The city was not only brightly lit, but also filled with the chatter of people. The disciples all exclaimed that this finally seemed like a place where humans lived.

"Oh we're back at it again." said Nie Huaisang with a clear disappointment in his voice.

"It's much more better than watching the two of them dancing around each other." said Jiang Cheng.

"I'm getting sick because of their obliviousness." he added.

Wei WuXian extended his arms toward the donkey and shouted, “Lil’ Apple!”

Lil’ Apple brayed as though it was mad. Immediately, Wei WuXian heard the barks of a dog. He darted behind Lan WangJi at once. Fairy had also rushed over. The dog and the donkey stood on opposite sides and snarled at each other.

Wei Wuxian was trembling at the sight of dog.

"The donkey really looks like Jiang-xiong." laughed Nie Huaisang.

"You're right, Nie-xiong." said Wei Wuxian even though he was trembling.

Lan WangJi, “Leash it. It is time to eat.”

Dragging Wei WuXian, who was almost glued to his back, he walked toward the second floor, following the tea servant. Jin Ling and the rest wanted to follow, yet Lan WangJi turned around and gave them an obscure glance. Lan SiZhui immediately told the others, “The elders’ and the juniors’ rooms should be separated. We can stay on the first floor.”

"These father and son really understand one another even in just a glance." said a random cultivator.

"I agree and it makes me wonder how they did it." said his friend.

"It's pretty easy. Me and Jiang Cheng can understand one another in just a glance too." said Wei Wuxian.

"You need to know each other thoroughly for that." he added.

Lan WangJi nodded and continued to walk up, his face as detached as always. Jin Ling stood on the stairs hesitantly, unsure of whether to go up or down. Wei WuXian turned around and grinned, “The adults and the children should be separated. It’s best if you don’t see some of the things that happen.”

Jin Ling’s lips twitched, “Who’d want to see that!”

"This kid is really Jiang Cheng." laughed Wei Wuxian.

"And Jin-xiong's." Nie Huaisang added.

"I don't act like that." said Jin Zixuan.

"Tell that to a peacock." Wei Wuxian said with an eye roll.

Lan WangJi told a servant to prepare one table downstairs for the group of disciples and a private room upstairs for Wei WuXian and him. The two sat across from each other.

Wei WuXian, “HanGuang-Jun, listen to me. Please don’t have your sect handle all of the aftermath of Yi City alone. It’s such a big city. If you really want to tidy the place up, it’d cost you a lot in terms of many aspects. It’ll be quite difficult. Shuzhong isn’t under the administration of the GusuLan Sect anyways. Count the disciples downstairs and see which sects they came from. Add their sects up as well. Those sects should also help you.”

"Of course they should help. If not, I will put those disciples to a more dangerous situation." said Jiang Cheng.

"The Jiang Sect should also help." said Wei Wuxian.

"Of course, even though a-niang didn't how we found the place and what happened to us, he still helped." said Jingyi.

"But, he grew suspicious though." said Sizhui.

"He is suspicious of everything." said Jin Ling.

Lan WangJi, “I will consider it.”

Wei WuXian, “Yes, please do. Everyone likes to fight for the preys and push around the responsibilities. Now, if your sect is taken advantage of, even if it’s for the good of them, they might not feel grateful or understand why you did it. If this repeats too much, they’d take it as granted that your sect always takes care of such things. That’s how things are in this world.”

"Those lowly sects." said Wen Rouhan.

"That happens a lot of times." said Jiang Fengmian.

"They just don't how to feel grateful but know how to feel envy." said Lan Qiren.

After a pause, he continued, “But, speaking of it, they really are unlucky. Yi City is too remote and there aren’t any lookout towers around it. Or else, Jin Ling, SiZhui, and the rest wouldn’t have accidentally barged in. Maiden A-Qing and Daozhang Xiao XingChen’s souls wouldn’t have stayed hidden for all these years either.”

No matter how big or how small, there were as many cultivational sects as stars in a night sky. Most were situated at flourishing cities that could be conveniently accessed or spiritual grounds with beautiful scenery. The sects, however, were unwilling to be stationed at certain remote areas. Rogue cultivators rarely travelled to those places either. Thus, when evil beings haunted, the dwellers there usually suffered in silence, unable to find help anywhere.

"We are going to change that." said Xiao Xingchen.

"We will manage those remote areas." said Song Lan.

"I know you can. If you needed help, you're free to seek us." said Wei Wuxian.

When the previous leader of the LanlingJin Sect, Jin GuangShan, was still alive, Jin GuangYao had brought the matter up before. However, it would have cost a great deal and Jin GuangShan wasn’t overly enthusiastic about the idea either. Also since, back then, the LanlingJin Sect’s leadership wasn’t as powerful, the matter wasn’t seen as important, and nothing ended up happening.

"You're really are something." said Wen Rouhan in amusement while looking at Jin Guangshan.

"There is one thing that I'm sure taht will happen after all of this." said a random cultivator.

"What it is?" asked his friend.

"Jin Sect will be doomed especially their sect leader." he said.

After Jin GuangYao officially succeeded the position of Sect Leader and became the Chief Cultivator, he immediately gathered people and resources from the sects, and started to carry out his past goals. In the beginning, the voices of opposition were deafening. A lot of people suspected that the LanlingJin Sect used it to gain personal benefits and stuff its own pockets. With a smiling face, Jin GuangYao persisted for five years. During the years, he allied but also fell out with countless people. Using both gentle and forceful methods, he did all that he could and what he wished for was finally completed. More than twelve hundred “lookout towers” had been built.

These “lookout towers” were scattered around the more remote places. Every one of them were assigned disciples from certain sects. If anything strange happened, they’d take action at once. When they couldn’t deal with the matter, they’d send out messages to other sects or rogue cultivators for help. Even if the cultivators who came wanted something in return while the locals were too poor to give them any, the money that the LanlingJin Sect gathered throughout each year would be enough to support them.

"It's enough, the Jin sect are known to be the most richest sect after all." said Jin Zixun with pride.

"With corruption." Wei Wuxian muttered.

"Rich with disgusting, sex-craze, and f*cking manwhores." said Jiang Cheng.

"I am not." said Jin Zixuan and Jin Ling at the same time.

"Add to that, all of them are so full of themselves." he added.

"Are you two going to argue?" he asked.

"I agree, Jin-xiong is kinda full of himself." laughed Nie Huaisang.

"Well, not anymore." said Jin Zixuan.

"You're not sure." said Wei Wuxian.

All of these happened after the death of the YiLing Patriarch. Wei WuXian only heard the ins and outs from Lan WangJi after they passed a few lookout towers during their journey. Rumors had it that Koi Tower was preparing to build the next batch of lookout towers, increasing them to three thousand in number so that they covered a greater area. Although after the first lookout towers were built, they received widespread approvals due to their notable effects, the voices of suspicion and ridicule had never died either. When the time came, the cultivation world would definitely be thrown into chaos again.

Not long later, both the food and the liquor arrived. Wei WuXian glanced over the table, pretending as if he didn’t mean it. Almost all of the dishes were covered in red. Paying attention to Lan WangJi’s chopsticks, he notes that he ate mostly from the milder dishes, rarely the bright-red ones. Even when he did, his expression remained the exact same. Wei WuXian felt something tug at his heart.

"Of course he won't eat spicy food." said Su She.

"He will, just wait." said Nie Huaisang.

"Lans are known to spoil their lovers whatever it takes." he added.

Having noticed his gaze, Lan WangJi asked, “What is wrong?”

Wei WuXian slowly poured himself a cup of liquor, “I want somebody to drink with me.”

"Please, don't make him drunk again." said Jiang Cheng.

"Lans getting drunk is like giving us trauma even if it was only Lan Wangji who we have seem drunk from all the Lans." he added.

"I also want to see brother-in-law getting drunk." said Wei Wuxian.

"It will be a disaster." said Jingyi.

He never actually expected Lan WangJi to drink with him, and simply finished the liquor in his own cup. However, staring silently at him, Lan WangJi gently swept his own sleeves aside. He poured a cup for himself as well and, after a pause, he slowly downed the liquor.

"I didn't tell him to drink with me." Wei Wuxian defended himself seeing the glare that was sent to him by the Lans and Jiang Cheng.

"Nothing worse is going to happen, right." he asked the juniors.

"Just wait and find it out yourselves." said Jin Ling.

Wei WuXian was quite surprised, “HanGuang-Jun, you really are considerate, aren’t you? You’re really gonna drink with me?”

The last time they drank together, Wei WuXian didn’t pay much attention to Lan WangJi’s expression. This time, however, he went out of his way to scrutinize it.

Lan WangJi closed his eyelids when he drank. With a faint frown, he finished the liquor, and only opened his eyes again after subtly pursing up his lips. A blanket of mist even seemed to have fallen over his eyes.

Resting his chin in his hand, Wei WuXian started to count in silence. As he had expected, when he reached the number eight, Lan WangJi put the cup down. He touched his forehead, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

"He really fell asleep." said Wei Wuxian.

"Please stay asleep." said Jiang Cheng.

"I have a feeling that it will be interesting." said Nie Huaisang.

"I have a feeling that it's not good." said Jiang Cheng.

"Do Lans really fell asleep before getting drunk?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"They do and it is a complete disaster." said Jin Ling.

"It's fun." said Wei Wuxian.

Wei WuXian was completely convinced—Lan WangJi really did fall asleep before he woke up drunk!

For some unknown reason, he was starting to feel a bit eager. Finishing all of the leftover liquor in one gulp, Wei WuXian stood up and paced around the room, his hands folded behind him. After a while, he walked toward Lan WangJi, bent down, and whispered by his ear, “Lan Zhan?”

"What do you want now?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Just making sure if he is really asleep." laughed Wei Wuxian.

There was no reply. Wei WuXian continued, “WangJi-xiong?”

Lan WangJi was leaning his head on his right hand. His breathing was calmer than ever.

Both his features and the hand at his forehead were impeccably fair in color. He looked as if he was a piece of fine jade.

"Can you please stop comparing to a jade." said Jiang Cheng.

"But he is really like a jade. Don't be jealous, you can complement your husband however you want." said Wei Wuxian.

"This scene isn't giving me a good vibes." said Jiang Cheng.

"Take a chill pill, Jiang-xiong. It will be exciting." said Nie Huaisang.

The faint fragrance of sandalwood that surrounded him had originally been cold, somewhat grim. Now, however, as it combined with the liquor’s mellow aroma, a few tinges of warmth rippled through the coldness. As though a saccharine whisp had wound its way through, the scent could almost be described as intoxicating.

Now that Wei WuXian was near enough, the scent intertwined with his breaths. He couldn’t help but bent down further so that he was even closer to Lan WangJi. Vaguely, he thought to himself, Strange… Why is it starting to feel a bit hot in here?

"This is not good." said Jiang Cheng and Jin Zixuan at the same time.

Wei Wuxian was blushing so hard.

"Stay away from him." said Jiang Cheng while glaring at the screen.

"Aiyaa nothing bad will happen." said Wei Wuxian even though he is blushing.

Amid the fusion of liquor and sandalwood, his face inched nearer and nearer, while he himself didn’t notice it at all. His voice had lowered as well. In an almost teasing manner, he murmured, “Second… Bro-…”

Suddenly, a voice entered his ears, “Young Master…”

"Who dare disturb them?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Why is it that something good will happen, someone interrupts in the middle?" he added.

"Because it's not the time yet." said MianMian.

Wei WuXian’s face was already less than an inch away from Lan WangJi’s. The word “Brother” was at the tip of his tongue as well. Startled by the sound, he almost fell onto the ground with a slip of his feet.

He immediately positioned himself in front of Lan WangJi. Then, he turned to the wooden windows of where the voice came from.

Jiang Cheng, Nie Huaisang, and Jin Zixuan was laughing at Wei Wuxian.

"What are you planning to do?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"Thanks to that person, nothung happened." said Jiang Cheng.

"Not yet." said the juniors.

A careful knock could be heard through the windows, then a small voice drifted through the slit, “Young Master…”

Wei WuXian finally noticed that his heart was beating a bit too fast. He puzzled over it again, then regained his composure. Walking over, he raised the window to see a black-clothed figure dangling upside-down with legs hung at the roof, preparing to knock once more. Wei WuXian quickly opened the window, which bumped into the person’s head. The figure exclaimed with a light ah. Holding the windows back with both of his hands, he finally made eye contact with Wei WuXian.

A cold breeze barged into the room. Wen Ning’s eyes were opened, no longer an ashen white, but instead filled with a pair of black, silent pupils.

"A-ning!" exclaimed Wen Qing.

"What are you doing there." she asked.

"Why did you disturb them?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"I-i don't k-know." Wen Ning stuttered.

"I am not scary, right." Nie Huaisang asked.

"Not in any angle." said Jiang Cheng.

The two stayed like this, one standing, one hanging, and stared at each other for a few moments.

Wei WuXian, “Come down.”

With a sudden loss of balance, Wen Ning fell and slammed onto the ground outside the inn.

"A-ning." called Wen Qing with worry in her voice.

"Nothing bad happened to him." said Zizhen.

Wen Qing let a breath of relief.

Wei WuXian wiped away the nonexistent sweat on his forehead.

He commented, We really chose the right place!

It was a good thing that they chose this inn. For the sake of tranquility, the windows of the private room faced a small grove instead of the streets. Using the support pole, Wei WuXian left the windows open and looked down, leaning outside. With his heavy body, Wen Ning made a man-shaped dent on the ground. He was still staring at Wei WuXian even as he lay in the dent.

Nie Huaisang couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

"What's funny?" asked Wen Qing.

Seeing the dangerous look on the woman's face, Nie Huaisang shook his head aggressively.

In a hushed voice, Wei WuXian shouted at him, “I told you to come down, not go down. ‘Come’, you understand?”

Wen Ning looked up at him. Dusting off his clothes, he crawled out of the dent and hurried to reply, “Oh. I’m coming.”

As soon as he finished, he clung to a pillar and prepared to climb. Wei WuXian interrupted him at once, “Stop! Stay where you are. I’ll come get you.”

"You're to leave Lan Wangji there, alone?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Are you worried?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"No, I just hope that he won't do something stupid." said Jiang Cheng.

He returned to Lan WangJi and leaned down toward his ears, “Lan Zhan, oh, Lan Zhan. Please sleep for a while longer. I’ll be back before you know it. Won’t you be a good boy?”

After he spoke, he felt a strange urge. He couldn’t help but brushed the tip of his finger against Lan WangJi’s eyelashes.

In a slight manner, Lan WangJi’s lashes trembled and his brows twitched. He looked rather perturbed. Removing his hand, Wei WuXian leaped out the window. He hopped a few times on the branches by the roof, then landed on the ground. Right after he turned around, Wen Ning kneeled down in front him.

"At least he let Wangji know." said Lan Xichen.

"I dout that Lan Wangji will even listen to him." said Jiang Vheng.

"Why is Young Master Wen kneeling in front of a-xian?" asked Jiang Yanli.

Wei WuXian, “What are you doing?”

Wen Ning said nothing, his head hanging low.

Wei WuXian asked again, “Do you really have to talk to me like this?”

Wen Ning lowered his voice, “Young Master, I’m sorry.”

Wei WuXian, “Well then.”

Immediately after he spoke, he kneeled in front of Wen Ning as well. Startled, Wen Ning proceeded to kowtow him, while Wei WuXian soon returned the kowtow as well. Wen Ning was so alarmed that he jumped up at once. Only then did Wei WuXian stand up again, sweeping off the dirt at his hems, “You could’ve just stood straight and talked to me, you know?”

"What's wrong woth the two of you?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"They looked funny though." said Nie Huaisang.

"They look stupid." said Jiang Cheng.

"Just enjoy the moment." said Nie Huaisang.

Wen Ning was still looking at the ground, afraid to say anything. Wei WuXian asked, “When did you regain consciousness?”

Wen Ning, “Just a while ago.”

Wei WuXian, “Do you still remember the things that happened when the nails were in your head?”

Wen Ning, “Some… but not all.”

Wen Wing gave Xue Yang a glare.

"Whoever is behind all of this, I am going to kill them." said Wen Rouhan.

"We can offer help." said Jingyi.

Wei WuXian, “What do you remember?”

Wen Ning, “That I’d been chained in a really dark place. I think people sometimes came to check on me.”

Wei WuXian, “Do you remember who they were?”

Wen Ning, “No, only that somebody nailed something into my head.”

"They will be doomed when I get my hands on them." Said Wen Rouhan.

"Don't keep it a secret a-ning, if you encounter this enough lesson." said Wei Rouhan.

Wen Ning only nodded his head.

Wei WuXian, “It was probably Xue Yang. He also used those nails to control Song Lan. He used to be a guest cultivator at the LanlingJin Sect, but we still don’t know whether he did such a thing out of his own intentions or was it the LanlingJin Sect’s wishes.”

After giving it some thought, he continued, “Most likely, it was out of the LanlingJin Sect’s wishes. Back then, they all said that you’d been completely annihilated. If the LanlingJin Sect didn’t take part in this, he wouldn’t have been able to hide the truth all on his own.” With a pause, he asked again, “Then, what happened afterwards? How did you go to Dafan Mountain?”

"Jin Guangshan! Just how shameless are you?" asked Madam Jin in anger.

"I didn't do anything." said the man.

"Trying to defend yourself? I myself will be the one to kill you, just wait." said Madam Jin.

Wen Ning, “Afterwards, I don’t know how long had passed, but I suddenly heard someone clap, and then, Young Master, you said ‘wake up,’ so I… struggled out of the chains and rushed outside…”

It was the command that Wei WuXian gave to the three fierce corpses at Mo Village.

In the past, Wei WuXian had given the Ghost General countless commands. Thus, he also heard the first command that Wei WuXian gave after he came back to this world.

And so, in a muddled state of mind, Wen Ning followed other corpses’ directions and Wei WuXian’s commands. The LanlingJin Sect, on the other hand, knew that they couldn’t make public the fact that they’d been hiding the Ghost General. Or else, if the news leaked out, not only would its own reputation be damaged, the people would also start to panic, which was why even though Wen Ning ran away, they didn’t dare to pursue him with any fanfare. After a mess of a journey, Wen Ning finally reached Wei WuXian, who was playing the flute on top of Dafan Mountain, and the two successfully met again.

"I look cool when controlling him." said Wei Wuxian.

"So immoral." said Jin Zixun.

"You better shut up." said Sizhui.

"Don't mind him, he is just a useless man." said Jin Ling with a glare.

Wei WuXian sighed, “You said that you ‘don’t know how long had passed’. It’s already been more than ten years.” He continued after a short pause, “Well, it’s fair to say that I don’t know much more than you do. Do you want me to tell you some of the things that happened?”

Wen Ning, “I’ve heard of some.”

Wei WuXian, “Like what?”

Wen Ning, “I heard that the Burial Mounds are gone, that everyone… is gone.”

"Burial Mounds?" asked Jiang Cheng in disbelief.

"Isn't that a dangerous place." he added.

"And who are those everyone he means?" asked MianMian.

"I have no idea either." said Wei Wuxian.

Truthfully, Wei WuXian had only wanted to tell him about the more trivial gossip, such as how the rules of the Lan Sect had increased from three thousand to four thousand. Not at all expecting Wen Ning to bring up such a grave topic to start with, he could only stay silent.

Despite of this being a grave topic, Wen Ning’s tone wasn’t mournful at all, as though he had already known that it would’ve happened. In reality, though, this was indeed the case. They expected the worst-case scenario countless times, as early as more than a decade ago.

"Why?" asked Jiang Yanli.

"Can anyone tell me what's going there?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"Wait 'till it show us. It will eventually show it, a-die." said Jin Ling.

After a moment of silence, Wei WuXian asked again, “What else have you heard?”

Wen Ning whispered, “Sect Leader Jiang, Jiang Cheng, brought a siege upon the Burial Mounds. And he killed you.”

"What?!" shouted Jiang Cheng.

"I really killed him?" he asked.

"There might be a misunderstanding here." said Wei Wuxian.

Wei WuXian, “I’ll have to clarify this one. He didn’t kill me. I died from a backfire.”

Wen Ning finally looked up at him, “But, Sect Leader Jiang clearly…”

"I would never!" exclaimed Jiang Cheng while glaring at Wen Ning.

"That's impossible." said Jiang Yanli.

"Jiang would never do that. As you heard, I die from a backfire." said Wei Wuxian.

"Stop spreading those useless rumours." he added.

Wei WuXian, “Nobody can walk safely on a single-plank bridge for their whole life. It couldn’t be helped.”

Wen Ning seemed as if he wanted to sigh, but he had no breath to let out.

Wei WuXian ended the conversation, “Okay. Let’s not talk about him anymore. Have you heard of anything else?”

"Like what?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Just some trivial gossip." laughed Wei Wuxian.

"I guess he didn't." said Jiang Cheng.

“Yes.” Wen Ning gazed at him, “Young Master Wei, you died such an awful death.”

"What?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"You heard nothing good?" he asked while looking at the screen.

“…” Looking at how miserable he was, Wei WuXian sighed, “So you haven’t heard any good news?”

Wen Ning frowned, “No. There hasn’t been any.”

“…” Wei WuXian was speechless.

"I am expecting some good gossip." said Wei Wuxian.

"Where will he get that? It's obvious that he didn't know anything because he is locked up." said Jiang Cheng.

Suddenly, a loud shattering noise came from the main hall of the first floor. Lan SiZhui’s voice followed, “Were we not talking about Xue Yang? Why are we now arguing over this?”

"Now, what's happening to them?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Good luck to the two of you." said Jingyi and Zizhen while looking at their friends.