Chapter 11 Perfection—Part One

The Lan Sect’s residence is located in the remote mountains outside Gusu City.

Mist constantly shrouds the white walls and black roofs of the buildings, stretching across the beautiful waterside pavilion gardens, as if they were a sea of ​​clouds in an eternal realm. At dawn, the first rays of the morning sun shine through the wisps of thin mist that drift far and wide, perfectly complementing its name—“  Cloud Recesses  .”

In such a tranquil place, the heart feels as calm as still water. Only the echo of the bell tower vibrates in the air. While not comparable to a sacred temple, the cool mountains still exude a Zen solitude.

However, the atmosphere was suddenly broken by a long wail, which sent  shivers down the spines of the students who were practicing or reciting morning prayers. They couldn’t help but glance toward the main entrance, where the sound was coming from.

Wei WuXian cried in front of the entrance, clinging to his donkey tightly. Lan JingYi said, “Stop crying! You said you liked HanGuang-Jun, so what are you crying about now that he’s accepted you back?”

Wei WuXian made a sour face.

He never had a chance to call Wen Ning again after what happened last night on Dafan Mountain. He also didn’t have a chance to find out why Wen Ning was unconscious or why he had reappeared in this world before he was carried back by Lan WangJi.

In his youth, he had studied in the Lan Sect for three months, alongside disciples from other clans, so he had experienced the GusuLan Sect’s dull atmosphere firsthand. In fact, he still shuddered at the thought of the three thousand sect rules inscribed on the Wall of Discipline. As he was pulled up the mountain, he passed by the stone wall again, and saw another thousand rules engraved there. Now, the number was over four thousand. Four thousand!

Lan JingYi said, “Enough, enough! Don’t make any noise. No noise is allowed in the Cloud Recesses.”

He made loud noises because he didn’t want to enter the Cloud Recesses!

If he were dragged inside, it would be extremely difficult for him to get out again. Back when he came to study, all students were given a jade token as an entry pass. Only with that token could one enter and exit freely, or they would be unable to pass through the protective barrier of the Cloud Recess. After ten years, the security had actually gotten tighter, not looser.

Lan WangJi stood silently at the entrance, covering his ears, and watched the scene with an indifferent gaze. When Wei WuXian’s voice had subsided a bit, he said, “Let him cry. When he’s tired, drag him inside.”

Wei WuXian hugged the donkey and cried even harder, banging his head against the donkey.

What a pity! He thought that with Zidian’s whip, all his doubts would be dispelled. At that moment, he felt pleased with himself and, while throwing sarcastic remarks, made some disgusting remarks to Lan WangJi. However, who would have thought that Lan WangJi would not follow his usual routine? What was going on? Could it be that, after so many years, his cultivation level had improved, but he had actually become more intolerant?

Wei WuXian said, “I’m attracted to men, so with so many handsome young men in your sect, I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself.”

Lan SiZhui tried to persuade him, “Young Master Mo, HanGuang-Jun brought you here for your own sake. If you don’t follow us, Sect Leader Jiang won’t let this matter go. Over the years, he’s captured many people and brought them back to  Lotus Pier  , and none of them have ever been released.”

Lan JingYi said, “That’s right. You’ve seen Sect Leader Jiang’s methods, right? They’re so cruel…” He paused, remembering the rule that prohibited “talking behind others’ backs,” and then secretly glanced at Lan WangJi. Seeing that HanGuang-Jun didn’t show any rebuke, he dared to mutter, “This is all because of the unhealthy trend started by the YiLing Patriarch. So many people have imitated him and developed those foolish methods. With Sect Leader Jiang being so suspicious of everyone, is it possible for him to catch them all? Just look at you and your flute skills…  Heh  .”

Heh,  that said more than words could ever express. Wei WuXian felt like he really needed to defend himself, “Well, actually, you might not believe me, but I usually play the flute quite well…”

Before he could finish his defense, several cultivators dressed in white walked through the door.

Everyone was dressed in the Lan Sect uniform, with plain robes fluttering as white as snow. The man standing in front was tall and slender. A  xiao  made of white jade hung from his waist, next to his sword. When Lan WangJi saw them, he bowed his head slightly to show respect, and the man did the same. He looked at Wei WuXian and smiled, “WangJi never brings guests home. This is it?”

As the man stood before Lan WangJi, they looked like mirror images. However, Lan WangJi’s eyes were bright, like colored crystals, while his were softer and darker.

This is  Lan Huan  , the leader of the GusuLan Sect—  ZeWu-Jun  ,  Lan XiChen  .

Every place produces its share of handsome men. The GusuLan Sect has always been known for producing many handsome men, especially  the two jades  of the current generation. Although the two were not twins, they looked so similar to each other that it was hard to tell who was superior. However, despite their similar appearances, their personalities were not. Lan XiChen was gentle and kind, while Lan WangJi was overly aloof and stern, keeping everyone at a distance and unfriendly. This was why, on the list of the most handsome young masters in the cultivation world, Lan XiChen ranked first, and Lan WangJi ranked second.

Lan XiChen proved himself worthy of being the sect leader. Even when he saw Wei WuXian hugging a donkey, he seemed unfazed. Wei WuXian let go of the donkey with a wide smile on his face and approached him. The GusuLan Sect valued seniority greatly. If he spoke nonsense to Lan XiChen, he would surely be banished from the Cloud Recesses. However, just as he was about to demonstrate his abilities, Lan WangJi looked at him. Instantly, his lips pursed.

Lan WangJi turned around and continued his polite conversation with Lan XiChen, “Brother, are you going to visit LianFang-Zun again?”

Lan XiChen nodded, “To negotiate about the next Discussion Conference at Jinlin Tower.”

Wei WuXian couldn’t open his mouth, so he sullenly walked back to the donkey.

LianFang-Zun was the current leader of the LanlingJin Sect—Jin GuangYao, the only illegitimate child Jin GuangShan approved of. He was Jin Ling’s youngest uncle, being half-brothers with Jin Ling’s father, Jin ZiXuan, and Mo XuanYu. However, even though they were both illegitimate children, they were very different. While Mo XuanYu was in Mo Village, sleeping on the ground and eating scraps, Jin GuangYao sat at the highest seat of the cultivation world,  summoning the wind and controlling the rain  . If he wanted to speak to Lan XiCheng or start a Discussion Conference, he could do so in any way he wished. Then again, it was no wonder the sect leaders of the Lan and Jin sects got along quite well in private—they were  sworn brothers  , after all .

Lan XiChen said, “Uncle has already taken and examined what you brought back from Mo Village.”

Hearing the words “Mo Village,” Wei WuXian immediately paid attention. Unexpectedly, he felt his lips part. Lan XiChen had broken his silence and said to Lan WangJi, “It’s rare for you to bring someone home in such a good mood. You should treat your guests with courtesy, not like this.”

Excited?  Wei WuXian stared intently at Lan WangJi’s face.

How could he know when she was excited?!

After seeing Lan XiChen leave, Lan WangJi said, “Drag him inside.”

Then, Wei WuXian was actually dragged somewhere, and he swore he would never go there again.

In the past, only prominent cultivators came to visit the Lan Sect, and no one had ever seen a guest like him before. The juniors crowded around him, interested in this new development. If it weren’t for the sect’s strict rules, there would definitely have been laughter along the way. Lan JingYi asked, “HanGuang-Jun, where should we take him?”

Lan WangJi replied, “  The Jingshi  .”

“…Jingshinya?!”

Wei WuXian had no idea what was going on. The rest of them stared at each other, afraid to make a sound.

It was HanGuang-Jun’s bedroom and study, which he never invited anyone into…

The furnishings in the jingshi were simple, devoid of unnecessary items. Above the accordion partition, a painting of clouds drifted, floating, and changing shape with delicate brushstrokes. A  guqin  table lay horizontally in front of it. Above a three-legged incense stand in the corner, a hollow incense burner made of white jade emitted a soft, lingering smoke, filling the room with the cool scent of sandalwood.

Lan Wangji went to see his uncle to discuss a serious matter, while Wei Wuxian was pushed into the room. Right after Lan Wangji left, Wei Wuxian also came out. He strolled around the Cloud Recesses, and found that, as he had expected, without the jade token to enter, even if he climbed the several-zhang-high white wall, he would be immediately thrown off by the barrier, attracting the attention of the nearby patrolmen.

Wei WuXian hanya bisa kembali ke jingshi.

He never really worried about anything, no matter what he encountered. He walked around the jingshi with his hands behind his back, firmly convinced that sooner or later, a solution would come. The refreshing scent of sandalwood was cool and clear. Though unsentimental, it had a way of touching the heart. With nothing to do, he began to think about random things.  Lan Zhan happened to smell this scent. His clothes had probably been tinged with it while he was practicing the guqin or meditating here  .

After thinking about it, he couldn’t help but move closer to the incense burner at the corner. With this shift, he realized that, beneath his feet, a piece of wood looked very different from the rest of the place. Wei WuXian bent down and began tapping here and there, out of curiosity. In his past, he had often dug holes, excavated graves, and found holes in the ground. After a while, he turned over a piece of wood.

Finding a secret room in Lan Wangji’s room was enough to surprise Wei Wuxian. However, after seeing its contents, he was even more shocked.

Upon opening the wooden plank, a soft aroma filled the air, barely noticeable as it mingled with the scent of sandalwood. Seven or eight black jars were packed into a small, rectangular warehouse.

Sure enough, Lan WangJi had changed—he even started hiding liquor!

The Cloud Recesses forbade alcohol. Therefore, upon their first meeting, they had a brief argument. Lan WangJi ended up spilling a bottle of “Emperor’s Smile” he had brought from Gusu City.

After returning from Gusu to Yunmeng, Wei WuXian never again had the chance to drink the “Emperor’s Smile” specially brewed by Gusu’s experts. He had been thinking about this his entire life, always telling himself to taste it again if the opportunity arose. However, the opportunity never came. Hidden within was none other than liquor—he didn’t even need to open it and taste it, knowing it was “Emperor’s Smile” just by its scent. He never expected to find a safe storing liquor in the room of someone as meticulous and casual as Lan WangJi. Karma had truly outdone itself with this reincarnation.

By the time Wei WuXian had exclaimed about the matter, he had already finished an entire jar. He had a high tolerance for alcohol and loved to drink. After he came to the conclusion that Lan WangJi still owed him a jar of Emperor’s Smile and that it was time to collect the interest, he drank another jar. Just as he was starting to get drunk, a thought suddenly occurred to him. How difficult would it be to obtain that jade token? In the Cloud Recesses, there was a cold spring with many miraculous effects, intended for use by male cultivators. It was said to calm one’s heart, clear one’s mind,  quench one’s fire  , and so on. When he entered the cold spring, he would have to take off his clothes. Then, with his clothes already off, there would be nowhere to store it other than holding it in his mouth, which was obviously impossible.

Wei WuXian clapped his hands and finished the last sip in the jar. After searching, he found that there was nowhere to throw it away, so he filled the empty jars with clean water and re-sealed the lids, put them back inside, and closed the wooden board. After finishing, he ventured out to look for the jade token.

Although the Cloud Recesses had been burned down before the “Sunshot Campaign” occurred, the structure of the rebuilt area remained the same. Wei WuXian followed the winding path based on his memory and soon found a cold spring, located in a quiet and secluded spot.

The disciple in charge of guarding the cold spring was quite far away. The female cultivators were in another part of the Cloud Recess and didn’t come here to use it. After all, no one in the Lan Sect dared to come to the cold spring to watch others bathe. Therefore, the security wasn’t tight and was very easy to breach, allowing Wei WuXian to easily slip in and embarrass himself. And, coincidentally, there was a set of white clothes on the white stones behind the intersecting eupatorium grass, which meant someone had come.

The white garment was folded so neatly, it almost made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. It looked like a piece of snow-white tofu—even the forehead ribbon was folded without a crease. As Wei WuXian reached in and searched for the jade token, he almost felt reluctant to mess it up. Afterward, stepping through the thickets of eupatorium grass, his gaze passed over the spring, then suddenly stopped.

The water in the cold spring was frozen. Unlike hot springs, there was no steam to obscure the view, making it possible to clearly see the upper body of a person standing with their back to it.

The figure in the spring was quite tall. Her skin was fair, and her black hair was wet and pulled back to one side. The curves of her waist and back were smooth, graceful, yet firm. Simply put, she was beautiful.

However, Wei WuXian was clearly not surprised and couldn’t look away because he was looking at a beautiful woman bathing. No matter how beautiful she was, he wouldn’t be attracted to men. In fact, it was the objects on the woman’s back that kept him from looking away.

There were dozens of scars crisscrossing each other.

It was a scar from a disciplinary whip. In many sects, there was a type of disciplinary whip used to punish disciples who committed grave offenses. After torture, the scar would never fade. Although Wei WuXian had never been subjected to a disciplinary whip before, Jiang Cheng had. Even after trying desperately, he couldn’t erase the shameful traces. This was why Wei WuXian never mistakenly remembered this kind of scar.

Normally, just one or two lashes of the disciplinary whip would be enough punishment for the bearer to remember for life, never to repeat the same mistake. The number of scars on this man’s back was at least thirty. What kind of heinous crime had he committed to deserve so many lashes? If it was such a heinous crime, why didn’t they kill him?

Just then, the person in the spring turned around. Below his collarbone and near his heart, there was a distinct scar. Seeing the scar, Wei WuXian’s shock instantly reached its peak.

Translator’s Notes

Cloud Recess  : The name of the Lan Sect residence comes from the final phrase of Jia Dao’s poem. A beautiful and accurate translation of this poem  can  be found here: http://chinesepoemsinenglish.blogspot.ca/2010/03/jia-dao-mengunjungi-pertapa-yang-tidak-hadiran.html .

Morning reading  : A common practice in China is for students to read aloud in their morning classes, as it makes them memorize the readings/teachings better.

Lotus Pier  : The details of this place will be explained later. However, its name also comes from a poem by the famous poet—Wang Wei. I couldn’t find a translation of this poem online, but that doesn’t really matter, as it doesn’t affect the story in any way.

Xiao  : This is a vertical flute.

Lan Huan  ,  ZeWu-Jun  ,  Lan XiChen  : Lan Huan is his birth name, Lan XiChen is his common name, and ZeWu-Jun is his “alternate name” or “hao” (but, in case anyone forgot, hao is the name someone gives themselves).

Two geniuses  : This term refers to two people who are extremely good at something, at a generally equal level.

Calling the wind and controlling the wind  : There’s nothing special about this proverb. It simply means that he’s very powerful and can do whatever he wants.

Sworn Brothers  : The FoDC/GDC author has stated that everyone in the book, except Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi, is heterosexual. However, that hasn’t stopped fangirls from pairing almost every character with every other character. Feel free to pair Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao, or any other character you’re interested in, in any way you see fit.

Jingshi  : Literally, this means “quiet space.” Since there doesn’t seem to be a proper term for this in English, it’s still used as Pinyin.

Guqin  : This is the term for the type of zither Lan WangJi plays. In previous chapters, it was referred to as  zither  , but guqin is a specific type of zither, so the term has been changed.

Put out the fire  : The term used here is “put out the evil fire.” Wei WuXian might be referring to Chinese medicine, or he might be making a quip (which I happen to know because it’s one of the most commonly used terms to describe seme-lust in Chinese BL smut). Who knows?