Chapter 63 Tenderness—Part One

Wei WuXian suddenly muttered, “… Lan Zhan.”

He reached out and grabbed one of Lan WangJi’s sleeves. Lan WangJi had always been by his side. He immediately leaned over and whispered, “I’m here.”

Wei WuXian hadn’t woken up yet. His eyes were still tightly shut, but his hands hadn’t let go. He looked as if he were dreaming, muttering, “…Don’t… Don’t be angry…”

Lan WangJi looked a little surprised. His voice was soft, “I’m not angry.”

Wei WuXian, “…Oh.”

Hearing this, as if he finally felt convinced, his fingers loosened.

Lan WangJi sat beside Wei WuXian for a moment. Seeing him not moving anymore, he was about to stand up when Wei WuXian grabbed him with his other hand, wrapped his arm around his, and wouldn’t let go. He shouted, “I’m coming with you, quick, take me back to your sect!”

Lan WangJi widened his eyes.

After shouting, Wei WuXian seemed to be screaming to wake himself up. His long eyelashes trembled before he slowly opened them. After his vision finally turned from blurry to clear, he suddenly realized that both of his hands were wrapped around Lan WangJi as if grasping at straws, clutching a piece of wood floating in the water.

He immediately let go, almost wanting to roll away. The movement was so great that it hurt the wound on his stomach. He exclaimed ‘ah’ with a frown, finally remembering that he was still injured. Among the stars before his eyes, Jing Ling, Jiang Cheng, Jiang YanLi, Jiang FengMian, Madam Yu… Many faces swirled around in a large circle. 

Lan WangJi held him back, “The wound on your stomach?”

Wei WuXian, “The wound? It’s okay, it doesn’t hurt…”

After Lan WangJi calmed him down, he lifted his clothes. Wei WuXian’s abdomen had been properly bandaged. After removing the bandages, he could see that the wound had healed. The curse mark on his leg had also disappeared.

Wei WuXian, “How long have I been resting?”

After confirming that his wounds were indeed fine, Lan WangJi finally let him go, “Four days.”

Jin Ling’s sword stabbed straight in. The wound wasn’t shallow at all. The fact that it had healed in four days without leaving a scar meant that the GusuLan Sect’s top-tier treatment was definitely necessary. Wei WuXian thanked him, mocking himself along the way, “I’ve been reincarnated, but somehow I’ve become weaker. I can’t even survive a single stab.”

Lan WangJi’s voice was lukewarm, “No one can survive being stabbed in the body.”

Wei WuXian, “That’s not true. If I were still in the body of my past life, even if half of my intestines were hanging out, I could just put them back in and keep fighting.”

Seeing Lan WangJi start talking nonsense again after waking up, Wei WuXian shook his head and turned around. Wei WuXian thought Lan WangJi was going to leave. He rushed over, “Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan! Don’t go. I was talking nonsense, it’s my fault, but don’t ignore me.”

Lan WangJi, “Even you are afraid of others ignoring you?”

Wei WuXian, “I, I.”

He had never felt the sensation of having someone by his side when he was injured and awake for a long time.

Two swords were slung around Lan Wangji’s waist. He took off Suibian and gave it to him, “Your sword.”

Seeing the sword, Wei WuXian was initially hesitant. He immediately replied, “Thank you.”

Grasping the hilt, he slowly pulled it out. A pair of eyes were reflected in the snow-white blade. Wei WuXian stared at them for a moment before putting Suibian back into its sheath. “Did it really seal itself?”

Lan WangJi also grabbed the hilt of Suibian. He pulled it out, but the sword didn’t move at all. Wei WuXian sighed. He patted the blade.  I knew Jin GuangYao wouldn’t dare make up stories without any basis… So the sword really did seal itself. I happened to stumble upon something extraordinary that only happens once in ten thousand years. It’s all over now. The evidence is ironclad. Whoever pulled it out must be Wei WuXian, without exception. I can’t deny it even if I wanted to.

He looked around. The room was clean. The light was dim, only a paper lantern in one corner. Wei WuXian asked, “Where is this?”

Lan WangJi, “The Hidden Cloud.”

Wei WuXian, “You brought me back to the Cloud Recesses? What if your brother finds out?”

Someone said, “I’ve found it.”

The man stepped out from behind the screen. Dressed in white and wearing a forehead ribbon, his face was as white as jade, though his expression was solemn.

Having rested in the Cloud Recesses without being taken away by the LanlingJin Sect, it was clear that Lan XiChen posed no threat to them. And, coupled with the fact that Lan WangJi was by his side, Wei WuXian wasn’t the least bit wary. He suddenly remembered something and asked, “Where is ChiFeng-Zun’s body?”

Lan XiChen, “Many sects have seen Brother’s remains with their own eyes. It is currently being held by HuaiSang. I have sent men I trust to guard it as well.”

Wei WuXian felt relieved. He asked again, “How did Jin GuangYao react?”

Lan WangJi, “Perfect.”

Wei WuXian knew Jin GuangYao would definitely complete his plan. It was fine as long as he couldn’t get rid of the corpse. However, Lan XiChen said slowly, “He said he would definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and give everyone an explanation. Now that Young Master Wei is awake, WangJi, isn’t it time you gave me an explanation too?”

Lan WangJi stood up, “Brother.”

Lan XiChen took a deep breath, “WangJi, what do you want to say?”

Lan WangJi, “Brother, ChiFen-Zun’s head is indeed in Jin GuangYao’s hands.”

Lan XiChen, “You saw it with your own eyes?”

Lan WangJi, “He saw with his own eyes.”

Lan XiChen, “You believe him?”

Lan WangJi, “Ya.”

He answered without hesitation. Wei WuXian felt his chest warm. Lan XiChen continued, “What about Jin GuangYao?”

Lan WangJi, “Unbelievable.”

Lan XiChen chuckled, “WangJi, then how do you judge whether someone should be trusted or not?”

He looked at Wei WuXian, “You believe Young Master Wei, while I believe Jin GuangYao. The fact that Big Brother’s head is in his hands, neither of us saw it with our own eyes. We only believe what others say based on how much we know about them.”

“You think you know about Wei WuXian, so you trust him; I think I know about Jin GuangYao, so I trust him too. You trust your judgment, so shouldn’t I trust my own?”

Wei WuXian was worried that his two brothers would start arguing about this, “Sect Leader Lan!”

It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand Lan XiChen. Looking at Jin GuangYao from Nie MingJue’s perspective, he had seen all of his skills and ambitions. However, if Jin GuangYao had always revealed his disguise to Lan XiChen, there was no reason for Lan XiChen to distrust his sworn brother, and indeed, one of the most famous people.

Lan XiChen nodded, “Young Master Wei, don’t worry. Until the truth is fully revealed, I won’t take sides or reveal your whereabouts. Otherwise, I won’t allow WangJi to take you to  my Hanshi  or help treat your wounds.”

Wei WuXian, “Sect Leader Lan, I’m grateful for giving me this opportunity. The fact that ChiFeng-Zun’s head is in Jin GuangYao’s secret chamber is true. Not only did I see it, but I also saw several other things due to being affected by his resentful energy. Perhaps this can be proof?”

Lan XiChen replied calmly, “Young Master Wei, perhaps you did see some things. However, you cannot prove that you saw those things inside the secret chamber of Koi Tower.”

Wei WuXian, “Hm. Right. Then what about the other thing? The direct cause of ChiFeng-Zun’s death was qi deviation, but, Sect Leader Lan, don’t you think the timing was a bit too coincidental? The sword spirit’s actions might have been one of the reasons, but have you ever considered that there might have been another cause?”

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

Wei WuXian, “Song of Clarity.”

Lan XiChen, “Young Master Wei, did you know that the Song of Clarity was taught by me personally?”

Wei WuXian, “Then, Sect Leader Lan, can you listen to see if there is anything strange about the song?”

The flute was right beside the bed. Wei WuXian picked it up and began playing after a moment of thought. After the song was finished, he said, “Sect Leader Lan, is this really the song you taught Jin GuangYao?”

Lan XiChen, “Memang.”

Wei WuXian was a bit surprised, but he remained calm, “What’s the name of the song?”

Lan XiChen, “This song is called  Cleansing  . This song can clear the heart and calm the mind.”

Wei WuXian, “Cleansing. I’ve heard many famous compositions in the cultivation world. Why can’t I remember the names or melodies?”

Lan WangJi, “The song is not clear. It’s also difficult.”

Lan XiChen, “Exactly.”

Wei WuXian, “Did Jin GuangYao choose this work himself?”

Lan XiChen, “That’s right.”

Wei WuXian, “Is it that hard? Then why did Jin GuangYao choose this part instead of the easier one?”

Lan XiChen, “Because I already told him that although  Cleansing  is difficult to master, its effects are extraordinary. The song is indeed difficult. Young Master Wei, you also played one of the parts wrong, right?”

Hearing this, Wei WuXian felt something click inside him, “I played it wrong?”

Lan WangJi, “One part is wrong.”

Wei WuXian grinned, “No, no. It’s not my fault. It’s Jin GuangYao who’s at fault! When the resentful energy attacked me, this is how he played it. I can promise that I’ll repeat this song without any mistakes.”

Lan XiChen looked shocked, “Then he learned it wrong? That’s… impossible.”

Wei WuXian, “That’s impossible. LianFang-Zun is indeed that smart. His memory is incredibly good, how could he possibly remember the melody wrong? It was most likely intentional. I’ll play it again. Sect Leader Lan, HanGuang-Jun, this time, please listen carefully to the part I ‘misplayed’.”

He played it again. Near the end of the second part, Lan WangJi said, “Stop.”

Lan WangJi, “That’s the part I just skipped.”

Wei WuXian pulled the flute from his lips, “Is this part true? But I don’t feel like this part is different at all.”

Lan XiChen, “It doesn’t sound that different. However, it’s definitely not part of  the Purge  .”

If it were a simple mistake, it wouldn’t have blended so well with the rest of the original song. This melody must have been deliberately polished before being inserted here. And this unfamiliar melody, which wasn’t part of  Cleansing  but was mixed in, was most likely the key to Nie MingJue’s death.

After thinking for a moment, Lan XiChen said, “You two can follow me.”

When they left the house, Wei WuXian was a bit surprised.

It was a small, secluded cottage in a hidden corner of the Cloud Recesses. The Lan Sect’s residence was nestled within the mountains. Within its boundaries, pine trees grew endlessly. Most of the plants were trees and grasses. It wasn’t that there were no flowers, but they were mostly pure and elegant varieties like magnolias, gardenias, and white chrysanthemums, and even then, they were only rare and decorative glimpses. However, the area in front of this house was filled with purple gentian flowers. Their buds were small yet their color was brilliant, captivating the hearts of anyone who passed by. Under the light, the flowers seemed to glow softly, as beautiful as a dream, an illusion.

Wei WuXian knew this place was different from the others. However, he only managed to glance at it briefly. It was already past nine o’clock. Most of the people in the Cloud Recesses had long since retired. The atmosphere was eerily quiet. Not a single person passed by as Lan XiChen led them to the Library Pavilion.

The Cloud Recesses had once burned down. The Library Pavilion wasn’t the same as before. However, after being rebuilt, its interior layout was no different from before. They even planted another magnolia tree outside the pavilion. After the three entered, Wei WuXian wondered, “Sect Leader Lan, can we find the source of the melody here?”

Lan XiChen, “Not here.”

He walked in front of the row of books, lowered himself, and turned over one of the mats on the ground before he picked up a piece of wooden board, “We can do this.”

Under the wooden plank there is a secret door.

Lan WangJi, “The forbidden book room.”

Beneath the door was a staircase with over fifty steps. The three of them descended it one by one. What appeared before Wei WuXian was a vast, dry, stone basement. The sound of footsteps echoed hollowly. Rows upon rows of bookshelves stood within the room. Books were neatly lined up along the shelves. They were all covered in dust, as if no one had opened them in a long time.

Lan XiChen led them to one of the bookshelves, “This section contains books of strange songs.”

There was a table in the room, with only a single paper lamp on it. Lan WangJi took a writing brush and paper that hadn’t been used for years from the shelf. He memorized three copies of the melody’s score. The three of them sat around the table and began to work, each responsible for several dozen books. They compared the melody with the score copied into the books, book by book, page by page, searching for a match.

However, four hours had passed, and none of the three had found a score matching the melody. This meant they hadn’t found the source.

Wei WuXian scanned the score as quickly as possible, thinking to himself,  Maybe even the piece in the Lan Sect’s forbidden book room doesn’t have the melody? But that’s impossible. If the Lan Sect doesn’t have it, then no other place would have it either. Could Jin GuangYao have composed such a great piece himself? If so, then that would be troublesome. The only way to confirm something was wrong with the song would be to have someone listen to it for months to experiment. However, even though he was smart, he never had a solid foundation. He couldn’t possibly be that smart to create… 

Wei WuXian stared at the crowded characters for a long time. His eyes felt a little tired. He still had a few books left, so he decided to look at them later. Lan WangJi had already finished the pile he was responsible for. Silently, he picked up the books Wei WuXian had left behind and continued flipping through them. Lan XiChen raised his gaze. Seeing the scene, he seemed to be holding back from saying anything.

Suddenly, Lan WangJi spoke, “This one.”

He flipped through the book in his hands. Wei WuXian immediately felt more energized. He earnestly looked at the pages Lan WangJi had flipped through, comparing them to the score in his hand. “Not the same at all?”

Lan WangJi stood up and sat beside him, pointing at him, “Look at these two pages.”

Their heads were pressed together, and Lan WangJi’s voice rang right in his ear, low and alluring. Wei WuXian’s hands trembled slightly. The book nearly fell. Finally, he calmed himself and forcibly tore his gaze away from Lan WangJi’s long, white fingers. He concentrated on comparing the two pages, “Ah, these two pages.”

At first glance, the sheet music book looks ordinary. However, those familiar with music will immediately notice that, upon opening the page, the melody on the first side is not connected to the melody on the second side.

Translator’s Notes

Hanshi  : Similar to jingshi (or quiet room), this means ‘cold room’.