For some reason, tonight, Wei WuXian felt a bit too guilty to still dare squeezing himself onto the same bed as Lan WangJi. He spent the rest of the evening sitting on the ground and fell asleep sometime during the night, his head leaning on the wooden bed. At dawn, he vaguely felt someone lift him up with gentle movements and place him onto the bed. Struggling to open his eyes, Wei WuXian could see Lan WangJi’s still-indifferent face.

"Is he already sober?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"I think so." said Nie Huaisang.

"What will happen now, then?" asked Jiang Cheng.

He immediately felt more awake, “Lan Zhan.”

Lan WangJi answered with a “mnn”. Wei WuXian asked, “Are you sober or still drunk?”

Lan WangJi, “Sober.”

"So he is already sober." said MianMian.

"Did he remember or not?" she asked.

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

Wei WuXian, “Oh… So it’s five already.”

Lan WangJi woke up at this time every single day, which was why Wei WuXian learnt how to tell the time without looking out the windows. He held up Wei WuXian’s wrists, of which both were covered in reddish marks. He took out a small, turquoise porcelain bottle from within his sleeves and applied the contents. The areas that the smooth ointment had been spread on felt soothed at once. Wei WuXian squinted, “It hurts… HanGuang-Jun, you’re so rude when you’re drunk.”

Lan WangJi didn’t even look up, “You reaped what you had sown.”

"I agree." said Jin Zixuan.

"At least he still care about Wei Wuxian's reddish marks." said Jiang Cheng.

"That was sweet of you, Lan Zhan." said Wei Wuxian.

Wei WuXian’s heart skipped a beat, “Lan Zhan, you really don’t remember what you did after you were drunk, do you?”

Lan WangJi, “I do not.”

Wei WuXian, That’s probably true. Or else, he would’ve already killed me out of embarrassment.

"I will never." said Lan Wangji as he kissed Wei Wuxian's head.

"I know, Lan Zhan. It's just that my thoughts are silly." said Wei Wuxian.

"Really? I don't think so?" said Jiang Cheng.

In his heart, he found it both good and unfortunate that Lan WangJi didn’t remember. It felt as though he’d secretly done or eaten something he shouldn’t have and was hiding alone in a corner, snickering at how nobody found out but disappointed that he couldn’t share the delight with anyone. Involuntarily, his eyes caught sight of Lan WangJi’s lips again.

Although the corners never lifted, his lips looked quite soft, and did indeed feel quite soft.

"Are you planning on kissing him again?" asked MianMian.

"No!" Jiang Cheng shouted.

"He won't, a-cheng might die." laughed Jiang Yanli.

"I'm serious here." said Jiang Cheng.

"Don't worry, the screen might show you and brother-in-law kissing too." said Wei Wuxian.

"It won't." said Jiang Cheng.

"Are you sure?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"I wonder how Xichen-ge could tame you." said Nie Huaisang.

"With my love." said Lan Xichen.

Wei WuXian unconsciously bit at his own lips and started to space out again, The GusuLan Sect is so strict, and Lan Zhan isn’t romantic at all, so he definitely hasn’t kissed any girls before. What do I do now? I happened to have received the grand honor. Should I tell him? Will he be so angry that he starts crying after he knows? Oh, well… He might do so when he was young, but probably not now. And it’s like he’s a monk made of wood. It’s possible that he’s never even had such thoughts before… Wait! The last time he was drunk, I asked him ‘is there anyone you like’, and he said yes. Maybe he’d already kissed her? But judging from Lan Zhan’s habit of selfrestraint, he’s probably really careful about not crossing any lines. They probably never kissed, or even held hands. Speaking of it, maybe back then he didn’t even understand which type of ‘like’ I was talking about…

"Really? Wei Wuxian?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"Did they kissed or not?" asked Nie Huaisang to the juniors.

"In the past." he added.

"Take a guess." said the juniors.

"I bet they did." said Nie Huaisang.

"If they did, then why does Wei Wuxian doesn't remember?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"Remember that his memory is bad." said Jiang Cheng.

After Lan WangJi finished applying the ointment, somebody knocked three times at the door. Lan SiZhui’s voice came through, “HanGuang-Jun, everyone is up. Will we be leaving?”

Lan WangJi, “Wait downstairs.”

"Are they going home now?" asked MianMian.

"Maybe." said Nie Huaisang.

Sizhui and Jingyi looked at one another and glanced at their mother who are playing with the ribbon.

"Did something happen after we left?" asked Zizhen.

"You'll know." said Jingyi.

The group left the city and was parting ways before the city’s tower. Originally, the disciples weren’t as familiar with one another. They had only visited the others during discussion conferences at their respective sects. However, during these past few days, they’d been through both the cat corpse’s incidents and a thrilling day at a haunted city with the others. They’d even burnt paper money, snuck liquor, argued, and cursed other people together. In summary, they already knew one another quite well. Before the departures, all of them were reluctant to leave, taking their time in front of the city gates to discuss when to visit one’s discussion conference and when to night-hunt at another’s place. Lan WangJi didn’t hurry them, either. He let them chatter on as he himself stood silently under a tree. Under Lan WangJi’s eyes, Fairy didn’t at all dare to bark or run around. Crouching under the tree as well, it stared anxiously at Jin Ling, wagging its tail at him.

"They look so cute." said MianMian.

"Just like with a-xian and a-cheng during the Cloud Recesses study along with other disciples." said Jiang Yanli.

"We are the best. No one can outstand our generation." said Wei Wuxian.

"Yeah, full of great cultivators." said Zizhen.

"I beg to differ. Our generation is more better." said Wen Rouhan.

"Where's your proof?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"You can ask you father-in-law." said Wen Rouhan.

"Still, we are the best." said Wei Wuxian with a pout.

Taking the chance that Fairy was being watched by Lan WangJi, Wei WuXian grabbed Jin Ling’s shoulder and walked for some time.

Mo XuanYu was one of Jin GuangShan’s illegitimate sons, which made him a half brother of Jin ZiXuan and Jin GuangYao. In terms of the generations, he could be considered Jin Ling’s uncle as well. Thus, he walked as he righteously talked to Jin Ling in a patronizing tone, “When you go back, don’t keep on arguing with your uncle. Listen to him. Be careful from now on. Don’t run around trying to night-hunt alone again.”

"He never listens to a-niang when it comes to night-hunting." said Jingyi.

Jiang Cheng gave Jin Ling a glare.

Although Jin Ling was from a prominent sect, rumors didn’t let anyone off. With both of his parents gone, it was only natural for him to want to prove himself to others as soon as possible. Wei WuXian continued, “What are you? Fifteen? Most of the disciples around your age haven’t hunted any amazing beasts either, so why should you be so eager and strive for such a first?”

Jin Ling sulked, “My uncles were also fifteen-or-so when they became famous.”

"That's because we're so good." said Wei Wuxian.

"No one can really beat us. We're even more stronger that other Sect Leaders. That's why we have some ranking." he added.

"And we five are the best." he said with a smug face.

Jiang Cheng scoffed at him.

"You're really are so full of yourself." he said.

"It's true though." said Wei Wuxian.

Wei WuXian commented in silence, That’s not the same! Back then, the QishanWen Sect was still on top and everyone had to watch out. If they didn’t fight and cultivate as much as possible, who knew if they’d be the next one to run out of luck? During the Sunshot Campaign, you’d be hauled to the battlefields no matter if you were fifteen or any other age. Now, since the situations is stable and the sects are at peace, of course the atmosphere isn’t as tense and people don’t cultivate like they’re crazy. There’s no need anymore.

"What did we do?" asked Wen Rouhan.

"What do you think?" asked Jin Guangshan.

"That's the main reason why no one can beat them. Up until now, they were still looked up by many people." said Jingyi.

"Except those stupid men." said Jin Ling.

Jin Ling added, “Even when the dog Wei Ying was around fifteen when he killed the Tortoise of Slaughter. If he could even do it, why can’t I?”

"What's that?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"You'll know." said Jin Ling.

Hearing his name come right after the word before it, Wei WuXian blood run cold. He somehow managed to shake off the goosebumps on his back, “He was the one who killed it? Wasn’t it killed by HanGuang-Jun?”

"So who really killed it?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"And please, don't call me like that again especially with that word." he added.

Jin Ling just scoffed at him.

"We don't really who did, but we know that yiu were there." said Jingyi.

After the mention of Lan WangJi, Jin Ling looked to Wei WuXian in a strange way. He wanted to say something, but held it back, “You and HanGuang-Jun… Nevermind. It’s your own business. Anyways, I don’t care about you guys at all. Have fun being cut-sleeve. The disease is incurable.”

Wei WuXian grinned, “Hey, how is it a disease?”

He was laughing in silence, He’s still thinking that I’m shamelessly nagging Lan Zhan?!

The juniors burst out laughing.

"The disease is incurable? You yourself is also one." laughed Jingyi.

"It's not a disease." said Wei Wuxian.

"The relationship between cut-sleeve is way more better than the normal ones." said Nie Huaisang.

"It depends on a person." said Jiang Cheng.

Jin Ling continued, “I already know the meaning behind the GusuLan Sect’s forehead ribbon. Now that it’s already like this, then stay by HanGuang-Jun’s side properly. Even if you’re a cut-sleeve, you should be a modest one. Don’t go about messing with other men, especially people from our sect! Or else, don’t blame the results on me.”

"Wait, what is really the meaning of it?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Sooner or later, you will know." said Jingyi.

"So it really have a meaning." said Jiang Cheng.

"Yes, it have." said Lan Xichen.

"I will kill you if it's something I don't like." said Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen only smiled at him.

The “our sect” that he said included both the LanlingJin and the YunmengJiang Sect. It seemed that his ability to tolerate cut-sleeves had increased, that as long as it wasn’t anyone from the two sects, he could turn a blind eye to it.

Wei WuXian disagreed, “You little brat! What do you mean ‘messing with other men’? I’m not that terrible of a person. Forehead ribbon? There’s a meaning behind the GusuLan Sect’s forehead ribbon?”

"So until then, he didn't know it has a meaning?" asked Lan Xichen.

"No, he only knew about when we told him." said Jingyi.

"What is his reaction?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"You'll see." said Sizhui.

Jin Ling, “Come on! You know what it means. Stop getting so carried away. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Are you Wei Ying?”

At the end of his reply, he suddenly tossed out the straightforward question, taking Wei WuXian by surprise. Wei WuXian responded calmly, “Do you think we’re similar?”

"Why did you asked that?" asked Jin Ling.

"What's wrong with asking?" asked Jin Ling.

"Nothing." said Wei Wuxian.

Jin Ling was silent for a while. Then, he suddenly whistled and called out, “Fairy!”

Having been called by its owner, with its tongue sticking out, Fairy sprinted over. Wei WuXian broke into a run at once, “Be nice! What are you sending out the dog for?!”

Jin Ling, “Hmph! Goodbye!”

"You really to scare me, do you?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"As I said, Fairy won't do something bad to you." said Jin Ling.

"But, it's still a dog." said Wei Wuxian.

"Whatever." said Jin Ling with an eye roll.

After he said goodbye, he proudly marched in the direction of Lanling, probably still afraid to see Jiang Cheng in Yunmeng’s Lotus Pier. The disciples from the other sects went off in different directions as well. In the end, Wei WuXian, Lan WangJi, and the juniors of the Lan Sect were the only ones left.

"He knows that a-niang will surely scold him for the whole day." laughed Jingyi.

"Be thankful that you're staying with your father, or else your ear will be full of his scolding." said Jin Ling.

As they walked, the juniors couldn’t hold themselves from turning around and looking back. Although Lan JingYi didn’t say anything, the reluctance to leave was written all over his face. He asked, “Where are we going next?”

Lan SiZhui, “ZeWu-Jun is currently night-hunting in the Tanzhou area. Are we going to directly return to the Cloud Recesses, or go over there to meet up with him?”

"Finally, we're going to unite with a-die." said Jingyi.

"Is Jiang Cheng with him that time?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"No, he isn't." answered Jingyi.

"Do they night-hunt together?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Sometimes." answered Jingyi.

"I want to see that." said Wei Wuxian.

"Why are you so interested in us?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Secret." said Wei Wuxian with a laugh.

Lan WangJi, “Go to Tanzhou.”

Wei WuXian, “Great. Maybe we can even help him. We don’t know where next to search for our dear friend’s head, anyways.”

The two walked in the front while the rest of the boys followed some distance behind them. After walking for a while, Lan WangJi spoke up, “Jiang Cheng knows who you are.”

"Of course he do." said Wei Wuxian.

"He's the person who knows me so well." he added.

Wei WuXian was sitting on the donkey as it slowly trotted forward, “Yeah, he knows. What can he do, though? He doesn’t have any evidence.”

Unlike the possession of bodies, there was no evidence to the sacrifice of bodies. Jiang Cheng only determined the fact through how he looked when facing a dog, anyway. First, Jiang Cheng had never told anyone that Wei WuXian was afraid of dogs; second, only those familiar with him would be able to judge things based on reactions and expressions, since there couldn’t be any conclusive proof. Even if Jiang Cheng finally chose to stick flyers that said the YiLing Patriarch Wei WuXian was scared of dogs everywhere he could, everyone would probably still believe that the SanDu ShengShou had finally become crazy after searching for the YiLing Patriarch for so many times and failing every attempt.

"I would never do that." said Jiang Cheng.

"It will be laughable if he really did." said Nie Huaisang.

"It's not Jiang Cheng's way." laughed Wei Wuxian.

"Shut up." said Jiang Cheng with a glare.

Wei WuXian, “So, I’m actually really curious. Just how did you recognize me?”

Lan WangJi replied in a calm voice, “I am also really curious as to why your memory is so bad.”

"His memory is so bad, especially when it comes to you." said Jiang Cheng.

"Don't worry, Lan Zhan. I will remember moment I spend with you." said Wei Wuxian.

"Mn. I will too." said Lan Wangji.

They arrived at Tanzhou within a day. Before they met up with Lan XiChen, they passed a garden along the way. Seeing how the garden was big and majestic yet had no-one to care for it, all of the disciples went inside out of curiosity. As long as it wasn’t anything against the sect rules, Lan WangJi never stopped them, which was why he let them inside. In the garden, there was a pavilion and a few fences, a table and a few stools, all made of stone, for people to enjoy the scenery. However, through years of wind and rain, one corner had fallen off the pavilion and two of the stools had toppled over. There were no plants or flowers in the garden, only brittle branches and withered leaves. This garden had been abandoned since a long time ago.

After the juniors roamed eagerly around the garden for a while, Lan SiZhui spoke up, “This is the garden of the Damsel of Annual Blossoms, is it not?”

"Oh, it's the same place where I want to go before meeting Lan Zhan." said Wei Wuxian.

"Why is it looking like that?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Maybe because no one took good care of it as time passes by." said Lan Xichen.

Lan JingYi was confused, “The Damsel of Annual Blossoms? Who is that? Does the garden have an owner? Why does it look so worn-down? It seems like nobody has been caring for it for a long time.”

Annual blossoms were flowers that had short flowering periods and only bloom during certain seasons. There were many varied types and colors, which filled the entire garden with fragrance when they bloomed. Hearing the name, Wei WuXian couldn’t help but recalled something.

"Did you remember your date with Wangji-xiong?" Nie Huaisang teased.

"I think not." said Jiang Cheng.

"You're really a negative person, Jiang-xiong. No wonder you end up with Xichen-ge. You just need a positive person in your life." said Nie Huaisang.

"But, I really think he doesn't think of Lan Wangji that time." said Jiang Cheng.

"More like his shameless doings." he added.

Placing his hand over one of the pillars of the pavilion, Lan SiZhui thought for a while, “If I remember correctly, it probably is. This garden used to be rather famous. I read about it on a book once, in the chapter The Blossoming Spirit of the Florist Damsel. In Tanzhou there is a garden, and in the garden there is a damsel. Under the moonlight, if one should recite poetry, when she deems it fine, she grants them an annual blossom, the fragrance of which persists for three years; when she deems it poor or when the rhyming does not pass, she casts a blossom at their face, then fades away.”

Lan JingYi, “So if you recited the poetry wrong she would throw a flower at your face? Hopefully the flowers did not have thorns. Or else, if I were there to try, my face would definitely start bleeding. What sort of fae was she?”

"I agree with this nephew of mine." said Wei Wuxian.

"If you don't know how to recite a poetry then don't try." said Jiang Cheng.

Lan SiZhui, “I would not call her a fae. She was more like a spirit. The legends have it that the earliest owner of the garden was a poet. He planted these flowers himself and treated them as friends, reciting poetry here everyday. Affected by the emotions of the poetry, a spirit crystallized from the flora of the garden and became the Damsel of Annual Blossoms. When someone came, if their poetry was decent and allowed her to remember the one who planted her, she would be happy and give them a flower. If the poetry was wrong or did not sound pleasing, she would emerge from the bushes and hurl a flower onto the person’s face. The one who had been attacked would faint and realize that they had been thrown out of the garden after they woke up. Ten years ago, an endless number of people would come to this garden.”

Wei WuXian, “Romantic, romantic. But I know for sure that the GusuLan Sect’s Library Pavilion wouldn’t hold books that say such things. SiZhui, be honest. Tell us what book you were reading and who gave it to you.”

"Yeah, where did you get such information?" asked Jin Ling.

Lan Sizhui blushed.

"Nie-jiujiu gave it to me." he answered and Nie Huaisang send him a glare.

"Are you putting me in my death bed?" he asked.

"Buy you're really the one who gave such book to me." said Sizhui.

"It's not shocking at all." said Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian.

Lan SiZhui blushed and sneaked a glance at Lan WangJi, worried that he’d be punished. Lan JingYi asked, “Is the Damsel really pretty? Or else why would so many people come?”

Seeing that Lan WangJi had no intentions of scolding him, Lan SiZhui secretly let out a sigh of relief. Only then did he smile and reply, “She probably was. After all, she crystallized from such pleasant things and was such a romantic spirit. But in reality, nobody had ever seen the Damsel’s face. Because of how even if someone did not know how to compose poetry, it was more than easy for them to memorize a few poems, most people had received the Damsel’s flowers. Even when there came the rare person who recited wrong, they would not get to meet her since they were knocked out immediately. However… one person was the exception.”

"Who wants to bet?" asked Jingyi while standing up.

"Are addicted to betting?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"Just state your bet if you have one." said Jingyi.

"Nie Huaisang." said Su She.

"Excuse me! Are talking about me?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Is there other person who have that name?" asked Su She.

Nie Mingjue glared at him.

"My brother is the best at poetry." he said.

"Okay. Any other bet?" asked Jingyi.

"Jin Zixuan." said Wei Wuxian.

"I will never do such thing. I am not even interested on it." said Jin Zixuan.

"Wei Wuxian. It's quite obvious." said Jiang Cheng.

"Why me?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Think for yourself." said Jiang Cheng.

Another boy asked, “Who?”

Wei WuXian let out a light cough.

Lan SiZhui, “The YiLing patriarch, Wei WuXian.”

"See, I'm right." said Jiang Cheng.

"You're always right." said Nie Huaisang.

"Especially when it comes to this." he added.

Wei WuXian coughed again, “Uh, why’s it him again? Can’t we talk about something else?”

Nobody paid him any attention. Lan JingYi waved anxiously, “Be quiet! What did Wei WuXian do? He was such a big villain—what did he do, this time? Did he snatch the Damsel away and take her outside?”

Everyone laughed at Jingyi's statement.

"Wei Ying won't." said Lan Wangji.

"I'm not that kind of a person." said Wei Wuxian with a pout.

"I don't believe you." said Jin Zixuan and Jiang Cheng.

"You're teaming up against me, again." said Wei Wuxian with a pout.

Lan SiZhui, “Well, no. But, in order to see the Damsel’s face, he went out of his way to come to Tanzhou all the way from Yunmeng. Whenever he came to the garden, he would recite the poetry wrong on purpose so that the Damsel became angered, hit him with flowers, and threw him out. When he woke up, he would crawl back inside and continue to recite incorrectly. After this repeated for more than twenty times, he finally saw the Damsel’s face. After this, he would go about everywhere praising how beautiful she looked. However, the Damsel was rather irritated as well. She did not show up for quite a while. Whenever he came, she would pound him with a rain of flowers. The scene was truly more wondrous than any wonders.”

The boys bursted into laughter, “Wei WuXian was such an annoying person!”

“Was he really that bored?”

"I really did that?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Mn. You really did." said Sizhui.

"You're really is something, Wei-xiong." laughed Nie Hauisang.

Wei WuXian touched his chin, “How was it boring? Who hasn’t done a couple of such things when they were young? Speaking of it, why do people even know about something like this? And it’s even seriously recorded in a book. That’s pretty boring as well, if you ask me.”

Lan WangJi was looking at him. Although still expressionless, an unusual glint hid beneath his eyes. He looked as though he was laughing at him. Wei WuXian thought to himself, Hey, Lan Zhan, don’t you dare make fun of me. I know at least eight—if not ten—of your embarrassing stories from when you were young. I’ll tell them to the boys sooner or later and destroy the inviolable, irreproachable reputation they have of their HanGuang-Jun.

"You're laughing at me, Lan Zhan." Wei Wuxian whined.

"Will not laugh at Wei Ying, again." said Lan Wangji.

"If I was there, I would've laughed loudly." said Jiang Cheng.

"Of course you will." said Wei Wuxian with a pout.

He declared, “You children are so hyper all the time. You’ve definitely been reading idle books instead of focusing on cultivation. When you get back, make sure HanGuang-Jun punishes you by making you copy the sect rules. Ten times.”

The boys wailed, “Ten times even when doing the handstand?!”

"What?" Wei Wuxian asked in disbelief.

"That's awful. How dare you do that to the kids?" he asked again.

"We didn't." said Lan Xichen.

"But me and Wangji do handstand for training." he added.

"In the future, every rule you break you will be punished with handstand while copying the rules." said Sizhui.

"I suffered a lot from it." Jingyi pouted.

"That's because you're a rule breaker." said Jiang Cheng.

Wei WuXian was also shocked. He turned to Lan WangJi, “Your sect makes disciples do handstands while copying? That’s awful.”

Lan WangJi replied calmly, “There would always be someone who did not learn their lessons by simply copying the sect rules. Handstands not only guaranteed better performance in the future but also benefited cultivation.”

Of course, Wei WuXian was the someone who never learnt his lessons. He pretended as though he didn’t know what Lan WangJi was talking about. Turning around, he found himself glad that he didn’t have to copy the scriptures while doing handstands.

"I won't do that even if I was forced." said Wei Wuxian.

"But it's quite good because the disciples will learn to not break a rule again." said Sizhui.

"Except Jingyi." he added.