The boys slowly approached them. The one leading the group was a boy of around the same age but a wider physique than Jin Ling, “I thought I saw wrong. So it really is him.”

"I already dislikes this kid." said Jiang Cheng.

"Here comes our enemy." said Jingyi.

Wei WuXian pointed to himself, “Me?”

The boy, “Who other than you?! Mo XuanYu, you still have the face to return?”

"The way he talked doesn't show respect." said Jing Yanli.

"I can say, all the Jin disciples are like this. So full of themselves and never respect anyone like they are above all." said Jiang Cheng.

The Jins just glared at him.

Jin Ling frowned, “Jin Chan, why did you come? It’s none of your business here.”

Wei WuXian, I see. It’s probably one of the kids from Jin Ling’s generation. And, looking at the way of things, this was a group of children who weren’t on good terms with Jin Ling.

"Will never be." said Jin Ling.

"They're bunch of assholes." he added.

Jin Chan, “It’s none of my business, but is it any of your business? Why do you care about me?”

As he spoke, three or four of the boys had already come over, as though they wanted to hold Wei WuXian down. With a sideways step, Jin Ling put himself in front of Wei WuXian, “Don’t mess around!”

"Are you protecting me?" asked Wei Wuxian woth a grin.

"I am not. Why would ?" asked Jin Ling with a frown.

"Because my grumpy nephew cared about me." said Wei Wuxian.

Jin Chan, “Mess around? What’s wrong with teaching a lesson to an indecent disciple of our sect?”

"The wrong is that he is not entitled to discipline me." said Wei Wuxian.

"In your generation, he is the one you called Jin Zixun. They both have the same size of brains." said Jin Ling.

Jin Ling snorted, “Wake up! He’s been kicked out a long time ago! He isn’t our sect’s disciple no matter how you see it.”

Jin Chan, “So what?”

The “so what” sounded so self-assured that Wei WuXian was flabbergasted. Jin Ling replied, “So what? Have you forgotten who he came with today? You want to teach him a lesson? Why don’t you ask HanGuangJun first?”

Hearing the name “HanGuang-Jun”, the boys all seemed nervous. Even if Lan WangJi wasn’t present, nobody dared to claim that they weren’t scared of HanGuang-Jun at all. After a while of silence, Jin Chan responded, “Ha, Jin Ling, didn’t you also use to hate him? How come today is so different?”

"They are really scared of you, Lan Zhan." laughed Wei Wuxian.

"Who wouldn't?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Except me, ChengCheng here isn't scared of him." said Wei Wuxian.

Jin Ling, “How do you have so many things to say? Does whether or not I hate him matter to you?”

Jin Chan, “He shamelessly harassed LianFang-Zun, and you’re still talking in favor of him?”

Wei WuXian felt as though he had been struck with thunder.

"What?!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed.

"He harassed who?" he asked.

"Lianfang-zun? Who was Lianfang-zun again." he added and people looked at him in disbelief.

He harassed whom? LianFang-Zun? Who was LianFang-Zun again? Jin GuangYao?

He couldn’t believe it—the person Mo XuanYu had been harassing was LianFang-Zun, Jin GuangYao!

"Jin Guangyao?' Wei Wuxian asked.

"They're brothers, right." he added.

"Out of all people he can harass he choose him. The f*ck! Mo Xuanyu is really out of his mind." said Jiang Cheng.

"No wonder he was thrown out of the Jin Sect." said Jin Zixuan.

As he was trying to overcome the shock, on the other hand, after Jin Chan and Jin Ling exchanged a few more words, they’d somehow gotten to the point of seeking a fight with each other. Neither of them saw the other in a good light to begin with. The fuse was ignited at once. Jin Ling asserted, “If you want a fight, then let’s have a fight. You think I’m scared of you?”

One of the boys shouted, “Why not? He’s only gonna call a dog to help him anyways!”

Jin Ling heard this just as he was about to whistle. He clenched his teeth and roared, “I can beat you up even if I don’t call Fairy!!!”

"Really?" asked Jingyi with a raised brow.

"Of course I can. Those bunch of assholes are nothing against me." said Jin Ling.

"But there is no need to fight." said Jiang Yanli.

Although his tone was ample with confidence, two fists were hardly a worthy opponent to four hands. After he started to fight, it was clear that his abilities began to fall short. He appeared to be losing ground, forced closer and closer to Wei WuXian.

Jin Ling seethed when he saw that Wei WuXian was still standing at the same place, “Why are you still standing around?!”

Wei WuXian suddenly grabbed his hand. Before Jin Ling had the chance to yell, he felt an overwhelming force press onto his wrist. He couldn’t help but collapse onto the ground. Enraged, he shouted, “Do you want to die?!!”

"What did you do?" asked MianMian.

Jiang Yanli smiled while Jiang Cheng smirked.

"Oh that? It's nothing. I just hope that this Young Mistress here has learned it." said Wei Wuxian.

"Learned what?" asked Sizhui.

"You'll know." said Jin Ling.

As he put down Jin Ling, who had been protecting him, Jin Chan and the others were startled. Yet, Wei WuXian asked, “You got it?”

Jin Ling was also startled, “What?”

Wei WuXian turned his hand again, “Have you understood?”

"Understood what?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"I don't get it." said Nie Huaisang.

Wei Wuxian just laughed at them.

Feeling a numbing pain travel from his wrist to his entire body, Jin Ling cried again. Before his eyes, however, he could recall Wei WuXian’s swift, subtle movement. Wei WuXian spoke once more, “Again. Look carefully.”

One of the boys just happened to rush over. With one hand behind his back, Wei WuXian used the other hand to snatch at the boy’s wrist. He brought him to the ground in the blink of an eye. This time, Jin Ling saw what was going on. The aching part of his wrist also told him which acupoint to send his spiritual energy to. Springing to his feet, he seemed to be in high spirits, “Yes!”

"Did you just taught him how to fight?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"Well, that's one of the easiest way to defeat your opponent." said Wei Wuxian.

"How did you know that?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Well, getting into trouble most of the times made people think I am nothing so here I learned how to defeat them in just a second." said Wei Wuxian.

The situation was reversed in an instant. Not long later, the boys’ frustrated cries sounded throughout the garden. In the end, Jin Chan fumed, “Jin Ling, just you wait!”

A trail of curses followed as the boys fled in
defeat. Jin Ling, on the other hand, split his sides laughing behind them. When his laughter finally seemed to die, Wei WuXian spoke up, “Look at how happy you are. Your first time winning?”

Jin Ling spat, “I’ve always won one-on-one fights. But Jin Chan calls a bunch of helpers every single time. He’s got no face.”

"So you now know how to beat them up." laughed Jingyi.

"You can join me next time. Jin Chan doesn't learned his lessons and always look for a fight with me." said Jin Ling.

"Even though you are already his sect leader?" asked Wei Wuxian and Jin Ling nodded.

"Sure, we will teach them a lesson. I will let them have a taste of my punch." said Jingyi.

"I don't think that's a good idea." said Sizhui.

Wei WuXian was just about to say that he could also find a bunch of people to help him. Fights didn’t have to be one-on-one. Sometimes, the number of people in one’s group could make a life-and-death difference. However, he realized that he had always seen Jin Ling go out alone, without any same-age disciples from his sect following him around. It was likely for Jin Ling to have no helpers to choose from, and thus he decided not to say anything.

"That's because they are all arrogant." said Jin Ling.

"Look who's speaking." laughed Wei Wuxian.

Jin Ling sent him a glare.

Jin Ling, “Hey, how did you learn the move?”

Wei WuXian shoved the responsibility to Lan WangJi’s shoulders without showing even a hint of shame, “HanGuang-Jun taught me.”

Jin Ling didn’t doubt this at all. He had already seen Lan WangJi’s forehead ribbon tied to Wei WuXian’s hands anyways. He simply mumbled, “He even teaches you these things?”

"How could Wangji taught you when he himself never got into such situation?" laughed Lan Xichen.

"I can learn that for Wei Ying." said Lan Wangji.

"Nah it will look bad. It doesn't suit you." laughed Jiang Cheng.

Wei WuXian, “Sure he does. This is only a small trick, though. It’s your first time using it and they haven’t seen it, so the results are neat. They’ll eventually get it if you use it too many times. It won’t be so easy next time. How was that? You want to learn a few more moves from me?”

Jin Ling glanced at him and couldn’t help but answered, “Why are you like this? My younger uncle has always advised against this, but you’re egging me on.”

"Because it is fun to have fights when you're still young." said Wei Wuxian.

"What did he expect? For you to respect everyone even if they are disrespecting you?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"What else?" asked Jin Ling.

Wei WuXian, “Advised you? Against what? Don’t fight and get along with others nicely?”

Jin Ling, “Pretty much.”

Wei WuXian, “Don’t listen to him. Let me tell you—when you grow older, you’ll find out that there are more and more people you want to beat up, but you’ll have to force yourself to get along with them nicely. So, since you’re still young, go beat up all the people you want. At such an age, if you don’t have a few proper fights, your life won’t be complete.”

"You better listen to me." said Wei Wuxian.

"And he did." said Jingyi with a laugh.

Jin Ling’s face betrayed faint yearning, yet he still sounded contemptuous, “What are you talking about? Uncle’s advice is for my own good.”

After he spoke, he suddenly remembered that the past Mo XuanYu had always regarded Jin GuangYao as a deity. He definitely wouldn’t have disagreed with Jin GuangYao in any way. Yet, now, he was saying “don’t listen to him”. Was it that he really didn’t hold any improper thoughts toward Jin GuangYao anymore?

"How could I?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Lan Zhan here is much more better than him." he added.

"And way more taller." said Nie Huaisang.

Meng Yao send him a glare.

Looking at his expression, Wei WuXian could guess what he was thinking of. He responded without any hesitation, “Looks like I can’t keep it from you anymore. That’s right. I’ve fallen for someone else.”

Jin Ling, “…”

Wei WuXian’s face was as dynamic as his tone, “During the days that I was gone, I thought about it seriously and finally decided that LianFang-Zun was neither my type nor somebody who suited me.”

Jin Ling backed away.

"The f*ck, Wei Wuxian." said Jiang Cheng.

"Oh, he's going to confess." said Lan Xichen who is getting excited.

Wei WuXian, “In the past, I couldn’t understand my own heart, but after I met HanGuang-Jun I’m certain.” He took in a deep breath, “I’m already incapable of leaving him. I don’t want anyone else aside from HanGuangJun… Wait, why are you running away? I haven’t finished yet! Jin Ling, Jin Ling!”

Jiang Cheng, Nie Huaisang, and the juniors burst out laughing while Wei Wuxian pouted.

"He really did!" exclaimed Lan Xichen.

"It's not like he really mean it." said Jiang Cheng.

"Wanyin, don't be so negative." said Lan Xichen as he hugged the guy.

Jin Ling turned around and sprinted in the opposite direction. Wei WuXian shouted a couple of times from behind him, but he didn’t even turn around. He was rather proud that, thinking to himself that this time Jin Ling definitely wouldn’t keep on doubting that he held any improper thoughts about Jin GuangYao. However, as he turned around, he saw a snowy-skinned figure stand under the moon, its robes whiter than frost. About than thirty feet away, Lan WangJi stared directly at him, looking as calm as ever.

Wei WuXian, “…”

"He heard it." laughed Nie Huaisang.

"He must be dancing inside." said Jiang Cheng.

"You're right, my Wanyin." said Lan Xichen.

"Oh Lan Zhan, your Wei Ying here really loves you." said Wei Wuxian and kissed Lan Wangji's cheek.

If these were the days when he just revived, he could say things ten times more embarrassing than what he just did in front of Lan WangJi. Now, however, as Lan WangJi gazed at him, he actually felt a subtle sense of shame, one that he hadn’t felt in two lifetimes.

Wei WuXian quickly suppressed the seldom-felt shame. Walking over, he spoke as naturally as he could, “HanGuang-Jun, you’re here! Did you know? Mo XuanYu was kicked out of Carp Tower because he harassed Jin GuangYao. So that was why everyone looked at me so weirdly!”

"How would he know? Mo Xuanyu is in the Jin sect when he that and surely, the Jins won't let something like that will he known to everyone." said Jin Zixuan.

"And Lans don't listen to gossip." said Nie Huaisang.

"Except this Un-lan." said Jin Ling and pointed at Jingyi who glared at him.

Lan WangJi didn’t say anything. He simply turned around and walked alongside him. Wei WuXian continued, “Neither you nor ZeWu-Jun knew about this. You didn’t even know who Mo XuanYu was. It seems like the LanlingJin Sect had been keeping the whole thing hushed. Now this explains why. After all, Mo XuanYu had the sect leader’s blood in him. If Jin GuangShan really didn’t want such a son, he would’ve never taken him back. If it was as simple as harassing someone from the same sect, he would’ve gotten away with a few scoldings. It wouldn’t have been enough for him to be kicked out. But if the one he harassed was Jin GuangYao, things would’ve been a bit different. This wasn’t only LianFang-Zun, but also Mo XuanYu’s stepbrother. It truly was…”

"Unacceptable." said Meng Yao.

"Mo Xuanyu is also a shameless man." said Jiang Cheng.

"He might have reasons why he did that." said Nie Huaisang.

It truly was a scandal. The matter had to be entirely uprooted. Of course, it was impossible to do anything to LianFang-Zun, so they could only chase Mo XuanYu away.

Wei WuXian remembered that earlier on, during their encounter in the square, Jin GuangYao looked as though nothing had happened. The way that he conversed so politely made him seem as if he didn’t even know who Mo XuanYu was. Wei WuXian couldn’t help but approve of his skills. On the other hand, Jin Ling’s attitude couldn’t be hidden at all. The reason he was disgusted at Mo XuanYu was not only that he was a cut-sleeve, but likely also that the one Mo XuanYu harassed was his own uncle.

"Jin Guangyao is quite good at ignoring a certain thing." said Wen Rouhan.

"But I agree with this Nie who is holding a fan that Mo Xuanyu has reasons why he did that." he added.

Thinking of Jin Ling, Wei WuXian sighed in silence. Lan WangJi asked, “What is wrong?”

Wei WuXian, “HanGuang-Jun, have you noticed that Jin Ling was alone every single time he went out to night-hunt? Don’t tell me that Jiang Cheng always accompanies him. His own uncle doesn’t count. He’s about fifteen already, yet there’s nobody his own age following him around. When we were young…” The tip of Lan WangJi’s brows lifted slightly. Seeing this, Wei WuXian immediately changed his words, “Alright. Me. It was only me. When I was young, wasn’t I like this?”

Lan WangJi replied indifferently, “That was you. Not everyone is like you.”

"That's because he grew up arrogantly." said Jingyi.

"Even me, his own cousin, didn't get to be close to him back then when we were still kids." he added.

Wei WuXian, “But all children like it where there are lots of people, right? HanGuang-Jun, would you think that Jin Ling’s really distant and has no friends in his own sect? I don’t know about the YunmengJiang Sect, I don’t think any of the Jin Sect’s juniors like to play with him. He just fought a few a while ago. Don’t tell me that Jin GuangYao has no son or daughter, or anyone around his age who’s close to him.”

Lan WangJi, “Jin GuangYao once had a son. His life was taken at a young age.”

Wei WuXian wondered, “He was the young master of Carp Tower, though. How could his life have been taken away?”

"It was necessary." said Jin Ling.

"Poor a-song, he has to lose his life just to keep a secret." he added.

"What secret?" asked Wei Wuxian.

Jin Ling stay silent.

Lan WangJi, “The lookout towers.”

Wei WuXian, “And why was that?”

Back then, in order to build the lookout towers, Jin GuangYao not only faced quite a number of opposers, but also displeased a handful of sects. One of the opposing sect’s leaders lost the arguments, and went into a murderous rage, killing Jin GuangYao and Qin Su’s only son. The boy had always been a good child and he couple had always loved him dearly. Under resentment, Jin GuangYao tore down the entire sect in revenge. Qin Su, however, was overcome with grief. She hadn’t been able to bear another child ever since.

"Why involve an innocent soul?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"As I said, it was necessary for Rusong to die." said Jin Ling.

"And why is that?" asked Meng Yao.

"For your secret." answered Jin Ling.

"For your f*cking secret that made me lose my first friend." he added.

Meng Yao was speechless while Qing Su was looking sad.

After a while of silence, he replied, “With Jin Ling’s temper, he offends other people whenever he opens his mouth, he pokes at the hornet’s nest whenever he raises his hand. Your sect’s JingYi calls him Young Mistress— well, he’s right. The many times before this, if it weren’t for how we protected him, he’d have no lives left. Jiang Cheng isn’t at all someone who knows how to teach children. Jin GuangYao, on the other hand…”

"A-niang knows how to teach children, it's just that, Young Mistress doesn't listen to him." said Jingyi.

"I bet ChengCheng raised you in a harsh way." laughed Wei Wuxian.

"Yeah." answered Jin Ling.

Remembering why they came to Carp Tower, Wei WuXian’s head ached again. He pressed his fingers onto his temples. On the other side, Lan WangJi looked at him quietly. Although he didn’t give any words of comfort, he had always listened, answering each question. Wei WuXian sighed, “Nevermind. Let’s go back inside first.”

The two returned to the guest residence that the LanlingJin Sect arranged for them. The room was rather spacious, and rather ornate. A set of exquisite liquor cups made of smooth white porcelain had even been placed onto the table. Wei WuXian sat down on the side, and started to admire the set. He only stopped when it was already late into the night.

"They give the two of you a single room?" asked Jin Zixuan in amusement.

"Maybe they thought that the two of them are really in a relationship." laughed Nie Huaisang.

Searching through the drawers, he found a pair of scissor and a stack of paper. With just a few cuts, he created a paperman. The paperman, with a round head and unusually long sleeves that resembled butterfly wings, was only as tall as an adult’s finger. Wei WuXian took a brush pen from the table and painted a few strokes. Tossing the brush away, he drank a mouthful from a liquor cup, and immediately lay down onto the bed. The paperman, on the other hand, suddenly twitched. With a few trembles, its wide sleeves lifted its weightless body into the air, as though they were wings. It flitted about and landed on the tip of Lan WangJi’s shoulder.

"What was that?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"Just another trick of Wei Wuxian." said Jiang Cheng.

"And it's kinda dangerous." said Jiang Yanli.

Lan WangJi looked to the side, at his shoulder. The paperman threw itself onto his cheek. It climbed upward, all the way to his forehead ribbon, and tugged at it, as though the ribbon was its favorite thing in the world. Lan WangJi let the paperman wriggle on his ribbon for some time. Just as he reached out to take it down, the paperman slid its way down as fast as it could. No matter intentionally or not, it bumped its head once against his lips.

"He didn't stop you." said MianMian and squealed.

"Why would I?" asked Lan Wangji.

"I guess Wei-xiong intentionally bump into Wangji-xiong's lips for a kiss." laughed Nie Huaisang.

"I'm just showing my love." said Wei Wuxian as Lan Wangji hugged him tighter.

Lan WangJi’s movements paused for a moment. Using two of his fingers, he finally caught it, “Do not fool around.”

Softly, the paperman rolled its body over his slender finger.

Lan WangJi, “You must be careful.”

The paperman nodded and flapped its wings. Clinging flat onto the ground, it climbed through the door slit and snuck out of the guest room.

"You're going to investigate using that?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"Mn. That's kinda exciting." said Wei Wuxian.

"Can you teach us that trick?" asked Nie Huaisang.

Wei Wuxian gave him a knowing smile.