Chapter 75: Distance—Part Two

The three of them hurried toward Burial Mound. As the black peak pierced the clouds, Wei WuXian grew increasingly anxious.

The roars of ferocious corpses came from the dark forest in the distance. Not just one, but a group. Lan WangJi formed a sword seal with his hands, and Bichen immediately flew even faster, though still stable.

As soon as they landed, the two saw a shadow dart out from the forest, screaming as it threw itself at someone. Bichen cut it in half with a single slash. The person lying on the ground was pale. Upon seeing Wei WuXian, he shouted, “Young Master Wei!”

Wei WuXian threw the amulet, “Uncle Four, what’s wrong?”

Uncle Four, “All… All the ferocious corpses in the Demon-Slaying Cave come out!”

Wei WuXian, “Didn’t I set up a restriction seal? Who touched it?!”

Uncle Four, “It’s no one! It’s… It’s…”

Suddenly, a scream was heard from in front of them. It was a woman’s voice, “A-Ning!”

Within the forest, about a dozen Wen Sect cultivators stood before a figure—Wen Ning, with a pair of eerie white pupils. Not much of the talisman that once covered his entire body remained. In his hands, he dragged two more ferocious corpses, which he had torn to pieces, black blood flowing from what were almost two sets of skeletons. Wen Ning was still beating them, as if he wouldn’t stop until they were reduced to dust. The one standing in front of the group, holding a sword, was Wen Qing. 

Wei WuXian, “Didn’t I tell you not to touch the talisman?!”

Wen Qing didn’t even have time to be surprised to see Lan WangJi here. She replied, “No one touched him! No one entered the Cave! He tore it apart himself in a sudden rage. Not only did he break the seals on his body, he also destroyed the seals on the blood pool and the Cave! All the ferocious corpses in the blood pool came out. Wei WuXian, save Grandmother and the others. They won’t be able to hold out much longer!”

As they were talking, a strange hissing sound could be heard from above. The group looked up and saw several ferocious corpses climbing up the tree. They coiled around the treetop like snakes, growling with disgusting mucus dripping from between their teeth. When Wen Ning looked up, he saw them too. He threw aside the crushed branch in his hand and immediately jumped up the tree!

The tree was at least twenty meters tall. Being able to jump straight to that height was an indicator of incredible explosive power. As soon as Wen Ning climbed the tree, he tore the corpses to shreds, limbs flying everywhere and blood splattering onto the ground. He still wasn’t satisfied, and he went to the other side. 

Wei WuXian menarik Chenqing, “Lan…!” 

He wanted to entrust Lan WangJi to save the others while he stayed behind to take care of Wen Ning. When he turned around, he saw that he had already disappeared. Just as he was starting to panic, the sound of a zither rang through the sky, causing the startled crows to scatter. Before he could ask, Lan WangJi was gone. Wei WuXian felt his heart settle. Bringing Chenqing to his lips, he let out a long note. Wen Ning’s body, which had landed on the ground, paused for a moment. 

Wei WuXian seized the opportunity, “Wen Ning! Do you still remember me?!”

On the other side, the zither sounded three times before falling silent, meaning Lan WangJi was able to control the ferocious corpses with just three notes. Wen Ning bent his body slightly, a deep growl escaping his throat. He was like a wary beast, ready to attack at any moment. Just as Wei WuXian was about to play his flute again, he suddenly realized that Wen Yuan was still hugging his leg tightly, too afraid to make a sound. He had forgotten about it all this time!

He immediately picked up Wen Yuan and threw him towards Wen Qing, “Take him away!”

At this point, Wen Ning pounced on him.

As if struck by a boulder, Wei WuXian was thrown backward, crashing into a tree. He felt a warmth rise to his throat and cursed. Lan WangJi saw this scene just as he returned. His expression immediately changed and he rushed over. Wen Qing had just pushed Wen Yuan into someone else’s arms. She wanted to check on Wei WuXian’s injuries, but Wei WuXian had already done so. She stopped in surprise. Lan WangJi was about to embrace Wei WuXian as he held his hand and channeled spiritual energy into him. 

Wen Qing rushed over, “Let him go first—no need! Let me do it! I’m Wen Qing!”

Wen Qing of Qishan was one of the best medics. Lan WangJi finally stopped giving Wei WuXian spiritual energy and allowed Wen Qing to examine his condition, though his hand still refused to let go. However, Wei WuXian pushed him aside, “Don’t let him go!”

After Wen Ning wounded him, he descended the mountain with his arms hanging down. It was there that the other Wen Sect cultivators hid from the ferocious corpses. Wen Qing ran over, shouting, “Run! Everyone, run! He’s coming your way!”

Wei WuXian managed to break free from Lan WangJi’s grip and forced himself to chase after Wen Ning. Lan WangJi followed him again, “Where’s your sword?”

Wei WuXian took out twelve talismans, “Don’t know where I put them!”

Twelve yellow talismans formed a line in the air and began to burn. When they landed on Wen Ning, like a chain of fire, they immediately restrained him. With a flick of his hand, Lan WangJi plucked the strings of his zither. Wen Ning’s footsteps seemed to be blocked by invisible threads. He paused for a moment, but continued to struggle forward despite the difficulty. Wei WuXian pressed Chenqing to his lips. From the blow, blood spurted from his lips. He frowned, but he endured the pain and the churning blood in his chest, playing without the slightest tremor.

Thanks to the cooperation of the two, Wen Ning knelt on the ground and roared to the sky. The leaves in the forest swayed back and forth. Wei WuXian finally couldn’t hold it in anymore and coughed up blood.

Wangji’s voice suddenly became louder. Wen Ning roared, his arms wrapped around Wangji’s head, and he curled up on the ground. 

Wen Qing wailed, “A-Ning! A-Ning!” 

He was about to rush when Wei WuXian stopped him, “Be careful!”

Seeing her younger brother in such agony, accompanied by the sound of the zither, Wen Qing felt a pang in her heart. Although she knew that if she didn’t take drastic measures to address her younger brother’s current situation, she would undoubtedly bring harm. However, she couldn’t help but feel pity for Wen Ning, “HanGuang-Jun, don’t be too hard on him!”

Wei WuXian, “Lan Zhan! A little gentler-…”

“… Young Master…”

Wei WuXian suddenly froze, “Wait a minute?”

He shouted, “Lan Zhan, can you stop first?!”

The voice came from Wen Ning.

Lan WangJi pressed his fingers against the strings, stopping the vibrations. Wei WuXian, “Wen Ning?!”

Wen Ning tried to lift his head.

In his eyes there was no longer the terrifying white, but instead… a pair of black pupils!

Wen Ning opened his mouth, then continued, “… Young Master… Wei…?”

He felt like he was squeezing the words out one by one, almost biting his tongue. But they were human words, not meaningless roars.

Wen Qing froze. A second later, screaming, she threw herself at him, howling, “A-Ning!”

Both of them were taken aback by the force. Wen Ning, “Brother… -ter…”

Wen Qing hugged her little brother. Crying and laughing, she buried her head in his arms, “It’s me! It’s your little brother, it’s your little brother! A-Ning!”

He called Wen Ning’s name over and over again. The other cultivators seemed to want to jump in too, but they didn’t dare. They hugged each other amidst the chaos, screaming and laughing together. 

Uncle Four jumped down the mountain, cheering, “Everything’s fine! It’s done! It’s done! A-Ning’s awake! …”

Wei WuXian walked over and crouched down beside Wen Ning, “How are you feeling now?”

Wen Ning lay on the ground, face down, his neck and limbs still a bit stiff. “I… I…” He stammered for a moment before finally saying, “… I want to cry, but I can’t. What’s wrong…”

After a moment of silence, Wei WuXian patted his shoulder, “You remember, right? You’re dead.”

When he confirmed that Wen Ning had truly woken up, Wei WuXian let out a long sigh of relief in his heart.

He managed to do it.

Back then, due to a moment of impulse and anger, he had turned Wen Ning into a vicious and lowly living corpse. Although he was able to get Wen Ning to identify the inspector who killed him and tear them apart, when Wen Qing woke up and had to face his younger brother who didn’t recognize him at all and could only bite and bark like a mad dog, fed on flesh and blood, it was even more painful for him.

After calming down, Wei WuXian solemnly promised that he had a way to bring Wen Ning back to his senses. However, no one knew that he was only bragging to try to calm Wen Qing down. In truth, he had little confidence in himself and could only use his best efforts.

With hard days and sleepless nights, he actually managed to keep his promise.

Wen Qing cradled Wen Ning’s pale face, tears streaming down her cheeks. In the end, she couldn’t hold back her tears, just as she had when she saw Wen Ning’s body.

Wen Ning stroked his back with his stiff arm. More and more of the Wen Sect’s people came up the mountain, either rushing over and joining the weeping crowd or gazing respectfully and gratefully at Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi.

Wei WuXian knew that the two siblings had a lot to talk about. Wen Qing certainly didn’t want anyone to see her sobbing face either. He turned around, “Lan Zhan.”

Lan WangJi looked at him. Wei WuXian, “You’re here, so why don’t you just sit inside?”

The two of them walked towards a cave in the mountain, which was surrounded by cold wind.

Lan WangJi, “Demon-Slaying Cave?”

Wei WuXian, “That’s right. I came up with the name. How was it?”

Lan WangJi didn’t say anything.

Wei WuXian, “I know. In your heart, you must be saying ‘not so good.’ After the news spread, I also read some comments saying that I was someone who cultivated the demonic path from the beginning—I’m a demon myself, so how could I be so shameless as to call my lair the Demon-Slaying Cave?”

Lan WangJi didn’t comment. The two of them had already entered the cave. Wei WuXian’s laughter echoed off the empty walls, “But in reality, they’re all wrong. What I truly mean by this name is not at all what they interpreted it to be.”

Lan WangJi, “Why?”

Wei WuXian, “It’s simple. I often sleep like I’m dead in this cave. The cave that kills demons through sleep—isn’t it the Demon-Slaying Cave?”

Lan WangJi, “…”

The two of them entered the main area. Lan WangJi asked, “Then what about the blood pool?”

Wei WuXian pointed to a pool of water in the cave, “The pool of blood is here.”

The cave was dimly lit, making it difficult to tell whether the water was black or red. It smelled like blood, somewhere between light and strong.

Originally, the pool was surrounded by a perimeter fence, though Wen Ning had destroyed it. Wei WuXian reinstalled it and tied it up.

Lan WangJi, “Dark energy is dense.”

Wei WuXian, “That’s right. The dark energy is very strong, perfect for nurturing dark creatures. This is where I used to ‘nurture’ the unfinished corpses of the vicious beasts. Guess how many there are at the bottom?” He smiled, “To be honest, I don’t know the exact number either. But the water in the pond is getting more and more bloody.”

Whether it was the lighting or not, Wei WuXian’s complexion looked extremely pale. His smile also looked sinister. Lan WangJi looked at him calmly, “Wei Ying.”

Wei WuXian, “Apa?”

Lan WangJi, “Can you really control it?”

Wei WuXian, “Control what? You mean Wen Ning? Of course I can. Look, he’s regained consciousness.” Wei WuXian boasted, “A ferocious corpse like no other.”

Lan WangJi, “What will you do if he loses consciousness again?”

Wei WuXian, “I’ve had experience dealing with him when he’s unconscious. I’m the one controlling him. As long as nothing happens to me, nothing will happen to him either.”

After a moment of silence, Lan WangJi asked, “But what if something happens to you?”

Wei WuXian, “No way.”

Lan WangJi, “How can you be so sure?”

Wei WuXian’s voice was firm, “I won’t, and I can’t.”

Lan WangJi, “Do you intend to stay like this from now on?”

Wei WuXian, “What’s wrong with staying like this? Isn’t my place good enough for you? This mountain is even bigger than the Cloud Recesses. Our food here is also much better.”

“Wei Ying,” Lan WangJi said, “You know what I mean.”

“…” Wei WuXian replied reluctantly, “Lan Zhan, you… are truly amazing. I changed the subject, and you just brought it back.”

Suddenly, he felt his throat itch. Blood began to rise to his chest. Trying to hold it in, Wei WuXian coughed a few times. Seeing Lan WangJi about to grab his hand again, Wei WuXian dodged, “What are you doing?”

Lan WangJi, “Your injury.”

Wei WuXian, “No need. Why use spiritual energy for such a small wound? It’ll heal after just sitting around.”

Lan WangJi didn’t waste his words, reaching out for her hand again. Just then, two people came from outside the cave. Wen Qing’s voice rang out, “Are you feeling better after just sitting around? Did you think I was dead?”

Wen Ning followed behind, holding a tea tray. Wen Ning’s complexion was deathly pale. The scars of a spell that hadn’t been completely erased were still visible on his neck. It was Wen Yuan who had been holding onto Wen Ning’s leg. As soon as he entered, he stumbled toward Wen WuXian and hung onto his leg. Seeing Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi staring at him simultaneously, Wen Ning lifted the corners of his lips, as if trying to smile. However, the muscles in his face were numb. He couldn’t move. 

He could only greet them, “Young Master Wei… Young Master Lan.”

Wei WuXian lifted his leg and lifted Wen Yuan, swinging him in the air, “Why are you here? You finished crying so quickly?”

Wen Qing threatened, “Just watch and I’ll make you cry!” Even though she said that, her voice still sounded nasal. 

Wei WuXian, “What a joke! How could you make me… Ah!!!”

Wen Qing walked up to him and slapped him hard on the back, so hard that Wei WuXian coughed up blood. Her face was full of disbelief, “You… You’re so cruel…”

After he finished, he closed his eyes and fainted. Lan WangJi’s face paled as he tried to catch him, “Wei Ying!”

However, Wen Qing showed three silver needles, while scolding, “I have more cruel things that you haven’t seen. Get up!”

As if nothing had happened, Wei WuXian got up from Lan WangJi’s embrace, wiping away the blood on his mouth, “Please don’t. The cruelest thing is a woman’s heart. I don’t want to see that.”

It turned out that Wen Qing’s slap had only drawn blood that had clogged his chest. How could the renowned physician of Qishan be so reckless? Realizing that it was just another joke, Lan WangJi flung his sleeves roughly and turned away, as if he didn’t want to talk to such a ridiculous person anymore. Wen Ning had just woken up, his reactions still slower than the others. When he saw Wei WuXian coughing up blood, he was shocked, but now he remembered that he had injured Wei WuXian while he was still unconscious. 

He spoke guiltily, “Young Master, I am sorry…”

Wei WuXian waved his hand, “Enough, enough. Do you really think anything will happen to me with a punch like that?”

Wen Qing watched Lan WangJi’s expression with her black eyes, “HanGuang-Jun, would you please sit down?”

Wei WuXian finally realized. So, that was why he felt like he was forgetting something. Lan Zhan had been here for a long time, and he hadn’t sat down yet. However, the only things he could sit on in the cave were a few stone beds, and strange objects were scattered on each bed, from flags and swords to boxes and blood-stained bandages to uneaten fruit. The sight was almost painful to look at.

Wei WuXian, “But there’s no place to sit here, right?”

Wen Qing was indifferent, “Of course there is.” After finishing, she swept the things on one of the stone beds to the ground, without showing any mercy at all, “Look, now there’s a place to sit, right?”

Wei WuXian terkejut, “Hei!”

Wen Ning said, “Yes, Young Master Lan, please sit down and have some tea…” As he spoke, he moved the tray in his hands a little closer to Lan WangJi. Two teacups, which had been washed to the brim, were placed on the tray. 

However, Wei WuXian only glanced at them before complaining, “So dull. Asking guests for water—there aren’t even any tea leaves here!”

Wen Ning, “I asked, and they said they didn’t have any. Uncle Four said they don’t keep any tea leaves…”

Wei WuXian picked up one of the cups and took a sip. “This doesn’t feel right. Save some for the next guest.” He only found it funny after he said it. How could there be a second chance, and how could there be another guest?

Wen Qing, “So you still have the face to talk about it. Just look at what useless things you bought, several times you were asked to go shopping in the mountains. Where are the radish seeds I asked you to buy today?”

Wei WuXian, “What useless things did I buy? I went to buy toys for A-Yuan, right, A-Yuan?”

However, Wen Yuan was completely unwilling to cooperate, “Brother Xian is lying. The other brother bought it for me.”

Wei WuXian grumbled, “How could this happen?”

Laughter had just begun to fill the Demon-Slaying Cave when Lan WangJi turned around without a word and began walking out of the cave.

Wen Qing dan Wen Ning terdiam karena terkejut. Wei WuXian, “Lan Zhan?”

Lan WangJi’s steps were hesitant. No emotion radiated from his tone, “It’s time for me to return.”

He walked out of the Demon-Slaying Cave without looking back. Wen Ning began to panic again, as if he felt it was his fault. Wen Yuan rushed over, “Big Brother!”

With her short legs, she tried to chase after him. Wei WuXian immediately caught her and hugged her, “Wait for me here.”

He walked three steps in two strides and caught up to Lan WangJi, “Are you going? I’ll see you off.”

Lan WangJi remained silent.

Under Wei WuXian’s arm, Wen Yuan stared at him, “Brother, you won’t eat here?”

Lan Wangji glanced at him, then reached out and gently stroked the man’s head.

Wen Yuan thought he was going to stay. Her face lit up, and she whispered, “A-Yuan heard a secret. He said there would be lots of delicious food today…”

Wei WuXian, “This brother has food waiting for him at his own home. He won’t be staying.”

Wen Yuan replied with “oh”. Disappointment was evident on his face. His head was bowed and he said nothing more.

The two of them, with the child cradled under their arm, walked in silence for a while until they reached the foot of the Burial Mound. They stopped in unison. Neither of them spoke.

A moment later, Wei WuXian spoke up, “Lan Zhan, you asked me if I intend to stay like this from now on. To be honest, I have something to ask you as well. What else can I do besides this?”

He continued, “Abandoning the devil’s path? Then what about the people on this mountain?

“Hand them over? I wouldn’t be able to do it. I don’t think you would be able to do it if you were me.”

He continued, “No one can give me a wide and beautiful path to walk. A path where I can protect those I want to protect without having to tread the path of the supernatural.”

Lan Wangji stared at him. He didn’t answer, but both of them knew the answer deep down.

There is no such way.

There is no solution.

Wei WuXian spoke slowly, “Thank you for accompanying me today. Thank you for telling me about my shijie’s wedding. But, let me judge right from wrong, let others decide whether to praise or blame, and let the pros and cons remain undisclosed. I also know what I should and shouldn’t do. I’m confident I can handle it.”

As if he had anticipated such an attitude long ago, Lan WangJi nodded slightly and closed his eyes.

And that marked their farewell.

On the way back up the mountain, Wei WuXian finally realized that he was the one who had promised to treat Lan WangJi to a meal, but in the end, the two of them parted on less-than-pleasant terms. Needless to say, he also forgot to pay for the meal.

Wei WuXian thought,  Well, Lan Zhan is rich. It wouldn’t be a big deal if he paid me again. Anyway, he still has money, right? It must have been spent just on a few children’s toys. If I’m unlucky, I’ll just treat him another time… How could there be a next time?

Come to think of it, for some reason, he and Lan Wangji always ended up on bad terms every time they met. Maybe they were just meant to be friends.

But, it seems like there will be no more opportunities for them to try to be friends with each other in the future.

Wen Yuan held it in one hand and a wooden sword in the other, wearing a grass butterfly on his head, “Brother Xian, will Brother Rich come here again?”

Wei WuXian exclaimed, “Who is Brother Rich?”

Wen Yuan replied seriously, “That rich brother is Rich Brother.”

Wei WuXian, “Then what about me?”

As expected, Wen Yuan replied, “You are Brother Xian. Brother Poor.”

Wei WuXian glared at him and snatched the butterfly, “What, you like him just because he has money?”

Wen Yuan stood on tiptoes to reach for it, “Give it back… He bought it for me!”

Wei WuXian was truly ridiculous. He could have so much fun just by teasing a child, putting a butterfly on his own head. “I don’t want to. You even call him dad. What do you call me? You only call me big brother, a generation younger than him!”

Wen Yuan gasped, “I didn’t call him father!”

Wei WuXian, “I heard. I don’t care, I want to be someone higher than my brother and father in terms of seniority. What should you call me?”

Wen Yuan pouted, “But… But A-Yuan won’t call you Mom… That’s so weird…”

Wei WuXian exploded again, “Who told you to call me Mother? The one with more seniority than Brother and Father is Grandpa—you don’t even know this? Do you really like him? You should have said so earlier. If you had, I would have asked him to take you away earlier. His sect is rich, but very scary. He’ll take you back, lock you inside, and make you copy scriptures all day. Are you afraid?!”

Wen Yuan immediately shook her head, whispering, “… I won’t go… I still want Grandma.”

Wei WuXian pressed, “You want Grandma, but not me?”

Wen Yuan was delighted, “I want one. I want Brother Xian too.” She played with her fingers, counting them one by one, “And I want Brother Rich, Sister A-Qing, Sister Ning, Uncle Four, Uncle Six…”

Wei WuXian threw the butterfly back onto his head, “Enough, enough. I’m going to drown among all the people.”

Wen Yuan hurriedly put the grass butterfly back into his pocket, afraid that Wei WuXian would snatch it away again. He asked once more, “Is Brother Rich coming back or not?”

Wei WuXian continued to smile.

He only replied a moment later, “He probably won’t come back again.”

Wen Yuan asked in disappointment, “Why?”

Wei WuXian, “There’s no reason. In this world, everyone has their own busy lives, their own paths. He’s already busy enough with his own sect, so how could he possibly have the free time to hang around other people?”

However, they are not on the same path.

Wen Yuan replied with an “oh,” whether he understood or not. He looked very discouraged.

Wei WuXian pulled her into his arms and hummed, “…Who cares about this wide, bustling street? I’ll walk on the single-plank bridge all night… All night! All night! …All night?”

As he hummed the ‘night’ part, he realized it didn’t feel like night at all.

He always climbed the mountain in the dark, but tonight, things were different as he walked home.

The area around the small huts had been swept clean. Even many weeds had been removed. Several red lanterns hung in the forest beside them. They were all handmade. Hanging from the branches, despite their simple circular shape, they emitted a warm glow that illuminated the pitch-dark forest.

Normally, by this time, the fifty or so people would have long since finished eating and would have hidden in their respective huts, the lights off. However, today, they were all gathered inside the largest hut. It was made of eight wooden poles supporting a roof, capable of accommodating everyone. The building next to it was the ‘kitchen’, thus serving as the dining area.

Wei WuXian found this a bit odd. With Wen Yuan in his arms, he walked over, “Why is everyone here today? Aren’t they sleeping? It’s bright out here with all these lanterns.”

Wen Qing came out from the kitchen beside her, holding a plate, “I’ll hang it up for you. We’ll make a few more tomorrow to hang on the mountain path. If you keep rushing around in the dark, sooner or later you’ll slip and break a bone.”

Wei WuXian, “I can still have you here even if my bones are broken, right?”

Wen Qing, “I don’t want to work anymore. I’m not getting paid anyway. If you break it, don’t complain that I’ll break your bones when I put it back in.”

Wei WuXian shivered and crept away. As he entered the hut, everyone made room for him. There were three tables, and on each table were seven or eight plates of steaming hot food. Wei WuXian, “What, no one’s eating yet?”

Wen Qing, “No. We were waiting for you.”

Wei WuXian, “Why were you waiting for me? I was eating outside.”

She realized what she had done as soon as she said it. While thinking, Wen Qing slammed the plate onto the table. The red peppers on the plate bounced violently. She grumbled, “So that’s why you didn’t buy anything. Spent all your money at the restaurant? I only had a few coins, and I gave them all to you. Now see how you spend them!”

Wei WuXian, “No! I don’t…” 

At this moment, Grandma Wen also came out of the kitchen, trembling with a cane in one hand and a plate in the other. Wen Yuan wriggled out of her embrace and ran over to her, “Grandma!”

Wen Qing turned to help, grumbling, “I told you not to disturb them. You don’t have to help. Just sit down. The smoke is too thick in there. Your legs hurt and your hands are shaking. If you fall, we won’t have much left. It’s not easy carrying all this porcelain up the mountain…”

The other Wen Sect cultivators prepared their chopsticks and poured tea, leaving the main seat for him. Hearing this, Wei WuXian could barely take it.

Back then, it wasn’t like he didn’t know that most of the Wen Sect people here were somewhat afraid of him.

They had all heard of his cruel reputation during the Sunshot Campaign, the near-violent ways he vented his anger that were widely discussed. They had witnessed firsthand how he used corpses to kill others as well. In the first few days, Grandma Wen’s legs began to tremble whenever she saw him. Wen Yuan also always hid behind him. They only began to approach him after some time had passed.

And, at that moment, more than fifty pairs of eyes were staring at him. Although fear lingered in those gazes, it was rooted in respect, accompanied by a hint of caution, a hint of ingratiation. Furthermore, the same gratitude and kindness shone in the eyes of the Wen brothers.

Wen Qing’s voice was low, “These past few days, you have worked hard.”

Wei WuXian, “You… You suddenly spoke so nicely to me. I’m scared?”

Wen Qing’s knuckles cracked. Wei WuXian immediately fell silent.

However, Wen Qing continued gently. “… Actually, they all wanted to have dinner with you once, so they could thank you. But you either jumped around, ran around, or shut yourself in the Cave and stayed there for days, not letting anyone disturb you. They didn’t want to hinder your work and disturb you. They thought you didn’t like interacting with others and didn’t want to talk to them, so they were too embarrassed to talk to you. A-Ning woke up today, and Uncle Four said we have to have dinner together no matter what… Even if you ate so much outside that you almost died, come sit with us. It’s okay if you don’t eat. Just sit down, and we can chat and have a drink.”

Wei WuXian froze in shock. His eyes even lit up. “Want a drink? Is there any wine here?”

Several older members of the Wen Sect glanced over nervously. Hearing this, one of them immediately replied, “Yes, yes. There’s wine, there’s wine.” He lifted several sealed bottles from the table and handed them to her. “Fruit wine, made from the wild fruits of this mountain. It has quite a rich flavor!”

Wen Ning crouched down by the table. “Uncle Four also loves to drink. He knows how to make it himself, and he made it especially for today. He’s been trying it for days.”

Because he spoke word by word, his slow speech prevented him from stuttering. Uncle Four smiled sheepishly, still looking at Wei WuXian anxiously. 

Wei WuXian, “Really? Then I have to try it!”

He sat down at the table. Uncle Four hurriedly unsealed the bottle and handed it to him with both hands. Wei WuXian kissed it, “So rich!”

The others sat down with him. Hearing his praise, they all beamed as if receiving the greatest compliment ever, and then began to eat.

This was the first time Wei WuXian couldn’t figure out what the wine tasted like.

He thought,  Walking all night… huh?

Actually it’s not that dark at all.

Suddenly his whole body felt refreshed.

Fifty people crowded around three tables. Chopsticks were scattered everywhere. Sitting on her grandmother’s lap, Wen Yuan showed off her new treasure, demonstrating a fight with two small wooden swords. The old woman grinned so wide that her toothless mouth gaped open. Wei WuXian and the uncle chatted excitedly over the wine they were drinking. Eventually, both agreed that Gusu Emperor’s Smile was the undisputed winner. Walking around in circles, Wen Qing poured wine for the seniors and some of their subordinates. The wine was gone in just a few rounds. 

Wei WuXian, “Why is everything gone? I haven’t eaten anything yet.”

Wen Qing, “There are still a few more bottles. Let’s save them for later. You can rest first.”

Wei WuXian, “How is that possible? They say a good name in death is no match for fine wine in life. Stop talking. A full cup, please.”

Seeing that today was a special occasion, Wen Qing filled him in, “There’s no next time. I really think you should stop drinking. You drink too much.”

Wei WuXian, “It’s not like the Cloud Recesses; why should I stop drinking?”

At the mention of the Cloud Recesses, Wen Qing glanced at Wei WuXian, asking nonchalantly, “I forgot to ask you. You’ve never brought anyone to the Burial Mound before. What’s going on today?”

Wei WuXian, “You mean Lan Zhan? I met him on the street.”

Wei Qing, “You met him? How did you meet him? Did you meet him again?”

Wei WuXian, “That’s right.”

Wen Qing, “What a coincidence. I remember you two met in Yunmeng too.”

Wei WuXian, “There’s nothing special about it. Many cultivators from other sects travel in and out of Yunmeng and Yiling.”

Wen Qing, “I heard you call him by his birth name before. That’s pretty bold, isn’t it?”

Wei WuXian, “He also called me directly by my birth name, right? It’s nothing. We’ve been used to it since we were kids. Neither of us care.”

Wen Qing, “Really? Aren’t you two on bad terms? I heard you two are like ice and fire, fighting every time you meet.”

Wei WuXian, “Don’t believe the rumors. Our relationship was quite bad back then. During the Sunshot Campaign, we did have a fight because of our bad tempers. But after that, things weren’t as bad as the rumors said. We were just normal.”

Wen Qing didn’t say anything else.

The food on the plate quickly ran out. Someone knocked on the bowl while shouting, “A-Ning, please make us some more dishes!”

“Cook a lot. Put it in a bowl!”

“Where can we find a basin to put food in? That’s for washing our faces!”

Wen Ning didn’t need to eat, so he waited near the hut. Hearing this, he replied after a moment of thought, “Oh, of course.”

Seeing an opportunity to show off his skills, Wei WuXian rushed over, “Wait. I’ll do it! I’ll do it, I’ll do it!”

Wen Qing didn’t believe him, “You can cook?”

Wei WuXian raised his eyebrows, “Of course. I can be both host and housewife. Just leave it to me. Just wait.”

Everyone clapped their hands to show their anticipation. However, when Wei WuXian placed two plates on the table, a charming grin on his face, Wen Qing only glanced at him once before saying, “From now on, you guys stay as far away from the kitchen as possible.”

Wei WuXian protested, “Just eat it. We can’t judge a book by its cover. We’ll like it once we taste it. That’s how it should taste.”

Wen Qing, “Taste my ass! Didn’t you see how A-Yuan cried after tasting it? It’s a waste of food. Don’t lift your chopsticks. There’s no need to embarrass him!”

…

In less than three days, nearly all the cultivators learned the terrifying news: Wei WuXian, who had defected from the Jiang Sect and settled in Yiling, had created a supreme-grade ferocious corpse. He was incredibly fast, strong, fearless, and ferocious. Furthermore, his consciousness was preserved, capable of winning every night hunt!

Everyone was shocked: there would be no peace anymore! Wei WuXian would definitely cultivate these vicious corpses on a large scale, in order to establish his own sect to compete with the cultivation world! And many young bloods of today would surely be attracted by his evil and opportunistic path, and come to him one after another. The righteous path of cultivation would have a bleak future—dark times ahead!

However, in reality, after successfully creating a corpse, the greatest benefit Wei WuXian discovered was having a worker who could endure all the hardships of transporting goods up the mountain. Previously, he could only carry a maximum of one crate at a time, but now, Wen Ning could pull a cart full of crates by himself, with Wei WuXian on the cart, swinging his legs in boredom.

But no one believed him. After he became the center of attention during several night hunts, quite a few people came for him, hoping to be accepted by the ‘patriarch’ and become one of his disciples. The once-quiet mountains suddenly became bustling. None of the ferocious corpses Wei WuXian assigned to patrol down the mountain would attack alone. At most, they would charge at the person and roar loudly. No one was hurt, so more and more people gathered at Burial Mound. 

Once, when Wei WuXian saw a long banner that read “May His Holiness the Evil Patriarch YiLing be praised,” a mouthful of fruit wine immediately gushed from his lips. He simply couldn’t take it anymore. He descended the mountain, gladly accepting all the tributes they offered to “honor their wisest sage,” and began using a different mountain path from then on.

One day, he was shopping in Yiling with his workers when a familiar figure suddenly appeared in the alleyway before him. Wei WuXian’s gaze froze. He followed silently. Following the figure, the two arrived at a small courtyard. As soon as they entered, the courtyard door was tightly shut. 

A cold voice sounded, “Get out.”

Jiang Cheng stood behind them. He was the one who closed the door. Those words were addressed to Wen Ning.

Jiang Cheng was someone who held a deep grudge. He was filled with hatred for the QishanWen Sect. He had been unconscious while Wen Qing and Wen Ning were helping him, so he didn’t feel the same way as Wei WuXian. Therefore, he never showed Wen Ning any respect. The last time they fought, he hadn’t shown any mercy either. Seeing that it was him, Wen Ning immediately bowed and left.

A woman stood in the courtyard, wearing a black robe and a bamboo hat with gauze curtains hanging down the sides. Wei WuXian felt his throat tighten, “…Shijie.”

Hearing the footsteps, the woman took off her hat. She also took off her robe. Behind the robe was a dark red wedding dress.

Jiang Yanli was wearing a fine robe, and a bright blush was on her cheeks, adding to the blush on her face. Wei Wuxian took a few steps closer, “Shijie… you?”

Jiang Cheng, “What? You think he will marry you?”

Wei WuXian, “You can be quiet.”

Jiang Yanli spread her hands to show him. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, “A-Xian, I… am getting married soon. I came to see you…”

Wei WuXian felt warmth in his eyes.

He wouldn’t be able to attend Jiang YanLi’s wedding, unable to see what his beloved would look like in a wedding dress. So, Jiang Cheng and Jiang YanLi sneaked into Yiling’s house and took her to the courtyard so she could see what her sister would look like when she got married.

A moment later, Wei WuXian finally smiled, “I know! I heard…”

Jiang Cheng, “Who did you hear it from?”

Wei WuXian, “None of your business.”

Jiang Yanli said shyly, “But… I’m the only one here. You won’t be able to see the groom.”

Wei WuXian pretended not to care, “It’s not like I want to see the groom.”

He walked around Jiang YanLi several times while praising, “It looks good!”

Jiang Cheng, “Bro, I told you. It does look good.”

Jiang Yanli always knew her own limitations. She replied earnestly, “If you two say so, that’s fine. I can’t take it seriously.”

Jiang Cheng sighed, “You don’t believe me and you don’t believe him. Will you only believe it if someone else says it?”

Hearing this, Jiang YanLi’s face turned even redder, reaching down to her snow-white earlobes. Even the pink blush on her cheeks couldn’t hide it. She quickly changed the subject, “A-Xian… Tell me your nickname.”

Wei WuXian, “What nickname?”

Jiang Cheng, “The honorific name of my unborn nephew.”

The wedding hadn’t even taken place yet, and they had already given their future nephew a courtesy name. However, Wei WuXian didn’t find it strange. He didn’t show any humility, and after a moment of thought, he said, “Sure. The next generation of the LanlingJin Sect is named Ru. What about Jin RuLan?”

Jiang YanLi, “That’s great!”

Jiang Cheng, “No. It sounds like Jin RuLan, Lan is Lan from the Lan Sect. How could a descendant of the LanlingJin Sect and the YunmengJiang Sect look like someone from the Lan Sect?”

Wei WuXian, “There’s nothing wrong with the Lan Sect, right? The Lan Flower is a symbol of flowers; the Lan Sect is a symbol of humans. It’s a good name.” 

Jiang Cheng, “That’s not what you said before.” 

Wei WuXian, “I’m the one who gave you the name, not you. Why are you so picky?” 

Jiang YanLi hurriedly said, “Enough. You know who A-Cheng is. He’s the one who came up with the idea of ​​calling you by honorifics. You two, stop messing around. I’ll bring you some soup. Wait a moment.”

He went inside the house to get the jar. Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng looked at each other. A moment later, Jiang YanLi came out and gave them each a bowl. Then, he went back in and got the third bowl, walked to the door, then turned to Wen Ning, “Sorry. There are only small bowls left. You can take this.”

Wen Ning had been guarding the door, looking down at the ground. Seeing this, he was so flattered that he stuttered again, “Ah… M-Is there something for me?”

Jiang Cheng was unhappy, “Why did he get it too?”

Jiang YanLi, “I brought a lot anyway. Anyone who sees it will get it.”

Wen Ning replied hesitantly, “Thank you, Miss Jiang… Thank you.”

Holding the small bowl of water, he was too embarrassed to say thank you, but he couldn’t bring himself to drink it. It was a shame to give him so little. Dead people don’t eat. However, Jiang YanLi noticed his awkwardness. She asked a few questions and started chatting with Wen Ning outside. Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng were standing in the courtyard. 

Jiang Cheng raised his bowl, “For the YiLing Patriarch.”

Hearing this, Wei WuXian recalled the majestic banner. All that was in his mind were the ten golden words, “May Your Majesty the Evil YiLing Patriarch be blessed” and “Silence!”

After taking a sip, Jiang Cheng spoke, “How was your injury last time?”

Wei WuXian, “He’s been healed for a long time.”

Jiang Cheng, “Mn.” After a pause, he continued, “How many days?”

Wei WuXian, “Less than seven. I told you. With Wen Qing, nothing is difficult. But you really stabbed me.”

Jiang Cheng ate a piece of lotus root, “You were the one who broke my arm first. You took seven days, while I had to hang my arm for a whole month.”

Wei WuXian grinned, “How can it look realistic if it’s not difficult enough? It’s your left hand, after all. It doesn’t prevent you from writing. It takes a hundred days for a wound to heal down to the bone. It wouldn’t be too difficult even if you hung it up for three months.”

Wen Ning’s stuttered reply came from outside. After a moment of silence, Jiang Cheng asked, “Are you going to continue like this from now on? Any plans?”

Wei WuXian, “Not for now. None of the group dares to come down the mountain. They also don’t dare to do anything to me when I come down the mountain. Everything will be fine as long as I don’t cause any trouble.”

“Alone?” Jiang Cheng sneered, “Wei WuXian, do you believe that even if you don’t cause trouble yourself, trouble won’t come and find you? It’s often impossible to save someone, but there are thousands more ways to hurt someone.”

Wei WuXian replied as he ate, “A strong man can defeat ten men with skill. I don’t care if they have a thousand methods. I’ll kill whoever comes.”

Jiang Cheng said coldly, “Never listen to my opinion. One day, you will understand that I am right.”

He finished the rest of his soup in one gulp and stood up, “Wow. I’m impressed. A round of applause for the YiLing Patriarch.”

Wei WuXian spat out the bone, “It’s done?”

Before they parted, Jiang Cheng said, “We won’t be seeing you off. It would be bad if anyone saw us.”

Wei WuXian nodded. He understood that it hadn’t been easy for the Jiang brothers to come here. If others saw them, everything they’d done to gain public trust would be in vain. He said, “We’ll go first.”

After they exited the alley, Wei WuXian still walked in front, and Wen Ning still followed him silently. Suddenly, Wei WuXian turned around, “Why are you still holding the soup?”

“Huh?” Wen Ning replied reluctantly, “To take it back… I can’t drink it, but I can give it to someone else…”

“…” Wei WuXian, “Your choice. Be careful not to spill.”

He turned around, realizing that it would still be a long time before he could see the people he knew again.

But… right now, isn’t he also on his way to meet people?