Chapter 113: WangXian (Part Three)

The day after they met Luo QingYang and her husband, the two arrived in a small town in Guangling.

Wei WuXian placed his hand over his brow, watching the fluttering flags promise good wine, “Let’s take a rest there.”

Lan WangJi nodded, then the two walked side by side.

After spending a night at Yunmeng Guanyin Temple, Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi wandered around night hunting with Lil’ Apple, just like before, in the ‘place of chaos’. They would visit places they heard were haunted by dark creatures and deal with the disturbances, explore the area, and learn the local customs. Three months passed just like that, with blissful freedom and no concern for the affairs of the cultivation world.

They entered the wine shop and sat down at a table in a small, unassuming corner. A waiter approached them. Seeing their appearance and demeanor, as well as the sword at Lan Wangji’s waist and the flute at Wei Wuxian’s, he couldn’t help but associate them with the two figures whose stories had been circulating recently. However, after observing them for a while, he still wasn’t convinced, as the white-clad customer wasn’t wearing the Gusulan Sect’s forehead ribbon.

Wei WuXian ordered wine, and Lan WangJi ordered several dishes. Wei WuXian listened to his deep voice call out the names of the dishes, one hand propping up his cheek and the other under the table, his fingers curling around a snow-white ribbon. He grinned widely. Only after the waiter left did he begin, “There are so many spicy ones. Can you handle them?”

Lan WangJi picked up the teacup from the table and took a sip, his voice calm, “Sit properly.”

Wei WuXian, “There’s no tea in the cup.”

“…” Lan WangJi filled his teacup and brought it to his lips again. A moment later, he repeated, “… Are you sitting properly?”

Wei WuXian, “I still can’t sit properly? I can’t put my feet up on the table like before.”

After a moment of restraint, Lan WangJi said, “Don’t put it anywhere else either.”

Wei WuXian’s expression looked confused, “Where did I put it?”

Lan WangJi, “…”

Wei WuXian, “Your demands are too much, Second Young Master Lan. How about you tell me how?”

Lan Wangji put down his teacup and glanced at him. Tidying up his sleeves, just as he was about to stand up and properly instruct him, a sudden burst of laughter came from the table in the middle.

One of the few sitting at the table cheered happily, “I knew Jin GuangYao would fall for his actions sooner or later! I’ve been waiting for this day for so long, and now he’s finally been exposed, hah! One’s actions will be met with retribution, no matter what—what we do will definitely be repaid!”

Hearing this, Wei WuXian felt a bit of a memory. The tone and content of the criticism seemed quite familiar, but the target was different. He couldn’t help but pay attention. Another cultivator picked up his chopsticks and pointed, “As I thought, there’s nothing wrong with those old sayings! From those sayings, the cleaner someone looks, the dirtier they are behind their backs!”

“That’s right. Not a single one is good. No matter how honorable they are, is there a single one of them who doesn’t wear a second outer shell?”

While sipping wine and swallowing a large chunk of meat, another person spat, “Speaking of which, SiSi used to be quite a famous prostitute. With her age, I couldn’t even recognize her. What a witch. Her death was quite torturous for Jin GuangShan, too, hahahahaha…”

Kudos to Jin GuangYao for thinking of such a way to kill his father. A perfect match. Absolutely perfect!

“This is quite a mystery—why didn’t Jin GuangYao kill that old prostitute? The witnesses should have been silenced. Is he an idiot?”

“Why does he have to be such an idiot? After all, he’s a descendant of Jin GuangShan. Maybe he cheats too. Maybe he has a special taste and has… haha, an indescribable connection with SiSi?”

“Huh, I thought so too, but don’t the stories say that? Because he committed incest with his biological sister, Jin GuangYao was so shocked that he fell ill in an unspeakable way, so even if he wanted to, he couldn’t, hahaha…”

These stories and rumors were indeed familiar. Wei WuXian remembered how many people used to tell stories about him kidnapping a thousand virgins to his demon cave in Burial Mound, raping them day and night to cultivate the dark path. He found it rather amusing,  Alright. Anyway, what they say about me is definitely better than what they say about Jin GuangYao.

Their conversation grew increasingly nauseating. Lan WangJi began to frown. Fortunately, the more normal people at the table couldn’t take it anymore either. One of them whispered, “Calm down a bit… This isn’t pleasant music or anything.”

Some people laughed nonchalantly, “What’s there to be afraid of? Nobody knows us here.”

“Right! So what if someone hears? Will they really care?”

“Do you think the LanlingJin Sect is the same now as it was back then? Can they really silence anyone? Can they really play the role of tyrant again? Don’t you want to hear it? Just accept it!”

Someone changed the subject, “Enough, enough. Why discuss these things? Finish it, finish it! No matter how great Jin GuangYao was before, he might as well be trapped in a coffin and fighting with Nie MingJue.”

“I don’t think so. After all, they hate each other to the core. I’m sure Nie MingJue has already torn his bones apart.”

“Indeed! I went to the sealing ceremony. The resentful energy in that coffin was so strong that no life could grow within 150 meters of it. I seriously doubt it—could that coffin really seal them for a hundred years?”

“Whatever happens, it’s none of your business. This is all the sects’ problem. Besides, the LanlingJin Sect is finished. The heavens have truly changed, haven’t they?”

“Still, during the ceremony, ZeWu-Jun looked really bad.”

“What did you expect? Inside that coffin were his two sworn brothers, while his sect juniors kept running around carrying a ferocious corpse—they even needed his help to hunt at night! No wonder he often cultivated in seclusion. If Lan WangJi still hadn’t returned, I’m sure Lan QiRen would have started cursing…”

Lan WangJi, “…”

Wei WuXian laughed. 

The discussion continued, “Speaking of which, the ceremony was indeed impressive. Nie HuaiSang did really well, huh? When he first volunteered, I thought he would definitely mess things up. Besides, he does like to shake his head.”

“Me too! Who would have thought he could carry it off as well as Lan QiRen?”

Hearing their astonishment, Wei WuXian thought to himself,  “What’s so special about this?  After all, in the next few decades, perhaps this QingheNie Sect leader will slowly start to reveal his dark side, bringing even more shocks to the world.”

The food and wine have arrived. Wei WuXian filled the cup to the brim and took a slow sip.

Suddenly he heard a young man’s voice, “Then, is the Tiger Seal really in the coffin?”

Silence fell over the winery. A moment later, someone replied, “I don’t know. Maybe. What could Jin GuangYao possibly do with the Tiger Seal besides taking it with him?”

“But there’s no way to know. Didn’t they say the Seal was just scrap metal? It’s useless.”

The boy sat alone at the table, holding a sword in his hand, “Is the coffin sturdy enough? What would happen if someone wanted to see if the Tiger Seal was inside or not?”

Immediately someone raised their voice, “Who dares?”

The QingheNie Sect, the GusuLan Sect, and the YunmengJiang Sect all sent people to guard the cemetery. Who in the world would dare to do so?

Everyone agreed. The boy fell silent. He picked up the teacup from the table and took a sip, as if he had given up on the idea. However, his expression remained unchanged.

Wei WuXian had seen that look in many faces. And he knew this wouldn’t be the last time he saw it.

After they left the shop, Wei WuXian still sat on Lil’ Apple while Lan WangJi held the reins in front.

Rocking from side to side on the donkey, Wei WuXian took the flute from his waist and placed it near his lips. Its clear notes soared through the sky like birds. Lan WangJi stopped and listened quietly.

It was the song he sang for Wei WuXian when they were trapped in Xuanwu Cave. It was also the song Wei WuXian happened to play on Dafan Mountain, the song that allowed Lan WangJi to confirm his identity.

After finishing, Wei WuXian blinked his left eye at Lan WangJi, “How was it? Beautiful, huh?”

Lan WangJi nodded slowly, “For once.”

Wei WuXian knew that ‘for once’ referred to his good memory for once. He couldn’t help but smile, “Don’t always be so angry. It was my fault in the past, okay? Besides, my bad memories should be blamed on my mother.”

Wei WuXian rested his arm on Lil’ Apple’s head, spinning Chenqing in his arms, “My mother said we should remember the things others do for you, not the things we do for others. Only when people don’t hold so much in their hearts can they finally feel free.”

This was the only thing he remembered about his parents.

After his thoughts wandered for a moment, Wei WuXian refocused. Seeing Lan WangJi’s gaze, he continued, “My mother also said…”

Hearing him refuse to continue, Lan WangJi asked, “Say what?”

Wei WuXian crooked his finger at him, his expression serious. Lan Wang walked closer. Wei WuXian bent down and spoke beside his ear, “…you’re mine now.” The corner of Lan WangJi’s brow twitched. Just as his lips were about to open, Wei WuXian interrupted, “Shameless, brazen, reckless, ridiculous, spouting nonsense again—right? Alright, I’ve said it for you. Back and forth, always the same words. You really haven’t changed at all. I’m yours too. We’re even, huh?”

In terms of words, Lan WangJi could never beat Wei WuXian. His voice was cold, “If you say so.”

Wei WuXian pulled on the donkey’s reins, “But seriously, I’ve thought of almost ten names for this song. And you don’t like any of them?”

Lan WangJi answered firmly, “No.”

Wei WuXian, “Why not? I think it would be better titled Lan Zhan and Wei Ying’s Love Song.”

Lan WangJi didn’t say anything. Wei WuXian continued, “Or Everyday Song of HanGuang and YiLing sounds good too. You know there’s a story behind it…”

Lan WangJi looked like he didn’t want to hear another name, “There is.”

Wei WuXian, “What’s wrong?”

Lan WangJi, “A name.”

Wei WuXian was surprised, “Yes? Then you should have told me the name earlier. Why didn’t you tell me for so long? You made me work so hard to think of a name, wasting my wisdom.”

After a moment of silence, Lan WangJi replied, “  WangXian  .”

Wei WuXian, “Huh?”

Lan WangJi, “The song is called  WangXian  .”

Wei WuXian widened his eyes.

Shortly after, he burst out laughing, “Hahahahahahahahahaha, no wonder you never told me. So you gave it this name yourself. The reason is very obvious. Well done, Lan Zhan! When did you find it? Hahahahahahahahahaha…”

Lan WangJi seemed to have long expected Wei WuXian to react like this. Seeing him laughing heartily on Lil’ Apple’s back, he could only shake his head slowly. His expression was resigned, but a faint smile had silently curled up at the corners of his lips. Something vague also flickered in his eyes.

He raised his hand to hold Wei WuXian’s waist to prevent him from falling off the donkey’s back. After finally laughing enough, Wei WuXian spoke seriously, ”  WangXian  , good, excellent! I like it. Yes, it’s meant to be.”

Lan WangJi was expressionless, “I like it too.”

Wei WuXian, “It sounds so majestic, so GusuLan-like. I think this song should be recorded into the music library and made a compulsory piece for all GusuLan Sect disciples to learn. If they ask, HanGuangJun, how should we interpret the title of this song? You can tell us how it came to be.”

Hearing his nonsense, Lan WangJi simply grabbed the reins of the Little Donkey Wei WuXian was riding on, holding the thin rope in his palm, and continued on their journey. Wei WuXian continued to speak, “Where are we going next? I haven’t had Emperor’s Smile in a long time. How about we go back to Gusu and play around in Caiyi Town for a bit?”

Lan WangJi, “Sure.”

Wei WuXian, “It’s been so many years. The water-born ravine over there should have been completely cleaned up, right? If your uncle can stand the sight of me, hide me with those wine jars in your room; if not, let’s go somewhere else. I heard SiZhui and the others had a great time night hunting with Wen Ning.”

Lan WangJi, “Mn.”

Wei WuXian, “But I heard there’s a new version of the GusuLan Sect’s rules? Hey, is there still a bigger space on the Wall of Rules in front of the mountain for your sect…”

A gentle breeze blew, and the robes of the two of them rippled like spring water. 

Facing the wind, Wei WuXian squinted at Lan WangJi’s silhouette. Crossing his legs, he was surprised to find himself somehow balancing in an awkward position on Lil’ Apple’s back.

It was just a trivial matter, but he looked as if he had just discovered something new and interesting. He couldn’t help but tell Lan WangJi about it, exclaiming, “Lan Zhan, look at me, look at me now!”

Just like before, Wei WuXian called her name with a grin, and she turned her head.

From then on, he couldn’t take his eyes off her anymore.