, Wei Wuxian had first interfered with his whistle, and Lan Wangji had countered from afar with his zither music. The two had unintentionally joined forces to subdue this arm. Lan Wangji''s eyes met his, understanding. His right hand rose, and a string of notes flowed out. Wei Wuxian immediately harmonized with his flute.

    The piece they were playing was called "Summoning the Soul." Using the corpse, a part of the corpse, or a beloved object of the deceased as a medium, it would guide the departed soul to follow the music. Usually, just one section would be enough to see the spirit''s form appear in the formation. However, as they neared the end of the piece, no soul had been summoned.

    The arm seemed to become angry, its veins bulging all over, and the oppressive feeling in the air intensified. If anyone else had been guarding the western position at this moment, they would not have escaped the fate of Lan Qiren, bleeding from seven orifices, and would have collapsed long ago. Wei Wuxian was secretly alarmed: even with him and Lan Wangji playing "Summoning the Soul" together, they couldn''t summon the spirit. This was almost impossible unless... unless this deceased person''s soul had been severed along with his body!

    It seemed this poor fellow was slightly worse off than him. Although his corpse had been rather mangled back then, at least his soul had remained intact.

    With "Summoning the Soul" failing, Lan Wangji''s fingers changed tune, starting to play another piece.

    This piece was completely different from the eerie, questioning tone of the previous one. It was peaceful and tranquil, titled "Rest in Peace." Both these pieces were widely known in the cultivation world, and it wasn''t surprising for anyone to be able to play them. Wei Wuxian naturally followed along.

    The Ghost Flute of the Yiling Patriarch, named "Chen Qing," was renowned far and wide. Now, as he accompanied with his bamboo flute, he deliberately played with many mistakes and insufficient breath, making it unbearable to listen to. Lan Wangji, who had probably never played with someone so terrible before, continued for a while but finally couldn''t pretend nothing was wrong anymore. He looked up at Wei Wuxian, expressionless.

    Wei Wuxian shamelessly pretended not to notice, his melody straying further and further. He turned around, about to continue playing, when suddenly there was a strange occurrence behind him. He looked back and was immediately startled. The previously unconscious Lan Qiren had sat up straight, with a face bleeding and smoking from seven orifices. His beard, voice, and the hand pointing at Wei Wuxian were all trembling as he shouted hoarsely, "Stop playing! Get out! Get out quickly! Don''t you dare¡ª"

    What exactly he didn''t dare to do was left unsaid as Lan Qiren spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed back down, once again falling into a comatose state.

    Lan Wangji: "..."

    Wei Wuxian was dumbfounded.

    He knew what Lan Qiren was going to say after "don''t you dare": Don''t you dare play anymore! Don''t you dare accompany! Don''t you dare taint the zither music of his beloved disciple Wangji!

    Their duet of zither and flute had actually shocked Lan Qiren awake and then immediately shocked him unconscious again, showing just how terribly they had played...

    However, even so, the arm slowly lowered under the combined suppression of the flute and zither. Wei Wuxian thought shamelessly, terrible as it might sound, as long as it works.

    As the last string resonance faded, the door of the Dark Room suddenly sprang open, and daylight poured in. The warning bells on the corner tower must have stopped ringing, and the disciples who had been gathered outside the Dark Room all rushed in, immediately calling out "Hanguang-jun" in unison.

    Lan Wangji pressed his hand on the strings, stopping the lingering hum of the zither, and stood up to check Lan Qiren''s pulse. With him taking the lead, the others quickly calmed down. The older cultivators laid flat those who were bleeding from seven orifices and began treatment. While they were applying acupuncture and administering medicine, another group of disciples brought in a bronze bell, intending to cover the arm with it. Although busy, the scene was orderly, with everyone speaking in hushed tones, no one making any loud or disturbing noises.

    Several people worriedly said, "Hanguang-jun, the pills and acupuncture are ineffective. What should we do?"

    Lan Wangji, with three fingers still on Lan Qiren''s pulse, frowned silently. Lan Qiren had presided over hundreds, if not thousands, of soul summoning rituals, including many fierce ghosts and violent spirits. For even him to be injured by the backlash of resentful energy showed just how terrifying the resentment of this ghost hand was, unprecedented indeed.

    Wei Wuxian tucked the bamboo flute back into his waist and crouched down beside the bronze bell, caressing the inscriptions on it, lost in thought. Suddenly, he noticed Lan Sizhui''s gloomy expression and asked, "What''s wrong?"

    Lan Sizhui, knowing that Wei Wuxian was no ordinary person, hesitated slightly before saying in a low voice, "Just feeling a bit guilty."

    Wei Wuxian asked, "Guilty about what?"

    Lan Sizhui said, "This ghost hand, it''s coming for us."

    Wei Wuxian smiled and said, "How do you know?"

    Lan Sizhui explained, "Different grades of spirit-attracting flags have different designs and powers. The spirit-attracting flags we drew in Mo Village only had an effective range of about two and a half miles. But this ghost hand has a very heavy killing intent and feeds on human flesh and blood. If it had been within that range from the beginning, given its ferocity, Mo Village would have been a bloodbath long ago. However, it only appeared suddenly after we arrived... This means it must have been deliberately placed there at that time by someone with malicious intent."

    Wei Wuxian said, "Your studies are quite solid. Good analysis."

    Lan Sizhui lowered his head and said, "If so, we might... also be responsible for those lives lost in Mo Village... And now, we''ve even caused Senior Lan and the others to fall into unconsciousness..."

    After a moment of silence, Wei Wuxian patted his shoulder and said, "The ones responsible aren''t you, but the person who released the ghost hand. Some things in this world are simply beyond our control."

    On the other side, Lan Wangji withdrew his hand, and the Lan family members hurriedly asked, "Hanguang-jun, how is it?"

    Lan Wangji said, "Trace to the source."

    Wei Wuxian said, "That''s right. Trace to the source, find the complete corpse of this ghost hand, clarify his identity, and naturally, there will be a way to save people."

    Although Lan Jingyi already knew that Wei Wuxian wasn''t a madman, he still couldn''t help but speak to him in an accusatory tone, "You make it sound so simple. The soul summoning failed, things have become such a mess, where are we supposed to look?"

    Lan Wangji said, "Northwest."

    Lan Sizhui asked curiously, "Northwest? Hanguang-jun, why northwest?"

    Wei Wuxian said, "Hasn''t it already been pointed out to you?"

    Lan Jingyi asked in confusion, "Pointed out to us? Who? Who pointed it out? Hanguang-jun didn''t point anything."

    Wei Wuxian said, "It did."

    Only then did everyone realize that he was referring to the ghost hand!

    The arm was pointing steadily in one direction. When someone tried to change its position, it stubbornly turned back, resuming its original direction. The crowd had never seen such a situation and was shocked. Lan Jingyi said, "It? It... What is it pointing at?!"

    Wei Wuxian said, "What else could it be pointing at? Either the other parts of his corpse, or the culprit who made him like this."

    Hearing this, several young men who happened to be standing in the northwest direction quickly moved away. Lan Wangji glanced at Wei Wuxian, slowly stood up, and said to the disciples, "Take care of Uncle."

    Those people nodded and said, "Yes! Are you going down the mountain now?"

    Lan Wangji gave a slight nod, and Wei Wuxian had already sneakily sidled up behind him, happily saying loudly to himself, "Great, great, great, finally we can elope down the mountain!"

    Everyone''s faces showed an expression of unbearable pain, the older disciples especially horrified, while the younger ones were somewhat used to it by now. Only Lan Qiren, lying on the ground, seemed to twitch unconsciously again, and everyone thought, "If this person says a few more words, maybe he''ll shock Senior Lan awake again..."

 20. Husbands Descend the Mountain Together

    When the leaders of prominent cultivation sects went out for night hunts, they often traveled with great fanfare, surrounded by an entourage. However, Lan Wangji had always preferred to go alone. Moreover, this arm was strange and dangerous, and any carelessness could bring harm to others. Therefore, he didn''t bring any family disciples or other students, only taking Wei Wuxian along, keeping an even closer eye on him.

    Wei Wuxian had originally planned to find an opportunity to escape when they went down the mountain to investigate, but his numerous attempts to flee all ended with Lan Wangji grabbing him by the back of his collar with one hand and bringing him back. He changed his strategy, trying his best to stick close to Lan Wangji, especially at night, unfailingly crawling into Lan Wangji''s bed, hoping that Lan Wangji would become so disgusted that he would quickly send him away with a sword strike. But no matter how Wei Wuxian acted up, Lan Wangji remained unmoved. As soon as Wei Wuxian slipped into his blanket, Lan Wangji would gently tap him with his palm, causing Wei Wuxian''s entire body to stiffen, then tuck him into another blanket, arranging him in a proper sleeping posture until dawn. Wei Wuxian suffered this treatment several times, waking up with aching waist and legs, complaining bitterly. He couldn''t help but think, "This person has grown up and become much less interesting than before. In the past, when I teased him, he at least knew how to be embarrassed, which was quite fun. But now, not only is he unmoved by anything, he''s even learned to counterattack. How unreasonable!"

    Following the guidance of the left hand, the two traveled northwest. Every day, they played "Rest in Peace" together to temporarily soothe its anger and killing intent. When they reached the vicinity of Qinghe, the arm, which had maintained its pointing gesture for a long time, suddenly changed. It retracted its index finger and clenched all five fingers into a fist.

    This meant that whatever the hand was pointing to was nearby.

    They walked and inquired along the way, arriving at a small city in Qinghe. It was daytime, and the streets were bustling with people. Wei Wuxian was trudging along behind Lan Wangji when suddenly, a pungent smell of powder and perfume wafted towards them.

    Accustomed to the faint sandalwood scent on Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian was startled by this smell and blurted out, "What are you selling? This smell."

    The scent was coming from a street vendor dressed in Taoist robes, his face full of cunning. He was carrying a box on his back, selling small trinkets to passersby. Seeing someone asking, he said happily, "I sell everything! Rouge and powder, good quality at low prices. Would you like to take a look, young master?"

    Wei Wuxian: "Sure, let''s see."

    The vendor asked, "Buying for the lady at home?"

    Wei Wuxian smiled, "It''s for myself."

    "..." The vendor''s smile froze, thinking to himself, "Is he making fun of me?!"

    Before he could react, another young man turned back, his face expressionless, and said, "If you''re not buying, don''t cause trouble."

    This young man was extremely handsome and elegant, dressed in white robes with a white forehead ribbon as pure as snow, light-colored eyes, and a long sword hanging at his waist. The vendor was a fake Taoist, with only a superficial understanding of the cultivation world. Recognizing the Gusu Lan Sect''s family crest, he didn''t dare to act rashly and hurriedly packed up his box and ran forward. Wei Wuxian said, "Why are you running? I really want to buy!"

    Lan Wangji said, "Do you have money to buy?"

    Wei Wuxian said, "If I don''t have money, you''ll give me some, right?" As he spoke, he reached into Lan Wangji''s chest. He didn''t expect to find anything, but after a few tries, he actually pulled out an exquisite, small, and heavy money pouch.

    This was completely unlike something Lan Wangji would carry, but over the past few days, there had been more than one or two incomprehensible things about Lan Wangji. Wei Wuxian was no longer surprised and walked away with the money pouch. Sure enough, Lan Wangji let him take it and walk away without a word of complaint. If Wei Wuxian didn''t have some understanding of Lan Wangji''s character and his commitment to purity, and if Hanguang-jun''s reputation hadn''t always been frighteningly good, he would have almost suspected that there might have been some complicated entanglement between Lan Wangji and Mo Xuanyu.

    Otherwise, why could he endure even after Wei Wuxian had gone to such lengths?!

    After walking for a while, Wei Wuxian inadvertently looked back and saw that Lan Wangji was far behind him, still standing in the same spot, looking in his direction.

    Wei Wuxian''s footsteps involuntarily slowed down.

    For some reason, he vaguely felt that he shouldn''t walk so fast, leaving Lan Wangji behind like this.

    At this moment, someone nearby shouted, "The Yiling Patriarch, five coins for one, ten coins for three!"

    Wei Wuxian: "Who?!"

    He hurriedly went to see who was selling him, and it turned out to be the same street vendor fake Taoist from earlier. He had put away his low-quality rouge and powder and was now holding a stack of fierce-looking door god posters, chattering, "Five coins for one, ten coins for three, at this price you can''t lose! Three is good. One for the main door, one for the main hall, and the last one for the bedhead. Heavy with evil-repelling energy, fight evil with evil, poison with poison, guaranteed to keep all ghosts and monsters away!"This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    Wei Wuxian said, "What a load of nonsense! If it''s really that effective, why are you selling them for just five coins each?!"

    The vendor replied, "It''s you again? Buy if you want, if not, move along. If you want to pay fifty coins for each, I''d be happy to sell."

    Wei Wuxian flipped through the stack of "Yiling Patriarch Evil-Repelling Images," unable to accept that the muscular man with a green face, protruding fangs, and bulging eyes was supposed to be him.

    He argued, "Wei Wuxian is known far and wide as a handsome man, what is this you''ve drawn?! If you haven''t seen the real person, don''t just draw randomly. You''re misleading people."

    Just as the vendor was about to speak, Wei Wuxian suddenly felt a gust of wind behind him and dodged.

    He managed to avoid it, but the street vendor was knocked away, crashing into a pinwheel stand by the street. People rushed to help him up and pick up the scattered items, creating a scene of chaos. The vendor was about to curse, but when he saw that the person who had kicked him was a young master shining with golden light, obviously rich or noble, his anger subsided; then, seeing the golden stars, snow waves, and white peony embroidered on the young man''s chest, he lost all his courage. But still unwilling to take a kick for nothing, he weakly asked, "Why did you kick me?"

    The young master was Jin Ling. He folded his arms and said coldly, "Kick you? Anyone who dares to mention the name ''Wei Wuxian'' in front of me should be grateful I don''t kill them on the spot, and you''re here yelling in the street. Are you looking to die?"

    Wei Wuxian hadn''t expected Jin Ling to appear here, let alone behave so arrogantly. He thought to himself, "What''s wrong with this child''s temperament? His temper is so fierce, arrogant, willful, and disrespectful. He''s learned all the bad traits from his uncle and father, but none of the good ones from his mother. If I don''t teach him a lesson, he''s bound to suffer greatly in the future." Seeing that Jin Ling seemed unsatisfied and was taking a couple of threatening steps towards the man on the ground, Wei Wuxian interjected, "Jin Ling!"

    The vendor didn''t dare to make a sound, his eyes full of gratitude. Jin Ling indeed turned towards Wei Wuxian, saying contemptuously, "You haven''t run away yet? Good."

    Wei Wuxian smiled and said, "Oh my, I wonder who it was that was pinned to the ground and couldn''t get up last time, who was it?"

    Jin Ling snorted and blew a short whistle. Wei Wuxian didn''t understand its meaning at first, but a moment later, a heavy, panting beast-like breathing suddenly came from afar.

    He turned to look and saw a black-maned spirit dog, about half the height of a person, turn the corner and charge straight towards him. Screams erupted along the street, growing louder and closer: "A vicious dog is attacking!"

    Wei Wuxian''s face changed dramatically, and he turned to run.

    It''s embarrassing to say, but the supposedly invincible Yiling Patriarch was actually a coward when it came to dogs. This was unavoidable; when he was young, before Jiang Fengmian took him in, he had lived on the streets and often had to steal food from vicious dogs. After being bitten and chased several times, he developed a severe fear of dogs of all sizes, for which Jiang Cheng had often mocked him. This fact was not only embarrassing but also hard for many to believe, so it wasn''t widely known. Wei Wuxian was almost scared out of his wits when he suddenly saw a tall, jade-like white figure. He desperately cried out, "Lan Zhan, save me!"

    Jin Ling, who had chased to this point, was shocked to see Lan Wangji: "Why is this madman with him again?!" Lan Wangji was known for being serious and never smiling, and even many of his peers in the cultivation world felt uneasy around him, let alone the younger generation. His intimidating presence was even greater than Lan Qiren''s had been in his day. The dog, which had been well-trained and was quite intelligent, seemed to sense that it couldn''t act wildly in front of this person. It whimpered a few times and retreated behind Jin Ling with its tail between its legs.

    This black-maned spirit dog was a rare breed that Jin Guangyao had given to Jin Ling. Ordinary people wouldn''t dare to treat anything from Lianfang-zun lightly, but Lan Wangji was far from ordinary. He didn''t care who the giver was or who was letting the dog loose; he would deal with it as he saw fit, showing no leniency. Jin Ling, caught by him letting a dog chase someone in the street, felt his heart sink, thinking to himself, "I''m doomed. He''s definitely going to kill this spirit dog I''ve worked so hard to train, and then give me a severe punishment!"

    Unexpectedly, Wei Wuxian dove under Lan Wangji''s arm and hid behind him, as if he wanted to climb up this tall, jade-like figure and into the sky for safety. Lan Wangji seemed to freeze as Wei Wuxian wrapped his arms around him. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Jin Ling blew two short whistles and fled with his black-maned spirit dog.

    The vendor on the ground struggled to his feet, still shaken, and said, "The world is getting worse day by day. These young masters from prominent families are really something else! Something else indeed!"

    Wei Wuxian, hearing the dog''s barking fade away, came out from behind Lan Wangji and casually agreed with his hands behind his back, "Indeed, the world is declining, and people''s hearts are not what they used to be."

    The vendor now looked at Wei Wuxian as if he were a savior, repeatedly agreeing. To show his gratitude, he tossed the stack of "Yiling Patriarch Evil-Repelling Images" into Wei Wuxian''s hands like a hot potato: "Brother, thank you for just now! Take this as a token of gratitude. If you sell them at a discount, three coins each, you could make three hundred in total."

    Lan Wangji glanced at the muscular man with a green face and protruding fangs in the image, without comment. Wei Wuxian, seeing that his price was getting lower and lower, said with a wry smile, "Is this really a token of gratitude? If you really want to thank me, draw me more handsome! ... Wait, don''t go, I have something to ask. Since you do business here, have you heard of any strange occurrences? Or seen any unusual phenomena?"

    The vendor said, "Strange occurrences? You''ve asked the right person. I''ve been stationed here for years, known as the All-Knowing of Qinghe. What kind of strange occurrences are you looking for?"

    Wei Wuxian said, "For example, demon activities, dismemberment cases, family massacres."

    The vendor said, "There''s nothing like that here, but if you go about five or six miles ahead, there''s a mountain ridge called Xinglu Ridge. I advise you not to go there."

    Wei Wuxian asked, "Why''s that?"

    The vendor replied, "This Xinglu Ridge has another nickname called ''Man-Eating Ridge.'' What do you think that means?"

 21. Holding Hands and Sneaking Off to Somewhere Dark

    Wei Wuxian''s eyes sparkled with mischief as he addressed the gathered crowd. "Oh, so you''re saying there are man-eating monsters lurking in those parts?"

    He had heard similar tales countless times before, and had personally vanquished over a hundred such creatures. The prospect of yet another such encounter left him feeling rather unimpressed. The medicine peddler, however, continued with dramatic flair, his voice rising and falling like a seasoned storyteller:

    "Indeed! It is said that deep within the Lin Ling forest, there stands a sinister structure known as the ''Man-Eating Castle.'' Within its walls dwell monstrous beings with an insatiable appetite for human flesh. Any unfortunate soul who stumbles upon this place is devoured so thoroughly that not even a sliver of bone remains. No trace is ever found of the victims. Terrifying, is it not?"

    Wei Wuxian nodded thoughtfully. It was no wonder Jin Ling had appeared in these parts. Having failed to subdue the Soul-Devouring Goddess of Mount Dafan, the young cultivator was undoubtedly here to face the monsters of Xinglu Ridge. With an air of feigned innocence, Wei Wuxian pressed further:

    "How utterly horrifying! But if there truly are no remains, not even a fragment of bone, how can anyone be certain these unfortunate individuals were eaten?"

    The medicine peddler faltered for a moment before responding, "Well, of course, someone must have witnessed it."

    Wei Wuxian''s eyes widened in exaggerated admiration. "But didn''t you just say that all who stumble upon the castle are consumed without exception? Who could have possibly witnessed such gruesome scenes and lived to spread the tale?"

    The peddler''s confident demeanor began to crumble. "That''s... that''s just how rumors spread. How am I to know the specifics?"

    Undeterred, Wei Wuxian pressed on, his tone both playful and relentless. "Then perhaps you can enlighten us on some other details? How many people have fallen victim to this castle? When did these incidents occur? What were the ages of the victims? Their genders? Names? Places of origin?"

    "I... I don''t know," the peddler stammered, his earlier bravado evaporating.

    Wei Wuxian leaned in closer, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "And here I thought you were Qinghe''s renowned ''Knower of a Hundred Things.'' Hmm?"

    Flustered and irritated, the peddler began to gather his wares. "The rumor doesn''t include such specifics!"

    "Wait, wait!" Wei Wuxian called out, barely containing his amusement. "Just one last question. This Xinglu Ridge, it''s still within Qinghe''s borders, isn''t it? And isn''t Qinghe under the jurisdiction of the Nie clan? If there truly were man-eating monsters terrorizing Xinglu Ridge, would the Nie clan simply stand idly by?"

    To Wei Wuxian''s surprise, the peddler''s expression shifted from frustration to a hint of contempt. "The Nie clan? Ha! If this were the Nie clan of old, they would have swiftly eradicated any such threat. News of demonic activity would barely have time to spread before they''d have razed the place to the ground. But now? With that ''Three Nos'' in charge?"

    Wei Wuxian''s curiosity was piqued. "Three Nos? What do you mean by that?"

    The peddler, sensing an attentive audience, eagerly explained. "You haven''t heard? That''s what they call the current Nie clan leader. When people ask him about anything, he either doesn''t know, won''t say if he does know, or is too afraid to speak up. Push him hard enough, and he''ll just shake his head and cry, ''I don''t know, I don''t know, I really don''t know!'' begging to be left alone. Hence, ''Three Nos'' - no knowledge, no comment, no backbone!"

    As the peddler spoke, memories flooded back to Wei Wuxian. He and Nie Huaisang had been classmates once, and he knew the man well enough to speak on his character. Nie Huaisang wasn''t unkind, nor was he truly unintelligent. However, his cleverness was seldom applied to cultivation or leadership. Instead, he had always preferred to spend his time painting fans, chasing birds, and finding creative ways to skip lessons. His cultivation progress had lagged significantly behind his peers, much to the frustration of his elder brother, Nie Mingjue.

    Nie Mingjue had been a formidable leader, his presence alone enough to elevate the Nie clan to rival even the prestigious Jin clan of Lanling. But after Nie Mingjue''s tragic death due to cultivation gone awry, the mantle of leadership had fallen to the unprepared Nie Huaisang. Without his brother''s guidance and protection, Nie Huaisang found himself overwhelmed by the responsibilities of clan leadership.

    Now, it seemed, Nie Huaisang spent his days frantically seeking help from his brother''s sworn brothers, Jin Guangyao and Lan Xichen. One day he''d be at the Golden Carp Tower, tearfully pleading with Jin Guangyao, and the next he''d be at the Cloud Recesses, stammering out requests to Lan Xichen. It was only through the support of these two sect leaders that Nie Huaisang managed to maintain his tenuous grip on leadership.

    The general opinion of Nie Huaisang, though rarely spoken aloud, was clear in the faces of those who mentioned him: a useless fool.

    Reflecting on these memories left Wei Wuxian feeling a mixture of nostalgia and melancholy. Despite the peddler''s less than flattering description, he found himself purchasing two boxes of rouge, partly out of pity and partly to maintain his cover. As he rejoined Lan Wangji, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, Wei Wuxian noticed that his companion still hadn''t asked for the return of his money pouch. Without a word, they set off in the direction the peddler had indicated, towards Xinglu Ridge and its supposed man-eating monsters.

    The path through Xinglu Ridge led them through a vast forest of cedar trees. The wide, shaded trail offered a pleasant respite from the sun, the leaves rustling softly in the breeze. They walked for quite some time without encountering anything out of the ordinary, though neither had truly expected to find evidence of the rumored monsters. Their journey was more a matter of due diligence than genuine concern.

    In Wei Wuxian''s experience, truly dangerous supernatural occurrences always left behind concrete evidence. The Soul-Devouring Goddess of Mount Dafan, for instance, had left a trail of identifiable victims, their names and backgrounds easily uncovered with a bit of investigation. When such details were suspiciously absent, it usually indicated nothing more than baseless rumors designed to frighten the gullible.

    After nearly half an hour of uneventful hiking, they finally encountered something out of the ordinary. In the distance, they spotted a group of seven or eight figures approaching. As the figures drew closer, their true nature became apparent: a small horde of low-level walking corpses. These particular undead were so weak that they posed little threat to even the most novice cultivator. Their movements were sluggish, their vacant eyes rolled back in their sockets, and their tattered clothing hung limply from their emaciated frames.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Such pitiful creatures were often ignored by high-level cultivators during night hunts, left for novices to dispatch as practice. They were more of a nuisance than a genuine threat, capable of little more than startling the easily frightened or mildly inconveniencing the unwary.

    As the walking corpses shambled closer, Wei Wuxian realized with a start that they might pose an unexpected problem. He quickly stepped behind Lan Wangji, using the other man as a shield. Sure enough, when the walking corpses came within fifteen or twenty feet of them, they suddenly seemed to become aware of Wei Wuxian''s presence. In an instant, their demeanor changed dramatically. They turned and fled, their previously sluggish movements now surprisingly agile as they retreated the way they had come.

    Wei Wuxian, massaging his temples in exasperation, turned to Lan Wangji with a forced grin. "My goodness, Hanguang-Jun! You''re truly formidable! Those walking corpses took one look at you and ran for their lives! Haha..."

    Lan Wangji, as always, remained stoically silent in the face of Wei Wuxian''s awkward attempt at deflection.

    Wei Wuxian let out a forced laugh, pushing Lan Wangji playfully. "Come on, let''s head back down the ridge. I don''t think there are any other monsters here. The locals sure know how to exaggerate! A few pathetic walking corpses, and suddenly they''re spinning tales of man-eating monsters and ''Cannibal Castles.'' What a waste of time!"

    Lan Wangji, typically unmoved, only began to walk after Wei Wuxian had pushed him several times. But before Wei Wuxian could catch up, a sudden, frenzied barking echoed from the distant depths of the cedar forest.

    The effect on Wei Wuxian was instantaneous and dramatic. His face drained of color, and in a flash, he darted behind Lan Wangji, wrapping his arms around the other man''s waist and crouching down into a tight ball.

    Lan Wangji, perplexed by this extreme reaction, spoke softly, "...It''s still far away. Why are you hiding?"

    Wei Wuxian''s voice came out muffled and shaky, "J-j-just hiding first, ask questions later. Where is it? Where''s the dog?!"

    Lan Wangji tilted his head, listening intently for a moment before responding, "It''s Jin Ling''s spiritual dog with the black mane."

    At the mention of Jin Ling''s name, Wei Wuxian began to straighten up, only to be forced back into a crouch by another bout of frenzied barking. Lan Wangji, ever observant, noted, "The spiritual dog is barking wildly. It must have encountered something significant."

    Wei Wuxian groaned in distress, his legs trembling as he struggled to stand. "Th-th-then I suppose we sh-should go take a look!"

    Lan Wangji remained motionless, causing Wei Wuxian to plead, "Hanguang-Jun, move! Just take a step! If you don''t move, what am I supposed to do?!"

    After a moment of silence that seemed to stretch for eternity, Lan Wangji finally spoke, his voice tinged with the slightest hint of amusement, "You... need to let go first."

    The two made their way towards the source of the barking, their progress hampered by Wei Wuxian''s reluctance and Lan Wangji''s measured pace. They circled the cedar forest twice, the black-maned spiritual dog''s barks alternating between near and far. As they walked, Wei Wuxian gradually acclimated to the sound, his stammer subsiding slightly. "Is there some kind of maze here?" he wondered aloud.

    The maze-like quality of their surroundings was clearly artificial, a stark contrast to Wei Wuxian''s earlier dismissal of the Xinglu Ridge rumors. The situation had suddenly become much more intriguing.

    The spiritual dog''s barking continued unabated for what felt like ages, its stamina seemingly endless. As Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian finally managed to navigate the confusing terrain, the outlines of several stone castles began to emerge from the misty forest.

    The castles were constructed of grayish-white stone blocks, their surfaces covered in a tapestry of vines and fallen leaves. Each structure was shaped like a bizarre half-circle, resembling giant bowls overturned upon the earth.

    The presence of these stone castles in Xinglu Ridge lent credence to the local rumors. However, whether they truly were "Cannibal Castles" and what might lurk within remained to be seen.

    Jin Ling''s black-maned spiritual dog circled the perimeter of the castle complex, alternating between low growls and thunderous barks. As Lan Wangji approached, the dog retreated slightly, clearly intimidated, but refused to flee. Instead, it barked even more ferociously, glancing back and forth between the newcomers and the castles. Its front paws dug furiously at the ground, kicking up clouds of dirt in its agitation.

    Wei Wuxian, still cowering behind Lan Wangji, groaned in anguish, "Why won''t it leave? Where''s its master? Why can''t we see him?!"

    Indeed, since first hearing the dog''s barks, they had heard no sound from Jin Ling himself¡ªnot even a cry for help. The spiritual dog must have accompanied him here, and it had likely been the one to break through the maze. Yet now, it seemed as though Jin Ling had simply vanished into thin air.

    "We should go inside and investigate," Lan Wangji stated calmly.

    Wei Wuxian, his voice strained, retorted, "How? There''s no entrance."

    He wasn''t exaggerating. The grayish-white stones were sealed tightly together, with no visible doors or windows. The spiritual dog, growing increasingly frantic, leaped up, seemingly intent on tugging at Lan Wangji''s robes but lacking the courage to do so. Instead, it circled around and latched onto Wei Wuxian''s hem, attempting to drag him away.

    Wei Wuxian, feeling as though his soul might leave his body at any moment, reached out desperately towards Lan Wangji. "Lan Zhan... Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan!!!"

    In a comical procession, the dog dragged Wei Wuxian, who in turn clung to Lan Wangji, pulling them in a half-circle around the stone castle. As they rounded the structure, they discovered a gaping hole nearly as tall as a man. The opening was jagged and uneven, surrounded by stone debris of various sizes¡ªclear evidence that it had been blasted open recently by some powerful magical weapon.

    The interior of the hole was pitch black, save for a faint, eerie red glow emanating from deep within. The spiritual dog released its grip on Wei Wuxian''s clothing and began barking furiously into the opening, its tail wagging wildly as it looked back at the two men.

    The implications were clear: Jin Ling must have forcibly created this entrance and ventured inside, only to encounter some unforeseen danger.

    Without hesitation, Lan Wangji''s sword, Bichen, partially unsheathed itself. The blade emitted a soft, cold blue light that illuminated the dark passage ahead. Lan Wangji ducked and entered first, with Wei Wuxian, driven to near madness by the dog''s presence, following so closely behind that he nearly collided with his companion. Lan Wangji steadied Wei Wuxian with a hand, shaking his head in a gesture that could have been either reproach or resigned acceptance.

    The spiritual dog, clearly eager to follow them inside, made several attempts to enter the opening. However, it seemed to be held back by some invisible force, unable to breach the threshold no matter how hard it tried. Eventually, it settled at the entrance, its tail wagging even more frantically than before. Wei Wuxian, overjoyed at being separated from the dog, nearly prostrated himself in gratitude. He withdrew his hand from Lan Wangji''s grasp and took a few steps forward, the cold blue light of Bichen now appearing almost white against the pitch-black surroundings.

    While the Xinglu Ridge had been cool due to its dense forest canopy, the interior of the stone castle was positively frigid. Wei Wuxian, dressed lightly for the journey, felt the chill wind seeping through his sleeves and vest, drying the cold sweat that had formed during his encounter with the spiritual dog. As they ventured deeper, the faint light from the entrance faded like a snuffed candle, and the space around them grew both darker and more expansive.

    The ceiling of the castle was rounded, and when Wei Wuxian kicked at the stone debris beneath his feet, he could hear a faint echo. Finally unable to bear the oppressive atmosphere any longer, he came to a halt, pressing his right hand against his temple and furrowing his brow.

    Lan Wangji turned back, concern evident in his eyes. "What''s wrong?"

    Wei Wuxian''s voice was strained as he replied, "...It''s so noisy."

    To any other observer, the interior of the stone castle would have been as silent as a tomb¡ªwhich, in appearance, it closely resembled. But for Wei Wuxian, their current location was filled with a cacophony of sound, audible only to him.

 22. The Man-Eating Manor

    The cacophony seemed to emanate from every direction, surrounding Wei Wuxian in a sea of whispers and murmurs. Voices came from all sides¡ªfront, back, left, right, above, and below¡ªcreating a disconcerting ocean of hushed conversations interspersed with giggles and laughter. Men and women, young and old, their voices blended together in a disorienting chorus. Wei Wuxian could catch snippets of words and phrases, but they slipped away before he could grasp their meaning, like trying to hold water in cupped hands.

    The noise was overwhelming.

    With one hand still pressed against his temple, Wei Wuxian reached into his qiankun pouch with the other, retrieving a small compass-like device known as a Wind Evil Disc. As he held it in his palm, the disc''s needle began to quiver and rotate, its movements growing increasingly frantic until it was spinning wildly, never pausing for even a moment.

    Wei Wuxian''s unease deepened. On Mount Dafan, the disc''s inability to indicate a direction had been strange enough. But this ceaseless spinning was even more bewildering and ominous than if the needle had remained stubbornly still.

    A sense of foreboding settled over Wei Wuxian like a heavy shroud. Unable to contain his growing anxiety, he called out, "Jin Ling!"

    They had been exploring the stone castle for some time now, but had yet to encounter any signs of life. Wei Wuxian''s calls echoed unanswered through the empty chambers. The first few rooms they had searched were barren, but as they ventured deeper into the structure, they came upon a room that held a single, jet-black coffin in its center.

    The coffin''s presence was jarring in its unexpectedness. Yet, despite the unsettling circumstances, Wei Wuxian found himself drawn to the beautifully crafted casket. Its sleek, dark wood resonated with something deep within him. Unable to resist, he ran his hand along its surface, noting the solid construction. "What a fine coffin," he murmured, his admiration tinged with a hint of dark humor.

    Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian positioned themselves on either side of the coffin, exchanging a meaningful glance before simultaneously reaching out to lift the lid.

    The moment the coffin was opened, the cacophony in Wei Wuxian''s head intensified tenfold, drowning out all other sensations. It was as if countless unseen eyes had been watching their every move, their owners whispering and discussing the intruders'' actions. Now, with the coffin''s opening, their excitement had reached a fever pitch.

    Wei Wuxian had mentally prepared himself for a myriad of horrors¡ªthe stench of decay, grasping claws, poisonous gases, vengeful spirits¡ªbut what he hoped for most was to find Jin Ling. However, as the lid lifted, they were met with... nothing.

    The coffin was empty.

    Wei Wuxian felt a mixture of surprise and disappointment that Jin Ling wasn''t trapped within. Lan Wangji leaned in closer, Bichen sliding further from its sheath, its cold light illuminating the coffin''s interior. It was then that they noticed something small nestled in the deepest part of the casket.

    Lying on a bed of red cloth at the bottom of the coffin was a long sword.

    The weapon was unsheathed, its hilt appearing to be solid gold, lending it significant weight. The blade was long and slender, its edge gleaming wickedly in the dim light. Resting on the crimson fabric, it seemed to reflect a blood-like hue, exuding an aura of violence and death.

    A coffin containing a sword instead of a body¡ªyet another unsettling oddity in this labyrinth of stone chambers. Every step deeper into the complex seemed to unveil new layers of strangeness and unease.

    They closed the lid and continued their exploration, discovering similar coffins in several other rooms. The craftsmanship and apparent age of each coffin varied, but all contained a single long sword. Still, there was no sign of Jin Ling. As Wei Wuxian closed the lid on the final coffin, his worry continued to grow.

    Noticing Wei Wuxian''s furrowed brow and uncharacteristic silence, Lan Wangji paused in contemplation. After a moment, he placed his guqin horizontally atop the coffin. With a graceful sweep of his hand, a cascade of notes flowed from his fingertips.

    He played only a brief melody before withdrawing his hand, his gaze fixed intently on the still-vibrating strings.

    Suddenly, a single string trembled and produced a note of its own accord.

    "Inquiry?" Wei Wuxian asked, recognizing the spiritual technique.

    Inquiry was a renowned composition created by the ancestors of the Lan Clan. Unlike the Soul-Summoning Melody, it was used when the identity of the deceased was unknown and no physical medium was available. The player would pose questions through the music, and the spirit''s responses would be translated into musical notes, manifesting as vibrations in the strings.

    The autonomous movement of the string indicated that Lan Wangji had successfully called forth a spirit from within the stone castle. Now, a conversation in the language of music would ensue between the living and the dead.

    The intricacies of guqin-speak were a closely guarded secret of the Lan Clan. Despite his vast knowledge, this was an area where Wei Wuxian''s expertise fell short. He spoke softly to Lan Wangji, "Hanguang-Jun, please ask it what this place is, its purpose, and who built it."Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    Without hesitation, Lan Wangji''s fingers danced across the strings, producing a series of clear, crisp notes. After a brief pause, the strings vibrated on their own, producing two distinct sounds. Wei Wuxian leaned in eagerly, "What did it say?"

    Lan Wangji''s expression remained impassive as he replied, "It doesn''t know."

    Wei Wuxian blinked in surprise. "What?"

    With careful precision, Lan Wangji elaborated, "Its response was, ''I don''t know.''"

    Wei Wuxian stared at him, suddenly reminded of a conversation about the word "whatever" from many years ago. He rubbed his nose, feeling slightly deflated, and thought to himself, "Lan Zhan has really come into his own. He''s even learned how to sass me."

    Undeterred by the initial failure, Lan Wangji posed another question through the strings. Once again, the response came in the form of two distinct notes. Wei Wuxian, recognizing the familiar sound, asked, "What did you ask this time?"

    "How it died," Lan Wangji replied.

    Wei Wuxian nodded thoughtfully. "If it was killed unexpectedly or in secret, it''s possible it wouldn''t know the cause of its own death. Why don''t you ask if it knows who killed it?"

    Lan Wangji complied, his fingers plucking out a new series of notes. However, the response remained unchanged¡ªtwo sharp notes that Wei Wuxian now understood to mean "I don''t know."

    A spirit trapped in this place that didn''t know where it was, how it died, or who killed it¡ªWei Wuxian had never encountered such a clueless ghost before. His mind raced with possibilities as he suggested, "Let''s try something else. Ask if it''s male or female. Surely it must know that much."

    Lan Wangji posed the question, and this time, a different string resonated strongly. "Male," Lan Wangji translated.

    "Finally, something it knows," Wei Wuxian said, a hint of relief in his voice. "Now, ask if it has seen a young man, about fifteen or sixteen years old, enter this place."

    The answer came: "Yes."

    Encouraged, Wei Wuxian pressed on, "Then where is he now?"

    There was a pause before the strings responded. Wei Wuxian leaned in, "What did it say?"

    Lan Wangji''s expression grew grave as he relayed the spirit''s words: "It said, ''Right here.''"

    Wei Wuxian fell silent, a chill running down his spine.

    "Here" likely meant somewhere within the stone castle, but they had searched thoroughly and found no trace of Jin Ling. "It can''t lie, can it?" Wei Wuxian asked, his voice tight with concern.

    "Not in my presence," Lan Wangji confirmed.

    Of course¡ªwith the formidable Hanguang-Jun conducting the inquiry, the spirit would be compelled to answer truthfully. Wei Wuxian began searching the room again, looking for any hidden mechanisms or secret passages they might have overlooked. Meanwhile, Lan Wangji, after a moment''s contemplation, played two more sequences. Upon receiving the responses, his expression subtly shifted. Wei Wuxian, noticing the change, quickly asked, "What did you ask this time?"

    "Its age and place of origin," Lan Wangji replied, his voice betraying a hint of tension.

    Wei Wuxian''s heart raced, knowing that these questions were probing the spirit''s identity. "And?" he prompted, dreading the answer.

    "Fifteen years old, from Lanling," Lan Wangji said, his words hanging heavy in the air.

    Wei Wuxian''s face paled as the implications hit him.

    The spirit summoned by the Inquiry... was Jin Ling?

    Straining his ears, Wei Wuxian thought he could detect Jin Ling''s faint cries amidst the overwhelming cacophony of spectral voices, but the sound was too indistinct to be certain.

    Lan Wangji continued his musical interrogation, undoubtedly asking for more specific location details. Wei Wuxian watched the strings intently, waiting for Jin Ling''s answer.

    This time, the response was longer. Lan Wangji listened carefully before relaying the message to Wei Wuxian: "''Stand where you are, face southwest, and listen for the string''s sound. Take one step forward for each note. When the music stops, you''ll be right in front of me.''"

    Without a word, Wei Wuxian turned to face southwest. Seven notes rang out from behind him, and he took seven steps forward. Yet, there was nothing but empty space before him.

    The music continued, but the intervals between notes grew longer, and Wei Wuxian''s steps became more hesitant. One more step, then two, then three...

    After the sixth step, the music finally fell silent.

    Wei Wuxian found himself facing a solid wall.

    The wall was constructed of the same grayish-white stone bricks as the rest of the castle, fitted tightly together without any visible gaps. Wei Wuxian turned back to Lan Wangji, his voice barely above a whisper, "...Is he inside the wall?"

    In response, Bichen fully emerged from its sheath. Four streaks of blue light flashed across the wall, carving a neat grid pattern. Together, they began removing the cut stones, revealing a layer of dark soil behind them.

    It became clear that the castle walls were double-layered, with tightly packed earth filling the space between two solid stone facades. Wei Wuxian dug into the exposed soil with his bare hands, scooping away clumps of dirt until, to his horror, he uncovered a human face¡ªeyes tightly shut, but unmistakably belonging to Jin Ling.

    The moment Jin Ling''s face was freed from the earthen tomb, air rushed into his nose and mouth, causing him to cough violently and gasp for breath. Wei Wuxian felt a wave of relief wash over him at the sign of life. Jin Ling had truly been on the brink of death, his soul already beginning to separate from his body, allowing the Inquiry to make contact. Had they arrived even moments later, he would have suffocated.

    As they worked to extricate Jin Ling from the wall, a grisly discovery awaited them. As they pulled him free, the sword on his back caught on something else within the earthen prison¡ªa skeletal arm, bleached white and horrifyingly intact.

    While Lan Wangji laid Jin Ling on the ground to check his vital signs and begin treatment, Wei Wuxian took up Bichen''s sheath and began probing the soil around the exposed bones with practiced efficiency. Soon, an entire skeleton emerged from the earth.

    The skeletal remains, like Jin Ling, had been entombed in a standing position within the wall. The stark white bones contrasted sharply with the black soil, creating a macabre tableau. Wei Wuxian continued his grim excavation, removing more bricks and disturbing more soil, soon uncovering a second set of bones nearby.

    This second corpse was not as thoroughly decomposed as the first. Patches of flesh still clung to the bones, and long, matted black hair remained attached to the skull. Tattered remnants of a water-red garment suggested it had been a woman. Unlike the first skeleton, this one was bent at the waist, apparently positioned that way to accommodate a third set of remains crouched at its feet.

    Wei Wuxian ceased his digging, taking a few steps back as the implications of their discovery sank in. The cacophony of spectral voices in his head swelled to a deafening roar, as if emboldened by the revelation of their earthly remains.

    The horrifying truth became clear: the entire thick wall of the stone castle was filled with human remains.

    Above, below, in every direction¡ªstanding, sitting, lying, crouching¡ªcountless bodies entombed within the very structure of the building.

    Wei Wuxian''s mind reeled as he struggled to comprehend the nightmarish scene before him. What kind of place was this?

 23. Walking Straight into the Line of Fire

    At that very moment, Jin Ling, who had been unconscious, suddenly sat upright.

    Before the eyes of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, he began to stagger to his feet, his eyes still tightly shut. Wei Wuxian, curious about Jin Ling''s intentions, remained motionless, watching intently. With slow, unsteady movements, Jin Ling circumnavigated Wei Wuxian and extended one leg, stepping back into the wall where he had been previously entombed. His hands fell limply to his sides, his posture an exact mirror of how they had found him earlier.

    Wei Wuxian, a mixture of amusement and bewilderment playing across his features, reached out and once again pulled Jin Ling from the wall''s embrace. He was about to suggest to Lan Wangji that they should leave this eerie place when a distant, furious barking sent a shiver down his spine. The black-maned spiritual dog, which had been obediently waiting at the cavern''s entrance since their entry, wagging its tail anxiously as it awaited its master''s return, was now howling more ferociously than ever before.

    Lan Wangji''s eyes narrowed as he spoke, his voice as calm as ever despite the tension in the air, "There''s something amiss outside the fortress."

    He moved to support Jin Ling, but Wei Wuxian, acting on impulse, swiftly hoisted the unconscious youth onto his back. "Let''s go check it out!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed, his voice a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

    The two men swiftly retraced their steps, emerging from the low entrance of the cave with practiced ease. As they straightened, they saw the black-maned spiritual dog facing away from them, its attention fixed on something in the distance. A low, menacing growl rumbled from deep in its throat.

    Wei Wuxian, despite his bravado in coming this far, couldn''t suppress his instinctive fear of dogs. He involuntarily took several steps backward, his heart racing. Just as he was considering how to retreat further without dropping Jin Ling, the dog suddenly whirled around. Seeing its master on Wei Wuxian''s back, it launched itself towards them with a burst of speed.

    A strangled cry escaped Wei Wuxian''s lips as he nearly flung Jin Ling off in panic. However, before the dog could reach them, Lan Wangji smoothly interposed himself between Wei Wuxian and the approaching canine.

    The black-maned spiritual dog skidded to a halt, its tail tucking between its legs. Its tongue remained inside its mouth, not because of fear, but because it was clutching something between its teeth. Lan Wangji approached the dog with measured steps, bending slightly to retrieve the object from its jaws. As he straightened and turned back to Wei Wuxian, they could see it was a torn piece of fabric, likely from someone''s garment.

    The implications were clear. Someone had been prowling nearby, their presence suspicious enough to provoke such an aggressive response from the usually well-behaved spiritual dog. Wei Wuxian''s eyes lit up with the thrill of the chase. "They can''t have gone far. Let''s go after them!"

    But Lan Wangji shook his head, his expression thoughtful. "There''s no need. I know who it is."

    Wei Wuxian nodded, his mind racing. "I think I do too. The ones spreading rumors on Burial Mound, releasing corpses, setting up maze formations, building these stone fortresses... and those knives. It must all be the same group. But if we don''t catch them in the act now, it''ll be much harder later."

    Lan Wangji considered for a moment before speaking. "I''ll pursue them. What about you and Jin Ling?"

    Wei Wuxian adjusted Jin Ling''s weight on his back before responding. "I''ll take him down Burial Mound and find a place to settle in Qinghe. Let''s meet at that physician''s place we encountered earlier."

    The exchange was rapid, urgent. Lan Wangji hesitated for just a heartbeat, and Wei Wuxian added, "Go on, if we delay any longer, they''ll vanish without a trace. I''ll be there, I promise!"

    At those words - "I''ll be there" - Lan Wangji''s gaze lingered on Wei Wuxian, a wealth of unspoken emotions passing between them. Without another word, he turned to leave. The black-maned spiritual dog, eager to follow its master, made to lunge towards Wei Wuxian once more.

    Wei Wuxian let out a panicked yelp. "Wait, wait, wait! Take the dog with you! The dog!"

    Lan Wangji paused, turning back. He fixed the dog with a commanding look, and the animal, unable to disobey, fell in line behind him with a series of whines, occasionally glancing back at Jin Ling as they departed.

    Wei Wuxian wiped the cold sweat from his brow, casting one last look at the eerily white stone fortresses before readjusting Jin Ling on his back and beginning the descent from Burial Mound.

    As dusk approached, Wei Wuxian made his way down the mountain, the unconscious Jin Ling a dead weight on his back. Both of them were covered in dirt and looked worse for wear, drawing curious glances from passersby. Wei Wuxian retraced their steps to the street where Jin Ling had earlier set his dog upon him. He located an inn, using money he had surreptitiously borrowed from Lan Wangji to purchase two sets of new clothes and secure a room.

    Once inside, Wei Wuxian''s first order of business was to remove Jin Ling''s dirt-encrusted, wrinkled golden snowflake-patterned robe - the signature garment of the Jin clan. As he tugged off Jin Ling''s boots, he suddenly froze, his eyes fixed on what appeared to be a shadow on the young man''s calf.

    Crouching down, Wei Wuxian rolled up Jin Ling''s trouser leg, his breath catching in his throat as he realized this was no mere shadow. It was a patch of blackened skin - not a bruise, but the mark of a malevolent curse.

    The curse mark was a sign that Jin Ling had offended some extremely sinister entity. It was a brand, a promise that the malevolent force would return. It might be years, or it might be tonight. At best, it would claim the marked body part; at worst, it would demand Jin Ling''s life.

    The blackness had spread across Jin Ling''s entire leg and was creeping upward. Wei Wuxian had never seen a curse mark so dark or so extensive. His expression grew increasingly grave as he examined it. Letting the trouser leg fall, he quickly opened Jin Ling''s inner robes, relief washing over him as he found the young man''s chest and abdomen unblemished. The curse had not spread that far... yet.

    Just then, Jin Ling''s eyes fluttered open.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    For a long moment, he lay there, disoriented. The cool air on his exposed skin finally jolted him to full consciousness. He bolted upright, his face flushing a deep crimson as he sputtered, "W-w-what are you doing?!"

    Wei Wuxian''s face split into a grin. "Well, look who''s finally awake."

    Jin Ling, looking utterly horrified, clutched his robes closed and scrambled to the far corner of the bed. "What do you think you''re doing?! Where are my clothes?! Where''s my sword?! Where''s my dog?!"

    Wei Wuxian''s voice took on a tone of exaggerated innocence. "I was just about to help you get dressed."

    His demeanor was reminiscent of a doting grandmother preparing to bundle up a grandchild against the cold. Jin Ling, his hair in disarray, pressed himself against the wall. "I''m not... I don''t... I''m not into men!!!"

    Wei Wuxian''s eyes lit up with mischief. "What a coincidence, I am!!!"

    Jin Ling''s hand shot out, grasping his sword that lay nearby. His posture suggested he was fully prepared to run Wei Wuxian through and then fall on his own sword to preserve his virtue. Wei Wuxian, barely containing his laughter, raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Relax, it was just a joke! I went through all the trouble of digging you out of that wall, and you can''t even say thank you?"

    Jin Ling, in the midst of his panic, managed to smooth back his disheveled hair with one hand, attempting to regain some semblance of dignity. His voice trembled with anger as he spoke, "If... if it weren''t for that, I... I would have killed you a thousand times over for daring to undress me!"

    Wei Wuxian chuckled, "Come now, dying once is painful enough. Alright, alright, put the sword down."

    In his confusion, Jin Ling found himself obeying, lowering his weapon as the tension in the room slowly began to dissipate.

    Despite the haziness of his soul-leaving experience, Jin Ling retained a vague recollection of being excavated from the wall by the man before him, who had then carried him down the mountain. For a time after being entombed in the wall, he had remained conscious, his heart gripped by an overwhelming terror and despair. Yet, unexpectedly, it was this initially irritating stranger who had shattered that wall, along with Jin Ling''s fear and hopelessness.

    Jin Ling''s face alternated between pallor and flushing as he struggled with a mix of embarrassment and lingering disorientation. His thoughts were still scattered, unable to fully grasp the situation. Suddenly, his eyes darted to the window, where he saw the sky had darkened, dotted with the first faint stars of evening. Panic surged through him.

    Taking advantage of Wei Wuxian''s momentary distraction as he bent to retrieve the scattered new clothes, Jin Ling leapt from the bed. He hastily pulled on his boots, snatched up his outer robe, and bolted from the room.

    Wei Wuxian, caught off guard, had assumed that after such an ordeal, the young man would need time to recover. He had underestimated the resilience of youth. In the blink of an eye, Jin Ling had vanished like a gust of wind. Remembering the ominous curse mark on Jin Ling''s leg, Wei Wuxian called out urgently, "Where are you running to? Come back!"

    Jin Ling, already halfway down the stairs, shouted back as he struggled to don his mud-caked, wrinkled clan robe, "Don''t follow me!" His lithe form and long legs carried him swiftly out of the inn. Wei Wuxian pursued him through several streets, but the young cultivator''s speed and agility allowed him to disappear into the growing twilight.

    As dusk deepened and the streets began to empty, Wei Wuxian found himself grinding his teeth in frustration. "Unbelievable. This child is truly unbelievable!"

    Just as he was about to give up his search, a young man''s irritated voice echoed from the far end of a long street: "You run off at the slightest criticism. Are you a pampered young miss? Your temper is getting worse by the day!"

    Wei Wuxian''s heart skipped a beat. Jiang Cheng!

    He quickly ducked into a nearby alley. Moments later, Jin Ling''s voice rang out in response: "I came back safe and sound, didn''t I? Stop nagging me!"

    It dawned on Wei Wuxian that Jin Ling hadn''t come to Qinghe alone. It made sense; Jiang Cheng had come to Jin Ling''s aid at Dafan Mountain, so of course he would accompany him now. It seemed the uncle and nephew had quarreled in Qinghe, prompting Jin Ling to ascend Burial Mound alone. His hurried departure from the inn was likely due to Jiang Cheng''s threat of consequences if he didn''t return before nightfall.

    Jiang Cheng''s voice carried a mix of anger and concern. "Safe and sound? You look like you''ve been rolling in a muddy ditch. Wearing your clan''s uniform in such a state - have you no shame? Go back and change immediately! Now tell me, what happened today?"

    Jin Ling''s response was tinged with impatience. "I told you, nothing happened. I just fell and wasted a trip. Ow!" He yelped, "Stop yanking me like that! I''m not a child!"

    Jiang Cheng''s voice turned harsh. "Clearly, I can''t control you anymore! Let me tell you, even if you were thirty, I could still drag you around. Next time you dare to run off alone without a word, you''ll feel my discipline whip!"

    Jin Ling''s retort was filled with teenage defiance. "I went alone precisely because I don''t want anyone''s help or interference."

    Wei Wuxian, listening from his hiding spot, couldn''t help but think, "Jiang Cheng''s not wrong about his temper. He really does act like a spoiled young miss."

    Jiang Cheng pressed on, "So what now? What did you accomplish? And where''s that black-maned spiritual dog your uncle gave you?"

    Wei Wuxian, recalling how Lan Wangji had chased the dog away, had barely finished the thought when familiar barking echoed from the other end of the alley.

    Color drained from Wei Wuxian''s face as his legs instinctively propelled him forward, bursting out of the alley like a bolt from a crossbow. The black-maned spiritual dog raced past him, bounding towards Jin Ling and affectionately sweeping its tail against the young man''s legs.

    The dog''s presence indicated that Lan Wangji had likely apprehended the intruders near the stone fortress and was now waiting at their designated meeting point. However, Wei Wuxian had no time to dwell on this.

    His sudden emergence had brought him face to face with Jiang Cheng, Jin Ling, and a sizeable group of Jiang clan disciples.

    For a moment, both parties stood frozen in shock. Then, without a word, Wei Wuxian turned to flee.

    He had barely taken a few steps when a crackling sound filled the air. A whip-like strand of purple lightning, reminiscent of a venomous snake, coiled around his calf. A sensation of numbing pain shot through his body as he was yanked backward, crashing to the ground. Before he could recover, a strong hand gripped the back of his robes, hauling him upright.

    Wei Wuxian''s hand instinctively moved to his spirit-locking bag, but Jiang Cheng was faster, snatching it away.

    Dragging Wei Wuxian by his collar, Jiang Cheng strode purposefully towards the nearest shop. With a forceful kick, he burst through the half-closed door.

    The shopkeeper, who had been preparing to close for the night, was struck dumb at the sight of the imposing, elegantly dressed young man who had just violently entered his establishment. The fact that this intimidating figure was dragging another man behind him, as if preparing for an impromptu execution, only added to the shopkeeper''s terror.

    One of Jiang Cheng''s disciples approached the trembling man, whispering a few words and pressing some silver into his hand. Without hesitation, the shopkeeper retreated to the back room, eager to remove himself from whatever was about to unfold.

    With practiced efficiency, the Jiang clan disciples spread out, securing the premises both inside and out. Within moments, the shop was completely surrounded, impenetrable to outsiders.

    Jin Ling stood to the side, his eyes a whirlpool of conflicting emotions - hesitation, confusion, and growing apprehension. Jiang Cheng turned to him, his voice a menacing growl, "I''ll deal with you later. Stay put!"

    Never in his life had Jin Ling seen such an expression on his uncle''s face. Jiang Cheng, who had taken control of the prestigious Yunmeng Jiang Sect at a young age, was known for his cold and severe demeanor. His words were rarely kind, his actions seldom merciful. But now, despite his obvious efforts to maintain composure, his eyes burned with an intensity that was almost frightening.

    That face, usually etched with arrogance and scorn, perpetually overshadowed by a brooding demeanor, seemed to come alive in a way Jin Ling had never witnessed. Every feature was sharp, defined, making it impossible to discern whether his uncle was consumed by seething rage, burning hatred, or wild elation.

 24. Breaking Free from Danger

    Jiang Cheng''s eyes narrowed as he spoke, his voice dripping with barely contained anger, "Lend me your dog."

    Jin Ling, still reeling from the shock of the earlier confrontation, hesitated for a moment. Two piercing glares from Jiang Cheng, sharp as lightning, cut through his indecision. With a trembling hand, he raised a small whistle to his lips and blew a short, shrill note.

    In an instant, the black-maned spiritual dog bounded over, its muscular form covering the ground in three swift leaps. Wei Wuxian felt his entire body stiffen, every muscle taut as a bowstring. He could only watch helplessly as Jiang Cheng grabbed him with one hand, dragging him along step by agonizing step.

    Jiang Cheng located an empty room and unceremoniously tossed Wei Wuxian inside. The door slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing in the suddenly claustrophobic space. The spiritual dog followed, settling itself by the door, its amber eyes fixed unwaveringly on Wei Wuxian.

    Wei Wuxian''s gaze darted between the dog and Jiang Cheng, his mind racing. He couldn''t help but marvel at how quickly Jiang Cheng had managed to render him powerless. It was clear that his former shidi knew exactly how to subdue him.

    With deliberate slowness, Jiang Cheng made his way to a table in the corner of the room. He poured himself a cup of tea, the fragrant steam rising in lazy curls. The silence stretched between them, thick and oppressive.

    Suddenly, Jiang Cheng''s hand shot out, sending the untouched cup of tea crashing to the floor. The porcelain shattered, tea spreading across the wooden planks like spilled blood.

    A bitter smirk twisted Jiang Cheng''s lips as he turned to face Wei Wuxian. "Don''t you have anything to say to me?" he asked, his voice deceptively soft.

    Wei Wuxian swallowed hard. He had known Jiang Cheng since childhood, had seen him in every mood imaginable. This quiet fury was far more terrifying than any shouting match they''d ever had. He knew there was no way to bluff his way out of this one.

    "I... I don''t know what to say to you," Wei Wuxian admitted, his usual glibness deserting him.

    Jiang Cheng''s eyes flashed dangerously. "You truly are beyond redemption," he hissed.

    In a moment of misplaced bravado, Wei Wuxian couldn''t help but retort, "And you haven''t progressed at all."

    A humorless laugh escaped Jiang Cheng''s lips. "Very well," he said, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "Let''s see who''s truly failed to progress, shall we?"

    Without moving from his position by the table, Jiang Cheng let out a sharp command. The spiritual dog immediately rose to its feet, hackles raised and teeth bared.

    Wei Wuxian felt a cold sweat break out across his skin. The dog, easily as tall as a man''s waist, was suddenly mere inches away. Its low growl filled the room, vibrating through Wei Wuxian''s bones. Memories of his childhood on the streets flooded back - the terror of being chased, the searing pain of teeth and claws tearing into flesh. That primal fear, deeply rooted in his psyche, was impossible to overcome.

    "Who are you calling for?" Jiang Cheng''s voice cut through Wei Wuxian''s panic.

    Wei Wuxian blinked, confused. He hadn''t realized he''d called out for anyone. Jiang Cheng dismissed the dog with a wave of his hand, and Wei Wuxian sagged in relief, his mind still reeling.

    Jiang Cheng moved away from the table, his hand resting on the horse whip at his waist. He leaned in close, studying Wei Wuxian''s face intently. After a moment, he straightened up. "Tell me," he said, his voice deceptively casual, "when did you and Lan Wangji become so close?"

    Wei Wuxian''s blood ran cold as he realized whose name he must have called out in his moment of panic.

    A cruel smile played at the corners of Jiang Cheng''s mouth. "At Dafan Mountain, he went to such lengths to protect you. It makes one wonder why."

    He paused, then corrected himself. "No, that''s not quite right. Lan Wangji might not have been protecting you at all. After all, the Gusu Lan Sect hasn''t forgotten what you and your loyal dog did. Someone as righteous and proper as him couldn''t possibly accept you. Perhaps he had some connection to the body you stole."

    Each word dripped with venom, layers of meaning hidden beneath false praise. Wei Wuxian couldn''t bear it any longer. "Watch your words," he snapped.

    Jiang Cheng''s eyebrows rose in mock surprise. "I''ve never been one to watch my words. Surely you remember that?"

    "Indeed," Wei Wuxian bit out. "How could I forget?"

    Jiang Cheng''s expression hardened. "You dare lecture me about watching my words? Do you remember what you said to Jin Ling at Dafan Mountain?"

    Wei Wuxian felt the color drain from his face.

    Seeing he''d struck a nerve, Jiang Cheng pressed on, his voice thick with satisfaction. "''Born but not raised by a mother,'' you said. How very clever of you. Thanks to you, Jin Ling had to endure such pointed remarks today. You may have forgotten your own words, forgotten your oaths, but don''t you dare forget how his parents died!"

    Wei Wuxian''s head snapped up. "I haven''t forgotten! I just..."

    But the words died in his throat. He didn''t know how to finish that sentence.

    Jiang Cheng''s voice was cold. "You just what? Can''t find the words? No matter. You can come back to Lotus Pier and kneel before my parents'' shrine. Take all the time you need to explain yourself."

    Wei Wuxian took a deep breath, his mind racing as he searched for a way out of this situation. While he longed to return to Lotus Pier, the place he once called home, he knew the Lotus Pier of today was not the one he remembered.

    Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps approached, followed by urgent knocking at the door. Jin Ling''s voice called out, "Uncle!"

    Jiang Cheng''s irritation was palpable as he shouted back, "Didn''t I tell you to stay put? What are you doing here?"

    "Uncle, I have something important to tell you," Jin Ling insisted.

    "What could be so important that you couldn''t say it earlier when I was scolding you, but you have to say it now?" Jiang Cheng demanded.

    Jin Ling''s voice took on an angry edge. "It''s because you were scolding me that I didn''t say anything! Do you want to hear it or not? If not, I''m leaving!"

    With a look of exasperation, Jiang Cheng yanked open the door. "Make it quick, then get out!"

    Jin Ling stepped inside, now dressed in a fresh white uniform. "I encountered something very troublesome today," he began. "I think I saw Wen Ning!"

    Jiang Cheng''s hand immediately flew to his sword, his expression turning murderous. "When? Where?"

    "This afternoon," Jin Ling explained. "About fifty li south of here, there''s an old abandoned house. I went there because I heard rumors of strange occurrences, but inside I found a fierce corpse."

    As Jin Ling spun his tale, Wei Wuxian listened intently, knowing full well that every word was a lie. He knew exactly where Jin Ling had been that afternoon, and he knew that if Wen Ning didn''t want to be found, a young cultivator like Jin Ling would never stumble upon him by chance.

    Jiang Cheng''s voice was tight with anger. "Why didn''t you say something sooner?"

    Jin Ling shrugged. "I couldn''t be sure. The fierce corpse moved incredibly fast. It fled as soon as I entered, and I only caught a glimpse of its back. But I heard the sound of chains, like the ones Wen Ning had at Dafan Mountain. That''s why I thought it might be him. If you hadn''t started yelling at me as soon as I got back, I would have told you right away. If he''s escaped now and you can''t catch him, that''s on you for losing your temper. It''s not my fault."

    He tried to peer further into the room, but Jiang Cheng slammed the door in his face. "We''ll discuss your punishment later. Now get out of here!"

    "Fine," Jin Ling''s muffled voice came through the door, followed by the sound of retreating footsteps.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    As Jiang Cheng turned back to face him, Wei Wuxian quickly schooled his features into a complex expression of shock, dismay, and worry - as if his secret had been discovered and he was panicking about Wen Ning being found.

    Jin Ling''s lie had been clever. He knew that Wen Ning was the one person Jiang Cheng hated more than anyone, and he had crafted his story perfectly to exploit that hatred. Jiang Cheng, already suspecting that the Yiling Patriarch and the Ghost General often worked together, was inclined to believe Jin Ling''s tale. Wei Wuxian''s carefully crafted expression only served to further convince him.

    Rage boiled in Jiang Cheng''s chest. He lashed out with his whip, striking the ground next to Wei Wuxian. "You really do take that obedient dog of yours everywhere, don''t you?" he snarled.

    Wei Wuxian met his gaze steadily. "He''s already dead, and I''ve died once too. What more do you want?"

    Jiang Cheng pointed the whip at Wei Wuxian, his voice thick with hatred. "What do I want? Even if he dies a thousand times, a million times, it won''t be enough to quell my hatred! He failed to destroy me then, and that''s fine. Today, I''ll destroy him myself. I''ll burn him to ashes and scatter them before your eyes!"

    With that, he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. His voice carried as he issued orders to Jin Ling in the main hall. "Keep a close eye on the person inside. Don''t believe anything he says, and don''t listen to him at all! Don''t let him make any noise. If he tries to whistle or play a flute, gag him. If you can''t gag him, cut off his hands and cut out his tongue!"

    Wei Wuxian knew these words were meant for him, a clear threat not to try anything. By not taking Wei Wuxian along, Jiang Cheng was also guarding against the possibility of Wei Wuxian controlling Wen Ning during the hunt.

    Jin Ling''s nonchalant reply floated through the door. "I got it. It''s just one person, I can handle it. Uncle, what were you doing alone with that dead cut-sleeve? What did he do now?"

    "That''s none of your business," Jiang Cheng snapped. "Just remember to watch him closely. If he''s gone when I get back, I''ll break your legs!"

    After asking a few more questions about the specific location, Jiang Cheng left with half of his men to pursue the non-existent Wen Ning, leaving Wei Wuxian alone with his thoughts and the looming presence of the spiritual dog.

    After a short while, Jin Ling''s arrogant voice echoed through the door. "You, go over there. You, stand guard on the side. The rest of you, position yourselves at the main entrance. I''m going in to deal with him myself."

    The disciples of the prominent sects dared not disobey, each acknowledging the order with a respectful "Yes." Soon after, the door creaked open, and Jin Ling poked his head in, his eyes darting around the room with a mix of curiosity and caution.

    Wei Wuxian sat up, watching as Jin Ling raised a finger to his lips, signaling for silence. The young cultivator crept into the room, his hand hovering over Zidian. He muttered a brief incantation under his breath.

    Zidian, recognizing its new master (Jiang Cheng must have bound it to Jin Ling as well), immediately responded. The crackling purple energy condensed, transforming into a silver ring adorned with an amethyst, which fell softly into Jin Ling''s pale palm.

    "Let''s go," Jin Ling whispered, his voice barely audible.

    With Jin Ling''s chaotic orders scattering the Yunmeng Jiang disciples, the two of them managed to sneak out, climbing through windows and over walls with the stealth of seasoned thieves. Once they were clear of the inn, they broke into a silent sprint.

    As they entered a wooded area, Wei Wuxian heard an unusual sound behind them. He turned, and his heart nearly stopped. "Why is it following us?!" he hissed, panic rising in his voice. "Tell it to go away!"

    Jin Ling let out two short whistles. The black-maned spiritual dog, its long tongue lolling out, whined softly. Its pointed ears twitched twice before it turned and trotted away, looking somewhat dejected.

    "You''re such a coward," Jin Ling scoffed. "Fairy never bites people. She just looks fierce. She''s a well-trained spiritual dog, only attacking evil spirits. Did you think she was just an ordinary dog?"

    Wei Wuxian froze. "Wait. What did you call it?"

    "Fairy. That''s her name," Jin Ling replied, matter-of-factly.

    "You named a dog ''Fairy''?!" Wei Wuxian''s disbelief was palpable.

    Jin Ling defended his choice indignantly. "What''s wrong with that name? When she was little, I called her Little Fairy. I couldn''t keep calling her that when she grew up, could I?"

    Wei Wuxian shook his head vigorously. "No, no, no, the problem isn''t whether it''s ''little'' or not! Where did you learn to name things like this?!" He didn''t need to ask; it was obviously his uncle''s influence. He remembered how Jiang Cheng used to name his puppies things like "Jasmine," "Princess," and "Lovey" - names more suited to courtesans than dogs.

    Jin Ling huffed, "A real man doesn''t fuss over such trivial matters! Why are you fixating on this? Anyway, stop. You''ve offended my uncle, and that usually costs half a life. I''m letting you go now, so we''re even."

    Wei Wuxian regarded him curiously. "Do you know why your uncle wanted to capture me?"

    "Of course," Jin Ling replied. "He suspects you''re Wei Wuxian."

    Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "This time, it''s not just a suspicion. He''s got the right person." Aloud, he asked, "And what about you? Don''t you suspect me?"

    Jin Ling shrugged. "It''s not the first time my uncle has done something like this. He''d rather capture the wrong person than let the right one escape. But since Zidian couldn''t pull out your soul, I''ll assume you''re not him. Besides, Wei Wuxian wasn''t a cut-sleeve, but you, you dare to pursue..."

    He trailed off, his face contorting in disgust. He made a shooing gesture, as if warding off evil. "Anyway, you have nothing to do with the Lanling Jin Sect anymore! If you want to indulge in your perversions, leave my family out of it! Otherwise, I won''t let you off so easily!"

    With that, Jin Ling turned to leave. After a few steps, he looked back. "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and go, unless you want my uncle to catch you? Let me tell you, don''t think I''m grateful just because you saved me, and don''t expect me to say anything sappy to you."

    Wei Wuxian sauntered closer, hands clasped behind his back. "Young man, there are two phrases in life that you must say, no matter how sappy they seem."

    "Which two?" Jin Ling asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

    "''Thank you'' and ''I''m sorry,''" Wei Wuxian replied, his tone suddenly serious.

    Jin Ling scoffed. "I won''t say them. Who''s going to make me?"

    "One day, you''ll say them with tears in your eyes," Wei Wuxian predicted solemnly.

    Jin Ling spat in disgust, but before he could retort, Wei Wuxian suddenly said, "I''m sorry."

    Taken aback, Jin Ling stuttered, "What?"

    "For what I said to you at Dafan Mountain," Wei Wuxian explained. "I''m sorry."

    Jin Ling had been called "born but not raised by a mother" many times before, but no one had ever apologized to him so earnestly. This unexpected apology hit him like a slap to the face, leaving him unsure how to feel. He found himself suddenly uncomfortable.

    Waving his hands frantically, Jin Ling finally managed to grunt, "It''s nothing. You''re not the first person to say that. It''s true that I wasn''t raised by my mother. But I won''t let that make me inferior to anyone! On the contrary, I''ll make sure you all see clearly that I''m much stronger than any of you!"

    Wei Wuxian smiled softly, about to speak when his expression suddenly changed. "Jiang Cheng?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with shock. "You-!"

    Jin Ling, already on edge from stealing Zidian and freeing Wei Wuxian, spun around at the mention of his uncle''s name. Wei Wuxian seized the opportunity, delivering a swift chop to the back of Jin Ling''s neck.

    As Jin Ling crumpled to the ground, Wei Wuxian gently laid him down. He pulled up Jin Ling''s trouser leg, examining the curse mark on his leg. Despite trying various methods, he couldn''t make it fade. Realizing the complexity of the situation, he let out a deep sigh.

    Though he couldn''t dispel some curse marks, he knew he could transfer them to himself.

    It took a while for Jin Ling to regain consciousness. As he stirred, he rubbed his neck, wincing at the lingering pain. Fury overtook him, and he leapt to his feet, drawing his sword. "How dare you hit me! Even my uncle has never struck me!"

    Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Really? Doesn''t he always threaten to break your legs?"

    Jin Ling''s anger flared. "He only says that! He doesn''t mean it! You dead cut-sleeve, what are you really up to? I-"

    "Ah! Hanguang-Jun!" Wei Wuxian suddenly cried out, pointing behind Jin Ling.

    Jin Ling, who feared Lan Wangji even more than his own uncle (after all, his uncle was family, but Hanguang-Jun was a formidable outsider), panicked. He turned and ran, shouting as he fled, "You dead cut-sleeve! You crazy bastard! I won''t forget this! This isn''t over!"

    Wei Wuxian doubled over with laughter, watching Jin Ling disappear into the distance. As his laughter subsided, he felt a tightness in his chest, followed by a fit of coughing. Once he regained his composure, his mind began to wander, reflecting on past memories.

    Wei Wuxian was nine years old when Jiang Fengmian brought him home.

    Some of his memories from that time had grown hazy, but Jiang Yanli, Jin Ling''s mother, remembered everything and had shared many stories with him.

    She told him how their father, upon learning of the death of his old friends in battle, had searched tirelessly for their orphaned child. After a long search, he finally found the boy in the Yiling area. When Jiang Fengmian first laid eyes on him, the child was on his knees, scavenging for discarded fruit peels to eat.

    The winters and springs in Yiling were bitterly cold, yet the boy wore only thin, tattered clothes. His knees were raw and bleeding, visible through the holes in his trousers. On his feet were two mismatched, ill-fitting shoes. As he rummaged through the garbage, Jiang Fengmian called out to him. The boy, remembering that his name contained the character for "infant," looked up. Despite his gaunt face and chapped, reddened cheeks, he wore a smile.

    Jiang Yanli always said that Wei Wuxian was born with a smile on his face, a natural optimist. No matter what hardships he faced, he never let them weigh him down. No matter his circumstances, he always found a way to be cheerful. Some might call it being thick-skinned or insensitive, but she believed it was a wonderful trait.

    After Jiang Fengmian fed him a piece of melon, the boy allowed himself to be carried home. Jiang Cheng, only eight or nine himself at the time, had been raising several puppies in Lotus Pier as his playmates. When Jiang Fengmian discovered Wei Wuxian''s fear of dogs, he gently asked Jiang Cheng to send the puppies away. Jiang Cheng was furious, throwing a massive tantrum complete with broken objects, sullen looks, and floods of tears. In the end, though, he did as he was told and sent the dogs away.

    Although this incident caused Jiang Cheng to harbor resentment towards Wei Wuxian for a long time, once they became close friends, they were inseparable. Whenever they encountered dogs during their adventures, Jiang Cheng would chase them away, then mercilessly tease Wei Wuxian for scrambling up the nearest tree.

    Wei Wuxian had always believed that Jiang Cheng would stand by his side, while Lan Wangji would be his adversary. He never imagined that reality would turn out to be the complete opposite.

    As Wei Wuxian slowly made his way to the meeting point he had arranged with Lan Wangji, the streets were quiet and deserted, illuminated only by a few scattered lanterns. He didn''t need to search; the figure in white stood at the end of the long street, head slightly bowed, completely motionless.

    Before Wei Wuxian could call out, Lan Wangji raised his head and saw him. After a moment of silent confrontation, Lan Wangji began walking towards him with measured steps.

    For reasons he couldn''t quite understand, Wei Wuxian found himself taking a step back.

    He thought he saw a flash of red in Lan Wangji''s eyes. He had to admit... Lan Wangji''s expression at that moment was truly terrifying.

 25. A Calm Reveal + A Princess Carry

    Little did he know that as he took a step back, his foot suddenly twisted, nearly causing him to stumble and fall to his knees. Lan Wangji''s expression changed in an instant. He rushed forward, grasping Wei Wuxian''s wrist tightly just as he had done on Mount Dafan before. Steadying him with one hand, Lan Wangji dropped to one knee, intent on examining Wei Wuxian''s leg. Startled by this sudden closeness, Wei Wuxian hurriedly protested, "No, no, Hanguang-jun, you don''t need to do this!"

    Lan Wangji looked up, his pale eyes fixing on Wei Wuxian for a moment before returning his attention to rolling up Wei Wuxian''s pant leg. Still held firmly by the wrist, Wei Wuxian could only tilt his head back and stare at the sky, a mix of embarrassment and something else fluttering in his chest.

    The skin on Wei Wuxian''s leg was mottled with dark, bruise-like marks - the telltale signs of a malicious curse.

    Lan Wangji studied the marks for a long moment before speaking, his voice rough with an emotion Wei Wuxian couldn''t quite place. "...I was only gone for a few hours."

    Wei Wuxian shrugged, trying to lighten the mood. "A lot can happen in a few hours, Lan Zhan. Come on, stand up." He tugged at Lan Wangji''s arm, pulling him to his feet. "It''s just a regular curse mark. I''ll deal with it when it comes for me. But I''ll need your help, Hanguang-jun. I can''t handle it alone." His eyes sparkled with a mix of mischief and genuine concern. "Did you catch the person? Was it him? Where are they now?"

    Lan Wangji''s gaze drifted to a shop sign further down the long street. Wei Wuxian followed his line of sight and nodded. "Let''s resolve the stone fortress issue first." He started walking towards the shop, only now noticing the numbness in his legs. It must have been from Jiang Cheng''s Zidian, he realized. At least his brother had the sense to control the lightning''s intensity; otherwise, Wei Wuxian might have ended up as charred as if he''d been struck by actual lightning.

    Lan Wangji stood behind him, suddenly calling out, "Wei Ying."

    Wei Wuxian hesitated for a moment, as if he hadn''t heard the name. Then, casually, he responded, "What is it?"

    Lan Wangji''s next words were not a question, but a statement. "It was transferred from Jin Ling, wasn''t it."

    Wei Wuxian neither confirmed nor denied. Lan Wangji continued, "You encountered Jiang Wanyin."

    The purple lightning marks intertwined with the curse marks made it easy to deduce. Wei Wuxian turned to face him, a wry smile playing on his lips. "As long as we both exist in this world, we were bound to meet eventually."

    Lan Wangji''s next words were soft but firm. "Don''t walk anymore."

    Wei Wuxian couldn''t help but tease, "If I don''t walk, are you going to carry me?"

    Lan Wangji''s silent stare in response made Wei Wuxian''s smile falter, a shadow of unease passing over his heart. The Lan Wangji of the past would have been flustered by such a comment, either walking away with a cold face or simply ignoring it. But this Lan Wangji... it was hard to predict how he would respond.

    Sure enough, Lan Wangji moved to stand in front of Wei Wuxian, looking as if he was about to bend down and offer his back for a ride. Wei Wuxian, alarmed once again, quickly backpedaled. "Wait, wait! I was just joking. My legs are just a bit numb from the Zidian, not broken. It would look ridiculous for a grown man to be carried like that."

    Lan Wangji tilted his head slightly, his voice betraying no emotion. "Would it look ridiculous?"

    Wei Wuxian countered, "Would it look good?"

    After a moment of silence, Lan Wangji spoke again, his tone soft. "But you''ve carried me before."

    Wei Wuxian blinked, genuinely confused. "Did I? I don''t remember that."

    Lan Wangji''s response was quiet, almost resigned. "You never remember these things."

    Wei Wuxian shrugged, a hint of defensiveness in his voice. "Everyone says I have a bad memory. Fine, if it''s bad, it''s bad. Anyway, no piggyback rides."

    Lan Wangji''s next question was unexpected. "Are you sure you don''t want to be carried?"

    Wei Wuxian''s answer was firm. "Absolutely not."

    They stood facing each other, locked in a silent standoff. Suddenly, Lan Wangji moved. In one fluid motion, he wrapped an arm around Wei Wuxian''s back and bent slightly, his other hand moving to scoop under Wei Wuxian''s knees.

    Before Wei Wuxian could process what was happening, he found himself lifted off the ground, cradled securely in Lan Wangji''s arms. Smaller and lighter than Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian was easily held aloft. In all his lives, past and present, he had never been treated like this. Startled, he exclaimed, "Lan Zhan!"

    Lan Wangji, carrying Wei Wuxian with perfect stability, replied calmly, "You said you didn''t want a piggyback ride."Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Wei Wuxian sputtered, "I didn''t say I wanted to be carried like this either!"

    Fortunately, night had fallen, and the streets were empty, sparing Wei Wuxian from too much embarrassment. Not that he was particularly thin-skinned. After a few steps, he relaxed into Lan Wangji''s arms. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he toyed with the front of Lan Wangji''s robes, pretending to untie them. "Are you trying to see who can be more shameless?" he teased.

    The familiar scent of sandalwood enveloped Wei Wuxian as Lan Wangji continued walking, his gaze fixed straight ahead. His face remained impassive, a mask of cold seriousness. Wei Wuxian, still fiddling with Lan Wangji''s robes, thought to himself, "I never expected Lan Zhan to have such a strong sense of revenge. He''s paying me back for all the times I teased him before, one by one. He''s really grown up. Not just in cultivation, but in thickness of skin too."

    Aloud, Wei Wuxian asked, "Lan Zhan, did you recognize me back on Mount Dafan?"

    "Mm," Lan Wangji affirmed.

    Curious, Wei Wuxian pressed, "How did you recognize me?"

    Lan Wangji lowered his gaze to meet Wei Wuxian''s eyes. "Do you want to know?"

    Wei Wuxian nodded eagerly. "Of course."

    "You told me yourself," Lan Wangji replied cryptically.

    Wei Wuxian frowned, puzzled. "I told you? Was it because of Jin Ling? Because I summoned Wen Ning? That''s not it, is it?"

    A fleeting ripple of emotion passed through Lan Wangji''s eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving behind the usual calm depth.

    His voice was solemn as he said, "Figure it out yourself."

    Wei Wuxian pouted, "I''m asking you because I can''t figure it out."

    This time, no matter how much Wei Wuxian probed, Lan Wangji remained silent. He carried Wei Wuxian into the inn, where the only reaction came from the clerk at the front desk, who spat out a mouthful of water in surprise. There were no other onlookers to witness their unconventional entrance.

    As they reached the door to their room, Wei Wuxian said, "Alright, we''re here. You can put me down now. You don''t have a third hand to open the door..."

    Before he could finish his sentence, Lan Wangji did something utterly out of character. It was perhaps the first time in his life that he had performed such a crude action.

    Still holding Wei Wuxian, he kicked the door open.

    The two door panels swung wide, revealing a figure sitting awkwardly inside. The person immediately burst into tears, "Hanguang-jun, I don''t know, I really don''t know, I..."

    As he registered the unusual posture of the two men entering the room, his eyes widened, and he barely managed to complete his sentence, "...I truly don''t know anything."

    It was indeed a case of "ask three times, know nothing thrice."

    Lan Wangji, seemingly oblivious to the other person''s shock, carried Wei Wuxian into the room and gently set him down on a mat. Nie Huaisang, looking utterly mortified, quickly opened his fan to hide his face. Wei Wuxian peered over the fan, taking a moment to study his former classmate.

    Nie Huaisang hadn''t changed much over the years. He still had the same face that could have been scholarly and refined, yet wore an expression that made him look easily manipulated. His attire was tasteful and elegant, clearly chosen with great care. He looked more like a wealthy idler than the leader of a prominent sect. Even dressed in imperial robes, he wouldn''t look like a prince, and even wielding a long sword, he wouldn''t resemble a cultivational leader.

    As Nie Huaisang stubbornly denied any knowledge, Lan Wangji placed the piece of fabric torn from his sleeve by the black-maned spiritual dog on the table. Nie Huaisang covered his torn sleeve, his face a picture of despair. "I was just passing by. I really don''t know anything."

    Wei Wuxian leaned forward, a glint in his eye. "If you don''t know, then let me tell you. See if you remember anything as I speak."

    Nie Huaisang stammered, unsure how to respond. Wei Wuxian continued, his voice taking on a storyteller''s cadence:

    "In the area of Qinghe''s Xinglu Ridge, there are rumors of a ''Man-Eating Ridge'' and a ''Man-Eating Fortress.'' Yet, there are no actual victims. So, it''s just a rumor. But this rumor serves a purpose - it keeps ordinary people away from Xinglu Ridge. It''s a defense line, the first of many."

    Wei Wuxian paused, letting his words sink in before continuing, "Where there''s a first, there''s a second. The second line of defense is the walking corpses on Xinglu Ridge. Even if some brave souls ignore the man-eating rumors and venture onto the ridge, or if someone accidentally wanders in, seeing walking dead would send them fleeing. But these corpses are few in number and weak in power, so they don''t cause real harm."

    He leaned back, his eyes never leaving Nie Huaisang''s face. "The third line of defense is the maze array near the stone fortress. While the first two lines defend against ordinary people, this one is meant for cultivators. But its effect is limited to average cultivators. For those with spiritual tools or dogs specialized in breaking arrays, or for eminent cultivators like Hanguang-jun, this defense can be easily broken."

    Wei Wuxian''s voice grew softer, more intense. "Three layers of defense, all to prevent people from discovering the stone fortress on Xinglu Ridge. The identity of the fortress''s builder is clear. This is Qinghe Nie Sect''s territory. No one but the Nie family could easily set up these three checkpoints in Qinghe. And you just happened to appear near the fortress, leaving evidence behind."

    He leaned forward, his gaze piercing. "What purpose does the Qinghe Nie Sect have in building a man-eating fortress on Xinglu Ridge? Where did the corpses in the walls come from? Were they really eaten by the fortress? Sect Leader Nie, if you don''t explain clearly today, I''m afraid that once this gets out, when all the cultivational sects come to question you, no one will be willing to listen to or believe what you have to say."

    Nie Huaisang, looking utterly defeated, finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "...It''s not a man-eating fortress at all. It''s... it''s just my family''s ancestral tomb!"

    Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow. "Ancestral tomb? Since when do ancestral tombs contain swords instead of bodies in their coffins?"

    Nie Huaisang''s face crumpled, his eyes pleading. "Hanguang-jun, before I say anything more, can you make a vow? For the sake of our families'' long-standing friendship, and the sworn brotherhood between your brother and mine, please swear that whatever I say next, you... and your companion here... will never reveal it to anyone. If it ever does come out, please speak up for me, be my witness. You''ve always been the most trustworthy. If you make this vow, I''ll believe you."

    Lan Wangji nodded solemnly. "As you wish."

    Wei Wuxian, his curiosity piqued, pressed on. "You said it''s not a man-eating fortress. So it has never eaten anyone?"

    Nie Huaisang bit his lip, then admitted reluctantly, "...It has."

    Wei Wuxian''s eyes widened. "Wow."

    Nie Huaisang quickly added, "But only once! And the main fault wasn''t with our family. It happened decades ago! The rumors about the man-eating fortress on Xinglu Ridge started spreading from that time. I... I just fanned the flames a bit, magnifying the rumors a few times over."

 26. Unveiling the Secrets of the Qinghe Man-Eating Manor!

    Lan Wangji''s voice was as cool and measured as ever as he said, "I would like to hear the details."

    As he sat down, his polite words carried an almost threatening weight. Nie Huaisang, feeling the pressure, began to explain hesitantly, his usual fan nowhere in sight as his hands fidgeted nervously.

    "Hanguang-jun, as you know, our Nie clan is different from other cultivation sects," he began, his voice barely above a whisper. "Our founding ancestor was a butcher, and while others cultivate with swords, we cultivate the way of the saber."

    This fact was common knowledge, far from a secret. The Nie clan''s emblem, a fierce beast head resembling a mix between a dog and a boar, was a testament to their unique origins. Nie Huaisang continued, his voice gaining a hint of resignation, "Because our cultivation method differs, and our ancestor was a butcher, there''s an inevitable association with bloodshed. The sabers of our clan leaders throughout generations have been infused with intense resentment and killing intent. Almost every clan leader has fallen victim to qi deviation, dying violent deaths. Their volatile tempers are also closely related to this."

    He paused, his eyes clouding with memories. Wei Wuxian could see he was thinking of his elder brother, Nie Mingjue. The young sect leader had been sworn brothers with Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao, forming the renowned Venerated Triad. Chifeng-zun was known for his fierce efficiency and imposing dignity; Zewu-jun for his gentle demeanor and noble character; Lianfang-zun for his cunning wit and adaptability. The three had sworn brotherhood during the Sunshot Campaign, each leaving behind legendary tales.

    Yet, at the height of his fame, Nie Mingjue had succumbed to qi deviation during an important gathering, dying a bloody death and injuring many attendees in his maddened state. Such a glorious reputation, ending in such tragedy. The pain was evident in Nie Huaisang''s eyes as he continued, "While the clan leaders lived, they could suppress their sabers'' restlessness. But after their deaths, with no one to control them, the sabers become deadly weapons in their own right."

    Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow, a hint of mischief in his voice despite the serious topic. "That sounds dangerously close to the dark path."

    Nie Huaisang hurriedly shook his head, his words tumbling out in a rush. "It''s different! The dark path is considered evil because it demands human lives. But our clan''s sabers don''t want human lives - they crave the essence of vengeful spirits, fierce corpses, and demonic beasts. After a lifetime of slaying such creatures, if they''re not given these targets, they cause havoc on their own. The saber spirits only acknowledge one master and can''t be used by others. We, the descendants, can''t simply melt them down. It would be disrespectful to our ancestors, and there''s no guarantee it would solve the problem anyway."

    "Quite the troublesome heirlooms," Wei Wuxian commented, his tone a mix of fascination and amusement.

    Nie Huaisang nodded vigorously. "Indeed. These sabers that have accompanied our ancestors through countless battles and cultivation breakthroughs - they''re like venerable elders themselves."

    He took a deep breath before continuing, his voice dropping even lower as if afraid the very walls might be listening. "As each generation''s cultivation grew stronger, this problem became more severe. It wasn''t until our sixth-generation clan leader that a solution was devised."

    Wei Wuxian leaned forward, intrigued. "And that solution was to build the man-eating castle?"

    "No, no," Nie Huaisang shook his head frantically. "Though there''s a connection, that wasn''t the initial plan. The sixth-generation leader did this: he crafted two coffins for his father''s and grandfather''s sabers and dug a mausoleum. Instead of filling it with precious treasures, he placed hundreds of corpses on the verge of turning into fierce corpses."

    Lan Wangji''s brow furrowed slightly, causing Nie Huaisang to quickly explain, "Hanguang-jun, please let me clarify! Our clan didn''t kill these people! We painstakingly collected them from various places, and many were bought at great expense. The sixth-generation leader reasoned that if the saber spirits craved conflict with evil entities, then we should provide them with endless opponents. These near-transforming corpses were buried alongside the saber coffins as a form of burial goods. The saber spirits would suppress the corpses'' transformation, while the corpses would satisfy the sabers'' needs and temper their madness. This mutual restraint brought several generations of peace to our descendants."

    Wei Wuxian nodded slowly, processing the information. "So why the shift to building a stone castle? And burying bodies in the walls? You mentioned it had eaten people?"

    Nie Huaisang''s face paled slightly as he continued, "These questions are actually all related. It has... consumed people, yes. But it wasn''t intentional! Our sixth-generation leader created a saber tomb, designed like a common grave, and subsequent generations followed suit. However, about fifty years ago, the tomb was breached by a group of grave robbers."

    Wei Wuxian let out a low whistle. "Talk about poking the sleeping tiger."

    "Exactly," Nie Huaisang agreed, his voice trembling slightly. "No matter how cautious we were, word of such a significant burial was bound to leak. These grave robbers, after extensive inquiries, became convinced that there was a grand tomb from a previous dynasty on Luling Hill. They came prepared, and among their motley crew were one or two genuinely skilled individuals. Somehow, they managed to pinpoint the location, break through the maze formation, and find our saber tomb."Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    He paused, taking a shaky breath before continuing. "They dug a tunnel and entered the tomb. Being in their line of work, they weren''t afraid of the corpses inside. But as they rummaged around for gold and jewels, breathing next to these bodies on the verge of transformation, their strong yang energy triggered a reaction. Remember, these were all corpses about to turn into fierce corpses!"

    Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji exchanged a glance, both imagining the chaos that must have ensued.

    "As you can imagine, it was a disaster," Nie Huaisang continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "More than a dozen corpses transformed on the spot. But these grave robbers were skilled and well-prepared. Somehow, they managed to re-kill all the walking corpses. After a fierce battle that left dismembered corpses strewn about, they finally realized the danger and prepared to retreat. And that''s when... that''s when they were consumed!"

    He took a moment to collect himself before explaining, "The number of bodies placed in the tomb was strictly controlled - not one too many, not one too few - to maintain a perfect balance with the saber spirits. The grave robbers'' intrusion alone would have been manageable; the saber spirits could have suppressed the transformations after they left. But they had reduced the corpses to fragments, suddenly decreasing the number by over a dozen. To maintain sufficient fierce corpses to counterbalance the saber spirits, the tomb... it... it automatically sealed itself, trapping them inside alive, forcing them to fill the void they had created..."

    Nie Huaisang''s voice trailed off, his face ashen as he recounted the grim tale. After a moment, he continued, "With the saber tomb compromised, the clan leader at the time had to devise a new solution. He chose a new location on Luling Hill and, instead of a tomb, built a saber worship hall. To prevent future grave robbers, the bodies were hidden within the walls to avoid detection."

    "This saber worship hall became the source of the ''man-eating castle'' rumors," he explained. "The group of grave robbers had come to Qinghe disguised as hunters, entered Luling Hill, and were never seen again. With no bodies found, people began to whisper that they had been devoured by some monster in the hills. Later, when the stone castle was built, before the new maze formation was set up, someone accidentally stumbled upon it. Fortunately, all the stone castles were built without doors, so he couldn''t enter. But after he came down from the hill, he told everyone about the eerie white castle he had seen, insisting that man-eating monsters must live inside. Our clan thought it might be beneficial to let the rumors grow, to keep people away from the area. So we embellished the tale, giving birth to the legend of the ''man-eating castle''. But it truly does consume people!"

    With trembling hands, Nie Huaisang pulled out a handkerchief and a small white stone from his sleeve. He used the handkerchief to wipe his sweat-drenched brow, then held out the stone. "Please, take a look at this."

    Wei Wuxian took the white stone, examining it closely. Among the stone powder, he could make out something white that looked suspiciously like... a human finger bone.

    His eyes widened in understanding as Nie Huaisang, having finished wiping his brow, continued, "That young... Jin master... somehow managed to blast a hole in the wall. To break through such thick walls, he must have had some powerful talismans with him, but that''s beside the point... What I mean is, the area he blasted happened to be part of our clan''s earliest saber worship hall on Luling Hill. At that time, we hadn''t yet thought of using two layers of stone bricks with earth in between to block yang energy and prevent easy corpse transformation. We simply poured the bodies directly into the mortar. So when the young Jin master blasted the hole, he unknowingly shattered a skeleton embedded in the wall. Shortly after he entered, he was... absorbed into the castle wall, replacing the corpse he had destroyed..."

    Nie Huaisang''s voice cracked with emotion. "I regularly inspect Luling Hill. When I went today, I found this. I had just picked up a piece of stone when a dog came to bite me... The saber worship hall is almost like our ancestral grave now, I really..."

    He trailed off, his distress evident. "Usually, cultivators know this is our clan''s territory and wouldn''t night-hunt in the Qinghe area. Who would have thought..."

    Who would have thought he''d be so unlucky, first with the rule-breaking Jin Ling setting his sights on Luling Hill, and then with Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian arriving, following the Ghost Hand''s directions. Nie Huaisang pleaded, "Hanguang-jun, and you... I''ve told you everything. Please, you mustn''t let this information spread. Otherwise..."

    Otherwise, the already struggling Qinghe Nie Sect would be completely ruined. If this got out, Nie Huaisang would become a sinner for all eternity, unable to face his ancestors even in death. No wonder he preferred to be the sect''s private laughingstock rather than diligently cultivate, and why he hesitated to sharpen his saber. If he were to succeed in cultivation, his temperament would grow increasingly volatile, eventually leading to a fate similar to his brother and ancestors - dying in a frenzy of qi deviation, with his saber causing havoc after death, bringing unrest to the entire family. Perhaps it was better to remain incompetent.

    It was an impossible situation. The Nie clan had been on this path since their first ancestor. How could the descendants deny the road paved by their forebears and the foundation they had built? Each cultivation sect had its strengths - just as the Gusu Lan Sect excelled in music, the Qinghe Nie Sect''s sabers'' ferocity and destructive power were what set them apart. To abandon their ancestors'' teachings and start anew would take untold years, with no guarantee of success. And Nie Huaisang dared not betray his clan to pursue a different path. Thus, he could only play the role of the useless coward.

    If he weren''t the clan leader, if he could have spent his life as he did at the Cloud Recesses - idly boating on lakes, painting fans, and playing with birds - he would surely be much more at ease than he was now. But with his elder brother gone, no matter how inadequate he felt, he had no choice but to shoulder the clan''s burden and stumble forward.

    After Nie Huaisang left, having extracted countless promises and pleas for secrecy, Wei Wuxian sat lost in thought for a while. Suddenly, he noticed Lan Wangji approaching him again, kneeling on one knee before him and seriously beginning to roll up his trouser leg. Startled, Wei Wuxian exclaimed, "Wait, again?"

    Lan Wangji''s voice was steady as he replied, "We must remove the curse first."

    Seeing Hanguang-jun kneeling before him in this manner for the third time in one day, despite the other''s seriousness, was a sight Wei Wuxian found difficult to bear. "I''ll do it myself," he said, quickly rolling up his trouser leg. The curse marks were visible all over his calf, crawling past his knee and up his thigh. Wei Wuxian glanced at it and casually remarked, "It''s reached the top of my thigh."

    Lan Wangji turned his head away, not responding. Puzzled, Wei Wuxian called out, "Lan Zhan?"

 27. Ahhh! Whatâ€™s Hidden Inside the Walls?!

    Lan Wangji finally turned his head, though his gaze remained slightly averted. Noticing this, Wei Wuxian blinked mischievously, a playful urge rising within him. Just as he was about to tease Lan Wangji, a sudden shattering sound erupted from the table beside them.

    Both men swiftly rose to their feet, their attention drawn to the source of the noise. Scattered across the floor lay the shattered remains of teacups and a teapot, their pristine white shards mingling with the spilled tea. Amidst this chaos, an evil-suppressing pouch lay, its surface pulsating ominously as if something inside was desperately trying to break free.

    The pouch, though only the size of a palm, possessed extraordinary storage capabilities. Its inner and outer layers were intricately embroidered with complex incantations, reinforcing multiple layers of seals. Lan Wangji had originally sealed the severed arm within this pouch and placed it beneath the teacup on the table. Seeing it now in such an agitated state, he realized it was time for their nightly duet of "Rest."

    Without their brief, nightly musical pacification, even the powerful containment of the evil-suppressing pouch would struggle to restrain the ghostly hand within.

    Wei Wuxian reached for the bamboo flute at his waist, only to grasp at empty air. Turning his head, he saw that Lan Wangji already held the instrument in his hands. The Jade of Lan was bent over the flute, meticulously carving something into its surface with intense concentration. After a moment, he handed it back to Wei Wuxian.

    Taking it back, Wei Wuxian examined the flute. The once rough details around the finger holes had been refined to an exquisite degree. Lan Wangji''s craftsmanship had transformed the instrument into a work of art.

    "Play it well," Lan Wangji said, his voice soft but firm.

    Remembering their earlier duet in the underground chamber¡ªa cacophonous performance that had jolted Lan Qiren from his unconscious state only to make him cough blood and faint again¡ªWei Wuxian nearly doubled over with laughter. He thought to himself, "It''s a wonder he''s tolerated my playing for so long."

    Composing himself, Wei Wuxian brought the flute to his lips with an air of exaggerated seriousness. However, he had barely played two notes when the evil-suppressing pouch suddenly expanded to several times its original size, standing upright as if possessed!

    Wei Wuxian''s next note faltered with a "pffft" sound. "What''s this?" he exclaimed, "Has it grown so accustomed to my awful tunes that it can''t appreciate when I play well?"

    As if in response to his words, the evil-suppressing pouch suddenly lunged towards Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji''s fingers moved swiftly across his guqin strings, abruptly changing the melody. All seven strings vibrated simultaneously, emitting a thunderous roar that seemed to shake the very mountains. The pouch, repelled by the forceful sound, retreated to its original position.

    Unfazed, Wei Wuxian resumed playing, while Lan Wangji softened his touch on the strings, seamlessly blending into the peaceful melody of "Rest." The haunting duet filled the air, its ethereal notes weaving a tapestry of tranquility.

    As the final notes faded away, the evil-suppressing pouch finally shrunk back to its original size, lying motionless on the floor. Wei Wuxian tucked his flute away and remarked, "It''s never been this agitated before. Something must have really stirred it up today."

    Lan Wangji nodded slightly, then turned to face Wei Wuxian. "And," he said, his voice low and measured, "it''s something on you."

    Wei Wuxian immediately looked down at himself, scanning his body. The only new addition to his person today was the curse mark transferred from Jin Ling''s body.

    The curse mark on Jin Ling had been left in the stone fortress on Xinglu Ridge. The ghostly hand''s strong reaction to this curse mark could only mean one thing...

    "Are you saying," Wei Wuxian mused aloud, his mind racing, "that other parts of its body might be hidden within the walls of the Nie clan''s Blade Hall?"

    The following morning, the two set out together, retracing their steps back to Xinglu Ridge.

    Nie Huaisang, having been caught red-handed the day before and forced to confess everything, had summoned his most trusted disciples overnight to clean up the mess left by the intruders. As Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji approached, Nie Huaisang had just finished overseeing the repair of the wall where Wei Wuxian had excavated Jin Ling. A new corpse had been sealed within, and the white bricks had been meticulously laid back in place. Nie Huaisang was wiping sweat from his brow when he turned and nearly stumbled at the sight of the approaching pair.

    "Hanguang-Jun... and... you," he stammered, forcing a smile.

    Wei Wuxian waved cheerfully. "Sect Leader Nie, busy with some masonry work, are we?"

    Nie Huaisang dabbed at his forehead with a handkerchief, nearly rubbing the skin raw. "Yes, yes, indeed..."

    Wei Wuxian adopted a sympathetic yet slightly sheepish expression. "I''m terribly sorry, but I''m afraid you might have to rebuild it once more after we''re done."

    Nie Huaisang''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Yes, yes... Wait, what?!"Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    Before he could protest further, Bichen was unsheathed. Nie Huaisang watched in horror as the newly repaired brick wall began to crack and crumble once more.

    Destruction, as always, proved far swifter than construction. Wei Wuxian''s demolition skills far surpassed the speed at which the wall had been rebuilt. Nie Huaisang clutched his fan, trembling, his eyes brimming with tears of frustration. Yet with Hanguang-Jun standing silently nearby, he dared not voice his objections. Lan Wangji briefly explained their reasoning to him, and Nie Huaisang immediately began swearing his innocence.

    "No, absolutely not!" he protested vehemently. "All the corpses used in our family''s Blade Hall are complete, with all limbs intact. There are definitely no male corpses missing an arm. If you don''t believe me, I''ll help you tear down the bricks myself to prove my innocence. But please, we must rebuild it immediately afterward. This is my family''s ancestral tomb, after all..."

    With several Nie clan disciples joining the effort, Wei Wuxian stepped back to observe the results. Half an hour later, most of the bricks from the wall where Jin Ling had been buried were removed. Some disciples had donned masks, while others had swallowed secret red pills to prevent the corpses from reanimating due to human qi.

    In the exposed black soil, pale hands, feet with bulging veins, and tangled, dirt-caked black hair occasionally came into view. Each male corpse was roughly cleaned and laid out on the ground. The bodies were in various states of decomposition¡ªsome reduced to white bones, others in the process of decay, and some still eerily fresh. Yet, despite their diversity, all were complete, with four limbs intact. Not a single male corpse was missing its left arm.

    Nie Huaisang cautiously ventured, "Surely this wall is enough? We don''t need to tear down any more, right?"

    Indeed, it seemed sufficient. The curse mark on Jin Ling had been exceptionally dark, suggesting that whatever left it must have been buried close to him, certainly within the confines of this wall. Wei Wuxian crouched beside the row of corpses, deep in thought. After a moment of contemplation, Lan Wangji suggested, "Should we bring out the evil-suppressing pouch?"

    Retrieving the severed left arm from the pouch and allowing it to identify its own body parts seemed like a viable option. However, if it came too close to the other parts of its corpse, there was a risk of inciting its excitement and potentially triggering a more dangerous situation. The location itself was already highly precarious, heavy with yin energy, multiplying the level of danger. This was precisely why they had chosen to come during daylight hours. Wei Wuxian shook his head, pondering aloud, "Could it be that this arm doesn''t belong to a man? No, that''s impossible. I can easily distinguish between a man''s hand and a woman''s... Unless its owner had three arms?!"

    Just as he was amused by his own absurd thought, Lan Wangji spoke again: "Legs."

    Prompted by Lan Wangji''s suggestion, Wei Wuxian suddenly realized he had overlooked a crucial detail¡ªthe curse mark had only affected Jin Ling''s legs. "Take off their pants!" he exclaimed. "We need to remove their pants!"

    Nie Huaisang recoiled in shock. "How can you say such shameful things in front of Hanguang-Jun?!"

    Wei Wuxian dismissed his concern. "What''s so shameful about it? We''re all men here. Come on, help us remove the trousers from the male corpses. We don''t need to bother with any female ones, just the men!" He reached towards the waistband of the nearest corpse, his hands poised to carry out his words.

    Poor Nie Huaisang, who had only yesterday been forced to confess his deepest secrets, now found himself faced with the prospect of stripping male corpses in his ancestors'' Blade Hall. He couldn''t help but imagine the furious spirits of his Nie clan ancestors lining up to slap him into his next life as a deformed being. Tears welled up in his eyes at the thought.

    Fortunately, Lan Wangji intercepted Wei Wuxian''s movements. Just as Nie Huaisang was about to praise Hanguang-Jun''s intervention, he heard the Jade of Lan say, "I''ll do it."

    Wei Wuxian looked at him in surprise. "You? You''re really going to do this?"

    Lan Wangji''s brow twitched almost imperceptibly, as if he were suppressing some internal struggle. He repeated firmly, "Don''t move. I''ll handle it."

    Of all the shocks Nie Huaisang had experienced that day, this moment topped them all.

    Of course, Lan Wangji didn''t actually start yanking off the corpses'' trousers with his hands. Instead, he used Bichen''s spiritual energy to delicately slice through the clothing, revealing the skin beneath. Some garments didn''t even need cutting¡ªthey were already in tatters. After a brief moment, he announced, "Found it."

    Everyone''s attention immediately turned to the ground. Near Lan Wangji''s white boots lay a corpse with faint circular marks on both thighs. The flesh-colored threads formed densely packed stitches. There was a subtle difference in skin tone above and below these circular marks. It was clear that the legs of this corpse did not originally belong to its upper body.

    These legs had been sewn onto the body by someone!

    Nie Huaisang stood slack-jawed in disbelief. Wei Wuxian turned to him and asked, "Who usually selects the corpses used for the Nie clan''s blade spirits?"

    Still dazed, Nie Huaisang replied, "Typically, each generation''s clan leader chooses and stockpiles them during their lifetime. My older brother passed away early, so he hadn''t collected enough. I helped select some for him... I just kept any corpses that had all their facial features and limbs intact. Beyond that, I really don''t know..."

    It was clearly pointless to ask Nie Huaisang who might have smuggled this particular corpse into the mix. The list of suspects was endless, from those who supplied the bodies to insiders within the Qinghe Nie clan. It seemed the only way to uncover the truth would be to find all the body parts, reassemble the corpse, and reunite it with its soul.

    After painstakingly separating the legs from the half-corpse, Wei Wuxian began packing them into a new evil-suppressing pouch. As he worked, he commented to Lan Wangji, "It looks like our friend here was drawn and quartered. Not only dismembered but scattered all over the place, a piece here and a piece there. Someone must have held quite a grudge. Let''s hope he wasn''t cut into too many pieces."

    Although Nie Huaisang bade them farewell with a customary "Until we meet again," the terror etched on his face suggested he hoped never to see them again in this lifetime. The pair left Xinglu Ridge and returned to their inn. Once in the safety of their room, they carefully laid out the three body parts for comparison.

    As expected, the skin tone of the legs matched that of the severed left arm perfectly. Moreover, when placed in close proximity, the parts reacted strongly to each other, trembling as if trying to reconnite. Only the missing torso prevented them from joining. They undoubtedly belonged to the same person.

    Beyond confirming that the body parts belonged to a tall man with long limbs, a robust physique, and considerable cultivation, they remained in the dark about his identity. The mystery deepened. Fortunately, the ghostly hand soon indicated the direction for their next step: southwest.

    Following its guidance, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji set out on the road to Yueyang.

 28. Come On, Letâ€™s Have Fun and Drink Together!

    As they entered the city, the two walked side by side amidst the bustling crowd. Suddenly, Lan Wangji asked, "How is the curse mark?"

    Wei Wuxian replied, "Jin Ling buried it too close to our ''good brother'' at the time, so it absorbed quite a bit of resentful energy. It''s faded a little, but hasn''t completely disappeared. We''ll probably need to find the complete corpse, or at least the head, to figure out how to eliminate it entirely. It''s not a big deal."

    The "good brother" referred to the unfortunate soul who had been drawn and quartered. Since they didn''t know who he actually was, Wei Wuxian had suggested using "good brother" as a nickname. Lan Wangji, upon hearing this, remained silent but didn''t object, which was as good as giving his approval. Of course, he would never use such a term himself.

    Lan Wangji asked, "How much is ''a little''?"

    Wei Wuxian gestured a small distance with his fingers and said, "A little is just a little. How should I put it... do you want me to take off my clothes and show you?"

    Lan Wangji''s brow twitched slightly, as if genuinely concerned that Wei Wuxian might strip in the middle of the street. He said in a low voice, "Wait until we get back to undress."

    Wei Wuxian burst into laughter, turning around to walk backward for a few steps. Earlier, in his eagerness to leave, he had gone to great lengths to make himself unlikeable, doing many foolish and embarrassing things. Now that his identity had been revealed, anyone else would have been mortified to recall such behavior. But Wei Wuxian, with his characteristically thick skin, acted as if nothing had happened. Then again, most people with any sense of shame wouldn''t have done things like crawling into someone''s bed in the middle of the night, insisting on sharing a bathtub, or asking if they looked pretty after putting on makeup. He pretended not to remember any of it, and Lan Wangji naturally wouldn''t bring it up either, so they both acted as if nothing had happened. Today was the first time since then that he had joked like this again. After his laugh, Wei Wuxian suddenly turned serious: "Hanguang-jun, do you think the people who threw our good brother''s hand into the Mo family''s estate to attack your clan''s junior, and those who sewed his legs onto another corpse and buried it in the wall, are the same group?"

    Although in the past and present, he had always called Lan Wangji by name in his heart, he had gotten used to using his title during their recent time together. Moreover, when he used this formal address, it carried a sense of mock seriousness that was oddly amusing, so he continued to use it half-jokingly in public.

    Lan Wangji replied, "Two different groups."

    Wei Wuxian said, "Ah, great minds think alike. Going to all that trouble to sew the legs onto another corpse and hide it in the wall clearly shows they didn''t want the limbs to be found. If that''s the case, they wouldn''t deliberately throw out the left hand to attack the Gusu Lan Clan, as that would definitely draw attention and investigation. One group is meticulously hiding evidence, while the other is recklessly acting out, almost as if they want to be discovered. They shouldn''t be the same people."

    Having said everything there was to say, it seemed Lan Wangji had nothing to add, but he still gave an "Mm" in response.

    Wei Wuxian turned back around and continued walking while talking: "The people who hid the legs know about the Qinghe Nie Clan''s tradition of the Blade Hall, while those who threw the left hand are familiar with the Gusu Lan Clan''s movements. I suspect neither group has a simple background. The secrets are piling up."

    Lan Wangji said, "One step at a time."

    Wei Wuxian asked, "How did you recognize me?"

    Lan Wangji replied, "Figure it out yourself."

    They continued their back-and-forth, question and answer, without pause. Wei Wuxian had hoped to catch Lan Wangji off guard and get him to blurt out the answer to this last question, but he failed once again. Undeterred, he swiftly changed the subject: "I''ve never been to Liyang before. Previously, I always had others gather information for me. This time, I''ll take it easy and trouble you to do the asking. Does Hanguang-jun mind?"

    Lan Wangji turned to leave, and Wei Wuxian immediately said, "Wait a moment. Hanguang-jun, may I ask where you''re going?"

    Lan Wangji turned back and replied, "To find the local cultivator clan."

    Wei Wuxian grabbed the tassel of his sword, pulling him back: "What for? This is their territory. Even if they know something, they won''t tell you. Either they can''t solve the problem and are too embarrassed to admit it, or they''re stubbornly refusing to let outsiders interfere. Esteemed Hanguang-jun, I''m not trying to belittle you, but when it comes to investigating out here, you really can''t manage without me. If you were to inquire like this, it would be strange if you learned anything at all."

    These words were spoken rather bluntly, but the look in Lan Wangji''s eyes beneath his eyelids was gentle. He still softly said, "Mm."

    Wei Wuxian laughed: "What do you mean, ''Mm''? How can you just say ''Mm'' to that?" But inwardly, he grumbled, "Only knows how to say ''Mm'', still so taciturn!"

    Lan Wangji asked, "Then how should we inquire?"

    Wei Wuxian pointed to one side: "Of course, we go there!"

    Where he pointed was a wide, long street. Both sides of the street were adorned with eye-catching signs hanging high and low, fluttering with bright red cloths. Each shop had its doors wide open, with round, black jars arranged from inside to outside. Shop assistants were holding trays of small wine cups, enthusiastically recommending their wares to passersby.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    The strong aroma of alcohol wafted throughout the street, no wonder Wei Wuxian had been walking slower and slower. As they reached the entrance of the street, he came to a complete stop, even holding Lan Wangji back.

    Wei Wuxian said seriously, "The assistants in these places are usually young and quick-witted, with nimble hands and feet. And since they have many customers every day and hear all sorts of chatter, any strange occurrences in the area surely won''t escape their notice."

    Lan Wangji responded with an "Mm" that didn''t oppose the idea, but his face clearly said, "You just want to drink, don''t you?"

    Wei Wuxian pretended not to understand his expression and, still holding onto the tassel of Lan Wangji''s sword, entered the street of wine shops with his eyes gleaming. Immediately, five or six assistants from different shops surrounded them, each more enthusiastic than the last: "Would you like to try? This is the famous He family brew of our region!"

    "Young master, try this one. Just a taste, free of charge. If you enjoy it, please patronize our humble shop."

    "This wine doesn''t smell strong, but it packs quite a punch once you drink it!"

    "If you can still stand after drinking this, I''ll take your surname!"

    Hearing this last one, Wei Wuxian said, "Alright!" He took the cup of wine from the assistant, drank it in one gulp, and showed him the empty bottom with a smile, saying, "Take my surname?"

    The assistant, surprisingly undaunted, raised his chin and said with even more bravado, "I said after drinking a whole jar!"

    Wei Wuxian said, "Then give me... three jars."

    The assistant was overjoyed and rushed back to the shop. Wei Wuxian said to Lan Wangji, "In business, you do business first, then talk about other things. Once the business is done, it''s easier to open up conversations."

    Lan Wangji took out money to pay.

    The two entered the shop, which had wooden tables and chairs for customers to rest and chat. Another assistant inside, seeing Lan Wangji''s appearance and demeanor, was struck by his otherworldly beauty and dared not be negligent. He vigorously wiped the tables and chairs for quite a while before daring to offer them seats. Wei Wuxian had two jars at his feet and one in his hand. After exchanging a few friendly words with the assistant, he got straight to the point, asking about any strange occurrences in the area. The talkative assistant rubbed his hands and asked, "What kind of strange things?"

    "Haunted houses, desolate graves, dismembered bodies, things like that."

    The assistant''s eyes darted around as he said, "Oh... What exactly do you do? You and him."

    Wei Wuxian said, "Haven''t you already guessed?"

    The assistant nodded knowingly, "Of course. It''s easy to guess. You two must be those flying, cloud-riding cultivators from some clan, right? Especially the one next to you, I''ve never seen someone so... so..."

    Wei Wuxian laughed and said, "So exquisite."

    The assistant laughed heartily and said, "You''ve said it, sir. This young master might not be pleased. Strange occurrences, right? There are some. But not recent ones, it was from ten years ago. If you walk in this direction, out of the city, and go another two or three li, you''ll see a rather beautifully built mansion. I don''t know if their nameplate is still there, but that place is the Chang estate."

    Wei Wuxian asked, "What happened to that mansion?"

    "A horrific massacre!" the assistant said. "You asked about strange things, so of course I''m telling you the strangest of the strange. An entire family wiped out, and they say everyone died of fright!"

    Hearing this, Lan Wangji seemed lost in thought, as if remembering something. Wei Wuxian, however, didn''t notice and asked, "Is there any cultivator clan stationed in this area?"

    To frighten an entire family to death would require an extremely cruel and terrifying ghost or evil spirit. Not every family had unavoidable circumstances like the Qinghe Nie Clan; usually, cultivator clans wouldn''t tolerate such entities in their territory.

    The assistant replied, "Yes, there is. How could there not be?"

    Wei Wuxian asked, "How did they respond to the situation at that time?"

    "Respond?" The assistant threw his cloth over his shoulder and sat down, solemnly delivering the punchline he had been holding back: "Young master, do you know what the surname of the cultivator clan stationed in Liyang was before? It was Chang. The family that died was their family! With everyone dead, who was left to respond?"

    The massacred Chang family was actually the cultivator clan stationed in this area?!

    Although Wei Wuxian had never heard of the Liyang Chang Clan, and it certainly wasn''t a renowned cultivation sect, the annihilation of an entire clan was undoubtedly a shocking and major event. He quickly followed up with another question: "How exactly was the Chang family wiped out?"

    The assistant said, "I''m just telling you what I''ve heard. One night, there was suddenly the sound of someone banging on the door at the Chang estate."

    Wei Wuxian: "Banging on the door?"

    "Yes! The banging was so loud it shook the heavens. Inside, there was shouting and crying, as if everyone was trapped inside and couldn''t get out. Isn''t that strange? The door was bolted from the inside. If the people inside wanted to get out, couldn''t they just open it? Why bang on the door? And if they were banging, how could the people outside help? And if they couldn''t use the door, why not climb over the wall?

    "The people outside were very puzzled. Everyone in the area knew that the Chang family was an impressive clan of cultivators. Their patriarch, I think his name was Chang Ping, had a sword that could fly, and he could stand on it and fly! If something had really happened inside that even they couldn''t handle, wouldn''t it be suicide for ordinary people to get involved? So no one dared to set up ladders or climb over the wall to look inside. This went on all night, with the wailing inside growing fainter and fainter. The next day, as soon as the sun came up, the main gate of the Chang estate opened by itself.

    "In the entire house, more than a dozen masters, male and female, and over fifty servants, some sitting, some lying face down, all with bile coming out of their mouths, had been frightened to death."

    The wine shop owner turned back and scolded, "You''re asking for trouble! Stop working to talk about these old, deadly stories."

    Wei Wuxian said, "Give us five more jars."

    Lan Wangji paid for ten jars, and the owner immediately turned back with a beaming smile, instructing the assistant, "Take good care of the customers, don''t run off anywhere!"

    Wei Wuxian said, "Please, continue."

    The assistant, now free from worry, put his heart and soul into the storytelling, speaking with dramatic flair: "After that, for quite some time, if anyone walked near the Chang estate at night, they could hear the sound of banging on doors from inside!

    "Just imagine, these were people who could ride clouds and fight monsters, who had seen all sorts of ghosts and demons. Yet they were all frightened to death. How terrifying must it have been? If you walk at night often enough, you''re bound to encounter ghosts. They say you could even hear the sound of banging on coffins after they were buried! Although their patriarch, Chang Ping, was away and escaped this fate..."

    Wei Wuxian interrupted, "Didn''t you say the entire family was wiped out?"

 29. "Young Master, Whatâ€™s Your Surname?" "Iâ€¦ My surname is Lan."

    The companion said, "Don''t be impatient, I was just about to tell you. They all died. When I said they escaped disaster, it was only temporary. A few years later, that mistress Chang Ping also died. This time, it was even more terrifying. She was killed by sword, through lingchi! Do I need to explain what lingchi is? It''s when they use knives or swords to cut the person''s flesh, bit by bit, three thousand six hundred cuts until all the flesh is gone and only the skeleton remains..."

    Wei Wuxian, of course, knew what lingchi was. If someone were to write a book called "A Thousand Ways of Cruel Death," no one would be more qualified than him. He raised his hand and said, "I understand. But, my friend, do you know why the Chang family was exterminated?"

    The companion replied, "I heard it was deliberately planned by other cultivators. It must have been! Otherwise, how could a group of living people, and cultivators at that, not escape? They must have been trapped inside by something or someone."

    The tavern owner, afraid they might not be enjoying their conversation, brought over two small plates of peanuts and melon seeds. Wei Wuxian nodded in thanks, and while cracking melon seeds, he continued to ask, "Did they find out what or who it was?"

    The companion laughed, "Young master, aren''t you joking? The affairs of those high and mighty who fly in the sky, how would common folk like us who struggle to make a living know? You''re cultivators yourselves, you should know better than me. I''ve only heard vague rumors that they offended someone they shouldn''t have! Anyway, since then, no one''s been taking care of the demons and monsters in this part of Liyang."

    Wei Wuxian pondered, "Someone they shouldn''t have offended?"

    "That''s right, that''s right," the companion said, eating a couple of peanuts. "The grudges and feuds among these sects and clans are very complicated. I reckon the Chang family must have been targeted by other cultivators. Killing for treasure isn''t uncommon, right? That''s what storytellers always say, and what legends and romances always write. Though I don''t know the specifics, it seems to be related to a very famous evil mastermind."

    Wei Wuxian smiled as he brought his wine bowl to his lips, eyeing him askance, "Let me guess, you''re going to say you don''t know who this evil mastermind is, right?"

    The companion chuckled, "You''re wrong. I do know this one. I think he''s called something like Old Monster... Oh, Old Patriarch, the Yiling Patriarch!"

    Wei Wuxian choked, burbling a string of bubbles into his wine bowl. "What?"

    Him again?!

    The companion said confidently, "Yes, that''s right! Surname Wei, I think he''s called Wei Wuqian. When others mention him, they sound both hateful and fearful!"

    "..."

    Wei Wuxian pondered deeply and confirmed two points: First, he had never been to Liyang when he was alive; Second, among all the people he had killed, none had been executed by lingchi. He felt absurd and turned his head to look at Lan Wangji, as if seeking an explanation. Lan Wangji had been waiting for this glance for a while and said, "Let''s go."

    Wei Wuxian immediately understood that Lan Wangji had something to say about this, and it wasn''t convenient to discuss it in the tavern in front of others. He stood up and said, "Alright, let''s go. The bill... it''s paid, right? Young man, keep the wine we bought here. We''ll come back to continue drinking after we finish our business." He half-jokingly added, "Don''t think we''re trying to skip out on the bill."

    The companion, who had already eaten most of the peanuts, called out, "How could we? Our shop is honest to all, young and old. Feel free to leave it here. We won''t close the shop until you come back. Hey, hey, young masters, are you going to the Chang residence now? Wow, that''s impressive! Even I, a local, have never been there! I only dare to peek from afar. Are you planning to go inside? What are you going to do?"

    Wei Wuxian replied, "We''re also just going to peek from afar, secretly."

    This young companion was lively and quickly became familiar. After chatting for a while, he no longer treated Wei Wuxian as an outsider and moved closer to put his arm around Wei Wuxian''s shoulder. "You two, is your job tiring? Do you earn a lot? It must be a lot! You look so respectable. Let me ask you something, is it hard to join? I..."

    He was chattering away when suddenly he fell silent, looking fearfully to the side and whispered, "Young master, the one next to you... why is he glaring at me?"

    Wei Wuxian followed his gaze and just caught Lan Wangji turning his head and walking out of the tavern. He said, "Oh, him? My friend here had a strict upbringing. He hates seeing people being overly familiar in front of him. Is that a bit strange?"

    The companion awkwardly withdrew his hand and muttered in a very low voice, "Strange indeed. Looking at his expression, one might think I was being overly familiar with his wife..."

    With Lan Wangji''s hearing, it was impossible that lowering the voice would make it inaudible. Who knows what he thought of this. Wei Wuxian was trying so hard not to laugh that he felt internal injury. He quickly said to the companion, "I''ve finished a jar."Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    The companion: "What?"

    Wei Wuxian pointed at himself: "Standing."

    The young companion finally remembered his earlier words "if you can still stand after finishing a jar, I''ll take your surname," and hurriedly said, "Oh... Oh! That! ... Impressive! I''m not exaggerating, this is the first time I''ve seen someone finish a jar and still stand steady with a clear tongue. What''s your surname, young master?"

    Wei Wuxian said, "I..." Then, remembering the companion''s earlier "Wei Wuqian," he twitched his lips and calmly continued, "My surname is Lan."

    The companion, also thick-skinned, said loudly without changing his expression, "That''s it, from today on, my surname is Lan!"

    Under the bright red wine banner, Lan Wangji''s back seemed to waver for a moment. Wei Wuxian, with a mischievous grin, walked up to him with his hands behind his back and patted his shoulder, "Thanks for paying the bill, Hanguang-jun. I made him take your surname."

    After leaving the city, the two walked in the direction the companion had pointed. As the number of people decreased and trees increased, Wei Wuxian asked, "Why didn''t you let me continue asking earlier?"

    Lan Wangji replied, "I suddenly remembered that I had heard about the Chang family of Liyang before. So there was no need to ask further."

    Wei Wuxian said, "Before you tell me, let me ask you to confirm something indirectly. That... the extermination of the Chang family wasn''t done by me, right?"

    Not to mention that he had been dead for ten years already, with his soul resting peacefully. He certainly wouldn''t have forgotten if he had gone and wiped out an entire family!

    Lan Wangji said, "It wasn''t."

    Wei Wuxian said, "Oh." It seemed like he had returned to a time in his previous life when everyone was calling for his head, when he was worse off than a sewer rat, when any bad thing could be attributed to him, when blame could be cast on him at will. Even if the neighbor''s grandson lost three pounds from not eating, it could be blamed on being frightened by stories of the Yiling Patriarch''s ghost general killing people.

    However, Lan Wangji added, "Although you didn''t kill them, it is related to you."

    Wei Wuxian asked, "How is it related?"

    Lan Wangji said, "There are two connections. First, there is a person involved in this matter who had a deep connection with your mother."

    Wei Wuxian stopped in his tracks.

    He didn''t know what to feel, or what expression to make. He hesitantly asked, "... My mother?"

    Wei Wuxian was the son of Wei Changze, a servant of the Jiang clan of Yunmeng, and Cangse Sanren, a wandering cultivator. Both Jiang Fengmian and his wife were well acquainted with his parents, but Jiang Fengmian rarely reminisced about his old friends to Wei Wuxian. Jiang Fengmian''s wife, Yu Ziyuan, never spoke kindly to him; if she didn''t whip him a few times or make him kneel in the ancestral hall to keep him away from Jiang Cheng, it was considered good. Most of what he knew about his parents came from others, and he didn''t know much more than anyone else.

    Lan Wangji also stopped, turned to face him, and said, "Have you heard of a person named Xiao Xingchen?"

    Wei Wuxian thought carefully and said, "No, I haven''t."

    Lan Wangji said, "It''s right that you haven''t. This person became famous after leaving the mountain, exactly twelve years ago. Now, no one mentions him anymore."

    Twelve years ago was just a year after the great siege at the Burial Mounds of Yiling, just missing it. Wei Wuxian asked, "Which mountain, and under whose tutelage?"

    Lan Wangji replied, "The mountain is unknown. He was from the Taoist sect. Xiao Xingchen was a disciple of Baoshan Sanren."

    Wei Wuxian finally understood why this person was said to have a deep connection with his mother. He said, "So, this Xiao Xingchen would be considered my martial uncle."

    Cangse Sanren was also a disciple of Baoshan Sanren.

    This Baoshan Sanren was a reclusive Taoist said to be from the same era as cultivators like Wen Mao and Lan An. The prominent figures of that generation have long since perished, but Baoshan Sanren was rumored to still be alive. If true, she must be several hundred years old, showing her extraordinary cultivation. Back then, led by Wen Mao, clan-based cultivation powers sprouted like bamboo shoots after rain, weakening the sect-based system. Blood relations became the bond for cultivation forces. Any cultivator with a bit of fame would establish their own sect and lineage. However, this master chose to retreat into the mountains, taking the Taoist name Baoshan. Which mountain she embraced, no one knew. Then again, it''s precisely because no one knew that it''s called seclusion. If one could easily find someone in seclusion, it wouldn''t be called seclusion at all.

    This predecessor lived in seclusion on an unknown immortal mountain, occasionally secretly bringing orphaned children up the mountain to accept as disciples. But all disciples had to swear: to devote their lives solely to cultivation, never to descend the mountain, never to enter the mortal world. Otherwise, regardless of the reason, they could never return. They had to be self-reliant, struggle through the mortal world, and have no more connection with their master.

    People all said that Baoshan Sanren was indeed an enlightened master, and this rule she set showed great foresight. Because in hundreds of years, she only had three disciples who left the mountain: Yan Ling Daoren, Cangse Sanren, and Xiao Xingchen. All three disciples did not meet good ends.

    Wei Wuxian had known the fates of the first two disciples since childhood, so there was no need to hear more. Thus, Lan Wangji briefly told him about the deeds of his martial uncle.

    Xiao Xingchen was only seventeen when he left the mountain. Although Lan Wangji had never met him, he had heard of his elegance from others.

    At that time, it had been only a few years since the Sunshot Campaign ended, and the great siege at the Burial Mounds of Yiling had just passed. Various great clans were running rampant, recruiting talents for their own use everywhere. Xiao Xingchen left the mountain with the intention of saving the world. He was of excellent quality and came from a great master. In his first night hunt, with just a horsetail whisk and a long sword, he ventured into the mountains alone and took first place - becoming famous overnight.

    Seeing this young Taoist of clear appearance and profound cultivation, the various clans were greatly impressed and sent out invitations one after another. However, Xiao Xingchen politely declined them all, stating clearly that he did not wish to be affiliated with any clan. Instead, he and a close friend wanted to establish a new sect that did not emphasize blood ties.

    This person had a temperament like cattails and reeds, but a heart like bedrock - soft on the outside but firm inside. He was also self-disciplined. At that time, whenever someone had any thorny or difficult issues, the first person they thought of seeking help from was him, and he never refused. Thus, his reputation was excellent.

    The extermination of the Chang family in Liyang happened at that time.

 30. The Chang Clan Massacre, the Grave Robber, and Summoning Wen Ning Again

    One day, Constant Ping, the head of the Constant family from Liyang, went night hunting with several family members. After more than half a month, he suddenly received devastating news while on the journey and hurried back home. After the initial grief, they only discovered that someone had maliciously broken their family''s protective array, allowing a group of vicious evil spirits to enter. Beyond this, they were completely in the dark.

    Originally, the tragedy of a small family would have been known to only a few. However, the circumstances at the time were special. The Shooting Sun Campaign had long ended, and the Burial Mounds siege had just concluded. The situation was barely stable on the surface. When this incident suddenly broke out, it immediately caused an uproar among the hundred schools of thought in the mystical world. There were even sensationalists who spread rumors that it was revenge from the Yiling Patriarch, Wei Wuxian, who had returned to the world. However, there was never any evidence, and the hunt for the culprit led nowhere. Xiao Xingchen, of course, would not stand idly by. He immediately took on the responsibility of seeking the truth for Constant Ping. A month later, he finally uncovered the identity of the murderer who had annihilated the family.

    The murderer''s name was Xue Yang.

    This Xue Yang was even younger than Xiao Xingchen, undoubtedly a mere youth. However, his malevolence was not at all tempered by his young age. From the age of fifteen, he had been a notorious hooligan, infamous throughout the Kuizhou region. With a beaming smile but vicious methods and a cruel personality, everyone in Kuizhou paled at the mention of Xue Yang. In his youth, he had been a street urchin and seemed to have had some grievances with Constant Ping''s father, which he had harbored for several years. Out of revenge and some other reasons, he was driven to commit this atrocity.

    After Xiao Xingchen uncovered the truth, he crossed three provinces to capture Xue Yang, who was still freely and gleefully engaging in gang fights. Taking advantage of a grand discussion event hosted by the Lanling Jin Clan at their celestial abode, Jinlintai, where various major clans gathered to debate and seek knowledge, Xiao Xingchen brought Xue Yang before the public, clarified the whole situation, and demanded severe punishment.

    He listed the evidence meticulously, and the vast majority of the clans had no objections. Only one family strongly opposed - the Lanling Jin Clan.

    Wei Wuxian said, "To oppose under such circumstances is truly defying public opinion. Could it be that this Xue Yang is a favorite of Jin Guangshan?"

    Lan Wangji replied, "Guest cultivator."

    Wei Wuxian exclaimed, "He''s a guest cultivator? Wasn''t the Lanling Jin Clan already one of the four great clans back then? Why would they invite a small-time hooligan as a guest cultivator?"

    Lan Wangji said, "This is the second connection."

    He gazed into Wei Wuxian''s eyes and slowly said, "Because of the Yin Tiger Seal."

    Wei Wuxian''s heart suddenly leaped into his throat.

    The three words "Yin Tiger Seal" were far from unfamiliar to him. On the contrary, no one knew them better than he did.

    Among all the magical artifacts he had forged in his previous life, this was the most terrifying, and simultaneously, the one everyone most desired to possess.

    The Tiger Seal was used for issuing commands. As its name suggests, whoever possessed this Tiger Seal could command corpses, ghosts, and vicious spirits to do their bidding.

    When Wei Wuxian initially created it, he hadn''t thought too much about it. Controlling corpse puppets and evil spirits with his spiritual power alone could be exhausting. He recalled once seeing a rare piece of iron essence in the belly of a demonic beast, so he took it and forged it into a Tiger Seal.

    However, after the Tiger Seal was forged, Wei Wuxian used it only once before realizing that something was terribly wrong.

    The power of the Yin Tiger Seal was far greater and more terrifying than he had initially anticipated. He had intended to use it as an auxiliary tool, but its power showed signs of overshadowing even him, its creator. Moreover, this object did not recognize a single master. In other words, as long as someone obtained it, regardless of who they were, whether good or evil, friend or foe, it would serve whoever possessed it.

    The disaster had already been created, and Wei Wuxian had considered destroying it. However, the Tiger Seal was not easy to forge, nor was it easy to destroy, requiring immense energy and time. Moreover, by then he had already vaguely sensed that his own situation was precarious, and that sooner or later everyone would seek to execute him. The Yin Tiger Seal had tremendous deterrent power, and with this artifact, others would not dare to move against him lightly. So he temporarily kept it, only splitting the Tiger Seal in two, allowing it to exert its full power only when the halves were combined, and he resolved never to use it lightly.

    He had only used it twice in total, and each time rivers of blood flowed. The first time was during the Shooting Sun Campaign. After the second use, he finally made up his mind and completely destroyed half of the seal. Before he could finish destroying the other half, the great siege of the Burial Mounds began. What happened after that was beyond his control.

    Wei Wuxian was confident in speaking about the things he had created. He dared to assert that even if the half of the Yin Tiger Seal that remained was seized by a clan, enshrined, and worshipped daily with high-grade incense, it would still be nothing more than a piece of scrap metal. Yet Lan Wangji told him something astonishing: this Xue Yang seemed to be able to reconstruct the other half of the Yin Tiger Seal!

    Xue Yang, though extremely young, was very intelligent and also quite an unorthodox and sinister character. The Lanling Jin Clan discovered that he could actually reconstruct the other half of the Tiger Seal based on the remaining half. Although the reconstructed replica couldn''t be used for long and its power was not as great as the original, it could still cause terrifying consequences.

    Wei Wuxian understood: "The Lanling Jin Clan wants to keep Xue Yang to continue reconstructing the Yin Tiger Seal for them, so they must protect him."

    Perhaps when Xue Yang annihilated the Constant family, it wasn''t entirely to avenge the bullying he suffered as a poor youth. It''s possible he was experimenting, testing the power of the Yin Tiger Seal he was reconstructing on an entire family of living people!

    No wonder rumors had connected the massacre to him. Wei Wuxian could almost imagine how those cultivators must have been gnashing their teeth: "This Wei Wuxian! If he hadn''t created such a thing, the world wouldn''t have suffered so many calamities!!!"

    Returning to the main story, back at Jinlintai.

    Although the Lanling Jin Clan was determined to shield Xue Yang, Xiao Xingchen was unyielding. As the two sides reached an impasse, they finally alarmed Nie Mingjue, the Chifeng-zun, who had not participated in this grand discussion event. He flew in from elsewhere to intervene at Jinlintai.

    Although Nie Mingjue was Jin Guangshan''s junior, he was a stern man who tolerated no wrongdoing and showed no leniency. After a harsh rebuke, Jin Guangshan was left embarrassed and speechless. The hot-tempered Nie Mingjue drew his sword on the spot, intending to execute Xue Yang. When his sworn brother, Jin Guangyao, the Lianfang-zun, stepped forward to mediate, he was ordered to get lost and scolded viciously, forcing him to hide behind Lan Xichen. In the end, the Lanling Jin Clan had no choice but to yield.

    After Xiao Xingchen brought Xue Yang to Jinlintai, he remained fearless throughout. Even with Nie Mingjue''s sword at his throat, he kept smiling. Before being dragged away, he said to Xiao Xingchen with great familiarity: "Daoist Master, don''t forget about me. Let''s see how things unfold."

    Hearing this, Wei Wuxian knew that this "let''s see" would undoubtedly cost Xiao Xingchen an incredibly painful price.

    The Lanling Jin Clan, true to their reputation as the most thick-skinned of the great clans, had agreed to deal with Xue Yang in front of the hundred clans at Jinlintai. However, as soon as Nie Mingjue was out of sight, they quickly imprisoned Xue Yang in the dungeon, changing his sentence to life imprisonment without release. When Nie Mingjue learned of this, he was furious and pressured them again, but the Lanling Jin Clan hemmed and hawed, refusing to hand over Xue Yang. Other clans watched the drama unfold, but before long, Nie Mingjue unexpectedly died from qi deviation.

    He had cultivated faster than any previous clan leader of the Qinghe Nie Sect, and he died younger than any of them too.

    With the most formidable opponent gone, the Lanling Jin Clan became increasingly brazen and began to hatch even more crooked schemes. Jin Guangshan started to find ways to release Xue Yang from prison, to continue reconstructing the Yin Tiger Seal and explore its mysteries.

    But such actions were undoubtedly dishonorable. To release a murderer who had annihilated an entire family from the dungeon required a legitimate reason.

    So, they turned their attention to Constant Ping.

    Through threats, inducements, and constant harassment, the Lanling Jin Clan finally succeeded in making Constant Ping retract his previous accusations. He publicly announced: The annihilation of the Constant family had nothing to do with Xue Yang.

    When Xiao Xingchen heard the news and came to inquire, Constant Ping told him helplessly: "What else can I do? If I don''t go along with this, the rest of my family will have no way to survive. Thank you, Daoist Master, but... please don''t help me anymore. If you continue to help me now, you''ll only be harming me. I don''t want the Constant family of Liyang to end here."

    And so, the act of releasing the tiger back to the mountain came to an end.

    Wei Wuxian remained silent.

    If he were Constant Ping, regardless of how the Lanling Jin Clan, as the number one sect, might try to cover up the sky with one hand, no matter what glorious future they might promise him, he would never utter a word of compromise. On the contrary, he would personally infiltrate the dungeon at night, flay Xue Yang alive into a puddle of minced meat, then summon him back to flay him again and again, until he regretted being born into this world.

    But not everyone has his personality of preferring mutual destruction. The Constant family still had a few surviving members, and Constant Ping was still young, unmarried and childless, just starting on the path of cultivation. Whether threatened with the lives of his surviving family members or with his future and cultivation, he had to consider carefully.

    After all, he wasn''t Constant Ping himself, and couldn''t substitute his righteous indignation, let alone replace him in living in fear and enduring these physical and mental torments.

    And after Xue Yang was released, he indeed unleashed his revenge once again. This time, however, he didn''t target Xiao Xingchen directly.

    Xiao Xingchen had left his mountain alone, without any relatives, but he had befriended someone after coming down the mountain, named Song Lan. This Song Lan was also a renowned Daoist figure at the time, known for his proud and aloof character, and had a good reputation. Both of them wanted to establish their own sects, valuing like-minded companions over blood ties. They could be called close friends with shared ambitions. People of the time praised them: "Xiao Xingchen, bright as the moon and fresh as the breeze; Song Zichen, proud as snow and cold as frost."

    Xue Yang chose to strike here, using his old tactics. He completely annihilated the White Snow Temple where Song Lan had grown up and studied, and secretly poisoned Song Lan, blinding both his eyes.

    This time, having gained experience from his previous massacre, he acted swiftly and cleanly, leaving no clues behind. Although everyone knew it must have been his doing, what could be done without evidence? Moreover, with Jin Guangshan''s deliberate protection, and the Chifeng-zun, who had the might of thunder in his anger, having passed away, no one could do anything about him.

    Hearing this, Wei Wuxian suddenly found something strange: although Lan Wangji appeared indifferent and unwilling to interfere, based on Wei Wuxian''s past understanding of him, his hatred for evil was no less than that of Nie Huaisang''s elder brother. In the past, when the Lanling Jin Clan behaved inappropriately, Lan Wangji never hesitated to speak frankly, and even now, he rarely attended their discussion conferences, showing no support. If two such heinous massacres had occurred in succession back then, it would have certainly been the talk of the town, and Lan Wangji would never have stood idly by. Why didn''t he do anything about this Xue Yang?

    Just as he was about to ask, he remembered the discipline whip marks on Lan Wangji''s body.

    One lash from a discipline whip was already life-threatening. If Lan Wangji had committed some great error and received so many lashes, he must have been confined and not allowed to leave for several years. Perhaps during the years when these events occurred, he was being punished or recovering from his injuries. No wonder he only said he had "heard some rumors."

    Wei Wuxian inexplicably cared a great deal about those scars, but it wasn''t appropriate to ask directly. So he temporarily suppressed his curiosity and asked, "So what happened to this Daoist Master Xiao Xingchen afterwards?"

    The aftermath, of course, could only be a tragic conclusion. When Xiao Xingchen initially left his master and the mountain, he had sworn never to return. He took his oaths very seriously, but with Song Lan blinded and severely injured, he broke his own vow and carried Song Lan back to the Baoshan Sanren, requesting his master to heal his friend.

    Baoshan Sanren, considering their master-disciple relationship, agreed to his request. Xiao Xingchen then left the mountain and disappeared without a trace.

    A year later, Song Lan also left the mountain. People were amazed that even his eyes, which had been completely blinded, had regained sight. But in fact, it wasn''t that Baoshan Sanren''s medical skills were miraculous, but rather that Xiao Xingchen... had gouged out his own eyes and given them to Song Lan, who had suffered because of him.

    Song Lan initially wanted to seek revenge against Xue Yang, but by this time, Jin Guangshan had passed away, and Jin Guangyao had taken over the Lanling Jin Clan and been elevated to the position of Chief Cultivator. To demonstrate a new era with new approaches, as soon as he took office, he dealt with Xue Yang, no longer mentioning the reconstruction of the Yin Tiger Seal, and took various remedial and pacifying measures to salvage their reputation and suppress rumors. Song Lan went in search of his former friend''s whereabouts, and at first, there were still reports of where he had gone, but later, there was no news at all. Moreover, since the Constant family of Liyang was just an obscure small clan, many of these events gradually faded into dust.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    After hearing this long story, Wei Wuxian softly exhaled, feeling a sense of regret and pity: "To end up in such a state because of something that originally had nothing to do with him, it''s truly... If Xiao Xingchen had been born a few years earlier, or if I had died a few years later, things wouldn''t have turned out this way. If I had been alive, how could I have ignored such a matter? How could I not have befriended such a person!"

    Then he laughed wryly, secretly mocking himself: "Me? How could I have helped? If I had still been alive at that time, perhaps there would have been no need to investigate the Constant family massacre, it would have been directly attributed to me. If this Daoist Master Xiao Xingchen had met me on the road, and I had tried to strike up a conversation and invite him for a drink, he might have whipped me with his fly whisk, haha."

    They had already walked past the Constant residence and were approaching a cemetery not far away. Wei Wuxian saw the dark red character "³£" (Constant) on the memorial arch and asked, "So why did Constant Ping die later? Who executed the remaining members of his family?"

    Before Lan Wangji could answer, in the faint blue twilight, a series of "bang bang bang" sounds like someone knocking on a door echoed.

    The sound was very similar to knocking on a door, but it wasn''t exactly that. The force was violent and urgent, without a moment''s pause. It was muffled, as if there was a layer of something in between.

    Both of their expressions tensed simultaneously.

    The more than fifty members of the Constant family of Liyang were now lying in their coffins, banging on their coffin lids from the inside. Just like on the night they were frightened to death, they were frantically knocking on the door, but would never wait for someone to open it.

    This was the coffin-knocking sound from the Constant family cemetery that the tavern worker had mentioned!

    But that worker had said that the haunting had stopped ten years ago, so why did it start again just as they arrived?

    Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji simultaneously concealed their auras and moved stealthily.

    Leaning against the support pillar of the memorial arch, they both saw a hole appear in the center of the cemetery, amidst a cluster of tombstones.

    It was a very deep hole, with mounds of freshly dug earth piled beside it. Faint sounds were coming from within the hole.

    Someone was grave robbing.

    The two of them silently held their breath, waiting for the person in the hole to come out on their own.

    In less than half an incense stick''s time, two figures lightly leaped out of the excavated grave.

    Thanks to Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji''s keen eyesight, they could make out that these were two people. Because these two were like conjoined twins, one carrying the other on their back, tightly connected, and both dressed in black, it was extremely difficult to distinguish between them.

    The person who had leaped out stood with their back to them, tall and lanky. The person on their back had their head and limbs drooping lifelessly. But this was to be expected; since they had been dug out of a grave, it must be a dead person, and being lifeless was normal.

    Just as they were thinking this, the grave robber suddenly turned their head and saw them.

    This person''s face was shrouded in a dense black mist, making it completely impossible to see their features and appearance!

    Wei Wuxian knew that they must have used some strange spell to conceal their face. Lan Wangji had already summoned Bichen and darted into the cemetery, engaging with the intruder. The grave robber reacted extremely quickly, seeing Bichen''s blue sword light approaching, they formed a sword seal and also summoned a streak of sword light. However, this sword light, like their face, was entwined with rolling black mist, making it impossible to discern its color or aura. The grave robber, carrying a corpse on their back, fought in an odd posture. After the two sword lights clashed several times, Lan Wangji recalled Bichen, gripping it in his hand, his face rapidly covered with a layer of frost.

    Wei Wuxian knew why his expression had suddenly become so severe. Because from that brief exchange, even he, an outsider, could clearly see that this grave robber was very familiar with Lan Wangji''s sword techniques!

    Lan Wangji, without uttering a word, thrust Bichen with even more force, his sword intent like an avalanche. The grave robber retreated repeatedly, seemingly aware that carrying a dead body made them no match for Lan Wangji, and that continuing to fight would certainly lead to capture. Suddenly, they pulled out a deep blue talisman from their waist.

    A teleportation talisman!

    This type of talisman could transport a person thousands of miles away in an instant, but it also consumed a large amount of spiritual energy. The user would need a long time to recover their energy, and those without sufficient spiritual power weren''t even qualified to use it. So although it was a top-tier treasure, very few people used it. Seeing that they were about to escape, Wei Wuxian urgently clapped his hands twice, knelt on one knee, and slammed his fist into the ground.

    The force of this punch penetrated through layers of soil, reaching deep into the earth, breaking through the thick coffin lid, giving the trapped souls an almost maddening stimulation. With a cracking sound, four bloody arms shot up from the ground, suddenly grabbing the grave robber''s left and right legs!

    The grave robber was unfazed, channeling spiritual energy to their feet, shaking off the four corpse hands. Wei Wuxian pulled out his bamboo flute, and a sharp, piercing melody tore through the descending night. Two heads emerged from the grave, their entire bodies following, crawling up the grave robber''s legs like snakes, wrapping around their body and biting down on their neck and arms.

    The grave robber scoffed disdainfully, as if saying "cheap tricks," and sent spiritual energy throughout their body. However, this time, after releasing the spiritual energy, they suddenly realized they had been tricked.

    They had also shaken off the corpse they were carrying on their back!

    Wei Wuxian slapped the tombstone, laughing wildly. Lan Wangji caught the limp corpse with one hand, while thrusting Bichen forward with the other. Seeing that the thing they had just dug up had been snatched away, and knowing they couldn''t win against Lan Wangji in single combat, let alone with another person causing mischief, the grave robber dared not linger. They slammed the teleportation talisman to the ground, and with a thunderous boom, billowing blue flames shot skyward, their figure disappearing within the fire.

    Wei Wuxian had known that the grave robber held a teleportation talisman, and even if caught, they could find a chance to escape. Leaving behind the corpse they had dug up was already a clue, so he didn''t feel it was a loss. He walked over to Lan Wangji and said, "Let''s see who they dug up."

    As he looked, he was slightly shocked. The corpse''s head was already broken. And what was exposed through the broken parts wasn''t blood, flesh, or brains, but clumps of slightly blackened cotton.

    Wei Wuxian yanked off the corpse''s head, holding up the finely crafted fake human head, and said, "What''s this all about? A fake corpse made of cotton and rags buried in the Constant family cemetery?"

    Lan Wangji, having held the corpse earlier and gauged its weight, knew something was amiss and said, "Not entirely fake."

    Wei Wuxian felt all over the corpse and found that its limbs were all limp, only the chest and abdomen had a solid feel. Tearing open the clothes, sure enough, the torso was real, while all other parts were fake.

    The cotton-stuffed head and limbs were meant to "deceive" this torso, making it believe it was still attached to its owner''s body. Judging by the skin color and the broken left shoulder, this must be the torso of the "good brother" they were looking for. The grave robber had come to dig it up.

    Wei Wuxian stood up and said, "It seems the person hiding the corpse has noticed that we''re investigating this matter and came to move the torso, fearing we might dig it up. Better late than never, we happened to run into them, haha. However," his tone changed, "how is it that the misty-faced grave robber is so familiar with your family''s sword techniques?"

    Clearly, Lan Wangji was also pondering this, the frosty look on his face still hadn''t faded. Wei Wuxian said, "This person''s cultivation is quite high, high enough to support the use of a teleportation talisman. They used spells on both their face and sword. Using a spell on the face is understandable, afraid of being recognized. But usually, an unknown cultivator has no need to use a spell to conceal their sword ¡ª unless their sword has some reputation in the cultivation world, or is very famous, recognizable to many people by its sword light, which would give them away as soon as it''s drawn, so they have to conceal it."

    Wei Wuxian tentatively asked, "Hanguang-jun, after crossing swords with them, do you think it might be someone you know very well?"

    He didn''t feel comfortable saying anything more specific. Such as, Lan Xichen. Or Lan Qiren.

    Lan Wangji firmly said, "No."

    Wei Wuxian had great confidence in Lan Wangji''s answer. He believed Lan Wangji wasn''t the type to cover up facts or be afraid to face the truth. If he said no, then it definitely wasn''t. He also didn''t like lying; in Wei Wuxian''s view, Lan Wangji would rather cast a silencing spell on himself than lie. So Wei Wuxian immediately ruled out these two people and said, "Then it''s even more complicated."

    Lan Wangji placed the torso into another double-layered evil-suppressing Qiankun bag, securing it carefully. The two of them circled the area a few times, then leisurely made their way back to the street of taverns.

    That young worker had indeed kept his word. Seven or eight out of ten other taverns on the street had closed, but their sign was still hanging, and the lights were on. The worker was scooping rice from a large bowl at the entrance. Seeing them, he said happily, "You''re back! How was it? Our place keeps its promises, right? Did you two see anything?"

    Wei Wuxian responded with a few smiling words and sat down with Lan Wangji in the same spot as earlier that day.

    The table by his feet was piled with wine jars. He said, "Right, where were we before? We were interrupted by that sudden grave digger. I still don''t know how Constant Ping died."

    Lan Wangji continued to narrate to him in extremely concise terms.

    Several years after Xue Yang, Xiao Xingchen, Song Lan, and others had gone their separate ways ¡ª some missing, some dead ¡ª one day, Constant Ping and his remaining family members all died in one night by lingchi (death by a thousand cuts). Moreover, Constant Ping''s eyes had been gouged out.

    This time, no one could figure out who the killer was, as all involved parties had vanished without a trace. However, one thing was certain.

    The sword used for the lingchi, based on the examination of the wounds, was Xiao Xingchen''s sword ¡ª Shuanghua.

    Wei Wuxian paused with a bowl of wine at his lips, startled by this development: "Killed by Xiao Xingchen''s sword? Was he the one who did it?"

    Lan Wangji said, "Xiao Xingchen''s disappearance is still inconclusive."

    Wei Wuxian asked, "If they couldn''t find him alive, did they try summoning his soul?"

    Lan Wangji replied, "They tried. No results."

    No results meant either he wasn''t dead, or his soul had completely scattered. As an expert in this field, Wei Wuxian felt compelled to comment: "Soul summoning, you can''t be too absolute about it. It requires the right time, place, and person, and sometimes mistakes can happen. I guess many people think it was Xiao Xingchen''s revenge? Hanguang-jun, what do you think?"

    Lan Wangji slowly shook his head and said, "Without knowing the full picture, I won''t comment."

    Wei Wuxian greatly admired this attitude and principle, smiling as he took a sip of wine. Then he heard Lan Wangji ask, "What do you think?"

    Wei Wuxian said, "Lingchi is a form of torture, inherently implying ''punishment.'' And gouging out the eyes is hard not to associate with Xiao Xingchen, who also lost his eyes. So it''s understandable that people guess it was Xiao Xingchen taking revenge, but," he considered his words carefully, "I think, from the beginning, Xiao Xingchen didn''t get involved in this matter expecting gratitude from Constant Ping. I..."

    He hadn''t decided how to continue "I," when the waiter eagerly brought over two plates of peanuts. Wei Wuxian was interrupted, conveniently not needing to continue. He looked up at Lan Wangji and smiled, "Hanguang-jun, why are you looking at me like that? I''m not doing anything. I don''t know the full picture either, so I won''t comment. You''re right, before understanding all the inside stories and the ins and outs, no one should make arbitrary judgments. I only asked for five jars, but you bought me five more. I''m afraid I can''t finish them alone. How about it, will you drink with me? This isn''t the Cloud Recesses, it''s not forbidden, right?"

    He was prepared to be flatly refused, but to his surprise, Lan Wangji said, "Drink."

    Wei Wuxian clicked his tongue, "Hanguang-jun, you''ve really changed. In the past, if I drank even a small jar in front of you, you''d get furious, wanting to throw me over the wall and hit me. Now you''re even hiding Emperor''s Smile in your room, drinking in secret."

    Lan Wangji adjusted his collar and said softly, "Emperor''s Smile, I haven''t touched a single jar."

    Wei Wuxian said, "If you''re not drinking it, why are you hiding it? Saving it for me? Alright, alright, if you say you haven''t touched it, I believe you. I won''t mention it anymore, let''s begin. I really want to see how many cups it takes to knock out a Gusu Lan Sect disciple who never touches alcohol."

    He poured a bowl for Lan Wangji, who took it without hesitation and downed it. Wei Wuxian was inexplicably excited, staring at his face, waiting to see when it would turn red. However, after staring for quite a while, Lan Wangji''s complexion and expression didn''t change at all, his light-colored eyes calmly gazing back at him ¡ª completely unchanged!

    Wei Wuxian felt greatly disappointed and was about to encourage him to drink another jar when suddenly, Lan Wangji frowned slightly, gently rubbing his brow. After a moment, he supported his forehead with one hand and closed his eyes.

    ...Asleep?

    ...He fell asleep!

    Generally, after drinking so much alcohol, one should first get drunk, then fall asleep. How could Lan Wangji skip the drunk step and go straight to sleep?!

    The "drunk" part was exactly what he wanted to see!

    Wei Wuxian waved his hand in front of the sleeping Lan Wangji, who maintained a serious and upright expression even in slumber, and clapped near his ear. No response.

    Apparently, he was a one-bowl knockout.

    Wei Wuxian hadn''t anticipated this situation. He patted his leg, pondered for a moment, then draped Lan Wangji''s right arm over his neck and dragged him out of the small tavern.

    He had become extremely adept at handling Lan Wangji''s belongings, so he took out the money pouch, found an inn, and asked for two rooms. He carried Lan Wangji into one of them, removed his boots, covered him with a blanket, and then went out under the cover of night.

    Reaching a desolate area, Wei Wuxian pulled out the bamboo flute from his waist, brought it to his lips, and played a melody. Then, he quietly waited.

    During these days, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji had been together constantly, leaving no time for him to be alone. Thus, he hadn''t been able to summon Wen Ning. Apart from his partially concealed identity, there were other reasons.

    Wen Ning had killed members of the Gusu Lan Sect. Even though Lan Wangji treated him well, Wei Wuxian couldn''t just summon Wen Ning in front of him. Or rather, precisely because Lan Wangji treated him so well, Wei Wuxian didn''t have the face to summon Wen Ning in his presence. As thick-skinned as he was, this wasn''t something he could be brazen about.

    Coming back to his senses, he heard that eerie "clink-clank" sound.

    Wen Ning''s head-lowered silhouette appeared in the shadow of the city wall ahead.

    He was dressed all in black, blending into the surrounding darkness. Only his pupil-less eyes were startlingly, grotesquely white.

    Wei Wuxian clasped his hands behind his back and slowly walked a circle around him.

    Wen Ning moved slightly, as if wanting to turn in sync with his steps. Wei Wuxian said, "Stand still."

    He obediently stood still. His delicate face seemed even more melancholic.

    Wei Wuxian said, "Hand."

    Wen Ning extended his right hand. Wei Wuxian grabbed his wrist and lifted it, carefully examining the iron ring and chain locked around his wrist.

    This was no ordinary chain. When Wen Ning went berserk, he became extremely violent, capable of twisting steel into pulp with his bare hands. He wouldn''t simply allow it to drag on his body like this. It must be a set of chains specially forged to restrain Wen Ning.

    Crush his bones and scatter the ashes?

    When some clans were going to great lengths to reconstruct even fragments of the Yin Tiger Seal, they certainly coveted the Ghost General as well. How could they bear to crush his bones and scatter his ashes?

    Wei Wuxian let out a cold laugh, stood beside Wen Ning, pondered for a moment, then began to slowly press his hands through Wen Ning''s hair.

    Whoever had kept and chained Wen Ning certainly couldn''t allow him to think for himself. To make him obey others'' commands, they would have had to destroy Wen Ning''s consciousness, surely planting something in his head. Sure enough, after pressing three times, Wei Wuxian felt a small, hard point at an acupoint on the right side of his head. He placed his other hand on the symmetrical spot on the left side of Wen Ning''s head and felt a similar small, hard object, seemingly the end of a needle or something similar.

    Wei Wuxian pinched the ends of the needles on both sides simultaneously and slowly began to work them out, extracting two long black nails from Wen Ning''s skull.

    These two black nails were about an inch long, as thick as the red cord used to hang jade pendants, and had been deeply embedded in Wen Ning''s skull. The moment the nails left his skull, Wen Ning''s features trembled slightly, and something like black blood vessels crept across the whites of his eyes, as if he were in great pain.

    Even though he was already dead, he could still feel something like "pain".

    The two nails were inscribed with intricate, complex patterns, undoubtedly of extraordinary origin. Whoever made them had some skill; it would take quite some time for Wen Ning to recover. Wei Wuxian put them away and looked down at the chains on Wen Ning''s wrists and ankles, thinking that it wouldn''t do to have them clanking about all the time. He needed to find a spiritual sword to cut them off.

    The first sword he thought of was, naturally, Lan Wangji''s Bichen. Although using a Lan family sword to help Wen Ning break his chains seemed somewhat inappropriate, it was the most easily accessible spiritual sword for him. He couldn''t let Wen Ning continue dragging around such a burden.

    Wei Wuxian thought to himself: "I''ll do this. I''ll go back to the inn now. If Lan Zhan is awake, I won''t borrow it. If Lan Zhan is still asleep, I''ll borrow Bichen for a bit."

    Having made up his mind, he turned to leave. But as he turned, he found Lan Wangji standing right behind him.

 31. Lan Zhan... Got Drunk...

    After summoning Wen Ning, Wei Wuxian found his thoughts in disarray, making it impossible for him to maintain his usual vigilance. Lan Wangji, if he didn''t want his presence to be detected, could easily slip by unnoticed. So when Wei Wuxian suddenly turned around and saw that face, increasingly cold as frost in the moonlight, his heart skipped a beat in surprise.

    He had no idea how long Lan Wangji had been there, or if he had heard everything he''d said and done. If Lan Wangji hadn''t been drunk at all and had followed him all the way here, the situation would be even more awkward. Not mentioning Wen Ning to his face, then sneaking out to summon him as soon as Lan Wangji fell asleep ¨C it was truly embarrassing.

    Lan Wangji stood with his arms crossed, Bichen resting against his chest, his expression colder than Wei Wuxian had ever seen it. Feeling the need to break the tension and offer some explanation, Wei Wuxian cleared his throat and said, "Ah, Hanguang-jun."

    Lan Wangji didn''t respond.

    Wei Wuxian stood in front of Wen Ning, locked in a staring contest with Lan Wangji. He rubbed his chin, feeling an inexplicable wave of guilt wash over him.

    Finally, Lan Wangji lowered his hand holding Bichen and took two steps forward. Seeing him approach Wen Ning with his sword, Wei Wuxian feared the worst. His thoughts raced: "This is bad. Could Lan Zhan have been pretending to be drunk, waiting for me to summon Wen Ning so he could kill him? But then again, who actually passes out after one bowl?"

    He started, "Hanguang-jun, let me explain¡ª"

    With a resounding "smack," Lan Wangji struck Wen Ning with his palm.

    Though the slap sounded loud, it carried little actual force. Wen Ning stumbled back several steps, swayed, then regained his footing, his face a mask of confusion.

    Wei Wuxian found Wen Ning''s current state peculiar. While not as volatile as when he used to go berserk, his temperament was far from docile. On that night at Mount Dafan when he was surrounded and attacked, he had thrown people flying before they could even scratch him, lifting them by their throats. If Wei Wuxian hadn''t stopped him, he would have strangled everyone present. Yet now, after Lan Wangji''s slap, he just stood there with his head bowed, seemingly unable to retaliate. Wei Wuxian found this strange but also felt relieved. If Wen Ning had fought back, the situation would have been even harder to defuse.

    Apparently unsatisfied with just one slap, Lan Wangji pushed Wen Ning again, sending him several meters away.

    He said to Wen Ning, his voice laced with uncharacteristic irritation, "Go away."

    Wei Wuxian finally realized something was off.

    Lan Wangji''s actions and words were incredibly... childish.

    Having pushed Wen Ning to a satisfactory distance, Lan Wangji seemed content. He turned around, walked back, and stood beside Wei Wuxian.

    Wei Wuxian scrutinized him closely.

    Lan Wangji''s facial expression and demeanor showed no apparent abnormality. In fact, he looked even more serious, more proper, more impeccable than usual. His forehead ribbon was perfectly placed, his face wasn''t flushed, his breathing was normal, and he walked with his usual grace, his footsteps steady. He appeared to be the same dignified, composed cultivator known as Hanguang-jun.

    But when Wei Wuxian looked down, he noticed that Lan Wangji''s boots were on the wrong feet.

    Before coming out, Wei Wuxian had helped Lan Wangji take off his boots, tossing them by the bedside. Now, Lan Wangji''s left boot was on his right foot, and his right boot on his left foot.

    The Hanguang-jun from a prestigious family, who valued etiquette above all else, would never go out in public like this.

    Wei Wuxian tentatively asked, "Hanguang-jun, how many fingers am I holding up?"

    He held up two fingers. Lan Wangji didn''t answer verbally but solemnly reached out with both hands, left and right, and earnestly grasped Wei Wuxian''s two fingers.

    With a clatter, Bichen fell to the ground, abandoned by its master.

    Wei Wuxian: "..."

    This was definitely not the normal Lan Zhan!

    "Hanguang-jun, are you drunk?" Wei Wuxian asked.

    Lan Wangji replied firmly, "No."

    Drunk people never admit they''re drunk. Wei Wuxian withdrew his fingers, but Lan Wangji maintained the gesture of holding them, focusing intently on his empty fists. Wei Wuxian watched him silently, then looked up at the moon in the cool night air.

    Most people get drunk and then sleep it off, but Lan Wangji had apparently slept first and then gotten drunk. And in his drunken state, he looked no different from usual, making it hard to tell he was inebriated at all.

    In his younger days, Wei Wuxian had countless drinking buddies and had seen all sorts of embarrassing drunken behavior. He''d seen people wailing, giggling stupidly, throwing tantrums, passing out in the street, becoming suicidal, and whining "why don''t you want me anymore?" But this was the first time he''d seen someone like Lan Wangji ¨C quiet and composed, yet behaving so bizarrely.

    He twitched the corner of his mouth, suppressing a laugh as he picked up the discarded Bichen and slung it over his own back. "Alright, let''s head back," he said.

    He couldn''t leave a Lan Wangji in this state wandering around outside. Who knew what else he might do?

    Fortunately, drunk Lan Wangji seemed quite agreeable. He nodded gracefully and started walking alongside Wei Wuxian. If anyone had passed by, they would have thought it was two close friends taking a refined night stroll.

    Behind them, Wen Ning silently followed. Just as Wei Wuxian was about to speak to him, Lan Wangji suddenly turned around and delivered another angry slap, this time to Wen Ning''s head.

    Wen Ning''s head tilted to one side from the impact, and he lowered it even further. Despite his facial muscles being rigid and expressionless, with nothing but the whites of his eyes visible, he somehow managed to look utterly pitiful. Wei Wuxian couldn''t decide whether to laugh or cry as he grabbed Lan Wangji''s arm. "Why are you hitting him?"Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    Lan Wangji used a threatening tone he would never use when sober, telling Wen Ning, "Go away!"

    Wei Wuxian knew it was best not to argue with drunk people, so he quickly said, "Alright, alright, have it your way. He''ll go away." He reached for his bamboo flute, but before he could bring it to his lips, Lan Wangji snatched it away.

    "You''re not allowed to play for him," Lan Wangji declared.

    Wei Wuxian teased, "My, aren''t you bossy?"

    Lan Wangji repeated unhappily, "You''re not allowed to play for him!"

    Wei Wuxian realized something. Drunk people often become talkative, but since Lan Wangji rarely spoke much normally, in his drunken state, he kept repeating the same phrases. Thinking that Lan Wangji probably disapproved of his use of the flute to control Wen Ning, Wei Wuxian decided to humor him. "Okay, okay. I''ll only play for you. How''s that?"

    Lan Wangji gave a satisfied "Mm," but kept the flute in his hands, playing with it instead of returning it.

    Left with no other choice, Wei Wuxian whistled twice and said to Wen Ning, "Stay hidden and don''t let anyone find you."

    Wen Ning seemed to want to follow them, but having received his orders and fearing more slaps from Lan Wangji, he turned around slowly. With a dejected air, he trudged away, his footsteps echoing with a clink and clatter.

    Wei Wuxian turned to Lan Wangji and said, "Lan Zhan, how can you be drunk without even a hint of redness on your face?"

    Because Lan Wangji looked so normal¡ªeven more normal than Wei Wuxian himself¡ªhe couldn''t help but speak to him as if he were sober. To his surprise, upon hearing this, Lan Wangji suddenly reached out, wrapped an arm around his shoulders, and pulled him close.

    Caught off guard, Wei Wuxian''s head collided with Lan Wangji''s chest.

    Still dazed, he heard Lan Wangji''s voice from above: "Listen to the heartbeat."

    "What?"

    Lan Wangji elaborated, "Can''t see it on the face, listen to the heartbeat."

    As he spoke, his chest vibrated with the low tones of his voice, and a strong, steady heartbeat pulsed beneath¡ªthump-thump, thump-thump¡ªslightly faster than normal. Wei Wuxian raised his head, understanding dawning. "So you''re saying we can''t see it on your face, but we can tell by listening to your heartbeat?"

    Lan Wangji answered honestly, "Mm."

    Wei Wuxian burst into laughter.

    Could Lan Wangji''s skin really be so thick that even a blush couldn''t show through? It didn''t seem likely!

    Drunk Lan Wangji was not only surprisingly honest but also much more... uninhibited in both actions and words!

    Given this rare opportunity to see such an honest and straightforward Lan Wangji, how could Wei Wuxian possibly treat him with proper etiquette and not take advantage of the situation? That would be impossible!

    He ushered Lan Wangji back to the inn. Once in the room, he first pushed him onto the bed and removed his mismatched boots. Considering that Lan Wangji probably wouldn''t be able to wash his face himself, Wei Wuxian removed his forehead ribbon and brought in a basin of hot water and a cloth. He wrung out the cloth, folded it into a square, and gently wiped Lan Wangji''s face.

    Throughout this process, Lan Wangji offered no resistance, docilely allowing Wei Wuxian to do as he pleased. He only squinted when the cloth neared his eyes, but otherwise kept his gaze fixed on Wei Wuxian, not blinking once. Wei Wuxian''s mind raced with mischievous ideas, but seeing Lan Wangji''s clear gaze, he couldn''t resist tickling his chin and asking with a grin, "Why are you staring at me? Am I that good-looking?"

    Having finished wiping Lan Wangji''s face, Wei Wuxian tossed the cloth back into the basin without waiting for an answer. "Now that your face is clean, do you want some water to drink?" he asked.

    Hearing no response, he turned around to find Lan Wangji had already dunked his face into the water basin.

    Wei Wuxian panicked and quickly pulled the basin away. "I didn''t mean for you to drink from this!"

    Lan Wangji raised his head, his expression as calm as ever, with clear droplets of water sliding down his jaw and soaking the front of his robes. Wei Wuxian stared at him, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him. "Did he actually drink or not?" he thought to himself. "For Lan Zhan''s sake, I hope he doesn''t remember any of this when he sobers up, or he''ll never be able to show his face in public again."

    Wei Wuxian used his sleeve to wipe away the water droplets from Lan Wangji''s jaw, then put an arm around his shoulders. "Hanguang-jun, will you do whatever I say right now?"

    Lan Wangji replied, "Mm."

    Wei Wuxian pressed, "And you''ll answer whatever I ask?"

    Lan Wangji: "Mm."

    Wei Wuxian placed one knee on the bed, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "Alright then. Tell me, have you ever secretly drunk the Emperor''s Smile hidden in your room?"

    Lan Wangji: "No."

    Wei Wuxian: "Do you like rabbits?"

    Lan Wangji: "Yes."

    Wei Wuxian: "Have you ever broken any rules?"

    Lan Wangji: "Yes."

    Wei Wuxian: "Have you ever liked someone?"

    Lan Wangji: "Yes."

    Wei Wuxian''s questions were deliberately vague, not truly intending to pry into Lan Wangji''s private matters, but rather to confirm if he would indeed answer anything. He continued, "What do you think of Jiang Cheng?"

    Lan Wangji frowned: "Hmph."

    Wei Wuxian: "What about Wen Ning?"

    Coldly: "Heh."

    Wei Wuxian smiled and pointed at himself: "And what about this?"

    Lan Wangji: "Mine."

    "..."

    Lan Wangji stared at him, enunciating each word clearly and unmistakably: "Mine."

    Suddenly, Wei Wuxian understood.

    He took Bichen off his back, thinking to himself, "When I pointed at myself just now, Lan Zhan must have thought I meant Bichen on my back."

    With this realization, he got off the bed and walked around the room with Bichen, from left to right, from east to west. As expected, wherever he went, Lan Wangji''s gaze followed him intently. His stare was honest, open, direct, and utterly bare.

    Wei Wuxian felt almost unable to stand under the weight of that almost passionate gaze. He held Bichen up in front of Lan Wangji''s eyes. "Do you want it?"

    Lan Wangji said, "I want it."

    Seemingly not satisfied that this was enough to prove his desire, Lan Wangji suddenly grabbed Wei Wuxian''s hand holding Bichen. His pale eyes gazed directly into Wei Wuxian''s as he took a soft breath and repeated with emphasis, "...I want it."

    Wei Wuxian knew full well that Lan Wangji was completely drunk, knew that these words weren''t meant for him, but he still felt his arm and legs go weak at those two words.

    He thought to himself, "Lan Zhan is really... if he were this earnest and intense towards a girl, what a terrifying man he would be!"

    Steadying himself, Wei Wuxian asked, "How did you recognize me? Why did you help me?"

    Lan Wangji''s lips parted slightly, and Wei Wuxian leaned in closer to hear his answer. Unexpectedly, Lan Wangji suddenly changed his demeanor, raised his hand, and pushed Wei Wuxian down onto the bed.

    The candle was extinguished with a wave, and Bichen once again clattered to the floor, abandoned by its master.

    Wei Wuxian, pushed down so suddenly that he saw stars, thought Lan Wangji had sobered up. "Lan Zhan?!"

    A familiar spot on his lower back was tapped, and he felt the same numbness spread through his body as on that first night in the Cloud Recesses, unable to move. Lan Wangji withdrew his hand, lay down beside him, and carefully tucked the blanket around them both, making sure Wei Wuxian was snugly covered. "It''s the Hour of the Pig. Time to rest," he said.

    So it was that terrifying Lan family schedule at work.

    Wei Wuxian, his interrogation interrupted, stared at the ceiling. "Can''t we chat a bit while we rest?"

    Lan Wangji replied, "No."

    ...Well, there would be other chances to get Lan Wangji drunk and question him. Sooner or later, he''d get his answers.

    Wei Wuxian said, "Lan Zhan, release me. I booked two rooms, we don''t need to squeeze into one bed."

    After a moment of stillness, Lan Wangji''s hand reached out, fumbling under the blanket, and slowly began to undo Wei Wuxian''s belt. Wei Wuxian yelped, "Stop! That''s enough! That''s not what I meant by release! Mmph! Okay! I''ll lie down! I''ll sleep!!!"

    In the darkness, silence reigned.

    After a long pause, Wei Wuxian spoke again, "Now I understand why alcohol is forbidden in your family. One bowl and you''re out, and you''re a terrible drunk too. If all the Lan clan members were like you when drunk, it should be banned. Whoever drinks should be punished."

    Lan Wangji, eyes closed, raised his hand and covered Wei Wuxian''s mouth.

    He said, "Shh."

    Wei Wuxian felt a surge of frustration stuck in his chest and between his lips, unable to rise or fall.

    It seemed that ever since he came back, every time he tried to tease Lan Wangji like he used to, it ended up backfiring on him.

    How could this be?! Where had things gone wrong?!

 32. "You Were So Bold Last Night, Hanguang-Jun."

    Wei Wuxian did not close his eyes all night. He lay awake, stubbornly fighting off sleep until just before dawn, when he finally felt the tingling numbness leave his body and regained control of his limbs. With deliberate nonchalance, he slipped off his upper garments beneath the covers and tossed them to the floor beside the bed.

    Then, with deft fingers, he loosened Lan Wangji''s sash and began to pull down his robes. His original intention had been to fully undress him as well, but as he exposed Lan Wangji''s chest, Wei Wuxian''s hand froze. His gaze fell upon the brand mark below Lan Wangji''s collarbone, and unbidden memories of the disciplinary whip scars on his back surfaced. A pang of guilt shot through Wei Wuxian as he realized the impropriety of his actions. He hastily moved to pull Lan Wangji''s robes back up.

    But in that moment of hesitation, Lan Wangji stirred, perhaps sensing the cool air on his skin. His brow furrowed slightly as his eyes slowly opened.

    The instant those pale eyes focused, Lan Wangji rolled off the bed in a most uncharacteristic display of gracelessness.

    One could hardly blame the usually composed Hanguang-jun for such an extreme reaction. What man, waking from a night of heavy drinking, would remain calm upon finding another man lying half-naked beside him, their own robes partially removed, bodies pressed close in a single bed beneath shared covers? There was no room for elegance in such a startling situation.

    Wei Wuxian draped the blanket artfully across his chest, leaving one smooth, bare shoulder exposed. He watched with barely concealed amusement as Lan Wangji struggled to process the scene before him.

    "You..." Lan Wangji began, his voice hoarse.

    "Hmm?" Wei Wuxian hummed in response, a hint of mischief in his tone.

    Lan Wangji swallowed hard. "Last night, I..."

    Wei Wuxian winked playfully, propping himself up on one elbow. "My, my, Hanguang-jun. You were quite... uninhibited last night."

    Lan Wangji fell silent, his face draining of what little color it had.

    "Don''t you remember anything from last night?" Wei Wuxian pressed, his eyes glinting with poorly concealed glee.

    It was clear from Lan Wangji''s expression that he did not, in fact, remember. The usually stoic man''s face had turned ashen.

    Inwardly, Wei Wuxian felt a surge of relief. If Lan Wangji had remembered Wei Wuxian sneaking out to summon Wen Ning in the middle of the night, it would have led to difficult questions - lies would be risky, but the truth equally problematic.

    After so many failed attempts at teasing that had backfired spectacularly, Wei Wuxian finally felt he had regained some of his old swagger. Though tempted to press his advantage, he knew he couldn''t risk alienating Lan Wangji completely - he still wanted to trick him into drinking again in the future, after all.

    Deciding to quit while he was ahead, Wei Wuxian dramatically flung back the covers, revealing his fully clothed lower half and boots still firmly in place. "Fear not, you paragon of virtue! I merely removed our upper garments as a jest. Your chastity remains intact and unviolated!"

    Lan Wangji remained frozen in place, seemingly at a loss for words. Before he could formulate a response, the sound of shattering porcelain cut through the tense atmosphere.

    The noise was not unfamiliar - it was the second time they had heard it. Once again, the qiankun pouches containing the sealed corpse parts had grown restless, overturning the teapot and cups on the table. This time, the disturbance seemed even more violent, with all three pouches active at once.

    In their alcohol-addled and exhausted states the previous night, both men had completely forgotten about their plan to play music to calm the remains. Wei Wuxian, fearing that Lan Wangji might act rashly in his shock and potentially harm him, quickly spoke up: "Right, we have important matters to attend to. Let''s focus on that first."

    He hastily grabbed a robe to cover himself and rolled out of bed, extending a hand towards Lan Wangji, who had just regained his footing. His gesture, intended as an offer of assistance, looked alarmingly like he was about to tear at Lan Wangji''s clothes again. The other man, still reeling from the morning''s events, took an instinctive step backwards. His heel caught on something - glancing down, he realized it was his sword, Bichen, which had lain forgotten on the floor all night.

    By now, the strings securing one of the qiankun pouches had loosened, and a pale, ghostly hand was clawing its way out of the small opening. Wei Wuxian, seizing the opportunity, reached into Lan Wangji''s half-open robes and retrieved a familiar flute. "Don''t be frightened, Hanguang-jun," he said with a disarming smile. "I''m not trying anything untoward - you took my flute last night, and I simply needed it back." With exaggerated thoughtfulness, he then helped Lan Wangji straighten his robes and retie his sash.

    Lan Wangji''s gaze was filled with a complex mix of emotions as he regarded Wei Wuxian. It was clear he wanted to inquire further about the previous night''s events, but his innate sense of duty won out. Forcing himself to focus on the task at hand, he retrieved his guqin without further comment.

    The three qiankun pouches before them contained different parts of the dismembered corpse - one held the left arm, another the legs, and the third the torso. With so much of the body reassembled, the resentful energy had grown exponentially, making their task even more challenging than before. It took three full performances of the calming melody "Rest" before the violent movements within the pouches began to subside.

    As Wei Wuxian lowered his flute, preparing to gather up the scattered remains, he suddenly let out a surprised exclamation. "Well, well! Our friend here certainly didn''t skip his training regimen!"

    The burial robes covering the torso had come loose in the commotion, revealing the well-defined physique of a young man. Broad shoulders tapered to a narrow waist, with impressive abdominal muscles on full display - the epitome of masculine strength without crossing into the realm of excessive bulk. It was the kind of body many men could only dream of attaining.

    Unable to resist, Wei Wuxian playfully slapped the corpse''s abs a couple of times. "Hanguang-jun, just look at this! If he were alive, my hand would probably bounce right off. How does one even achieve this level of fitness?"

    Lan Wangji''s brow twitched almost imperceptibly, but he remained silent. Undeterred, Wei Wuxian delivered another couple of appreciative pats to the corpse''s midsection. At this, Lan Wangji''s expression became utterly blank as he wordlessly retrieved the qiankun pouches and began the process of re-sealing the remains. Wei Wuxian quickly stepped aside to give him room to work.

    In short order, Lan Wangji had secured all the body parts back in their respective pouches, tying each with several tight knots for good measure. Oblivious to any underlying tension, Wei Wuxian glanced down at his own physique, raising an eyebrow before retying his own robes with a flourish, once again the picture of propriety.

    Catching Lan Wangji''s lingering gaze, which seemed filled with unasked questions, Wei Wuxian couldn''t resist one last tease. "Why are you looking at me like that, Hanguang-jun? Are you still worried? Trust me, I truly didn''t do anything to you last night. And of course, you didn''t do anything to me either."

    Lan Wangji hesitated for a long moment, as if steeling himself for something, before speaking in a low voice. "Last night, aside from taking your flute, did I..."

    "Did you what?" Wei Wuxian prompted, his eyes dancing with mischief. "Oh, you didn''t do much else. Just talked a lot."

    Lan Wangji''s throat bobbed as he swallowed. "...What did I say?"

    Wei Wuxian leaned in conspiratorially. "Nothing too serious. Just that you really like..."

    Lan Wangji''s gaze intensified, a flicker of apprehension crossing his features.

    "...rabbits," Wei Wuxian finished with a grin.

    Lan Wangji closed his eyes and turned away, the tips of his ears burning red. Wei Wuxian, feeling a twinge of sympathy, quickly added, "It''s nothing to be embarrassed about! Rabbits are adorable - who doesn''t like them? I like them too... especially how they taste! Haha!"

    Seeing Lan Wangji''s continued discomfort, Wei Wuxian softened his tone. "Look, you drank quite a bit last night... well, not that much by normal standards, but it was a lot for you. You''re probably not feeling your best this morning. Why don''t you wash up, have some water, and rest a bit? We can set out once you''re feeling better. Our next destination is slightly west of south, remember? I''ll go downstairs and buy us some breakfast. Take your time, no rush."

    As Wei Wuxian turned to leave, Lan Wangji''s cool voice stopped him. "Wait."

    Wei Wuxian looked back, eyebrows raised. "Yes?"

    Lan Wangji stared at him for a long moment before finally asking, "Do you have any money?"

    Wei Wuxian''s face split into a wide grin. "Of course! I know exactly where you keep it. I''ll bring something back for you too, alright? Take it easy, Hanguang-jun. No need to hurry."

    As he closed the door behind him, Wei Wuxian allowed himself a moment of silent, gleeful laughter in the hallway.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Lan Wangji, seemingly shaken by the morning''s events, remained secluded in the room for quite some time. While waiting for him, Wei Wuxian leisurely made his way downstairs and out of the inn. He wandered the streets, buying various snacks on a whim, before settling on the steps to bask in the warm sunlight as he ate.

    As he lounged there, a group of children, perhaps thirteen or fourteen years old, came running down the street. The child in the lead was sprinting, a long string clutched in their hand. At the end of the string, a kite bobbed and weaved through the air, neither too high nor too low. The children following behind wielded toy bows, shouting excitedly as they tried to shoot small arrows at the airborne target.

    The sight brought a wave of nostalgia to Wei Wuxian. This game had been a favorite of his in years past. Archery was a required skill for all disciples of the prominent cultivation sects, but most young cultivators found little joy in the rigid practice of shooting at stationary targets. Outside of night hunts where they could test their skills against real monsters and spirits, games like this kite-shooting provided a welcome diversion. Each participant would fly their own kite, competing to see who could achieve the highest altitude and greatest distance while still maintaining enough accuracy to hit their target. The game had originated among the younger members of the various cultivation clans but had since spread to ordinary children as well, though their arrows lacked the power and precision of those shot by the cultivators-in-training.

    During his time at Lotus Pier, Wei Wuxian had often played this game with the Jiang Sect disciples, frequently claiming first place. Jiang Cheng invariably came in second - his kite would either fly too far for his arrows to reach, or he would hit the target but fail to match the distance Wei Wuxian''s kite achieved. The two of them had kites that were a full size larger than those of the other children, crafted in the shape of a fantastical flying beast. Vibrantly colored and elaborately decorated, these kites had gaping maws and multiple pointed tails that whipped about in the wind. From a distance, they appeared remarkably lifelike - fierce, yet with an oddly endearing quality. Jiang Fengmian himself had constructed the frames, while Jiang Yanli had painted them. Every time they brought out these kites to compete, both boys had felt a special sense of pride.

    Lost in these bittersweet memories, a faint smile played across Wei Wuxian''s lips. He found himself gazing up at the kite the children were currently flying, curious to see its design. To his surprise, it was a simple, circular shape in a bright golden hue. He furrowed his brow in confusion. "What is that supposed to be? A flatbread? Or some kind of spirit I''ve never encountered?"

    Just then, a gust of wind swept through the street. The kite, which had already been flying quite low in the confined space, suddenly plummeted. One of the children cried out, "Oh no! The sun is falling!"

    In that moment, Wei Wuxian understood - these children were likely reenacting the legendary feat of "shooting down the suns."

    This town, Yueyang, was not far from the former stronghold of the Qishan Wen Sect. During the height of Wen Sect''s power, they had terrorized the surrounding regions. The people of Yueyang had undoubtedly suffered, either from encounters with poorly controlled fierce corpses and spirits or at the hands of arrogant Wen cultivators. After the successful campaign against the Wen Sect, which saw their century-old dominion crumble in an instant, many nearby areas had enthusiastically embraced celebrations of the Wen Sect''s downfall. Over time, these celebrations had evolved into local traditions. This children''s game, it seemed, was one such tradition - a playful reimagining of the ancient tale used to commemorate their liberation from Wen tyranny.

    The children halted their chase and huddled together, their faces scrunched up in puzzlement. A heated discussion broke out among them: "What do we do now? The sun fell on its own before we could shoot it down. Who gets to be the leader?"

    One child raised his hand enthusiastically. "It should be me, of course! I''m Jin Guangyao, the one who killed the great villain of the Wen clan!"

    Wei Wuxian, still perched on the steps in front of the inn, watched the scene unfold with keen interest.

    In games like this, it was no surprise that the currently illustrious Chief Cultivator, Lianfang-zun, would be a popular choice. Despite his questionable origins - or perhaps because of them - his rise to power was all the more impressive. He had spent years as an undercover agent during the Sunshot Campaign, effortlessly deceiving the entire Qishan Wen Sect while leaking countless secrets. After the campaign, he had maneuvered his way through countless political intrigues with unparalleled cunning, ultimately securing the position of Chief Cultivator and becoming the undisputed leader of the cultivation world. Such a life story was truly legendary. If Wei Wuxian were playing, he too might be tempted to try his hand at being Jin Guangyao. The child''s choice seemed entirely reasonable.

    Another child protested vehemently. "I''m Nie Mingjue! I won the most battles and captured the most prisoners. I should be the leader!"

    "Jin Guangyao" countered, "But I''m the Chief Cultivator."

    "Nie Mingjue" raised his fist menacingly. "Chief Cultivator or not, you''re still my sworn brother. Don''t you always run away with your tail between your legs when you see me?"

    True to his role, "Jin Guangyao" immediately hunched his shoulders and scurried away, fully immersed in the act. Another child chimed in, "You''re just a short-lived wretch."

    Naturally, choosing to play a particular sect leader implied some level of admiration for that figure. "Nie Mingjue" bristled at the insult. "Jin Zixuan, you died even earlier than me! You''re the short-lived one!"

    "Jin Zixuan" refused to back down. "So what if I''m short-lived? I still rank third!"

    "Third in looks, maybe!" retorted "Nie Mingjue".

    At this point, one of the children who seemed to have grown tired of running and standing, scooted over to sit beside Wei Wuxian on the steps. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he adopted a peacemaker''s tone. "Alright, alright, stop arguing. I''m the Yiling Patriarch, the most powerful of all. I suppose I''ll have to step up and be the leader."

    Wei Wuxian: "..."

    Glancing down, he noticed a small wooden stick tucked into the child''s waist, presumably representing Chenqing.

    Only children like these, Wei Wuxian mused, could so innocently disregard notions of good and evil, focusing solely on power levels, and willingly take on the role of the Yiling Patriarch.

    Another child interjected, "No, that''s not right. I''m the Poison Master. I''m the strongest."

    The "Yiling Patriarch" responded knowingly, "Ah, Jiang Cheng. What makes you think you can compare to me? When have you ever beaten me? How can you claim to be the strongest? Aren''t you embarrassed?"

    "Jiang Cheng" retorted with a huff, "Hmph, I can''t compare to you? Do you remember how you died?"

    The faint smile that had been playing on Wei Wuxian''s lips instantly vanished.

    It was as if he had been unexpectedly pricked by a needle laced with potent poison. A subtle, stinging pain suddenly radiated throughout his body.

    Oblivious to Wei Wuxian''s discomfort, the child playing the "Yiling Patriarch" beside him clapped his hands excitedly. "Watch this! Chenqing in my left hand, the Tiger Seal in my right, and add in the Ghost General - I''m invincible! Hahaha..." He raised a stick in his left hand and held up a rock in his right, laughing boisterously before calling out, "Wen Ning! Where are you?" A small child at the back of the group timidly raised his hand. "I''m here... um... I wanted to say... during the Sunshot Campaign, I wasn''t dead yet..."

    Wei Wuxian felt an overwhelming urge to interrupt.

    "Esteemed sect leaders," he said, addressing the children, "may I ask a question?"

    The children, unused to adult intervention in their game, especially one that wasn''t a scolding but a serious inquiry, looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. The "Yiling Patriarch" eyed him suspiciously. "What do you want to know?"

    Wei Wuxian asked, "Why isn''t there anyone from the Gusu Lan Sect?"

    "There is," came the reply.

    "Where?"

    The "Yiling Patriarch" pointed to a child who had remained silent throughout the entire exchange. "That one."

    Wei Wuxian looked over and indeed, this child had delicate features that hinted at future handsomeness. A white string was tied around his smooth forehead, serving as a makeshift forehead ribbon. "Who is he supposed to be?" Wei Wuxian inquired.

    The "Yiling Patriarch" wrinkled his nose in disdain. "Lan Wangji!"

    ...Well, Wei Wuxian had to admit, these children had grasped the essence of the character. To play Lan Wangji, one indeed should remain silent!

    Suddenly, the corners of Wei Wuxian''s mouth curved upward once more.

    It was as if that poisoned needle had been plucked out and tossed aside, instantly dispelling all traces of the stinging pain. Wei Wuxian murmured to himself, "How strange. How can someone so dull consistently bring me such joy?"

    When Lan Wangji came downstairs, he found Wei Wuxian seated on the steps, surrounded by a group of children sharing steamed buns. Wei Wuxian was simultaneously eating and directing two children who stood back-to-back. "...Now, imagine you''re facing millions of Wen Sect cultivators. They''re fully armed and have you completely surrounded. Make your eyes sharper - yes, just like that. Lan Wangji, pay attention now. You''re not your usual self - you''re covered in blood! Exude a strong killing intent! Make your gaze fierce! Wei Wuxian, move closer to him. Can you twirl a flute? Let''s see you try, with one hand. Be more graceful - do you know what grace means? Here, let me show you." The child playing "Wei Wuxian" handed over a thin wooden stick. Wei Wuxian expertly twirled "Chenqing" between two fingers, drawing gasps of admiration from the children who crowded around to watch.

    Lan Wangji: "..."

    As he silently approached, Wei Wuxian noticed his arrival. He stood up, brushing the dust from his clothes, and bid farewell to the children. As they walked away, Wei Wuxian seemed to be struggling to contain his laughter, as if afflicted by some strange poison.

    Lan Wangji: "..."

    Wei Wuxian, still chuckling, said, "I''m sorry, Hanguang-jun. I gave all the breakfast I bought for you to the children. We''ll have to buy more later."

    Lan Wangji: "Mn."

    Wei Wuxian: "So, weren''t those two children adorable? Can you guess who the one with the string tied around his head was supposed to be? Hahaha..."

    After a moment of silence, Lan Wangji finally couldn''t resist asking, "...What exactly did I do last night?"

    Surely it couldn''t have been that simple, or why would Wei Wuxian still be laughing about it?

    Wei Wuxian waved his hands frantically. "Nothing, nothing at all. You didn''t do anything. I''m just amusing myself, hahaha... Alright, ahem, Hanguang-jun, let''s talk about serious matters now."

    Lan Wangji: "Speak."

    Wei Wuxian adopted a solemn expression. "The coffin-tapping sounds at the Chang family burial ground had been silent for ten years. Their sudden resurgence can''t be a coincidence. There must be a trigger."

    Lan Wangji: "What do you think the trigger is?"

    Wei Wuxian: "Excellent question. I believe the trigger is the exhumation of that torso."

    Lan Wangji: "Mn."

    His intense focus reminded Wei Wuxian of how seriously Lan Wangji had grasped his two fingers when drunk the night before. Suppressing another laugh with difficulty, Wei Wuxian continued gravely, "I''m thinking that the dismemberment wasn''t just an act of revenge or venting anger. It was a malicious method of suppression. Whoever divided the body intentionally chose locations with unusual phenomena to place the body parts."

    Lan Wangji: "Using poison to counteract poison, maintaining a balance through mutual restraint."

    Wei Wuxian: "Exactly. So when that grave robber dug up the torso, there was nothing left to suppress the Chang family''s resentful energy, and the coffin-tapping resumed. The principle is similar to how the Nie clan''s Blade Hall suppresses both blade spirits and wall corpses. Perhaps this method was even learned from the Nie family''s Blade Hall. It seems this person had close ties with both the Qinghe Nie Sect and the Gusu Lan Sect. Likely not an ordinary character."

    Lan Wangji: "There aren''t many such individuals."

    Wei Wuxian: "Indeed. The truth is gradually coming to light. Moreover, since they''ve started moving the body parts, it indicates they''re getting anxious. They''re bound to make more moves soon. Even if we don''t seek them out, they''ll come to us. As they continue to act, they''ll inevitably reveal more clues. Besides, our friend''s hand will guide us in the right direction. However, we need to move quickly too. With only the right hand and the head left, we must find them before our opponents do."

    The pair journeyed southwest, following the left hand''s guidance to their next destination: the fog-shrouded eastern Shu region.

    A ghost town that the locals avoided at all costs.

 33. The Haunted City of Mist

    The Shu East region was characterized by numerous river valleys and towering mountains, creating a rugged and uneven terrain. The weak winds in the area resulted in a perpetual misty shroud that enveloped many locations throughout the year.

    The two travelers proceeded straight ahead in the direction indicated by the left hand, eventually passing through a small village.

    The village consisted of mud houses with thatched roofs, encircled by several rings of fencing. In the courtyards, a motley assortment of hens and chicks scuttled about, pecking at grains of rice. Atop one of the roofs stood a magnificent rooster, its feathers gleaming in the dim light. It shook its comb, balanced on one leg, and swiveled its neck watchfully, surveying its domain with an air of superiority. Fortunately, there were no dogs in sight. The villagers themselves likely struggled to put meat on their own tables throughout the year, let alone spare any bones to feed canine companions.

    At the edge of the village, they encountered a fork in the road, branching off in three distinct directions. Two of the paths were well-worn and barren, evidently frequented by travelers. The third, however, was overgrown with weeds that had reclaimed the road surface. A square stone tablet stood askew, marking the direction of this neglected path. The tablet bore the ravages of time, with a large crack running from top to bottom, and withered grass sprouting from the fissure.

    Two large characters were carved into the stone, presumably indicating the name of the destination. The lower character was barely discernible as "City," while the upper one was far more complex, with numerous strokes. Unfortunately, the crack ran right through it, causing many small fragments to chip away. Wei Wuxian bent down, parting the wild grass, but even after careful examination, he couldn''t make out what the character was supposed to be.

    Ironically, it was precisely this overgrown path that the left arm pointed towards.

    Wei Wuxian suggested, "Why don''t we ask the villagers?"

    Lan Wangji nodded, and Wei Wuxian, knowing better than to expect his companion to make inquiries, approached the group of farm women who were scattering rice for the chickens, his face wreathed in a friendly smile.

    The women, a mix of young and old, tensed at the sight of the unfamiliar young man approaching. They seemed on the verge of abandoning their baskets and fleeing indoors. However, after a few cheerful words from Wei Wuxian, they gradually relaxed, responding with shy nods.

    Wei Wuxian pointed at the stone tablet and asked a question. The women''s faces changed in unison, and they hesitated before haltingly providing information, gesturing as they spoke. Throughout the conversation, they didn''t dare to look at Lan Wangji, who stood silently by the stone marker. Wei Wuxian listened attentively, maintaining his smile. As the conversation progressed, he seemed to shift topics, causing the farm women to visibly relax, their faces brightening as they tentatively returned his smile.

    Lan Wangji watched from afar, noting that Wei Wuxian showed no signs of returning. He lowered his gaze, kicking a small pebble at his feet, turning it over repeatedly.

    When he looked up again, he was surprised to see Wei Wuxian retrieving something from his robes and handing it to the woman who had spoken the most.

    Lan Wangji stood motionless, barely able to contain himself. Just as he was about to step forward, Wei Wuxian finally sauntered back, hands clasped behind his back.

    He rejoined Lan Wangji and said teasingly, "Lan Zhan, you should have come over. They even keep rabbits in that courtyard!"

    Lan Wangji, seemingly unmoved by the jest, asked coolly, "What did you learn?"

    Wei Wuxian replied, "This road leads to Yi City. The first character on the stone tablet is ''Yi''."

    Lan Wangji queried, "Yi as in righteousness?"

    Wei Wuxian responded, "Yes and no."

    Lan Wangji pressed, "Explain."

    Wei Wuxian elucidated, "The character is indeed that one, but the meaning is different. It''s not ''yi'' as in righteousness, but ''yi'' as in public cemetery."

    As they set off down the overgrown path, leaving the stone tablet behind, Wei Wuxian continued, "The women told me that since ancient times, the majority of people living in that city have been short-lived, either dying young or meeting violent ends. Consequently, the city is filled with public cemeteries. Moreover, the local specialties are coffins, joss paper, and other funerary items. The craftsmanship for both coffin-making and paper effigy creation is exquisite, hence the name."

    The path was treacherous, littered with withered grass, loose stones, and hidden pitfalls. Lan Wangji kept a watchful eye on Wei Wuxian''s footing as the latter spoke, "They said people from around here rarely visit Yi City, and those from inside seldom leave except to make deliveries. They haven''t seen anyone from there in years. This road has been abandoned for quite some time. No wonder it''s so difficult to traverse."

    Lan Wangji probed further, "What else?"

    Wei Wuxian asked, "What do you mean?"

    Lan Wangji clarified, "What did you give them?"

    Wei Wuxian responded, "Oh, that? It was rouge."

    He explained that he had purchased a small box of rouge from a traveling doctor-cum-Taoist priest while in Qinghe and had been carrying it with him. "I wanted to offer them something in return for the information. I tried to give them money, but it frightened them. They seemed captivated by the scent of the rouge, as if they''d never encountered anything like it before, so I decided to give it to them."

    After a pause, he added, "Lan Zhan, why are you looking at me like that? I know the rouge isn''t of the highest quality, but I''m not like I used to be, carrying an assortment of flowers, grass, hairpins, and trinkets to give to girls everywhere. It''s all I had to offer, and something is better than nothing."

    As if stirred by an unpleasant memory, Lan Wangji''s brow twitched, and he slowly turned his head away.

    As they continued along the difficult path, the wild grass gradually thinned out, retreating to the sides, and the road widened. However, the mist grew increasingly dense.

    When the left arm clenched into a fist, a dilapidated city gate appeared at the end of the long road.

    The corner tower of the city wall was missing tiles and paint, with one corner completely fallen away, presenting a sorry sight. The wall itself was covered in graffiti of unknown origin. The gate, once red, had faded to an almost white hue, its door nails black with rust. The double doors were slightly ajar, as if someone had just slipped through the gap.Stolen novel; please report.

    Even before entering, one could sense that this must be a place teeming with malevolent spirits and chaos.

    As they approached the city gate, Wei Wuxian, who had been surveying the surroundings throughout their journey, commented, "The feng shui here is truly abysmal."

    Lan Wangji nodded slowly, adding, "Desolate mountains, malevolent waters."

    Yi City was surrounded on all sides by steep cliffs and towering mountains. The mountain faces leaned precariously towards the center, creating an oppressive, threatening atmosphere as if they might collapse at any moment. Encircled by these looming, dark rock formations shrouded in a sickly white mist, the scene was more terrifying than any ghostly apparition. Simply standing there induced a feeling of suffocation and heart-pounding anxiety, an overwhelming sense of menace.

    There has long been a saying that "heroes arise from propitious lands," but the reverse also holds true. Some places, due to their terrain and location, possess such malevolent feng shui that a pall of misfortune perpetually lingers. Those who reside in such areas tend to suffer short lives and untimely deaths, with misfortune dogging their every step. For those whose families have been rooted in such places for generations, the ill luck seems to seep into their very bones. Moreover, these locations often breed strange phenomena, with incidents of corpse reanimation and vengeful ghost hauntings occurring several times more frequently than elsewhere. Clearly, Yi City was just such a place.

    Such places were typically situated in remote locations, beyond the reach of cultivation sects. Truthfully, these sects preferred not to interfere, as such matters were troublesome¡ªeven more so than the Water-Ghoul''s Abyss. While water ghouls could be exorcised, altering the feng shui of a place was nearly impossible. Unless the inhabitants themselves cried out for help, the various sects were content to turn a blind eye, pretending ignorance.

    For the residents of Yi City, leaving their ancestral home would be the best solution to escape their fate. However, when generations have taken root in such a secluded place, the decision to abandon one''s homeland becomes incredibly difficult. Even if six or seven out of ten people met an early demise, one might cling to the hope of being among the fortunate three or four who survived, making the situation seem somewhat bearable.

    As the two approached the city gate, they exchanged a meaningful glance.

    With a drawn-out creak, the overburdened hinges slowly swung open the misaligned gates.

    The sight that greeted them was neither a bustling thoroughfare nor a horde of vicious corpses. Instead, they were met with an all-encompassing whiteness.

    A thick fog, far denser than that outside the city, blanketed everything. They could barely make out a straight, long street ahead, devoid of any human presence. Buildings stood erect on either side, their outlines barely visible through the mist.

    Instinctively, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji moved closer to each other as they entered the city together.

    Although it was still daytime, an eerie silence permeated the city. Not only was there an absence of human voices, but even the typical sounds of roosters crowing or dogs barking were conspicuously missing, adding to the uncanny atmosphere.

    Of course, given that this location was indicated by the mysterious left arm, it would have been more surprising if it wasn''t strange and unsettling.

    As they ventured deeper into the city along the main street, the white mist grew increasingly thick, reminiscent of malevolent qi permeating the air. Initially, they could barely discern shapes ten paces away, then five, and eventually, they could scarcely see their own hands in front of their faces. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji drew ever closer, their shoulders nearly touching, just to make out each other''s features. A chilling thought occurred to Wei Wuxian: "If someone were to silently slip between us in this dense fog, turning two into three, would we even notice?"

    At that moment, Wei Wuxian''s foot struck something. He looked down but couldn''t identify the object. Grasping Lan Wangji''s hand to ensure they wouldn''t be separated, he bent down to examine it more closely. Suddenly, a head with wide, glaring eyes emerged from the mist, startling him.

    The head bore masculine features¡ªthick eyebrows, large eyes, and cheeks adorned with garishly prominent rouge.

    Wei Wuxian, having just kicked the head and nearly sent it flying, knew its weight. It was far too light to be a real human head. Upon picking it up and squeezing it, the man''s cheek collapsed, and some of the rouge smeared off.

    It was, in fact, a paper effigy head.

    The craftsmanship was exquisite, with exaggerated makeup but delicate features. Given Yi City''s reputation for funerary items, it was no surprise that their paper effigies were of superior quality. Some paper figures served as substitutes, believed to endure hell''s torments¡ªlike climbing blade mountains or being boiled in oil¡ªin place of the deceased. Others represented servants or beauties to attend to the departed in the underworld. Of course, these were mere comforts for the living. This particular head likely belonged to an "Yin Warrior."

    "Yin Warriors" were essentially otherworldly bodyguards, purportedly protecting the deceased from bullying by evil spirits and cunning judges in the afterlife, as well as ensuring that the paper money burned by descendants wasn''t stolen by lesser ghosts. This paper head must have originally been attached to a large, sturdy paper body before someone tore it off and discarded it in the street.

    The effigy''s hair was black and lustrous, meticulously crafted strand by strand. Wei Wuxian touched it, noting how firmly it was attached to the scalp, as if it had genuinely grown there. He mused, "The craftsmanship is truly remarkable. Could they have used real human hair?"

    Suddenly, a thin, dark shadow brushed past him at incredible speed.

    The apparition''s movement was utterly bizarre, grazing Wei Wuxian''s side before vanishing into the thick fog. Bichen automatically unsheathed itself, pursuing the shadow before swiftly returning to its scabbard.

    Whatever had just passed them moved far too quickly to be human!

    Lan Wangji cautioned, "Be vigilant. Stay alert."

    Although it had merely brushed past them this time, there was no guarantee it wouldn''t do something more sinister next time.

    Wei Wuxian stood up and asked, "Did you hear that just now?"

    Lan Wangji replied, "Footsteps, and the sound of bamboo."

    Indeed, in that brief moment, they had heard not only hurried footsteps but also a peculiar sound. It was a rapid, crisp tapping, reminiscent of a bamboo pole striking the ground at high speed. The origin of this sound remained a mystery.

    Just then, another set of footsteps echoed through the mist ahead of them.

    These footsteps were light, slow, and numerous, creating a cacophony of sounds. It seemed as though many people were cautiously approaching, yet not a single word was spoken. Wei Wuxian produced a Burning Yin Talisman, tossing it gently forward. If there were any resentful energy ahead, it would ignite, illuminating the area to some extent.

    The approaching party, sensing something had been thrown in their direction, immediately retaliated!

    Several sword glares of varying colors, brimming with killing intent, came hurtling towards them. Bichen gracefully unsheathed itself, dancing before Wei Wuxian to deflect and repel all the incoming attacks. The other side erupted into chaos, stumbling and scrambling. Hearing the commotion, Lan Wangji promptly withdrew Bichen, while Wei Wuxian called out, "Jin Ling? Sizhui!"

    Sure enough, Jin Ling''s voice pierced through the white fog: "Why is it you again?!"

    Wei Wuxian retorted, "I should be asking you the same thing!"

    Lan Sizhui, barely containing his excitement, asked, "Senior Mo, you''re here too? Does that mean Hanguang-jun is with you?"

    At the mention of Lan Wangji''s possible presence, Jin Ling immediately fell silent, as if struck by a silencing spell, fearing potential reprimand. Lan Jingyi also shouted, "He must be here! That was Bichen just now, wasn''t it? It was Bichen, right?!"

    Wei Wuxian confirmed, "Yes, he''s here, right beside me. Come over, all of you."

    Realizing they faced friends rather than foes, the group of young cultivators surged forward in relief. Besides Jin Ling and the Lan juniors, there were seven or eight youths wearing the attire of other prominent cultivation sects, their expressions still tinged with uncertainty. Wei Wuxian questioned, "What are you all doing here? And attacking so viciously! It''s fortunate Hanguang-jun was with me; otherwise, you might have injured an innocent bystander."

    Jin Ling countered, "There are no innocent bystanders here. This city is completely devoid of people!"

    Lan Sizhui nodded in agreement, "It''s broad daylight, yet demonic fog blankets everything, and not a single shop is open."

    Wei Wuxian replied, "We''ll get to that later. How did you all end up together? Don''t tell me you planned a night hunt as a group." Given Jin Ling''s confrontational nature and previous friction with the Lan juniors, it seemed unlikely they would voluntarily hunt together. Lan Sizhui, ever ready to explain, began, "It''s a long story. We were originally..."

    At that moment, a harsh, rattling sound echoed through the mist¡ªthe unmistakable clatter of bamboo poles striking the ground.

    The young cultivators'' faces collectively paled: "It''s back!"

 34. The Paper Doll

    The sound of bamboo poles striking the ground echoed through the mist, appearing and disappearing, near and far, making it impossible to determine its source or direction. The eerie, abrupt noise sent shivers down the spines of those present, their imaginations running wild with what could be producing such an unsettling sound in this fog-shrouded city.

    Wei Wuxian''s voice cut through the tension, steady and commanding. "Everyone, gather close. Don''t move around, and keep your swords sheathed." His eyes scanned the impenetrable white veil surrounding them, knowing that in such conditions, a group of inexperienced cultivators swinging their swords wildly could easily harm their own comrades rather than any potential threat.

    As if responding to his words, the mysterious sound abruptly ceased. The sudden silence was almost more unnerving than the noise had been. After what felt like an eternity but was likely only a few moments, one of the young disciples from a prominent clan family whispered, his voice trembling, "It''s that thing again... How long is it going to follow us?"

    Wei Wuxian''s interest was piqued. "It''s been following you?" he asked, his tone a mixture of curiosity and concern.

    Lan Sizhui, his face barely visible in the thick mist, nodded. "Ever since we entered the city. The fog was so dense we were afraid of getting separated, so we stayed together. That''s when we first heard the sound." He paused, swallowing hard before continuing. "At first, it was slower, more methodical. Thump... thump... thump. And through the mist, we caught a glimpse of a small, shadowy figure walking by. We tried to chase it, but it vanished. Since then, the sound has been following us relentlessly."

    "How small are we talking?" Wei Wuxian pressed, his mind already racing through possibilities.

    Lan Sizhui gestured to his chest area. "Very short, and thin too. Like a child, but... not quite."

    Wei Wuxian''s brow furrowed. "And how long have you been in the city?"

    "About half an incense stick''s time," Lan Sizhui replied.

    Turning to the silent figure beside him, Wei Wuxian asked, "Lan Zhan, how long have we been here?"

    Lan Wangji''s cool voice drifted from the mist. "Nearly a full incense stick."

    Wei Wuxian''s eyes narrowed. "You see," he said, addressing the group, "we''ve been here longer than you, yet somehow you ended up ahead of us. Did you double back without realizing it?"

    Jin Ling, unable to contain himself any longer, interjected, "But we didn''t! We''ve been moving forward on this road the entire time."

    A heavy silence fell over the group as the implications of this sank in. If everyone had been moving forward, how had their paths crossed? Had the road itself been tampered with, transformed into some kind of looping maze?

    Wei Wuxian broke the silence. "Did anyone try flying up to get a better view?"

    Lan Sizhui nodded. "I did. I felt like I flew quite high, but in reality, I barely gained any altitude. And there were these... indistinct black shadows moving through the air. I couldn''t identify them, and fearing I might not be able to handle whatever they were, I descended."

    The atmosphere grew tenser as everyone processed this information. The mist that shrouded Yi City was infamous, but they had initially dismissed it as a natural phenomenon. Now, it seemed clear that this was no ordinary fog, but a supernatural miasma.

    Lan Jingyi''s voice quavered as he asked, "You don''t think this mist is poisonous, do you?"

    Wei Wuxian shook his head, though the gesture was lost in the fog. "Probably not. We''ve all been breathing it for quite some time, and we''re still alive."

    Jin Ling grumbled, "If I had known it would be like this, I would have brought Fairy. It''s all because of that stupid donkey of yours."

    Wei Wuxian felt a chill run down his spine at the mention of the dog, but before he could respond, Lan Jingyi retorted, "We haven''t even mentioned your dog yet! It attacked first, and Little Apple kicked it in self-defense. Whose fault is that? Now neither of them can move properly."

    Wei Wuxian''s eyes widened in shock. "What?! My Little Apple was bitten by a dog?!"

    Jin Ling bristled. "How can you compare that donkey to my spiritual dog? Fairy was a gift from my uncle. If anything happens to her, a thousand donkeys wouldn''t be enough compensation!"

    Wei Wuxian, never one to back down from a verbal sparring match, quickly fabricated a retort. "Don''t try to impress us with the Glamor of Nie. My Little Apple was a gift from Hanguang-Jun himself. How could you take him down the mountain for night hunting and let him get injured?!"

    The young Lan disciples chorused in disbelief, "That''s a lie!" They refused to believe that someone with Lan Wangji''s refined taste would choose such a mount as a gift, even if the man himself didn''t contradict the claim.

    As the bickering continued, Wei Wuxian suddenly realized that the mist around them had thickened, muffling the sounds of their voices. An uneasy feeling settled in his stomach.

    "Is everyone still here?" he called out.

    A chorus of muffled "Mmm" and "Mhm" sounds responded, indicating that the group was still intact. Lan Wangji''s cool voice cut through the fog. "Silence."

    In an instant, all voices were silenced, as if by magic. Wei Wuxian couldn''t help but touch his own lips, feeling a mix of awe and relief that he hadn''t been affected.

    Just then, footsteps echoed from the left, slow and ponderous. Before anyone could react, similar sounds began emanating from all directions ¨C front, right, sides, and behind. Though the mist was too thick to see clearly, the putrid stench of decay wafted towards them.

    Wei Wuxian, normally unperturbed by mere walking corpses, let out a low whistle, its ending note rising in a clear command to retreat. The footsteps in the mist faltered for a moment.

    But then, to everyone''s shock, the corpses surged forward with renewed vigor!

    Wei Wuxian was stunned. His command should have driven them away, not incited them. He was absolutely certain he hadn''t mixed up the "retreat" and "attack" signals.

    There was no time to ponder this anomaly. Seven or eight misshapen figures emerged from the white mist. Given the density of the fog in Yi City, the fact that their silhouettes were visible meant they were dangerously close.

    Suddenly, the icy blue glow of Bichen cut through the mist, encircling the group. With lightning speed, it sliced through the walking corpses, bisecting them at the waist before returning to its sheath. Wei Wuxian let out a sigh of relief, but Lan Wangji''s low voice cut through the moment of reprieve. "Why?"

    Wei Wuxian understood the unspoken question. "I don''t know why my whistle command didn''t work on these corpses. They''re slow-moving and reek of decay, clearly not high-level fierce corpses. I should be able to scare them off with a simple clap of my hands. If my whistle suddenly lost its power, that''s impossible too ¨C it doesn''t rely on spiritual energy. This has never happened before..."

    As he spoke, a chill ran down his spine as he realized something. No, that wasn''t entirely true. There was one type of fierce corpse or evil spirit that he couldn''t control.

    Those already under the control of the Yin Tiger Seal.

    As this realization dawned on him, the situation suddenly became far more ominous. The mist, the uncontrollable corpses, the looping paths ¨C could it all be connected to the seal he had created and destroyed?

    Lan Sizhui''s voice, now free from Lan Wangji''s silencing spell, cut through Wei Wuxian''s thoughts. "Hanguang-Jun, is the situation dangerous? Should we try to leave the city immediately?"

    "But the fog is so thick," another disciple added, "and we can''t seem to find our way. We can''t even fly out..."

    "I think more walking corpses are coming!" a panicked voice called out.

    "Where? I don''t hear any footsteps," someone else responded.

    "I... I think I hear strange breathing sounds..." The young disciple who spoke immediately realized how ridiculous that sounded and fell silent, embarrassed.

    Another disciple scoffed, "Are you serious? Breathing sounds? Corpses are dead, they don''t breathe."

    Before anyone could respond, a large figure suddenly loomed out of the mist, charging towards them. Bichen flashed out once more, cleanly separating the figure''s head from its body. As it fell, a strange sound, like liquid being splashed, filled the air. Several of the younger disciples cried out in alarm.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Wei Wuxian, concerned they might be injured, called out, "What happened?"

    Lan Jingyi, his voice strained, replied, "The corpse... it sprayed something when it was cut. Some kind of powder. It''s bitter and sweet at the same time, and it smells awful!" He spat repeatedly, having unfortunately opened his mouth at the wrong moment and ingested some of the mysterious substance.

    Wei Wuxian''s concern deepened. Whatever had been expelled from the corpse could be extremely dangerous. "Everyone, move away from that area immediately! Lan Jingyi, come over here so I can check on you."

    "Alright," Lan Jingyi responded hesitantly, "but I can''t see you. Where are you?"

    The impenetrable mist made movement treacherous. Wei Wuxian, remembering how Bichen''s light had pierced the fog earlier, turned to where he thought Lan Wangji was standing. "Lan Zhan, could you unsheath your sword for a moment? To guide him over."

    There was no response from beside him, no movement.

    Suddenly, about seven paces away, a clear, icy blue sword light cut through the mist.

    Wei Wuxian froze. If Lan Wangji was over there, then who was the silent figure that had been standing next to him this whole time?

    Before he could react, a face loomed out of the darkness before him. It was a face shrouded in a thick, black mist, barely recognizable as human.

    The mist-faced figure lunged forward, grasping for the Qiankun pouch hanging at Wei Wuxian''s waist. Its hand closed around the pouch, but suddenly, the bag swelled and burst. Three writhing, hate-filled evil spirits exploded out, assailing the mysterious attacker.

    Wei Wuxian, despite the shock and danger of the situation, couldn''t help but let out a laugh. "Were you trying to steal my evil-sealing pouch? Your eyesight must be terrible in this mist ¨C that''s my spirit-locking bag!"

    Ever since their encounter at the Changs'' burial ground in Yueyang, where they thwarted a grave robber''s attempt to steal a recently unearthed corpse, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji had been on high alert. They suspected the robber wouldn''t give up easily and might strike again at any moment. Their vigilance proved warranted as they entered Yi City, where the grave robber saw an opportunity to strike under the cover of thick fog and the chaos of crowded streets.

    The robber''s plan seemed to succeed initially, but Wei Wuxian had anticipated such a move. He had cleverly switched the Qiankun pouch containing the left arm with a spirit-locking bag. As the robber grasped his prize, Wei Wuxian couldn''t help but smirk at the impending surprise.

    A sharp "zing" cut through the air as the robber leaped backward, drawing his sword. Immediately after, the anguished screams of malevolent spirits filled the misty air, seemingly scattered by the robber''s blade. Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "As expected, he''s quite skilled." Then, he called out loudly, "Lan Zhan, the grave robber is here!"

    There was no need for the warning; Lan Wangji had already sensed the sudden change. Without a word, Bichen responded, its icy blue glow cutting through the mist with lethal precision.

    The situation was far from ideal. The grave robber''s sword was shrouded in a layer of black mist, concealing its glow and making it nearly invisible in the white fog. In contrast, Lan Wangji''s Bichen shone brightly, impossible to hide. This put Lan Wangji at a disadvantage ¨C exposed while his opponent remained hidden. Moreover, the grave robber seemed familiar with Gusu Lan sect''s sword techniques, and his high level of cultivation was evident.

    The fog presented another challenge. While the robber could strike indiscriminately, Lan Wangji had to be cautious not to harm his allies. Wei Wuxian listened intently to the clashing of blades, his heart tightening with each sound. Unable to contain his concern, he called out, "Lan Zhan? Are you hurt?"

    A muffled grunt came from the distance, suggesting someone had been injured in a vital spot. But the voice clearly wasn''t Lan Wangji''s.

    "Impossible," came Lan Wangji''s calm reply.

    Wei Wuxian chuckled, "Of course!"

    The robber seemed to let out a cold laugh before engaging in battle once more. The glow of Bichen and the sounds of clashing swords grew more distant. Wei Wuxian realized Lan Wangji was deliberately leading the fight away to protect the others. This left Wei Wuxian to handle the remaining situation.

    Turning to the group, Wei Wuxian asked, "How are those who inhaled the powder?"

    Lan Sizhui''s worried voice replied, "They''re having trouble standing!"

    "Gather in the center and count off," Wei Wuxian instructed.

    Fortunately, with one wave of walking corpses dealt with and the grave robber led away, no other immediate threats presented themselves. Even the eerie sound of bamboo poles striking the ground had ceased. The remaining disciples huddled together, counting off. To their relief, no one was missing.

    Wei Wuxian approached Lan Jingyi, feeling his forehead. It was warm with fever. He checked the other young disciples who had inhaled the corpse powder, finding them in a similar state. Lifting Lan Jingyi''s eyelid, he said, "Stick out your tongue. Ah."

    Lan Jingyi complied, "Ah."

    Wei Wuxian nodded, "Congratulations, you''ve been poisoned by corpse venom."

    Jin Ling exclaimed, "What''s there to congratulate about?!"

    "It''s a life experience," Wei Wuxian replied nonchalantly. "Something to talk about when you''re old."

    Corpse venom usually resulted from being scratched or bitten by a transformed corpse, or from wounds contaminated by their decaying blood. Cultivators rarely allowed walking corpses to get close enough for such injuries, and few carried antidotes for corpse venom. Lan Sizhui, his voice filled with concern, asked, "Senior Mo, will they be alright?"

    Wei Wuxian''s casual tone belied the seriousness of the situation. "They''re fine for now, but once the poison spreads through their blood and reaches their hearts, it''ll be too late."

    "What... what will happen then?" Lan Sizhui pressed.

    "They''ll become like the corpses," Wei Wuxian explained, his voice taking on a theatrical tone. "Best case scenario, they''ll rot and stink. Worst case, they''ll turn into hairy rigid corpses, forced to hop around for the rest of their existence."

    The poisoned disciples collectively gasped in horror.

    "You want to be cured, right?" Wei Wuxian asked, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

    They nodded vigorously.

    "Then listen carefully," he continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "From now on, you all need to obey my every word. Every single one of you."

    Although many of the young disciples didn''t know Wei Wuxian, they saw how he interacted with Lan Wangji as an equal, even calling him by his birth name. Coupled with their current predicament ¨C trapped in a city shrouded in demonic fog, poisoned and feverish ¨C they instinctively sought someone to rely on. Wei Wuxian''s confident demeanor, despite the dire circumstances, drew them in. They found themselves nodding in agreement.

    "Whatever I tell you to do, you do it. No objections. Understood?" Wei Wuxian pressed, pushing his newfound authority.

    "Understood!" they chorused.

    Clapping his hands, Wei Wuxian instructed, "Alright, everyone up. Those who aren''t poisoned, carry those who are. Preferably on your backs. If you must carry them horizontally, keep their heads and hearts elevated."

    Lan Jingyi protested, "But I can walk. Why do I need to be carried?"

    "Listen, brother," Wei Wuxian explained patiently, "if you''re up and about, your blood will flow faster, spreading the poison quicker. You need to move as little as possible, preferably not at all."

    The poisoned disciples immediately stiffened like boards, allowing their companions to hoist them onto their backs. One disciple, being carried by his sect-mate, mumbled, "That corpse that sprayed the poison... it really was breathing."

    His carrier, panting under the weight, grumbled, "I told you, if it''s breathing, it''s not a corpse ¨C it''s alive."

    "Senior Mo," Lan Sizhui called out, "we''re ready. Where are we going?"

    Wei Wuxian smiled at Lan Sizhui''s obedience. "We can''t leave the city yet. We''re going to knock on doors."

    "What doors?" Jin Ling asked, confusion evident in his voice.

    Wei Wuxian pondered for a moment. "Besides houses, what else has doors?"

    Jin Ling''s eyes widened in disbelief. "You want us to enter these houses? It''s already dangerous enough out here. Who knows what might be lurking inside, waiting for us?"

    His words sent a chill through the group. Suddenly, they all felt as if countless eyes were watching them from behind the fog and within the houses, observing their every move. Wei Wuxian, however, remained unfazed.

    "You''re not wrong," he admitted. "It''s hard to say whether it''s more dangerous out here or in there. But given how bad it is out here, how much worse could it be inside? Come on, we don''t have time to waste. We need to cure that poison."

    Reluctantly, the group followed Wei Wuxian''s instructions. They formed a line, each person holding onto the scabbard of the person in front of them to avoid getting separated in the thick fog. They moved from house to house, knocking on doors.

    After knocking forcefully on one door for a while without response, Jin Ling said, "This house seems empty. Let''s go in."

    Wei Wuxian''s voice drifted from somewhere in the fog. "Who said to enter empty houses? Keep knocking. We''re looking for houses with people inside."

    "You want to find occupied houses?" Jin Ling asked incredulously.

    "That''s right," Wei Wuxian confirmed. "And knock properly. You were too forceful earlier, it''s impolite."

    Jin Ling nearly kicked the wooden door in frustration but managed to restrain himself, settling for stomping his foot on the ground instead.

    Every house along the street had its doors tightly shut, unresponsive to their knocking. As they continued, Jin Ling''s knocks grew less aggressive, while Lan Sizhui maintained his calm demeanor. At the thirteenth shop, Lan Sizhui repeated the phrase he had been using: "Is anyone there?"

    Suddenly, the door moved slightly. A thin black crack appeared as it opened a fraction.

    The interior was pitch black, making it impossible to see what lay beyond the narrow opening. The person who opened the door remained silent. The disciples nearest to the door instinctively took a small step back.

    Lan Sizhui steadied himself and asked, "Are you the shop owner?"

    After a long pause, an old, strange voice leaked out from the crack: "Yes."

    Wei Wuxian approached, patting Lan Sizhui''s shoulder to signal him to step back. "Shop owner," he said politely, "we''re new to your esteemed city. The fog is so thick we''ve lost our way and have been walking for a long time. We''re quite tired. Would it be possible for us to rest in your shop for a while?"

    The strange voice replied, "My shop is not for resting."

    Wei Wuxian, seemingly unfazed by the odd response, continued in a casual tone, "But there are no other shops open in the area. Surely you could make an exception? We would compensate you generously."

    Jin Ling couldn''t help but interject, "Where are you getting money to compensate? Just to be clear, I''m not lending you any."

    Wei Wuxian dangled an elegant small purse in front of Jin Ling''s eyes. "Look, what''s this?" Lan Jingyi exclaimed in shock, "You''re too daring! That belongs to Hanguang-Jun!"

    As they argued, the door opened a bit wider. Though the interior remained obscured, they could now see an old woman with gray hair and an expressionless face standing behind the door. Despite her hunched posture and apparent age, her face bore relatively few wrinkles and age spots, making her look more like a middle-aged woman than an elderly one.

    The woman stepped aside, silently inviting them in.

    Jin Ling whispered in disbelief, "She''s actually letting us in?"

    Wei Wuxian whispered back, "Of course. I had my foot wedged in the doorway. She couldn''t close it if she wanted to. If she hadn''t let us in, I was about to kick the door down."

    Jin Ling was left speechless.

    The disciples, though extremely reluctant to enter such a suspicious place, realized they had no other choice. With trepidation, they carried their poisoned companions into the shop. The old woman watched them with cold eyes, immediately closing the door behind them, plunging the room into pitch darkness.

    "Why don''t you light a lamp, shop owner?" Wei Wuxian asked.

    The old woman''s voice came from the darkness. "The lamp is on the table. Light it yourself."

    Lan Sizhui, who happened to be standing near a table, carefully felt around until he found an oil lamp covered in years of dust. He produced a fire talisman, lit it, and brought it close to the lamp''s wick. As he raised his eyes, a chill ran from his feet to the top of his head, his scalp tingling with shock.

    The main room of the shop was packed wall to wall with people, shoulder to shoulder, their eyes wide open, staring unblinkingly at the group!

 35. The Paper Doll Shop and Sweet Rice Porridge

    Wei Wuxian instinctively loosened his grip. Just as the oil lamp was about to crash to the ground, he swiftly rescued it, deftly striking it against the still-burning fire talisman in his other hand to light it. He placed it gently on the table and said with an air of nonchalance, "Did you make all these yourself, old lady? Quite the craftsmanship."

    It was only then that the group realized the room was filled not with people, but with an array of paper figures.

    These paper dolls were meticulously crafted to be the same size as real people, with intricate details in their faces and bodies. There were men, women, and even children among them. The male figures were all "Yin warriors," fashioned to be tall and muscular with fierce expressions, their paper hair seeming to stand on end in rage. The female figures were beautiful, some with twin buns, others with elaborate cloud-like hairstyles. Even beneath their voluminous paper robes, one could discern graceful figures. The patterns on their garments were even more exquisite than those on real brocade gowns.

    Some of the figures were painted in vivid colors - deep reds and vibrant greens - while others remained stark white, awaiting their hues. Each paper face bore two bright spots of rouge on the cheeks, a macabre attempt at mimicking the flush of life. But their eyes were the most unsettling feature - white and blank, as if the creator hadn''t had time to dot in the pupils. The brighter the rouge, the more ghastly they appeared.

    In the main hall stood another table, upon which several candles of varying lengths were arranged. Wei Wuxian lit them one by one, their yellow light illuminating most of the room. Besides the paper figures, two large funeral wreaths were positioned on either side of the hall. In the corners, paper ingots, spirit money, and pagodas were piled high like small mountains.

    Jin Ling, who had already drawn his sword partway out of its sheath, visibly relaxed upon realizing it was merely a shop selling funeral supplies. He sheathed his weapon fully. Coming from cultivator clans, they were unaccustomed to the messy, eerie displays common in folk funerals. After their initial shock, curiosity took over. The scene before them sent shivers down their spines, yet they found it more thrilling than their usual night hunts against ordinary demons.

    Even the thickest fog couldn''t penetrate the interior of the house. For the first time since entering Yi City, they could clearly see each other''s faces, which brought a sense of comfort. Noticing their relaxed state, Wei Wuxian turned to the old woman and asked, "May we borrow your kitchen?"

    The old woman seemed to despise the light, glaring at the oil lamp with almost palpable malice. "Kitchen''s in the back. Use it yourself," she spat, before retreating to another room as if fleeing from a plague. The sound of her slamming the door was so loud it made everyone flinch.

    Jin Ling muttered, "This old hag is definitely suspicious! You-"

    Wei Wuxian cut him off, "Enough of that. I need some help. Who''s coming with me?"

    Lan Sizhui quickly volunteered, "I''ll go."

    Lan Jingyi, still standing rigidly upright, asked, "What about me? What should I do?"

    "Keep standing there," Wei Wuxian replied. "If I didn''t tell you to move, don''t move."

    Lan Sizhui followed Wei Wuxian to the kitchen at the back of the house. As soon as they entered, a wave of putrid, moldy stench hit them full force. Lan Sizhui, who had never encountered such a revolting smell in his life, felt dizzy but managed to hold his ground without fleeing. Jin Ling, who had trailed after them, jumped back out as soon as he stepped in, frantically fanning the air in front of his face.

    "What in the world is that smell?!" Jin Ling exclaimed. "Instead of finding a way to neutralize the poison, you''re messing around in here? What are you up to?"

    Wei Wuxian replied cheerfully, "Oh? You came at just the right time. How did you know I was going to call you over? Come on, help out."

    Jin Ling retorted, "I didn''t come to help! Ugh! Did someone kill a person in here and forget to bury them?!"

    Wei Wuxian teased, "Well, Young Mistress Jin, are you coming in or not? If you''re in, come help. If not, go back and sit down, and I''ll call someone else."

    Jin Ling exploded with anger, "Who are you calling Young Mistress Jin?! Watch your mouth!" He pinched his nose, wavering between entering and leaving. Finally, he huffed, "Fine, I''ll see what nonsense you''re up to." With that, he stomped into the kitchen, seething.

    To everyone''s horror, Wei Wuxian flung open a chest on the floor, revealing the source of the foul odor. Inside lay a pig''s leg and a chicken, their once-red flesh now a sickly green, with pale maggots writhing in the decay.

    The sight drove Jin Ling back out of the kitchen once more. Wei Wuxian lifted the chest and handed it to him, saying, "Dispose of this, will you? Anywhere is fine, just make sure we can''t smell it anymore."

    Feeling nauseous and suspicious, Jin Ling complied, tossing the chest away before furiously scrubbing his hands with a handkerchief, which he then discarded as well. When he returned to the kitchen, he was surprised to find Wei Wuxian and Lan Sizhui had drawn two buckets of water from the well in the backyard and were busy cleaning the kitchen.

    "What are you doing?" Jin Ling asked, bewildered.

    Lan Sizhui, diligently scrubbing away, replied, "As you can see, we''re cleaning the stove."

    Jin Ling frowned, "Why clean the stove? It''s not like we''re going to cook anything."

    "Who says we''re not?" Wei Wuxian countered. "That''s exactly what we''re going to do. Here, take this duster and get rid of those cobwebs up there."

    Wei Wuxian spoke with such conviction and casualness that Jin Ling found himself holding a feather duster before he knew it, and began sweeping away cobwebs in a daze. As he swept, he grew increasingly confused about why he was doing this. Just as he was about to throw the duster at Wei Wuxian''s head, the older cultivator opened another chest, sending Jin Ling scrambling out of the kitchen once more. Fortunately, this time there was no foul odor.

    The three worked quickly, and soon the kitchen was transformed. It finally had a semblance of being lived in, rather than resembling an abandoned haunted house. They found a pile of pre-cut firewood in the corner, which they stacked in the stove and lit with a fire talisman. They placed a large, freshly-cleaned pot on top and set water to boil.

    Wei Wuxian emptied a heap of glutinous rice from the second chest, washed it thoroughly, and added it to the pot.

    "Porridge?" Jin Ling asked incredulously.

    "Mm-hmm," Wei Wuxian confirmed.

    Jin Ling threw down his cleaning cloth in frustration. Wei Wuxian chided him, "Look at you, getting angry after just a bit of work. See how hard Sizhui is working without complaint? What''s wrong with porridge anyway?"

    "What''s good about porridge? It''s just water and rice!" Jin Ling snapped. Then he caught himself, "Wait, that''s not the point! I''m not angry because of the porridge!"

    Wei Wuxian shrugged, "Well, it''s not for you anyway."

    This enraged Jin Ling further, "What did you say?! I''ve been working all this time and I don''t even get any?!"

    Lan Sizhui interjected thoughtfully, "Master Wei, is it possible that the porridge can counteract corpse poisoning?"

    Wei Wuxian smiled, "Indeed it can, but it''s not the porridge itself - it''s the glutinous rice. It''s an old folk remedy. Usually, you''d apply the rice directly to wounds from bites or scratches. If you ever encounter such a situation in the future, give it a try. It''ll hurt, but it''s incredibly effective. However, in their case, they inhaled the corpse poison powder, so drinking the porridge is the best we can do."

    Lan Sizhui''s eyes lit up with understanding, "So that''s why you insisted on entering a house, and one that seemed inhabited. Only a lived-in place would likely have a kitchen, and only a kitchen might have glutinous rice."

    Jin Ling, still skeptical, pointed out, "Who knows how long this rice has been here? Is it even edible? And this kitchen clearly hasn''t been used in at least a year - it was covered in dust, and the meat was rotten. How has that old woman survived if she hasn''t been cooking? It''s not like she could practice inedia."

    Wei Wuxian stirred the porridge, adding various ingredients from jars and bottles he found around the kitchen. "Either this house has been uninhabited all along, and she''s not really the shopkeeper," he mused, "or she doesn''t need to eat."

    Lan Sizhui lowered his voice, "If she doesn''t need to eat, wouldn''t that mean she''s... dead? But the old lady was clearly breathing."

    Wei Wuxian nodded, then changed the subject, "By the way, you two haven''t finished explaining. How did you end up in Yi City together? It can''t be a coincidence that you ran into us here, right?"

    The two young cultivators'' expressions immediately turned grave. Jin Ling spoke first, "Me, some people from the Lan sect, and a few from other clans - we were all chasing after something. I followed it here from Qinghe." Lan Sizhui added, "We pursued it from Langya."The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    "What were you chasing?" Wei Wuxian asked.

    Lan Sizhui shook his head, "We don''t know. It never showed itself. We''re not sure if it''s an object, a person... or even an organization."

    Jin Ling then recounted his experience. Days earlier, after helping Wei Wuxian escape and fearing retribution from his uncle Jiang Cheng, he had decided to disappear for a while. He left Zidian with a trusted subordinate and set out to find a new night-hunting location.

    In a small town near the border of Qinghe, he stayed at a large inn. Late one night, as he was reciting incantations in his room, his spiritual dog Fairy suddenly began barking at the door. Jin Ling tried to quiet her, but then heard a knock. Fairy stopped barking but remained agitated, her claws scratching at the floor as she growled lowly.

    Feeling uneasy, Jin Ling called out to ask who was there, but received no response. He ignored it, but half an hour later, the knocking resumed.

    Cautiously, Jin Ling and Fairy climbed out the window, circling around to approach from behind, hoping to catch the mysterious visitor off guard. But they found no one. They kept watch quietly for a while, but still saw no one near his door.

    Jin Ling remained vigilant, positioning Fairy to guard the door while he stayed awake all night, ready to confront any intruder. Nothing happened, but he kept hearing an odd dripping sound.

    The next morning, screams erupted from outside his room. Jin Ling kicked the door open, stepping into a pool of blood. Something fell from above the door, nearly hitting him as he dodged.

    It was a black cat!

    Someone had nailed a dead cat above his door during the night. The strange dripping he''d heard had been the cat''s blood.

    "The same thing happened at several inns," Jin Ling explained. "So I started actively pursuing it, investigating any reports of mysteriously appearing dead cats. I was determined to catch whoever was behind this."

    Wei Wuxian turned to Lan Sizhui, "And you experienced something similar?"

    Lan Sizhui nodded, his face grave. "That''s correct. A few days ago, several of us were night-hunting in Langya. One evening during dinner, we suddenly fished a cat''s head out of our soup... it hadn''t even been skinned." He shuddered at the memory. "At first, we weren''t sure if it was targeting us specifically, but that night when we changed inns, we found another cat carcass hidden in the bedding. This continued for several days. We pursued the trail to Yueyang, where we encountered Young Master Jin and discovered we were investigating the same incident. We decided to join forces. It was only today that we traced it to this area. In a village near a stone monument, we asked a hunter for directions, and he pointed us towards Yi City."

    Wei Wuxian''s mind raced. "A hunter?" he thought to himself. The young cultivators must have passed through the village by the stone monument later than he and Lan Wangji had. When they had been there, they hadn''t seen any hunters - only a few shy farm girls tending to chickens, who had said the men of the village were away transporting goods and wouldn''t be back for a while.

    The more Wei Wuxian pondered, the more grave his expression became.

    From what he''d heard, apart from killing cats and leaving their corpses, the mysterious entity hadn''t taken any other actions. While it sounded and looked terrifying, the young cultivators hadn''t actually been harmed. If anything, these incidents had only piqued their curiosity and determination to get to the bottom of the mystery.

    Moreover, the fact that the young cultivators had met up in Yueyang, the same place from which Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji had traveled south towards Eastern Shu, made it seem as though someone was deliberately guiding both groups to converge.

    Luring a group of naive young cultivators to a dangerous, unknown location to face the violent remains of a fierce corpse - wasn''t this exactly the same pattern as the incident at the Mo family''s residence?

    But that wasn''t even the most complicated part. What Wei Wuxian was most wary of now was... the Yin Tiger Seal. There was a possibility it was here in Yi City.

    Although Wei Wuxian himself was reluctant to accept this possibility, it seemed the most logical explanation. After all, if someone capable of restoring even half of the Yin Tiger Seal''s fragments existed - even if they had reportedly been dealt with - who knew where the restored seal might have ended up?

    Just then, Lan Sizhui, who was crouched by the stove fanning the flames, looked up and said, "Master Mo, I think the glutinous rice porridge is ready?"

    Wei Wuxian snapped out of his thoughts and stopped stirring. He took a bowl that Lan Sizhui had washed earlier, ladled out a spoonful, and tasted it. "It''s done," he confirmed. "Take it out there. One bowl each for those who were poisoned. Help them eat it."

    However, after just one mouthful, Lan Jingyi spluttered, "What is this, poison?!"

    Wei Wuxian retorted, "What poison? This is the antidote! Glutinous rice porridge."

    Lan Jingyi protested, "Even if we accept that glutinous rice is somehow an antidote, I''ve never had porridge this spicy before!"

    The others who had tasted it nodded in agreement, their eyes watering. Wei Wuxian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Having grown up in Yunmeng, where people could handle extremely spicy food, Wei Wuxian''s taste buds were particularly tolerant of heat. Whenever he cooked, it was usually so spicy that even Jiang Cheng would curse and throw his bowl away, complaining it was inedible. But Wei Wuxian could never resist adding spoonful after spoonful of spices to the pot, and it seemed he had once again failed to restrain himself.

    Curious, Lan Sizhui took a small sip from his own bowl. His face immediately turned red as he struggled not to spit it out. His eyes watered as he thought to himself, "This taste... it''s terrifyingly familiar somehow..."

    Wei Wuxian defended his creation, "All medicine is a little bit poison. The spiciness will make you sweat, helping you recover faster."

    The young cultivators exchanged skeptical looks, but grudgingly finished their porridge. Soon, everyone was flushed and sweating profusely, looking thoroughly miserable. Wei Wuxian couldn''t help but say, "Is it really that bad? Hanguang-jun is from Gusu too, and he can handle spicy food just fine. Why are you all so weak?"

    Lan Sizhui, still covering his mouth, managed to say, "That''s not true, Master Wei. Hanguang-jun prefers very mild flavors. He never eats spicy food..."

    Wei Wuxian froze for a moment. "Is that so?"

    He recalled that in his previous life, after he had left the Jiang Clan of Yunmeng, he had met Lan Wangji once in Yiling. At that time, although Wei Wuxian was somewhat notorious, he wasn''t yet universally reviled. So, he had shamelessly invited Lan Wangji to have a meal together for old times'' sake. Lan Wangji had ordered dishes covered in Sichuan peppercorns, leading Wei Wuxian to assume their tastes were similar.

    Now that he thought about it, he couldn''t remember if Lan Wangji had actually eaten any of those dishes. Then again, he had even forgotten that Lan Wangji had paid for the meal after Wei Wuxian had offered to treat him, so it wasn''t surprising that he''d forgotten such details.

    For some reason, at that moment, he desperately wanted to see Lan Wangji''s face.

    "Master Mo? Master Mo!"

    "Hm?" Wei Wuxian snapped back to reality. Lan Sizhui whispered, "The old lady''s door... it''s open."

    A gust of cold wind had blown the door to the small room ajar. It creaked open and closed intermittently. The room beyond was pitch black, but they could make out a hunched figure sitting at a table. Wei Wuxian gestured for the others to stay put as he approached the room.

    The dim light from the oil lamp and candles in the main hall filtered into the room. The old woman sat with her head bowed, seemingly unaware of Wei Wuxian''s presence. She had a piece of cloth stretched on an embroidery hoop on her lap, her stiff hands pressed together as she attempted to thread a needle.

    Wei Wuxian sat down at the table beside her. "Why are you trying to thread a needle in the dark, old one? Let me help you with that."

    He took the needle and thread, easily slipping the thread through the eye of the needle in one smooth motion. He handed it back to the old woman, then casually walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. "Nobody else go in there," he instructed.

    Jin Ling demanded, "When you went in just now, did you see if that old hag is dead or alive?"

    Wei Wuxian admonished, "Don''t call her an old hag. It''s disrespectful. This old lady... she''s a living corpse."

    The young cultivators exchanged bewildered looks. Lan Sizhui asked, "What do you mean by a living corpse?"

    Wei Wuxian explained, "It''s when a body exhibits all the characteristics of a corpse, and yet the person is somehow still alive. That''s what we call a living corpse."

    Jin Ling exclaimed in shock, "You''re saying she''s still alive?!"

    Wei Wuxian countered with questions of his own. "Did you all look inside the room just now? What did you see? What was she doing?"

    "Threading a needle," they replied.

    "Did she manage to thread it?"

    "...No."

    "Exactly. She couldn''t. Dead muscles are too stiff to perform complex actions like threading a needle. The marks on her face aren''t age spots - they''re livor mortis. And while she doesn''t need to eat, she can still breathe. She''s alive."

    Lan Sizhui, still trying to process this information, offered, "But... but she''s very old. Many elderly women have poor eyesight and struggle to thread needles."

    Wei Wuxian nodded. "That''s why I helped her. But did you notice something else? From the moment I opened the door until I left, she didn''t blink once."

    The young cultivators blinked rapidly in response. Wei Wuxian continued, "Living people blink to keep their eyes from drying out. The dead don''t need to. Also, when I took the needle and thread from her, did anyone notice how she looked at me?"

    Jin Ling realized, "She didn''t move her eyes... she turned her whole head!"

    "Exactly," Wei Wuxian confirmed. "Normally, when a person looks in another direction, their eyeballs move at least a little. But the dead can''t perform such delicate movements. They can only turn their head and neck."

    Lan Jingyi, still in shock, asked, "Should we be taking notes on this?"

    Wei Wuxian smiled. "That''s a good habit. But when you''re night-hunting, you won''t have time to flip through notes. Keep it in your memory."

    Jin Ling gritted his teeth. "Walking corpses are creepy enough. Why do living corpses have to exist too?"

    Wei Wuxian''s expression turned grim. "Living corpses rarely form naturally. They''re usually created by someone. This one certainly was."

    "Created? Why would anyone do that?!" the young cultivators exclaimed in unison.

    Wei Wuxian explained, "Dead bodies have many disadvantages: stiff muscles, slow movements, and so on. But they also have some advantages: they feel no pain, can''t think for themselves, and are easy to control. Some people thought they could improve on the disadvantages and create perfect corpse puppets. That''s how living corpses came to be."

    The young cultivators didn''t need to say it aloud; their faces clearly showed what they were thinking: "This person must be Wei Wuxian!"

    Wei Wuxian couldn''t decide whether to laugh or cry. In his mind, he protested, "I never made anything like this!"

    Although he had to admit, it did sound like something he might have done.

    He cleared his throat. "Well, yes, Wei Wuxian was the first to attempt something like this. But he succeeded in creating Wen Ning, the Ghost General. By the way, who came up with that stupid nickname? Anyway, some others tried to imitate his work but couldn''t quite manage it. They took the wrong path and started experimenting on living people, resulting in these living corpses." He concluded, "They''re failed imitations, essentially."

    At the mention of Wei Wuxian''s name, Jin Ling''s expression hardened. He scoffed, "Wei Ying himself was already on the wrong path."

    Wei Wuxian nodded sagely. "Mm-hmm, so those who create living corpses are on the wrong path of the wrong path."

    Lan Sizhui, ever practical, asked, "Master Mo, what should we do now?"

    Wei Wuxian replied, "Some living corpses might not realize they''re dead. I think this old lady is quite confused about her situation, so it''s best if we don''t disturb her for now."

    Just then, a clear, sharp sound of a bamboo pole striking the ground pierced the air.

    The sound came from just outside one of the windows, which was boarded up with black wooden planks. All the young cultivators in the main hall paled. They had been haunted by this sound ever since entering the city, and hearing it again filled them with dread. Wei Wuxian gestured for them to remain silent. They held their breath as they watched him approach the window and peer through a narrow gap between the wooden boards.

    As Wei Wuxian leaned in close to the gap, all he could see was white. At first, he thought it was just the dense fog outside obscuring his view. Suddenly, the whiteness retreated rapidly.

    What he saw next made his blood run cold. A pair of grotesque, pupilless white eyes were staring malevolently through the crack. The white he had seen wasn''t fog at all, but these horrifying eyeballs pressed against the gap.

 36. Whoâ€™s Outside the Door? The Bamboo Pole Cracks.

    Wei Wuxian''s exclamation sent a jolt through the group of young disciples. Their hearts leaped into their throats, hair standing on end as they feared the worst. "What is it?" they cried out in unison, their voices trembling with anticipation and dread.

    Wei Wuxian hushed them, his voice barely above a whisper. "Shh, don''t speak. I''m watching it."

    Jin Ling, his curiosity getting the better of his fear, pressed closer to Wei Wuxian. He lowered his voice even further, "What do you see? What''s outside the door?"

    Instead of answering directly, Wei Wuxian kept his gaze fixed on whatever lay beyond the crack. "Hmm... hmm... impressive, very impressive," he murmured, his tone filled with genuine admiration and wonder.

    The excitement on Wei Wuxian''s profile quickly overshadowed the tension in the room. The young disciples from prominent cultivation sects found their curiosity rapidly overtaking their anxiety. Lan Sizhui, unable to contain himself any longer, ventured, "Senior Mo, what''s so impressive?"

    Wei Wuxian''s eyes sparkled with mischief as he replied, "Ah! It''s truly a sight to behold. Keep your voices down, we don''t want to scare it away. I haven''t had my fill yet."

    Jin Ling, his impatience getting the better of him, demanded, "Move aside! I want to see!"

    "Me too!" echoed another voice from the group.

    Wei Wuxian turned to them, a playful smirk dancing on his lips. "Are you sure you want to look?"

    A chorus of eager "Yes!" filled the room.

    With exaggerated reluctance, Wei Wuxian slowly stepped aside, allowing others access to the narrow crack in the wooden door. Jin Ling, driven by his competitive nature, was the first to rush forward. He pressed his eye against the sliver of space, peering into the darkness beyond.

    Night had fallen, and a chill had settled over Yi City. The ghostly mist that had earlier engulfed the streets had dissipated somewhat, allowing visibility for a few yards down the road. Jin Ling squinted, trying to discern what had captivated Wei Wuxian''s attention. At first, he saw nothing extraordinary, and a twinge of disappointment began to set in. "Did I scare it away when I spoke?" he wondered.

    Just as he was about to give up, a small, withered figure suddenly materialized in front of the crack. The abrupt appearance of the entity in its full form nearly caused Jin Ling to cry out in shock. His scalp tingled as if struck by lightning, and he felt his chest constrict, barely managing to suppress a scream.

    Frozen in his bent position, Jin Ling waited for the numbness in his head to subside. He couldn''t help but glance at Wei Wuxian, who was leaning against the window frame with a mischievous grin. The older cultivator raised an eyebrow and asked, "Isn''t it a sight to behold?"

    Jin Ling shot him a furious glare, realizing he had fallen for Wei Wuxian''s trick. Through gritted teeth, he managed to respond, "...Yes, indeed..."

    Gathering his composure, Jin Ling straightened up and feigned nonchalance. "It''s nothing special, barely worth looking at!" he declared, stepping aside to make room for the next unsuspecting victim.

    The exchange between Wei Wuxian and Jin Ling only served to heighten the curiosity of the remaining disciples. Lan Sizhui, unable to resist any longer, took his place at the crack. However, the moment his eye met the view beyond, he let out a startled "Ah!" and stumbled backwards. His face was a picture of shock and confusion as he spun around, searching for Wei Wuxian.

    "Senior Mo!" Lan Sizhui exclaimed, his voice quivering. "There''s a... there''s a..."

    Wei Wuxian nodded knowingly. "There''s one of those, right? No need to say it out loud. Let''s keep it a surprise for the others. Let them see for themselves."

    The remaining disciples, witnessing Lan Sizhui''s reaction, began to lose their nerve. "No, no, we don''t need to see!" they protested, waving their hands in refusal.

    Jin Ling, still smarting from his earlier fright, spat out, "I can''t believe you''re still playing tricks at a time like this!"

    Wei Wuxian turned to him with a grin. "Weren''t you playing along too? Don''t start sounding like your uncle now." He then addressed Lan Sizhui, "Sizhui, was that thing scary?"

    Lan Sizhui nodded earnestly. "Very scary."

    "Good, that''s exactly how it should be," Wei Wuxian said, his tone suddenly taking on a more instructive quality. "This is a golden opportunity for your training. Do you know why ghosts try to scare people? It''s because when people are frightened, their spirits are vulnerable, making it easier for ghosts to siphon off their yang energy. That''s why the thing ghosts fear most is someone who isn''t afraid of them. If you''re not scared, they have no power over you. So, as young cultivators, your first task is to make yourselves braver!"

    Lan Jingyi, silently thanking his lucky stars that he hadn''t been able to move and thus avoided the fright, muttered, "But bravery is something you''re born with. What can you do if you''re naturally timid?"

    Wei Wuxian shook his head. "Were you born knowing how to fly on a sword? No, you practiced until you learned. It''s the same with bravery. The more you face your fears, the more accustomed to them you become. Take a latrine, for example. It stinks, right? It''s disgusting. But I bet if you lived in one for a month, you''d be able to eat your meals in there without a second thought."

    The young disciples recoiled in disgust, unanimously rejecting the idea. "No way! That''s impossible!"

    Wei Wuxian chuckled. "Alright, I admit I''ve never actually lived in a latrine, so I can''t say for certain if you could eat there. That might have been an exaggeration. But the thing outside this door? That you absolutely must face. Not only should you look, but you need to observe carefully. Pay attention to the details and try to identify any potential weaknesses in the shortest time possible. Stay calm in the face of danger and look for opportunities to counterattack. Now, did you all understand what I just said? Not everyone gets the chance to receive my guidance, so make the most of it. No more backing out. Everyone line up and take turns looking."

    "...Do we really have to look?" one of the disciples asked hesitantly.

    Wei Wuxian nodded firmly. "Of course. I never joke about these things, and I never tease people needlessly. Let''s start with Jingyi. Jin Ling and Sizhui have already had their turn."

    Lan Jingyi protested, "What? Can''t I be excused? You said people affected by corpse poison shouldn''t move, remember?"

    Wei Wuxian approached Lan Jingyi with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Stick out your tongue and say ''ah.''"

    Reluctantly, Lan Jingyi complied. "Ah..."

    "Congratulations! Your poison has been cured," Wei Wuxian announced cheerfully. "Now, take that brave first step and come here!"

    "It''s cured already?! You must be joking!" Lan Jingyi exclaimed in disbelief.

    Despite his protests, Lan Jingyi found himself being gently but firmly guided towards the window. He approached the crack hesitantly, alternating between quick glances and averting his gaze. Wei Wuxian tapped on the wooden frame reassuringly. "What are you afraid of? I''m right here. It won''t dare break through this plank. Your eyeballs are safe, I promise."

    Lan Jingyi jumped back after a moment. "I''ve looked! I''ve seen it!"

    The process continued with each disciple taking their turn, accompanied by sharp intakes of breath and muffled exclamations. Once everyone had their chance to peek, Wei Wuxian gathered them around.

    "Now that you''ve all had a look, let''s hear what details you noticed. We''ll summarize our observations."

    Jin Ling, eager to prove himself, spoke up first. "White eyes. Female. Very short and thin. Decent looking, I suppose. Carrying a bamboo pole."

    Lan Sizhui, after a moment of contemplation, added, "The girl seems to be about chest-high to me. Her clothes are tattered and dirty, reminiscent of a street urchin''s attire. The bamboo pole appears to be a walking stick for the blind. It''s possible her white eyes weren''t a result of her death, but rather indicate she was blind in life."

    Wei Wuxian nodded approvingly. "Jin Ling saw more, but Sizhui observed more deeply."

    Jin Ling pursed his lips, a hint of jealousy flashing across his face.

    One of the young disciples spoke up, his voice tinged with a mix of awe and trepidation. "This girl appears to be about fifteen or sixteen years old. She has an oval face, quite delicate and pretty, with a certain liveliness about her. Her long hair is held up by a wooden hairpin, and I noticed it''s carved with a small fox head at the end. She''s thin and has a slender figure. Although not exactly tidy, she''s not dirty either ¨C not unpleasant to look at. If she were to be cleaned up, I''m sure she''d be quite a lovely beauty."

    Wei Wuxian''s eyes lit up at this detailed description. He immediately felt that this youngster had great potential. "Excellent, excellent!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine praise. "Your observation is meticulous and your focus unique. This young friend here is destined to be quite the romantic in the future."

    The young disciple''s face flushed red at the compliment. He turned to face the wall, covering his face with his hands, trying to ignore the playful teasing from his companions.

    Another disciple chimed in, his brow furrowed in thought. "It seems the tapping sound we heard earlier must have been from her walking stick. If she was blind in life, it makes sense that her spirit would retain this condition. She must rely on that cane to navigate."

    A third disciple interjected, his voice laced with skepticism. "But wait, something doesn''t add up. We''ve all seen blind people before, right? Because of their visual impairment, they usually move slowly and cautiously, afraid of bumping into things. But this ghost moves with surprising agility. I''ve never seen a blind person move so nimbly."

    Wei Wuxian''s lips curled into an approving smile. "Ah, you''ve noticed that discrepancy. Very good. This is exactly how you should analyze situations ¨C never overlook any inconsistencies. Now, let''s invite her in and get some answers to these questions, shall we?"

    Without further ado, Wei Wuxian began to remove one of the door panels. His sudden action startled not only the young disciples inside but also the spirit outside, who raised her bamboo pole defensively.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Wei Wuxian first greeted the spirit cordially, then asked, "Young lady, you''ve been following them for a while now. Is there something you need?"

    The girl spirit widened her eyes. If she were alive, this expression would have been utterly charming. However, without eyeballs and with two trails of blood flowing from her eye sockets, the effect was terrifyingly grotesque. Someone behind Wei Wuxian inhaled sharply, and he turned to address the group.

    "What are you afraid of? In the future, you''ll see much worse than this ¨C people bleeding from all seven orifices. If you can''t handle two, how will you ever toughen up? This is why you need more experience."

    The girl spirit, who had been anxiously pacing in front of their window, tapping her cane, stomping her feet, glaring, and waving her arms, suddenly changed her behavior. She began to make intricate gestures, as if trying to communicate something.

    Jin Ling, puzzled, asked, "Strange, can''t she speak?"

    Upon hearing this, the spirit paused her movements and opened her mouth towards them.

    Fresh blood gushed out from her empty oral cavity. It became apparent that her tongue had been brutally torn out.

    The young cultivators shuddered collectively, goosebumps rising on their skin. Yet, they couldn''t help but feel a wave of sympathy. "No wonder she can''t speak. Blind and mute... how pitiful," they murmured among themselves.

    Wei Wuxian, ever practical, asked, "Is she using sign language? Does anyone understand?"

    No one did. The girl spirit grew increasingly agitated, stamping her feet in frustration. She began to use her bamboo pole to write and draw on the ground. However, it was clear she wasn''t from a scholarly background ¨C she couldn''t write and her attempts at drawing were indecipherable. She scrawled a jumble of stick figures, leaving everyone completely baffled as to what she was trying to express.

    Just then, from the far end of the long street, came the sound of hurried footsteps and labored breathing.

    The girl spirit vanished abruptly, but Wei Wuxian wasn''t concerned. He knew she''d likely return on her own. Swiftly, he replaced the door panel and resumed peering through the crack. The other young cultivators, eager to see what was happening outside, crowded around the door. A comical stack of heads formed from top to bottom, their collective gaze focused through the narrow gap.

    The ghostly mist, which had thinned earlier, began to thicken once more. Through the white haze, a disheveled figure emerged, running towards them.

    The newcomer was dressed all in black and appeared to be injured. Their gait was unsteady, stumbling as they ran. A sword, also wrapped in black cloth, hung at their waist. Lan Jingyi whispered, "Is it the Mist-Face person?"

    Lan Sizhui responded quietly, "I don''t think so. This person''s movement is completely different from the Mist-Face''s."

    A group of walking corpses suddenly appeared, pursuing the figure in black. They moved with surprising speed, quickly catching up. The person in black drew their sword to face the onslaught. As the blade flashed, cutting through the mist, Wei Wuxian couldn''t help but exclaim inwardly, "What a fine sword!"

    However, as the blade swept through the air, it was accompanied by a familiar splattering sound. Black and red powder erupted from the severed limbs of the walking corpses. The swordsperson, now surrounded and with nowhere to dodge, was engulfed in a cloud of the corpse poison powder.

    Lan Sizhui watched with growing concern. "Senior Mo," he began in a low voice, "this person, should we¡ª"

    Before he could finish, another wave of walking corpses closed in, further tightening the circle around the swordsperson. Another sweep of the blade resulted in more corpse poison being released, and the figure began to sway, clearly affected by the toxin.

    "We need to save them," Wei Wuxian declared.

    Jin Ling objected, "How? We can''t go out there now. The air is thick with corpse poison ¨C we''d be infected instantly if we get close."

    After a moment of contemplation, Wei Wuxian moved away from the window and walked to the inner part of the hall. The young disciples'' gazes followed him instinctively. They saw a group of paper figurines, each with distinct features, standing silently between two large funeral wreaths.

    Wei Wuxian walked slowly past them, finally stopping in front of a pair of female paper figurines. Unlike the others, this pair seemed intentionally crafted as twin sisters. Their makeup, attire, and facial features were identical, as if cut from the same mold. They had curved eyebrows and smiling faces, giving the impression that one could almost hear their giggles. Their hair was styled in double buns, adorned with red pearl earrings. Golden bracelets encircled their wrists, and their feet were clad in embroidered shoes ¨C the very picture of handmaidens from a wealthy household.

    "These two will do," Wei Wuxian said softly.

    He casually brushed his thumb against the unsheathed sword of one of the young disciples, drawing a small cut. Turning back to the paper figurines, he used his bloodied thumb to draw two pairs of eyes, four eyeballs in total.

    Stepping back, he smiled faintly and recited, "Coy eyes half-closed in charm, red lips parting in mirth. Good or evil, it matters not ¨C with eyes awakened, summon forth."

    A gust of spectral wind suddenly filled the entire shop, causing the young disciples to instinctively tighten their grip on their swords.

    Without warning, the twin paper figurines shuddered violently.

    The next moment, genuine giggles emanated from their bright red lips!

    The Awakening Technique had worked!

    As if they had seen or heard something incredibly amusing, the paper figurines shook with laughter. Simultaneously, the eyeballs drawn with human blood rolled wildly in their sockets. The scene was a bizarre mix of charm and horror. Wei Wuxian stood before them, giving a slight nod and a small bow.

    In return, the paper figurines curtsied, offering an even deeper bow.

    Wei Wuxian pointed towards the door and commanded, "Bring the living person inside ¨C as for the rest, leave none alive."

    A piercing, high-pitched laughter erupted from the paper dolls'' mouths as a gust of spectral wind swept through the room. The main door suddenly flew open with a violent bang!

    The two paper figures glided out side by side, swiftly entering the circle of walking corpses. It was hard to believe that these seemingly fragile paper creations could possess such devastating power. Dancing on their delicate embroidered shoes, they swung their fluttering sleeves with deadly precision. Each sweep sliced off a corpse''s arm, another decapitated half a head ¨C their paper sleeves transformed into razor-sharp blades. The charming yet chilling laughter continued to echo throughout the long street, simultaneously thrilling and terrifying all who heard it.

    In a matter of moments, fifteen or sixteen walking corpses were reduced to a scattered mess of dismembered parts, strewn across the ground. The pair of paper handmaidens had achieved a resounding victory.

    Obeying their orders, they brought the now weakened fugitive inside, then leapt back out. The door shut automatically behind them as they took up positions on either side, standing guard like a pair of silent, watchful lions.

    Inside the house, the young disciples from prominent cultivation families stood slack-jawed in astonishment.

    They had only ever heard descriptions of such unorthodox techniques in books or from their elders. Back then, they couldn''t understand, "If these are evil methods, why do so many people want to learn them? Why does the Yiling Patriarch have so many imitators?" Now, having witnessed it firsthand, they began to grasp the allure of these unconventional arts. Moreover, this was just the tip of the iceberg ¨C the "Eye-Awakening Summoning Technique." Most of the young disciples, once they recovered from their initial shock, showed no signs of revulsion. Instead, their faces were alight with barely concealed excitement, thrilled at having gained such rare knowledge and eager to share their experience with their fellow disciples back home. Only Jin Ling''s expression remained dark and troubled.

    Lan Sizhui moved to help Wei Wuxian support the newcomer, but Wei Wuxian cautioned, "Stay back, all of you. Be careful not to touch any corpse poison powder. Even skin contact might be enough to infect you."

    The person brought in by the paper dolls was barely conscious, hovering between awareness and unconsciousness. As they began to stir, they coughed a few times, seemingly worried about spreading the corpse poison. Covering their mouth, they asked in a weak voice, "Who are you people?"

    The voice was heavy with exhaustion. The question wasn''t asked because they didn''t recognize those in the room, but because they couldn''t see anything at all.

    The person''s eyes were wrapped in thick white bandages. They were clearly blind.

    And yet, despite their condition, it was evident that this was an exceptionally handsome individual. With a well-defined nose and thin lips tinged with a hint of red, they could almost be described as beautiful. Their features suggested youth, somewhere between adolescence and adulthood, making their blindness all the more tragic. Wei Wuxian couldn''t help but think, "Why have we been encountering so many blind people lately? Both heard about and seen, alive and dead."

    Suddenly, Jin Ling spoke up, "Hey, we don''t even know who this person is or whether they''re friend or foe. Why did we rush to save them? What if they''re evil? We might have just invited a snake into our midst."

    While his words held some truth, speaking so bluntly in front of the person was rather tactless. Surprisingly, the newcomer didn''t seem offended. They didn''t appear worried about being thrown out either. Instead, they smiled slightly, revealing a pair of small canine teeth, and said, "This young master is quite right. It would be better if I left."

    Jin Ling, caught off guard by this response, was momentarily at a loss for words. He merely grunted, unsure how to proceed. Lan Sizhui quickly tried to smooth things over, "But this person might not be evil at all. Regardless, letting someone die when we could help goes against our sect''s teachings."

    Jin Ling stubbornly retorted, "Fine. You''re all such good people. Don''t blame me if someone ends up getting hurt because of this."

    Lan Jingyi, irritated, began to speak, "You''re really..." but his words trailed off as his gaze fell upon the sword leaning against the table next to the newcomer.

    The black cloth wrapped around the sword had partially slipped, revealing a portion of the blade beneath. It was a sword of exceptional craftsmanship. The scabbard was bronze in color, intricately carved with a frost flower pattern. Through the openwork design, the blade itself was visible ¨C as brilliant as starlight, with a shimmering, snow-like radiance. It possessed a beauty that was both pure as ice and dazzlingly bright.

    Lan Jingyi''s eyes widened, words of recognition on the tip of his tongue. Wei Wuxian, though unaware of what Lan Jingyi was about to say, instinctively knew that the sword had been hidden for a reason. Not wanting to startle their guest, he quickly covered Lan Jingyi''s mouth with his hand while pressing a finger to his own lips, signaling the other surprised young disciples to remain silent.

    Jin Ling mouthed two words to Wei Wuxian, then wrote them in the dust on the table:

    "Shuang Hua."

    ...Shuang Hua sword?

    Wei Wuxian silently mouthed back: Xiao Xingchen''s ¡ª Shuang Hua sword?

    Jin Ling and the others nodded in confirmation.

    While these young disciples had never met Xiao Xingchen in person, Shuang Hua was a renowned sword, not only for its powerful spiritual energy but also for its unique and beautiful design. It had been depicted in countless versions of famous sword catalogues, making it unforgettable to those who had seen its image. Wei Wuxian pondered: If the sword is indeed Shuang Hua, and its owner is blind...

    One of the young disciples, reaching the same conclusion, instinctively reached out to touch the bandages covering the newcomer''s eyes, intending to remove them and confirm their suspicions. However, as soon as his fingers brushed against the cloth, the stranger''s face contorted in extreme pain. They flinched back almost imperceptibly, clearly terrified of having their eyes touched.

    Realizing his mistake, the young disciple quickly withdrew his hand, apologizing profusely, "I''m so sorry... I didn''t mean to..."

    The stranger raised their left hand, covered in a thin black glove, as if to shield their eyes. Yet they dared not touch them, suggesting that even the lightest contact would cause unbearable pain. A thin sheen of sweat had broken out on their forehead as they managed to say, "It''s alright..."

    But their voice trembled slightly.

    This reaction all but confirmed that this person was indeed Xiao Xingchen, who had disappeared after the incident with the Chang clan in Yueyang.

    Unaware that his identity had been uncovered, Xiao Xingchen reached out, feeling for his sword. Wei Wuxian, quick to act, pulled the black cloth back over the exposed blade. As Xiao Xingchen''s hand found the hilt, he nodded and said, "Thank you for saving me. I should take my leave now."

    Wei Wuxian interjected, "Please don''t go yet. You''ve been infected with corpse poison."

    Xiao Xingchen asked, "Is it serious?"

    "Very serious," Wei Wuxian confirmed.

    Xiao Xingchen replied with a hint of resignation, "If it''s that severe, why bother staying? Since there''s no cure, I might as well make use of what time I have left to slay a few more walking corpses before I turn into one myself."

    Hearing him speak so nonchalantly about life and death, the young disciples felt a surge of admiration. Lan Jingyi, unable to contain himself, blurted out, "Who says there''s no cure? Stay here! He can heal you!"

    Wei Wuxian looked surprised, "Me? I''m sorry, but are you talking about me?" He felt uncomfortable telling the truth ¨C Xiao Xingchen had inhaled far too much corpse poison, his complexion already showing hints of black and red. The poisoning was too severe; even the sticky rice porridge remedy might not be effective at this stage.

    Xiao Xingchen spoke again, his voice tinged with concern, "I''ve already slain many walking corpses in this city. They''ve been following me, and more will undoubtedly come. If I stay, you''ll all eventually be overwhelmed by the horde."

    Wei Wuxian asked, "Do you know why this City of Yi has become like this?"

    Xiao Xingchen shook his head, "I don''t. I''m just a wandering cultiva... a wanderer who came upon this place. Upon hearing of the strange occurrences, I entered the city to night-hunt. The sheer number and strength of the living and walking corpses here is beyond what you''ve experienced. Some move with incredible speed, impossible to guard against. Others, when slain, release corpse poison that infects on contact. Yet if left alive, they''ll pounce and bite, resulting in infection either way. They''re incredibly difficult to deal with. From your voices, I can tell there are quite a few young masters here. I strongly advise you all to leave as soon as possible."

    As soon as he finished speaking, the eerie giggles of the paper doll sisters echoed from outside the door. This time, their laughter was sharper and more piercing than ever before.

 37. Who the Hell Are You All?

    Lan Jingyi peered through the crack of the door, his eyes widening in shock. He quickly pressed his body against the gap, effectively blocking it. "There''s... there''s so many!" he stammered, his voice trembling with a mixture of awe and fear.

    Wei Wuxian, his brow furrowed in concern, asked, "Walking corpses? How many exactly?"

    Lan Jingyi shook his head, his face pale. "I... I can''t even count! They''re all over the street, hundreds of them! And more keep coming!" His voice rose in panic. "Those two paper dolls at the door... I don''t think they can hold much longer!"

    The implications of his words hung heavy in the air. If the pair of paper dolls guarding the entrance failed, the horde of walking corpses flooding the street would pour into the shop. Fighting them would be suicide - the corpse poison would spread rapidly through any wounds. Not fighting meant certain death by their ravenous bites.

    Xiao Xingchen, his face a mask of determination despite his weakened state, gripped his sword and made to push open the door. It was clear he intended to use what little strength he had left to buy them some time. But as he stood, a wave of purple-red qi surged across his cheeks, and he collapsed to the ground.

    Wei Wuxian''s eyes softened with concern. "Stay put," he said gently but firmly. "I''ll handle this. It''ll be over soon."

    With a casual motion, Wei Wuxian used Lan Jingyi''s sword to make a small cut on his right index finger. A drop of blood welled up, bright red against his pale skin.

    Lan Jingyi watched with a mixture of fascination and worry. "Are you going to use the eye-dotting summoning technique again? You''ll need to dot both eyes on each paper doll... that''s a lot of blood! Should I... should I give you some of mine?"

    Before Wei Wuxian could respond, other young disciples began rolling up their sleeves, eager to help. "I can spare some blood too!" one called out.

    Wei Wuxian couldn''t help but laugh, touched by their willingness to assist. "No need for that," he said with a slight shake of his head. "Do any of you have blank talismans?"

    The young disciples from prominent cultivation families were still too inexperienced to draw and use talismans on the spot. They typically carried pre-drawn ones. Lan Sizhui shook his head apologetically. "We don''t have any blank ones."

    Wei Wuxian shrugged, unperturbed. "That''s fine. Used ones will do."

    Lan Sizhui quickly produced a stack of yellow talismans from his qiankun pouch. Wei Wuxian took just one, giving it a cursory glance. He pressed his bloodied index and middle fingers together, then began to trace over the existing cinnabar markings with swift, fluid motions. The bright red of his blood mixed with the deep red of the cinnabar, creating a new, powerful talisman.

    With a flick of his wrist, the yellow paper with its red characters burst into flames, hovering in the air. Wei Wuxian extended his left hand, catching the gently falling ashes. He closed his fingers around them, bowing his head slightly. As he opened his hand, he gently blew the black ashes towards the rows of paper dolls, whispering, "Wildfire burns not all, spring breeze brings life anew."

    The ashes scattered, swirling in the air before settling on the paper dolls.

    Suddenly, the Yin soldier standing at the front of the group lifted the cleaver that had been resting by his feet, hoisting it onto his shoulder with an air of grim determination.

    Beside him, a paper beauty with an elaborate hairstyle and luxurious clothing slowly raised her right hand. Her long, delicate fingers moved with eerie grace, as if she were a languid noblewoman admiring her blood-red nails.

    At the beauty''s feet stood two paper children, a golden boy and a jade girl. The boy, mischievous even in death, tugged on the girl''s braid. In response, the girl stuck out her tongue at him - a grotesque, nine-inch-long appendage that shot out like a viper, punching a hole in the boy''s chest before retracting. Not to be outdone, the boy opened his mouth wide, revealing rows of sharp, white teeth, and bit down hard on the girl''s arm.

    One by one, the twenty or thirty paper dolls began to sway and move, as if stretching after a long slumber. They turned to each other, seeming to converse in hushed, rustling whispers. Though not truly alive, they appeared more lifelike with each passing moment.

    Wei Wuxian''s voice cut through the eerie scene. "Hold your breath," he commanded. He stepped aside, clearing the path to the door, and made a graceful inviting gesture.

    The wooden door burst open once more, allowing a rush of foul air laden with corpse poison to flood in. The group quickly covered their mouths and noses with their sleeves. The Yin soldier let out a battle cry and charged out first, followed by the rest of the paper army.

    As the last paper doll exited, the door slammed shut behind them. Wei Wuxian turned to the group. "Did anyone breathe it in?"

    Everyone shook their heads, and Wei Wuxian nodded in satisfaction. He then moved to help Xiao Xingchen, intending to find a place for him to lie down. However, the shop floor was covered in dust and debris. With no better option, he gently lowered Xiao Xingchen to sit on the cold, grimy floor.

    Xiao Xingchen still clutched his Frost Glare sword tightly, barely conscious. After a few weak coughs, he managed to speak, his voice barely above a whisper. "What you did just now... was that the eye-dotting summoning technique?"

    Wei Wuxian nodded, then remembered Xiao Xingchen couldn''t see. "I know a bit about it," he admitted.

    Xiao Xingchen pondered this for a moment, then smiled weakly. "It''s... certainly an effective way to deal with these walking corpses."

    He paused, gathering his strength before continuing. "However, practicing such methods... it''s easy to suffer backlash from the fierce ghosts and evil spirits under your command. Even the Yiling Patriarch, Wei Wuxian, the founder of this technique, wasn''t immune to its dangers." His voice grew earnest, despite its weakness. "I would advise you to be extremely cautious. Use it sparingly, only when absolutely necessary. Perhaps focus on other cultivation methods..."

    Wei Wuxian felt a pang in his heart, touched by the man''s concern. "Thank you for your advice," he said softly.

    Most renowned cultivators would have been quick to denounce such practices, drawing clear lines between themselves and those who dabbled in the dark arts. Yet here was Xiao Xingchen, barely clinging to life, offering kind words of caution about the dangers of backlash. It spoke volumes about his gentle and compassionate nature.

    Wei Wuxian''s gaze lingered on the thick bandages covering Xiao Xingchen''s eyes, his mind drifting to the man''s tragic past. He couldn''t help but feel a deep sense of sympathy and regret.

    While the adults grappled with the weight of the situation, the younger disciples, still naive to the true horrors of the cultivation world, crowded around the door crack, eagerly watching the battle outside.

    "Gods, look at that paper woman''s nails!" one exclaimed. "One swipe would leave five deep gashes!"

    "Why is that little girl''s tongue so long and hard?" another wondered aloud. "Is she some kind of hanged ghost?"

    "The male one is so strong!" a third chimed in. "He can lift so many walking corpses at once! Oh, he''s going to slam them down! Look, look! They''re shattering!"

    Their excited chatter filled the room, a stark contrast to the grim reality outside.

    Wei Wuxian, having finished his conversation with Xiao Xingchen, picked up the last unfinished bowl of glutinous rice porridge from the table. He turned back to the injured cultivator. "You''ve been deeply poisoned," he said matter-of-factly. "I have something here that might help a little, or it might do nothing at all. Fair warning - it tastes awful. Do you want to try it? If you''d rather not live, that''s fine too."

    Xiao Xingchen accepted the bowl with both hands, his movements careful despite his weakness. "Of course I want to live," he said with a hint of a smile. "If there''s a chance to survive, one should take it."

    However, after taking a sip, Xiao Xingchen''s lips twitched, and he had to press them tightly together to avoid spitting it out. After a long moment, he managed to say politely, "Thank you."

    Wei Wuxian turned to the young disciples, a triumphant look on his face. "See that? Did you hear what he said? And here you all were, complaining about my cooking. Such picky eaters!"

    Jin Ling, never one to back down, retorted, "Was that really your cooking? All you did was throw a bunch of weird stuff into the pot at the end!"

    Xiao Xingchen, his voice still weak but tinged with humor, added, "Though, if I had to eat this every day, I might choose death after all."

    Jin Ling burst into unrestrained laughter, and even Lan Sizhui couldn''t hold back a snort of amusement. Wei Wuxian looked at them, feigning offense, which only made Lan Sizhui struggle harder to compose himself.

    Just then, Lan Jingyi''s excited voice cut through the moment. "It''s over! We''ve won!"

    Xiao Xingchen immediately set down the bowl, his tone urgent. "Don''t open the door yet. Be careful... there might be more coming."

    Wei Wuxian nodded in agreement. "And don''t put that bowl down. Finish it." He moved closer to the wooden door, peering through the crack.

    The street outside bore the aftermath of an inhuman battle. A thin white mist mingled with purple-red dust, slowly dissipating in the air. The corpse poison was gradually fading. The paper dolls patrolled the street at a leisurely pace, surrounded by scattered corpse parts. When they encountered any fragments that still twitched with unnatural life, they stomped mercilessly, not stopping until the remains were nothing but a pulpy mess.

    Beyond this gruesome scene, all was silent. For the moment, no new walking corpses had arrived.

    Just as Wei Wuxian was about to relax, he caught the faintest sound from above.

    The noise was so slight that it was nearly imperceptible - the sound of someone moving swiftly across the roof tiles. But this person''s movements were unnaturally light and eerie, their footsteps almost completely silent. Wei Wuxian, with his heightened senses, barely caught the subtle clinking of tiles. Even this slight noise didn''t escape Xiao Xingchen''s notice, his blindness having sharpened his other senses. "Above!" he warned.

    Wei Wuxian''s voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "Scatter!"

    No sooner had the words left his mouth than a large hole burst open in the ceiling of the main hall. Broken tiles, accumulated dust, and bits of thatch rained down. Fortunately, the quick-reflexed young disciples had already darted to the sides, avoiding injury. A black figure dropped through the newly created opening.

    The newcomer wore a black Daoist robe, tall and straight-backed, standing proud as a pine tree. A duster was thrust through his belt at the back, and he held a long sword in his hand. His face was handsome, his bearing aloof as he held his head high.

    However, his eyes were devoid of pupils, nothing but dead white.

    A fierce corpse!

    Before the realization had fully sunk in for the group, the figure lunged forward, sword extended.

    His target was Jin Ling, the closest to him. Jin Ling raised his sword to parry, feeling the immense force of the blow reverberate through his arm, nearly numbing it. If not for the spiritual power of his sword, Suihua, he might have been cut down instantly. The black-robed fierce corpse, undeterred by the failed first strike, immediately followed up with another, this time aiming for Jin Ling''s arm.

    In the nick of time, Xiao Xingchen''s sword flashed out, deflecting the blow meant for Jin Ling. But the exertion proved too much for his poison-wracked body, and he collapsed, motionless.

    Lan Jingyi, his voice thick with horror, exclaimed, "Is he dead or alive?! I''ve never seen such a..."

    He trailed off, the realization hitting him. He had seen something like this before.

    The Ghost General had been just as swift, just as skilled with a blade!

    Wei Wuxian''s eyes were locked on the Daoist figure, his mind racing. He pulled out the bamboo flute from his waist and immediately launched into a piercing, discordant melody that made everyone else cover their ears in pain. The Daoist corpse faltered at the sound, his sword hand trembling uncontrollably. Yet, after a moment''s hesitation, he lunged forward again, blade flashing!

    It was clear now - this fierce corpse was under someone else''s control!

    Wei Wuxian dodged the lightning-fast thrust, smoothly transitioning into a different tune on his flute. In response, the paper dolls that had been patrolling outside leapt onto the roof and dropped through the hole. The Daoist corpse sensed the new threat and reacted with inhuman speed. His right hand wielded the sword in two swift slashes, cleaving two paper dolls in half from head to toe. With his left, he drew the duster from his belt. The thousands of soft white strands transformed into steel-like whips tipped with venomous barbs. One sweep of the duster shattered heads and severed limbs - a glancing blow would turn a person into a bloody sieve.

    Wei Wuxian, in the midst of the chaos, managed to call out, "Stay back! Keep to the corners!" He then returned his full attention to the flute, the melody alternating between playful and teasing to high and wrathful.

    The Daoist corpse, despite his dual-wielding prowess and ferocious attacks, found himself overwhelmed as paper dolls continued to pour in from above. He struck down foes on one side only to find more at his back, his superhuman speed and strength pushed to the limit. Suddenly, a Yin soldier dropped from above, landing squarely on the Daoist''s shoulders and driving him to the ground.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    As if on cue, three more Yin soldiers leapt down from the hole in the ceiling, landing one after another on top of the Daoist corpse.

    Legend had it that Yin soldiers possessed immeasurable strength. The craftsmen who created them often added extra weight to their frames, and once possessed by wandering spirits, they became even heavier. Having just one of these land on you would feel like being crushed by a mountain. To have four pile on top and not have your internal organs burst out was nothing short of miraculous.

    The black-robed fierce corpse, now completely pinned down by the four Yin soldiers, was rendered immobile.

    Wei Wuxian approached cautiously. He noticed a tear in the back of the corpse''s robe and smoothed it out to examine more closely. Beneath the tear, near the left shoulder blade, was a narrow, precise wound. "Turn him over," Wei Wuxian commanded.

    The four Yin soldiers complied, flipping the Daoist onto his back for easier inspection. Wei Wuxian extended his bloodied finger, brushing it across the lips of each Yin soldier as a reward. They extended their bright red paper tongues, slowly and appreciatively licking the fresh blood from their mouths, seeming to savor the taste.

    Wei Wuxian then turned his attention back to the corpse. On the left side of the chest, close to the heart, he found another tear with an identical wound. It appeared as though the man had been run through with a sword, piercing his heart.

    Throughout the examination, the fierce corpse continued to struggle weakly, emitting low growls from its throat. Black blood trickled from the corners of its mouth. Wei Wuxian gripped its face, forcing the jaw open. To his shock, he discovered that the tongue had been completely removed.

    Blind eyes, torn out tongue. Blind eyes, torn out tongue.

    Why did these two characteristics keep appearing with such frequency?

    As Wei Wuxian observed the corpse, he couldn''t help but draw parallels to Wen Ning''s appearance when he was controlled by the black nails. Acting on a hunch, he ran his fingers along the corpse''s temples. To his surprise, he felt two small metal points!

    These black nails were used to control high-level fierce corpses, robbing them of consciousness and independent thought. Wei Wuxian, unsure of the corpse''s identity or background, knew he couldn''t recklessly remove the nails. A thorough interrogation was necessary. However, with the tongue removed, the corpse wouldn''t be able to speak even if awakened.

    He turned to the young Lan disciples. "Has anyone here practiced Spirit Questioning?"

    Lan Sizhui raised his hand. "I have," he said.

    "Do you have your guqin with you?" Wei Wuxian asked.

    Lan Sizhui nodded. "Yes, I do." He promptly retrieved a simple yet gleaming wooden guqin from his qiankun pouch.

    Noticing the instrument''s pristine condition, Wei Wuxian inquired, "How proficient are you with the Inquiry technique? Have you used it in actual combat? Can the spirits you summon lie?"

    Lan Jingyi interjected, "Hanguang-jun said Sizhui''s Inquiry skills are quite good."

    If Lan Wangji had said "quite good," it meant exactly that - neither an exaggeration nor an understatement. Wei Wuxian felt reassured. Lan Sizhui elaborated, "Hanguang-jun advised me to focus on precision rather than quantity. The spirits we summon can choose not to answer, but they cannot lie. So if they do respond, it will always be the truth."

    "Very well, let''s begin," Wei Wuxian said.

    The guqin was placed horizontally in front of the Daoist corpse''s head. Lan Sizhui sat on the ground, arranging his robes neatly. He plucked two strings to test the sound, then nodded, ready to start.

    Wei Wuxian instructed, "First question: ask who he is."

    Lan Sizhui took a moment to gather his thoughts, silently reciting the incantation before carefully playing the first inquiry.

    After a tense moment, the guqin strings vibrated, producing two harsh, metallic notes.

    Lan Sizhui''s eyes widened in shock. Lan Jingyi, unable to contain his curiosity, urged, "What did he say?"

    "Song Lan!" Lan Sizhui exclaimed.

    The revelation hung in the air. Song Lan, Xiao Xingchen''s close friend and fellow cultivator?

    All eyes instinctively turned to the unconscious Xiao Xingchen on the ground. Lan Sizhui whispered, "I wonder if he knows... that it''s Song Lan who came..."

    Jin Ling, his voice equally hushed, replied, "He probably doesn''t. He''s blind, and Song Lan was mute. Now he''s a fierce corpse without reason... It''s better if he doesn''t know."

    Wei Wuxian, maintaining his composure, said, "Second question: ask who killed him."

    Lan Sizhui played the inquiry with utmost concentration.

    This time, the silence that followed was three times as long as before.

    Just as they were beginning to think Song Lan''s soul was refusing to answer, the guqin strings trembled, producing three mournful notes.

    "Impossible!" Lan Sizhui blurted out.

    "What did he say?" Wei Wuxian pressed.

    Lan Sizhui, his voice filled with disbelief, replied, "He said... Xiao Xingchen."

    The killer of Song Lan was Xiao Xingchen?!

    They had only asked two questions, yet each answer was more shocking than the last. Jin Ling, skeptical, accused, "You must have played it wrong!"

    Lan Sizhui defended himself, "But ''Who are you?'' and ''Who killed you?'' are the two simplest and most common questions in the Inquiry technique. They''re the first two phrases everyone learns when starting to practice Inquiry. I''ve practiced them millions of times. I double-checked just now - there''s no way I played it wrong."

    Jin Ling persisted, "Either your Inquiry was wrong, or you misinterpreted the response."

    Lan Sizhui shook his head firmly. "If it''s impossible that I played it wrong, it''s even more impossible that I misinterpreted. ''Xiao Xingchen'' is not a common name or phrase in spirit responses. If he had answered with a different name and I misinterpreted, the chances of it coincidentally being this exact name are astronomical."

    Lan Jingyi murmured, his voice tinged with confusion and disbelief, "...Song Lan went to find the missing Xiao Xingchen, but Xiao Xingchen killed him instead? Why would he kill his own good friend? It doesn''t seem like something he would do..."

    Wei Wuxian, his mind racing with possibilities, said, "Let''s not dwell on that for now. Sizhui, ask the third question: Who is controlling him?"

    Lan Sizhui, his expression grave, took a deep breath before playing the third inquiry. All eyes were fixed on the guqin strings, anxiously awaiting Song Lan''s answer.

    Lan Sizhui interpreted the response, enunciating each word carefully: "The person behind you all."

    The group whirled around in unison. To their shock, Xiao Xingchen, who had been lying unconscious on the ground, was now sitting up. He was casually resting his chin on one hand, a faint smile playing on his lips. He raised his left hand, clad in a black glove, and snapped his fingers.

    The crisp sound of the snap reached Song Lan''s ears like an explosion. Suddenly, he threw off the four Yin soldiers pinning him down as if they weighed nothing!

    In one fluid motion, Song Lan leapt to his feet, wielding his sword in one hand and the duster in the other. With terrifying efficiency, he slashed and shredded the four Yin soldiers, reducing them to a colorful shower of paper scraps. His sword came to rest at Wei Wuxian''s throat, while the duster was menacingly aimed at the young disciples.

    In the blink of an eye, the atmosphere in the small shop had completely transformed.

    Jin Ling''s hand moved to his sword, but Wei Wuxian, catching the movement from the corner of his eye, quickly warned, "Don''t move. Don''t make things worse. When it comes to swordplay, everyone here combined is no match for... Song Lan."

    Wei Wuxian was acutely aware of his current body''s weak spiritual energy, and his own sword was not at hand. Moreover, the intentions of Xiao Xingchen, whether friend or foe, remained a mystery.

    Xiao Xingchen spoke, his voice carrying a hint of amusement, "The adults need to have a chat. Why don''t you children step outside?"

    He made a gesture to Song Lan, who silently obeyed, herding the young cultivators towards the exit. Wei Wuxian addressed the youths, "Go on out for now. You can''t help here. The corpse poison should have settled by now, but move slowly and breathe shallowly to avoid stirring it up."

    Jin Ling, hearing that he "can''t help," felt a mixture of defiance and frustration. He knew he was powerless in this situation, but his pride made it hard to accept. With a huff of anger, he was the first to storm out.

    As Lan Sizhui was about to leave, he hesitated, clearly wanting to say something. Wei Wuxian reassured him, "Sizhui, you''re the most sensible one. Take care of the others, alright? Can you do that?"

    Lan Sizhui nodded solemnly. Wei Wuxian added, "Don''t be afraid."

    "I''m not afraid," Lan Sizhui replied.

    "Really?" Wei Wuxian pressed.

    "Really." To Wei Wuxian''s surprise, Lan Sizhui smiled. "Senior, you''re a lot like Hanguang-jun."

    Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Similar? How are we similar?" They were as different as night and day. But Lan Sizhui merely smiled and said nothing more as he led the remaining youths out.

    In his heart, Lan Sizhui thought, "I don''t know exactly why, but it just feels that way. It''s as if when either of these two seniors is around, there''s nothing to fear."

    Once the young disciples had left, Xiao Xingchen produced a small red pill from somewhere and swallowed it. "How touching," he remarked dryly.

    After taking the pill, the purple-red qi rapidly receded from his face. Wei Wuxian observed, "An antidote for the corpse poison?"

    Xiao Xingchen nodded. "Indeed. Much more effective than that terrifying porridge of yours, wouldn''t you agree? And it''s sweet, too."

    Wei Wuxian''s eyes narrowed. "You''ve put on quite a performance, haven''t you? From your valiant fight against the corpses outside, to your collapse from exhaustion, even taking that blow for Jin Ling and losing consciousness... was it all an act for our benefit?"

    Xiao Xingchen held up a finger, wagging it in front of his face. "Not for ''your'' benefit, but for ''yours'' specifically. The infamous Yiling Patriarch... your reputation precedes you, but seeing is believing."

    Wei Wuxian remained impassive, his face betraying no emotion. Xiao Xingchen continued, "I''m guessing you haven''t told the others who you really are, have you? That''s why I didn''t expose you. I sent them away so we could talk privately. Thoughtful of me, don''t you think?"

    Wei Wuxian, ignoring the taunt, cut to the chase. "Were all the walking corpses in Yi City under your control?"

    "Of course," Xiao Xingchen replied smoothly. "From the moment you arrived and blew that whistle, I sensed something unusual about you. So I decided to investigate personally. And indeed, only the creator of such techniques could wield them with such power, even low-level ones like the eye-dotting summoning."

    Xue Yang had followed in his footsteps, and they walked the same path - a path of unorthodox cultivation. It was impossible to hide from a fellow practitioner. Wei Wuxian, his voice cold, asked, "So you''ve taken all these young cultivators hostage. What exactly do you want from me?"

    Xiao Xingchen''s smile widened. "I''d like you to do me a small favor, Patriarch. Just a tiny one."

    The fact that his mother''s junior was calling him "Patriarch" made the whole situation feel absurdly convoluted. As Wei Wuxian was inwardly chuckling at the irony, Xiao Xingchen produced a soul-locking pouch and placed it on the table. "If you please," he said, gesturing towards it.

    Wei Wuxian placed his hand on the pouch, feeling it as if taking a pulse. After a moment, he spoke, "Whose soul is this? It''s shattered beyond repair, barely clinging to existence."

    Xiao Xingchen''s voice took on a more serious tone. "If this soul were so easily mended, why would I need to ask for your help?"

    Wei Wuxian withdrew his hand from the soul-locking pouch, his expression grave. "You want me to repair this soul? Forgive my bluntness, but there''s precious little left in there. Moreover, this person must have endured extreme suffering in life, to the point where they likely took their own life, unwilling to return to this world. If a soul lacks the will to survive, there''s a ninety percent chance it can''t be saved. If I''m not mistaken, these soul fragments have been forcibly pieced together. The moment they leave the pouch, they''ll likely dissipate. Surely you''re aware of all this."

    "Xiao Xingchen" leaned back, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. "I don''t care about the details. You''ll help me whether you want to or not. Don''t forget, Patriarch, those young disciples of yours are waiting just outside, counting on you to get them to safety."

    His tone was peculiar - seemingly friendly, even sweet, but with an undercurrent of unmistakable menace. It was as if he could switch from camaraderie to cold-blooded killer in an instant. Wei Wuxian couldn''t help but smirk. "You''re quite the surprise yourself. Xue Yang, why would a scoundrel like you masquerade as a Daoist?"

    After a brief pause, "Xiao Xingchen" raised his hands and began to remove the bandages covering his eyes.

    As the layers fell away, they revealed a pair of bright, shining eyes.

    Perfectly intact eyes.

    The face that emerged was young and charming, handsome even. But when he smiled, revealing a pair of prominent canines, there was an almost childlike cuteness that belied the cruelty and wildness lurking in his gaze.

    Xue Yang tossed the bandages aside carelessly. "Oh my, you''ve figured it out."

    Wei Wuxian''s voice was laden with sarcasm. "Clever touches - pretending to be in pain to evoke sympathy and prevent anyone from checking under your bandages; deliberately exposing a part of Shuanghua; ''accidentally'' mentioning you were a wandering Daoist. Not only did you employ the ''wounded-but-brave'' act, but you also expertly played on people''s sympathy. Your performance as the noble, otherworldly cultivator was truly convincing. If it weren''t for your knowledge of things Xiao Xingchen shouldn''t know, I might have believed it entirely."

    He paused, recalling the Inquiry session. Song Lan''s last two answers had been "Xiao Xingchen" and "the person behind you all."

    If "the person behind you all" had also meant Xiao Xingchen, there would have been no reason for Song Lan to change his phrasing.

    Unless "Xiao Xingchen" and "the person behind you all" were not the same person at all. Song Lan had been trying to warn them of the danger, but feared they wouldn''t recognize Xue Yang''s name, so he had to be indirect.

    Xue Yang grinned widely. "Well, when his reputation is so sterling and mine so... colorful, of course I''d choose to impersonate him. It makes gaining trust so much easier."

    "Impressive acting," Wei Wuxian conceded.

    "Oh, you flatter me," Xue Yang replied with false modesty. "I have a very famous friend whose acting skills are truly exceptional. I pale in comparison. But enough small talk, Patriarch Wei. You have no choice but to help me."

    Wei Wuxian''s eyes narrowed. "The black nails controlling Song Lan and Wen Ning - they''re your handiwork, aren''t they? You managed to recreate half of the Yin Tiger Seal. Why would you need my help to repair a soul?"

    Xue Yang''s smile never wavered. "It''s not the same. You''re the pioneer. If you hadn''t created the first half of the Yin Tiger Seal, I couldn''t have made the second half. You''re undoubtedly more skilled than I am. What I can''t accomplish, you surely can."

    Wei Wuxian found it bemusing how strangers seemed to have such unwavering, inexplicable confidence in his abilities. He stroked his chin, wondering if he should return the flattery. "You''re too modest."

    "It''s not modesty, it''s fact," Xue Yang countered. "I''m not one for empty words. When I say I''ll kill someone''s entire family, I mean it - not even the dog will be spared."

    "Like the Chang clan of Yueyang?" Wei Wuxian probed.

    Before Xue Yang could respond, the door suddenly burst open, and a black figure flew in.

    Both Wei Wuxian and Xue Yang leapt back from the table, with Xue Yang swiftly snatching up the soul-locking pouch. Song Lan, using the table as a pivot point, executed a graceful flip and landed atop it, dispersing his momentum. He raised his head sharply, his gaze fixed on the doorway as black blood vessels crept across his face.

    Wen Ning, dragging iron chains and surrounded by a mix of white mist and black wind, entered with ominous presence.

    Wei Wuxian had summoned Wen Ning earlier with his first flute melody. He quickly instructed, "Take the fight outside. Don''t destroy everything. Keep the living safe and prevent other walking corpses from approaching."

    Wen Ning raised his right hand, a chain whipping out towards Song Lan. Song Lan met it with his duster, the two weapons entangling. As Wen Ning began to retreat, pulling the chain, Song Lan refused to let go, allowing himself to be dragged out the door. The young disciples, who had taken refuge in a nearby shop, watched the spectacle with wide-eyed fascination.

    The clash of duster, chains, and sword created a cacophony of metallic clangs and showered sparks. The ferocity of the two fierce corpses was unparalleled - each blow was vicious, each strike potentially lethal. Only undead beings could fight with such brutal disregard for physical limitations. Had they been living cultivators, they would have been dismembered or had their skulls crushed long ago.

    Xue Yang watched the battle with keen interest. "Care to wager on the winner?"

    "Is there any doubt?" Wei Wuxian replied coolly. "Wen Ning will win."

    Xue Yang sighed theatrically. "It''s a pity. I drove so many nails into his skull, yet he still won''t obey. Some things are just too loyal for their own good. It can be quite troublesome."

    Wei Wuxian''s response was deliberately ambiguous. "Wen Ning isn''t a thing."

    Xue Yang burst into laughter. "Oh, don''t you see the double meaning there?" As he uttered the word "see," he suddenly lunged forward, sword aimed at Wei Wuxian''s chest.

    Wei Wuxian dodged nimbly. "Do you always attack mid-sentence like this?"

    "Of course," Xue Yang replied, feigning surprise. "I''m a scoundrel, remember? You shouldn''t be shocked. I''m not trying to kill you, just incapacitate you. Then you can come with me and take your time repairing this soul."

    "I''ve already told you, it''s beyond my abilities," Wei Wuxian insisted.

    Xue Yang pressed on, his voice deceptively light. "Don''t be so quick to refuse. If you''re stumped alone, we could put our heads together, couldn''t we?" True to form, he launched another attack before finishing his sentence.

    Wei Wuxian ducked and weaved among the scattered paper doll fragments, silently acknowledging Xue Yang''s impressive swordsmanship. As Xue Yang''s attacks grew faster and more vicious, Wei Wuxian couldn''t help but taunt, "Are you taking advantage of this body''s low spiritual energy?"

    "Indeed I am!" Xue Yang replied cheerfully.

    Wei Wuxian, finally encountering someone even more shameless than himself, grinned back. "Better to offend a hero than a scoundrel - that saying was made for you. I''m done fighting. Let''s bring in someone else."

    Xue Yang''s smile turned predatory. "Oh? Who might that be? That Lan Wangji of yours? I sent over 300 walking corpses to surround him. He..."

    Before he could finish his boast, a white-robed figure descended from above. The cold, clear blue light of Bichen cut through the air, aimed directly at Xue Yang''s face.

 38. The Mystery Unfolds

    Lan Wangji stood before Wei Wuxian, his presence radiating an aura of frost and unyielding determination. In a flash, Xue Yang hurled Shuanghua, the gleaming sword intercepting a potentially fatal blow meant for Lan Wangji. The two legendary blades clashed with a resounding ring before flying back to their respective wielders'' hands.

    Wei Wuxian, his heart still racing from the near-miss, couldn''t help but quip, "Isn''t this what they call ''better late than never''?"

    Lan Wangji, ever a man of few words, simply responded with a curt, "Mm."

    Without further ado, he engaged Xue Yang in fierce combat. The tables had turned dramatically; where moments ago Wei Wuxian had been desperately evading Xue Yang''s onslaught, now it was Xue Yang who found himself relentlessly pushed back by Lan Wangji''s formidable swordsmanship.

    Realizing his disadvantage, a sly glint appeared in Xue Yang''s eyes. With a devious smile playing on his lips, he suddenly tossed Shuanghua from his right hand to his left. Wei Wuxian tensed, anticipating some sort of poisonous powder or hidden weapon to emerge from Xue Yang''s sleeve. Instead, to everyone''s surprise, another long sword materialized in Xue Yang''s right hand.

    This new blade exuded an ominous aura, its edge gleaming with a sinister darkness that starkly contrasted with Shuanghua''s bright, silvery radiance. Wielding both swords with remarkable dexterity, Xue Yang''s assault intensified, his movements fluid and unpredictable.

    Lan Wangji''s eyes narrowed slightly as he recognized the second weapon. "Jiangzai?"

    Xue Yang''s eyebrows rose in mock surprise. "Oh? The esteemed Hanguang-Jun recognizes this sword? I''m truly honored."

    "Jiangzai" was indeed Xue Yang''s personal sword. True to its name, which meant "bringing calamity," it was a blade infamous for the bloodshed and carnage it had wrought, much like its wielder.

    Wei Wuxian, unable to resist commenting, interjected, "That name suits you perfectly."

    Lan Wangji, his focus unwavering from the dual-wielding opponent before him, spoke to Wei Wuxian without turning, "Step back. You''re not needed here."

    For once, Wei Wuxian heeded the advice without argument, retreating towards the doorway. From his new vantage point, he could see outside where an unusual spectacle was unfolding.

    Wen Ning, his face an expressionless mask, had Song Lan by the throat, lifting him effortlessly before slamming him into a wall with such force that it left a human-shaped indentation in the stone. Song Lan, equally impassive, grabbed Wen Ning''s wrist and, with a sudden twist, hurled the other fierce corpse into the ground, cratering the earth.

    The two undead warriors continued their brutal exchange, their blows resonating with thunderous impacts. Neither showed any sign of pain or fatigue; lacking the ability to feel hurt or fear injury, they could continue fighting indefinitely unless reduced to scattered pieces.

    Wei Wuxian muttered to himself, "Looks like they don''t need me here either."

    Suddenly, movement caught his eye. Across the way, in a dimly lit shop, he spotted Lan Jingyi frantically waving at him. A wry smile crossed Wei Wuxian''s face as he thought, "Ah, now there''s someone who definitely needs me."

    As Wei Wuxian stepped away, the battle between Lan Wangji and Xue Yang reached a crescendo. Bichen''s radiance flared brilliantly, and in that blinding moment, Xue Yang''s grip on Shuanghua faltered. The sword spun out of his grasp, and Lan Wangji, with lightning-fast reflexes, snatched it from the air.

    Seeing his prized weapon in enemy hands, Xue Yang''s eyes flashed with cold fury. He brought Jiangzai down in a vicious arc aimed at Lan Wangji''s left arm, but the strike was deftly parried. Frustration evident in his voice, Xue Yang snarled, "Give me back my sword."

    Lan Wangji''s reply was as cold and unyielding as steel, "You are unworthy of this blade."

    A mirthless laugh escaped Xue Yang''s lips, his eyes promising retribution.

    Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian had made his way to where the young disciples from various sects had gathered. As he approached, they swarmed around him, their faces a mixture of relief and anxiety.

    "Is everyone alright?" Wei Wuxian asked, his eyes quickly scanning the group for any signs of injury.

    A chorus of affirmatives greeted him. "We''re fine!" "We did as you said and held our breath!"

    Wei Wuxian nodded approvingly. "Good. If anyone had disobeyed, I''d have made them drink more of that glutinous rice porridge."

    Several of the youths who had experienced the concoction''s vile taste visibly gagged at the mere mention of it. Just then, the sound of numerous footsteps began to echo from all directions. At the far end of the long street, indistinct figures started to appear through the mist.

    Lan Wangji, ever alert, also caught the sound. With a sweep of his sleeve, he produced the guqin Wangji. In one fluid motion, he tossed Bichen to his left hand, never breaking stride in his duel with Xue Yang. Simultaneously, without even a glance behind him, he raised his right hand and swept it across the guqin''s strings.

    The clear, resonant notes of the instrument rang out, carrying far down the street. In response came the now-familiar sound of walking corpses'' heads exploding. Lan Wangji continued his performance, one hand engaged in fierce swordplay with Xue Yang, the other playing the guqin with casual grace. His eyes flicked briefly towards the approaching threat, then back to his opponent, his fingers plucking the strings with practiced ease. He maintained perfect composure, attacking and defending on two fronts simultaneously.

    Jin Ling, unable to contain his admiration, blurted out, "Amazing!"

    The young Jin heir had witnessed his uncle Jiang Cheng and Jin Guangyao on night hunts before, slaying monsters with impressive skill. He had always thought them to be the two most formidable cultivators in the world, his feelings towards Lan Wangji colored more by fear of his silence spells and cold demeanor than respect. But now, he couldn''t help but be in awe of Lan Wangji''s prowess.

    Lan Jingyi, pride evident in his voice, chimed in, "Of course! Hanguang-Jun is incredible. He''s just never been one to show off, always so low-key. Right?"

    The "right?" was directed at Wei Wuxian, who looked bemused at being suddenly addressed. "Are you asking me? Why?"

    Lan Jingyi, growing flustered, pressed on, "Don''t you think Hanguang-Jun is amazing?!"

    Wei Wuxian stroked his chin thoughtfully, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Hmm, yes, amazing. Of course. He''s the most amazing." As he spoke, he couldn''t help but break into a fond smile.

    The heart-stopping, perilous night was drawing to a close, with dawn fast approaching. However, this was not necessarily good news. Daybreak meant the demonic fog would thicken, making movement even more treacherous.

    If it were just Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, escape wouldn''t be too challenging. But with so many living people to protect, being surrounded by a horde of walking corpses could spell disaster. As Wei Wuxian''s mind raced through possible strategies, a familiar sound reached his ears ¨C the crisp, rhythmic tapping of a bamboo cane on the ground.

    The soulless, tongueless young girl''s ghost had returned!

    Making a split-second decision, Wei Wuxian commanded, "Let''s go!"

    Lan Jingyi, confusion evident in his voice, asked, "Go where?"

    "Follow the sound of the bamboo cane," Wei Wuxian replied without hesitation.

    Jin Ling''s eyes widened in disbelief. "You want us to follow a ghost? Who knows where it might lead us!"

    Wei Wuxian, his tone brooking no argument, explained, "Yes, we''re following her. This sound has been with you since you entered the city, right? It was leading you towards the city gates, away from the center. That''s how you ran into us. She was trying to guide you out, to save you!"

    He went on to theorize that the eerie, unpredictable tapping was the ghost''s method of scaring living people away from danger. Even the paper doll head of the yin iron soldier that Wei Wuxian had kicked earlier might have been placed there by her as a warning.

    "Besides," Wei Wuxian added, "last night she clearly wanted to tell us something urgent but couldn''t express it. As soon as Xue Yang appeared, she vanished. She''s probably hiding from him, which means she''s definitely not on his side."

    "Xue Yang?!" The young disciples exclaimed in unison. "What about Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan?"

    "Ah, I''ll explain that later," Wei Wuxian said, waving off their confusion. "The main thing is, the one fighting Hanguang-Jun in there isn''t Xiao Xingchen ¨C it''s Xue Yang impersonating him."

    The bamboo cane continued its steady tapping, seeming both patient and urgent. Following the ghost could lead them into a trap, but staying to face the corpses that could spew deadly poison wasn''t any safer. The young disciples made their choice, falling in line behind Wei Wuxian as they pursued the spectral sound.

    As they moved, the tapping moved with them. Sometimes they could make out a small, hazy figure in the thinning mist ahead, while at other times, they saw nothing at all.

    After running for a while, Lan Jingyi spoke up, slightly out of breath, "So we''re just leaving like this?"

    Wei Wuxian called back over his shoulder, "Hanguang-Jun, we''re counting on you! We''ll go on ahead!"

    A single, sharp twang of a guqin string echoed back, sounding remarkably like someone saying "Mm." Wei Wuxian couldn''t help but laugh.

    Lan Jingyi persisted, "Is that all? Aren''t you going to say anything else?"

    Wei Wuxian looked perplexed. "What else should I say?"

    "Why not something like ''I''m worried about you, I want to stay!'' or ''You go!'' and then ''No! I won''t go! If we go, we go together!'' Isn''t that how it should be?" Lan Jingyi suggested, his voice tinged with a hint of romanticism.

    Wei Wuxian nearly choked on his laughter. "Who taught you that? Who told you there should be that kind of dialogue? I might be capable of it, but can you imagine your Hanguang-Jun saying such things?"

    The young Lan disciples unanimously shook their heads. "No... we can''t..."

    "Exactly," Wei Wuxian agreed. "It would be a waste of time. Your Hanguang-Jun is incredibly reliable. I trust he can handle the situation. I''ll do my part, and then either he''ll come find me, or I''ll go find him. Simple as that."This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    They followed the sound of the bamboo cane for what felt like half an incense stick''s burning time, making several turns along the way. Suddenly, the tapping ceased. Wei Wuxian held out an arm to stop the group behind him and cautiously took a few steps forward.

    Through the increasingly thick demonic fog, a solitary building loomed before them.

    With an ominous creak, the door of the house swung open, as if inviting the strangers to enter. Wei Wuxian had a strong intuition that something awaited them inside. Not something dangerous or life-threatening, but something that would provide answers, unraveling some of the mysteries they faced.

    Wei Wuxian, his voice tinged with a hint of resignation and curiosity, said, "Well, we''ve come this far. Let''s go in."

    He lifted his foot and stepped into the house, his eyes adjusting to the darkness. Without turning back, he reminded the others, "Watch out for the threshold. Don''t trip."

    As if on cue, one of the young disciples nearly stumbled over the unusually high doorstep. Grumbling, he asked, "Why is this threshold so high? It''s not like we''re entering a temple."

    Wei Wuxian, his voice carrying a note of knowing amusement, replied, "It''s not a temple, but it is a place that needs a high threshold."

    Several of the disciples lit fire talismans, their flickering orange light casting dancing shadows across the room and revealing its contents.

    Straw was scattered across the floor, and at the far end stood an altar. Below it were a few small stools of varying heights. To the right, there was a small, pitch-black room. But what caught everyone''s attention were the seven or eight dark wooden coffins arranged around the space.

    Jin Ling, his voice a mix of realization and apprehension, asked, "Is this one of those public morgues? A place to keep the dead?"

    Wei Wuxian nodded. "Yes. It''s where they keep unclaimed bodies, corpses that families consider unlucky to keep at home, and the deceased waiting for burial. You could call it a way station for the dead." He gestured towards the small room on the right. "That''s probably where the caretaker rests."

    Lan Sizhui, ever curious, inquired, "Senior Wei, why is the threshold of a public morgue made so high?"

    "To prevent the walking dead," Wei Wuxian replied matter-of-factly.

    Lan Jingyi, his eyes wide with disbelief, stammered, "A high threshold can stop corpses from turning?"

    Wei Wuxian shook his head. "It can''t prevent corpses from turning, but it can sometimes stop lower-level walking corpses from getting out." He turned and stood in front of the threshold. "Let''s say I''ve died and just turned into a walking corpse."

    The young disciples nodded, hanging on his every word.

    "Having just turned, wouldn''t my limbs be stiff? Unable to perform many movements?" Wei Wuxian continued.

    Jin Ling, impatient, interjected, "Isn''t that obvious? They can''t even walk properly, can''t move their legs, they can only hop..." His voice trailed off as realization dawned on him.

    "Exactly," Wei Wuxian confirmed. "They can only hop." He demonstrated by pressing his legs together and hopping towards the door. Each time, the high threshold prevented him from crossing. The young cultivators, initially amused by the sight of Wei Wuxian hopping about, began to imagine a freshly turned corpse desperately trying to hop out, only to be thwarted by the threshold. They burst into laughter.

    Wei Wuxian, a hint of pride in his voice, explained, "You see? Don''t laugh. This is folk wisdom. It might seem simple, even childish, but it''s quite effective against low-level walking corpses. If a corpse trips over the threshold, it falls to the ground. With stiff limbs, it can''t get up quickly. By the time it manages to rise, either dawn is breaking and the rooster is about to crow, or the caretaker has discovered it. It''s quite impressive that ordinary people, not from cultivator families, came up with such a method."

    Jin Ling, who had been laughing earlier, quickly sobered. "Why did she bring us to a public morgue? Won''t this place be surrounded by walking corpses too? And where did she go?"

    Wei Wuxian, his voice calm and assured, replied, "I don''t think it will be. We''ve been standing here for a while now. Has anyone heard any sign of walking corpses?"

    As if summoned by his words, the ghost of the young girl suddenly appeared, perched atop one of the coffins.

    Having been prepared by Wei Wuxian''s earlier descriptions, the disciples weren''t startled by her appearance, even with her bleeding eyes and missing tongue. It was a testament to Wei Wuxian''s words - exposure breeds courage.

    The girl''s ghostly form emitted a faint glow. She was small in stature, with a delicate face that, cleaned up, would have belonged to a pitiful girl-next-door. However, her posture - legs crossed as she sat on the coffin - was far from ladylike. The bamboo cane she used as a walking stick leaned against the coffin, and her thin legs swung impatiently.

    She began tapping lightly on the coffin lid, then jumped down and circled the coffin, gesturing to them. This time, her gestures were easy to understand - she wanted them to open it.

    Jin Ling hesitantly asked, "She wants us to open this coffin?"

    Lan Sizhui, ever thoughtful, suggested, "Could her body be inside? Perhaps she wants us to help her find peace through proper burial." It was a reasonable guess; many ghosts lingered due to improper burial of their remains.

    Wei Wuxian positioned himself at one side of the coffin. Several of the young disciples moved to help, but he waved them away. "Stay back. If it''s not a body in there, we don''t want you getting a face full of corpse powder or worse."

    With a grunt of effort, Wei Wuxian lifted the coffin lid and set it aside. Peering inside, he saw a body - but not the one they expected.

    Instead of the young girl''s remains, the coffin contained the body of a young man. He had been arranged in a peaceful pose, hands folded in prayer over a horsetail whisk. Dressed in snow-white Taoist robes, the lower half of his face was refined and elegant, though pale and bloodless. The upper half of his face was wrapped in layers of bandages four fingers wide. Beneath the bandages, where eyes should have been, there were only sunken hollows.

    Hearing the coffin open, the ghost girl approached, her hands groping blindly until they found the face of the corpse. She stamped her foot in frustration, blood tears streaming from her sightless eyes.

    No words or gestures were needed. Everyone understood. This lone body in this isolated morgue was the real Xiao Xingchen.

    Ghost tears cannot fall, but the girl wept silently for a moment before suddenly clenching her teeth in rage. She turned to them, making urgent "Ah! Ah!" sounds, clearly desperate to communicate.

    Lan Sizhui asked, "Should we try to question her spirit again?"

    Wei Wuxian shook his head. "No need. We might not ask the right questions, and I suspect her answers would be too complex for us to understand easily."

    Though Wei Wuxian hadn''t explicitly said "I''m afraid you can''t handle it," Lan Sizhui felt a twinge of shame. He silently vowed to practice the Spirit Questioning technique more diligently upon their return. He aspired to reach Lan Wangji''s level of mastery, able to play and interpret responses simultaneously.

    Lan Jingyi, puzzled, asked, "Then what should we do?"

    Wei Wuxian''s reply was simple yet ominous: "We empathize."

    Each major cultivation sect had its own methods for extracting information from vengeful spirits. Empathy was Wei Wuxian''s specialty. It wasn''t as sophisticated as some other techniques, but anyone could use it. The method involved allowing the spirit to possess the practitioner, using their body as a medium to access the spirit''s soul and memories. The practitioner would see, hear, and feel what the spirit had experienced. If the spirit''s emotions were particularly strong, the practitioner might be overwhelmed by its grief, anger, or joy - hence the term "empathy."

    This method was the most direct, efficient, and effective of all techniques. It was also the most dangerous. While most people avoided spirit possession at all costs, empathy was like playing with fire. One moment of carelessness could lead to disaster. If the spirit changed its mind and seized the opportunity to fight back, the best-case scenario was mere possession.

    Jin Ling protested vehemently, "It''s too dangerous! This kind of dark magic-"

    Wei Wuxian cut him off. "We don''t have time for this. Everyone, get ready. We need to finish this and get back to Hanguang-Jun. Jin Ling, you''ll be the observer."

    The observer played a crucial role in the empathy ritual. To prevent the empath from becoming lost in the spirit''s emotions, a signal was agreed upon - usually a phrase or a familiar voice. The observer would watch closely and use this signal to pull the empath back if things went awry.

    Jin Ling pointed at himself, incredulous. "Me? You want me to oversee this... this thing?"

    Lan Sizhui quickly offered, "If Young Master Jin doesn''t want to, I can do it."

    Wei Wuxian turned to Jin Ling. "Jin Ling, did you bring a Jiang Clan silver bell?"

    The silver bell was a trademark accessory of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect. Having been raised by both the Jin and Jiang clans, Jin Ling likely carried items from both families. Sure enough, with a complex expression, he produced a small, ancient-looking bell. Its silver body was engraved with the Jiang Clan''s nine-petaled lotus emblem.

    Wei Wuxian stared at the bell for a moment, his expression unreadable. Jin Ling, noticing his reaction, asked, "What is it?"

    "Nothing," Wei Wuxian said, handing the bell to Lan Sizhui. "The Jiang Clan''s silver bells have a calming effect. We''ll use this as our signal."

    Jin Ling snatched the bell back. "I''ll do it after all!"

    Lan Jingyi muttered, "First you don''t want to, then you do. So fickle, like a pampered young miss."

    Ignoring the bickering, Wei Wuxian turned to the ghost girl. "You can come in now," he said, opening himself to possession.

    The young ghost girl wiped her eyes and face before plunging into Wei Wuxian''s body, her ethereal form merging completely with his physical one. Wei Wuxian slid down slowly against the coffin. The young disciples scrambled to gather straw, creating a makeshift cushion for him to sit on. Jin Ling clutched the silver bell tightly, his thoughts unreadable.

    As the ghost entered him, a sudden concern flashed through Wei Wuxian''s mind: "This girl is blind. If I empathize with her, won''t I become blind too? That would greatly reduce the effectiveness. Well, I suppose hearing will have to suffice."

    After a moment of disorientation, Wei Wuxian''s consciousness settled. The girl opened her eyes, and to his surprise, instead of darkness, he saw a clear, vibrant landscape of mountains and rivers.

    He could see!

    It dawned on him that in this memory, the girl had not yet lost her sight.

    In the empathy process, Wei Wuxian would experience the girl''s most emotionally charged memories - the ones she most desperately wanted to share. His senses were now hers; her eyes were his eyes, her mouth his mouth.

    The scene unfolded: the young girl sat by a small stream, using its reflection to groom herself. Despite her tattered clothes, she maintained a basic level of cleanliness. She hummed a little tune, tapping her foot to the rhythm as she tried to arrange her hair, seemingly dissatisfied with every attempt. Wei Wuxian could feel a thin wooden hairpin being poked around in her hair.

    Suddenly, she looked down, catching her reflection in the water. Wei Wuxian''s gaze followed, and he saw a young girl with a delicate, oval face and a pointed chin.

    But her eyes were startling - completely white, with no pupils.

    Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "This is clearly the appearance of a blind person, yet I can see through her eyes?"

    The girl finished arranging her hair, stood up with a little hop, and grabbed a bamboo cane lying nearby. She began to skip along the path, swinging the cane playfully, hitting overhanging branches, kicking stones, and startling grasshoppers in the grass.

    As people approached in the distance, her demeanor changed instantly. She stopped skipping and began to tap the ground carefully with her cane, moving slowly and cautiously. A group of village women passed by, giving her a wide berth and whispering among themselves. The girl bowed her head repeatedly, saying, "Thank you, thank you."

    One of the women, seemingly moved by pity, lifted the white cloth covering her basket and took out a steaming bun. "Little sister, be careful. Are you hungry? Take this," she said, offering the bun.

    The girl hesitated, "Oh, I couldn''t possibly... I..."

    The woman pressed the bun into her hand. "Take it!"

    Accepting the gift gratefully, the girl said, "A-Qing thanks you, sister!"

    So, Wei Wuxian thought, her name is A-Qing.

    After bidding farewell to the women and quickly devouring the bun, A-Qing resumed her energetic skipping. Wei Wuxian, experiencing her movements, felt dizzy from the constant bouncing. He realized, "This girl is quite the wild one. I understand now - she''s pretending to be blind. Those white eyes must be a congenital condition. While she appears blind, she can actually see. She''s using this to trick people and gain sympathy."

    He admired her resourcefulness. For a lone, wandering girl, pretending to be blind was a clever way to lower people''s guards while allowing her to observe everything clearly. It was a smart survival tactic.

    But A-Qing''s ghost was truly blind, indicating she had lost her sight before death. How had she gone from feigning blindness to actually being blind?

    Perhaps she had seen something she shouldn''t have?

    A-Qing continued her journey, skipping when alone and reverting to her cautious, blind act when others were around. Eventually, she reached a bustling marketplace.

    In the crowded area, she put on a grand performance, tapping her cane skillfully as she navigated through the throng. Suddenly, she deliberately collided with a well-dressed middle-aged man, feigning distress, "I''m so sorry! I can''t see, I''m so sorry!"

    The man, initially furious at being bumped, checked his anger upon seeing it was a pretty, seemingly blind girl. Publicly berating her would only invite criticism. He settled for a gruff, "Watch where you''re going!"

    A-Qing apologized profusely. As the man walked away, he couldn''t resist giving her bottom a hard pinch. Wei Wuxian, feeling everything A-Qing felt, was repulsed, wanting nothing more than to send the man flying with a powerful palm strike.

    A-Qing remained still, appearing frightened. But once the man was out of sight, she ducked into a hidden alley. "Pah!" she spat, pulling out a stolen money pouch. After counting the meager contents, she spat again, "Disgusting man, all the same. Dresses like a gentleman but barely has two coins to rub together."

    Wei Wuxian was torn between amusement and disbelief. A-Qing, not even fifteen, cursed like a seasoned street urchin and picked pockets with practiced ease. He mused, "If you''d picked my pocket, you wouldn''t be complaining. I used to be quite wealthy, you know." He found himself wondering exactly when he had become so poor.

    Before he could ponder further, A-Qing had already spotted her next target. Resuming her blind act, she left the alley and after a short walk, employed the same tactic, bumping into a Taoist priest in white robes. "Oh, I''m so sorry! I can''t see, please forgive me!"

    Wei Wuxian inwardly shook his head: At least vary your lines a bit, little beauty!

    The priest, momentarily thrown off balance, turned and steadied her. "It''s alright. Are you unable to see as well, young lady?"

    This man was quite young, wearing simple but clean Taoist robes. A sword wrapped in white cloth was strapped to his back. The lower half of his face was handsome, if a bit gaunt. The upper half was covered by a bandage about four fingers wide, with hints of blood seeping through.

 39. The Story of Yicheng

    A-Qing seemed to freeze for a moment before stammering, "Y-yes, that''s right!"

    Xiao Xingchen''s voice was gentle as he spoke, "Then please, walk more slowly. We wouldn''t want you to bump into anyone else."

    He made no mention of his own blindness as he took A-Qing''s hand, guiding her to the side of the road. "Let''s walk here," he suggested. "There are fewer people on this side."

    His words and actions were infused with a tender caution. A-Qing''s hand hesitated for a moment before reaching out, and then, in a movement swift and undetectable, she deftly snatched the money pouch from Xiao Xingchen''s waist. "Thank you, big brother!" she chirped innocently.

    Xiao Xingchen corrected her gently, "Not ''big brother'', but ''Daoist master''."

    A-Qing blinked, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "But a Daoist master can be a big brother too, can''t he?"

    A smile played on Xiao Xingchen''s lips as he replied, "Since you''ve called me ''big brother'', perhaps you''d like to return your big brother''s money pouch?"

    Even if A-Qing''s sleight of hand had been ten times faster, it would not have escaped the heightened senses of a cultivator. Realizing she''d been caught, she gripped her walking stick and made to run, but before she could take more than two steps, Xiao Xingchen''s hand caught the back of her collar, effortlessly lifting her off the ground. "Didn''t I tell you not to run so fast?" he chided gently. "What if you bump into someone again?"

    A-Qing squirmed and wriggled in his grasp, her lips parting as she bit her lower lip. Wei Wuxian, observing the scene, thought to himself, "Oh no, she''s about to cry ''assault''!"

    Just then, a middle-aged man hurriedly rounded the corner. His eyes lit up when he spotted A-Qing, and he stomped towards them, cursing under his breath. "You little thief!" he spat. "I''ve caught you at last. Give me back my money!"

    Not satisfied with just words, the man raised his hand to slap A-Qing across the face. The girl flinched, squeezing her eyes shut in anticipation of the blow. But the slap never landed. Instead, it was intercepted mid-air by a firm hand.

    Xiao Xingchen''s voice was calm but stern as he addressed the man. "Sir, please calm yourself. This is no way to treat a young girl, regardless of the circumstances."

    A-Qing peeked through her lashes, watching as the middle-aged man struggled against Xiao Xingchen''s grip. Despite putting all his strength into the blow, his hand remained suspended in the air, held back effortlessly by the Daoist master. The man''s face contorted with a mixture of fear and indignation. "Who do you think you are, you blind meddler?" he snarled, though his voice quavered slightly. "Playing the hero, are you? Is this little street rat your woman? Do you know she''s a thief? She stole my money pouch! If you''re protecting her, you must be a thief too!"

    Xiao Xingchen, still holding the man''s wrist with one hand and A-Qing''s collar with the other, turned his head towards the girl. "Return the money to its rightful owner," he said firmly.

    Reluctantly, A-Qing fished out the small pouch from within her clothes and held it out. Xiao Xingchen released the middle-aged man, who snatched the pouch and quickly counted its contents. Finding nothing missing and realizing that the blind Daoist was not someone to be trifled with, he shuffled away, muttering under his breath.

    As the man''s footsteps faded into the distance, Xiao Xingchen turned his attention back to A-Qing. "You''re far too reckless," he admonished. "Stealing when you can''t even see? That''s incredibly dangerous."

    A-Qing''s indignation flared as she jumped up, her voice rising in pitch. "He deserved it! He... he touched me! Pinched me, and it hurt! What''s wrong with taking a bit of money from a creep like that? And look how little was in that big pouch of his! The stingy miser had the nerve to try and hit me over that pittance!"

    Wei Wuxian, still observing, couldn''t help but think, "Clever girl. It was clearly you who bumped into him to pickpocket him in the first place, and now you''ve turned it around to make him the villain. What a masterful trick of misdirection."

    Xiao Xingchen shook his head, his voice tinged with concern. "Even so, you shouldn''t have provoked him. If no one had been here to intervene, a slap would have been the least of your worries. Please, young lady, take better care of yourself."

    With those words, he turned and began walking in the opposite direction. Wei Wuxian mused to himself, "He didn''t even ask for his own money pouch back. This uncle of mine seems to have a soft spot for damsels in distress."

    A-Qing stood still for a moment, clutching the stolen pouch to her chest. Suddenly, she stuffed it into her clothes and chased after Xiao Xingchen, her walking stick tapping rhythmically against the ground. She collided with his back, and he steadied her gently. "Is there something else?" he asked.

    "I still have your money pouch!" A-Qing exclaimed, her voice a mixture of guilt and excitement.

    Xiao Xingchen''s lips curved into a soft smile. "Keep it," he said. "There''s not much in there anyway. Just promise me you won''t steal again until it''s all spent."

    A-Qing''s curiosity got the better of her. "I heard that nasty man earlier... Are you really blind too?"

    The question seemed to strike a chord within Xiao Xingchen. His serene expression faltered, the smile vanishing from his lips. The innocence of a child''s words often cut deeper than any blade, their unfiltered honesty striking at the heart of one''s vulnerabilities.

    Beneath the bandages covering Xiao Xingchen''s eyes, a hint of red began to seep through, a physical manifestation of the pain her words had stirred. His hand trembled slightly as he raised it to his face, covering the bandages. The trauma of having his eyes gouged out was not something that could be easily forgotten or healed.

    A-Qing, oblivious to the impact of her words, mistook his reaction for a simple dizzy spell. Her face lit up with excitement as she declared, "Then I''ll stick with you!"

    Forcing a weak smile, Xiao Xingchen asked, "And why would you want to do that? Are you planning to become a Daoist nun?"

    "You''re a big blind person, and I''m a little blind person," A-Qing explained, her logic simple yet cunning. "We can look out for each other! I''ve got no parents, no home to go to. I might as well follow you as anyone else, right?" Sensing Xiao Xingchen''s hesitation, she pressed on, her voice taking on a hint of playful threat. "If you don''t take me with you, I''ll spend all this money really quick. Then I''ll have to go back to stealing and tricking people. I might get beaten so badly I won''t know which way is up! Wouldn''t that be awful?"

    Xiao Xingchen couldn''t help but chuckle at her clever manipulation. "You''re such a little trickster," he said, amusement clear in his voice. "I think you''re more likely to confuse others than to be confused yourself."

    As Wei Wuxian continued to observe the unfolding scene, he noticed something peculiar. Compared to the real Xiao Xingchen, Xue Yang''s impersonation was remarkably accurate. Apart from the physical appearance, every detail was vivid and lifelike. If Wei Wuxian didn''t know better, he might have believed that Xue Yang had been possessed by Xiao Xingchen''s spirit.

    A-Qing persisted in her efforts to stay with Xiao Xingchen, alternating between feigning blindness, playing on his sympathy, and simply refusing to leave his side. Despite Xiao Xingchen''s repeated warnings about the dangers of traveling with him, A-Qing remained undeterred. Even when they passed through a village where Xiao Xingchen exorcised a centuries-old demon bull, she stuck to him like glue, addressing him as "Daoist master" at every turn.

    As they continued their journey, it became clear that Xiao Xingchen had no fixed destination in mind. Their path seemed random, jumping from place to place based on rumors of supernatural occurrences. Wei Wuxian speculated that perhaps the incident with the Chang clan in Liyang had left Xiao Xingchen disillusioned with the world of cultivator clans, leading him to wander and help where he could.

    As twilight began to fall, Xiao Xingchen and A-Qing found themselves on a long, flat road flanked by waist-high wild grass. Suddenly, A-Qing let out a startled yelp. Xiao Xingchen immediately asked, "What''s wrong?"

    "Oh, it''s nothing," A-Qing quickly replied. "I just twisted my ankle a bit."

    Wei Wuxian, however, saw the truth. A-Qing hadn''t stumbled at all; she was walking perfectly fine. Her cry of surprise was because she had spotted a dark figure lying in the tall grass beside the road. Whether dead or alive, it was clear that A-Qing saw it as a potential complication and wanted to avoid bringing it to Xiao Xingchen''s attention.

    "Let''s keep going," she urged, her voice tinged with false weariness. "I''m exhausted. Isn''t there a town up ahead where we can rest?"

    Xiao Xingchen''s brow furrowed with concern. "Didn''t you say you twisted your ankle? Would you like me to carry you?"

    A-Qing''s face lit up with delight, her walking stick tapping excitedly on the ground. "Yes, yes, yes!" she exclaimed. Xiao Xingchen smiled, turning his back to her and kneeling down. Just as A-Qing was about to climb onto his back, Xiao Xingchen suddenly stiffened, rising to his feet. "I smell blood," he said, his voice low and serious.

    A-Qing''s nose also picked up the faint, intermittent scent of blood carried on the night breeze. Trying to divert Xiao Xingchen''s attention, she feigned ignorance. "Really? I don''t smell anything. Maybe someone nearby is slaughtering animals?"

    As if the heavens were conspiring against her, a weak cough emanated from the figure in the grass. Though barely audible, it was enough for Xiao Xingchen''s keen senses to pinpoint its location. He strode into the grass, kneeling beside the prone figure.

    Realizing her attempt at misdirection had failed, A-Qing stamped her foot in frustration before following Xiao Xingchen, pretending to feel her way through the grass. "What''s going on?" she asked, feigning ignorance.

    Xiao Xingchen was checking the pulse of the person on the ground. "There''s someone lying here," he explained.

    A-Qing, hoping for a simpler solution, suggested, "Is that why there''s such a strong smell of blood? Is he dead? Should we dig a hole and bury him?"

    But Xiao Xingchen shook his head. "He''s not dead, just severely injured."

    After a moment''s consideration, Xiao Xingchen gently lifted the injured man onto his back. A-Qing pouted, realizing that her chance to be carried had been usurped by this bloodied stranger. She jabbed her walking stick into the ground repeatedly, creating deep holes, but knew better than to complain about Xiao Xingchen''s decision to help.

    As they continued down the road, Wei Wuxian began to recognize their surroundings. "Isn''t this the road that Lan Zhan and I took to Yi City?" he thought to himself.

    Sure enough, the imposing silhouette of Yi City soon loomed before them. The city gates, not yet fallen into disrepair, stood tall and strong. The watchtowers were intact, and the walls were free of the graffiti that would mar them in years to come. As they passed through the gates, a light mist hung in the air, nothing like the oppressive, supernatural fog that would later engulf the city. Lights flickered in the windows of houses lining the streets, and the soft murmur of voices could be heard. While not bustling, the city still held a sense of life and activity.

    Knowing that no inn would accept a guest as gravely wounded as the man on his back, Xiao Xingchen didn''t bother seeking lodging. Instead, he stopped a passing night watchman and inquired about any vacant public houses for the dead. The watchman pointed them in the right direction, explaining, "There''s one over that way. The old caretaker passed away last month, so it''s currently unattended." Seeing that Xiao Xingchen was blind, the watchman kindly offered to guide them there.

    As they approached the building, Wei Wuxian realized with a start that this was the same public house where Xiao Xingchen''s body would eventually be laid to rest.

    After thanking the night watchman, Xiao Xingchen carefully carried the injured man into the small room on the right side of the building. The chamber was modest but adequately furnished, with a low bed against the wall and basic cooking utensils scattered about. With utmost care, he laid the wounded stranger on the bed and reached into his qiankun pouch, retrieving a medicinal pill which he gently pushed between the man''s tightly clenched teeth.

    A-Qing, meanwhile, had been exploring the room with her hands, her fingers skimming over various surfaces. Suddenly, her face lit up with excitement. "There''s so much stuff here!" she exclaimed. "I found a basin!"

    "Is there a stove?" Xiao Xingchen inquired.

    "Yes, there is!" A-Qing replied enthusiastically.

    Xiao Xingchen nodded, his voice gentle but firm. "A-Qing, could you please try to boil some water? Be careful not to burn yourself."

    A-Qing''s lips formed a slight pout, but she set about the task without further complaint. As she busied herself with the stove, Xiao Xingchen turned his attention back to the injured man. He placed a hand on the stranger''s forehead, feeling for signs of fever, before administering another pill.

    Wei Wuxian, observing the scene, found himself desperately curious about the identity of this mysterious injured man. However, A-Qing seemed utterly disinterested, her irritation palpable as she pointedly avoided even glancing in the stranger''s direction.

    Once the water was heated, Xiao Xingchen began the painstaking process of cleaning the blood and grime from the man''s face. A-Qing, despite her apparent disinterest, couldn''t help but steal a quick glance. Her eyes widened slightly, a silent "Oh" forming on her lips.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    The reason for her surprise was clear - beneath the layers of dirt and blood, the stranger was remarkably handsome.

    As the man''s features were revealed, Wei Wuxian felt his heart sink. His worst fears were confirmed - it was none other than Xue Yang.

    "What rotten luck," Wei Wuxian thought to himself. "Xiao Xingchen, you truly are... cursed with misfortune."

    This younger version of Xue Yang looked every bit the innocent youth - seven parts handsome, three parts boyish charm. Who could have guessed that this young man, with his endearing tiger-tooth smile, would grow to become a ruthless mass murderer?

    Mentally calculating the timeline, Wei Wuxian realized this must be shortly after Jin Guangyao''s ascension to the position of Chief Cultivator. Xue Yang''s current state suggested he had narrowly escaped Jin Guangyao''s "cleanup" operation. Jin Guangyao, likely too embarrassed to admit Xue Yang''s survival or perhaps believing him fatally wounded, had probably announced his elimination. Yet here was Xue Yang, clinging to life, ironically saved by his old nemesis, Xiao Xingchen. The blind cultivator, unable to see the face of the man he was saving, had unwittingly rescued the very person who would ultimately lead to his downfall. A-Qing, though sighted, was not from the cultivation world and thus didn''t recognize Xue Yang or understand the deep-seated enmity between him and Xiao Xingchen. She didn''t even know Xiao Xingchen''s name...

    Wei Wuxian couldn''t help but sigh inwardly. It seemed as if all the misfortune in the world had conspired to fall upon Xiao Xingchen''s shoulders.

    Just then, Xue Yang''s brow furrowed slightly. Xiao Xingchen, who had been examining and bandaging the wounds, sensed the man was close to regaining consciousness. "Don''t move," he said softly.

    Xue Yang, ever vigilant due to his nefarious lifestyle, snapped to alertness at the sound of Xiao Xingchen''s voice. His eyes flew open as he abruptly sat up, scrambling to press his back against the wall. His gaze, fixed on Xiao Xingchen, was filled with a feral, predatory light that sent chills down A-Qing''s spine. The intensity of that gaze, brimming with cruelty and malice, was so palpable that even Wei Wuxian, merely an observer, felt his scalp tingle with unease.

    "Speak!" Wei Wuxian silently urged. "Surely Xiao Xingchen would recognize Xue Yang''s voice!"

    Xue Yang opened his mouth. "You..."

    With that single word, Wei Wuxian knew all hope was lost. Even if Xue Yang spoke more, Xiao Xingchen wouldn''t be able to identify him.

    The injuries Xue Yang had sustained, particularly to his throat, had rendered his voice hoarse and unrecognizable. It was impossible to connect this raspy whisper to the voice Xiao Xingchen would remember.

    Seated on the edge of the bed, Xiao Xingchen spoke calmly. "I told you not to move. You''ll reopen your wounds. Don''t worry, I brought you here to help you, not to cause you harm."

    Xue Yang, ever quick to adapt, immediately deduced that Xiao Xingchen likely hadn''t recognized him. His eyes darted about calculatingly before he coughed a few times and tentatively asked, "Who are you?"

    A-Qing, unable to contain herself, interjected sharply. "Can''t you see for yourself? He''s a traveling Daoist. He went through all the trouble of carrying you back here, treating your wounds, and giving you precious medicine. And here you are, acting all hostile!"

    Xue Yang''s piercing gaze immediately shifted to A-Qing. His voice was cold as he asked, "Blind?"

    Wei Wuxian felt a surge of alarm. This cunning street rat, ever cautious and observant, wasn''t about to be fooled by A-Qing''s white eyes alone. He was probing, searching for any inconsistency in their story.

    Fortunately, A-Qing was well-versed in the art of deception. Without missing a beat, she retorted, "Got a problem with blind people? It was a blind man who saved your life! If it weren''t for him, you''d be rotting by the roadside with no one to care! And here you are, not even thanking the Daoist master, how rude! Calling me blind... hmph... what''s wrong with being blind anyway..."

    Her tirade successfully diverted attention from the dangerous topic, shifting the focus to her apparent indignation. She continued to mutter and grumble, playing the part of an offended child perfectly. Xiao Xingchen quickly moved to console her, while Xue Yang, still leaning against the wall, rolled his eyes in exasperation.

    Turning back to Xue Yang, Xiao Xingchen said, "Please, don''t lean against the wall. I haven''t finished bandaging your leg wounds. Come here."

    Xue Yang''s expression remained cold and calculating. Xiao Xingchen added, "If we delay treatment any longer, you may lose the use of your leg."

    At these words, Xue Yang made a swift decision.

    Wei Wuxian could almost follow Xue Yang''s train of thought: in his current severely injured state, medical attention was crucial. If Xiao Xingchen was foolish enough to offer his help, why not take advantage of it?

    In an instant, Xue Yang''s demeanor changed completely. His voice now laced with gratitude, he said, "Then I am in your debt, Daoist master."

    Witnessing Xue Yang''s ability to switch personas so effortlessly, Wei Wuxian couldn''t help but feel a surge of anxiety for both the real and fake blind individuals in the room. Especially for A-Qing, the false blind girl. If Xue Yang were to discover that she could actually see, he would undoubtedly kill her to ensure her silence. Even knowing that A-Qing likely met a tragic end at Xue Yang''s hands eventually, the thought of her going through this ordeal filled Wei Wuxian with dread.

    Suddenly, Wei Wuxian noticed something peculiar. Xue Yang was subtly but consistently avoiding letting Xiao Xingchen touch his left hand. Upon closer inspection, Wei Wuxian realized why - Xue Yang was missing the little finger on his left hand. The wound was old, not recent, and Xiao Xingchen would certainly have known about this distinguishing feature of Xue Yang''s. It explained why Xue Yang had worn a black glove on his left hand when impersonating Xiao Xingchen later on.

    Xiao Xingchen, ever thorough in his care for others, finished applying medicine and bandaging Xue Yang''s wounds with meticulous attention. "There," he said. "But you should avoid moving too much. Otherwise, your bones might shift out of place again."

    Now certain that Xiao Xingchen truly hadn''t recognized him, Xue Yang allowed a lazy, self-satisfied smile to creep across his face. "Daoist master," he drawled, "aren''t you curious about who I am? Or how I came to be so gravely injured?"

    Most people in his position would carefully avoid such topics, fearing to reveal any clues about their identity. But Xue Yang, true to his nature, deliberately broached the subject. Xiao Xingchen, busy packing away his medical supplies and bandages, replied softly, "If you choose not to share, why should I pry? Our paths crossed by chance, and I offered help simply because I could. It''s no great burden to me. We''ll part ways once you''ve healed. If I were in your position, there would be many things I wouldn''t want others asking about either."

    Wei Wuxian couldn''t help but think: Even if Xiao Xingchen had asked, this cunning devil would undoubtedly have spun a flawless tale to deceive him. Everyone has aspects of their past they''d rather not discuss, and Xiao Xingchen''s decision not to inquire further was meant as a gesture of respect. Little did he know that Xue Yang would exploit this very respect. Wei Wuxian was certain that Xue Yang''s intentions went far beyond merely tricking Xiao Xingchen into treating his wounds. Once healed, he would definitely not simply "part ways" as Xiao Xingchen expected.

    With Xue Yang resting in the caretaker''s quarters, Xiao Xingchen made his way to the main hall of the public house. He opened an empty coffin and gathered a thick layer of straw from the floor, spreading it evenly across the bottom of the casket. Turning to A-Qing, he said, "The injured man needs the bed, so I''m afraid you''ll have to sleep here. The straw should keep you warm enough."

    A-Qing, accustomed to a life of wandering and sleeping rough, shrugged off his concern. "It''s no hardship," she said nonchalantly. "Having a place to sleep at all is good enough. Don''t worry, it''s not cold - you don''t need to give me your outer robe again."

    Xiao Xingchen gently patted her head, then adjusted his sword and duster before stepping out into the night. For safety reasons, he never allowed A-Qing to accompany him on his night hunts. A-Qing crawled into the coffin and lay there for a while, but suddenly, she heard Xue Yang calling from the adjacent room: "Little blind one, come here."

    A-Qing poked her head out of the coffin. "What do you want?" she asked warily.

    Xue Yang''s voice took on a honeyed tone. "I have some candy for you."

    A-Qing felt her mouth water at the mention of candy, a rare treat she seldom got to enjoy. Still, she refused. "No thanks. I''m not coming!"

    Xue Yang''s voice turned sickeningly sweet, with an underlying threat. "Are you sure you don''t want any? Or are you just too scared to come over? Don''t think that just because I''m injured, I can''t come to you if you won''t come to me."

    A-Qing shuddered at his eerie tone. The thought of his malicious grin suddenly appearing above the coffin sent a chill down her spine. After a moment''s hesitation, she grabbed her walking stick and reluctantly made her way to the doorway of the room, tapping the stick as she went.

    Before she could speak, a small object came flying towards her face. Wei Wuxian instinctively wanted to dodge, fearing it might be some kind of weapon. Of course, he had no control over A-Qing''s body. Suddenly, he realized with a jolt: "It''s a trap!"

    Xue Yang was testing A-Qing. If she were truly blind, she wouldn''t be able to avoid the object!

    A-Qing, a seasoned expert at feigning blindness and quick-witted to boot, saw the object coming but didn''t flinch. She didn''t even blink, allowing it to hit her chest before jumping back in feigned surprise. "Hey!" she shouted angrily. "What did you throw at me?"

    Xue Yang, his first test unsuccessful, replied smoothly, "It was candy. I forgot you were blind and couldn''t catch it. It''s probably by your feet now."

    A-Qing let out a small "hmph" and crouched down, convincingly pretending to search for the candy with her hands. When she found it, she rubbed it against her clothes as if to clean it, then popped it into her mouth, crunching happily. Xue Yang lay on his side on the bed, propping his head up with one hand. "Is it good, little blind one?" he asked, his tone deceptively casual.

    A-Qing frowned. "I have a name, you know. I''m not ''little blind one''."

    Xue Yang''s voice took on a teasing lilt. "Well, you haven''t told me your name, so what else am I supposed to call you?"

    A-Qing had always been selective about sharing her name, reserving it only for those who showed her kindness. However, disliking Xue Yang''s derogatory address, she reluctantly conceded, "Listen carefully. My name is A-Qing. Stop calling me ''little blind one''!" Realizing her tone might have been too harsh and fearing Xue Yang''s potential retaliation, she quickly changed the subject. "You''re a strange one. Covered in blood, gravely injured, yet you''re carrying candy around?"

    Xue Yang''s laughter held a hint of childish glee. "When I was little, I loved candy, but I could never have any. I''d watch others eat it, my mouth watering. So I promised myself that if I ever made it big, I''d always carry more candy than I could eat."

    A-Qing, having just finished her piece, licked her lips longingly. Her desire for more candy momentarily overshadowed her dislike for Xue Yang. "Do you have any more?" she asked, unable to hide her eagerness.

    Xue Yang''s smile widened. "Of course. Come closer, and I''ll give you some."

    A-Qing rose to her feet, tapping her bamboo pole as she approached. Suddenly, without changing his friendly expression, Xue Yang''s eyes glinted dangerously. Silently, he drew a long, gleaming sword from his sleeve.

    Jiangzai.

    He pointed the sword''s tip towards A-Qing. If she took a few more steps forward, Jiangzai would run her through. Yet, if she hesitated even slightly, her facade as a blind girl would crumble!

    Wei Wuxian, sharing A-Qing''s senses, felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. However, the young girl, displaying remarkable courage and composure, continued her approach without faltering. Just as the sword''s tip came within half an inch of her abdomen, Xue Yang withdrew Jiangzai, slipping it back into his sleeve. He replaced it with two pieces of candy, offering one to A-Qing and popping the other into his own mouth.

    "A-Qing," Xue Yang asked casually, "where does that Daoist of yours go so late at night?"

    A-Qing, crunching on her candy, replied nonchalantly, "I think he goes hunting."

    Xue Yang scoffed. "You mean night-hunting, don''t you?"

    "Is there a difference?" A-Qing shrugged. "It''s all the same to me. He helps people by fighting ghosts and monsters, and doesn''t even charge for it."

    Wei Wuxian marveled at A-Qing''s shrewdness. She hadn''t forgotten Xiao Xingchen''s exact words; in fact, she remembered them better than anyone. By deliberately misusing the term "night-hunting," she had baited Xue Yang into correcting her, thus revealing his own familiarity with the cultivation world. Xue Yang''s attempt at probing had backfired, and he''d been probed in return. This young girl''s mind was impressively cunning for her age.

    Xue Yang''s face betrayed a hint of contempt, but his voice remained curious. "How can he night-hunt if he''s blind?"

    A-Qing''s temper flared. "There you go again! So what if he''s blind? The Daoist is incredible, even without his sight. His sword moves so fast - whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" As she gesticulated wildly, Xue Yang suddenly interjected, "But if you can''t see, how do you know his sword is fast?"

    Quick as ever, A-Qing retorted indignantly, "If I say it''s fast, it''s fast! The Daoist''s sword must be quick! I might not be able to see it, but I can hear it! What''s your problem? Do you look down on blind people like us?"

    Her response, sounding like nothing more than a young girl''s blind adoration, was perfectly natural.

    After these three failed attempts to expose her, Xue Yang''s expression finally softened. It seemed he was beginning to believe A-Qing was genuinely blind.

    However, A-Qing''s wariness of Xue Yang had only increased. The next day, when Xiao Xingchen returned with materials to repair the roof, she quickly pulled him aside, whispering urgently about her suspicions. She insisted that their guest was behaving suspiciously, hiding things despite being a fellow cultivator. Unfortunately, perhaps deeming it unimportant, she failed to mention the most damning detail - Xue Yang''s missing finger.

    Xiao Xingchen tried to soothe her concerns. "You''ve already eaten his candy," he reminded her gently. "Let''s not be inhospitable. Once he''s healed, he''ll leave on his own. No one would willingly stay in this public house with us."

    This was true enough. The dilapidated building had only one bed, and while it provided shelter from wind and rain, the roof was in dire need of repair. It was hardly an inviting place to linger.

    As A-Qing opened her mouth to further criticize Xue Yang, his voice suddenly came from behind them. "Are you two talking about me?"

    Somehow, he had managed to leave his bed again. A-Qing, unfazed, retorted, "Who''s talking about you? Don''t flatter yourself!" She tapped her way back inside with her bamboo pole, surreptitiously positioning herself beneath a window to eavesdrop.

    Outside, Xiao Xingchen admonished Xue Yang. "Your wounds haven''t healed. Should you really be moving around so much?"

    Xue Yang''s reply was nonchalant. "Moving helps the healing process. Besides, it''s not like both my legs are broken. I''m used to injuries like this - I grew up taking beatings."

    Xiao Xingchen seemed at a loss for words, unsure whether to offer comfort or treat it as a jest. After a moment''s hesitation, he simply responded with a soft, "Oh..."

    Xue Yang swiftly changed the subject. "Daoist, I see you''ve brought materials back. Are you planning to fix the roof?"

    Xiao Xingchen nodded. "Yes. Since we''ll be staying here for a while, it would be better for A-Qing and your recovery if the roof wasn''t in such disrepair."

    "Would you like my help?" Xue Yang offered.

    Xiao Xingchen politely declined. "There''s no need to trouble yourself."

    "But do you know how?" Xue Yang pressed.

    Xiao Xingchen chuckled, admitting sheepishly, "To be honest, I''ve never tried before."

    And so, the two began working together to repair the roof, with Xue Yang guiding Xiao Xingchen''s hands. Xue Yang proved to be quite the conversationalist, peppering their work with witty remarks and street-smart humor. Xiao Xingchen, likely unaccustomed to such company, found himself laughing more often than not.

    As A-Qing listened to their amicable chatter, her lips moved silently, seemingly mouthing the words "I''ll kill you, you bastard" with venom.

    Wei Wuxian shared A-Qing''s unease.

    Despite having nearly lost his life - partly due to Xiao Xingchen''s past actions - Xue Yang maintained a facade of friendliness. Internally, he likely wished for Xiao Xingchen''s gruesome demise, yet outwardly, he engaged in light-hearted banter. If the real Wei Wuxian had been present, he would have eliminated Xue Yang without hesitation to prevent future calamities. But this was not his body to control, and A-Qing, despite her suspicions, was powerless to act.

    About a month passed, and under Xiao Xingchen''s attentive care, Xue Yang''s injuries had largely healed. Apart from a slight limp, he had recovered well. Yet, he made no mention of leaving, continuing to share the cramped public house with them, his true intentions unclear.

    One evening, as Xiao Xingchen prepared for his nightly hunt after settling A-Qing to sleep, Xue Yang''s voice rang out: "Daoist, how about taking me along tonight?"

    His voice, though long since healed, remained deliberately disguised. Xiao Xingchen chuckled, "I''m afraid that won''t work. You make me laugh too easily, and a laughing swordsman is an unsteady one."

    Xue Yang''s tone turned pleading. "Then I''ll stay silent. I can carry your sword, assist you. Don''t turn me away."

    His ability to wheedle and charm was evident, addressing Xiao Xingchen with the familiarity of a younger brother. Xiao Xingchen, having mentored junior disciples during his time with Baoshan Sanren, naturally viewed Xue Yang as his junior. Recognizing him as a fellow cultivator, Xiao Xingchen agreed readily.

    Wei Wuxian''s internal alarm bells rang. "Xue Yang can''t possibly have good intentions in offering to help with night-hunting. If A-Qing doesn''t follow them, she''ll miss something crucial."

    True to her quick-witted nature, A-Qing had also sensed Xue Yang''s ulterior motives. As soon as the two men left, she sprang from her coffin bed and followed at a distance. Fearing discovery, she maintained a considerable gap, but their swift pace soon left her behind. Fortunately, she remembered Xiao Xingchen mentioning a nearby village plagued by walking corpses. Making her way there, she slipped through a dog-sized hole in the village''s fence and crouched behind a house, cautiously peering around the corner.

    What she saw - or rather, what Wei Wuxian perceived through her eyes - sent a chill down his spine.

    Xue Yang stood at the roadside, arms crossed, head tilted, a smile playing on his lips. Across from him, Xiao Xingchen moved with fluid grace, his sword flashing silver in the moonlight as it plunged into the heart of a villager.

    A living villager.

 40. Are You There?

    If it had been any other young girl of a similar age, she would have undoubtedly screamed on the spot. However, A-Qing had been pretending to be blind for so many years that people often let their guard down around her, assuming she couldn''t see. As a result, she had witnessed countless ugly sights and developed a heart as hard as diamond. She managed to remain silent, not uttering a single sound.

    Despite her composure, Wei Wuxian could sense waves of numbness and stiffness radiating from her legs and feet. The terror she felt was palpable, even if she didn''t show it outwardly.

    Xiao Xingchen stood amidst the scattered corpses of villagers, his sword sliding back into its sheath with a soft hiss. His brow furrowed as he concentrated, his voice laced with disbelief, "Is there truly not a single survivor in this village? Were they all walking corpses?"

    Xue Yang''s lips curled into a smile, but the voice that emerged from his mouth sounded surprised and perplexed, tinged with a hint of sorrow. "Indeed," he replied, his tone carefully crafted. "It''s fortunate that your sword can automatically detect corpse energy. Otherwise, with just the two of us, it would have been challenging to fight our way through."

    Xiao Xingchen nodded gravely, his unseeing eyes scanning the area out of habit. "Let''s inspect the village one more time," he suggested. "If there are truly no survivors, we should burn these walking corpses as soon as possible."

    As they walked away side by side, A-Qing finally felt strength returning to her legs. She slipped out from behind the house and made her way to the pile of corpses, her head bowed as she looked left and right. Wei Wuxian''s gaze followed her movements, his spectral presence tense with concern.

    All the villagers had been cleanly dispatched by Xiao Xingchen''s sword, each with a precise thrust through the heart. Suddenly, Wei Wuxian noticed a few familiar faces among the dead.

    He recalled a recent memory where these three individuals had encountered some idle men playing dice at the entrance of a village. As they passed by, the men had looked up, seeing a blind man, a blind girl, and a limping boy. They had laughed raucously, pointing and gesturing. A-Qing had spat at them and waved her bamboo pole, while Xiao Xingchen had walked by as if he hadn''t heard anything, his expression serene. Xue Yang had smiled too, but his eyes had been devoid of any mirth.

    A-Qing examined several corpses, lifting their eyelids to reveal white pupils. Some faces were already covered in corpse spots. She sighed in relief, but Wei Wuxian''s heart sank deeper with each body she inspected.

    Although these people looked like walking corpses, Wei Wuxian knew the horrifying truth - they were all living people.

    They were living people infected with corpse poison.

    Near the mouths and noses of several corpses, Wei Wuxian spotted traces of purplish-red powder. While those deeply poisoned and turned into walking corpses were beyond saving, there were others who had only recently been infected and could have been saved. These villagers were in the early stages of poisoning. They exhibited characteristics of the undead and emitted corpse energy, but they could still think, speak, and were very much alive. Like Lan Jingyi and the others from before, they could have been rescued with proper treatment. It was crucial not to kill them mistakenly, as doing so would be equivalent to taking innocent lives.

    They could have spoken, could have identified themselves, could have called for help, but the worst part was that their tongues had been cut out beforehand. Fresh or dried blood stained the corners of every corpse''s mouth.

    Although Xiao Xingchen couldn''t see, his sword Shuanghua guided him to the corpse energy. Combined with the fact that these villagers, without their tongues, could only emit groans eerily similar to those of walking corpses, he had no doubt that what he was killing were indeed the undead.

    It was a heartless scheme, using another''s hand to commit murder. A betrayal of trust, venomous and insidious.

    A-Qing, however, didn''t understand the intricacies of the situation. Her knowledge was limited to what she had occasionally heard from Xiao Xingchen. She mumbled to herself, "This bad person, could he really be helping the Daoist?"

    Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "You must not believe Xue Yang so easily!"

    Fortunately, A-Qing''s intuition was remarkably sharp. Although her limited knowledge prevented her from identifying the peculiarities, her instincts had long ago ingrained a deep-seated wariness towards Xue Yang. She instinctively disliked this man and couldn''t bring herself to trust him. Therefore, whenever Xue Yang accompanied Xiao Xingchen on night hunts, she would secretly follow them. Even when they shared the same room, she never let her guard down.

    One night, as the winter wind howled outside, the three of them huddled around a broken stove in their small room for warmth. Xiao Xingchen was mending a vegetable basket with a broken corner, while A-Qing, wrapped like a dumpling in their only cotton blanket, nestled close to him. Xue Yang sat with his chin resting on his hand, looking bored. Hearing A-Qing persistently asking Xiao Xingchen to tell her a story, he said impatiently, "Stop making noise, or I''ll tie your tongue in a knot."

    A-Qing completely ignored him and demanded, "Master, I want to hear a story!"

    Xiao Xingchen replied, "I never had anyone tell me stories when I was young. How can I tell you one?"

    A-Qing persisted, threatening to roll on the ground. Xiao Xingchen finally gave in, "Alright, I''ll tell you a story about a mountain."

    A-Qing immediately perked up, "Once upon a time, there was a mountain with a temple on top?"

    Xiao Xingchen shook his head, "No, once there was an unnamed celestial mountain where a transcendent immortal lived. The immortal had many disciples but forbade them from descending the mountain."

    Upon hearing this opening, Wei Wuxian immediately recognized it: "Baoshan Sanren."

    A-Qing asked curiously, "Why weren''t they allowed to go down the mountain?"

    Xiao Xingchen explained, "Because the immortal herself didn''t understand the world below, which is why she retreated to the mountain. She told her disciples that if they wanted to descend, they shouldn''t come back, to avoid bringing outside conflicts back to the mountain."

    A-Qing exclaimed, "But how could they stand it? Surely some disciples couldn''t resist sneaking down to play!"

    Xiao Xingchen nodded, "Yes. The first to descend was a very talented disciple. When he first went down the mountain, he was admired and praised by everyone for his great skills, becoming a famous cultivator in the righteous path. However, later on, for unknown reasons, his personality changed drastically, and he suddenly became a ruthless demon who killed without blinking. In the end, he was hacked to death."

    Wei Wuxian recognized this as the story of Baoshan Sanren''s first disciple who "didn''t meet a good end," Yan Ling Daoren. What exactly this senior uncle of his encountered after descending the mountain that caused such a drastic change in his personality remained a mystery, likely to remain unsolved forever.

    Xiao Xingchen finished repairing the basket, running his fingers over it to ensure there were no splinters. Putting it down, he continued, "The second disciple was also a very talented female disciple."

    Wei Wuxian felt a warmth in his chest.

    Cangse Sanren.

    A-Qing asked excitedly, "Was she beautiful?" Xiao Xingchen replied, "I don''t know, but it''s said she was very beautiful." A-Qing cupped her face, imagining, "Then I know! After she went down the mountain, many people must have liked her and wanted to marry her. She must have married a high official or a great clan leader! Hehe."

    Xiao Xingchen smiled, "You''ve guessed wrong. She married a servant of a great clan leader, and they ran away together."

    A-Qing frowned, "I don''t like that. How could an excellent and beautiful immortal fall for a servant? Such stories are too clich¨¦, something those poor, sour scholars would fantasize about. Then what? How did their life turn out after they ran away?"

    Xiao Xingchen''s voice grew solemn, "They both lost their lives during a night hunt."

    A-Qing spat in disgust, "What kind of story is this! Marrying a servant was bad enough, and then they both died! I don''t want to hear anymore!"

    Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "It''s a good thing Xiao Xingchen didn''t continue to tell her that these two also gave birth to a notorious demon that everyone wants to beat up, otherwise she might have spat on my head too."

    Xiao Xingchen said helplessly, "That''s why I said at the beginning that I''m not good at telling stories."

    A-Qing, still unsatisfied, pressed on, "Well, Master, you must remember your past night-hunting experiences, right? I love hearing about those! Tell me, what kind of monsters have you fought before?"

    Xue Yang, who had been half-listening with his eyes narrowed, suddenly focused his gaze on Xiao Xingchen, his pupils contracting slightly.

    Xiao Xingchen replied, "There have been too many to count."

    Xue Yang suddenly interjected, his voice filled with feigned innocence despite the malicious glint in his eyes, "Is that so? Did Master used to night-hunt alone?"

    After a brief pause, Xiao Xingchen smiled faintly and said, "No, I didn''t."

    A-Qing''s interest was piqued, "Then who else was there?"

    This time, Xiao Xingchen''s pause was even longer. Finally, he said, "A dear friend of mine."

    Xue Yang''s eyes flickered with a sinister light, his smile deepening. It seemed that uncovering Xiao Xingchen''s old wounds brought him no small amount of pleasure. A-Qing, however, was genuinely curious, "What kind of person was your friend, Master? What were they like?"

    Xiao Xingchen replied calmly, "A person of noble character and unparalleled integrity."

    Hearing this, Xue Yang rolled his eyes contemptuously, his lips moving slightly as if silently cursing. But he deliberately feigned confusion and asked, "Then, Master, where is this friend of yours now? Given your current situation, why haven''t we seen them come looking for you?"

    Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "What a venomous little knife that question is."

    Sure enough, Xiao Xingchen fell silent. Although A-Qing didn''t understand the underlying context, she sensed something was amiss. She held her breath, secretly glaring at Xue Yang, her teeth itching as if she wanted to bite him. After a moment lost in thought, Xiao Xingchen broke the silence, "I don''t know where he is at the moment. However, I hope..."

    Before he could finish, he patted A-Qing''s head and said, "Alright, that''s enough for tonight. I really am not good at storytelling, it''s too difficult for me."

    A-Qing obediently replied, "Oh, okay!"

    Unexpectedly, Xue Yang suddenly said, "How about I tell a story?"

    A-Qing, who had been disappointed, immediately perked up, "Yes, yes, yes! You tell one!"

    Xue Yang began in a languid tone, "Once upon a time, there was a little child.

    "This child loved sweet things, but because he had no parents and no money, he often couldn''t eat them. One day, as usual, he was sitting on some steps, lost in thought. Across from the steps was a restaurant. A man sitting at a table inside saw the child and beckoned him over."

    Although the beginning of this story wasn''t particularly impressive, it was at least better than Xiao Xingchen''s old, worn-out tale. If A-Qing had a pair of rabbit ears, they would surely have perked up at this moment.

    Xue Yang continued, "The child, innocent and confused, not knowing what else to do, immediately ran over when he saw someone beckoning to him. The man pointed to a plate of sweets on the table and asked, ''Would you like to eat these?''

    "Of course, the child desperately wanted to eat them and nodded vigorously. So the man gave the child a piece of paper and said, ''If you want to eat, take this to a room at a certain place, and I''ll give you the sweets after you deliver it.''

    "The child was overjoyed. He could get a plate of sweets just by running an errand, and these sweets would be something he earned himself.

    "Unable to read, he took the paper and ran to the specified location. When he opened the door, a burly man came out, took the paper, glanced at it, and then struck the child with such force that his nose bled. Grabbing the child''s hair, he demanded, ''Who told you to deliver this kind of message?''"

    Wei Wuxian realized that this child must have been Xue Yang himself. He was surprised to learn that Xue Yang, now so cunning, had been so naive and straightforward as a child, doing whatever he was told. The paper must have contained something offensive. The man from the restaurant and the burly recipient likely had some grudge between them, and the coward had used an innocent child to deliver an insulting message. Such behavior was truly despicable.

    Xue Yang continued, his voice eerily calm, "Frightened, the child pointed in the direction of the restaurant. The burly man dragged him by the hair all the way back to the establishment, but the man who had sent him was long gone. The unfinished sweets on the table had been cleared away by the staff. Enraged, the burly man overturned several tables, cursed loudly, and left.

    "The child was distraught. He had run an errand, been beaten, and had his hair pulled so hard his scalp felt like it was coming off. Not getting the sweets was unacceptable. So, with tears in his eyes, he asked the waiter, ''Where are my sweets? The sweets I was promised?''"

    Xue Yang''s lips curled into a smile that didn''t reach his eyes as he said, "The waiter, already angry about the damage to the restaurant, slapped the child several times and threw him out, leaving his ears ringing. As he got up and walked a short distance, guess what happened? By some twist of fate, he encountered the very man who had asked him to deliver the message."

    At this point, Xue Yang stopped his narration. A-Qing, who had been listening intently, urged him on, "Then what? What happened next?"

    Xue Yang replied nonchalantly, "What else could happen? Just more slaps and kicks."

    A-Qing exclaimed, "This was you, wasn''t it? Loving sweets, it must be you! How could you be like that when you were little? If it were me, I would have spat in his food and drink first, then hit him back..." She gesticulated wildly, nearly striking Xiao Xingchen beside her. He quickly intervened, "Alright, alright, the story is over. Let''s go to sleep."

    As Xiao Xingchen tucked A-Qing into the coffin, she continued to fume, "Oh! Both of your stories are infuriating! One is boring to death, and the other is annoying to death! My goodness, that man who asked the child to deliver the message is so detestable! It''s so frustrating!"

    Xiao Xingchen tucked her in, walked a few steps away, and asked Xue Yang, "What happened after that?"

    Xue Yang replied cryptically, "What do you think? There is no ''after that,'' just as you didn''t continue your story either."

    Xiao Xingchen said gently, "Whatever happened afterward, since you''re relatively well now, there''s no need to dwell too much on the past."

    Xue Yang retorted, "I''m not dwelling on the past. It''s just that the little blind girl keeps stealing my candy and eating it all, which reminds me of the times when I couldn''t have any."

    A-Qing kicked the coffin forcefully in protest, "Master, don''t listen to his nonsense! I barely ate any at all!"

    Xiao Xingchen chuckled softly and said, "Let''s all rest now."

    That night, Xue Yang didn''t accompany him, and Xiao Xingchen went out night-hunting alone. A-Qing lay quietly in the coffin, but she couldn''t fall asleep, her eyes wide open.

    As dawn broke, Xiao Xingchen returned silently. As he passed by the coffin, he reached inside. A-Qing pretended to be asleep. After Xiao Xingchen left the funeral parlor, she opened her eyes. Next to her straw pillow lay a small piece of candy.

    She peeked out of the coffin and looked towards the sleeping quarters. Xue Yang wasn''t asleep either; he sat by the table, lost in thought.

    A piece of candy rested quietly on the edge of the table.

    Since that night of storytelling around the stove, Xiao Xingchen had been giving each of them a piece of candy every day. A-Qing was delighted, of course, while Xue Yang neither expressed gratitude nor refused. This attitude had irked A-Qing for several days.

    Xiao Xingchen was responsible for their food and lodging in Yi City. Being blind, he couldn''t choose vegetables well and was too embarrassed to haggle. When he encountered kind vendors, it was fine, but unfortunately, many took advantage of his blindness, either short-changing him or selling him poor-quality produce. Xiao Xingchen didn''t seem to mind, or perhaps he didn''t even notice, but A-Qing was furious. She insisted on accompanying Xiao Xingchen to buy groceries and confront those unscrupulous vendors. However, she couldn''t reveal that she could see, and she didn''t dare throw tantrums or cause scenes in front of Xiao Xingchen.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    This was where Xue Yang proved useful. True to his roguish nature, he was sharp-eyed and sharp-tongued. Whenever he went shopping with them, he would shamelessly demand half the price for anything they wanted to buy. If the vendor agreed, he would push for more; if they refused, he would glare menacingly, making the vendors feel that they should be grateful he was paying at all and just let him leave quickly. It was likely that when Xue Yang had run amok in Kuizhou and Lanling in the past, he had often taken what he wanted without paying. A-Qing, feeling vindicated, even praised him a few times. With the added sweetness of the daily candy, for a short period, A-Qing and Xue Yang maintained a delicate peace.

    However, she could never fully let go of her wariness towards Xue Yang, and this fragile peace was often quickly overshadowed by her many doubts and internal criticisms.

    One day, A-Qing was once again pretending to be blind on the street. This game, which she had played all her life, never lost its appeal to her. As she was tapping her bamboo pole, walking back and forth, suddenly a voice came from behind her: "Little girl, if your eyes can''t see, you shouldn''t walk so quickly."

    It was the voice of a young man, sounding somewhat cold. A-Qing turned around and saw a tall Daoist in black standing a few yards behind her. He carried a long sword on his back and a horsetail whisk in his arm. His robes fluttered in the breeze, and his posture was impeccable, exuding an air of aloofness and pride.

    This face was none other than Song Lan''s.

    A-Qing tilted her head curiously. Song Lan had already walked over, placing his horsetail whisk on her shoulder to guide her to the side. "There are fewer people by the roadside," he explained.

    Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "He truly is Xiao Xingchen''s good friend. Good friends are inevitably two people of similar character and demeanor."

    A-Qing giggled and said, "A-Qing thanks the Master!"

    Song Lan withdrew his whisk, draping it over his arm again. He glanced at her and said, "Don''t play around too much. The yin energy is heavy in this place. Don''t linger outside after sunset."

    A-Qing chirped, "Okay!"

    Song Lan nodded and continued walking. A-Qing couldn''t help but turn to watch him. She saw him stop a passerby and ask, "Excuse me. Has anyone in this area seen a blind Daoist carrying a sword?"

    A-Qing immediately focused her attention to listen. The passerby replied, "I''m not sure, Master. You might want to ask someone up ahead."

    Song Lan said, "Thank you."

    A-Qing tapped her bamboo pole as she approached, saying, "Master, what do you want with that Daoist?"

    Song Lan whirled around, "You''ve seen this person?"

    A-Qing teased, "I might have seen him, or I might not have."

    Song Lan pressed, "How could you have seen him?"

    A-Qing replied playfully, "If you answer a few of my questions, I might remember seeing him. Are you that Master''s friend?"

    Song Lan hesitated for a moment before answering, "...Yes."

    Wei Wuxian wondered, "Why did he hesitate?"

    A-Qing also noticed his reluctance and grew suspicious. She probed further, "Do you really know him? How tall is that Master? Is he handsome or ugly? What does his sword look like?"

    Song Lan answered without hesitation this time, "He''s about my height, very handsome, and his sword is engraved with frost patterns."

    Seeing that his answers were accurate and he didn''t seem to be a bad person, A-Qing said, "I know where he is. Master, follow me!"

    Song Lan, who must have been searching for his friend for years, experiencing countless disappointments, could hardly believe he had finally found a lead. Struggling to maintain his composure, he stammered, "...Th-thank... you..."

    A-Qing led him to the vicinity of the funeral parlor, but Song Lan suddenly stopped at a distance. A-Qing asked, "What''s wrong? Why aren''t you going over?"

    For some reason, Song Lan''s face had turned deathly pale. He stared at the entrance of the funeral parlor as if he wanted to rush in but didn''t dare. His earlier air of aloofness and coldness had completely vanished. Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "Could it be that he''s nervous about reuniting after so long?"

    Just as Song Lan was about to enter, a languid figure beat him to it, sauntering into the funeral parlor.

    The moment Song Lan saw that figure clearly, his face turned from pale to ashen!

    Laughter echoed from inside the funeral parlor. A-Qing grumbled, "The annoying one is back."

    Song Lan asked, his voice tight, "Who is he? Why is he here?"

    A-Qing muttered, "A bad guy. He won''t tell his name, so who knows who he is? The Daozhang saved him. He''s always hanging around the Daozhang, it''s so annoying!"

    Song Lan''s face was a mixture of shock and fury, alternating between ashen and flushed. After a moment, he hissed, "Be quiet!"

    A-Qing, frightened by his expression, fell silent. The two of them silently approached the funeral parlor, one standing by the window, the other crouching beneath it. From inside, they heard Xiao Xingchen ask, "Whose turn is it today?"

    At the sound of that voice, Song Lan''s hand trembled so violently that even A-Qing could see it clearly.

    Xue Yang said casually, "How about we stop taking turns from now on? Let''s try something different."

    Xiao Xingchen replied, "You always have something to say when it''s your turn. What different method do you suggest?"

    Xue Yang explained, "Look, I have two small twigs here. The one who draws the longer twig doesn''t go, and the one who draws the shorter twig goes. How about that?"

    After a moment of silence, Xue Yang laughed, "Yours is shorter. I win, you go!"

    Xiao Xingchen sighed resignedly, "Alright, I''ll go."

    He seemed to stand up, ready to walk towards the door. Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "Good, come out quickly. It would be best if Song Lan could grab him and run as soon as he comes out!"

    However, after just a few steps, Xue Yang called out, "Come back. I''ll go."

    Xiao Xingchen asked, puzzled, "Why are you willing to go now?"

    Xue Yang also stood up, saying, "Are you stupid? I was tricking you just now. I drew the shorter twig, but I''ve been hiding another, even longer twig all along. No matter which one you drew, I could always produce a longer one. I was just taking advantage of the fact that you can''t see."

    After teasing Xiao Xingchen a bit more, he leisurely picked up a basket and walked out the door. A-Qing looked up at Song Lan, who was trembling with rage, not understanding why he was so angry. Song Lan gestured for her to remain silent, and they quietly moved away. Only then did he begin to question A-Qing: "This person... when did Xing... when did that Daoist save him?"

    His tone was grave, and A-Qing understood the gravity of the situation. She answered solemnly, "It was a long time ago, almost several years now."

    Song Lan asked, "Has that Daoist never known who this person is?"

    A-Qing shook her head, "No, he doesn''t know."

    Song Lan pressed on, "What has this person been doing by that Daoist''s side?"

    A-Qing thought for a moment, "He talks a lot, bullies and scares me. And... oh, he also goes night-hunting with the Daoist!"

    Song Lan''s brow furrowed, clearly suspecting that Xue Yang couldn''t be so kind-hearted. "Night-hunting? Hunting what? Do you know?"

    A-Qing, not daring to be careless, considered her words carefully. "For a while, they often hunted walking corpses. Now they mostly deal with vengeful spirits, bewitched animals, things like that."

    Song Lan questioned her meticulously, sensing that something was amiss but unable to pinpoint exactly what. He asked, "Is that Daoist close to him?"

    Although reluctant to admit it, A-Qing confessed, "I feel like the Daoist wasn''t very happy alone... Finally having a companion... So, it seems he quite enjoys listening to that bad guy''s witty remarks..."

    Song Lan''s face darkened with a mix of anger and anguish. Amidst the chaos of emotions, one message stood out clearly:

    Xiao Xingchen must not know about this!

    He instructed A-Qing, "Don''t tell that Daoist anything unnecessary."

    With that, he set off with a grim expression in the direction Xue Yang had gone. A-Qing called after him, "Daozhang, are you going to fight that bad person?"

    Song Lan was already far ahead. Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "Not just fight, he wants to flay Xue Yang alive!"

    Xue Yang had left with a vegetable basket, and A-Qing knew which route he would take to buy groceries. She took a shortcut through a grove of trees, running like the wind, her heart pounding furiously. After a while, she finally caught sight of Xue Yang''s figure ahead. He was carrying a basket full of vegetables, radishes, and steamed buns, yawning lazily as he walked, apparently on his way back from shopping.

    A-Qing, skilled in hiding and eavesdropping, crouched in the bushes near the woods, moving stealthily alongside him. Suddenly, Song Lan''s cold voice came from ahead: "Xue Yang."

    As if someone had thrown a bucket of cold water in his face or slapped him awake from a deep sleep, Xue Yang''s expression instantly turned ugly.

    Song Lan emerged from behind a tree, his long sword already drawn and in his hand, its tip pointing diagonally towards the ground.

    Xue Yang feigned surprise, "Oh my, if it isn''t Master Song! What a rare guest. Come to mooch a meal?"

    Song Lan lunged forward with his sword. Xue Yang swiftly produced Jiangzai from his sleeve, blocking the attack and retreating several steps. He placed the vegetable basket beside a tree and spat, "You stinking Daoist, the one time I decide to buy groceries myself, you come and ruin everything!"

    Song Lan, consumed by fury, pressed forward with lethal strikes, demanding, "What kind of evil scheme are you plotting? What''s your real purpose for staying close to Xiao Xingchen for so long?"

    Xue Yang laughed, "So Master Song was holding back, waiting to ask this."

    Song Lan roared, "Speak! Scum like you, how could you be so kind-hearted as to help him night-hunt?!"

    A sword qi grazed Xue Yang''s face, leaving a cut, but he remained unfazed. "Master Song, you know me so well!"

    The two men''s fighting styles were vastly different¡ªone following the orthodox path of cultivators, the other a wild style forged through murder and arson. Song Lan''s swordsmanship was clearly superior to Xue Yang''s. With one thrust, he pierced Xue Yang''s arm. "Speak!" he commanded.

    If not for the urgency of getting to the bottom of this unsettling matter, that sword thrust might have been aimed at Xue Yang''s neck instead of his arm. Despite being wounded, Xue Yang''s expression remained unchanged. "You really want to hear it? I''m afraid you''ll go mad. Some things are better left unknown."

    Song Lan coldly replied, "Xue Yang, my patience with you is limited!"

    With a clang, Xue Yang deflected a sword aimed at his eyes. "Fine, you insist on hearing it. Do you know what your good friend, your dear companion has been doing? He''s been killing many walking corpses. Slaying demons and exorcising evil without asking for anything in return, how touching. Although he gouged out his eyes to give to you, becoming blind, fortunately, Shuanghua automatically guides him to corpse energy. What''s even more wonderful is that I discovered if you cut out the tongues of those infected with corpse poison, preventing them from speaking, Shuanghua can''t distinguish between living corpses and dead ones, so..."

    He explained in excruciating detail. Song Lan''s hand and sword began to tremble. "You beast... you''re worse than an animal..."

    Xue Yang retorted, "Master Song, sometimes I think you well-educated people are at a disadvantage when it comes to insults. You repeat the same few words over and over, lacking originality and impact. I stopped using those two words as insults when I was seven."

    Song Lan, enraged beyond measure, thrust his sword at Xue Yang''s throat. "You took advantage of his blindness, deceiving him so cruelly!"

    This strike was swift and vicious. Xue Yang barely avoided it, his shoulder blade still getting pierced. He seemed unfazed, not even flinching as he said, "He''s blind? Master Song, don''t forget, why is he blind? Who did he gouge out his eyes for?"

    Hearing this, Song Lan''s expression and movements froze.

    Xue Yang continued, "On what grounds are you condemning me? As a friend? Do you dare call yourself Xiao Xingchen''s friend? Hahaha, Master Song, do I need to remind you what you said to Xiao Xingchen after I massacred Bai Xue Temple? When he was worried about you and wanted to help, what was your expression? What did you say to him?"

    Song Lan''s mind was in chaos. "I... I was..."

    Xue Yang cut him off, "You were grieving? In pain? Heartbroken? Looking for somewhere to vent your anger? So you took it out on him? To be fair, I did massacre your temple because of him, so it''s understandable that you redirected your anger towards him, which played right into my hands."

    Every word struck home!

    Xue Yang''s attacks, both verbal and physical, became increasingly relentless. His swordplay grew more composed yet more vicious and tricky, slowly gaining the upper hand. Song Lan, however, was oblivious to this shift. Xue Yang continued, "Ah! Who was it that said ''We need never meet again''? Wasn''t it you yourself, Master Song? He followed your request, gouged out his eyes for you, and disappeared from your sight. So why have you come running back now? Aren''t you putting him in a difficult position? Master Xiao Xingchen, don''t you agree?"

    Hearing this, Song Lan froze, his sword momentum faltering!

    That he would fall for such a basic trick only showed how thoroughly Xue Yang had disrupted his state of mind and footwork. Xue Yang wouldn''t miss such a perfect opportunity. With a wave of his hand, he scattered corpse poisoning powder into the air.

    No one, including Song Lan, had ever encountered this carefully refined corpse poison before. As soon as it was released, Song Lan inhaled several mouthfuls, immediately realizing the danger and coughing repeatedly. Meanwhile, Xue Yang''s Jiangzai had been waiting for this moment. Its cold blade flashed, suddenly thrusting into Song Lan''s mouth!

    In that instant, darkness fell before Wei Wuxian''s eyes. A-Qing had shut her eyes in terror.

    But he already knew. This was the moment when Song Lan''s tongue was severed by Jiangzai.

    The sound was too horrifying.

    A-Qing''s eyes burned with unshed tears, but she bit down hard on her lip, not making a sound as she tremblingly opened her eyes. Song Lan was barely supporting himself with his sword, his other hand covering his mouth as blood gushed ceaselessly between his fingers.

    Caught off guard by Xue Yang''s sneak attack and having his tongue cut out, Song Lan was now in too much pain to walk properly. Nevertheless, he managed to pull his sword from the ground and staggered towards Xue Yang, who easily dodged the attack, his face twisted in a sinister grin.

    The next moment, Wei Wuxian understood why Xue Yang wore such an expression.

    The silver light of Shuanghua pierced Song Lan''s chest, emerging from his back.

    Song Lan looked down at Shuanghua''s blade protruding through his heart, then slowly raised his head to see Xiao Xingchen, holding the sword with a serene expression.

    Xiao Xingchen, completely unaware, asked, "Are you there?"

    Song Lan''s lips moved silently.

    Xue Yang laughed, "I''m here. Why did you come?"

    Xiao Xingchen withdrew Shuanghua and sheathed it, explaining, "Shuanghua sensed something unusual, so I followed its guidance to check. How strange, we haven''t seen walking corpses in this area for a long time. Was this a stray one that wandered in from elsewhere?"

    Song Lan slowly sank to his knees before Xiao Xingchen.

    Xue Yang looked down at him triumphantly, saying, "Yes, it seems so. It was quite fierce."

    At this moment, if Song Lan could just hand his sword to Xiao Xingchen, he would recognize who he was. The sword of a dear friend¡ªhe would know it by touch alone.

    But Song Lan could no longer do this. How could he give the sword to Xiao Xingchen, revealing to him whom he had just killed with his own hands?

    Xue Yang had calculated this perfectly, which was why he felt so secure. He said, "Let''s go back and make dinner. I''m hungry."

    Xiao Xingchen asked, "Did you buy the groceries?"

    Xue Yang replied, "Yes, I did. On the way back, I encountered this thing. What bad luck."

    Xiao Xingchen walked ahead, while Xue Yang casually patted the wounds on his shoulder and arm. He picked up the basket again and, as he passed by Song Lan, leaned down with a slight smile and whispered, "There''s none for you."

    Only after Xue Yang had gone far away, presumably back to the funeral parlor with Xiao Xingchen, did A-Qing emerge from behind the bushes.

    She had been crouching for so long that her legs were numb. Leaning on her bamboo pole, she limped towards Song Lan''s kneeling, rigid corpse, her steps trembling with fear.

    Song Lan had died with his eyes wide open, and A-Qing flinched at the sight of his lifeless stare. Then she noticed the blood flowing from his mouth, staining his clothes and the ground beneath him. Tears began to fall from her eyes in large drops.

    Frightened, A-Qing reached out and gently closed Song Lan''s eyes. She knelt before him, clasping her hands in prayer. "Master," she whispered, her voice quivering, "please don''t blame me or that other Master. I would have died too if I had tried to help. I could only hide. That Master... he was tricked by that bad person. He didn''t mean to do it. He didn''t know it was you he was killing!"

    She continued, her words punctuated by sobs, "I have to go back now. Please, from the heavens, protect us and help me rescue Master Xiao Xingchen. Help us escape from that demon''s grasp. Let that living monster Xue Yang die a horrible death, his body torn to pieces, and may he never find peace in the afterlife!"

    After finishing her prayer, she bowed several times and kowtowed three times, her forehead touching the ground. She wiped her face vigorously, stood up, and gave herself a few encouraging pats before heading back towards Yi City.

    By the time A-Qing returned to the funeral parlor, night had fallen. Xue Yang sat at the table, carving apples into rabbit shapes. He looked to be in a good mood. Anyone who saw him would think he was just a mischievous young man, never imagining what he had done earlier. Xiao Xingchen came out carrying a plate of vegetables and, hearing A-Qing''s footsteps, asked, "A-Qing, where did you go play today? You''re back so late."

    Xue Yang glanced at her, suddenly noticing something. "What''s this? Her eyes are swollen," he remarked, a glint of suspicion in his eyes.

    Xiao Xingchen quickly walked over, concerned. "What''s wrong? Did someone bully you?"

    Xue Yang scoffed, "Bully her? Who could bully her?"

    Though his smile seemed friendly, it was clear he had grown suspicious. Suddenly, A-Qing threw down her bamboo pole and burst into loud sobs.

    She cried with abandon, snot and tears streaming down her face, gasping for air between sobs. She threw herself into Xiao Xingchen''s arms, wailing, "Am I ugly? Am I really ugly? Master, tell me, am I truly ugly?"

    Xiao Xingchen stroked her head gently, comforting her, "Of course not. A-Qing is very pretty. Who said you were ugly?"

    Xue Yang sneered, "You''re hideous, and even uglier when you cry."

    Xiao Xingchen reprimanded him, "Don''t say such things."

    This only made A-Qing cry harder. She stomped her foot, exclaiming, "But Master, you can''t even see! What good does it do if you say I''m pretty? You must be lying to me! He can see, and he says I''m ugly, so I must really be ugly! Ugly and blind!"

    Her outburst led both men to assume she had been called names like "ugly freak" or "blind ghost" by some children in town, hurting her feelings. Xue Yang scoffed, "Someone calls you ugly and you come home crying? What happened to your usual feisty spirit?"

    A-Qing retorted, "You''re the feisty one! Master, do you have any money left?"

    After a moment''s hesitation, Xiao Xingchen replied, somewhat embarrassed, "Um... I think I still have some."

    Xue Yang interjected, "I have money. I can lend you some."

    A-Qing spat, "You''ve been eating and living with us for so long, and you still want to ''lend'' us money? You miser! Have you no shame? Daozhang, I want to buy pretty clothes and accessories. Will you come with me?"

    Wei Wuxian realized, "So she''s trying to lure Xiao Xingchen out. But what if Xue Yang insists on coming along?"

    Xiao Xingchen said, "We can go, but I won''t be able to help you see if things suit you."

    Xue Yang chimed in again, "I can help her look."

    A-Qing jumped up, nearly hitting Xiao Xingchen''s chin. "No, no, no! I only want you to come with me, Master! I don''t want him to come along. He''ll just call me ugly! And call me a little blind girl!"

    Her occasional tantrums were not unusual, and both men were used to them. Xue Yang made a face at her, while Xiao Xingchen conceded, "Alright, how about tomorrow?"

    A-Qing insisted, "I want to go tonight!"

    Xue Yang pointed out, "The market will be closed if you go out tonight. Where would you buy anything?"

    Left with no choice, A-Qing reluctantly agreed, "Fine! Then tomorrow! It''s a promise!"

    With her first plan foiled, A-Qing knew that pushing to go out again would only make Xue Yang more suspicious. She resigned herself to sitting at the table for dinner. Though her performance had been natural and consistent with her usual behavior, her stomach had been tightly clenched with tension the entire time. Even now, her hand trembled slightly as she picked up her bowl. Xue Yang sat to her left, occasionally glancing at her from the corner of his eye, causing the muscles in A-Qing''s calves to tense up again.

    Too frightened to eat, she used her lack of appetite to continue her act of being angry. She poked at her food, muttering under her breath, "Stupid bitch, ugly girl, you''re not even that pretty yourself. Bitch!"

    As she continued to curse the non-existent "ugly girl," Xue Yang rolled his eyes while Xiao Xingchen gently admonished, "Don''t waste food."

    Xue Yang''s gaze shifted from A-Qing to Xiao Xingchen''s face across the table. Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "It''s no wonder this little rogue can imitate Xiao Xingchen so well. Sitting across from him every day gives him plenty of opportunities to study his mannerisms."

    Xiao Xingchen, however, remained oblivious to the two gazes fixed upon him. In the end, he was the only truly blind person in the room.

    After the meal, Xiao Xingchen cleared the dishes and went inside. A-Qing, feeling restless, wanted to follow him, but Xue Yang suddenly called out, "A-Qing."

    A-Qing''s heart leaped into her throat, and even Wei Wuxian could sense her scalp prickling with fear.

    She snapped, "Why are you suddenly calling me by my name?"

    Xue Yang replied smoothly, "Didn''t you say you didn''t like me calling you ''little blind girl''?"

    A-Qing huffed, "Unexpected kindness always hides ulterior motives! What are you really up to?"

    Xue Yang smiled, his expression deceptively gentle, "Nothing much. I just want to teach you how to handle it next time someone insults you."

    A-Qing said cautiously, "Oh? Go on then, what should I do?"

    Xue Yang''s voice took on a chilling tone, "If someone calls you ugly, make them uglier. Cut their face seventeen or eighteen times, so they''ll never dare show their face in public again. If someone calls you a blind girl, sharpen one end of your bamboo pole and stab it into both of their eyes. Let them become blind too. See if they dare to run their mouths after that."

    A-Qing felt a chill run down her spine, but she pretended to think he was just trying to scare her. "You''re just teasing me again!" she accused.

    Xue Yang snorted, "Believe what you want." He pushed the plate of rabbit-shaped apples towards her. "Here, eat."

    Looking at the plate of delicate, snow-white rabbit-shaped apples with their red skins and golden flesh, a wave of revulsion washed over both A-Qing and Wei Wuxian.

    The next day, A-Qing started pestering Xiao Xingchen early in the morning to take her out to buy pretty clothes and cosmetics. Xue Yang complained, "If you both leave, does that mean I have to buy groceries again today?"

    A-Qing retorted, "What''s wrong with you buying groceries for once? Daozhang has done it so many times! You''re always using your tricks to avoid paying and take advantage of Daozhang!"

    Xue Yang conceded, "Fine, fine. I''ll go buy them. I''ll go now."

    After he left, Xiao Xingchen asked, "A-Qing, are you ready? Can we go now?"

    Making sure Xue Yang was far away, A-Qing came in and closed the door. With a trembling voice, she asked, "Master, do you know someone named Xue Yang?"

 41. Worthless Xue Yang: The Wrath of Heaven and the People

    Xiao Xingchen''s smile froze on his face.

    The name "Xue Yang" struck him like a physical blow. What little color remained in his already pale face drained away completely, leaving his lips a ghostly white.

    Struggling to maintain his composure, Xiao Xingchen whispered, "...Xue Yang?"

    Suddenly, as if jolted awake, he turned to A-Qing. "A-Qing, how do you know that name?"

    A-Qing, her heart racing, replied, "This Xue Yang, he''s the person who''s been with us all along! He''s that evil creature!"

    Xiao Xingchen mumbled, confusion evident in his voice, "The person with us?... The person with us..."

    He shook his head, as if trying to clear it, and asked again, "How did you find out?"

    A-Qing, her mind racing to construct a believable lie, blurted out, "I heard him kill someone!"

    Xiao Xingchen''s face paled even further. "He killed someone? Who?"

    A-Qing, drawing upon her night of sleepless fabrication, continued, "A woman! She sounded young, and I think she had a sword. Xue Yang had a sword too because I heard them fighting. The clash of blades was so loud! The woman called him ''Xue Yang'' and accused him of ''slaughtering the Guanyin Temple'' and ''committing arson and murder''. She said he deserved to die for his crimes. Oh heavens, this man is a bloodthirsty monster! He''s been hiding among us all this time, who knows what he''s planning!"

    A-Qing had spent the entire night concocting this story. She knew she couldn''t let the Daoist know that he had mistaken a living person for a walking corpse, nor could she reveal that he had personally killed Song Lan. As much as it pained her to dishonor Song Lan''s memory, she couldn''t disclose his death. Her primary goal was to make Xiao Xingchen discover Xue Yang''s true identity and flee immediately, as far away as possible!

    But the news was too shocking, too absurd to accept easily. Xiao Xingchen, his voice laced with disbelief, said, "But the voice doesn''t match. And..."

    A-Qing, growing desperate, interrupted him, jabbing her bamboo pole in emphasis, "He disguised his voice on purpose! He didn''t want you to recognize him!" Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck her. She jumped up excitedly, "Ah, that''s right! That''s it! He has nine fingers! Daoist, did you know? Doesn''t Xue Yang have nine fingers? You must have seen it before, right?"

    Xiao Xingchen staggered, nearly losing his balance.

    A-Qing quickly steadied him, guiding him to sit at the table. After a long moment of silence, Xiao Xingchen finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper, "But A-Qing, how do you know he has nine fingers? Did you touch his hand? If he truly is Xue Yang, how could he have allowed you to discover his deformity so easily?"

    A-Qing, biting her lip, made a split-second decision. "Daoist... I''ll tell you the truth. I''m not blind. I can see! I didn''t touch his hand, I saw it!"

    The revelation hit Xiao Xingchen like a series of thunderbolts, each more devastating than the last. "What did you say? You can see?"

    A-Qing, fear gripping her heart but unable to retreat now, apologized profusely, "I''m so sorry, Daoist. I didn''t mean to deceive you! I was afraid you''d send me away if you knew I could see. But please, don''t be angry with me now. We need to run away. He''ll be back soon with the groceries!"

    Suddenly, she fell silent.

    The white bandages covering Xiao Xingchen''s eyes, once pristine, were now stained with two slowly spreading patches of red. Blood seeped through the fabric, trickling down from his eye sockets.

    A-Qing let out a horrified scream, "Daoist, you''re bleeding!"

    Xiao Xingchen, as if only just noticing, let out a soft "Ah" and raised his hand to his face, feeling the warm wetness of blood. A-Qing''s trembling hands tried to wipe it away, but the flow only increased. Xiao Xingchen raised his hand to stop her, saying softly, "I''m alright... I''m alright."

    In the past, his eye wounds would bleed when he experienced intense emotions or overthinking, but it hadn''t happened for a long time. Wei Wuxian had thought the wounds had healed. Who could have known they would bleed again today?

    Xiao Xingchen murmured, his voice filled with confusion and pain, "But... but if it really is Xue Yang, why? Why didn''t he kill me from the start? Why stay by my side for years? How could this be Xue Yang?"

    A-Qing, her voice trembling with fear and desperation, replied, "He wanted to kill you at first! I saw the look in his eyes, it was fierce and terrifying! But he was injured and couldn''t move, he needed someone to take care of him! If I had known who he was, if I had known he was a murderous monster, I would have stabbed him with my bamboo pole when we found him lying in the bushes! Daoist, please, let''s run away! Please?"

    Wei Wuxian, observing silently, sighed inwardly, "It''s impossible now. If Xiao Xingchen isn''t told, he''ll continue living with Xue Yang like this. If he is told, he won''t simply run away; he''ll confront Xue Yang directly. There''s no solution to this dilemma."

    Sure enough, after Xiao Xingchen had composed himself as best he could, he said, "A-Qing, you should go."

    His voice was slightly hoarse. A-Qing, fear evident in her tone, asked, "I should go? Daoist, shouldn''t we leave together?"

    Xiao Xingchen shook his head, "I can''t leave. I need to find out what he''s planning. He must have a purpose for disguising himself and staying by my side all these years. If I leave him here alone, I fear for the lives of everyone in Yi City. This is typical of Xue Yang."

    This time, A-Qing''s tears and sobs were no longer an act. She threw her bamboo pole aside and clung to Xiao Xingchen''s legs, crying, "You want me to go? Daoist, how can I leave alone? I want to stay with you. If you won''t leave, then I won''t either. We can die together if we must. I''ll die alone and miserable out there anyway. If you don''t want that to happen, then let''s escape together!"

    Unfortunately, now that her secret of not being blind was exposed, her attempts at evoking pity were no longer effective. Xiao Xingchen said firmly, "A-Qing, you can see, and you''re clever. I believe you can live well on your own. You don''t understand how dangerous Xue Yang truly is. You can''t stay here, and you absolutely must not go near him again."

    A-Qing''s inner scream was so loud that even Wei Wuxian could hear it: "I know! I know how terrifying he is!"

    But she couldn''t bring herself to reveal the whole truth!

    Suddenly, the sound of light footsteps approached from the distance.

    Xue Yang had returned!

    Xiao Xingchen''s head snapped up, his senses sharpening to the state of alertness he maintained during night-hunts. He quickly pulled A-Qing close and whispered urgently, "When he comes in, I''ll deal with him. You run away immediately. Do you understand?"

    A-Qing, terrified, nodded frantically through her tears. Xue Yang kicked the door lightly and called out, "What are you two up to? I''m back already. Aren''t you leaving? If you''re still here, unlock the door and let me in. I''m exhausted."

    Just by his voice and tone, one would think he was a cheerful neighborhood boy, a lively little disciple. Who could have imagined that standing outside the door at this moment was a ruthless, inhuman demon ¨C a devil wearing the skin of a handsome youth, walking like a human, speaking human words?

    The door wasn''t locked, but it was barred from the inside. If they didn''t open it soon, Xue Yang would surely become suspicious. If he entered then, he would certainly be on guard. A-Qing wiped her face and shouted back, trying to sound normal, "Tired my foot! How far did you have to go to buy groceries? A little walk and you''re tired? So what if your sister takes a moment to change clothes? Did it cost you an arm and a leg?"

    Xue Yang sneered, "How many clothes do you even have? They all look the same anyway. Open the door already."

    A-Qing''s calves were shaking, but her voice remained strong and defiant, "Hah! I won''t open it for you. If you''re so capable, why don''t you kick it down?"

    Xue Yang laughed, "You asked for it. Daoist, you''ll have to fix the door later. Don''t blame me."

    With that, he kicked the wooden door open, stepping over the high threshold. He entered the room with one hand holding a basket full of groceries and the other clutching a bright red apple, which he had just taken a bite from. As he lowered his head, he saw the blade of Shuanghua piercing his abdomen.

    The grocery basket fell to the ground, spilling vegetables, radishes, apples, and steamed buns across the floor.

    Xiao Xingchen commanded in a low voice, "A-Qing, run!"

    A-Qing bolted, rushing out of the Yi Zhuang gates. After sprinting for a while, she quickly changed course and stealthily circled back to the Yi Zhuang. She climbed to her most familiar hiding spot, the one she often used for eavesdropping, and this time, she poked out half her head to peer inside.

    Xiao Xingchen spoke coldly, "Are you enjoying yourself?"

    Xue Yang took another bite of the apple still in his hand, chewing slowly and deliberately before swallowing. Only then did he reply, "Yes, I am. How could I not?"

    He had reverted to his true voice.

    Xiao Xingchen asked, "What was your purpose for staying by my side all these years?"

    Xue Yang replied nonchalantly, "Who knows? Perhaps I was bored."

    Xiao Xingchen withdrew Shuanghua and was about to strike again when Xue Yang spoke, "Daoist Xiao Xingchen, remember that unfinished story of mine? I suppose you don''t want to hear the rest now, do you?"

    Xiao Xingchen replied curtly, "No, I don''t."

    Despite his refusal, he tilted his head slightly, his sword pausing mid-strike. Xue Yang continued, "But I insist on telling it. After I finish, if you still think I''m in the wrong, you can do whatever you want."

    He casually wiped the wound on his abdomen, applying pressure to stem the blood flow, and began, "That little boy, upon seeing the man who had tricked him into delivering the message, felt both hurt and happy. He ran to him, crying loudly, and told him: ''I delivered the message, but the pastries are gone, and I was beaten. Can you give me another plate?''

    "The man, who seemed to have just been caught and beaten by that burly fellow, had injuries on his face. Seeing this dirty child clinging to his leg only irritated him further, and he kicked the boy away.

    "He got onto an ox cart and told the driver to leave immediately. The boy got up from the ground and chased after the cart. He wanted those sweet pastries so badly that he finally caught up and waved his hands in front of the cart, trying to make them stop. The man, annoyed by the boy''s cries, snatched the whip from the driver''s hand and lashed it across the boy''s head, knocking him to the ground."

    Xue Yang enunciated each word clearly, "Then, the cart''s wheels rolled over the child''s hand, crushing it finger by finger!"

    Regardless of whether Xiao Xingchen could see or not, Xue Yang raised his left hand towards him, "I was seven years old! The bones in my left hand were completely shattered, and one finger was immediately crushed into a pulp! This man was Chang Ping''s father.

    "Daoist Xiao Xingchen, you were so righteous when you captured me and took me to Jin Ling Tower! You condemned me for exterminating an entire family over a small grudge. Is it because the fingers don''t grow on your hands that you don''t know the pain? You don''t know what it''s like to hear heart-wrenching screams coming from your own mouth! Why did I kill his entire family? Why don''t you ask him why he chose to toy with me and mock me for no reason? The Xue Yang of today is the result of Chang Ci''an''s actions back then! The Chang clan of Liyang merely reaped what they sowed!"

    Xiao Xingchen, his voice filled with disbelief, exclaimed, "Chang Ci''an took one of your fingers back then. If you wanted revenge, you could have cut off one of his fingers in return. If you truly couldn''t let go of your hatred, you could have taken two, or even all ten! Or you could have cut off his entire arm! Why did you have to kill his entire family? Are you saying that your one finger is worth more than fifty lives?"

    Xue Yang pondered for a moment, as if he found Xiao Xingchen''s question strange. He replied matter-of-factly, "Of course. The finger is mine, but those lives belong to others. No matter how many you kill, it can''t compare. Fifty-odd people? How could that possibly make up for my finger?"

    Xiao Xingchen''s face grew even paler with anger at Xue Yang''s brazen attitude. He demanded, "What about the others?! Why did you massacre the Bai Xue Temple? Why did you blind Daoist Song Zichen?!"

    Xue Yang countered, "And why did you interfere with me? Why did you get in my way? Why did you stand up for that worthless Chang family? Were you helping Chang Ci''an? Or Chang Ping? Hahaha! Remember how grateful Chang Ping was at first? And later, how he begged you to stop helping him? Daoist Xiao Xingchen, from the very beginning, you were wrong to meddle in others'' affairs. Who''s right and who''s wrong, who owes more gratitude or grudges - how can an outsider judge? Perhaps you should never have come down from the mountain. Your master, Baoshan Sanren, was so wise. Why didn''t you listen to her and stay on the mountain to cultivate and seek the Dao? If you can''t understand the ways of this world, you shouldn''t enter it!"

    Xiao Xingchen, unable to contain his disgust any longer, spat out, "...Xue Yang, you truly are... revolting..."

    Upon hearing these words, that fierce glint that had been absent from Xue Yang''s eyes for so long reappeared.

    He let out a cold laugh and said, "Xiao Xingchen, this is why I despise you. What I hate most are self-proclaimed righteous people like you, those who think they''re morally superior, you big fools who believe doing a few good deeds will make the world a better place. Idiots, naive, stupid! I disgust you? Good. Do you think I fear being disgusting? But do you even have the right to be disgusted by me?"

    Xiao Xingchen flinched slightly, asking, "What do you mean?"

    A-Qing and Wei Wuxian''s hearts were pounding so hard they felt like they might burst from their chests!Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Xue Yang spoke with feigned intimacy, "We haven''t been going out to kill walking corpses lately, have we? But for the past couple of years, didn''t we go out every few days to kill a bunch?"

    Xiao Xingchen''s lips trembled, a hint of unease in his voice as he asked, "Why are you bringing this up now?"

    Xue Yang replied, "No particular reason. It''s just a shame that you''re blind now, with both your eyeballs gouged out by your own hand. You can''t see those ''walking corpses'' you killed, how terrified and agonized they were when your sword pierced their hearts. And those who knelt down, crying and kowtowing, begging you to spare their families - if I hadn''t cut out their tongues, they would have surely wailed loudly, crying ''Daoist, please spare our lives.''"

    Xiao Xingchen''s entire body began to tremble.

    After a long while, he finally managed to say with great difficulty, "You''re lying. You''re trying to deceive me."

    Xue Yang responded, "Yes, I''m lying. I''ve been lying to you all along. Who would have thought that you''d believe all my lies, but now you don''t believe the truth?"

    Xiao Xingchen staggered forward, swinging his sword at Xue Yang, shouting, "Shut up! Shut up!"

    Xue Yang, clutching his abdomen, snapped his fingers with his left hand and stepped back gracefully. The expression on his face was no longer human-like, with an eerie green glow in his eyes. His small fangs, visible when he smiled, made him look like a living demon. He cried out, "Fine! I''ll shut up! If you don''t believe me, why don''t you ask the one behind you? Let him tell you if I''m lying or not!"

    As the sword wind approached, Xiao Xingchen instinctively raised Shuanghua to block. The moment the two swords clashed, he froze.

    He didn''t just freeze; he turned into a withered stone statue in an instant.

    Xiao Xingchen asked very carefully, very cautiously, "...Is that you, Zichen?"

    There was no answer.

    Song Lan''s corpse stood behind him, appearing to gaze at Xiao Xingchen, but with no pupils in his eyes. He held a long sword that was crossed with Shuanghua.

    The two of them must have often practiced swordsmanship together in the past, as the mere contact of their swords and the force behind them was enough for Xiao Xingchen to recognize his opponent. But he seemed uncertain, slowly turning around, his hand trembling as he reached out to touch the blade of Song Lan''s sword.

    Song Lan didn''t move. Xiao Xingchen''s hand moved up along the blade, finally tracing the characters "Fu Xue" engraved on the hilt.

    Xiao Xingchen''s face grew paler and paler.

    He frantically felt the blade of Fuxue, not even noticing when the sharp edge cut his palm. His entire body shook so violently that his voice seemed to scatter on the ground: "...Zichen... Daoist Song... Daoist Song... is it really you..."

    Song Lan stared at him silently, saying nothing.

    The bandages covering Xiao Xingchen''s eyes were now soaked with an endless flow of blood, creating two horrifying red holes. He wanted to reach out and touch the person holding the sword, but he didn''t dare. His hand extended and then retracted. A-Qing felt a searing pain in her chest, so intense that both she and Wei Wuxian found it hard to breathe. Tears burst forth from their eyes like springs.

    Xiao Xingchen stood there, at a complete loss: "...What''s happening... Someone say something..."

    He completely broke down: "Will someone please say something?!"

    Xue Yang obliged: "Do you need me to tell you who that walking corpse was that you killed yesterday?"

    With a clang, Shuanghua fell to the ground.

    Xue Yang erupted into uproarious laughter.

    Xiao Xingchen knelt before the motionless Song Lan, clutching his head and wailing in heart-wrenching sobs.

    Xue Yang laughed so hard that tears formed in his eyes, snarling, "What''s wrong?! Two good friends meeting again, both moved to tears! Do you want to hug each other?!"

    A-Qing covered her mouth tightly, suppressing her sobs. Inside the Yi Zhuang, Xue Yang paced back and forth, cursing in a terrifying tone that was both furious and ecstatic: "Save the world?! You''re killing me with laughter, you can''t even save yourself!"

    Sharp pains shot through Wei Wuxian''s mind. These pains, however, were not coming from A-Qing''s soul.

    Xiao Xingchen knelt on the ground in a wretched state, prostrate at Song Lan''s feet. He curled up into a tiny ball, as if trying to become as weak and small as possible, wishing he could disappear from this world. His once immaculate white Daoist robe was now stained with blood and dirt. Xue Yang shouted at him: "You''ve accomplished nothing! You''re a complete failure! This is your own doing, you brought this upon yourself!"

    In that moment, Wei Wuxian saw himself in Xiao Xingchen.

    A complete failure, covered in blood, having achieved nothing, blamed and cursed by others, powerless to change anything, only able to wail in despair!

    The white bandages were now completely red. Xiao Xingchen''s face was covered in blood; with no eyeballs, he couldn''t shed tears, only blood. Deceived for years, treating his enemy as a friend, his kindness trampled upon, believing he was vanquishing evil spirits while his hands were stained with the blood of innocents, having killed his own best friend with his own hands!

    He could only whimper in agony: "Please, spare me."

    Xue Yang sneered, "Weren''t you just trying to stab me with your sword? How quickly you''ve turned to begging for mercy."

    He clearly knew that Song Lan''s fierce corpse was protecting him, and Xiao Xingchen could no longer wield a sword.

    He had won again. A complete victory.

    Suddenly, Xiao Xingchen grabbed Shuanghua from the ground, turned the blade around, and placed its edge against his neck. A pure silver light flashed across Xue Yang''s pitch-black eyes, which seemed to be devoid of any hope. Xiao Xingchen let go of the sword, and crimson blood flowed down Shuanghua''s blade.

    With the clear sound of the long sword falling to the ground, Xue Yang''s laughter and movements came to an abrupt halt.

    After a moment of silence, he walked to Xiao Xingchen''s motionless body and lowered his head. The twisted smile at the corners of his mouth slowly faded, and his eyes filled with a web of bloodshot veins. Unless it was a trick of the light, Xue Yang''s eyes seemed to have reddened slightly.

    Then, he gritted his teeth and snarled, "You forced me to do this!"

    After saying this, he let out a cold laugh and muttered to himself, "It''s better this way! The dead are more obedient."

    Xue Yang checked Xiao Xingchen''s breath and felt his wrist. Apparently not satisfied that he was dead enough or stiff enough, he stood up and went into the adjacent sleeping quarters. He returned with a basin of water and a clean cloth, and meticulously wiped the blood from Xiao Xingchen''s face until it was spotless. He even replaced the bloodied bandage with a new one, carefully wrapping it around Xiao Xingchen''s eyes.

    He drew an array on the ground, placed the necessary materials, and carefully positioned Xiao Xingchen''s body within it. Only after completing all of this did he remember to tend to his own abdominal wound.

    He seemed to believe that in a short while, the two of them would meet again. His mood improved steadily as he picked up the scattered vegetables and fruits from the floor, arranging them neatly back in the basket. He even went on a cleaning spree, tidying up the entire room, and laid a thick layer of fresh straw in the coffin where A-Qing slept. Finally, he took out the candy that Xiao Xingchen had given him the night before from his sleeve.

    Just as he was about to put it in his mouth, he hesitated and put it back. He sat down at the table, resting his chin on one hand, waiting impatiently for Xiao Xingchen to sit up.

    But Xiao Xingchen never did.

    As the sky grew darker, Xue Yang''s face became increasingly gloomy. His fingers tapped impatiently on the table.

    When dusk had fully settled, he kicked the table, cursed, and stood up, lifting his robe. He knelt beside Xiao Xingchen''s body to check the array and incantations he had drawn earlier. After repeated confirmations that there were no mistakes, he frowned in thought, then wiped everything clean and redrew it all.

    This time, Xue Yang sat directly on the ground, staring at Xiao Xingchen with great patience, waiting for a long while. A-Qing''s feet had gone numb three times over, both painful and itchy, as if millions of ants were gnawing at them. Her eyes were swollen from crying, making her vision blurry.

    After waiting for another hour, Xue Yang finally realized that the situation was out of control.

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    Xue Yang placed his hand on Xiao Xingchen''s forehead, closing his eyes to probe. After a moment, his eyes suddenly snapped open.

    Wei Wuxian knew that what Xue Yang had detected were likely only a few weak, scattered fragments of soul.

    A soul shattered to this extent was impossible to use in creating a fierce corpse.

    Xue Yang seemed completely unprepared for this unexpected turn of events. For the first time, his face, usually full of smiles, was blank with shock.

    Without thinking, he belatedly tried to cover the wound on Xiao Xingchen''s neck with his hand. However, the blood had long since drained away, leaving Xiao Xingchen''s face as white as paper, with large patches of dark, dried blood around his neck. Trying to stop the bleeding now was utterly useless.

    Xiao Xingchen was dead, completely and irrevocably dead.

    Even his soul had shattered.

    In Xue Yang''s story, the crying child who couldn''t get his pastries seemed worlds apart from the person he had become, making it difficult to connect the two. But at this moment, Wei Wuxian finally saw a glimpse of that bewildered child in Xue Yang''s face.

    Xue Yang''s eyes suddenly filled with bloodshot veins. He abruptly stood up, his hands clenched into tight fists, and began to rampage through the Yi Zhuang, smashing and throwing things. The room he had just tidied up was soon in shambles, filled with the sounds of destruction.

    At this moment, his expression and the sounds he made were closer to the definition of insanity than all his previous evil acts combined.

    After destroying the room, he calmed down and crouched back down in his original spot, calling out softly, "Xiao Xingchen."

    He continued, "If you don''t get up soon, I''m going to make your good friend Song Lan start killing people.

    "I''ll kill everyone in this entire Yi City and turn them all into walking corpses. You''ve lived here for so long, can you really be okay with that?

    "I''m going to strangle that little blind girl A-Qing to death and leave her body in the wilderness for wild dogs to tear apart."

    A-Qing silently shuddered.

    With no response, Xue Yang suddenly roared in fury, "Xiao Xingchen!"

    He futilely grabbed the collar of Xiao Xingchen''s Daoist robe, shaking him a few times, staring at the face of the dead man in his hands.

    Suddenly, he grabbed Xiao Xingchen''s arm and hoisted him onto his back.

    Xue Yang carried Xiao Xingchen''s corpse out the door, muttering like a madman, "Soul-locking pouch, soul-locking pouch. That''s it, a soul-locking pouch, I need a soul-locking pouch, soul-locking pouch, soul-locking pouch..."

    Only after he had walked far away did A-Qing dare to move slightly.

    She couldn''t stand steadily and rolled onto the ground, wriggling for a while before managing to get up. She took a few difficult steps, gradually loosening her stiff muscles and joints. She walked faster and faster until she finally broke into a run.

    After running for a long time, leaving Yi City far behind, she finally dared to release the sobs she had been holding back: "Daoist! Daoist! Wuwuwu, Daoist!..."

    The scene suddenly shifted to another location.

    By this time, A-Qing had been on the run for several days. She was walking in an unfamiliar town, carrying her bamboo pole and once again pretending to be blind. She asked everyone she met, "Excuse me, are there any great clans nearby?" "Excuse me, are there any powerful cultivators around here? Immortal cultivators."

    Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "She''s looking for someone who can help avenge Xiao Xingchen."

    Unfortunately, no one took her inquiries seriously, often brushing her off with vague answers before walking away. A-Qing didn''t get discouraged, tirelessly continuing to ask despite being repeatedly shooed away. Seeing that she couldn''t get any useful information here, she left and set off on a small path.

    She walked and asked questions all day, growing exhausted. Dragging her heavy steps, she came to a small stream. She cupped some water in her hands and drank a few mouthfuls, soothing her parched throat. Looking at her reflection in the water, she noticed the wooden hairpin in her hair and reached up to take it out.

    The hairpin had originally been quite crude, like an uneven chopstick. Xiao Xingchen had helped her smooth and refine the body of the pin, even carving a small fox at the end. The little fox had a pointed face and large eyes, and was smiling. When A-Qing first received the hairpin, she had felt it and said happily, "Ah! It''s like me!"

    Looking at the hairpin now, A-Qing''s lips trembled, and she felt like crying again. Her stomach growled, and she reached into her clothes to pull out a small white money pouch¡ªthe one she had stolen from Xiao Xingchen. From the pouch, she carefully extracted a small piece of candy, licked it gently, tasting the sweetness on her tongue before putting it back.

    This was the last piece of candy Xiao Xingchen had left her.

    A-Qing lowered her head to put away the money pouch. As she glanced down, she suddenly noticed another person''s reflection behind hers in the water.

    Xue Yang was smiling at her in the reflection.

    A-Qing screamed in terror, scrambling away.

    Xue Yang had somehow appeared behind her without her noticing. He was holding Shuanghua and opened his arms in an embracing gesture, saying cheerfully, "A-Qing, why are you running? It''s been so long since we''ve seen each other, haven''t you missed me?"

    A-Qing screamed, "Help!"

    But they were on a remote mountain path, and there was no one around to save her.

    Xue Yang raised an eyebrow and said, "I just returned from some business in Liyang, and by chance, I run into you asking questions all over the city. What an unavoidable fate, isn''t it? By the way, you''re quite the actress, fooling even me for so long. Impressive."

    A-Qing knew she couldn''t escape and that her death was certain. After the initial panic, she thought that since she was going to die anyway, she might as well curse him to her heart''s content before dying. A surge of defiance rose within her, and she sprang up, spitting out, "You beast! You ungrateful dog! You''re lower than pigs and dogs, you worthless trash! Were your parents in a pigsty when they conceived you, you mongrel? You piece of filth raised on dung!"

    Having grown up on the streets, she had heard plenty of vulgar insults and now unleashed a torrent of the foulest language she knew. Xue Yang listened with a smile, saying, "You really can curse. Why didn''t I ever hear you talk like this in front of Xiao Xingchen? Got any more?"

    A-Qing cursed, "You shameless bastard! How dare you mention the Daoist! That''s his sword! How dare you touch it? You''re defiling his possessions!"

    Xue Yang raised Shuanghua in his left hand and said, "Oh, you mean this? It''s mine now. Do you think your Daoist was so pure? From now on, he''ll be my..."

    A-Qing interrupted, "Bullshit! Keep dreaming! How dare you talk about the Daoist''s purity, you''re nothing but a glob of spit! The Daoist must have had the worst luck in eight lifetimes to be tainted by you! You''re the only filthy thing here, you disgusting piece of phlegm!"

    Xue Yang''s face finally darkened.

    A-Qing had been living in fear for so long, waiting for this moment, and suddenly her heart felt lighter.

    Xue Yang said ominously, "Since you enjoy pretending to be blind so much, why don''t you become truly blind?"

    He waved his hand, scattering some unknown powder that flew into A-Qing''s eyes. Her vision immediately turned blood-red, then black.

    A searing pain spread through her eyeballs, and A-Qing screamed in agony. Xue Yang''s voice came again, "You talk too much. You won''t be needing your tongue either."

    A cold, sharp object entered A-Qing''s mouth. Just as Wei Wuxian felt the stabbing pain at the root of her tongue, he was suddenly pulled out of the vision.

    The crisp sound of silver bells jingling "ding ding" was close by. Wei Wuxian was still immersed in A-Qing''s emotions, unable to come back to his senses, his vision spinning. Lan Jingyi waved his hand in front of Wei Wuxian''s face, saying, "No response? He hasn''t gone stupid, has he?!"

    Jin Ling said, "I told you, empathy is dangerous!"

    Lan Jingyi retorted, "It''s all because you were lost in thought earlier and didn''t ring the bell in time!"

    Jin Ling''s face stiffened, "I..."

    Fortunately, at this moment, Wei Wuxian finally regained his composure and stood up, leaning on the coffin for support. A-Qing had already separated from his body and was also clinging to the edge of the coffin. The group of young disciples crowded around like a litter of piglets, forming a circle and chattering, "He''s up, he''s up!" "Thank goodness, he''s not stupid." "Wasn''t he already stupid to begin with?" "Don''t talk nonsense!"

    With all the noise around him, Wei Wuxian said, "Be quiet, my head is spinning."

    They immediately fell silent. Wei Wuxian lowered his head and reached into the coffin, gently parting the neat collar of Xiao Xingchen''s Daoist robe. Sure enough, he saw a thin scar at the fatal spot on his neck.

    Wei Wuxian sighed inwardly and said to A-Qing, "Thank you for your efforts."

    The reason A-Qing''s ghost was blind but didn''t move with the caution typical of blind people was that she had only become truly blind in the moment before her death. Before that, she had always been a lively, agile girl who moved like the wind.

    For all these years, she had been hiding alone in the mist-filled Yi City, appearing and disappearing mysteriously to oppose Xue Yang, scaring away living people who entered the city, guiding them out, and warning them. It must have taken immense courage and determination.

    A-Qing lay on the edge of the coffin, clasping her hands together and bowing repeatedly to Wei Wuxian. Then she used her bamboo pole as a sword, making the "kill kill kill" gesture she often used when playing around before. Wei Wuxian said, "Don''t worry."

    He turned to the young disciples from various clans and said, "Stay here. The walking corpses in the city won''t come to this funeral parlor. I''ll be back soon."

    Lan Jingyi couldn''t help but ask, "What exactly did you see during the empathy?"

    Wei Wuxian replied, "It''s too long to explain now, I''ll tell you later."

    Jin Ling said, "Can''t you give us a short version? Don''t keep us in suspense!"

    Wei Wuxian said, "Alright, here''s the short version: Xue Yang must die."

    In the blinding demonic mist, A-Qing''s bamboo pole tapped the way forward for him. The man and the ghost moved quickly, swiftly returning to the scene of the fierce battle.

    Lan Wangji and Xue Yang had already taken their fight outside, with the sword lights of Bichen and Jiangzai clashing intensely. Bichen was calm and composed, clearly having the upper hand, while Jiangzai was as wild as a mad dog, barely managing to hold its ground. However, the white mist was terrifying, and while Lan Wangji''s vision was impaired, Xue Yang had lived in Yi City for many years and, like A-Qing, knew the roads like the back of his hand even with his eyes closed. As a result, they were at a stalemate. Occasionally, the furious sound of a guqin would resound through the sky, driving back the approaching horde of walking corpses.

    Just as Wei Wuxian was about to pull out his flute, two black figures crashed heavily to the ground in front of him like iron towers. Wen Ning had pinned Song Lan to the ground, and both fierce corpses were choking each other, their joints creaking loudly. Wei Wuxian said, "Hold him down!"

    He quickly bent down and felt for the ends of the two soul-piercing nails in Song Lan''s hair, his heart easing when he found them. These two nails were much thinner than the ones in Wen Ning''s head and made of a different material. It shouldn''t be difficult for Song Lan to regain his original nature. He immediately grasped the pointed ends and slowly began to pull them out. As the foreign objects stirred in his brain, Song Lan''s eyes suddenly widened, and he let out a low growl. Wen Ning increased his grip, barely managing to keep him pinned down. As the soul-piercing nails were removed, Song Lan suddenly went limp like a puppet whose strings had been cut, lying motionless on the ground.

    At that moment, a furious roar echoed across the battlefield: "Give it back to me!"