Wei WuXian suddenly murmured, “… Lan Zhan.”

"Oh what is it now?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"You're dreaming about Wangji-xiong." said Nie Huaisang.

Wei Wuxian blushed at that.

He reached out and grabbed one of Lan WangJi’s sleeves. Lan WangJi had always been beside him. He immediately bent down and whispered, “I am here.”

Wei WuXian hadn’t woken up yet. His eyes were still tightly shut, yet his hand didn’t let go either. He seemed to be dreaming, muttering, “… Don’t… Don’t be angry…”

Lan WangJi seemed somewhat surprised. His voice was gentle, “I am not angry.”

Wei WuXian, “… Oh.”

"You're really are dreaming about him." laughed Nie Huaisang.

"It's normal for lovers to have dreams about their special someone." said Wei Wuxian.

"But the both of you aren't lovers yet." said Jiang Cheng.

"Way to ruin the moment." said Wei Wuxian.

Hearing this, as though he finally felt assured, his fingers loosened.

Lan WangJi sat beside Wei WuXian for a while. Seeing that he was motionless again, he was about to stand up when Wei WuXian grabbed him with his other hand, hugging his arm and refusing to let go. He shouted, “I’ll go with you, quick, take me back to your sect!”

Lan WangJi widened his eyes.

"Now you want to go back with him?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Didn't you just pushed him away from earlier scenes before Wen Chao's death?" he added.

"Maybe I was dreaming about it that made me realize that it's a mistake." said Wei Wuxian.

"Maybe pushing Lan Wangji away is really a mistake." said Jiang Cheng.

"What timeline are we now?" asked Jingyi.

"I don't know." said Zizhen.

"Let's just watch further." said Sizhui.

After he shouted, Wei WuXian seemed to have shouted himself awake. His long lashes trembled before he slowly opened his eyes. After his sight finally went from blurred to clear, he suddenly realized that both of his hands were wrapped around Lan WangJi as though he was grasping a straw, clutching a floating piece of wood within water.

He immediately let go, almost wanting to roll away. His movement was so large that it hurt the wound at his stomach. He exclaimed an ‘ah’ as he scrunched his brows, finally remembering that he was still injured. Amid the stars before his eyes, Jin Ling, Jiang Cheng, Jiang YanLi, Jiang FengMian, Madam Yu… Many faces spun around in a large circle.

Lan WangJi held him down, “The wound at your stomach?”

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

"Oh so we're back at that timeline." said Jingyi.

"Where Jin Ling stabbed Wei Wuxian?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Out of all things, jiujiu." said Jin Ling.

"That's what I remember." said Jiang Cheng.

After Lan WangJi settled him down, he lifted his clothes. Wei WuXian’s stomach had been bandaged properly already. After the bandages had been peeled away, he could see that the wound had healed. On his legs, the curse mark had disappeared as well.

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

Only having ensured that his injuries were indeed fine did Lan WangJi finally let him go, “Four days.”

"That long?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Is my body that weak?" he added.

"Mn. But, it's getting stronger now." said Sizhui.

Jin Ling’s sword stabbed right through. The wound hadn’t been shallow at all. How it healed within four days without even leaving a scar behind meant that high level medicine of the GusuLan Sect had to have been necessary. Wei WuXian thanked him, mocking himself along the way, “I’ve reincarnated but somehow I’ve become even weaker. I couldn’t keep going after just a single stab.”

Lan WangJi’s voice was tepid, “Nobody would be able to keep going after a stab through the body.”

"Sorry, Wei-daijiu." said Jin Ling.

"Didn't I already forgave you about that? Forget about it." said Wei Wuxian with a smile.

"As long as you won't do such thing again, a-ling." said Jiang Yanli.

"I won't." said Jin Ling.

Wei WuXian, “That’s not true. If I was in the body from my past life, even if half of my intestines were dangling out, I’d be able to stick them back in and continue fighting.”

"You really have to say that?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"But, why would that happen to me?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"I can't even imagine myself at such kind of situation." he added.

"Then stop saying nonsense." said Jiang Cheng.

Seeing that right after he woke up he began to speak nonsense again, Lan WangJi shook his head and turned away. Wei WuXian thought that he was going to leave. He hurried, “Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan! Don’t go. I was talking nonsense, my fault, but don’t ignore me.”

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

Wei WuXian, “I am, I am.”

He hadn’t experienced the feeling of having somebody at his side when he had gotten hurt and woke up for a long time.

"What does he mean by that? I have shijie." said Wei Wuxian.

"We'll find out." said Jiang Yanli.

"Or maybe he was just scared for Lan Wangji to leave him." said Jiang Cheng.

"The man is in love." he added.

Wei Wuxian blushed at that.

Two swords were worn at Lan WangJi’s waist. He took off Suibian and passed it to him, “Your sword.”

Seeing the sword, Wei WuXian first hesitated. He quickly replied, “Thank you.”

"Why are you hesitating?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"I don't know either. Suibian is very important to me." said Wei Wuxian.

Holding the hilt, he slowly pulled it out. A pair of eyes were reflected against the snow-white blade. Wei WuXian stared at the pair of eyes for a while before he put Suibian back into its sheath again, “It really did seal itself?”

Lan WangJi grabbed the hilt of Suibian as well. He pulled out, but it didn’t move at all. Wei WuXian sighed. He patted the body of the sword, I knew that Jin GuangYao didn’t dare make things up without any basis… So it really did seal itself. I just happened to have run into something amazing that only happens once in ten thousand years. It’s all over now. The evidence is ironclad. Whoever pulled it out had to be Wei WuXian, no exceptions. I can’t deny it even if I want to.

"Well, Jin Guangyao is one of a intelligent man." said Jiang Cheng.

"Thanks for the complement, Jiang-gongzi." said Jin Guangyao who is still have his hands tied in the front of the room.

Jiang Cheng just scoffed at him.

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

Lan WangJi, “The Cloud Recesses.”

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

Someone spoke, “I have found out already.”

"It's not like I will hand you to Jin Guangyao once I found out." Lan Xichen chuckled.

"Of course you won't. You love your brother so much that you'll never betray him." said Wei Wuxian.

"You're right, Wuxian. I will never put the both of you in danger." said Lan Xichen.

Wei Wuxian smiled at him.

The person walked out from behind the screen. With white clothes and a forehead ribbon, his face was like jade though his expression was solemn.

Having rested in the Cloud Recesses without having been taken away by the LanlingJin Sect’s people, it was clear that Lan XiChen wasn’t any threat to them. And, along with the fact that Lan WangJi was right by his side, Wei WuXian wasn’t on his guard at all. He suddenly recalled something and asked, “Where’s ChiFeng-Zun’s body?”

"Oh yeah, I forgot, it is was da-ge who is cut down to pieces." said Nie Huaisang.

"Why didn't it give a heads up that we are going to return to that mystery? My brain decided to forget what happened there already." said a random disciple.

"All I remember is that the happenings before the fall of Lotus Pier. I didn't remember any from the current timeline other than that his precious nephew stabbed him." said his friend.

"Well, you guys can summarize it from Wei Wuxian investigating my stepbrother's secret room, empathy with Sect Leader Nie's head, the misunderstanding between the two, Sect Leader Nie's death caused by my stepbrother, my stepbrother's wife's death, Wei Wuxian being find out, and lastly a-ling stabbing him." said Jin Zixuan.

"What a nice summary." said Nie Huaisang.

"I really appreciate those people who can remember things." said Wei Wuxian and Jin Zixuan is looking smug.

"But I will never appreciate Jin Zixuan." Wei Wuxian added and people chuckled at that.

Lan XiChen, “The many sect’s have already seen with their own eyes Brother’s body. It is being kept by HuaiSang as of the moment. I have sent those I trust to watch over it as well.”

Wei WuXian felt, to an extent, relieved. He asked again, “Jin GuangYao’s reaction?”

Lan WangJi, “Flawless.”

"You just hate him, Lan Zhan." laughed Wei Wuxian.

"But he really do act so flawless." said Jin Ling.

"No one could even doubt him." he added.

Wei WuXian had known that Jin GuangYao would definitely perfect his act. It’d be fine as long as it was confirmed that he couldn’t have got rid of the corpse. However, Lan XiChen spoke slowly, “He said that he would definitely get to the bottom of the matter and give everyone an explanation. Now that Young Master Wei is awake, then, WangJi, is it not time for you to give me an explanation as well?”

Lan WangJi stood up, “Brother.”

Lan XiChen let out a long sigh, “WangJi, what do you want me to say to you?”

"Of course Jin Guangyao would say that." said Jiang Cheng.

"Xichen, it is more better if you trust your brother more than other people." said Qingheng-jun.

"I do, fuqin." said Lan Xichen.

"Why does it seemed that in the future you didn't?" asked Qingheng-jun.

"I don't know." said Lan Xichen.

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

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

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

Lan XiChen, “You believe in him?”

Lan WangJi, “I do.”

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

Lan WangJi, “Not to be believed.”

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

"Lan Xichen shouldn't question Lan Wangji's trust on Wei Wuxian  that damn cold man would do everything for my brother." said Jiang Cheng.

"I agree. If future me knows that Wangji has feelings for Wuxian then I shouldn't have asked that." said Lan Xichen.

"Mn. And I will never believe an outsider either." said Lan Wangji.

"Lan Zhan will only trust me." said Wei Wuxian.

"To judge on whether that person is to be believe or not depends on how people trust them. But sometimes, we can trust a wrong person." said Nie Huaisang.

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

“You think that you know about Wei WuXian, so you trust him; I think that I know about Jin GuangYao, so I trust him as well. You believe in your judgement, then am I not allowed to believe in my judgement?”

"No one is making you doubt your judgement." Jiang Cheng frowned.

"Don't tell me they're really going to fight about it." said Wei Wuxian.

"I doubt that." said Sizhui.

"Shushu and a-die never fights." he added.

"You know what's wrong?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Is that Lan Xichen in the future trusted Jin Guangyao so much that he started to doubt his own brother." said Jiang Cheng.

"Right, blood is thicker than water they say. You should trust your family more than how you trust other people because they might be just trying to deceive you." said Wei Wuxian.

"I will keep that in mind, Wuxian." said Lan Xichen.

"I'm not doubting you, brother-in-law but the future you seemed to be complicated." said Wei Wuxian.

"I do agree with you." Lan Xichen chuckled.

Wei WuXian feared that the brothers would begin an argument over this, “Sect Leader Lan!”

It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand Lan XiChen. Watching Jin GuangYao from the perspective of Nie MingJue, he had seen all of his craft and his ambition. However, if Jin GuangYao had always shown Lan XiChen his disguise, there was no reason for Lan XiChen not to believe in his sworn brother and instead one of the most infamous people.

"Even if I shouldn't believe Wuxian then at least I must believe in my brother." said Lan Xichen.

"Mn." Lan Wangji agrees.

"Well, Jin Guangyao really did his best to manipulate people's mind." said Jiang Cheng.

"He must stay away from Lan Xichen." he added.

Jin Guangyao just smiles at him.

Lan XiChen nodded, “Young Master Wei, no need to worry. Before the truth is entirely revealed, I will not be partial to either side or reveal your whereabouts. Or else, I would not have allowed WangJi to take you to my Hanshi or helped with your injuries.”

Wei WuXian, “Sect Leader Lan, I’m grateful that you gave me this opportunity. The fact that ChiFeng-Zun’s head is inside of Jin GuangYao’s secret chamber is nothing but true. Not only have I seen it, I’ve seen some other things due to having been affected by its energy of resentment. Maybe this could offer some proof?”

Lan XiChen replied calmly, “Young Master Wei, perhaps you have seen some things indeed. However, you cannot prove that you saw those things within the secret chamber of Koi Tower.”

"You guys need a concrete proof." said Nie Huaisang.

"How can we have that?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"I don't either. But you must have one." said Nie Huaisang.

"You can't make him pay for things he did without a proof especially when people doesn't even believe in you since your an enemy to the cultivation world." he added.

"That would be difficult then." said Wei Wuxian.

Wei WuXian, “Hm. That’s true. Then how about something else? The direct cause of ChiFeng-Zun’s death was a qi deviation, but, Sect Leader Lan, don’t you think that the timing is a bit too much of a coincidence? The doings of the sword spirit might be one of the reasons, but have you ever thought that there might be another cause to it?”

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

Wei WuXian, “The Song of Clarity.”

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

"In which you shouldn't." said Lan Qiren.

"But, how could a song be the cause to Chifeng-zun's death?" asked Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang at the same time.

"Not that song but there are other tone that could kill a person in just a few notes." said Qingheng-jun.

"Interesting." said Wen Rouhan.

"What is it, father-in-law?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"I'll show it to you when we're out of here. You seemed to be interested in music." said Qingheng-jun.

"But xiongzhang." said Lan Qiren.

"If that song belongs to the secret Lan Sect then Wei Wuxian must not know it. Besides, what if other people are interested in it?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Worry not, my first son-in-law. We've been keeping that secret for a long time, an outsiders cannot get a hand on it." said Qingheng-jun.

"But you and Wuxian aren't outsiders so I want to show it to the both of you." he added.

"I'm not interested in music scores." said Jiang Cheng.

Qingheng-jun just chuckled at him.

Wei WuXian, “Then, Sect Leader Lan, could you please listen if there’s anything strange with the song?”

His flute was right by the bed. Wei WuXian held it up and began to play after a few moments of thought. After the song was finished, he spoke, “Sect Leader Lan, this song really is the one you taught Jin GuangYao?”

Lan XiChen, “It is.”

"There's a mistake." said Lan Qiren.

"After all, that song is hard to master in just a short time." he added.

"Nothing's wrong with the song." said Wen Rouhan.

"How could yiu say it has mistakes?" he asked.

"I'm a Lan and the fact that I have played that song for a lot if times already is a proof that I can say it has mistakes." said Lan Qiren.

"One of the section is played wrong." said Lan Wangji.

Wei WuXian was somewhat surprised, but he kept his composure, “What is the name of the song?”

Lan XiChen, “The song is named Cleansing. It is capable of clearing the heart and steadying the mind.”

Wei WuXian, “Cleansing. I’ve heard of many of the cultivational world’s famous compositions. Why don’t I have any memory of either its name or its melody?”

Lan WangJi, “The song is obscure. It is difficult as well.”

Lan XiChen, “Precisely.”

"If it is difficult then why would Jin Guangyao play it when he himself has no knowledge in music?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Maybe because he already have plans on it." said Nie Huaisang.

"The only possible reason." said Jiang Cheng.

"Because I myself will never choose such piece just to put myself on difficulty of learning just to play for other people." he added.

"You're not that patient." said Wei Wuxian.

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

Lan XiChen, “That is correct.”

Wei WuXian, “Is it really that difficult? Then why did Jin GuangYao choose this piece instead of something easier?”

Lan XiChen, “Because I have told him that although Cleansing is difficult to master, its effects are excellent. The song is indeed difficult. Young Master Wei, you played one of its sections wrong as well, did you not?”

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

Lan WangJi, “One of its sections is wrong.”

"See, he played it wrong." said Lan Qiren.

"I didn't even doubt you." said Wen Rouhan.

"He played it wrong or he intentionally played it wrong." said Jiang Cheng as he glance at Meng Yao who is looking at the screen intently.

"That was intentional, I think." said Nie Huaisang.

"It's not just a thought. He really did." said Sizhui.

Wei WuXian grinned, “No, no. It’s not that I was wrong. Jin GuangYao is the one who was wrong! When the resentful energy attacked me, this really was how he played it. I can promise that I repeated this song without any mistake at all.”

Lan XiChen seemed to be surprised, “Then he learned it wrong? That… would be impossible.”

Wei WuXian, “That would indeed be impossible. LianFang-Zun is that clever. His memory is uncommonly good, how could he remember the melody wrong? It’s likely that it was on purpose. I’ll play it again. Sect Leader Lan, HanGuang-Jun, this time, please listen carefully to the section that I ‘played wrong’.”

"What will happen if he played it wrong?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"The effect of the song will be different." Lan Wangji answered.

"Like what?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"It can disturb one's mind." said Lan Xichen.

"Although the effects of such musics got my interest. I have no patience in playing instruments." said Jiang Cheng.

"I can try that." Wei Wuxian beamed.

"And what would you do with it?" asked Lan Qiren.

Wei Wuxian grinned at him.

Lan Qiren got a foreboding feeling on that grin of his that made him look at his brother who doesn't even care.

He did play it again. Near the end of the second section, Lan WangJi spoke, “Stop.”

Lan WangJi, “It is the section that has just passed.”

Wei WuXian withdrew the flute from his lips, “It really is this section? But I don’t find this section different at all.”

"Agree." said Jiang Cheng.

"With all these musics, I might end up with a headache." he added.

"Shijie can make some soup for you but this music seems interesting. I want to learn it." said Wei Wuxian.

"It's hard to learn just by listening to it, Wei Wuxian." said Jiang Cheng.

"That's just the same when we are learning sword forms when we were young. Once we're dedicated and motivated, we can succeed." said Wei Wuxian.

"Whatever." Jiang Cheng grumbled.

"With patience, you will learn it easily." said Qingheng-jun.

"Well, I'm a very patient man." said Wei Wuxian.

Lan XiChen, “It does not sound different indeed. However, it definitely is not part of Cleansing.”

If it was a normal mistake, it wouldn’t blend so seamlessly into the other sections of the original song. This melody had to have been purposely polished before it was put in here. And this unfamiliar melody, not part of Cleansing but mixed into it, was likely the key to Nie MingJue’s death.

"It is, indeed." said Qingheng-jun.

"Can I learn it too?" asked Nie Huaisang.

Qingheng-jun nodded his head.

"I can use that in cultivation." said Nie Huaisang happily.

"I can help you, Huaisang since Wanyin isn't interested." said Lan Xichen.

"That would be great, Xichen-ge." said Nie Huaisang.

"As long as it won't take up much of your time." said Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen nodded his head.

After a while of thought, Lan XiChen spoke, “You two can follow me.”

As they went out of the house, Wei WuXian was somewhat surprised.

It was a secluded little cottage within some hidden corner of the Cloud Recesses. The Lan Sect’s residence was inside of the mountains. In its bounds, pines grew endlessly. Most of the plants were trees and grasses. It wasn’t that there were no flowers, but that the flowers were mostly pure, elegant varieties like magnolia, gardenia, and white chrysanthemum, and even then only as rare, decorative glimpses. Yet, the area before this house was filled with purple gentians. The buds were small while the color was brilliant, gaining the love of whoever passed. Under the light, it seemed to glow softly, as beautiful as a dream, an illusion.

"My lady." Qingheng-jun whispered as he closes his eyes.

"Why was that place seems different from the rest?" asked Wei Wuxian.

The Lans are silent.

"It might be owned by someone important." said Jiang Cheng.

Wei WuXian knew that this place was definitely different from the rest. However, he only had time to have an overall glance at it. It was already past nine. Most of the people within the Cloud Recesses had rested long ago. It was extremely quiet. Not a single person passed their way as Lan XiChen led them to the Library Pavilion.

The Cloud Recesses had once been burnt down by a fire. The Library Pavilion wasn’t the Library Pavilion from back then. However, after it had been rebuilt, the interior setup was no different from the previous one. They had even planted another magnolia tree outside of the the pavilion. After the three walked inside, Wei WuXian suspected, “Sect Leader Lan, would we be able to find the source of the melody here?”

Lan XiChen, “Not here.”

"My nephews are breaking rules." said Lan Qiren.

"Because it's the perfect time to investigate." said Wei Wuxian.

"But, what does brother-in-law means 'nit here'? Don't tell me there a hidden room in the Library Pavilion." said Wei Wuxian.

"It does and we'll all see it." said Lan Qiren with a grumble.

"Lans secrets are not secrets anymore." said Wen Rouhan.

Lan Qiren just glared at him.

He walked before a row of books, lowered himself, and flipped over one of the mats on the ground before he took off a piece of wooden board, “We would be able to here.”

Below the wooden board was a secret door.

Lan WangJi, “The room of forbidden books.”

Lan Qiren looked so done with his nephews.

"Forbidden books. Interesting." said Wen Rouhan.

"You can never get a hold of it." said Lan Qiren.

"I can borrow." said Wen Rouhan.

"We won't let you borrow it." said Lan Qiren.

"Besides, you don't know how to play music instruments." he added.

"I'm a good learner. said Wen Rouhan.

"No one will bother to teach you." said Lan Qiren.

"You can." said Wen Rouhan.

"I'm busy and even if I'm not, I will still not teach you." said Lan Qiren.

"What's happening with them?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"They're arguing, maybe." said Nie Huaisang.

Under the door was a flight of stairs over fifty steps low. The three walked down one by one. What came into Wei WuXian’s eyes was a wide, dry underground room made of stone. The sound of footsteps echoed emptily. Rows and rows of bookshelves stood within the room. Books sparsely rested along the shelves. They were covered in dust, as though nobody had flipped through them in a long time.

"Underground room is interesting but full of books? I would rather not go there." said Wei Wuxian.

"You still entered the place though." said Jiang Cheng.

"I have no other choice." said Wei Wuxian.

"Hey, why don't we build an underground room in Lotus Pier?" he asked.

"Lotus Pier is surrounded with water. How can you make an underground room there?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Then, we can have that in Cloud Recesses." said Wei Wuxian.

"Whatever." said Jiang Cheng but the two grinned at each other.

"That would be nice." said Wei Wuxian.

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

There was a desk in the room and only one paper lamp on the desk. Lan WangJi took from the shelves a writing brush and paper that hadn’t been used in years. He wrote down by memory three copies of the melody’s score. The three of them sat around the desk and got to work. Each was responsible for a few dozens of books. They compared the melody to scores copied down onto the books, book by book, page by page, searching for parts that matched.

However, four hours had passed, and none of the three found a score that was the same as the melody. This meant that they didn’t find its source.

"That must be very boring." said Jiang Cheng.

"It is. I can feel my boredom." said Wei Wuxian.

"They're really patient to do that." said Jin Zixuan.

"Just for a proof." said Nie Huaisang.

Wei WuXian scanned the scores as quick as he could, thinking to himself, Maybe even the song section of the Lan Sect’s room of forbidden books don’t have the melody? But that’s impossible. If even the Lan Sect didn’t collect it, other places wouldn’t have either. Would it be that Jin GuangYao created such a remarkable song himself? If so, then it’d be a pain. The only way to verify that something is wrong with the song would be to get someone to listen to this song for months to experiment. But even though he’s clever, he never had a solid foundation. He couldn’t be so clever as to be able to create…

"You thought so much of me, Wei-gongzi." said Meng Yao.

"I do, you're really a talented man. Only if your father isn't Jin Guangshan." said Wei Wuxian.

Wei WuXian stared for quite a while at the tightly-packed characters. His eyes felt somewhat tired. He still had a few books left, so he decided to look at them sometime afterward. Lan WangJi had already finished the stack that he was responsible for. In silence, he took over the books that Wei WuXian left and continued to flip through. Lan XiChen lifted his eyes. Watching the scene, he seemed to stop himself from saying something.

"Well, even at such situation you still got time to observed them." said Jiang Cheng.

"Of course. My brother's relationship is my priority." said Lan Xichen.

"You're impossible." said Jiang Cheng.

Suddenly, Lan WangJi spoke, “This one.”

He passed over the book in his hands. Wei WuXian was immediately more energized. Earnestly, he looked at the pages that Lan WangJi had opened to, comparing them to the score in his hand, “It’s not the same at all?”

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

Their heads pressed close together, and Lan WangJi’s voice was right by his ear, low and magnetic. Wei WuXian’s hand trembled lightly. The book had almost fallen off. He finally steadied himself and forcibly tore his eyes away from Lan WangJi’s long, white fingers. He concentrated on comparing the two, “Ah, these two pages.”

"You seemed distracted." Jiang Cheng said.

Wei Wuxian is blushing.

"Ahh my Wei-xiong is falling in love." said Nie Huaisang.

"Can't even focus knowing that his crush is just one breathe away." he added.

"Stop it." said Wei Wuxian.

"Oh your thick face isn't thick anymore? Can't even take a small teasing?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"You stop it, ChengCheng or you'll regret it." said Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng immediately shut up.

At first glance, there didn’t seem to be anything strange with the score book. However, those familiar with music would be able to tell with just some attention that, on the page that it flipped open to, the melody on the former side wasn’t connected to that of the latter side.

Wei WuXian picked up his flute and played a section according to the score. As expected, the two parts of the melody were disconnected. The half of the score on the first page wasn’t the same song as that on the second page at all.

There should be another page between these two pages. It had been torn off, cautiously, stealthily.

"Out of all the music scores he should get, he chooses that." said Qingheng-jun.

"Why?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"It's a dangerous music scores." answered Qingheng-jun.

The person tore the page with a lot of care. There wasn’t a single trace left of the page, which made it difficult to be discovered. Wei WuXian turned over the book. On the dark blue cover, there was a title of three characters.

Wei WuXian, “The Collection of Turmoil? What book is this? The songs in it sound a bit strange.”

"Of course it is strange." said Lan Qiren.

"I don't have a good feeling on that book." said Wei Wuxian.

"It is full of dark music scores." said Qingheng-jun.

"That's why it is forbidden." said Lan Qiren.

Lan WangJi, “A song collection from Dongying.”

Wei WuXian, “From Dongying? So that’s why the tune soundd a bit different from the ones over here.”

Lan XiChen’s expression was complex, “… Legendarily, The Collection of Turmoil, is a collection of dark songs gathered by one of the GusuLan Sect’s cultivators during his years of wandering when he was travelling by water and arrived in Dongying. The songs in this book, if played along with spiritual energy, are able to harm others, from weakening the body to irritating the mind to agitating the spirit to shutting the senses… Those with great spiritual power could take others’ lives in just seven notes.”

"Damn, that sound powerful." said Wei Wuxian.

"It is, but dangerous. It shouldn't be used." said Qingheng-jun.

"Why would people have that scores?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"It's just a collection. No one ever used it." said Lan Xichen.

"How did Jin Guangyao got a hold of it?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"That's what we're going to find out." said Jiang Cheng.

Wei WuXian slammed the desk, “This is the one!”

He was so happy that when he slammed the desk, he almost knocked over the paper lantern on it. Lan WangJi moved it upright just in time. Wei WuXian spoke, “Sect Leader Lan, within the The Collection of Turmoil, is there any that can disturb a person’s composure, making them irritated, agitated, violent, easily-angered?”

Lan XiChen, “… There should be.”

"You should really watch out when you're excited, a-xian." said Jiang Yanli.

"If Lan Wangji's hands isn't fast enought, you could've burn the place." said Jiang Cheng.

"That won't happen." said Wei Wuxian.

"It won't thanks to your lover." said Jiang Cheng.

Wei WuXian, “Jin GuangYao’s spiritual energy isn’t high. He wouldn’t have been able to take someone’s life with just seven notes. And killing him this way would’ve been too obvious. He definitely wouldn’t have chosen a song so powerful. But, if he could use the reason of playing the Song of Clarity for ChiFeng-Zun to calm his temper and continued to play it for three months, would the song be able to act as a slow poison and catalyse ChiFeng-Zun’s outburst?”

Lan XiChen, “… Yes.”

"What the f*cking hell?!" cursed Nie Huaisang.

"I will be the only to play for da-ge." he added.

"Mn. I'll teach you everything in order to calm him." said Lan Xichen.

"No mistakes." he added with a smile.

Wei WuXian, “Then, the speculation would be very much reasonable. The torn score not part of Cleansing belonged to a missing page of the The Collection of Turmoil. All of the Dongying songs recorded in The Collection of Turmoil are complex and difficult to master. He didn’t have time to copy them down in the forbidden room and could only tear it out— no, that wouldn’t be right. Jin GuangYao is able to look at something once and never forget it again. He tore the page out not because he couldn’t memorize it, but that there’d be no proof once it was gone. To ensure, even if one day it came to light or if he was caught red-handed, nobody would be able to find the source of the melody.”

“All that he’s done has been with extreme caution. In front of you, he was clearly playing the correct version of Cleansing. ChiFeng-Zun wasn’t someone passionate about the arts. He had heard you, Sect Leader Lan, play Cleansing before and knew the overall melody of it. Thus, Jin GuangYao didn’t dare straight up play to him the dark song and instead took trouble to combine two songs of different styles with opposite uses. And he combined them so well. They sound as though there were the same. His musical talent is indeed excellent. I’m guessing that he used little spiritual power in the Cleansing sections and only exerted power in the section of The Collection of Turmoil. After all, ChiFeng-Zun wasn’t familiar with this method of cultivation, so of course he wouldn’t realize the fact that Jin GuangYao had already changed one of the sections into a dark, life-taking tune!”

"My brother won't die in this lifetime." said Nie Huaisang.

"It is my fault. I have trusted Jin Guangyao blindly to teach our sect's music scores. I should've watch him played it all the time." said Lan Xichen.

"It's not your fault, Xichen-ge. Your intention is to unite the two of them, you just didn't know that the man has evil plans." said Nie Huaisang.

"Indeed. Don't blame yourself." said Nie Mingjue.

"It's not like I will blame you." he added.

After a while of silence, Lan XiChen whispered, “… Although he had often visited the Cloud Recesses, I have never told him about the forbidden chamber within the Lan Sect’s Library Pavilion.”

Wei WuXian, “Sect Leader Lan, apologies for the bluntness, but during the Sunshot Campaign, Jin GuangYao was a spy in Nightless City of the QishanWen Sect, and a very good spy at that. He could even find Wen RuoHan’s secret chamber, sneak inside without anyone noticing, memorize all of the maps and scrolls, and write from memory all of the information before sending it to Koi Tower. Before him, the forbidden room of the Lan Sect’s Library Pavilion… really isn’t anything.”

"He ruined the trust that Xichen gave to you." Jiang Cheng said while looking at the screen.

"He really did. I hope that Xichen-ge won't trust people blindly again just because they are sworn brothers." said Nie Huaisang.

"I won't." said Lan Xichen.

Lan XiChen took into his hands the piece of paper with the score on it. He stared at it for a while, “I will find some way to try this score.”

Lan WangJi, “Brother?”

Lan XiChen, “When Brother passed away, the siege at Burial Mound had already passed and Young Master Wei was no longer in this world. If after trials, this part of the score really is able to disturb the mind and not merely made up, I will…”

"What are you planning to do?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"I don't have a good feeling about it." he added.

"I'm not going to do anything." said Lan Xichen.

Wei WuXian, “ZeWu-Jun, trying the song on living people might oppose the GusuLan Sect’s sect rules.”

Lan XiChen, “I will try it on myself.”

How, as the sect leader of the GusuLan Sect, he could say such an almost ridiculous thing meant that his heart was already in a tangle. Lan WangJi raised his voice slightly, “Brother!”

"Lan Xichen!" Jiang Cheng voice rang around the room and Lan Xichen flinched at that.

"Wanyin." said Lan Xichen.

"A-niang, calm down. It is not a-die but my a-die in the future." said Jingyi.

"Tell me, did he really do that?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"I don't know." Jingyi answered.

"He's out of his mind if he did." Jiang Cheng said.

"He can die." he added.

Lan XiChen supported his head on his hand. His voice was low, as though he was trying to hold something back, “WangJi, the version of Jin GuangYao that I know is entirely different compared to the version that you know and the version that the world knows! Throughout all these years, in my eyes, he has always been… enduring his suffer, caring for all people, treating everyone with respect. I have always believed, without a doubt, that the criticism he received from others all came from misunderstandings, that what I knew how he truly is. Now, you want me to believe, at once, that everything about this person is fake, that he planned to kill one of his sworn brothers, that I was also a part of his plan and even helped him… Could you please allow me some more discretion before I make my own judgement?”

"F*ck him. I hate him." said Jiang Cheng.

"A-niang." Jingyi said trying to calm him.

"He keeps on thinking about how he trusted that man and he can't accept." said Jiang Cheng.

"What about me? Why is he not thinking about me? Does he not care of what I would feel?" he asked.

"He's going to harm himself just to prove whether Jin Guangyao really harm Nie Mingjue and if he died, what about me?" he asked again.

"A-niang, please calm down first." said Jingyi as he tried to hugged the man.

"Calm down? I am calm." Jiang Cheng shouted and Jingyi flinched, fearing his father's life in the future if his real father will meet the past version of his mother.

"Well, past or future, jiujiu will be in rage when he found out about this." Jin Ling whispered to him.

"Lets just hope he won't find out or else, I be a fatherless son in  the of 19." said Jingyi.

"Wanyin, I won't do such thing." said Lan Xichen as he hugged the man who is already crying silently.

Lan XiChen had taught Jin GuangYao the Song of Clarity, keeping in mind the grudge between Jin GuangYao and Nie MingJue, hoping that they could be how they used to be. He requested Jin GuangYao to help calm Nie MingJue in place of him. Who would’ve known that his kindness made possible Jin GuangYao’s cruelty? How should he face himself now?

"Don't blame yourself, Xichen-ge." said Nie Huaisang.

"It's just that, Jin Guangyao in the future is really a shameless man that he even used your good intention to kill my brother." he added.

"Thank you, Huaisang." said Lan Xichen.

"Even if your in turmoil of what had happened, you shouldn't think of harming yourself." Jiang Cheng said.

"Mn. I won't, Wanyin. Everything I do, I will say it to you." he added.

"Don't be reckless, brother-in-law or else, ChengCheng would be the one to kill you." Wei Wuxian laughed making Jiang Cheng glare at him.

"I would really do." he whispered.