Chapter 110 One Hundred and Ten
Chapter Summary: [After descending the mountain path, we took a hidden trail away from the Cloud Recesses, gradually disappearing into the distance until we were completely away from Gu...]
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After descending the mountain path, they took a hidden trail away from Cloud Recesses and walked further and further away until they were completely out of the area where the disciples of the Gusu Lan Clan usually frequented. Suddenly, Wei Wuxian said, "Ouch, my stomach hurts."
Lan Wangji immediately stopped and said, "Rest and change your dressing."
Wei Wuxian said, "No need. I'll just sit on it."
Lan Wangji said, "Please sit down."
Wei Wuxian said with a bitter face, "But the movement of mounting the donkey is too big, I'm afraid it will aggravate my wound."
His wound had already healed; this was clearly a lie. Lan Wangji stopped, turned around, looked at him, and suddenly reached out, avoiding the injured area, hugged his waist, and gently lifted him onto Little Apple's back.
One rode a donkey, the other walked by the roadside. Wei Wuxian sat on Little Apple's back, his eyes crinkling with laughter. Lan Wangji asked, "What's wrong?"
Wei Wuxian said, "Nothing."
He felt a little smug, as if he had done something slightly naughty.
Everyone: ...
Ouch, my teeth...
Is this the Yiling Patriarch who killed without hesitation?
She's probably some fussy, pretentious young wife.
Lan Qiren was numb to seeing Lan Wangji so naturally and affectionately reach out and lift Wei Wuxian onto Little Apple.
Although he doesn't remember many things from his childhood, one scene remains vaguely imprinted in his mind.
A narrow path, a little spotted donkey, and three people. A man in black gently lifted a woman in white, carried her to the back of the little spotted donkey, and then lifted a small child high onto his shoulder.
He was that tiny child, barely tall enough to reach a person's leg. He climbed onto the black-clad man's shoulders, suddenly becoming very tall and imposing. He grabbed the man's hair, rubbed his face, kicking his legs wildly and barking incoherently. The woman in white sat swaying on the donkey's back, watching them, seemingly smiling. The man remained silent, not daring to speak, only gently lifting him to make him sit higher and more securely, holding the donkey's rope in one hand. The three of them squeezed onto a narrow path, slowly making their way forward.
This is one of his few memories.
Those were his father and mother.
Xiao Niangui also released this scene.
Although the people couldn't see the faces of the two adults and the child clearly, they could feel the warm atmosphere of this family of three from their affectionate and loving actions.
"Sigh..." Jiang Fengmian couldn't help but sigh deeply upon seeing this scene.
Even he could no longer make out the appearance of the person in the shadow.
In my memory, Cangse and Changze were always so carefree and unrestrained, so from childhood to adulthood, watching Wei Wuxian play everywhere, going up mountains and down rivers, was like seeing my old friends.
Wei Wuxian said, "Lan Zhan, why don't you pull the rope a little?"
Lan Wangji asked, "Why?"
Little Apple is clever; she's not incapable of following people around. Wei Wuxian said, "Would you do me the honor of holding my hand?"
Although still puzzled as to why Wei Wuxian's smile was so radiant, Lan Wangji still did as he was told and took the reins of Little Apple, holding them in his hand.
Wei Wuxian muttered to himself, "Hmm. Just one less."
"Pfft—! Cough cough cough cough..."
Lan Jingyi and the others coughed so loudly it was earth-shattering.
Missing a small one?!
Is that what we meant?
Could it be that one day, there will be another child at Cloud Recesses?
Will we fall out of favor...?
"Shameless!" Lan Qiren couldn't help but scold in a low voice.
Unfortunately, the person who was speaking hasn't woken up yet and can't hear it.
Lan Wangji didn't pay attention to Wei Wuxian's words. After realizing his own feelings, he knew that he couldn't have offspring. If Wei Wuxian wanted a child, then he could adopt one from a branch of the Lan clan.
Back then, he didn't know that this scene evoked Wei Ying's longing for his parents, but if it could give him safety and comfort, he would be willing to do anything.
Lan Wangji asked, "What?"
Wei Wuxian said with a hint of delight, "It's nothing. Lan Zhan, you're such a good person."
The journey to Yiling was clearly uncertain, perhaps even more perilous than fortunate, yet Wei Wuxian felt no tension whatsoever. Riding a small, flowery donkey, with Lan Wangji leading the way, he felt utterly carefree, as if floating on clouds. He felt that even if a bunch of powerful clans suddenly appeared by the roadside, it wouldn't matter much except for spoiling the scenery and dampening everyone's spirits. He even had the mood to admire the moonlit fields and drew his bamboo flute from his waist. Naturally, he began to play a melody.
The flute music was clear and melodious, causing Lan Wangji to pause slightly, while Wei Wuxian suddenly felt a glimmer of hope.
He said, "Lan Zhan! I'm asking you, what was the name of the song you sang to me when we slaughtered the Xuanwu Cave at Muxi Mountain?"
Lan Wangji looked at him and said, "Why did you suddenly remember to ask this?"
Wei Wuxian said, "Just tell me, what's your name? I think I know how you recognized me."
That night at Dafan Mountain, the tune he inexplicably played was the same melody that Lan Wangji had softly sung beside him when he was delirious and running a low fever after the massacre at the bottom of Xuanwu Cave at Muxi Mountain!
Lan Wangji remained silent, but Wei Wuxian urged, "Speak! What song is it? Who composed it?"
Lan Wangji said, "Me."
Wei Wuxian said, "You did this?!"
Lan Wangji replied, "Mm."
Wei Wuxian had initially thought the melody was some kind of secret tune passed down only by the Gusu Lan Clan, but to his surprise, it turned out to be something else entirely. He was both astonished and delighted. The reason for his astonishment was self-evident, but the reason for his delight was hard to explain. He tentatively asked, "If you really recognized me like this, it means—you've never let anyone else hear this melody before?"
Lan Wangji replied, "No."
Overjoyed, Wei Wuxian kicked Little Apple hard. Little Apple barked angrily, seemingly trying to throw him off, but Lan Wangji swiftly tightened the rope. Wei Wuxian put his arm around Little Apple's neck and said, "It's alright, it's just like that, it only knows how to bounce like that. Let's continue. So, what's its name?"
Lan Wangji asked, "What do you think?"
Wei Wuxian said, "What do you mean 'I think'? Does it even have a name?" He thought to himself, "Could Lan Zhan be naming things in the same style as Jiang Cheng? Impossible!" He continued, "Are you asking for my opinion? I think it would be better to call him..."
After Lan Wangji rejected all eighty-odd names he had carefully chosen, Wei Wuxian's enthusiasm gradually waned.
Everyone: ...
More dog food (romantic content), and incidentally, it solved one of the world's greatest unsolved mysteries.
Hearing Wei Wuxian's barrage of questions, Jiang Cheng, who had some musical knowledge but not much, said he didn't feel anything for the piece. However, based on his understanding of Wei Wuxian, if he were awake right now, he might not be satisfied until Nian Gui had plugged everyone's ears.
After all, how could so many people hear his love song with Lan Wangji?
Then he heard Wei Wuxian name over eighty names that were either sickeningly cheesy or ridiculously tacky. Jiang Cheng tried his best to maintain a friendly expression, but then he heard Nie Huaisang ask him:
"Brother Jiang, the way you Yunmeng name your children is truly a tradition."
Jin Zixuan: Pfft...
Jiang Cheng: ...
Little Princess, Love is clearly a very nice song!
To avoid encountering searching cultivators on main roads, the two chose secluded country lanes. After traveling for a day, Wei Wuxian felt slightly tired and thirsty. Just then, they saw a farmhouse by the roadside, and Lan Wangji reined in Little Apple.
No one answered the knocking, so he pushed again, and the door opened by itself. In the center of the yard stood a handmade wooden table with a bowl of unshelled beans on it. A tall stack of straw stood by the earthen wall, with a rake stuck in it. Chickens were pecking at the rice and running around.
Wei Wuxian saw a few melons piled up in the corner of the courtyard, walked over and picked one up, saying in a serious tone, "Master is not here, Hanguang-jun, please make yourselves at home."
Just as Lan Wangji was about to take out some silver and put it on the table, footsteps came from outside the wall. Two people, one in front and one behind, must be the master returning home. For some reason, as soon as Wei Wuxian heard the footsteps, he immediately pulled Lan Wangji behind a haystack.
Fortunately, Lan Wangji was always calm and composed, so he didn't make a sound from the sudden pounce. But he clearly didn't understand why they had to hide. Wei Wuxian also thought, "Yeah, why do we have to hide? The villagers in this village won't recognize us. Why don't we just say we're here to buy food? Maybe we've done too many bad things. We're used to it."
However, his pounce pushed Lan Wangji down onto the soft haystack. This semi-forced position gave him a strange sense of excitement, so he simply didn't get up. He pretended to be deep and raised his index finger to signal Lan Wangji to be quiet. Then, he pretended that he had no choice but to lie on top of him with a clear conscience, feeling a secret joy that he couldn't express.
The sound of wooden stools being moved around came from the courtyard, and the two farmers seemed to have sat down at the small wooden table. A female voice said, "Second brother, let me hold you."
Upon hearing the word "Second Brother," Lan Wangji was slightly taken aback.
Just then, a male voice said, "You just peel the beans." Then came the soft murmurs of a sleeping child.
It appears to be a young couple. The wife is preparing dinner, while the husband is holding their sleeping child.
Wei Wuxian smiled and winked at Lan Wangji with his left eye, then whispered, "Coincidentally, one of the owners of this farmhouse is also a 'second brother'."
His tone rose at the end, revealing a playful glint. Lan Wangji glanced at him intently, then turned away. Wei Wuxian's heart skipped a beat. He leaned close to Lan Wangji's ear and whispered, "Second Brother Lan."
Lan Wangji's breath seemed to catch in his throat for a moment, and his gaze held a warning in it.
Everyone: ...
I got goosebumps all over.
However, Lan Wangji rarely heard Wei Wuxian call him so affectionately. It was usually only when Wei Wuxian needed something or was moved by his feelings that Wei Wuxian would whisper softly in his ear.
Upon hearing this, Lan Wangji could only pinch the cheek of the person in his arms as a form of punishment.
In the courtyard, the wife laughed and said, "You don't know how to hold him. If you wake him up later, I'll have to soothe him myself."
The husband said, "He had a blast today and is exhausted. He won't wake up right now."
His wife, cracking beans in her hand, said, "Second brother, you really need to discipline Abao properly. He's only four years old and he's like this. What will he be like when he grows up? Other children have cried several times, saying they never want to play with him again."
The husband said, "But he still responds every time. He says he doesn't want to, but he clearly wants to play with him."
Wei Wuxian chuckled and said, "Lan Er-gege, what's your opinion on that statement? Do you agree with it?"
Lan Wangji said, "Stop talking."
Their voices were so low that ordinary people couldn't hear them at all. While the young couple chatted about everyday things, Wei Wuxian had already leaned close to Lan Wangji's ear and relentlessly called out "Lan Er-gege" seven or eight times in a soft, gentle voice. Lan Wangji seemed to finally not be able to bear it any longer and suddenly turned over.
His movements were swift and steady; the haystack remained unmoved, but Wei Wuxian was already pinned beneath him.
Lan Wangji said in a low voice, "Say it again, and I'll silence you."
Wei Wuxian reached out his hand towards Lan Wangji's face, but Lan Wangji immediately grabbed his wrist. Wei Wuxian said seriously, "Hanguang-jun, there's straw on your forehead ribbon."
Upon hearing this, Lan Wangji slowly released his grip. Wei Wuxian removed the thin straw from his hand, held it up to his face, and said triumphantly, "See, I didn't lie to you."
Everyone: ...
Oh my god.
The image of Lan Wangji is completely gone.
Lan Xichen looked at the two people stacked together in the sky, and then at his uncle's back as he struggled to sit up. He began to seriously consider whether he should just knock his uncle unconscious.
Otherwise, I'm afraid my uncle won't be able to hold on.
He had underestimated his younger brother and sister-in-law.
Before he could gloat for long, he heard the young wife say, "Even so, we can't just let Abao bully people."
Her husband casually said, "Let him go. He's just a little boy. He only bullies those he likes. He just wants others to watch him."
Upon hearing this, Wei Wuxian's smile froze.
Just then, it seemed that the young child had woken up, mumbling a few words in a childish voice. The couple quickly tried to soothe him. After playing with the child for a while, he fell asleep again. The young woman said, "Second brother, I just told you that you should discipline Abao properly, not only because of this, but also because things have been a bit unsettled lately. You should tell him not to go out and play, and to come home early every day."
The husband said, "I know. Is it because the old graves near the village have been dug up these past few days?"
His wife said, "I've heard that not only in our village, but also in the city, many families have had problems with their ancestral graves. It's too strange. It's better for Abao to stay home and play more, and not go out all the time."
The husband said, "Hmm. If we run into that Yiling Patriarch, that would be terrible."
Wei Wuxian: "..."
The young woman said softly, "I've heard the story of the Yiling Patriarch since I was a child. I thought that 'if you don't behave, the Yiling Patriarch will come back to find you and take you to be fed to the ghosts' was just something adults told children. Who knew that there was actually such a person, and that he actually came back."
The husband said, "Yes. As soon as I heard about the grave digging, I thought of him. Sure enough, the whole city was buzzing about it."
Bound to the label of "grave robbing," Wei Wuxian had no choice but to accept it. Frankly, he'd done this many times before. The most infamous instance was during the middle of the Sunshot Campaign, when he dug up the entire cemetery of the Qishan Wen clan's ancestors, turning all the corpses into puppets. He also turned every Wen clan cultivator he killed into a puppet, then used them to slaughter his own relatives and friends. During the Sunshot Campaign, these deeds were inspiring and praiseworthy. However, the longer the Sunshot Campaign passed, the more horrified and disgusted others became when it was mentioned. Not only others, but even he himself later realized he'd gone too far. Plus, his identity had only been exposed a few days prior, so it was no wonder people assumed the Yiling Patriarch was responsible for the rampant grave robbing.
The wife continued, "I just hope he understands that every wrong has its perpetrator and every debt its debtor. If he wants revenge, let him seek it out on those cultivators. But please, don't let him bring misfortune upon ordinary families like ours."
Her husband said, "Who can say for sure? I was very young when he killed more than three thousand people in Qishan, but I still remember that back then, not only those immortal cultivators were afraid of him, but even ordinary people were afraid of him. He was a bloodthirsty maniac who didn't care about his own family."
Wei Wuxian's smile gradually faded.
The atmosphere in the Heavenly Realm froze once again.
In this world, rumors always spread more and more wildly, until in the end, no one knows whether they are true or false, but they all tend to converge.
Today it's said that the Yiling Patriarch dug up the Wen family's graves, but three days later it's said that the Yiling Patriarch dug up any grave he saw.
Today it's said that Wei Wuxian killed many members of the Wen family, tomorrow it'll be said that Wei Wuxian went berserk and killed everyone he met.
But what's the truth? Is that really the case?
Does anyone question what they hear? Perhaps some do.
But who would dare speak up for someone who is a complete stranger and has a notorious reputation? No one would.
Or rather, a handful of people simply cannot awaken those who only believe what they want to believe.
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