Chapter 47: 狡童第十 2

The day of the Hundred Sects Symposium at Jinlin Pavilion arrived in the blink of an eye.

Most major clans built their estates in scenic, secluded mountains, but the Lanling Jin Sect's Jinlin Pavilion sat right in the heart of Lanling City's busiest district. The proper path for visitors was a two-mile-long ceremonial ramp, opened only for major banquets and symposiums. By Lanling Jin rules, no one was allowed to hurry up this ramp. Both sides were painted with colorful murals and reliefs depicting the glorious deeds of past Jin family leaders and famous figures, with Lanling Jin disciples driving carriages along the route to offer explanations.

The most prominent four murals belonged to the current clan leader, Jin Guangyao, titled 'Transmitting Secrets,' 'Assassination,' 'Sworn Brotherhood,' and 'Grace and Authority.' They naturally depicted his undercover work in the Qishan Wen Sect during the Sun-Striking Campaign, his assassination of Wen Clan leader Wen Ruohan, the sworn brotherhood of the Three Zuns, and his implementation of the Chief Cultivator's decrees after taking office. The artist had captured the subject's essence perfectly. At first glance, the work was merely exquisite, but upon closer inspection, one could see that Jin Guangyao's portrait—even when stabbing someone from behind, face spattered with blood—still had smiling eyes, carrying a hint of gentle, amiable warmth that sent a faint chill down the spine.

Right after Jin Guangyao's murals came those of Jin Zixuan. Typically, a clan leader, to emphasize absolute authority, would deliberately reduce the number of murals for peers of equal fame or hire a slightly less skilled artist to avoid being overshadowed. Everyone tacitly understood and accepted this behavior. Yet Jin Zixuan also occupied four murals, placing him on equal footing with the clan leader Jin Guangyao. The handsome man in the paintings was vibrant and brimming with proud, lofty spirit. Wei Wuxian got out of the carriage and paused before them, watching for a while. Lan Wangji also stopped, waiting quietly for him.

Not far off, a disciple called out, 'Gusu Lan Sect, please enter this way.'

Lan Wangji said, 'Let's go.'

Wei Wuxian said nothing and walked with him.

Upon ascending Jinlin Pavilion, they were met with a vast plaza paved with fine brick, bustling with people coming and going. The Lanling Jin Sect had likely expanded and renovated many times over the years—this level of extravagance far surpassed what Wei Wuxian remembered. In the distance, nine tiers of auspicious steps supported a white marble Sumeru pedestal, upon which a grand hall with double-eaved hip-and-gable roofs towered imposingly over the scene below, a sea of Golden Star Snowwave flowers blooming before it.

Golden Star Snowwave was the floral emblem on the Lanling Jin Sect's family crest, a variety of white peony with exceptional form. The flower was exquisite, and its name was clever. The petals were double-layered: the outer layer consisted of large, overlapping petals like rolling snowdrifts; the inner layer held slender, delicate petals with golden-threaded stamens shimmering like stars. A single bloom was peerlessly opulent; thousands blooming together created a magnificent spectacle beyond mere words.

The plaza branched into several broad avenues, with clans arriving continuously in an orderly, methodical stream: 'Moling Su Clan, please enter here.'

'Qinghe Nie Sect, please enter here.'

'Yunmeng Jiang Clan, please enter here.'

The moment Jiang Cheng appeared, he shot over two sharp glares. He walked over and said with detached coolness, 'Senior Lan Xichen, Hanguang-jun.'

Lan Xichen nodded in return. 'Clan Leader Jiang.'

Both were distracted, exchanging a few perfunctory words before Jiang Cheng said, 'I've never seen Hanguang-jun at a Jinlin Pavilion symposium before. What brings you here this time?'

Neither Lan Xichen nor Lan Wangji answered. Fortunately, Jiang Cheng hadn't genuinely wanted an answer anyway; his gaze had already shifted to Wei Wuxian. In a tone that sounded like he might shoot a flying sword through him at any moment, he said, 'The two of you never bring outsiders on your visits. What's going on this time—breaking precedent? Who is this distinguished gentleman? Could you introduce him to me?'

Just then, a cheerful voice chimed in, 'Second Brother, why didn't you tell me Wangji was coming?'

The master of Jinlin Pavilion, Lianfang-zun Jin Guangyao, had come out personally to greet them.

Lan Xichen smiled back at him. Lan Wangji exchanged a nod of greeting. Wei Wuxian took the opportunity to study this Chief Cultivator who commanded the hundred sects.

Jin Guangyao had a face that gave him a natural advantage. His skin was fair, with a cinnabar dot between his brows. His eyes were clear and lively without being frivolous, his features clean and clever—seven parts handsome, three parts sharp—with a faint smile always lingering at the corners of his eyes and lips. He looked like a smart, agreeable person. A face like this would surely please women, yet wouldn't provoke dislike or wariness from men. Elders found him endearing, younger people found him amiable—even if you didn't like him, you wouldn't hate him. Hence, 'a natural advantage.' Though he was a bit short, he made up for it with poised composure. He wore a soft gauze black hat and the formal robes of the Lanling Jin Sect, the chest of his round-collared gown adorned with a blooming Golden Star Snowwave emblem. With a nine-ring belt and six-harmony boots, his right hand resting heavily on the sword at his waist, he projected an air of unassailable authority.

Jin Ling had followed Jin Guangyao out. Still afraid to face Jiang Cheng alone, he hid behind Jin Guangyao and mumbled, 'Uncle.'

Jiang Cheng snapped, 'You still remember to call me uncle!'

Jin Ling hurriedly tugged at the back of Jin Guangyao's robes. Jin Guangyao seemed born to smooth over conflicts. 'Ah, Clan Leader Jiang, A-Ling already knows he was wrong. He's been so scared of your punishment these past few days he could hardly eat. He's just a mischievous child—you dote on him the most, don't hold it against him.'

Jin Ling quickly added, 'Yes, yes! Little Uncle can vouch for me—I've had no appetite at all lately!'

Jiang Cheng said, 'No appetite? You look perfectly healthy—I bet you haven't missed many meals!'

Jin Ling was about to retort when he glanced past Lan Wangji and saw Wei Wuxian. He froze, blurting out, 'What are you doing here?!'

Wei Wuxian said, 'Came for the free food.'

Jin Ling said indignantly, 'You actually dare show up! Didn't I warn…' Jin Guangyao ruffled Jin Ling's hair, pushing him gently behind, and smiled. 'Well, a guest is a guest. Jinlin Pavilion may not have much else, but we certainly have enough food.' He turned to Lan Xichen. 'Second Brother, please take your seats first. I'll go check on things over there and have someone arrange a place for Wangji.'

Lan Xichen nodded. 'No need to go to too much trouble.'

Jin Guangyao said, 'How is that trouble? Second Brother, don't stand on ceremony here, really.'

Jin Guangyao could remember the face, name, age, and title of anyone he'd met once, able to greet them correctly and warmly even years later. If he'd met someone more than twice, he'd remember all their likes and dislikes, catering to their preferences and avoiding their aversions down to the smallest detail. This time, because Lan Wangji had come to Jinlin Pavilion unexpectedly, Jin Guangyao hadn't prepared a seat for him specifically, so he went to arrange one immediately.

Entering the Hall of Blossoming Beauty, they walked leisurely along a crimson soft carpet. Beside the sandalwood tables on both sides stood beautiful maidservants adorned with kingfisher-feather ornaments and jade pendants, all smiling gracefully and properly, with full chests and slender waists that seemed barely a handful. Even their figures were similar, creating a pleasing, harmonious sight. Wei Wuxian could never resist taking an extra look at a pretty girl. After sitting down, as a maidservant poured wine for him, he curved his lips at her and said, 'Thank you.'

Unexpectedly, the girl seemed startled. She peeked at him, then quickly fluttered her lashes and averted her gaze. Wei Wuxian felt a flicker of puzzlement, then understood. A casual glance around confirmed it—this odd look wasn't isolated. Nearly half the Lanling Jin disciples were watching him with strange expressions.

He'd momentarily forgotten—this was Jinlin Pavilion, where Mo Xuanyu had harassed his fellow disciples and been thrown out. Who would have thought he'd dare swagger back shamelessly, and even snag a premium seat alongside Gusu's Twin Jades of the Lan Clan…

Wei Wuxian leaned closer to Lan Wangji beside him and whispered, 'Hanguang-jun, Hanguang-jun.'

Lan Wangji said, 'What is it.'

Wei Wuxian said, 'You can't leave me. There must be plenty of people here who know Mo Xuanyu. If someone tries to catch up with me later, I'll have to keep babbling nonsense and playing the fool. If I end up embarrassing you, don't blame me.'

Lan Wangji glanced at him and said mildly, 'As long as you do not provoke others.'

Just then, Jin Guangyao entered the hall arm-in-arm with a woman in lavish attire. Though her bearing was dignified, her expression held a touch of innocent liveliness, and her lovely features still carried a hint of childishness. This was Jin Guangyao's lawful wife, the mistress of Jinlin Pavilion, Qin Su.

For many years, these two had been held up as a model loving couple among the Xuanmen Hundred Sects—respectful and harmonious, treating each other with courtesy. It was well known that Qin Su came from the Le Ling Qin Clan, a subsidiary family of the Lanling Jin Sect, and that the Qin Clan leader Qin Cangye was a longtime subordinate of Jin Guangshan. Although Jin Guangyao was Jin Guangshan's son, his mother's background originally made the match somewhat unequal. But during the Sun-Striking Campaign, Qin Su was saved by Jin Guangyao, fell for him, remained steadfast, insisted on marrying him, and thus a beautiful love story was forged. Jin Guangyao hadn't let her down either. Though holding the crucial position of Chief Cultivator, his conduct differed vastly from his father's. He never took concubines, nor had any affairs with other women—a point that made many clan leaders' wives genuinely envious. Watching Jin Guangyao hold his wife's hand all the way, his expression and movements full of tender care, even seeming worried she might stumble on the jade steps, Wei Wuxian thought it really was true.

After the couple took their seats at the head table, the banquet officially began. Sitting below them was Jin Ling, chest puffed out, glaring repeatedly at Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian, long accustomed to being stared at, remained completely unperturbed throughout. Amidst the clinking of cups, he ate and drank as he pleased, while listening to the chorus of praises filling the Hall of Blossoming Beauty—the atmosphere was excellent.

The banquet ended in the evening. The symposium proper would begin the next day. People drifted out of the hall in small groups, disciples guiding various clan leaders and notable cultivators to guest quarters. Lan Xichen seemed somewhat preoccupied, and Jin Guangyao appeared about to ask him what was wrong. But just as he approached and said, 'Second Brother,' someone rushed over wildly, crying out heartrendingly, 'Third Lord!!!'

Jin Guangyao staggered back from the impact, hurriedly steadying his hat with one hand. 'Huaisang, what's wrong? Speak properly.'

The only clan leader who could be so undignified was naturally the 'Know-Nothing' of the Qinghe Nie Sect. And a drunk Know-Nothing was even less dignified. Nie Huaisang's face was flushed red as he clung to Jin Guangyao. 'Third Lord! What should I do! Can you help me one more time? I promise it'll be the last time!!!'

Jin Guangyao said, 'Didn't I already get some people to help you with that last matter?'

Nie Huaisang wailed, 'That last matter was solved, but now there's a new one! Third Lord, what should I do! I don't want to live!'

Seeing he wouldn't make sense anytime soon, Jin Guangyao could only say, 'A-Su, you go back first. Huaisang and I will find a place to sit and talk. Don't worry…'

He helped Nie Huaisang walk out. Along the way, Lan Xichen came over to see what was happening and was also grabbed by the drunken Nie Huaisang. Qin Su bowed to Lan Wangji. 'Hanguang-jun, it seems you haven't come to Lanling for a symposium in many years. If there's any inadequacy in our hospitality this time, please forgive us.'

Her voice was soft and sweet—truly a beauty who inspired affection. Lan Wangji nodded in acknowledgment. Qin Su's gaze then fell on Wei Wuxian. After a moment's hesitation, she said softly, 'Then I'll excuse myself.' She withdrew with her maidservants.

Wei Wuxian wondered, 'Everyone at Jinlin Pavilion looks at me so strangely. What exactly did Mo Xuanyu do? Strip naked and declare his love in public? What's the big deal—the Lanling Jin Sect people really are clueless.'

Lan Wangji shook his head at his nonsense. Wei Wuxian said, 'I'm going to find someone to sound out. Hanguang-jun, keep an eye on Jiang Cheng for me. It's best if he doesn't come looking for me. If he does, cover for me.'

Lan Wangji said, 'Do not go far.'

Wei Wuxian said, 'Okay. If I go far, I'll see you in your room tonight.'

His eyes scanned inside and outside the Hall of Blossoming Beauty but didn't spot the person he was looking for. Strange, he thought. After leaving Lan Wangji, he searched along the way. Passing by a pavilion, someone suddenly emerged from the rockery in a flower bed nearby and said, 'Hey!'

Wei Wuxian thought: Ha! Found him. He turned and said airily, 'Hey what hey, so rude. Weren't we all affectionate last time we parted? Now you're this heartless when we meet again. I'm hurt.'

Jin Ling got goosebumps. 'Shut up! Who was affectionate with you! Didn't I warn you ages ago not to pester our family's people anymore? How dare you come back!'

Wei Wuxian said, 'Heaven and earth bear witness, I've been perfectly proper following Hanguang-jun. I practically begged him to tie me to him with a rope. Which eye of yours saw me pestering your family? Pestering your uncle? Clearly he's the one pestering me.'

Jin Ling flared up. 'Get lost! My uncle suspects you! Don't talk nonsense—don't think I don't know you still have your thieving heart set on…'

Just then, shouts came from several directions, and seven or eight youths in Lanling Jin Sect robes leaped out from the garden. Jin Ling cut himself short.

The group slowly closed in around them. The leader was a youth about Jin Ling's age but stockier. 'I thought I was seeing things, but it really is him.'

Wei Wuxian pointed at himself. 'Me?'

The youth said, 'Who else! Mo Xuanyu, you actually have the face to come back?'

Jin Ling frowned. 'Jin Chan, what are you doing here? This is none of your business.'

Wei Wuxian thought, 'Ah, probably one of the kids in Jin Ling's generation.' And by the looks of it, a group of kids who didn't get along with Jin Ling.

Jin Chan said, 'None of my business, but it's yours? Since when do you control what I do?'

As he spoke, three or four youths stepped forward as if to grab Wei Wuxian. Jin Ling shifted sideways, blocking Wei Wuxian. 'Don't act recklessly!'

Jin Chan said, 'What's reckless about it? I'm just teaching a lesson to a shameless disciple of our family.'

Jin Ling snorted. 'Wake up! He was kicked out long ago! He's not a disciple of our family at all.'

Jin Chan said, 'So what?'

That 'So what?' was delivered with such righteous confidence it left Wei Wuxian speechless. Jin Ling said, 'So what? Have you forgotten who he came with today? You want to teach him a lesson? Dare to go ask Hanguang-jun first?'

At the mention of 'Hanguang-jun,' all the youths' faces paled with fear. Even with Lan Wangji not present, none dared to boast, 'I'm not afraid of Hanguang-jun!' After stewing a moment, Jin Chan said, 'Hah, Jin Ling, didn't you used to hate him too? Why the sudden change of face?'

Jin Ling said, 'Why so much talk? Whether I hate him or not is none of your business.'

Jin Chan said, 'This guy shamelessly pestered Lianfang-zun, and you're speaking up for him?'

Wei Wuxian felt as if a bolt of pale lightning had just struck through his entire body.

Pestering who? Lianfang-zun? Who's Lianfang-zun? Jin Guangyao?

He never would have guessed—the person Mo Xuanyu had been harassing and pestering was Lianfang-zun, Jin Guangyao?!

Before he could even recover from the shock, Jin Chan and Jin Ling had traded a few more words and somehow were about to come to blows. They'd never liked each other anyway, and now the slightest spark set them off. Jin Ling said, 'If you want to fight, then fight! You think I'm scared?'

One of the boys said, 'Bring it on! Anyway, if it comes to a fight, he'll just call a dog to help!'

Jin Ling was about to blow his whistle, but hearing that, he gritted his teeth and roared, 'I won't call Fairy! I can still beat you all down with my bare hands!!!'

Though he shouted with plenty of spirit, two fists were no match for four hands, and once the fight started, he was clearly struggling, gradually being forced back until he was pushed right in front of Wei Wuxian. Seeing him still standing there, Jin Ling fumed, 'What are you just standing there for?!'

Wei Wuxian suddenly grabbed his hand. Before Jin Ling could even yell, an irresistible force transmitted from his wrist, and he was thrown to the ground, kneeling. He shouted furiously, 'Do you want to die?!'

His sudden move of taking down Jin Ling, who was trying to protect him, left Jin Chan and the others momentarily stunned. But Wei Wuxian said, 'Got it?'

Jin Ling was also taken aback. 'What?'

Wei Wuxian twisted his wrist again. 'Did you learn it?'

A numb pain spread from Jin Ling's wrist through his whole body, and he let out another shout, but the image of that extremely quick, tiny movement Wei Wuxian had just made flashed before his eyes. Wei Wuxian said, 'One more time. Watch closely.'

Just then, one of the boys charged forward. Wei Wuxian kept one hand behind his back and with the other swiftly grabbed the boy's wrist, throwing him to the ground in an instant. This time Jin Ling saw it clearly, and the faintly aching spot on his own wrist told him exactly which acupoint to channel a burst of spiritual energy into. He leapt up, full of vigor. 'Got it!'

The situation reversed instantly. Soon, the garden was filled with the shouts and frustrated cries of the boys. Finally, Jin Chan yelled, 'Jin Ling, you just wait!'

The seven or eight boys fled in defeat, cursing all the way. Jin Ling laughed wildly after them. When he'd laughed enough, Wei Wuxian said, 'So happy. First time winning?'

Jin Ling said, 'Pah! I always win in one-on-one fights. But this Jin Chan always brings a whole crowd to help him—utterly shameless.'

Wei Wuxian was about to say, you could also bring a crowd—fighting isn't always about one-on-one, sometimes it's about who has more people. But then it occurred to him that Jin Ling often went out alone, without any peers from his clan following him. He probably didn't have anyone to call for help, so he held his tongue.

Jin Ling said, 'Hey, how do you know that move?'

Wei Wuxian shamelessly shifted the blame to Lan Wangji. 'Hanguang-jun taught me.'

Jin Ling didn't doubt it at all—he'd already seen Lan Wangji's Blue Clan Forehead Band tied around Wei Wuxian's wrist. He just muttered, 'He taught you that too?'

Wei Wuxian said, 'Sure. But it's just a little trick. It worked well because it was your first time using it and they hadn't seen it before. Use it too much and they'll figure it out; next time won't be so easy. So, want to learn a few more moves from me?'

Jin Ling glanced at him and couldn't help saying, 'What's wrong with you? My uncle always advises me against fighting, but you're actually encouraging me.'

Wei Wuxian said, 'Advises you? Advises you what? Don't fight, get along with people?'

Jin Ling said, 'Pretty much.'

Wei Wuxian said, 'Don't listen to him. Let me tell you, when you grow up, you'll find there are even more people you want to hit, but you'll have to force yourself to get along with them anyway. So while you're still young, hit whoever you want to hit to your heart's content. If you don't get into a few good, rousing fights at your age, your life will be incomplete.'

Jin Ling's face showed a flicker of something like longing, but his mouth remained scornful. 'What nonsense are you talking? My uncle means well.' Then he suddenly remembered: the old Mo Xuanyu had treated Jin Guangyao like a god, never daring to say a single word against him. Now he was saying 'don't listen to him'—could it be he really no longer had any improper thoughts about Jin Guangyao?

Wei Wuxian saw the look in his eyes and guessed eighty or ninety percent of it. He said cheerfully, 'Looks like I can't hide it from you. That's right, I've shifted my affections elsewhere.'

Jin Ling: '...'

Wei Wuxian said with great feeling, 'During my time away, I thought long and hard, and finally realized that Lianfang-zun isn't actually my type. He's not really suitable for me.'

Jin Ling took two steps back.

Wei Wuxian said, 'Before, I couldn't see my own heart clearly. But after meeting Hanguang-jun, I'm sure.' He took a deep breath. 'I can't live without him. I don't want anyone but Hanguang-jun... Hey, why are you running? I'm not finished! Jin Ling! Jin Ling!'

Jin Ling turned and sprinted away at full speed. Wei Wuxian called after him a few times, but he didn't even look back. Feeling quite pleased with himself, Wei Wuxian thought, now Jin Ling shouldn't suspect him of harboring any ulterior motives toward Jin Guangyao anymore. But when he turned around, he saw a figure in moonlit white robes like frost, standing less than three zhang behind him. Lan Wangji was looking at him with a perfectly calm expression.

Wei Wuxian: '...'

If this had been back when he first returned, he would have dared to say things ten times more shameless than what he'd just said right in front of Lan Wangji. But now, under Lan Wangji's gaze, he found himself feeling a subtle sense of shame he'd never experienced in either of his lifetimes.

Wei Wuxian quickly suppressed these rare threads of shame and walked over, perfectly composed. 'Hanguang-jun, you're here! You know what? Mo Xuanyu was actually kicked off Jinlin Pavilion for pestering Jin Guangyao. No wonder everyone looks at me so strangely!'

Lan Wangji didn't say anything, turning to walk beside him. Wei Wuxian said, 'Neither you nor Ze Wu-jun knew about this, and you didn't even recognize Mo Xuanyu. Looks like the Lanling Jin Sect kept this whole matter completely hidden from start to finish. That makes sense. Mo Xuanyu did have the clan leader's bloodline. If Jin Guangshan didn't want this son, he wouldn't have brought him back. If it was just harassing a fellow disciple, they'd probably just give him a lesson at most, not kick him out entirely. But if he was harassing Jin Guangyao, that's different. That's not just Lianfang-zun; that's Mo Xuanyu's half-brother. It's really...' It was a full-blown scandal that had to be cut off at the root. And of course they couldn't make an example of Lianfang-zun, so they had to drive Mo Xuanyu away.

Wei Wuxian remembered how, during their meeting in the square earlier, Jin Guangyao had acted completely normal, chatting and laughing as if he didn't know Mo Xuanyu at all. He thought, this guy really is something. But Jin Ling's attitude couldn't be hidden. The reason he was especially disgusted by Mo Xuanyu wasn't just because he hated Clothes-Clipping; it was probably more because Mo Xuanyu had harassed his uncle.

Thinking of Jin Ling, Wei Wuxian sighed silently. Lan Wangji said, 'What is it?'

Wei Wuxian said, 'Hanguang-jun, have you noticed that every time Jin Ling goes on a Night Hunt, he goes alone? Don't tell me Jiang Cheng is with him—his uncle doesn't count. He's in his teens, and he doesn't have a single peer his age following him around, making a fuss. Back in our day...' Lan Wangji's brow lifted slightly. Seeing this, Wei Wuxian amended, 'Okay, me. I was like that back then. I wasn't like that.'

Lan Wangji said softly, 'That was you. Not everyone is like you.'

Wei Wuxian said, 'But kids like crowds and excitement. Hanguang-jun, do you think Jin Ling might be particularly unsociable, that he doesn't have a single friend in his clan? Forget Yunmeng Jiang Clan; I don't see any of the Lanling Jin Sect juniors getting along with him. They just had a fight. Doesn't Jin Guangyao have a son or daughter around his age who's close to him?'

Lan Wangji said, 'Jin Guangyao once had a son. He was killed as a child.'

Wei Wuxian said, surprised, 'He was the young master of Jinlin Pavilion. How could he be killed?'

Lan Wangji said, 'The Lookout Tower.'

Wei Wuxian said, 'Explain.'

It turned out that when Jin Guangyao was building the Lookout Tower, there were naturally many opponents, and he offended some clans. One clan leader, after losing a debate, grew so malicious that he killed the only son of Jin Guangyao and his wife Qin Su. The boy had been gentle-natured, and the couple had always doted on him. In grief and rage, Jin Guangyao uprooted that clan entirely to avenge his son. But Qin Su was so heartbroken that she never conceived again.

After a moment of silence, he said, 'Jin Ling's temper—he offends people as soon as he opens his mouth, and stirs up a hornet's nest as soon as he lifts a hand. Your family's Jingyi calling him a young lady wasn't wrong. If you and I hadn't been protecting him the last few times, he wouldn't even be alive now. Jiang Cheng is absolutely not someone who knows how to raise a child. And as for Jin Guangyao...'

Remembering why they'd come to Jinlin Pavilion this time, Wei Wuxian felt another headache coming on and rubbed his temples. Lan Wangji had been quietly watching him all this time, not offering comfort, but listening and answering every question. Wei Wuxian said, 'Never mind. Let's go back to our room first.'

The two returned to the guest quarters arranged for them by the Lanling Jin Sect. The room was extremely spacious and luxurious, with a set of exquisite, smooth white porcelain wine cups on the table. Wei Wuxian sat down beside them, admiring them for a while, and didn't start doing anything else until late at night.

He rummaged through cabinets and drawers, found a stack of white paper and a pair of scissors, and quickly cut out a Paper Effigy. This Paper Effigy was only as long as an adult's finger, with a round head and sleeves cut exceptionally wide, like butterfly wings. Wei Wuxian took a brush from the table, drew a few strokes, tossed the brush aside, picked up a wine cup and took a sip, then lay down on the couch. The Paper Effigy suddenly trembled, shook, and its two wide sleeves lifted its light body like wings, fluttering gracefully until it landed on Lan Wangji's shoulder.

Lan Wangji turned his head to look at his shoulder. The Paper Effigy immediately pounced onto his cheek, climbed up, and made its way to his Blue Clan Forehead Band. As if unable to resist it, it tugged and pulled. Lan Wangji let the Paper Effigy twist and turn on his forehead band for a while, then reached out a hand to remove it. Seeing this, the Paper Effigy quickly slid down and, whether intentionally or not, bumped its head against his lips.

Lan Wangji paused, then finally pinched it between two fingers. 'Don't mess around.'

The Paper Effigy curled its body up softly, winding itself around his slender fingers, soft as Mianmian's own wool.

Lan Wangji said, 'Be very careful.'

The Paper Effigy nodded, flapped its wings, flattened itself against the ground, crawled under the door crack, and sneaked out of the guest quarters.

Jinlin Pavilion was heavily guarded; a living person couldn't come and go freely. Fortunately, Wei Wuxian had once studied a forbidden technique: the Paper Figure Incarnation.

This technique was useful, but it had many restrictions. Not only was there a strict time limit, but the paper figure had to return intact, without the slightest damage. If it was torn or destroyed in any way along the way, the soul would suffer equivalent damage. At best, one could lose consciousness for a year or two; at worst, become permanently demented. Extreme caution was required.

Wei Wuxian, attached to the paper figure, sometimes clung to the hem of a cultivator's robe, sometimes flattened itself to slip under a door crack, sometimes spread its sleeves to disguise itself as a scrap of paper or a butterfly flying through the night sky, looking down below. Suddenly, he faintly heard crying from below. Looking down, he saw one of Jin Guangyao's villas below: Zhan Garden.

Wei Wuxian flew under the eaves and saw three people sitting in the reception hall. Nie Huaisang had one hand clutching Lan Xichen, the other clutching Jin Guangyao, drunk and dizzy, crying and complaining about something. Behind the reception hall was a study. Wei Wuxian took advantage of the empty study to go in and look around. The desk was covered with drawings annotated in red ink. The walls were hung with four scenes of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Wei Wuxian hadn't intended to look closely, but a glance made him marvel at the artist's skill. The brushstrokes and colors were gentle, yet conveyed a vast, open realm. A single scene on paper seemed to contain countless mountains and rivers. Wei Wuxian thought, this level of artistry could rival Lan Xichen's. He couldn't help taking a closer look, and upon looking, he discovered that the artist of all four scenes was indeed Lan Xichen.

Flying out of Zhan Garden, Wei Wuxian saw a broad five-ridged hall in the distance. The roof was covered with brilliant golden glazed tiles, and thirty-two golden pillars stood outside the hall, magnificent and beautiful. That should be one of the most heavily guarded places in all of Jinlin Pavilion: the sleeping quarters of the successive clan leaders of the Lanling Jin Sect, Fangfei Hall.

Besides the cultivators in Golden Star Snowwave robes, Wei Wuxian could also sense that the ground and sky around Fangfei Hall were filled with dense arrays. He flew to the base of a Golden Star Snowwave pillar, rested a moment, exerted some effort, and finally squeezed through the door crack with a grunt.

Compared to Zhan Garden, Fangfei Hall was the typical Jinlin Pavilion architecture: carved beams and painted rafters, resplendent and magnificent. Inside the sleeping quarters, layers of gauze curtains hung to the floor. An auspicious beast-shaped Ancient Incense Burner on a fragrant table gently emitted orchid smoke. Amidst the luxury, there was a lazy, sweet, and decadent feeling.

Jin Guangyao was meeting Lan Xichen and Nie Huaisang at Zhan Garden, so Fangfei Hall was empty, conveniently allowing him to investigate carefully. The Paper Effigy flew around Fangfei Hall, searching for anything suspicious, when suddenly it saw an agate paperweight on the table, with a letter pressed underneath.

The letter had already been opened. The envelope bore no name or any emblem, but judging by its thickness, it clearly wasn't empty. He flapped his sleeves, landed by the table, and wanted to see what was inside the letter. But his two 'hands' grabbed the edge of the envelope and pulled, tugging for a while without moving it an inch.

His current body was a light piece of paper; it couldn't move this heavy agate paperweight at all.

Paper Wei Wuxian circled the agate paperweight several times, pushing, kicking, hopping about, but it remained immovable. Helpless, he had to give up for now and see if there were any other suspicious spots. Just then, a side door in the sleeping quarters was pushed open a crack.

Wei Wuxian instantly swept off the table and pressed himself against a table leg, motionless.

The person who entered was Qin Su. So Fangfei Hall wasn't empty after all; Qin Su had just been silent in the inner room.

The mistress of Jinlin Pavilion appearing in Fangfei Hall was the most normal thing. Yet, at this moment, it looked extremely abnormal. Because her face was deathly pale, devoid of color, and she swayed unsteadily, as if she'd just suffered a heavy blow, waking from a faint, and could faint again at any moment.

Wei Wuxian thought, 'What's going on? She looked perfectly fine in the banquet hall earlier.'

Qin Su leaned against the door, staring blankly for a while, then steadied herself against the wall and slowly walked toward the table. She looked at the letter the agate paperweight held down to subdue it, reached out as if to pick it up, but in the end drew her hand back. Under the lamplight, you could clearly see her lips trembling without pause, and that once dignified, lovely face was almost twisting out of shape.

Suddenly, she screamed, grabbed the letter and threw it to the floor, while her other hand spasmed and clutched the clothing over her chest. Wei Wuxian's eyes lit up, but he suppressed the impulse to fly out immediately. If only Qin Su discovered him, he could still handle it. But if Qin Su screamed and called others, any damage to this Paper Effigy would affect his soul as well.

Suddenly, a voice abruptly sounded in the sleeping quarters. 'A-Su, what are you doing?'

Qin Su whipped her head around. A familiar figure stood just a few steps behind her, and that familiar face was smiling at her as usual.

She immediately threw herself to the floor and grabbed the letter. Wei Wuxian could only press himself tightly against the table leg, watching helplessly as the letter left his sight again. Jin Guangyao seemed to take a step closer. 'What's that in your hand?'

His tone was gentle and kind, as if he really hadn't noticed anything amiss—hadn't seen the strange letter in Qin Su's hand, hadn't seen Qin Su's contorted face—and was just asking about some trivial little thing like putting on more clothes or eating more. Qin Su clutched the letter and didn't answer. Jin Guangyao spoke again, 'You don't look well. What's wrong?'

His voice was full of concern. Qin Su held up the letter, trembling. '…I met someone.'

'Who?' Jin Guangyao asked.

Qin Su seemed not to hear him. 'This person told me some things. And gave me this letter.'

Jin Guangyao gave a soft, helpless laugh. 'Who did you meet? Do you just believe whatever they say?'

'He wouldn't lie to me,' Qin Su said. 'He absolutely wouldn't.'

Wei Wuxian thought, 'Who?' He'd heard the 'he,' but didn't know if it was a man or a woman.

Qin Su said, 'Is what's written here… true?'

'A-Su,' Jin Guangyao said, 'if you don't let me see the letter, how can I know what it says?'

Qin Su handed it to him. 'Fine. Look!'

To read the letter, Jin Guangyao took another step forward. He skimmed it quickly, his eyes racing over Qin Su's hand. His expression didn't change at all—not a shadow of anything showed. And Qin Su was almost screaming, 'Say something! Say something! Tell me it's not true! That it's all lies!'

Jin Guangyao said with absolute certainty, 'It's not true. It's all lies. Baseless nonsense, slanderous words.'

Qin Su burst into tears. 'You're lying to me! Even now you're still trying to lie to me. I don't believe you!'

Jin Guangyao sighed. 'A-Su, you told me to say that. I really said it, and now you don't believe me. It's really quite difficult.'

Qin Su threw the letter at him and covered her face. 'Heavens! Heavens, heavens, heavens! You—you really… you're really too terrible! How could you… how could you?!'

She couldn't go on. Covering her face, she retreated to the side, leaned against a pillar, and suddenly began to vomit.

She vomited violently, as if trying to bring up her own organs. Seeing such an extreme reaction, Wei Wuxian was stunned. 'She was probably vomiting in the inner room earlier too. What on earth is written in that letter? Jin Guangyao killing someone and dismembering the body? But Jin Guangyao killed countless people during the Sun-Striking Campaign; everyone knows that. And her father has plenty of blood on his hands too. Could it be about Mo Xuanyu? No, it's impossible Jin Guangyao really had something with Mo Xuanyu. Maybe Mo Xuanyu being driven off Jinlin Pavilion as a bastard son was all his doing. Anyway, no matter what, the reaction shouldn't be this intense, to the point of nausea and vomiting.' He wasn't close with Qin Su, but as fellow scions of major clans, he'd seen her a few times. Qin Su was the apple of Qin Cangye's eye, a simple person but raised in luxury, with excellent upbringing. She'd never acted in this kind of heart-rending, frenzied manner before. Something was deeply wrong.

Listening to the sounds of her retching, Jin Guangyao silently crouched down, picked up the scattered pages from the floor, and casually held them up to one of the nine-branch lotus lamps, letting them slowly catch fire.

Watching the ashes drift down, he said with a touch of sorrow, 'A-Su, we've been husband and wife for many years, always in harmony, treating each other with respect. As a husband, I've treated you well, I think. You're really hurting my heart like this.'

Qin Su had nothing left to vomit. She lay on the floor, sobbing. 'You treated me well… you did treat me well… but I… I'd rather never have known you! No wonder you never… after… after that… you never… If you could do such a thing, you might as well have killed me outright!'

Jin Guangyao said, 'A-Su, before you knew about this, weren't we living well? Today you found out, and you vomited, you feel unwell. That shows it's actually nothing, it won't cause you any real harm. It's just a trick of the mind.'

Qin Su shook her head, her face ashen. '…Tell me the truth. A-Song… how did A-Song die?'

Who was A-Song?

Jin Guangyao looked stunned. 'A-Song? Why are you asking me that? Didn't you already know? A-Song was killed by someone. I've already dealt with the person who killed him, avenged him. Why bring him up now?'

'I knew,' Qin Su said. 'But now I suspect everything I knew before was false.'

Jin Guangyao's face showed weariness. 'A-Su, what are you thinking? A-Song was my son. What do you think I would do? You'd rather believe some shadowy person, some letter of unknown origin, than believe me?'

Qin Su tore at her own hair, breaking down, and shrieked, 'That's exactly why it's terrifying—because he was your son! What did I think you'd do? If you could do even something like this, what wouldn't you dare do?! And now you still want me to believe you! Heavens!'

Jin Guangyao said, 'Don't let your thoughts run wild. Tell me, who did you see today? Who gave you this letter?'

Qin Su clutched her hair. 'You… what do you want to do?'

'The person who told you can tell others,' Jin Guangyao said. 'If they wrote one letter, they can write a second, a third, countless letters. What do you plan to do? Let this matter be exposed? A-Su, I'm begging you. Whatever affection you have left, please tell me. Where are the people mentioned in the letter? Who told you to come back and read it?'

Who? Wei Wuxian also really wanted to hear Qin Su say who it was. Someone who could get close to the Chief Cultivator's wife and gain her trust. Someone who had exposed some unspeakable secret of Jin Guangyao's. What was written in the letter definitely wouldn't be simple evil deeds like murder and arson. It had to be something that made Qin Su feel nauseated or terrified enough to vomit, something so difficult to speak of that even with only the two of them present, she could only stammer her accusations, not dare to say it plainly. But if Qin Su really obediently revealed who delivered the letter, that would be too stupid. Because once she said it, Jin Guangyao would not only deal with that person, he would also definitely seal Qin Su's mouth by any means necessary.

Fortunately, although Qin Su had been naive and unworldly since her youth, even a bit foolish, she no longer trusted Jin Guangyao. She stared blankly at Jin Guangyao, who sat upright and proper at the table—the Chief Cultivator above all others, her husband. Here and now, in the candlelight, he was still as handsome as a painting, his expression calm. He stood up, seeming about to bend down and help her up. Qin Su suddenly slapped his hand away and fell to the floor, unable to stop another bout of violent dry heaving.

The corner of Jin Guangyao's eyebrow twitched. 'Am I really that disgusting?'

'You're not human,' Qin Su said. 'You're a madman!'

There was a sorrowful tenderness filling Jin Guangyao's eyes as he looked at her, the same look he'd once given Wen Xu in passing. He said, 'A-Su, back then I truly had no other path to take. I'd meant to hide it from you for the rest of your life, to never let you know about this—and now it's been completely ruined by the person who told you. You think I'm filthy, you think I'm disgusting—none of that matters. But if this gets out, you're my wife. What will people say? How will they look at you?'

Qin Su clutched her head. 'Don't say any more, don't say it, don't remind me!!! I really wish I'd never known you, never had any connection to you! Why did you approach me in the first place?!'

After a moment of silence, Jin Guangyao said, 'I know now, no matter what I say, you won't believe me. But back then, I was sincere.'

Qin Su sobbed. '…You're still sweet-talking!'

'I'm telling the truth,' Jin Guangyao said. 'I've always remembered that you never said a single word about my background or my mother. I'm grateful to you for life. I wanted to respect you, cherish you, love you. But you have to understand, even if no one harmed A-Song, A-Song still had to die. He could only die. If he'd kept growing up, you and I…'

Mentioning their son, Qin Su couldn't take it anymore. She raised her hand and slapped him across the face. 'Then whose fault is all this?! What wouldn't you do for this position?!'

Jin Guangyao didn't dodge or avoid it. He took the slap head-on. A bright red palm print immediately bloomed on his pale cheek.

He closed his eyes. A moment later, he said, 'A-Su, you really won't tell me?'

Qin Su shook her head. '…Tell you, so you can go kill another witness?'

'What kind of talk is that?' Jin Guangyao said. 'It seems you're confused by illness. Your father has already gone out traveling to recuperate. During this time, I'll send you to join him, to enjoy family happiness together. Let's finish handling this matter quickly. There are still many guests outside, and tomorrow there's the symposium.'

Even at this point, he was still thinking about the guests outside and tomorrow's symposium!

He spoke of sending Qin Su to recuperate, but with his hands he ignored her pushing and struggling, helped her up, did something—Qin Su instantly went limp and weak—and then calmly, unhurriedly, half-carried, half-dragged his wife into the layers of gauze curtains. Paper Effigy Wei crept out from under the table and followed them in. He saw Jin Guangyao place his hand on a huge floor-length bronze mirror. A moment later, his fingers actually sank into the mirror, as if penetrating water. Qin Su's eyes were wide open, still weeping, watching her husband drag her into the mirror, unable to speak or cry out. Wei Wuxian knew this mirror could only be opened by Jin Guangyao himself. This chance wouldn't come again. Roughly estimating the timing, he darted in.

Behind the bronze mirror was a secret room. After Jin Guangyao entered, lamps on the walls ignited on their own, casting an eerie glow that illuminated display shelves of various shapes on all four walls. On the shelves were books, scrolls, gems, weapons. There were also a few torture instruments: dark iron rings, sharp barbs, silver hooks. Their shapes were peculiar, and just looking at their designs felt chilling. Wei Wuxian knew this was likely Jin Guangyao's handiwork.

The head of the Qishan Wen Sect, Wen Ruohan, had a cruel and temperamental nature, was extremely bloodthirsty, and sometimes took pleasure in torturing criminals. Jin Guangyao had originally caught his eye precisely because he could always come up with all sorts of varied, cruel, and interesting torture instruments, gradually climbing higher and higher until he became a trusted confidant.

Any major cultivation clan would have two or three treasure rooms, so it wasn't strange for Fangfei Hall to have a secret room like this.

Besides a writing desk, the room also held a dark, cold, rectangular iron table, long enough for a person to lie on. The table surface seemed to have some congealed black stains. Wei Wuxian thought, 'Killing and dismembering a body on this iron table would be perfectly suited.'

Jin Guangyao gently helped Qin Su lie down on this iron table. Qin Su's face was deathly pale. Jin Guangyao smoothed her slightly disheveled hair. 'Don't be afraid. In your current state, it's not convenient for you to wander around. There are many people these next few days, so just rest and recuperate. As long as you tell me who that person is, you can come back. If you're willing to talk, just nod. I haven't sealed all the meridians in your body; you can still nod.'

Qin Su's eyes turned toward her husband, who was still so gentle and considerate. Her gaze was full of fear, pain, and despair.

Right then, Wei Wuxian suddenly noticed that one of the display shelves was blocked by a curtain. That curtain was painted with blood-red, ferocious curse patterns—an extremely domineering and powerful sealing design.

A paper figure pressed itself against the base of the wall and slowly began to inch upward. Half an inch at a time, moving extremely slowly. Over there, Jin Guangyao was still softly pleading with Qin Su. Suddenly, as if sensing something, he turned his head alertly.

Inside the secret room, besides him and Qin Su, there was no third person. Jin Guangyao stood up, carefully looked around, saw nothing unusual, and then walked back.

Of course he wouldn't know that just as he turned his head, Wei Wuxian had already climbed to a shelf of books. The moment he saw Jin Guangyao's neck move slightly, he swiftly inserted his thin paper body between two books, like a bookmark, flattened and sandwiched inside, his eyes pressed tight against the paper of the front and back pages. Fortunately, although Jin Guangyao's alertness was extraordinary, it wasn't so extraordinary that he'd flip through this book to see if someone was hiding inside.

Suddenly, Wei Wuxian felt the characters he was seeing looked terribly familiar. He stared hard for a long moment, then cursed inwardly: No wonder they were familiar—this was his own handwriting!

Jiang Fengmian's assessment of his handwriting was 'sloppy and frivolous, but with elegant bones.' This was absolutely, definitely his own hand. Wei Wuxian looked more carefully and could roughly make out '…different from possession…', '…revenge…', '…forced contract formation…' There were also some damaged and blurred parts. Finally he confirmed it: the book he'd sandwiched himself into was his own manuscript. The contents recorded were an article he'd written back then about the Forbidden Soul Offering, compiled from materials he'd gathered everywhere plus his own deductions.

Back then he'd written quite a few such manuscripts, jotting them down and tossing them aside, leaving them in the cave on the Yiling Wandering Burial Ground where he slept. Some of these manuscripts were destroyed in the fires of the siege, others were collected by others as trophies, like his sword.

He'd originally wondered where Mo Xuanyu had learned the forbidden technique. Now he had an answer.

Since it was a remnant copy of a forbidden technique manuscript, Wei Wuxian absolutely did not believe Jin Guangyao would let just anyone see such a thing. It seemed that originally, even if Jin Guangyao and Mo Xuanyu weren't that kind of relationship, they were certainly not distant.

Just as he was thinking this, Jin Guangyao's voice came. 'A-Su, my time is up. I have to go host the gathering. I'll come see you again later.'

Wei Wuxian had already wriggled bit by bit out of the stack of his own manuscripts. Hearing the voice, he quickly inserted himself back in. This time, what he saw wasn't a manuscript, but what seemed to be two… property deeds?

Wei Wuxian found it very strange. A Property Deed—a piece of financial property like that—what was so special about it that it deserved to be stored together with the Yiling Patriarch's manuscripts? But looking them over, they were indeed two utterly ordinary documents, a perfectly standard house deed and land deed, no hidden mechanisms or codes, the paper yellowed, with ink stains. But he didn't think Jin Guangyao would have casually put them here, so he memorized the address—located in Yunping City, Yunmeng—thinking that if he got the chance later, he might be able to investigate something there.

After quite a while with no sound from outside, Wei Wuxian continued creeping up the wall and finally climbed to the shelf blocked by the sealing-curse curtain. But before he could clearly see what was inside this shelf, suddenly there was light before his eyes.

Jin Guangyao walked over and lifted the curtain.

For a moment, Wei Wuxian thought he'd been exposed. But as faint firelight seeped in from outside the curtain, he found himself enveloped in a patch of shadow. There was a round object in front of him, blocking him just right.

Jin Guangyao stood motionless, as if staring at whatever was placed in this shelf.

After a long while, he asked, 'Was it you watching me just now?'

Of course, there was no response. After a moment of silence, Jin Guangyao lowered the curtain.

Wei Wuxian silently pressed himself against this object. Cold, hard. It seemed to be a helmet. He moved around to the front and, as expected, saw a pallid face. The person who sealed it wanted this head to be unable to see, hear, or speak, so the pale skin of this face was densely covered in curse patterns, the eyes and mouth and ears firmly sealed.

Wei Wuxian thought silently, 'An honor to meet you, Chifeng-Zun.'