Jin GuangYao wailed, "A-Su!"

He rushed forward and grabbed Qin Su's limp body. Lan XiChen immediately took out medicine. Yet, not only was the dagger's blade sharper than usual, its energy was heavy as well. Qin Su died within the blink of an eye!

"She really did kill herself." Jin Zixuan said in disbelief.

"No!" exclaimed Qin Cangye.

"She wouldn't do that." he added.

Meng Yao was blank. The only person who understands and accepted him in the future died in front of her.

Nobody had expected such an incident; everyone was shocked. Jin GuangYao called his wife's name mournfully. His eyes were wide open as he cupped her face with one hand. Tears ceaselessly splashed onto her cheeks. Lan XiChen, "A-Yao, Madam Jin... I am sorry."

Jin GuangYao looked up, "Brother, what is going on? Why would A-Su suddenly take her own life? And, why would you gather in front of the Fragrant Palace and demand me to open my treasure room? Is there anything that you haven't told me?"

"Acting all innocent eh." laughed Wei Wuxian.

"I don't care if you're not the one who made her do it but, I won't let you pretend that you know nothing." said Nie Huaisang.

Jiang Cheng, having arrived late, spoke in a cold voice, "ZeWu-Jun, please explain this. All of us are still in the dark."

"So I knew nothing about that?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Why are you talking to him like that?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"What's wrong with that?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"That's your husband." said Wei Wuxian.

"And? Do you expect to calmly to him? Do I even talk in that voice? We are keeping our relationship a secret after all." said Jiang Cheng.

"I forgot about that." said Wei Wuxian with a laugh.

Everyone agreed with him. Lan XiChen could only begin, "Sometime ago, a few of the GusuLan Sect's disciples were on a night-hunt. When they passed Mo Village, they were met with the attack of a left arm that had been dismembered. Both its resentful energy and its killing intent were heavy. Led by it, WangJi had been investigating. However, after we had gathered all parts of the corpse, we discovered that the corpse was... our eldest brother."

All of the people in and out of the treasure room bursted into an uproar!

Jin GuangYao was more than shocked, "Brother? Hadn't Brother been buried? Both you and I saw it with our own eyes!"

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

"What a great pretender you are." he added with a clap.

Nie HuaiSang thought that he might have heard wrong, "Brother? Brother XiChen? You mean my brother? And also your brother???"

Lan XiChen nodded heavily. Nie HuaiSang's eyes rolled up. He collapsed on the ground with a thud. A circle of people immediately began to shout.

"Oh, Nie-xiong." said Wei Wuxian.

"That might have been a big shock to him." said a random cultivator.

"Of course, that's his brother after all." said his friend.

"Sect Leader Nie! Sect Leader Nie!"

"Where's the medic?!"

Jin GuangYao's eyes still held tears, but appeared as if they were red with anger. He clenched his hands into fists and shouted with both grief and resentment, "Dismembered... Dismembered! Who in this world could've done such an insane act?!"

Nie Huaisang was laughing so hard that tears started coming out of his eyes.

"You almost made me believe you." he said.

Lan XiChen shook his head, "I do not know. When we were searching for the head, the clues disappeared."

Jin GuangYao paused, as though he finally knew what was going on, "The clues disappeared... so you came to search me?"

Lan XiChen was silent. Jin GuangYao looked as if he didn't believe it. He asked again, "You wanted me to open the treasure room, because you were suspicious... that Brother's head is at my place?"

A look of guilt passed over Lan XiChen's face.

"Because it was really there." said Jiang Cheng with a glare.

"You don't have to be guilty, you know. He was just a good actor." he added.

"Without the proof, they can't put the blame on him. What a clever man he is? So cunning." said Wen Rouhan.

Jin GuangYao's head hung low, Qin Su's corpse still in his arms. After a while, he spoke, "... Forget it. Drop the matter. But, Brother, how did HanGuang-Jun know that such a treasure chamber was inside my bedchamber? And how was it decided that Brother's head is inside my room? Koi Tower is quite fortified. If this really was my doing, would I have let Brother's head be discovered so easily?"

Hearing his questions, Lan XiChen couldn't seem to find any answers. Not only he, Wei WuXian couldn't answer them either. Who could've expected that, within such a short time, Jin GuangYao was not only able to move the head somewhere else, but also prompt Qin Su to take her own life before everyone's eyes?!

As he his thoughts spun with desperation, Jin GuangYao sighed, "XuanYu, did you tell this to Brother and all those people? What's the use of making up this sort of easily exposable lies?"

"Is he talking to me?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"What do you think?" asked Su She.

"Be thankful that the silencing has lifted up, or else I will make suffer from that again." said Jiang Cheng.

"I can't believe that he can protect himself from the blame that easily and even twist the scene." said Wei Wuxian,

One of the sect leaders asked, "LianFang-Zun, who are you talking about?"

Somebody spoke coldly, "Who? The one standing beside HanGuang-Jun, of course."

Everyone turned to look at him. The person who spoke was Su She. He continued, "The people who aren't from the LanlingJin Sect might not have heard of who he is. His name is Mo XuanYu. He used to be a disciple of the LanlingJin Sect. Back then, because of his indecent conduct, he was thrown out for the reason of harassing LianFang-Zun. Yet, speaking from the hearsay nowadays, he has proven himself to the likings of HanGuang-Jun, even following him wherever he goes. Why would HanGuang-Jun, who has always been known for his grace and righteousness, keep such a person by his side? It truly is difficult to understand."

"This man is really getting n my nerves." said Jiang Cheng.

"Why does it seem that you hate my Lan Zhan so much?" asked Wei Wuxian.

Su She just scoffed.

"We don't like you too." said Wei Wuxian.

Listening to him speak, Jin Ling's face darkened. Amid the chatters of the crowd, Jin GuangYao lay down Qin Su's corpse and slowly stood up. One hand on the hilt of Hensheng, he walked a step closer to Wei WuXian, "I won't bring up anything from the past, but please explain in all honesty. A-Su's bizarre death-are you involved in this at all?"

"Did he just blamed me?" Wei Wuxian asked in disbelief.

"I will never hurt a woman." he laughed.

"I can't believe him anymore." said Nie Huaisang.

When Jin GuangYao lied, it really was unashamed and full of vigor! As others heard this, of course they'd think that Mo XuanYu had slandered LianFang-Zun and caused Madam Jin to take her own life since he held hatred toward him. Even Wei WuXian couldn't think of anything to say in refutation. What could he say? How he saw Nie MingJue's head? How he snuck into the secret room? The name of the person whom Qin Su saw before she died? The odd letter that could easily be argued as fictitious and fabricated? Such refutation would only make him look even more suspicious! As he tried to think of a plan, Hensheng had already unsheathed. Lan WangJi stood in front of him as Bichen blocked the attack.

"He dared to do that?" asked Qingheng-jun.

"Of course, the great Hanguang-jun will defend him." Su She mocked.

Wei Wuxian sends him a glare.

"Lan Huan." said Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen sealed Su She's lips all at once.

"ChengCheng doesn't want a nobody to badmouth his brother-in-law eh." laughed Wei Wuxian.

"Only I can do that." said Jiang Cheng.

Lan Wangji just gave him a look.

As the other cultivators saw, they unsheathed their swords as well. Two swords came at him from the side. Wei WuXian had no weapons in his hands, and so he was unable to defend himself. Turning around, he happened to see Suibian lie atop the cabinet. He immediately grabbed it and unsheathed the sword!

Jin GuangYao's expression froze as he exclaimed, "It's the YiLing Patriarch!"

"How did he knw that it was me?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Maybe because of the sword." said Jin Zixuan.

Within the instant, all of the blades of the LanlingJin Sect's disciples turned to point at him. Jin Ling's did as well!

"Do you really remember what you did that time?" asked Jingyi.

Jin Ling slowly turned pale as he glanced at Wei Wuxian and to his mother.

His identity having suddenly been exposed, Wei WuXian stared at Jin Ling's disordered expression. Facing Suihua's blade, he was still confused. Jin GuangYao spoke again, "What a surprise that Patriarch YiLing has returned to this world and decided to make an appearance here. Apologies for the lack of reception."

Wei WuXian still felt puzzled, having not the slightest clue how he revealed himself. Nie HuaiSang spoke dizzily, "Brother? What did you call him? Isn't this Mo XuanYu?"

Jin GuangYao pointed Hensheng at Wei WuXian, "HuaiSang, A-Ling, come over. Everyone, please be careful. Since he pulled his sword out, he's most definitely the YiLing Patriarch- Wei WuXian!"

"Don't tell me that because I unsheathed the sword revealed my identity." said Wei Wuxian.

"That's quite unbelievable." he added.

"Maybe because Suibian only regarded you as his only master." said Jiang Cheng.

"Impossible. We've been training together and sometimes we exchange swords. Suibian worked well on you." said Wei Wuxian.

Because of how the name of Wei WuXian's sword was too embarrassing to say, when people mentioned it, they always referred to it as "this sword", "that sword", "his sword", and so on. The words "the YiLing Patriarch" evoked even more fear than how ChiFeng-Zun had been dismembered. Even the people who didn't intend on fighting had involuntarily unsheathed their swords, circling this side of the secret room. Wei WuXian glanced across at the field of sword glares in front of him, saying nothing.

Nie HuaiSang, "Don't tell me that whoever pulls out the sword must be the YiLing Patriarch. Brother, HanGuang-Jun, I'm guessing that there's some sort of a misunderstanding between the two sides, right?"

Jin GuangYao, "There are no misunderstandings. He's Wei WuXian for sure."

"How sure is he?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"I'm having a bad feeling about this." he added.

"Just how the table have turned." said Jin Zixuan.

Jin Ling suddenly shouted, "Wait! Uncle, wait! D-didn't my uncle hit him with Zidian back at Dafan Mountain? His soul didn't get whipped out, so it must mean that he didn't possess this body, right? And so he can't be Wei WuXian right?!"

"Oh, a-ling is trying to defend me." said Wei Wuxian.

Jin Ling just gave him a look.

Jiang Cheng's face looked very dark. He didn't speak as his hand pressed onto the hilt of his sword, as though he was thinking about what to do. Jin GuangYao, "Dafan Mountain? That's right. A-Ling, now that you reminded me, I've also remembered just what had appeared on Dafan Mountain. Wasn't he the one who summoned Wen Ning as well?"

"I didn't expect this at all." said Wei Wuxian.

"He came prepared." he added.

Seeing that he not only couldn't prove anything but was also refuted, Jin Ling's complexion paled. Jin GuangYao continued, "I'm sure that none of you know this, but back when XuanYu was still at Koi Tower, he had seen a copy of the YiLing Patriarch's manuscript at my place. The manuscript recorded a dark technique that 'sacrificed' one's body. With the price being the soul and the body, one could summon a powerful spirit to seek revenge in place of themself. Sect Leader Jiang wouldn't be able to test it even if he hit him with a hundred more strikes. It's because the person who used the technique sacrificed their body willingly. It doesn't count as a possession at all!"

The explanation was fair and reasonable. Hatred grew in Mo XuanYu after he was thrown out of Koi Tower. Recalling the technique that he had seen, he asked for a ferocious ghost to befall and summoned the YiLing Patriarch. Everything that Wei WuXian did was to seek revenge for Mo XuanYu, so the dismembering of ChiFeng-Zun's corpse must've been due to Wei WuXian as well. In any case, before the truth could be determined, the biggest possibility was that it was all part of the YiLing Patriarch's sinister plot!

"What the actual f*ck?!" cursed Wei Wuxian.

"I held no hatred towards Chifeng-zun and now they're putting the blame on me." he said in disbelief.

"Just how manipulative is he? Just his words can kill me." he laughed.

"This is making me crazy." he added.

"A-naing, I am here. I'm always here with you." said Lan Sizhui as he hugged Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian was squeezed between Lan Wangji and Sizhui.

But some people still doubted, "Since the technique of sacrifice can't be proven, then according to your judgement, LianFang-Zun, we aren't able to conclude anything, are we?" Jin GuangYao, "It is true that body sacrifice cannot be proven, but whether or not he is the YiLing Patriarch can. Ever since the YiLing Patriarch had received the cultivation backlash and been torn to dust by his ghouls on the top of the Burial Mounds, his sword was collected by the LanlingJin Sect. But, not long afterwards, the sword sealed itself."

Wei WuXian was surprised, Sealed itself?

"Is that even possible?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"I failed to believe that." he added.

"So that's the reason why he found out that it was you instead of Mo Xuanyu." said Jiang Cheng.

A foreboding sense of worry stirred up within him. Jin GuangYao, "I believe that I don't need to go into great depths to explain how a sword seals itself. This sword is spiritual. It refuses to let anyone apart from Wei WuXian use it, which was why it sealed. Aside from the YiLing Patriarch himself, nobody can pull it out. But just a second ago, 'Mo XuanYu' here pulled out, in front of everyone's eyes, the sword that had been sealed for thirteen years!"

Before he even finished talking, dozens of sword glares shot toward Wei WuXian.

"Wei YIng!" exclaimed Lan Wangji as he unsheathed his sword.

"Calm down, Lan Zhan. You can't kill them." Wei Wuxian said with a laugh.

"How I wish you can, though." he added.

Lan WangJi blocked off all of the attacks. Bichen threw some people to the side to make out an unobstructed path for them. Lan XiChen, "WangJi!"

A few of the sect leaders who had keeled over from Bichen's cold energy were fuming, "HanGuang-Jun! You..."

"What do you expect? For Lan Zhan to show mercy on you?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Lans are overprotective." said MianMian.

Wei WuXian didn't even say one unnecessary word. Pressing his right hand on the window lattice, his body lightly flipped outside. As soon as he landed, he began to sprint, thinking, When Jin GuangYao saw the strange paperman and saw Suibian being unsheathed, he must've guessed who I was right there. And so he quickly made up a series of lies, causing Qin Su to take her own life, and then purposely force me to the cabinet with Suibian inside so that I could unsheath my sword and reveal my identity. Scary, scary. Who could've known that his reaction was so fast and his lies so flawless?

"He's really is scary." laughed Wei Wuxian.

"And a great liar, too." he added.

"He deserved death." said Lan Wangji.

Suddenly, somebody came from behind him. It was Lan nnWangJi, who had followed him without speaking a word. Wei WuXian's reputation had always been terrible, so it wasn't his first time in such a situation. This life, his mindset was different from when he was in his past life. He could already face these situations calmly. He should get away first. There might be a chance of a counterattack in the days to come. He wouldn't push it even if no such chance came. If he stayed, all that would come out of it were more than hundreds of slashes from the swords. Saying that he was actually innocent was even more of a joke. Everyone believed with utmost certainty that he'd return to seek revenge sometime in the future. Having destroyed countless sects, nobody would listen to his explanation, especially when Jin GuangYao would be there fanning the flames. Lan WangJi, though, was different from him. He wouldn't even have to explain, and people would explain for him, such as how HanGuang-Jun had been deceived by the YiLing Patriarch.

Wei WuXian, "HanGuang-Jun, you don't have to follow me!"

"Will always follow Wei Ying." said Lan Wangji.

"What about your reputation?" asked Wei Wuxian.

Lan Qiren just shook his head knowing that Lan Wangji is just as stubborn as his father.

"He grew up like me, does he?" asked Qingheng-jun.

"The both of them." Lan Qiren grumbled.

Lan WangJi looked straight in front of him, saying nothing in reply. The two left behind them a crowd of cultivators shouting to kill. Amid the chaos, Wei WuXian spoke again, "You really want to go with me? Think carefully. After you walk out this door, your reputation will be destroyed!"

"Reputation be damned, then." laughed Nie Huaisang.

"Lovers is priority." he added.

The two had already dashed down the steps of Koi Tower. Lan WangJi grabbed his wrist, as though he was about to speak. Yet, suddenly, a white light flashed before their eyes. Jin Ling stopped them in their tracks.

Seeing that it was Jin Ling, Wei WuXian let out a sigh of relief. Just as the two were about to go around him, Jin Ling slashed his sword and blocked their way again, asking, "You're Wei Ying?!"

His expression was a in a disarray. There was anger, there was hatred, there was doubt, there was hesitation, there was distress. He shouted again, "You really are Wei Ying, Wei WuXian?"

"A-ling." called Jiang Yanli but Jin Ling only closed his eyes.

"I lied to you." said We Wuxian.

"I decided to trust you that time, yet you end up to be the person I hated the most." Jin Ling said with a sob.

"I even tried to defend you." he added.

"I'm sorry." said Wei Wuxian.

"I don't think I deserved that." said Jin Ling.

"Why?" asked Wei Wuxian.

Seeing how he looked, the pain in his voice infinitely greater than the hatred, Wei WuXian felt his heart shake. But only a few seconds needed to pass before the crowd behind him would catch up. He couldn't pay attention to him any longer. Clenching his teeth, he could only try for the third time to go around him. All of a sudden, a coldness passed through his stomach. As he looked down, Jin Ling had already pulled the white blade- now red with blood-out of him.

He didn't expect that Jin Ling really would come at him.

"A-ling." said Jiang Yanli as he hugged his son.

Wei Wuxian was gaping.

"I'm sorry." cried Jin Ling.

"Jin Ling." said Wei Wuxian.

"I understand." he added.

"I betrayed your trust. You're just hurt, in pain. You don't know what's going on. I know you didn't mean it." he said as he hugged the kid.

"Why is it so easy for you to forgive those who hurt you?" asked Jin Ling.

"Because you're my nephew. You're my family." said Wei Wuxian.

"Wei-daijiu!" he cried more loudly as he hugged the man back.

The thought in Wei WuXian's mind was, He could be like anyone, yet he just so happened to have taken over his uncle Jiang Cheng. They even like to stab the same places.

"I what?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"ChengCheng." cried Wei Wuxian.

Jiang Cheng was blank.

"Aiyaa! Are you also going to cry like our little nephew?" Wei Wuxian asked.

"Do I look like a cry baby?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"I know you have your reasons why you did that. You won't hurt me without reasons after all." said Wei Wuxian.

He couldn't quite clearly remember what had happened next. He felt that he tried to attack. Everything around them seemed frenzied. Not only noisy, their escape seemed to bump and jolt as well. He didn't know how long had passed, but when he hazily opened his eyes again, Lan WangJi flew on Bichen, while he was carried on Lan WangJi's back. Blood had spilled onto half of his snow colored cheeks.

In truth, the wound at his stomach didn't hurt too much. But it was a hole in his body, after all. In the beginning, he had managed for a while, as though nothing happened. It was likely, though, that the body hadn't received many injuries before. As the wound bled, he couldn't help but feel light-headed, and this wasn't something that he could control.

Wei WuXian called out, "... Lan Zhan."

"Wei Ying." said Lan Wangji.

"Such a small wound, Lan Zhan." said Wei Wuxian.

"It's still a wound, you dumbass." said Jiang Cheng.

"I'm dying, ChengCheng." Wei Wuxian said dramatically.

"Wei Ying." Lan Wangji said worriedly.

"Oh, sorry Lan Zhan." Wei Wuxian said with a smile.

"I know you're there to keep me safe." he added.

"Always." said Lan Wangji as he hugged Wei Wuxian and kissed his forehead.

Lan WangJi's breathing wasn't as placid as usual, feeling somewhat rushed. It was probably from carrying Wei WuXian while fending off attacks and being on the run for too long.

The tone in which he replied, however, was still the single syllable, as steady as ever, "Mnn."

After the "mnn", he added, "I am here."

"I know." said Wei Wuxian with a smile.

"I really love you, Lan Zhan." he added.

"I love you too, Wei Ying." said Lan Wangji.

"So f*cking shameless." Jiang Cheng grumbled.

Hearing the words, something that Wei WuXian had never felt before sprouted within his heart. It was like sorrow. His chest hurt a bit, but also felt a bit warm.

"You're just falling in love." Nie Huaisang teased.

"And he didn't know." laughed Jiang Cheng.

He could still remember how, back in Jiangling, Lan WangJi came all the way to assist him, yet he didn't appreciate the kindness at all. With all kinds of disputes, the two of them often parted with disapproval.

But what he hadn't expected was that when everyone feared him and flattered him, Lan WangJi scolded him right in his face; when everyone spurned him and loathed him, Lan WangJi stood by his side.

"That is what the lovers are supposed to do, to lead their lovers in the right path." said Wen Rouhan.

"How do you know?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Because I made a mistake. A mistake that leads me on how I am today." he answered.

Wen Xu and Wen Chao are confused.

Suddenly, Wei WuXian spoke, "Ah, I remember now."

Lan WangJi, "What do you remember?"

Wei WuXian, "I remember now, Lan Zhan. Just like this. I... really have carried you before."

"Really?" Wei Wuxian asked in excitement.

"I want to see that." he added.

"Me too." said Nie Huaisang.