Chapter 100: Hatred (Part Three)
The guqin string was extremely thin. It was also coated with a special paint, making it nearly invisible to the naked eye. Wei WuXian, distracted, was unable to pay attention to anything else, and didn’t even notice when the string wrapped around his vitals.
Wei WuXian, “Lan Zhan, don’t! Don’t back down!”
However, Lan WangJi immediately took five steps back without hesitation. Jin GuangYao, “Great. Now, please let go of Bichen.”
With a “honk,” Lan WangJi obeyed again. Wei WuXian raged, “Don’t ask for too much!”
Jin GuangYao, “This is too much, isn’t it? Next, I’ll even ask HanGuang-Jun to seal his spiritual power. What’s that called?”
Wei WuXian seethed, “You…”
Before he could finish his sentence, a sharp pain like tearing flesh came from his throat. Something dripped down his neck. Lan WangJi’s face paled. Jin GuangYao, “How could he not listen to me? Just think, Young Master Wei, his life is in my hands.”
*T/n: Not a typo, WWX is LWJ’s life, that’s a fact.
Lan WangJi said one word at a time, “Don’t touch him.”
Jin GuangYao, “Then you know what to do, HanGuang-Jun.”
A moment later, Lan WangJi answered, “Yes.”
Lan XiChen sighed. Lan WangJi raised his hand. With two firm taps, he sealed his own spiritual power.
Jin GuangYao smiled, his voice soft, “This is really…”
Lan WangJi’s gaze fell on them, “Let him go.”
However, Wei WuXian stopped him, “Lan Zhan! I have to tell you something.”
Jin GuangYao, “Let’s save it for later.”
Wei WuXian, “No. It’s urgent.”
Jin GuangYao, “Then you can say it now too.”
It was just an offhand remark, but Wei WuXian seemed to realize something, “You’re right.” Right after, Wei WuXian shouted at the top of his lungs, “Lan Zhan! Lan WangJi! HanGuang-Jun! Back then, I really wanted to sleep with you!”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Jin GuangYao’s hands loosened, and the rope came undone. As soon as the stinging pain in his neck subsided, Wei WuXian lunged at Lan WangJi, impatient.
The shocking confession had hit Lan WangJi so hard that he still hadn’t fully processed it. A rare trace of loss and confusion appeared on his usually calm face. This wasn’t the first time Wei WuXian had held him tightly, but this time, it felt like Lan WangJi’s body had turned into a heavy block of wood. He froze for so long that he didn’t know where to place his hands.
Wei WuXian, “Lan Zhan, did you hear what I said?!”
Lan WangJi’s lips moved. A moment later, he said, “You…” He had always been concise and comprehensive in his words, without a single pause. But now, he paused with even greater hesitation than before. A moment later, he continued, “You said…”
He seemed to want to repeat it to make sure he hadn’t misheard. But for Lan WangJi, the words were simply too difficult to pronounce. Wei WuXian immediately decided to repeat them, “I said I really want to…”
“Ahem!” Standing to the side, Lan XiChen clenched his right hand into a fist and pressed it to his lips. After a moment of thought, he sighed, “…Young Master Wei, this is definitely not the right time or place to say such things.”
Wei WuXian apologized without sincerity, “I’m truly sorry, Sect Leader Lan, but I truly can’t wait a second longer.”
Jin GuangYao also looked impatient. He turned around, “You still haven’t dug it out?!”
One of the monks replied, “Sect Leader, you buried it too deep back then…”
Jin GuangYao’s expression changed, his face pale. However, he didn’t scold his subordinate, “Hurry!”
Before he could finish speaking, a white flash of lightning struck the sky. A moment later, thunder rumbled. Jin GuangYao stared at the sky, his face grim. Soon, fine raindrops began to fall from the sky. Wei WuXian hugged Lan WangJi. He was still trying to hold back the words that kept coming out of his chest when the cold rain hit his face, soothing him.
Jin GuangYao turned to Lan XiChen, “ZeWu-Jun, it’s raining. Let’s take shelter in the temple.”
Even though Lan XiChen was already under his control, he still treated him with the utmost politeness, without the slightest hint of rudeness. He seemed no different from before, except for being extremely polite. It was hard to vent his anger on him, even when he was angry. After all, one couldn’t slap a smiling face, especially someone like Lan XiChen who wasn’t easily angered. Jin GuangYao stepped through the threshold first and entered the main palace. The rest of the entourage followed.
Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi had already entered once this afternoon. The interior of the building was quite spacious and grand. The red walls and gold lacquer were exquisite. It was obvious that people were cleaning the place frequently. Monks and cultivators were digging at the back of the palace. No matter how deep they dug, they still hadn’t found what Jin GuangYao had buried. Wei WuXian inadvertently looked up and was immediately startled.
The Guanyin statue on the altar had beautiful features. Compared to most Guanyin statues, this one was more graceful and less amiable. What surprised him was that the Guanyin Temple looked somewhat familiar, like someone he knew. Wasn’t that Jin GuangYao standing there?
It wasn’t particularly striking at first glance, but when compared to Jin GuangYao, the two looked even more alike. Wei WuXian thought, Is Jin GuangYao really that self-absorbed? Being the Chief Cultivator of the entire world isn’t enough—he even has to carve a celestial statue in his likeness for tens of thousands of people to worship? Or is this some kind of dark cultivation technique I don’t know about?
Lan WangJi’s voice suddenly rang in his ears, “Sit.”
Wei WuXian’s thoughts immediately returned. Lan WangJi had collected four pillows from the temple, giving two to Lan XiChen and Jin Ling, and two more to Wei WuXian and himself. However, for some reason, Lan XiChen and Jin Ling had moved their pillows quite far away. And coincidentally, they were staring off into the distance together.
Jin GuangYao and the others had already gone to the back of the palace to check on the progress of the excavation. Pulling Lan WangJi along, Wei WuXian sat down on the cushion. Perhaps because his thoughts were wandering, Lan WangJi’s figure swayed slightly from the pull before finally sitting up properly. Wei WuXian calmed himself for a moment before looking at Lan WangJi’s face.
His eyes were downcast. There wasn’t much emotion visible. Wei WuXian knew that with just those words, Lan WangJi probably couldn’t believe it yet. He was being tortured by someone who was smiling and oblivious to his crimes. It was only natural that he didn’t believe it. After thinking about it, Wei WuXian felt his chest tighten. His heart ached so much that he shivered. He didn’t dare think about it anymore, but he knew he had to increase the dosage.
He said, “Lan Zhan, l-look at me.”
His voice was still a little tense. Lan WangJi, “Mn.”
Taking a deep breath, Wei WuXian whispered, “…My memory is indeed bad. I can’t remember much of what happened in the past, including the time in Nightless City. I don’t remember a single thing that happened back then.”
Hearing this, Lan WangJi’s eyes widened slightly.
Wei WuXian suddenly reached out and grabbed his shoulder, then continued, “But! But, from now on, whatever you say to me, whatever you do for me, I will remember it all—I will not forget a single thing!”
“…”
Wei WuXian, “You’re so great. I like you.”
“…”
“Or in other words, I like you, I love you, I want you, I can’t leave you, I am whatever you are.”
“…”
“I want to hunt at night with you for the rest of my life.”
“…”
Wei WuXian put three fingers together, pointing to the sky, the earth, and finally to his heart, “And I want to sleep with you every day. I swear, this isn’t out of a momentary emotion or a joke like I did before. I’m not doing it out of gratitude, either. Besides, it’s not for anything else. I truly like you enough to want to sleep with you. I don’t want anyone but you—no one but you. You can do whatever you want to me, however you want. I’ll accept it all, as long as you’re willing…”
Before he could finish speaking, a sudden gust of wind blew from inside and extinguished the row of candles in the Guanyin Temple.
Before they knew it, the drizzle had turned into a storm. The lanterns clashing outside the temple were drenched by the rain. Their surroundings suddenly plunged into darkness.
Wei WuXian couldn’t make a sound anymore. In the darkness, Lan WangJi had already embraced him tightly, stopping him with his lips.
Lan WangJi’s breath was short and uneven. His hoarse voice whispered beside Wei WuXian’s ear, “…imagining you…”
Wei WuXian hugged him tightly, “Yes!”
Lan WangJi, “…love you, want you…”
Wei WuXian raised his voice, “Yes!”
Lan WangJi, “Can’t leave you… don’t want anyone but you… can’t have anyone but you!”
He repeated the words Wei WuXian had said to him over and over again, his voice and body trembling simultaneously. Wei WuXian almost imagined himself crying.
After each sentence, his arms around Wei WuXian’s waist tightened. Wei WuXian felt pain from the hug, but his arms around Lan WangJi’s back tightened as well, almost suffocating him. Still, he savored every moment and wanted to hold him even tighter.
He couldn’t see anything.
However, their chests were pressed together. Their hearts couldn’t be hidden at all. Wei WuXian felt it clearly—Lan WangJi’s pounding heart, the heat that was about to explode from his chest, and something that landed on his neck before disappearing silently, something that might have resembled a tear.
At this point, a series of hurried footsteps entered the main palace. Jin GuangYao, who had gone to the back of the palace to inspect the situation with several cultivators, returned. Facing the strong wind, two monks stood to one side, finally managing to close and lock the temple door after exerting all their strength. Jin GuangYao took out a fire talisman. After a light blow, the talisman ignited, and he used it to relight the red candle. The dim yellow flame was the only source of light in this silent temple amidst the night rain. Suddenly, two loud knocks sounded from outside the door.
Hearing a knock, the entire temple grounds perked up and stared at the entrance. The two monks blocking the door looked as if they were facing a grave threat. Silently, they pointed their swords at the door.
Jin GuangYao’s expression didn’t change at all, “Who is it?”
The person outside, “Sect Leader, it’s me!”
It was Su She’s voice. Jin GuangYao beckoned, and the two monks released the arrows. Su She entered with the roaring storm.
Influenced by the wind and rain, the rows of candles fluttered and flickered. The two monks quickly closed the door behind them. Su She was drenched by the storm. His face was cold, and his lips were frozen purple. In his right hand, he held a sword, and in his left, a figure. After entering, he was about to knock the figure out when he saw Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi sitting on two cushions beside him, still pressed together, reluctant to part.
Su She had just suffered quite a defeat from the two of them. His expression changed, and he immediately drew his sword, glancing at Jin GuangYao. Seeing that he seemed fine, Su She knew that the two of them were definitely under control. He finally calmed down.
Jin GuangYao, “What is it?”
Su She, “I met him on my way here. I thought he might be useful, so I captured him.”
Jin GuangYao approached and looked down, “Did you hurt him?”
Su She, “No. He was scared and fainted.” As he spoke, he threw the man to the ground. Jin GuangYao, “MinShan, don’t be too harsh on him. He couldn’t take the fear and fell.”
Su She hurried, “Yes.” He then picked up the person he had thrown and carefully placed him beside Lan XiChen. Lan XiChen had been staring at the person the entire time. He pushed aside their wet, messy hair and looked. The person who had been frightened into unconsciousness was indeed Nie HuaiSang. He had probably been captured by Su She after resting at Lotus Pier, on his way back to Qinghe.
He looked up, “Why did you arrest HuaiSang?”
Jin GuangYao, “With another sect leader here, the others will definitely be more cautious. But Brother, don’t worry. You know how I’ve always treated HuaiSang. When the time comes, I’ll definitely let you two leave unharmed.”
Lan XiChen’s voice sounded indifferent, “Should I believe you?”
Jin GuangYao, “It’s your choice. Believe it or not, Big Brother, you can’t do anything about it, right?”
At this point, Su She cast a cold gaze at Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi. He sneered, “HanGuang-Jun, YiLing Patriarch, who would have thought we would meet so soon? And the tables have turned completely. So how does it feel?”
Lan WangJi didn’t say anything. He never paid any attention to such meaningless provocations. Wei WuXian thought to himself, How could the tables turn? You escaped in defeat at Burial Mound, but aren’t you also fleeing in defeat now?
Perhaps Su She had been holding it in for years. He would continue to babble on his own even without anyone provoking him. He scanned Lan WangJi up and down and sneered, “Things have already come to this, and you’re still pretending to be calm and collected. How long are you going to keep this up?”
Lan WangJi remained silent. However, Lan XiChen spoke up, “Sect Leader Su, when you were studying at the GusuLan Sect, I don’t think we ever treated you badly. Why are you attacking WangJi like this?”
Su She, “How dare I attack Second Young Master Lan, who has been so talented since childhood? I can’t stand seeing him always think he’s so great.”
Although it wasn’t the only time Wei WuXian had known that hatred could come without reason, he still felt confused, “Has HanGuang-Jun ever said he thinks he’s important? If I’m not mistaken, isn’t ‘arrogance forbidden’ included in the GusuLan Sect’s rules?”
Jin Ling, “Why do you know what part of the GusuLan Sect’s rules are?”
Wei WuXian touched his chin, “I’ve imitated him too many times, you know?”
Jin Ling exclaimed, “Why are you copying the GusuLan Sect’s rules? You’re not…” He wanted to say, “You’re not from their sect,” but before he could finish, he sensed something was wrong. He stopped talking, his face turning pale.
Wei WuXian sneered, “Is it because HanGuang-Jun has been so cold since he was young, Sect Leader Su, that you think of him this way? Then, HanGuang-Jun is deeply misunderstood. He’s clearly like this to everyone. You should be glad you didn’t study at the YunmengJiang Sect, Sect Leader Su.”
Su She’s voice was cold, “Why?”
Wei WuXian, “Otherwise, you would have been angered to death by me a long time ago. When I was little, every day I wholeheartedly believed that I was a prodigy, that I was incredibly great. And not just in my heart, I even flaunted it everywhere.”
The veins on Su She’s forehead bulged, “Shut up!” He looked like he was about to attack when Lan WangJi pulled Wei WuXian to his chest, shielding him tightly with his arms. Su She’s movements halted, contemplating whether or not he should attack.
Wei WuXian immediately peeked out from behind Lan WangJi, “You better keep quiet, Sect Leader Su. LianFang-Zun still has quite a bit of respect for ZeWu-Jun. If you hurt HanGuang-Jun, do you think LianFang-Zun will be happy?”
This was also the reason Su She had stopped. But now that Wei WuXian had mentioned it, he felt incredibly irritated. He sneered again in a defiant tone, “I never imagined that the YiLing Patriarch, who legendaryly instills fear in both the living and the dead, would be afraid of death himself!”
Wei WuXian replied shamelessly, “You truly flatter me. But, it’s not that I’m afraid of death. I just don’t want to die yet.”
Su She sneered, “Speaking nonsense. What a joke. What’s the difference between being afraid of death and not wanting to die?”
Wei WuXian snuggled into Lan WangJi’s chest, “Of course there are. For example, right now, I don’t want to wake up from Lan Zhan compared to me being afraid of waking up from Lan Zhan—could they be the same?” After thinking for a moment, he continued, “Sorry. I take back my words. I think they’re almost exactly the same.”
Su She’s face was almost ashen. Indeed, Wei WuXian had originally intended to anger him. But suddenly, a soft chuckle came from above him.
It was so light, that people would doubt if they heard it wrong.
But Wei WuXian immediately looked up. He clearly saw a gentle smile flicker across Lan WangJi’s lips, like the reflection of sunlight on snow. This time, it wasn’t just Su She; even Lan XiChen and Jin Ling were stunned.
Everyone knew HanGuang-Jun was always cold and unsmiling, almost devoid of any enthusiasm. Few had ever seen him smile, even just the slightest curve of his lips. No one expected to see him smile in such a state.
Wei WuXian’s eyes immediately opened wide and round.
A moment later, he swallowed hard. His Adam’s apple bobbed, “Lan Zhan, you…”
At that moment, the sound of knocking was heard again from outside the Guanyin Temple.
Su She drew his sword, holding it in his hand as he asked anxiously, “Who is it?!”
Nobody answered. The door opened suddenly!
From the midst of the storm that had just struck, a crackling flash of purple light struck Su She squarely in the chest, sending him flying backward. Su She slammed into one of the mahogany pillars, instantly coughing up blood. The two monks guarding the temple door were also struck by the reverberations of the attack, knocked to the ground and unable to stand. A purple figure stepped steadily over the threshold and into the main palace.
Heavy rain poured outside the temple, but the figure wasn’t too wet. Only the purple at the hem of his clothes had darkened slightly. He held a paper umbrella in his left hand. Raindrops fell onto the umbrella, splashing everywhere. The cold light of Zidian continued to hiss in his right hand. His face was darker than a stormy night.