Lan XiChen, “There is no need to doubt. Today, as well, I have come here to aid you only after he contacted me. Or else, how would I just happen to appear here?”

Nie MingJue was unable to say anything.

"I can't believe that you're defending him." said Nie Mingjue.

Jiang Cheng was glaring at the screen.

"Wanyin, I won't do anything like that if I knew the whole picture." said Lan Xichen.

"You better not." said Jiang Cheng.

Lan XiChen added, “After incident at Langya, A-Yao felt remorse, but he was afraid he might run into you. He could only manage to sneak into the QishanWen Sect and approach Wen RuoHan, then write me letters in secrecy. At first, I did not know whom the person sending the letters was, either. I only realized whom he was after discovering a few clues from a coincidence or two.”

He turned to Meng Yao, then lowered his voice, “Did you not tell MingJue-xiong of these?”

“…”

"Ah Xichen-ge. You're just too kind." said Nie Huaisang.

"I don't care if he did a lot of things like that but he killed some cultivators in front of me so I will never forgive him." said Nie Mingjue.

Holding the wound on his arm, Meng Yao managed a smile, “ZeWu-Jun, you saw as well. Even if I did say so, Sect Leader Nie wouldn’t have believed me either.”

Nie MingJue remained silent, while Baxia and Shuoyue continued. Meng Yao took a glimpse at the glares from the clashes of the saber and the sword, his gaze full of fear. After a while, however, he still took a step forward. He kneeled to Nie MingJue.

Lan XiChen, “Meng Yao?”

"Let him die. Just f*cking let him die." said Nie Huaisang.

"He is clearly using you to keep himself safe." said Jiang Cheng.

"Calm down both of you." saod Wei Wuxian.

"No one will die that time." he added.

Meng Yao whispered, “Sect Leader Nie, back in Sun Palace, although it was to gain the trust of Wen RuoHan, I did indeed harm you and say inappropriate things. I purposely jabbed at your scar, knowing that the previous Sect Leader Nie hurts you deeply… Although I had no other choice, I’m still truly sorry.”

Nie Mingjue just scoffed.

"Ah how he can handle everything with his words. Maybe that's how he manipulated Xichen-ge." said Nie Huaisang.

"Not just a-die, he manipulated everyone." said Jingyi.

Nie MingJue, “The one you should be kneeling to isn’t me, but the cultivators that you killed with your own hands.”

Meng Yao, “Wen RuoHan had a cruel character. Whenever there was any disobeyment, he’d act as though he was mad. Since I was pretending to be someone he could trust, how could I sit back when others humiliated him? So…”

"Still, those cultivators doesn't deserved it. They died for you not anger the daredevil." said Wei Wuxian.

"Did you just called me a daredevil?" asked Wen Rouhan.

"You look like one." said Wie Wuxian.

Nie MingJue, “Good. Looks like you’ve been doing these things since sometime ago.”

Meng Yao sighed, “I was in Qishan.”

Lan XiChen sighed as well, his attacks persisting, “MingJue-xiong, he was undercover in Qishan, and sometimes there would be some things that… could not have been helped. When he was doing these things, in his heart he was also…”

"Are you sure that in his heart he doesn't want to kill them?" asked Nie Mingjue.

"Mingjue-xiong." said Lan Xichen.

"I'm not asking you." said Nie Mingjue.

"How would an outsiders know what's in my heart." asked Meng Yao.

In his heart, Wei WuXian shook his head, ZeWu-Jun, he’s still… too kind, too pure.

"I agree." said Nie Huaisang.

"More like a naive person for me." said Jiang Cheng.

After a second thought, however, he concluded that he was only so guarded toward Jin GuangYao because he had already known about the various suspicions, whereas the Meng Yao in front of Lan XiChen was someone who had gone undercover without a choice, enduring humiliation alone. The two held different viewpoints, so how could their feelings be compared?

A moment later, Nie MingJue still raised his saber. Lan XiChen, “MingJue-xiong!”

"Let him be." said Jiang Cheng.

Lan Xichen just nodded his not knowing what to do with his future self.

Meng Yao shut his eyes. Lan XiChen also tightened his grip on Shuoyue, “Please excuse…”

Before he could finish his sentence, the silver light of the blade slashed down violently, onto a boulder on the side.

Meng Yao flinched from the thunder of the boulder splitting apart. Looking over, he saw that it had been sliced into two halves, from the top to the bottom.

Even in the end, the saber couldn’t fall on him. Baxia unsheathed. Nie MingJue walked away and never turned around.

"Why? Just why?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"In the end, Sect Leader still can't kill the person he have trusted the most." said Wen Rouhan.

"Never knew a harsh man could be soft." laughed Wen Xu.

"If you ended his life from then on, maybe none of those unacceptable happenings that happened in the future will happen." he added.

"Such a mistake, really." he laughed.

Now that Wen RuoHan had died, even though remnants of the QishanWen Sect still remained, they were already beyond hope—their defeat was set in stone.

"So what happened to us? We died?" asked Wen Qing.

"But it didn't mention my death. So I am alive in the future then." said Wen Chao.

"If I died, would it be possible that you're still alive?" asked Wen Xu.

"You can't even survive on your own." he added.

And the sacrificial Meng Yao who had been undercover in the Nightless City for years became famous immediately after the battle.

Wei WuXian had once found it strange as well. Ever since Meng Yao betrayed the QingheNie Sect, the relationship between Nie MingJue and him hadn’t been the same as before. Then why did they later become sworn brothers? From his observations, aside from how Lan XiChen brought it up, having always hoped that the two would reconcile, the most important factor was probably the gratitude of saving his life and writing the letters. To be precise, in his past battles, he had more-or-less depended on the information that Meng Yao sent over through Lan XiChen. He still thought that Jin GuangYao was a talented person whom one would rarely come upon, and intended on leading him back onto the right path. However, Jin GuangYao wasn’t his subordinate anymore. Only after they became sworn brothers would he have the status and the position to urge Jin GuangYao, like how he disciplined his younger brother, Nie HuaiSang.

"But in the end, they still end up as enemies." said Wei Wuxian.

"Maybe their sworn brotherhood was a curse." he added.

"More likely." said Jiang Cheng.

"It's more than a curse." said Sizhui.

After the Sunshot Campaign had ended, the LanlingJin Sect set up a flower banquet that lasted for days, inviting countless cultivators, countless sects to come and celebrate together.

On Koi Tower, people came and went. Before Nie MingJue’s high viewpoint, the crowd parted again and again, with both sides nodding at him in respect, calling him “ChiFeng-Zun”. Wei WuXian thought, Such a show of extravagance is going to reach even the heavens. All these people both fear and respect Nie MingJue. There’s quite a few people who fear me, though not a lot who respect me.

"So this is where Jin Guangshan took the power of being the chief cultivator?" asked Lan Qiren and juniors nodded their heads.

"Why him? He can't even defend a place on his own. And they agree with him?" asked Wen Rouhan in disbelief.

"That's because other that Lanling Jin Sect, the three remaining major sect doesn't want to have such power." said Sizhui.

"The Lan Sect is the most appropriate to have and to hold such position." said Nie Mingjue.

"A-die doesn't want to." said Jingyi.

"He prefer to have his free time with a-niang." he added.

"What about Lan Zhan?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"He's not interested in the politics. He prefer to be on his own." said Sizhui.

"He doesn't want to be entangled in the problem of the cultivation world." he added.

"The why not Jiang Cheng?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"A-niang is rebuilding the sect. And I'm sure that they wouldn't let him because he is the youngest leader." said Jingyi.

Jin GuangYao was standing right beside the base of the palace. Now that he had become sworn brothers with Nie MingJue and Lan XiChen, and been accepted into his clan, he had already painted between his brows the mark of vermilion and donned the white, golden-edged robes of Sparks Amidst Snow. Wearing a gauze cap, he was almost beyond recognition. As handsome as ever, his cleverness was the same, yet his air was calmer than it had ever been.

"He looks proud. Good for him." said Nie Mingjue with a scoff.

Meng Yao was smiling.

Beside him, Wei WuXian was surprised to find a familiar figure.

Xue Yang.

"Me, again?" asked Xue Yang.

"That's because you've been there." said Wei Wuxian.

Xue Yang just rolled his eyes.

At this point in time, Xue Yang was still quite young. Although his features were still childlike, he was already rather tall. He was also wearing a robe of Sparks Amidst Snow. Standing beside Jin GuangYao, it was as though a spring breeze blew over willow trees—he was full of youthful talent. They seemed to be talking about something amusing. Jin GuangYao smiled, gesturing with his hand. The two exchanged a look, and Xue Yang bursted into laughter. With nonchalance, he glanced at the cultivators who walked around. His eyes were filled with casual contempt, as though all of them were walking pieces of trash. When he saw Nie MingJue, he had none of the fear that others had. Instead, he grinned, flashing his canine teeth. Jin GuangShan noticed that Nie MingJue’s expression wasn’t too keen. With hurry, he suppressed his smile and whispered something to Xue Yang. Xue Yang waved his hands, then skipped over to another area.

Jin GuangYao walked over and spoke with a tone of respect, “Brother.”

"Who are you calling brother?" asked Nie Mingjue.

"Who do you think?" asked Meng Yao.

"Jin Guangshan is really a bold person." laughed Wen Rouhan.

"That doesn't surprise me." he added.

Nie MingJue, “Who was that?”

After a moment of hesitation, Jin GuangYao answered carefully, “Xue Yang.”

Nie MingJue frowned, “Xue Yang of Kuizhou?”

Jin GuangYao nodded. Xue Yang had been infamous ever since he was young. Wei WuXian clearly felt Nie MingJue’s brows knit even tighter. He spoke, “Why are you wasting your time with such a person?”

Jin GuangYao, “The LanlingJin Sect recruited him.”

"I'm trying to change here." said Xue Yang.

"Then, don't come near the Jins." said Wei Wuxian.

He didn’t dare to protest any further. Excuse being that he needed to care for the guests, he scurried to the other side. Nie MingJue shook his head and turned around. With the turn, Wei WuXian immediately felt his eyes lit up. He felt as though snow had begun to fall from the sky, drifting toward a hall illuminated by moonlight. Side by side, Lan XiChen and Lan WangJi walked over.

"My Lan Zhan!" exclaimed Wei Wuxian with a beaming smile.

"You seemed to miss my brother, Wuxian." laughed Lan Xichen.

"I do, brother-in-law." laughed Wei Wuxian.

Lan Wangji's ears are turning red.

The two jades of Lan stood together, one wearing the xiao, the other carrying the guqin; one warmly gentle, the other coldly austere. Nevertheless, they were similarly stunning, similarly poised, truly the same color, yet two different airs. No wonder others had always stared and exclaimed with such a sight.

The current Lan WangJi still had some naivety at the edges, but the cold expression that kept everyone at arm’s length was the same. Wei WuXian’s gaze stuck to his face at once, unable to be move away no matter what. Regardless of whether or not he could hear it, Wei WuXian shouted happily, “Lan Zhan! I miss you so much! Hahahahahahaha!”

"You heard that, Lan Zhan?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Mn." said Lan Wangji as he hugged Wei Wuxian.

"Looks like we can never separate the both of you." laughed Nie Huaisang.

"You really can't." said Wei Wuxian.

"We can just simply bring Wangji-xiong with us when we cause troubles." laughed Nie Huaisang.

Suddenly, a voice spoke, “Sect Leader Nie, Sect Leader Lan.”

Hearing the familiar voice, Wei WuXian’s heart jumped. Nie MingJue turned around again. Jiang Cheng came over, dressed in purple, hand on his sword.

"My Wanyin is looking beautiful." said Lan Xichen.

"A-cheng looks good." said Jaing Yanli.

"You two might have problems in your sight." said Jiang Cheng.

"Aiyaa, ChengCheng. You're really looking beautiful, like a wife." laughed Wei Wuxian.

"Shut the f*ck up!" shouted Jiang Cheng.

"My wife." said Lan Xichen which received a smack in the head by the man.

And the person standing beside Jiang Cheng was none other than Wei WuXian himself.

He saw himself walk with hands behind his back, wearing all black. A flute in the shade of ink stuck to his waist, hanging down with crimson colored tassels. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Jiang Cheng, he nodded in this direction to show respect. Attitude slightly arrogant, he took on a profound, disdainful appearance. As Wei WuXian saw the stance of his younger self, the root of his teeth even cringed in soreness. He felt that he really was pretentious, and itched to just beat the hell out of himself.

Jiang Cheng, Nie Huaisang, and Jin Zixuan was laughing out loud.

"Looking so arrogant, are we." laughed Jiang Cheng.

Wei Wuxian sent him a glare with a pout.

"Wei Ying is beautiful." said Lan Wangji.

Wei Wuxian was blushing hearing that.

"My a-xian isn't thick-skinned anymore." laughed Jiang Yanli.

Lan WangJi also saw Wei WuXian, who stood beside Jiang Cheng. The tip of his brows twitched ever so slightly. Soon afterward, his light-colored eyes returned to where they were, still looking forward in that composed way. Jiang Cheng and Nie MingJue nodded at each other with grave faces. Neither had anything unnecessary to say. After a hasty greeting, the two walked their separate ways. Wei WuXian saw his black-clothed self glance around as he finally saw Lan WangJi. He looked as if he was about to speak before Jiang Cheng came over and stood to his side. Heads down, they each said something, wearing serious expressions on their faces. Wei WuXian laughed aloud. Still walking beside Jiang Cheng, he went toward another area. The people around them also moved to make quite some space for them.

"Does me and Lan Zhan have a fight?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Will never fight with Wei Ying." said Lan Wangji.

"Looks like you two really did have a fight." said Lan Xichen.

"They really did." said Sizhui.

Wei WuXian thought about it carefully—just what was it that they talked about? Originally, he couldn’t recall it no matter what. He only remembered after scrutinizing the shape of their mouths through Nie MingJue’s sight. Back then, what he said was, ‘Jiang Cheng, ChiFeng-Zun is so much taller than you, haha.’

And what Jiang Cheng said was, ‘Gest lost. You want to die?’

"He's really taller than you." laughed Wei Wuxian.

"You want to die?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Aiyaa ChengCheng, my self is just telling the truth." said Wei Wuxian.

Jiang Cheng could only glare at him.

Nie MingJue’s gaze turned over again, “Why does Wei Ying not carry his sword?”

Carrying one’s sword was like wearing formal attire. In such gatherings, it was a non-negligible indication of etiquette. Those from prominent sects saw it as especially important. Lan WangJi responded in a lukewarm tone, “He had probably forgotten.”

"Why would I forget to bring Suibian with me?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"You have reasons." said Jin Ling.

"Oh, but why is Chifeng-zun calling me in my birth name?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"I don't know either." said Nie Mingjue while Lan Wangji was glaring at him.

'Only me can call Wei Ying in his birth name' he thought.

Nie MingJue raised a brow, “He can even forget something like this?”

Lan WangJi, “It is nothing out of the ordinary.”

Wei WuXian, Well, well, bad-mouthing me behind my back. Now I’ve caught you.

"Lan Zhan." Wei Wuxian said with a whine.

"He's right though." said Jiang Cheng.

"My husband and brother just betrayed me." he cried dramatically in Jiang Yanli's embrace as he ran to her.

Lan XiChen smiled, “Young Master Wei has said before that he does not want to care about any of the redundant formalities. Let alone carrying his sword, even if he does not wear his clothes, what can others do about him? How truly youthful.”

Hearing from another person’s mouth the arrogant words he had once said did indeed bring up an indescribable feeling. Wei WuXian felt a bit ashamed, yet he couldn’t really do anything either. Suddenly, he heard Lan WangJi mutter under his breath, “How frivolous.”

"Why did I even say that?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"That's because you're an arrogant person." said Su She.

"I prefer your silence. It's much more better." said Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen immediately sealed Su She lips with a Lan Silencing spell.

"I have a question." said Wei Wuxian.

"I only saw Lan Zhan, a-yuan, and brother-in-law using a Lan Silencing spell but not Jingyi. Why?" he asked.

"That's because he doesn't need it." said Jin Ling.

"He can shut the person's mouth using his words. It's much more better." he added.

His voice was extremely soft, as though it was directed at only himself. The two words knocked upon Wei WuXian’s ears, somehow making his heart skip a few beats as well.

"Your hearts always skip a beat when you hear his voice." laughed Nie Huaisang.

"My second son-in-law is inlove." said Qingheng-jun and a lot of people gaped at him.

"My friend is being himself." laughed Wen Rouhan.

Lan XiChen looked at him, “Hmm? Why are you still here?”

Lan WangJi was a bit confused. With a straight face, he replied, “Brother is here, so of course I am here as well.”

Lan XiChen, “Why have you not gone to converse with him yet? They will soon be far gone.”

Wei WuXian found this rather strange, Why did ZeWu-Jun bring this up? Might it be that Lan Zhan had something to say to me?

"What is it, Lan Zhan?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Why are you asking him?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Next time Lan Zhan, when you have something to say to me, don't be shy." said Wei Wuxian as he sat back again next to Lan Wangji.

Before he could see how Lan WangJi reacted, a series of clamor suddenly came from the other end of the base. Wei WuXian heard his own raging shout, “Jin ZiXuan! Don’t you forget about what things you said and what things you did? What do you mean by this, now?!”

"Why are we fighting again?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"It's not like we can live without a fight." laughed Wei Wuxian.

"But really, what is it now?" asked Wei Wuxian.

Wei WuXian remembered. So it was this time!

On the other side, Jin ZiXuan also fumed, “I was asking Sect Leader Jiang, not you! The one I was asking about was also Maiden Jiang. How is that related to you?!”

Wei WuXian, “Well said! How is my shijie related to you? Back then, who was the one whose eyes grew on the back of their head?”

"Now what do you want to shijie? Don't tell me you insulted her again." said Wei Wuxian.

"Why would I?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"With your personality, it's not impossible that you did." said Jiang Cheng.

"I swear on my life Jin Zixuan, if you hurt my shijie again I will cut your head open." sais Wei Wuxian.

"With my help." said Jaing Cheng.

"Good luck to you, Jin-xiong." said Nie Hauisang.

Jin ZiXuan, “Sect Leader Jiang—this is our sect’s flower banquet, and this is your sect’s person! Are you going to look after him or not?!”

Lan XiChen, “ Why have they begun to argue again?”

Lan WangJi looked over there, yet his feet were still stuck to the ground. A while later, as if he was finally determined to do something, he stepped forward. He was about to go over when Jiang Cheng’s voice came, “Wei WuXian, you can just shut your mouth. Young Master Jin, I’m sorry. My sister is doing quite well. Thank you for your concern. We can talk about this next time.”

"Why are you siding with him?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"I don't know." said Jiang Cheng.

"Why would I?" he asked.

"That's because you can't just insult them when they are in their own sect." said Jaing Yanli.

"He should be thankful." said Wei Wuxian with a glare.

Wei WuXian laughed coldly, “Next time? There is no next time! Whether or not she’s doing well isn’t any of his business, either! Who does he think he is?”

"Yeah, shijie has nothing to do with you." said Wei Wuxian.

"Don't forget that they literally have a son together." said MianMian.

"I don't care." said Wei Wuxian with a pout.

He turned around and started to leave. Jiang Cheng shouted, “Get back here! Where are you going?”

Wei WuXian waved his hands, “Anywhere is fine! Just don’t let me see that face of his. I never wanted to come, anyway. You can deal with whatever’s here yourself.”

"And you're leaving me." said Jiang Cheng.

"Always remember that I am not fond of such things." said Wei Wuxian.

"But, you just can't abandon your brother on his own." said Jiang Yanli.

"His husband is there, he can handle it." laughed Wei Wuxian.

Having been abandoned by Wei WuXian, Jiang Cheng’s face immediately clouded over. Jin GuangYao had been busying himself with all sorts of things in and out of the place. He faced all guests with smiles, all problems with action. Seeing that something went wrong over here, he emerged again, “Young Master Wei, please wait!”

"You can't stop him." said Jiang Cheng.

"No one can stop me." said Wei Wuxian.

Hands behind his back, Wei WuXian walked at a fast pace. His face was dark, and he didn’t pay attention to anyone. Lan WangJi walked a step toward him, but before he had a chance to speak, the two of them brushed shoulders and parted.

"Sorry, Lan Zhan." said Wei Wuxian.

"It's nothing, Wei Ying." said Lan Wangji and pressed a kiss in his forehead.

Jin GuangYao couldn’t catch up with Wei WuXian. He stomped his foot on the ground and sighed, “And there he goes. Sect Leader Jiang, just… just what should I do?”

"Nothing. You can do nothing." said Jiang Cheng.

"Let him be on his own." he added.

Jiang Cheng stowed away the clouds on his face, “Don’t mind him. Look at how impolite he is. He’s used to such rude behavior at home.”

"Why should I be polite when talking to that peacock?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"It's not necessary." said Jiang Cheng.

Jin Zixuan just rolled his eyed at them.

He then began to converse with Jin ZiXuan.

Watching the two, Wei WuXian let out a long sigh in silence. The good thing was that Nie MingJue wasn’t too interested in the things going on here. He quickly looked away, and Wei WuXian wasn’t able to see them anymore.

"I converse with him?" Jiang Cheng asked in disbelief.

"That's impossible." said Wei Wuxian.

Jiang Cheng and Jin Zixuan gave each other a look.