Chapter 31
Chapter Summary: After the slight dizziness subsided, Wei Wuxian stood beside Wen Ning, pondered for a moment, and then slowly began to press his hair down.
Leave and lock up Wen Ning's people!
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After the slight dizziness subsided, Wei Wuxian stood beside Wen Ning, thought for a moment, and then slowly pressed his hand into Wen Ning's hair.
The person who keeps Wen Ning locked up must not allow him to think for himself. To make him obey orders from others, Wen Ning's mind must be destroyed, and something must be planted in his head.
Sure enough, after pressing three times, Wei Wuxian found a hard little spot on a certain acupoint on the right side of his brain.
He placed his other hand on the symmetrical spot on Wen Ning's left brain, where there was a small, hard object, which looked like a needle tail.
Wei Wuxian pinched the ends of the needles at the same time and slowly pulled out two long black nails from Wen Ning's head.
The two black nails, each about an inch long and as thick as the red cord used to fasten a jade pendant, were deeply embedded in Wen Ning's skull. The instant the nails emerged from his skull, Wen Ning's facial features trembled slightly, and a layer of what appeared to be black blood vessels crept into the whites of his eyes, as if he were trying his best to endure the pain.
Even though it's a dead person, it can still feel this kind of pain.
“Ah Ning…”
Watching this scene, Wen Qing gently touched the spot on the back of Wen Ning's head where the skull-piercing nail had been driven. A wave of heartache and guilt washed over her; if she hadn't failed to protect him then, her younger brother wouldn't have suffered such pain.
Thinking of this pain that went deep into her bones, Wen Qing quickly took out a silver needle and extended it straight towards Xue Yang.
"Wow!"
Xue Yang suddenly dodged, looking at Wen Qing with a face full of shock and uncertainty.
"I'm saying, even if I made this skull-piercing nail, you don't have to prick me with a needle, do you? I went through so much trouble to put that nail in his head..."
Seeing Wen Qing's increasingly gloomy expression, Xue Yang silently swallowed his next words. Never mind, he couldn't afford to offend his protective older sister.
Then he glared fiercely at Wei Wuxian, who was watching the show from the sidelines.
Wei Wuxian: ...
I didn't stab you, why are you glaring at me?
The two nails were engraved with intricate patterns, indicating their extraordinary origin. The person who made them must have considerable skill. It would be quite some time before Wen Ning recovered. Wei Wuxian put them away, then looked down at the iron chains on Wen Ning's wrists and ankles, thinking to himself, "It's not a good idea for them to keep jingling like this. I need to find a famous sword from a cultivation sect to cut them off."
The first thing that came to his mind was naturally Lan Wangji's Bichen.
Although it was somewhat inappropriate to use the Lan family's sword to help Wen Ning cut the chains, he had too many questions for Wen Ning to answer. He couldn't let Wen Ning carry such a burden on his shoulders. If they were surrounded, he needed to at least be able to escape unscathed.
Wei Wuxian thought to himself, "Okay. I'll go back to the inn now. If Lan Zhan is awake, I won't lend it to him. If Lan Zhan is still asleep, I'll borrow Bichen for a while."
Having made up his mind, he turned around. To his surprise, Lan Wangji was standing right behind him.
After summoning Wen Ning, Wei Wuxian's mind was slightly confused, and he couldn't see and hear everything around him. If Lan Wangji didn't want anyone to notice his arrival, it would be easy for him. So when he turned around and saw that face under the moonlight that was becoming colder and more frosty, his heart skipped a beat and he was slightly startled.
He didn't know how long Lan Wangji had been there, or if he had overheard everything he did and said. If Lan Wangji hadn't been drunk from the start and had followed him all the way, the situation would be even more awkward.
It was truly awkward to avoid mentioning Wen Ning in person, only to summon him as soon as he fell asleep.
Cough cough cough cough...
Wei Wuxian started coughing again.
Everyone: ...? ??
Wen Ning lowered her head silently. "Don't look at me. I didn't see anything, and I don't know anything."
Just as everyone was about to continue watching, a white board suddenly descended from the water curtain, completely blocking the view of the sky. No matter how the cultivators in the space turned their heads or tilted their bodies, they couldn't see anything.
Everyone: ...
Xiao Niangui's voice rang out calmly: "The power of the Heavenly Shadow cannot be altered; it can only be used to shield everyone's sight, hearing, and empathy."
Everyone thought, "That's fine then. It's just a matter of getting drunk. We'll take Hanguang-jun back and put him to sleep, and that'll be the end of it." But they really didn't expect this—
Five minutes have passed…
Ten minutes have passed…
Fifteen minutes have passed…
It's been almost half an hour...
The whiteboard hasn't been raised yet.
Everyone: ...
What were you two doing while Lan Wangji was drunk?!
Lan Wangji stood frozen in place, not yet answering, when the sound of porcelain shattering came from the center of the room.
The sound was familiar; it was the second time he had heard it. Once again, the sealed evil-sealing pouch, which had been pressed against the table, stirred, overturning the teapot and teacups. This time, it was even more ferocious, with all three moving together.
Last night, one of them was completely drunk, and the other was thoroughly exhausted, so naturally, they forgot all about their duet. Wei Wuxian was a little worried that Lan Wangji might act impulsively in his shock and accidentally stab him to death on the bed, so he quickly said, "Let's get down to business! Come on, let's get down to business first!"
He grabbed a piece of clothing, threw it on, rolled off the bed, and reached out towards Lan Wangji, looking as if he was about to tear his clothes off. Lan Wangji hadn't recovered yet and took a step back, tripping over something under his feet. Looking down, he saw it was Bichen Sword, which had been lying there all night.
In the small room, chaos reigned, with people and horses stumbling about. Wei Wuxian reached into Lan Wangji's robes and pulled out a flute, saying, "Hanguang-jun, don't be afraid. I'm not going to do anything to you, but you took my flute last night, and I have to get it back."
Lan Wangji looked at him with a complicated expression, seemingly wanting to ask about the details of his drunken night, but he was used to doing things first, so he forcibly held back, composed himself, and first played a duet of "Rest in Peace" with him.
The three sealing bags sealed different parts of the body: one sealed the left arm, one the legs, and one the torso. These three limbs had become connected, forming most of a body. They influenced each other, causing the resentment to multiply. This time, it took three repetitions of the "Rest in Peace" incantation to have any effect. After the three sealing bags gradually calmed down, Wei Wuxian untied two of them, shaking an arm out of one and a torso out of the other.
This time, the left hand was pointing south, slightly west. The object it was pointing to was either the right hand or a head.
Once dressed, Wei Wuxian looked quite respectable again. When it came to serious matters, he became very earnest, or rather, he pretended to be serious: "I hope the next step is to find his head. That way, your family can draw a portrait or post it online for all the major and minor clans to see, and we'll quickly find out who our good brother is."
But he couldn't stay serious for more than a few words before he grinned and said, "Speaking of which, my good brother, you've got some good training."
Everyone: ...
Nie Mingjue: ...Thank you.
Lan Wangji: ...
Lan Qiren: "...What exactly did you two do?!"
I tried to hold back, but I couldn't.
Wei Wuxian awkwardly touched his nose, thinking to himself: Actually, I didn't do anything back then. Besides, we're now a couple, we've done everything, why are you so angry, Uncle?
The shroud covering the torso was tattered, the collar askew, revealing the strong and powerful body of a young man. Wei Wuxian's words were quite true. Lan Wangji immediately put it back into the Sealing Evil Qiankun Bag and tied it with three tight knots.
Wei Wuxian knew he couldn't stand such frivolous words. But as before, the more he couldn't bear to hear them, the more he wanted to speak. After finishing tying up the Qiankun bag and putting it away, Lan Wangji looked at him, his face still expressionless, but his eyes were full of unspoken words. He deliberately said, "Hanguang-jun, why are you looking at me like that? Are you worried? Trust me. I really didn't do anything to you last night, and of course, you didn't do anything to me either."
Lan Wangji said, "...Last night, besides stealing the flute, I..."
Wei Wuxian said, "You? What else did you do, right? You didn't do anything, you just talked a lot."
Lan Wangji: "...What are you saying?"
Wei Wuxian: "It's nothing important. It's just, um, like, you really like rabbits, or something."
"..." Lan Wangji closed his eyes and turned his head away.
Wei Wuxian said considerately, "It's alright! Rabbits are so cute, who wouldn't like them? Come on, Hanguang-jun, wash up properly, wash your face, drink some water, and we'll head downstairs. I'm going back next door, I won't bother you anymore."
He walked out of the room, closed the door, and stood in the hallway, silently bursting into laughter for a long while.
Everyone: ...
A day ago, if someone had told them that the aloof and cold Lan Wangji also had a girlish heart and liked rabbits, it would have been a major event that everyone would be excited to hear. But now...
You say Lan Wangji just likes rabbits? I don't believe you.
Otherwise, why would you be laughing like that?
Lan Wangji seemed devastated, locking himself in his room and not emerging for a long time. While waiting for him, Wei Wuxian leisurely went downstairs, left the inn, sat on the steps, and squinted in the sun. After a while, a group of thirteen or fourteen-year-old children ran past on the street.
A little boy at the front ran very fast, holding a long string in his hand. At the end of the string, a kite flew up and down, neither too high nor too low. The children behind him held small bows and arrows, shouting as they chased after the kite and tried to shoot it.
Wei Wuxian used to love playing this game too. Archery was a compulsory skill for every scion of a noble family, but most of them didn't like to shoot at targets properly. Apart from hunting demons and monsters at night, they preferred to fly kites like this. Each person had one, and whoever flew it the highest, farthest, and most accurately at the same time was the winner. This game was originally popular among the younger scions of various cultivation sects, but after it spread, children from ordinary families also enjoyed it. However, the lethality of their arrows was no match for that of the skilled and talented scions of noble families.
Back in Lotus Pier, Wei Wuxian played kite flying with the Jiang Clan disciples, winning first place many times. Jiang Cheng, on the other hand, was often second; his kites either flew too far for the arrows to reach, or they hit the arrows but didn't fly as far as Wei Wuxian's. Most of their kites were shaped like flying demonic beasts, brightly colored and extravagant, with gaping maws and several sharp tails swaying wildly in the wind. From a distance, they looked incredibly lifelike, even somewhat ferocious. Wei Wuxian's kite was a whole size larger than the others; it was drawn for him by Jiang Yanli.
Thinking of this, Wei Wuxian smiled faintly and involuntarily looked up to see what kind of kite the children had flown. It was a large, round, golden kite with several long tassels hanging down.
He wondered, "What is this thing? A sesame seed cake? Or some kind of monster I don't know about?"
Just then, a gust of wind blew. The kite wasn't flying very high to begin with, and it wasn't in an open area, so the wind made it fall. A little boy cried out, "Oh dear, the sun has fallen down!"
That round, golden thing was the sun. Wei Wuxian immediately understood. These children were probably playing a game imitating the Sunshot Campaign.
This place is Liyang. Back when the Wen clan of Qishan was at its peak, they lorded it over everyone. Liyang wasn't far from Qishan, and the locals inevitably suffered greatly, either from their untamed monsters or from the bullying of their cultivators. After the Sunshot Campaign, the Wen clan was crushed by a coalition of other clans, their century-old foundation collapsing in an instant. Many places around Qishan developed a tradition of celebrating the Wen clan's demise. This kind of game could probably be considered one of them.
The children stopped chasing and gathered together, looking quite troubled, and began to discuss: "What should we do? The sun fell down by itself before we even shot it down. Who will be the leader now?"
One person raised their hand: "Of course it's me! I am Jin Guangyao, and I killed the great villain of the Wen family!"
Wei Wuxian sat on the steps in front of the inn, watching with great interest.
In this kind of game, the currently all-powerful Immortal Overseer, Lianfang Zun, is naturally the most popular character. During the Sunshot Campaign, Jin Guangyao infiltrated the Qishan Wen Clan for years with remarkable skill, deceiving everyone inside and out, unknowingly leaking countless secrets, and ultimately successfully assassinating the Wen Clan leader, giving the Sunshot Campaign a perfect ending. If he were playing, he'd also like to try being Jin Guangyao. Choosing this kid as the leader is perfectly reasonable!
Another person protested: "I am Nie Mingjue, I have the most victories and the most prisoners! I am the boss!"
Jin Guangyao said, "But I am the Immortal Overseer."
Nie Mingjue raised his fist: "So what if he's the Immortal Supervisor? He's still my third brother. He'll run away with his tail between his legs when he sees me!"
"Jin Guangyao" was indeed very cooperative and into character; he shrugged and ran away. Another person said, "You short-lived devil."
Having chosen to become a certain immortal leader, one naturally harbors some fondness and longing for that leader. "Nie Mingjue" retorted angrily, "Jin Zixuan, you died even earlier than me, do you have the right to say I died young!"
Jin Zixuan retorted, "So what if I died young? I'm third in the rankings."
"Ranking third is just because his face is third!"
Just then, a little boy, seemingly tired from running and standing, sidled up to the steps and sat down next to Wei Wuxian. He waved his hand and, like a peacemaker, said, "Alright, alright, stop arguing. I'm the Yiling Patriarch, I'm the strongest. I think I'll reluctantly become the leader."
Wei Wuxian: "..."
Only a child like this would be so innocent as to disregard good and evil, praise and blame, and only argue about fighting prowess, and would even deign to be called the Yiling Patriarch.
Another person said, "No, I am the Three Poisons Master, I am the most powerful."
The Yiling Patriarch said knowingly, "Jiang Cheng, what do you have that can compare to me? You've lost to me every time. How dare you say you're the best? Aren't you ashamed?"
Jiang Cheng said, "Hmph, I'm not as good as you? Do you remember how you died?"
The faint smile on Wei Wuxian's lips melted away in an instant.
It felt like being unexpectedly pricked by a tiny, highly poisonous needle; a slight, stinging pain suddenly spread throughout my body.
The group of people were initially smiling as they watched the adorable children play games, but little did they know that children's unintentional words could be the most hurtful.
Nie Mingjue snorted coldly.
Lan Xichen sighed softly.
Jin Guangyao lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought.
Jiang Cheng's smile froze on his lips as he looked up at Wei Wuxian.
No matter what, it's a thorn, a thorn that, even if removed, will leave a deep scar on your heart.
The atmosphere here is a bit somber, but the younger generation is having a great time. It's possible that besides the younger generation in Suzhou, others also tried this game when they were young.
Lan Jingyi turned to look at Wei Wuxian, then at Jin Zixuan, and whispered in Lan Sizhui's ear, "I think Senior Wei's face is just as good as Senior Jin's, so why is he ranked after him?"
Lan Sizhui: ...
He paused for a moment, then said, "Don't you know how many times Senior Wei has tricked you?"
Although Jin Zixuan was arrogant, at least he didn't have any wicked tastes, but Wei Wuxian...
It's just for fun, okay?
The "Yiling Patriarch" beside him clapped his hands and said, "Then I'll add Wen Ning to our side, plus a Yin Tiger Seal, and we'll be invincible! Where's Wen Ning? Come out!" He picked up a stone at his feet and used it as the "Yin Tiger Seal." A little boy said weakly, "I'm here... um... I wanted to say... during the Sunshot Campaign, I wasn't dead yet..."
Wei Wuxian felt he had to interrupt.
He said, "Esteemed immortals, may I ask you a question?"
These children had never been interfered with by adults while playing this game before, let alone with such a serious question, let alone a scolding. "The Yiling Patriarch" looked at him strangely and warily: "What do you want to ask?"
Wei Wuxian asked, "Why aren't there any members of the Lan family here?"
"Yes, I have."
"Where?"
"The Yiling Patriarch" pointed to a child who hadn't uttered a single word from beginning to end: "That's him."
Wei Wuxian took a look and, sure enough, the child had delicate features and wore a rope around his forehead as a headband. He asked, "Who is he?"
The Yiling Patriarch curled his lip in disdain and said, "Lan Zhan!"
...Okay. These kids got it right. Playing Lan Zhan, you really should keep quiet!
Suddenly, Wei Wuxian's lips curved into a smile again.
The poisoned needle was pulled out and tossed into some corner, the stinging pain vanishing instantly. Wei Wuxian muttered to himself, "How strange. How can Lan Zhan, such a sullen person, always make me so happy?!"
Everyone:...
A complex mix of emotions just beginning to rise...
This dog food is poisonous!!
When Lan Wangji came downstairs, he saw Wei Wuxian sitting alone on the steps, laughing maniacally. When he saw Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian managed to stand up with great difficulty. He walked along the way, laughing all the way, as if he had been poisoned by some strange drug.
Lan Wangji couldn't help but ask, "...What else did I do last night?"
It can't be that simple, otherwise why would he be laughing now?
Wei Wuxian stroked his chin and said, "I'd better not say it. I don't know what's so funny, I just can't help it. In the past, you would definitely have said I was being silly. Okay, I won't laugh anymore, let's talk about something serious. Actually, yesterday at the Chang family cemetery, I thought of some things that I didn't have time to tell you."
Lan Wangji said, "Speak."
Wei Wuxian said, "Ahem. The waiter at that wine shop said that the haunting and coffin-tapping at the Chang residence and the Chang family cemetery started ten years ago. I listened very carefully, and what he meant was that the haunting had stopped. But as soon as we arrived, the coffin-tapping sound suddenly started again. This is definitely not a coincidence."
"But I think the reason the sound of pounding the coffin started again wasn't because we came. It was because the gravedigger dug up my good brother's torso."
Lan Wangji listened intently. Seeing this, Wei Wuxian recalled how Lan Wangji had held two of Lan Wangji's fingers tightly when he was drunk last night. He painfully suppressed a laugh and said seriously, "So, I'm thinking that this dismemberment might be a vicious method of suppression. The dismemberer intentionally chose places where strange phenomena were causing trouble to place the body parts."
"The principle is the same as the method used by the Nie family of Qinghe to suppress the sword spirit and the wall corpse in their sacrificial hall: using poison to fight poison, mutual restraint, and maintaining balance—perhaps it was originally learned from the Nie family's sacrificial hall."
"The left hand that was first discovered must have been suppressed in a similar way. Otherwise, given its ferocity and bloodlust, it wouldn't have been discovered in Mo Family Village until then."
"The purpose of using this vicious method of suppression, cutting up the body and soul and throwing them into places far apart, is simply to prevent them from coming together. In other words, when they come together and are pieced together into a complete body, something will definitely happen that will terrify the dismemberer. For example, his good brother will come looking for him to take revenge."
Lan Wangji concluded, "Once the bodies are gathered together, the murderer will be revealed."
Wei Wuxian said, "Your words are concise and to the point, I am ashamed of my own. Also... I hope that your good brother's resentment is only directed at the murderer. Otherwise, after we have gathered the limbs, torso and head, what we will be facing is a fierce corpse with overwhelming resentment, extremely high cultivation and extremely heavy killing intent."
Heading southwest, this time, the location indicated by the left hand is the fog-shrouded eastern Sichuan.
A ghost town that locals avoid like the plague.
Everyone: ...
Where have these two led us to focus our attention?
After all this flirting, haven't we gotten to the point yet?
The people of Yicheng: ...Even if this matter isn't important, there's no need to ignore it so completely...
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