The noises were extremely difficult to pick up. It was as if somebody was walking rapidly above the roof. However, since the person’s movements were abnormally light, the sound of their footsteps was close to unnoticeable. Wei WuXian only caught the slight noises of collision between the roof tiles due to his keen senses. Of course, since he was blind, Xiao XingChen noticed the noises as well. He cautioned them, “From the above!”

"Oh My God! Who is that?!" exclaimed MianMian.

"I have a bad feeling for this." said Xiao Xingchen.

Wei WuXian shouted, “Disperse!”

As soon as he said it, a large hole was smashed through the ceiling of the central chamber. Dust, grasses, and broken roof tiles rained down from the top. It was fortunate that most of the disciples had already scattered around, thus nobody was hurt. A black figure leaped down from the opening in the roof.

"He looks familiar." said Jin Zixuan.

Song Lan's eyes were wide in shock.

The man wore black cultivational robes. With a tall stance and a straight back, he had the air of a firm pinetree. A horsetail whisk was strapped to his back and a long sword was held in his hand. His face, although handsome, tilted upward slightly, suggesting a haughty, aloof personality.

Yet, there were no pupils within his eyes, only deathly fields of white.

It was a fierce corpse!

"Zichen." mumbled Xiao Xingchen.

"How did that happen?" asked Song Lan.

"You looked like him." said Nie Huaisang and realization hit him.

"It's you!" he exclaimed.

As soon as everyone determined this fact, he launched an attack with his sword in his hand.

He aimed his attack at Jin Ling, who was the closest to him. Jin Ling defended with his sword. The power that came with the attack was so strong that his arm almost numbed. If it wasn’t for the immense spiritual powers of his own sword, Suihua, it might have broken and he might have died on the spot. With a failed first attack, the black-clothed corpse attacked again. His movements were smooth and natural, while his attacks were sharp and ruthless. This time, he lunged at Jin Ling’s arm. Under desperation, using his sword, Xiao XingChen defended the attack for Jin Ling. Possibly because the corpse poisoning broke out again, he finally collapsed.

"A-ling!" shouted Jiang Yanli.

"I'm fine, a-niang. Nothing bad happened to me that time." said Jin Ling.

"Does Xiao Xingchen knows it was his best friend?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Maybe not." answered Jin Zixuan.

Lan JingYi panicked, “Just what exactly is he, dead or alive?! I have never seen a…”

A corpse with such high speed and fine swordsmanship!

He didn’t finish his sentence, because he remembered that he had seen one before.

The Ghost General was also like this!

"I've become a fierce corpse." said Song Lan in disbelief.

"Why? How?" he asked in confusion.

"We will find out." said Xiao Xingchen in assurance.

Wei WuXian watched the cultivator with utmost attention. Thinking quickly, he pulled out the bamboo flute by his waist and played a shrill, earpiercing long tone. It was so painful to listen to that everyone who was present covered his ears. As the cultivator heard the sound, despite how his figure reeled and his hands trembled, he still attacked at Wei WuXian!

He couldn’t be controlled. This corpse had a master!

"Who would dare do that to me?" Sing Lan asked in anger.

"Calm down first." said Xiao Xingchen.

"You must prepare yourselves. The next happenings might be unacceptable for the both of you." said Sizhui.

"Why?" asked Song Lan.

"Just prepare yourselves." said Jin Ling.

The sword was as fast as thunder, yet Wei WuXian dodged it. As they brushed past, he calmly played another tune. A split second later, the mannequins patrolling outside also hopped onto the roof and jumped down through the hole. Sensing that something was wrong, the corpse stabbed twice with his right arm, vertically slicing two of the mannequins into four halves. With his left hand, he pulled out his whisk. It was as if the thousands of soft, white strands turned into the poisonous spikes on a mace, slashing and piercing with each whip. If it accidentally touched someone, they would sure be turned into a bloodied sieve.

"He must be really skillful." said a random cultivator.

"What a waste! He became a fierce corpse in the future." said Jin Guangshan.

In the midst of multitasking, Wei WuXian managed, “Nobody come here. Be good and stay in the corners!”

After his words, he immediately returned to commanding the corpses. The flute sounded vivacious at times, while vehement at other times. Though the cultivator used both hands and attacked with strong hostility, paper mannequins ceaselessly dropped from the roof, encircling him with attacks. When he fought one side, more came on the other; when he killed the ones in front, there’d be more behind him. It really was impossible to deal with everything at once. Suddenly, a Nether Brawler shot down from above and landed on him, holding him on the ground with a foot on his shoulder.

"Damn, his outnumbered." said Jin Zixuan.

"That's good. At least the juniors will he safe." said Wei Wuxian.

"But who is controlling him?" asked Nie Huaisang.

Immediately afterward, three more Nether Brawlers jumped down from the opening and slammed onto his body one by one.

In legends, Nether Brawlers had incredible strength. When craftspeople made them, some things were usually added onto their bodies to increase their weight. After being possessed by roaming spirits, each was heavier than the next. Simply one of them would be as heavy as a mountain. With four on him at once, he’d be doing well if his guts didn’t gush out. Thus, the robed corpse was securely held down onto the ground by the four Nether Brawlers.

"I didn't expect that a paper mannequin could be that strong to even stop a fierce corpse." said Jin Zixuan.

"None of us expected it." said Nie Huaisang.

The twin prides are having ideas.

Wei WuXian walked over and found that an area on the back of his clothes had been torn. Soothing it out, he noticed that there was a wound, both thin and narrow, near his left shoulder blade. He commanded, “Turn him over.”

The four Nether Brawlers proceeded to turn the cultivator over. With his front on the upside, it was easier to inspect. Wei WuXian brushed the finger with the cut near each of their lips as awards. With crimson tongues made of paper, the Nether Brawlers slowly licked the blood beside their lips, as if they truly cherished the delicacy. Only then did Wei WuXian look down again and continue his inspection. On the cultivator’s left chest, near his heart, there was a similar tearing, a similar thin, narrow wound. It seemed as if he died with a stab through the heart.

"That wound." said Xiao Xingchen.

"The f*ck? Do you have to do that?" Jiang Cheng asked Wei Wuxian.

"It makes me want to gag." said Jin Zixuan.

"That's not even necessary." said Nie Huaisang.

"Of course it is. You have to give them a reward for their good job." said Wei Wuxian.

Jiang Cheng gave him a glare.

The corpse had been struggling as hard as he could. Low growls came out of his throat and ink-colored blood trickled from the corners of his lips. Wei WuXian pinched his cheeks and forced him to open his mouth. Inside, his tongue had also been pulled out from the root.

Blind eyes, detached tongue. Blind eyes, detached tongue.

Why did these two traits appear so often?

"What?" asked Song Lan.

"I also become mute in the future?" he asked.

"Just what really happened?" asked Xiao Xingchen.

After a while of observation, Wei WuXian began to feel that the corpse was similar to Wen Ning when he had been controlled by the black nails. With the thought, he felt around the corpse’s temples and, as he had expected, he really found two metal points!

This type of long nails were used to control high-level fierce corpses so that they’d lose consciousness and the ability to think for themselves. Without knowing the corpse’s identity and character, Wei WuXian decided that he shouldn’t rashly pull the nails out, but instead interrogate him first. However, since his tongue was no longer there, even if the corpse regained consciousness, he wouldn’t be able to talk.

"I'm going to kill that person who made me like that." said Song Lan in anger.

"Are we going to find out what really happened?" asked Xiao Xingchen to the juniors.

"Yes, that's why you need to prepare yourselves and always have a clear mind." said Sizhui.

Wei WuXian asked the disciples from the Lan Sect, “Have any of you studied Inquiry?”

Lan SiZhui raised a hand, “Me. I have.”

"My a-yuan also know how play it." said Wei Wuxian with a proud face.

Wei WuXian, “Have you brought your guqin?”

Lan SiZhui, “Yes.” At once, he took out a simplistic guqin, the wood of which still looked bright, from his Qiankun Pouch.

Seeing that the guqin was fairly new, Wei WuXian asked, “How is your qin language? Have you had actual experience? Will the spirit that you summon be able to lie?”

"Why are you doubting your son?" asked Wei Wuxian to his future self.

"Don't worry, a-niang. It's okay." said Sizhui.

"Besides, you don't know me that time." he added.

"But still." said Wei Wuxian.

"Stop being dramatic." said Jiang Cheng.

Lan JingYi interjected, “HanGuang-Jun said that SiZhui’s qin language is fine.”

If Lan WangJi said that it was “fine”, then it must be fine. He wouldn’t exaggerate or understate the matter, and so Wei WuXian ceased to worry. Lan SiZhui added, “HanGuang-Jun told me to focus on quality instead of quantity. The spirit that I summon will be able to avoid answering, but will not be able to lie. So, if it is willing to answer, then it will definitely speak the truth.”

"Lan Zhan, you're the best. Teaching our son the best." said Wei Wuxian with a bright smile.

"Mn." said Lan Wangji.

Wei WuXian, “Then, let’s start.”

The guqin was laid horizontally before the cultivator’s head. Lan SiZhui sat on the ground, his robes spreading neatly around him. Having tried a few notes, he nodded. Wei WuXian began, “The first question: who is he?”

After some thought, Lan SiZhui silently chanted the incantations, and was finally ready to play the first sentence.

A moment later, the strings of the guqin vibrated. Two notes rumbled out, sounding as if a rock had exploded.

Lan SiZhui widened his eyes. Lan JingYi urged him, “What did he say?”

Lan SiZhui, “Song Lan!”

"It's really me." said Song Lan.

"What really happened? Why is my friend like that?" asked Xiao Xingchen.

"Watch. I know that the screen will show everything and will answer your questions." said Sizhui.

"I have a bad feeling for this." said Nie Huaisang.

"Nothing worse happened right?" asked Xiao Xingchen.

… Xiao XingChen’s most intimate friend of cultivation, Song Lan?!

In unison, everyone turned their heads toward Xiao XingChen, who lay unconscious on the ground. Lan SiZhui whispered, “Does he know that the one who came is Song Lan…?”

"He probably don't." said Jin Zixuan.

"What a pity? Two friends met at such a dire situation." said Meng Yao.

The juniors raised their brows at him.

Jin Ling also lowered his voice, “Probably not. He’s blind, while Song Lan is mute, and even became a fierce corpse who lost his senses… It’s best if he doesn’t know.”

Wei WuXian, “The second question: who killed him?”

"Now, we will find out who killed you." said Xiao Xingchen.

"I'm going to kill him first in this timeline. How dare he turn me into a fierce corpse." said Song Lan with anger evident in his voice.

In all earnesty, Lan SiZhui played another sentence.

This time, the silence was three times longer than the one before.

Just as they were about to conclude that Song Lan’s soul wasn’t willing to answer this question, the strings of the guqin vibrated three times, their tones echoing grief.

Lan SiZhui blurted out, “That is impossible!”

"Why?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"That can't be." said Lan Xichen when he understood the answer.

"Why? What is it?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Wanyin, the one who killed him." said Lan Xichen.

"What?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Jiang Cheng is the one who killed him?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"The f*ck! Why would I?" asked Jiang Cheng in anger while glaring at Lan Xichen.

"No, it's." said Lan Xichen.

"Clear your words, you dumbass." said Jiang Cheng.

"It's not Wanyin. I'm sorry." said Lan Xichen.

"Just watch." said Zizhen.

Wei WuXian, “What did he say?”

Lan SiZhui replied as though he couldn’t believe what he had just heard, “He said… Xiao XingChen.”

The one who killed Song Lan was Xiao XingChen?!

"Me?" asked Xiao Xingchen.

"That impossible!" exclaimed Song Lan.

"I would never." said Xiao Xingchen in a low voice.

"That might be wrong." said Song Lan.

"But it's right. Sizhui played it right." said Lan Xichen.

"How did that happened?" asked Song Lan.

"We don't know." said Wei Wuxian.

"Calm down first, everyone. We must watch to find out." said Qingheng-jun.

They asked a mere number of two questions, yet the answers to those questions were more than shocking. Jin Ling was skeptical, “You played it wrong, right?”

Lan SiZhui, “But ‘who are you’ and ‘who killed you’ are the two easiest and most common questions of Inquiry. When someone first starts to learn Inquiry, these are the first and second sentences that they learn. One would practice them no less than a thousand times. I checked them before I played. I definitely did not play them wrong.”

"It's impossible for him to played it wrong." said Lan Xichen.

"I can't believe that." said Nie Huaisang.

"How devastating it is." said MianMian.

Jin Ling, “Either you played Inquiry wrong, or you interpreted the qin language wrong.”

Lan SiZhui shook his head, “If playing them wrong is impossible, then interpreting them wrong is even more impossible. The name and the three characters of ‘Xiao XingChen’ are not at all common in the spirits’ answers. If he answered a different name and I interpreted it wrong, it would not have just happened to be this name.”

"Why would I do that?" asked Xiao Xngchen.

"This is the reason I told you to prepare yourselves." said Sizhui.

"There will be more to it and you will find out the whole truth." added Zizhen.

Lan JingYi murmured, “… Song Lan went to find the missing Xiao XingChen, yet Xiao XingChen killed him. Why would he kill a good friend? He does not seem like this sort of person.”

"Of course, I wouldn't." said Xiao Xingchen.

"You must've had your reasons." said Song Lan calming his friend.

Wei WuXian, “Let’s not worry about this for now. SiZhui, ask the third question: who is controlling him?”

With a stern face, Lan SiZhui didn’t even dare to breathe as he played the third sentence. All pairs of eyes stared at the strings of the guqin, waiting for Song Lan’s answer.

Lan SiZhui interpreted the reply word by word, “The. One. Behind. You.”

"Huh? Isn't Xiao Xingchen the one behind them." said Nie Huaisang.

"I will never do such improper means." said Xiao Xingchen.

"It's not you." said Song Lan while glaring at the screen making everyone confused.

Everyone spun around as fast as they could. Xiao XingChen, who lay collapsed on the ground a few moments ago, had already sat up, with one hand holding his chin. Giving them a smile, he raised the left hand that was covered by a black glove and snapped.

"It's really me." said Xiao Xingchen.

"I said it's not you." said Song Lan.

"I never knew that a known kind cultivator also end up using such improper means. Maybe he is destined to end up like his nephew." said Meng Yao.

"Oh you shut up!" exclaimed Jin Ling.

When the crisp sound travelled to Song Lan’s ears, it was as though it exploded right beside him. Song Lan suddenly threw off all of the four Nether Brawlers who had been holding him down!

He leaped up at once. Wielding his sword and whisk again, with both of his hands, he slashed twisted the paper mannequins into colorful pieces of confetti, which drifted toward the ground. His sword pressed against Wei WuXian’s neck, while his whisk threateningly pointed to the disciples.

"Wei Ying!" exclaimed Lan Wangji.

"I'm fine, Lan Zhan." said Wei Wuxian.

He gave a look at Jiang Cheng who silently stood up from his seat.

"Where are you going?" asked Lan Xichen.

"Don't mind me. I'll come back after this." said Jiang Cheng and goes to the last row.

Within the mere area of the shop, the situation had changed drastically.

Jin Ling put his hand onto his sword. Catching the movement with a sideway glance, Wei WuXian immediately stopped him, “Don’t move. Don’t add to the trouble. In terms of swordsmanship, even everybody together wouldn’t be a worthy opponent to this… Song Lan.”

"Of course. He is one of the best cultivator." said Jingyi.

His friends agreed with him.

"I wonder what will happen to them now." said MianMian.

His body was low in spiritual power and his sword wasn’t by his side. Moreover, there was also Xiao XingChen—it remained undetermined what he intended on doing or whether he was friend or foe.

Xiao XingChen, “Adults are going to talk to adults. The children can wait outside.”

"That's not me." said Xiao Xingchen.

"That's what I'm saying since earlier." said Song Lan.

He gestured to Song Lan, who obeyed at once and drove the disciples outside. Wei WuXian comforted them, “Go outside for now. You won’t be much help here, anyways. The corpse-poisoning powder should’ve settled already. When you go outside, don’t run around and stir up the dust again. Breathe slowly.”

Hearing “you won’t be much help here”, Jin Ling was both unconvinced and upset. He didn’t want to accept the defeat, yet he knew that he couldn’t do anything, so he stormed outside. Before Lan SiZhui left, he looked as if he wanted to say something. Wei WuXian turned to him, “SiZhui, you’re the most sensible one here. Guide them a bit, won’t you? Can you do that?”

"Of course, my son is the only one who listens to me. Stay like that, a-yuan." said Wei Wuxian.

"You always say that. But do you know that every time we cause troubles he is always with us?" asked Jingyi.

"I already expected that." said Wei Wuxian.

Lan SiZhui nodded. Wei WuXian added, “Don’t be scared.”

Lan SiZhui, “I am not.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Lan SiZhui smiled, “Senior, you are so much like HanGuangJun.”

"How are we alike?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"You both are great people." answered Sizhui.

"Great parents." he added with a smile.

"Aw my little radish. Come here, give your beautiful a-niang a hug." said Wei Wuxian making Sizhui hug him immediately.

Wei WuXian was puzzled, “Us? How are we alike?” They were obviously like fire and ice. However, Lan SiZhui only grinned in reply, and led the rest of the group out.

He continued his thought silently, I do not know, either, but they just feel similar. It is as though if either one of the two seniors are present, I will not need to be scared or worry about anything.

"Mn. I'm always safe with either of them." said Sizhui.

"I will always protect you." said Wei Wuxian.

"That time, I slowly accepted you for a-die even though I knew how loyal a-die is to a-niang. Who would thought that my a-niang was with me that time and the two of them are just one." said Sizhui.

"Thank you for coming back, a-niang." he added while hugging Wei Wuxian more tightly.

Xiao XingChen took out a red elixir from somewhere and put it into his mouth, “How touching.”

After he ate it, the purplish-red hue of his face faded immediately. Wei WuXian asked, “Cure of the corpse-poisoning powder?”

Xiao XingChen, “Correct. A lot more effective than your scary bowl of congee, right? And it tastes sweet.”

"Who could that be if it's not you?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Someone who have a great resentment to us, I guess." said Song Lan.

Wei WuXian, “Your performance was wonderful. From courageously killing corpses, tiring out, to blocking the sword for Jin Ling, losing consciousness. They were all for our entertainment?”

Xiao XingChen raised a finger and wagged it in front of his face, “Not for ‘your’ general entertainment, but ‘your’ singular entertainment. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you, the YiLing Patriarch, that is. It’s better to see for oneself rather than listening to mere tales.”

"He knows who you really are." said Jin Zixuan.

"Do you have any idea of who he is?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Yeah, lets just wait for some more time." said Wei Wuxian.

Wei WuXian didn’t react to his words and his expression remained unchanged. Xiao XingChen continued, “I’m guessing that you haven’t yet told anyone who you really are, have you? So, I didn’t expose your secret either and told them to go outside for us to shut the doors and converse in privacy. How’s that? Aren’t I thoughtful?”

Wei WuXian, “All of the walking corpses in Yi City are under your control?”

"I will never control any corpses so that's is already one of the proof that it's not me." said Xiao Xingchen.

"We already know about that." said Jin Zixuan.

"Could you guys at least give us a clue of who he is." asked Nie Huaisang to the juniors.

"Just wait, any moment from now you will know who it is." said Zizhen.

Xiao XingChen, “Of course. Just as you guys came in and your whistles started, I began to think that you were a bit weird, which was why I decided to attend to the matter personally and sound you out. As I expected, someone who could give way to such strong powers with the low-level sorcery of the Summoning of Painted Eyes could only be the founder.”

Xue Yang walked his old path. Since it was the same practice, both using improper means, Wei WuXian couldn’t fool him. Wei WuXian asked, “So, taking the group of children as hostage, what do you want me to do?”

"Xue Yang? Isn't that Xiao Xingchen? How could he act really the same with the real Xiao Xingchen?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"A good actor, I guess." said Meng Yao.

Xiao XingChen laughed, “Senior, I want you to do me a favor. A tiny favor.”

His mother’s shidi was calling him a senior. The generations really didn’t match up. Just as Wei WuXian was chuckling in secret, Xiao XingChen took out a Spirit-Trapping Pouch and put it onto the table, “Please.”

Wei WuXian put his hand over the the pouch and felt it for a while, as if he was feeling someone’s pulse, “Whose soul is this? It’s already in shambles. Even glue won’t be able to stick it together. There’s only one breath of life left.”

"Whose soul could it be?" asked Xiao Xingchen.

"Why try to piece it together?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"Maybe that person is important to him." said Nie Huaisang.

"Reasonable." said MianMian.

Xiao XingChen, “If this person’s soul was that easy to stick together, why would I need your help?”

Wei WuXian took his hand away, “You want me to fix this soul? No offense, but there really isn’t much left of it in here. When they were still alive, the person probably suffered from a lot of torture. It should’ve been rather painful. They probably committed suicide, so they probably don’t want to come back to this world. If a soul itself doesn’t have any desire to live, then it’ll most likely be impossible to save. If I’m not wrong, the soul was probably patched up by force. As soon as it leaves the Spirit-Trapping Pouch, it’ll dissipate at any moment. You understand this more than anyone.”

"Then, he shouldn't insist to piece it back together again." said Lan Xichen.

"Why not set the soul free?" asked Nie Mingjue.

"Maybe he doesn't want that person to be away from him." said Nie Huaisang.

"If the person wants to die, let them. It was their choice." said Nie Mingjue.

Xiao XingChen, “I don’t understand and I don’t care. Even if you don’t want to, you’ll have to do me the favor. Senior, don’t forget that your children are still staring at you from outside, waiting for you to help them out of the danger.”

"My children?" asked Wei Wuxian with a laugh.

"You're literally like their mother hen." laughed Nie Huaisang.

The tone that he spoke in sounded quite odd. It was affectionate, almost sweet, but had a vicinity that arose from nowhere. It was as though one moment he could call you brother and senior, and the next he could turn hostile and kill you instead. Wei WuXian laughed, “I, too, would rather meet you in person instead of listening to the tales. Xue Yang, why are you pretending to be a cultivator instead of being the delinquent you truly are?”

"So it was really Xue Yang." said Nie Huaisang.

"I want to see what he really looked like." he added.

With a pause, “Xiao XingChen” raised his hand and took off the bandages around his eyes.

The bandages fell layer by layer, revealing a pair of bright, shining eyes.

A pair of unscathed eyes.

"The f*ck!" cursed Jin Zixuan.

"Got him!" Jiang Cheng shouted, getting the attention of everyone.

He was pinning the boy down while tying him in a spiritual rope which was given by Wei Wuxian itself.

"Good job." said Wei Wuxian while standing.

Lan Xichen immediately help Jiang Cheng with a visible jealousy in his eyes when he saw that his beloved is pinning someone down.

"This is what you have been planning since earlier?" asked Jin Zixuan.

Xue Yang just smirked at them.

_____________________________________

Another update guys!

I want to ask for everyone's opinion.

Do you guys want to let Xue Yang have his redemption or not?

Please comment your opinions and suggestions. I highly appreciate them.

The WangXian extra will be posted after the Yi City arc. Thank you!