Chapter 32 Dew—Part Five

This time, Wei WuXian didn’t close his eyes for the entire night. With his eyes open, he managed to survive until the next morning. After feeling the numbness subside and his limbs regain some movement, he calmly took off his clothes under the blanket and threw them under the bed.

Then, he untied Lan WangJi’s belt and managed to pull his shirt halfway open. He had originally wanted to take it off completely, but upon seeing the burn below Lan WangJi’s collarbone, Wei WuXian paused. Remembering the scar from the Discipline Whip on his back, he knew he shouldn’t continue and wanted to pull Lan WangJi’s shirt back. Because of the delay, Lan WangJi seemed to be freezing. He shifted slightly, opening his eyes with a frown.

As soon as his eyes opened, he fell out of bed.

It wasn’t really the elegant HanGuang-Jun’s fault that he wasn’t elegant at all after that shocking incident. Any man who woke up with a hangover the next morning, saw another man lying next to him with nothing on and his own shirt only half-unbuttoned, and then found the two of them cuddling in the same bedsheets, wouldn’t consider himself elegant.

Wei WuXian covered part of his chest with the blanket, leaving only his shoulders bare. Lan WangJi, “You…”

Wei WuXian hummed, “Hmm?”

Lan WangJi, “Last night, I…”

Wei WuXian blinked his left eye at Lan WangJi and smiled mysteriously, propping his chin up with one hand, “You were very bold last night, Han GuangJun.”

“…”

Wei WuXian, “Do you really not remember anything about what happened last night?”

It seemed like Lan Wangji truly didn’t remember. His face was as pale as snow.

It was a good thing he didn’t remember. Otherwise, if Lan WangJi still remembered that he had sneaked out to call Wen Ning that night and asked about it, neither lying nor telling the truth would have improved matters.

After so many failed attempts at seducing Lan WangJi and lifting a rock only to have it fall on his own foot, Wei WuXian finally rediscovered his former abilities. Although he wanted to continue his successful pursuits, Wei WuXian still wanted to lure Lan WangJi into drinking again in the future, so perhaps he should not scar him for life, lest Lan WangJi be more careful next time. Wei WuXian lifted the blanket and revealed the trousers and boots he was still wearing, “What a man! HanGuang-Jun, it was just a joke. I just took off our clothes. Your purity is still there. You are not stained. Don’t worry.”

Lan Wangji remained rooted to the spot and didn’t answer. A crashing sound came from the center of the room.

The voice was quite familiar—this was the second time they had heard it. The Qiankun Pouch that had been on the table began to fidget again, throwing the cups and teapot onto the floor. This time, with all three of them together, the atmosphere was even wilder. Last night, one of them had been completely drunk while the other had been helplessly tortured, so naturally they had forgotten about the duet. Wei WuXian was worried that Lan WangJi would be too shocked and accidentally stab him into the bed on impulse. He hurried, “Serious business. Come, come. Let’s deal with serious business first.”

He wrapped a piece of clothing around his body, jumped out of bed, and reached out toward Lan WangJi, who had just gotten back to his feet. He wanted to help him up, but he felt like ripping his clothes off. Lan WangJi still hadn’t recovered from his shock and took a step back, only to stumble because of something beneath his feet. Looking down, it was Bichen, who had been lying on the ground since last night.

And, at this point, one of the straps holding the pouches came undone. Half of his pale arm had crawled out from the small hole. Wei WuXian reached into Lan WangJi’s half-opened clothes and searched around, taking the flute from Lan WangJi’s arms as he said, “HanGuang-Jun, don’t be afraid, okay? I won’t do anything to you. It’s just that you took my flute last night. I need to get it back.” After that comment, he even thoughtfully pulled Lan WangJi back by the collar and tied his belt properly.

Lan WangJi looked at him with a complicated expression, as if he really wanted to ask about the details of what happened after he got drunk. However, he was used to finishing important tasks first, so, holding back his question, he put on a serious expression and took out a seven-string guqin. Of the three Qiankun Pouches, one held the left arm, one held the legs, and the last held the torso. These three parts could already form a large part of a body. They influenced the others, and the resentful energy multiplied, making them even more difficult to deal with than before. The unease only subsided after the two of them played  Rest  three times in a row. 

Wei WuXian put away his flute. He was about to gather up the body parts that had rolled onto the ground when he suddenly commented, “Our good friend hasn’t skipped his practice.”

The belt of his funeral robe had loosened. His collar was open, revealing the strong, muscular physique of a man at the peak of his career. With broad shoulders and a slim waist, coupled with sharply defined abdominal muscles, his masculine figure was the dream of many men. Staring at him from all sides, Wei WuXian couldn’t help but punch him in the stomach a few times, “HanGuang-Jun, look at him. If he were still alive and I hit him, the impact would definitely rebound and injure me. How could he possibly train?”

Lan WangJi’s eyebrows twitched, but he said nothing. Unexpectedly, however, Wei WuXian punched him twice more. Lan WangJi finally took over the Qiankun Pouch, his face remaining expressionless, and silently began sealing the corpses. Wei WuXian immediately made way for him. Soon, Lan WangJi finished resealing all the body parts and even tied a few knots around each one. Wei WuXian didn’t think much of it. He looked down at his current body, raised his eyebrows, and retied his belt, appearing to be dressed neatly.

Turning his head to the side, he saw Lan WangJi still glancing at him after he put away the Qiankun Pouch, his eyes full of doubt. Wei WuXian deliberately spoke, “HanGuang-Jun, why are you looking at me like this? Are you still worried? Trust me. I really didn’t do anything to you last night. Of course, you didn’t do anything to me either.”

Lan WangJi thought for a moment. As if finally making up his mind, he lowered his voice, “Last night, besides taking your flute, I…”

Wei WuXian, “You? What else did you do? Nothing much. You just talked a lot.”

The Adam’s apple on Lan WangJi’s snow-colored neck moved slightly, “…What kind of things?”

Wei WuXian, “It’s not too important. More or less, mnn, for example, you really like…”

Lan WangJi’s gaze froze.

Wei WuXian, “You really like rabbits.”

“…”

Lan WangJi closed his eyes and turned his head to the side. Wei WuXian added thoughtfully, “It’s okay! Rabbits are cute—who doesn’t like rabbits? I like them too, I mean, I like eating them hahahahahaha! Here, HanGuang-Jun. You drank a lot last night… Uh, not really. You were pretty drunk last night, so you’re probably feeling a bit under the weather right now. You can wash your face, drink some water, and then rest a bit before we set off again. This time, we’ll head southwest. I’ll go buy breakfast downstairs and won’t bother you anymore.”

As he was about to leave, Lan WangJi spoke coldly, “Wait.”

Wei WuXian turned around, “What?”

Lan WangJi stared at him intently. Finally, he asked, “Do you have any money?”

Wei WuXian grinned, “Yeah! You don’t think I don’t know where you keep your money, do you? I’ll prepare breakfast for you too, okay? HanGuang-Jun, you can relax. We’re not in a rush.”

He left the room and closed the door behind him. In the hallway, he bent down and laughed silently for a long time.

Lan WangJi looked as if he had just received a huge shock. He locked himself in his room and didn’t come out for a long time. While waiting, Wei WuXian leisurely walked down the stairs, left the inn, and strolled around the area, buying some snacks along the way. He sat on the steps and basked in the sun while eating. After sitting there for a while, a group of thirteen to fourteen-year-olds ran across the street.

The child in front ran as if flying, holding a long string. At the end of the string, a kite danced in the air. The children behind him held toy bows and arrows, shouting as they chased and shot the kite.

Wei WuXian also enjoyed playing this game when he was young. Archery was a compulsory skill for all disciples of reputable sects. However, most of them didn’t enjoy shooting targets accurately. Aside from shooting evil creatures during nighttime hunts, shooting kites was their favorite pastime. Everyone had one; whoever flew the highest, farthest, and shot the most accurately was the winner. This game was initially popular only among the young disciples of the cultivation sects. After it became public knowledge, children from ordinary families also took to it, though, of course, the damage from one of their small arrows was nothing compared to the arrows of skilled disciples.

In the past, when Wei WuXian lived at Lotus Pier and played kites with the Jiang Sect disciples, he often won first place. Jiang Cheng, on the other hand, always came in second. His kites were either too far to shoot down, or too close to shoot, but never as far as Wei WuXian’s. Their kites were almost twice the size of everyone else’s, made to resemble flying creatures. They had bright, eye-catching colors, large, gaping mouths, and several sharp tails that fluttered in the wind. From a distance, the kites looked very lifelike and vibrant, not too scary, but rather silly. Jiang FengMian had personally assembled the frames, then given them to Jiang YanLi to paint. Therefore, every time they brought the kites to competitions, they both felt proud.

Thinking of this, Wei WuXian’s lips curled into a smile. He couldn’t help but look up at the kite the children were flying. It was golden in color, a sort of round lump. He pondered,  What is this? A piece of pancake? Or some unknown beast?

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew. The kite wasn’t very high and wasn’t in an open area, so it immediately fell. A child shouted, “Oh no, the sun is setting!”

Wei WuXian immediately understood. These kids were probably playing a game imitating the Sunshot Campaign.

They were in the Yueyang region. When the QishanWen Sect was at its peak, they abused their power everywhere. And, since Yueyang was not far from Qishan, the people here must have suffered greatly, whether from being harassed by their own unleashed beasts or oppressed by their own arrogant cultivators. After the Sunshot Campaign, the Wen Sect was destroyed by the combined might of the other sects, its centuries-old foundation crumbling. Around the Qishan region, many places held activities to celebrate the Wen Sect’s demise, almost becoming a tradition. This game was probably one of them.

The children stopped chasing and, gathering together thoughtfully, began to discuss, “What should we do? We haven’t even shot the sun, and it’s setting on its own. Now who’s the leader?”

Someone raised their hand, “Of course! I’m Jin GuangYao. I killed the great villain of the Wen Sect!”

Sitting on the steps leading to the inn, Wei WuXian watched them with interest.

In a game like this, the leader of all cultivators, LianFang-Zun, who was currently the most successful, was naturally the most popular character. Although his family background was somewhat embarrassing, the fact that he later rose to such a rank was precisely why people respected him. During the Sunshot Campaign, he skillfully worked undercover for the QishanWen Sect, deceiving everyone in the Wen Sect until a large amount of information was revealed, yet they knew nothing. After the Sunshot Campaign, through flattery, intelligence, and various other methods, he finally became the Chief Cultivator, fully deserving of the title. Such a life could even be considered legendary. If he were to play, he would also want to try to become Jin GuangYao. Choosing this child to be the leader was a very sensible choice!

Another protested, “But I’m Nie MingJue! I’ve won the most battles and captured the most people. I should be the leader!”

“Jin GuangYao”, “But I am the Head Cultivator!”

“Nie MingJue” raised his fist, “So what if you’re the Head Cultivator? You’re still my youngest brother. Besides, you have to run away every time you see me.”

“Jin GuangYao” was indeed cooperative and maintained his character. Shrugging, he quickly ran away. Someone else said, “You short-lived idiot.”

Choosing a cultivator definitely meant they admired him. “Nie MingJue” raged, “Jin ZiXuan, you died earlier than me, so your lifespan is shorter!”

“Jin ZiXuan” replied defensively, “What’s wrong with being short-lived? I’m ranked third.”

“Even though you are the third, there is only your face!”

One of the children seemed tired from running and stood up. He moved to the stairs and sat down beside Wei WuXian. Waving his hand, he intervened between the two, “Okay, okay. Let’s stop fighting. I’m the YiLing Patriarch, so I’m the strongest. So, if you insist, I can be the leader.”

Wei WuXian, “…”

He looked down. Sure enough, there was a small wooden stick stuck in the boy’s waist, probably Chenqing.

Only simple-minded children like this would be willing to become the YiLing Patriarch, only discussing in terms of power, not whether he was good or evil. 

Someone interrupted, “No. I am  SanDu ShengShou  . I am the strongest.”

“Patriarch YiLing” replied as if he understood everything, “Jiang Cheng, how could you possibly be better than me? Have you ever lost to me even once? How dare you claim to be the strongest? Have you no shame?”

“Jiang Cheng”, “Hmph, I can’t be better than you? Do you remember how you died?”

The faint smile on Wei WuXian’s face instantly vanished.

It felt like he had been suddenly stabbed with a poisoned needle. A faint, sharp pain spread throughout his body.

The “YiLing Patriarch” sitting beside him clapped his hands, “Look at me! Chenqing on my left, Tiger Seal on my right, with the Ghost General—I’m invincible! Hahahaha…” Holding a staff in his left hand and a stone in his right, he laughed for a long time, “Where’s Wen Ning? Come out!” A child from behind the crowd raised his hand and replied weakly, “I’m here… Uh… I’m just saying… During the Sunshot Campaign, I wasn’t dead…”

Wei WuXian felt that he really needed to interrupt.

He asked, “Cultivators, may I ask you a question?”

When children played, no adults ever intervened. Besides, this wasn’t a scolding, but a serious question. “Patriarch YiLing” looked at him with both surprise and caution. “What do you want to ask?”

Wei WuXian, “Why is there no one from the GusuLan Sect?”

“There is.”

“Where are they?”

“Patriarch YiLing” pointed to a child who hadn’t said anything from beginning to end, “That’s him.”

Wei WuXian turned around. The boy had delicate features, like the seeds of a charming, handsome man. A white string wrapped around his smooth forehead instead of a forehead ribbon. Wei WuXian asked, “Who is he?”

“The YiLing Patriarch” pouted in a disdainful tone, “Lan WangJi.”

…Okay. These kids get the point. Someone who plays Lan WangJi should really keep his mouth shut and be quiet!

Suddenly, Wei WuXian’s lips curved upwards again.

The poisoned needle had been removed and thrown into a corner. All the pain was instantly erased. Wei WuXian muttered to himself, “How strange. Why can someone as boring as him always make me so happy?”

When Lan WangJi came down, he saw Wei WuXian sitting on the stairs. A group of children sat around him, eating steamed buns together. Wei WuXian ate his bun while directing two children who were standing with their backs to him, “… Right now, in front of you, there are thousands of Wen Sect cultivators. They are all fully armed and have surrounded you so tightly that not even a drop of water will leak through. Your eyes should be sharper. Yes, that’s it. Okay, Lan WangJi, pay attention. You’re not like usual. You’re covered in blood! There’s so much killing intent! You look so scary! Wei WuXian, come closer to him. Do you know how to play the flute? Let me see you play it, with just one hand. It’s cooler. Do you know how to look cool? Come, I’ll show you.” “Wei WuXian” replied and handed him the small stick. Wei WuXian deftly twirled “Chenqing” between his fingers, causing all the children to crowd around him in awe.

Lan WangJi, “…”

He walked silently. Seeing him there, Wei WuXian dusted off his pants and bid the children farewell. Finally managing to stand, he laughed as he walked, as if he had drunk some strange poison.

Lan WangJi, “…”

Wei WuXian, “Hahahahahahaha, I’m sorry, HanGuang-Jun. I’ve already given them all the breakfast I bought for you. Let’s go buy some more later.”

Lan WangJi, “Mnn.”

Wei WuXian, “What do you think? Are those two kids cute? Guess who’s pretending to be cute with the rope on their forehead, hahahaha…”

After a long silence, Lan WangJi finally couldn’t hold it in any longer, “… What else did I do last night?”

It’s definitely not that simple. Otherwise, what could possibly make Wei WuXian laugh so much???

Wei WuXian quickly waved his hand, “No, no, no. You didn’t do anything. I was just joking, hahahahahaha… Okay. Ahem. HanGuang-Jun, I’ll talk seriously now.”

Lan WangJi, “Speak.”

Wei WuXian kept a straight face, “The sound of coffins slamming in the Chang Clan cemetery has been silent for ten years. Suddenly, it’s no coincidence. There must be another reason.”

Lan WangJi, “What do you think is the cause?”

Wei WuXian, “Good question. I think the cause is the corpse being exhumed.”

Lan WangJi, “Mnn.”

His expression was so full of concern that it reminded Wei WuXian of how sincere he had been when he held her fingers last night, drunk. Holding back a laugh, Wei WuXian continued seriously, “I think the dismemberment of the corpse might not have been simply for revenge and venting hatred, but rather a sinister means of oppression. The person who dismembered the corpse deliberately chose places haunted by evil beings to place the body parts.”

Lan WangJi, “Fight poison with poison. They balance and control each other.”

Wei WuXian, “That’s right. So, ever since the gravedigger dug up the body yesterday, there’s been no one to calm the Chang Clan’s anger, so the sound of coffins slamming has been heard again. This is just like how the QingheNie Sect’s Sword Hall suppresses the sword spirits and the corpses on the wall. Perhaps, this technique originated from the Nie Sect’s Sword Hall. It seems like this person is connected to the QingheNie Sect and the GusuLan Sect. They’re not easy opponents, it seems.”

Lan WangJi, “There are only a few people like this.”

Wei WuXian, “Yes. The truth is slowly coming to light. And since the enemy has already begun moving the corpses, it means they are getting anxious. They will definitely make another move soon. Even if we don’t look for them, they will come and find us. As they search, they will surely leave more clues. And our friend’s hand will also tell us where to go. But we might need to move faster too. Only the right hand and the head are left. After this, we must arrive before they do.”

The two of them walked southwest. This time, the ghost’s hand pointed to Shudong, a place known for its thick fog.

It was a haunted town that no local resident dared to approach.

Translator’s Notes

SanDu ShengShou  : This is Jiang Cheng’s title. See the Character and Sect Guide for more details.