Chapter Text
It was Jin Guangshan who marched directly into the room first, loudly denouncing,
“What a disgrace! Wei Wuxian! I didn't expect you, at LanlingJin's banquet, you would fail to keep your etiquette and actually disrespect someone! What a shame! Look at you—committing promiscuity within another sect’s territory! My goodness! You can’t even control your lower body and have caused the good child of someone else’s family to lose their reputation! Acting like a thief! You have lost your dignity as a gentleman!”
Jin Guangshan was so excited that he delivered all his accusations in one breath the moment he stepped inside. Behind him were the other Cultivators he had brought along to "catch the adultery".
"——You even, look at uh, hmm? Huh?? Hmmmmm?? Wei...Wei...Xichen??"
The scene became awkward all of a sudden.
The Cultivators who had followed Jin Guangshan barging into the room suddenly found the content of the condemnation and the person being berated - were completely different.
There, inside the guest quarters, what they saw was not the scandalous scene of Wei Wuxian caught in bed with a woman. Instead of finding a lady lying miserably on the bed, covered with ambiguous marks, it was Lan Xichen who was in the middle of picking up the shattered pieces of robes on the floor. Caught off guard by their sudden arrival, the Lan Sect Leader immediately removed his outer robe and covered the person on the bed tightly.
The previous night, he had torn Wei Wuxian’s pants to smithereens. Thus, no matter how he draped the large robe as a blanket, it was still rather obvious that the person underneath wore no trousers. Moreover, during the brief seconds before the cover-up, several people had already glimpsed that the one lying on the bed was none other than Wei Wuxian—left in a thoroughly ravished state, covered with ambiguous marks all over.
"..."
'??? The situation doesn't seem right!'
Somehow, Jin Guangshan’s earlier barrage of accusations…
(੭⁰‸⁰)━🥊Couldn't keep your etiquette
(੭⁰‸⁰)━🥊Committing promiscuity within another sect's territory
(੭⁰‸⁰)━🥊Can't even control your lower body
(੭⁰‸⁰)━🥊Causing the good child of someone else's family to lose their reputation
(੭⁰‸⁰)━🥊Acting like a Thief
(੭⁰‸⁰)━🥊Losing your dignity as a gentleman
——those were all strangely, befitting.
Albeit, the words were being punched one by one and pasted on Lan Xichen's face.
Being sprayed with unfiltered accusations right to his face, Lan Xichen staggered for a moment.
Afterward, standing beside the bed and trying his best to shield the person behind him with his own silhouette, Lan Xichen’s eyes turned ice-cold.
"Sect Leader Jin, what do you mean by this discourtesy, barging into the room of the guest you personally invited? Is this how LanlingJin Clan conducts its teaching? To treat your guests without even a shred of respect!?"
Jin Guangshan seemed to malfunction. His mouth opened and closed, knowing he ought to say something but unable to form the words. His cheap son, Jin Guangyao, who usually handled such situations effortlessly—was likewise unusually dumbfounded.
This was - absolutely - Heaven forbid - Not within their plan at all!!
No, more precisely, it wasn't even within their prediction.
No matter how much they simulated their plan, and how to adapt to the changes of the situation, there's no plan A, B, C, or even plan XYZ that included this kind of scenario.
More importantly, Lan Xichen was absolutely not supposed to be in their calculation! So, you, Lan Xichen, it should be us, LanlingJin, who had to ask,
'What the hell are you even doing here?!'
Jin Guangyao was the first to recover.
Even though the situation had never appeared in his wildest premonition, he still had to mediate immediately.
"No, Er-Ge, please hear me out," he said hurriedly, "This is not what you think!"
Right after he said it, Jin Guangyao realized there seemed to be something wrong with his words. Wait! Why did he sound like he was the one who's in a sketchy situation instead? Regardless of his slight confusion, he still racked his brain in a matter of seconds, trying to figure out how to solve the derailed plan at hand.
"Er-Ge, I have to tell you, actually, this morning the daughter of one of our LanlingJin affiliates was reported missing. Later, someone claimed she had been seen last night in the company of Wei-Gongzi. Her parents were extremely worried. So, Father, out of his good intentions, offered his help to ask Wei-Gongzi directly." Jin Guangyao carefully explained the reason that was reserved beforehand to explain why they had to barge into Wei Wuxian's guest quarters.
He added, "——It was not our intention to be rude. However, Father was also in a difficult position. After all, Wei-Gongzi's temper is..." Jin Guangyao smiled helplessly.
He didn't directly speak badly about Wei Wuxian, but let others interpret the insinuated words by themselves.
"Just yesterday, Wei-Gongzi quarrelled with Brother Zixuan, and nearly left the banquet before it even began. He didn't bring a sword to a grand banquet, even if it's simple courtesy, obviously, Wei-Gongzi doesn't even think we, LanlingJin, worthy of such respect. Let alone LanlingJin's Sect Heir, I fear even Father himself might not be taken seriously,” he continued, frowning slightly.
His words mixed both facts and slanders. It was a fact that Wei Wuxian had fought with Jin Zixuan and refused to bring his sword. Regardless of what Wei Wuxian truly felt about LanlingJin, in others' eyes, both of his actions were considered arrogant.
"——Even then, Father could not bear seeing the girl’s parents so anxious. That is why he invited other respected cultivators here—so Wei-gongzi might at least be willing to listen..." Jin Guangyao smiled at the other Cultivators, acknowledging their "important presence".
The other uninvited intruders who were cued immediately felt proud in their hearts for being acknowledged.
At this time, Jin Guangyao didn't forget to conclude, "Well, that's to be expected. After all, Wei-Gongzi is indeed very powerful. His achievement in the past war is the most prominent. Some even say that without Wei Wuxian, how could the Sunshot Campaign have been won?"
This was totally stepping on everyone's mines and provoked the public's anger.
During the war, if someone else wanted to be the Hero, the Cultivators would generously let them take the front seat. If the Gusulan DoubleJade were willing to support other Sects, going back and forth from Gusu to various battlefronts, then let them do it! If Wei Wuxian was willing to charge into battle alone, eradicating three or five thousand Wen dogs by himself, then everyone else would gladly avoid risking their lives!
However, now that the war had ended, everyone wanted to be known as a Hero!
It's absolutely impossible to let one person hog all the limelight!
"Arrogant!"
"The war was the effort of everyone!"
"How many people shed their blood on the battlefield, how can it be said the victory was due to one person alone?!"
"I’ve long heard Wei Wuxian has grown drunk on his own power, thinking himself superior and looking down on everyone else. But who gave him such courage?!"
"It's outrageous!" Others echoed, shaking their heads.
"Sect Leader Jin, Wei Wuxian has indeed gone too far. Not only has he abandoned basic courtesy by attending the banquet without a sword, but now he even dares to act unscrupulously on your sect’s grounds. This cannot be tolerated!"
At this point, unlike Nie Mingjue—who was similarly powerful yet hot-tempered, but still regarded with reverence—people viewed Wei Wuxian with fear, not respect. The former had the identity of a Major Sect Leader to support his reputation. But the latter… what exactly was Wei Wuxian’s rank in Yunmeng Jiang again? A senior cultivator? An elder? Jiang Cheng’s deputy? The son of Yunmeng Jiang’s former servant? Or still a mere Head Disciple?
Position mattered. Status mattered. They were called aristocratic clans for a reason.
Now that Wei Wuxian was seen in an unconventional state, and with him still unconscious, people took the opportunity to criticize him without restraint.
This was it!
This was exactly what Jin Guangyao hoped to achieve. Everyone’s focus would be diverted from Lan Xichen and fall entirely onto Wei Wuxian.
Just a little more—just one final push—and he could salvage the situation. He only needed everyone to believe that nothing had happened between Lan Xichen and Wei Wuxian. Let them think Lan Xichen was merely “passing by.” So what if Zewu-Jun was overly kind that he would even help organize others' discarded, torn robes in someone else's room?!
Even if something had truly happened, they would make sure everyone believed that nothing had.
Jin Guangyao was trying his best to reconcile the situation.
Jin Guangshan was still malfunctioning.
Other people were pretending to be confused.
For a while, although they had caught the "adultery", no one moved or dared to say anything related to the issue.
The stalemate was broken, however, when Sect Leader Yao spoke,
"Hmph! The teaching of Major Clans is really just like that. Putting Wei Wuxian aside, but Sect Leader Lan, I didn't expect you to actually associate yourself with him and even follow his example!"
Sect Leader Yao was a self-proclaimed messenger of justice. He couldn't tolerate any kind of "transgression" happening before his eyes! As a wise Senior, it's his obligation to give his advice to the youngsters who have committed a mistake.
"What kind of Zewu-Jun, what kind of Jade-like Gentleman, and what kind of conduct! Committing promiscuity on the grounds of another sect! Shameless! Sect Leader Jin is right, you've abandoned your dignity in vain!"
The Jin father and son, who never had a synchronized brain, at this time actually thought in the same frequency:
'Anyone, kill this trash immediately!!'
They were both trying their best to mediate the situation, resolving it in a way that wouldn’t offend the Gusu Lan or Lan Xichen. They had carefully chosen their words, subtly insinuating that Wei Wuxian was entirely to blame. Lan Xichen’s involvement should have been minimized as much as possible.
But this idiot actually smashed the jar and directly accused Lan Xichen!
'Fuck you!!! Goddamn it! Who told you to scold Lan Xichen!? Can't you see we're trying so hard to shirk the accountability to Wei Wuxian here???"
As expected, Lan Xichen's expression darkened at the hurl of insults.
It wasn't just him who was vilified. As the leader of his clan, his dignity represented the Gusu Lan. His reputation was also the Lan Clan's reputation.
In his entire life, never once had he been thoroughly scolded and insulted. Never had his dignity been questioned like this. As for matters of character and morality—what did these strangers know? Speaking as though they stood on the moral high ground, criticizing his conduct, what the hell did they know about? Just who do they think they are?!
Not a trace of the gentle smile that once defined him as the gentler Jade of Gusu remained on Lan Xichen’s face.
Coldly, he spoke, "Oh? I wonder, on what basis do the fellow cultivators here judge my conduct? Xichen would like to hear it. Let me ask you, which of my behavior this far has wandered from what you deem as appropriate?"
"You still dare to ask? Isn't this situation very obvious?"
Lan Xichen replied calmly, "What is obvious? That I spent the night in my cultivation partner’s room? Or that I was doing what cultivation partners might do in private?"
He uttered those words without blinking an eye. Deep in his mind, he quickly amended, "My soon-to-be Cultivation Partner. I didn't lie!" Now that things had come to this, there was only one outcome—it was impossible not to take responsibility.
"...Cultivation partner??"
Everyone was stunned.
Since when had Lan Xichen become Dao-lü with Wei Wuxian? Why had no one heard of this? Sect Leader Lan, are you making this up on the spot? Even if it’s a lie, shouldn’t you make it more believable? Does your conscience not hurt when you lie like this??
Inadvertently, the Cultivators turned to look at Jin Guangyao, as if nudging him, "Hey, you, you're his sworn brother, aren't you? Did you catch a whiff of it?"
Jin Guangyao, "This...I..."
The Third Brother of the newly acknowledged sworn trio was frantically screaming in his heart. Excuse me, Er-Ge, what am I supposed to do now? How do you expect me to respond? I'm working hard to preserve your reputation, but you're ruining it in one go! Shouldn’t we be on the same side? Shouldn’t the priority be to minimize the issue, make bigger cases smaller, while making other trivialities greater?
Lan Xichen, however, remained oblivious to the distress signal that his Third Brother was desperately sending him.
On the contrary, he continued to step further, plunging into the abyss of no return, strengthening the words he said previously.
"Fellow Cultivators have heard it right. I have known Wei-Gongzi since we were very young (true). I have a good impression of him since back then (my lil bro's only friend!). We met several times again afterward (true). Wei-Gongzi is a refined Cultivator, excelling in the Six-Arts (true). Naturally, I'm attracted to him (newly discovered last night). As of now, we are already a Cultivation Partner (one-sidedly determined just now). At first, we're going to announce our relationship with more appropriate timing..."
Lan Xichen halted his words, giving the audience a chance to "understand" his own meaning.
Following his explanation, he sighed with a disappointed expression, and he shook his head in regret. "...but who would have expected that the Lanling Jin would deny us even that privacy?"
Lan Xichen was likewise an eloquent speaker. With a single sentence, he cast shade over the Jin Clan entirely. From this day onward, cultivators would inevitably feel distrustful and uneasy whenever they were invited to Jinlintai.
Leaving aside the matter of private affairs being exposed like this—what if their conversations were eavesdropped on during their stay? Who didn’t harbor a few secrets in their hearts? Everyone had a side they preferred to keep hidden.
At last, the smile absent from Lan Xichen’s face moments ago reappeared—though devoid of warmth.
“Never mind,” he said. “I must thank Sect Leader Jin for his good intentions and the Jin Sec’s wonderful hospitality. It truly saves Xichen the trouble of choosing the right moment to announce this lifelong matter.”
The ancestors said, a gentleman is someone who will repay evil with virtue.
The other cultivators silently praised Lan Xichen in their hearts. As expected of Zewu-Jun, what an exemplary gentleman! Even after being slandered and humiliated, he could restrain himself from unsheathing his sword to slaughter the perpetrators for the utter disrespect, but instead thanked the very people who had breached his privacy.
"Well then. Now that the banquet is over, Xichen will not prolong his stay."
With a swift motion, he turned, lifted Wei Wuxian, and held him carefully in his arms.
He ensured the young man’s appearance left nothing to be ogled at. Meanwhile, Lan Xichen’s own expression remained unreadable. The gentle way he adjusted Wei Wuxian’s position seemed practiced, as though he had done so many times before. Every movement appeared natural, without the slightest hint of discomfort.
"Please, excuse me." He said as he strolled out of the room.
Jin Guangyao instinctively stepped forward, raising his hand, trying to say something. "Please wait a moment, Er-Ge, I-,"
I...what?
I didn't mean to involve you?
It wasn’t my intention for you to fall into this situation?
I thought Wei Wuxian would have just been slightly wronged anyway?
I never expected you to be caught in the scheme my cheap father arranged and bear the consequences instead?
None of those words could be said out loud.
Whichever it was, it'd betray the harmless and helpless image he had painstakingly carved in front of Lan Xichen.
Lan Xichen paused and turned back to face his younger sworn brother.
Looking at Jin Guangyao faintly, he asked, "Lianfang-Zun, is there anything else that ought to be explained from your side?"
Lan Xichen rarely expressed his displeasure to others. He had always been someone who was well-deserved of his title. Someone who thought positively and spread warmth to the world.
Even toward Wei Wuxian, despite the young man being far different from his youthful image, Lan Xichen never judged him harshly. For example, contrary to Nie Mingjue's obvious disapproval of Suibian's absence, he put Wei Wuxian's disregard for courtesy in a mild implication. Thinking that the young man has a youthful temperament.
But a good temper did not mean having no bottom line.
At least, Lan Xichen's bottom line had been unmistakably trampled today.
It was painfully clear he had been drugged, schemed against, and publicly humiliated by the Lanling Jin. Could he, at this point, still be able to smile and say to Jin Guangyao,
'It's alright, Brother. I trust you. Even if I was drugged at your sect's banquet—— led cultivators to scold me and expose my shame—— I still have no complaints about you!'
That's impossible.
Even if he didn't wish to judge others by their birth. Even if he trusted Jin Guangyao as someone who had a conscience and would never do any treachery. It's impossible for him not to feel dissatisfied.
After all, the one who was slandered, framed, and insulted, was none other than himself.
The dignity that was dangerously, nearly ruined, was also his own Clan.
It's simply, "You will only know how the pain feels if the hurt happens to you."
The commotion on this side of the guest quarters was quite big.
Jiang Cheng, who was still wiping Sandu in his room, was informed by one of the servants.
"Sect Leader, Sect Leader Jiang, it's not good!"
Jiang Cheng scowled. "What's wrong?"
"Something happens to Wei-Gongzi!"
The moment Wei Wuxian's name was brought up, Jiang Cheng’s brows twitched with a sense of foreboding. He shot to his feet and cursed, “What kind of trouble did he stir up this time?!”
Wei Wuxian hadn’t finally lost control and killed Jin Zixuan in his own home, had he? Why couldn’t he behave for even a second, for heaven’s sake? Jiang Cheng’s expression darkened. Deep down, he blamed his father’s past leniency for shaping Wei Wuxian into someone so willful. Accustomed to freedom in Lotus Pier, he simply couldn’t restrain himself on another sect’s grounds.
Following the LanlingJin servant, he impatiently rushed to the center of the mess.
When he arrived at the guest quarters, he saw cultivators from various sects gathered outside. Hearing the faint sounds of argument within, his heart nearly leapt into his throat. Wei Wuxian, that guy, it wasn't enough that he fought Jin Zixuan yesterday, now, in front of many people, he'd completely lost YunmengJiang's face!
"Wei Wuxian! Shut up!" He roared as soon as he stepped inside, preventing Wei Wuxian from arguing more, and losing their Sect's face even more along the way.
"—Come here, You! I said, you—Hmm? Wei...Wei Wuxian...?"
He stopped abruptly, scanning the room, but still couldn't find the person he thought was having a confrontation here.
Grabbing a nearby cultivator, he demanded, “Where is Wei Wuxian?”
The cultivator stammered, “Wei… Wei-Gongzi is…” His gaze drifted toward the opposite side of the room.
Only then did Jiang Cheng notice that the center of attention right now was, surprisingly, not Wei Wuxian, but Lan Xichen instead. When he took a closer look, he realized that Lan Xichen was carrying someone whose face and entire body were tightly covered.
"Wei Wuxian!" His eyes widened, and in two or three strides, he quickly crossed the room, reaching out anxiously.
Seeing Jiang Cheng’s motion, seemingly intending to reveal the person's covered face and snatch him away, Lan Xichen evaded to the side, letting Jiang Cheng's hands grasp empty air.
"???" Jiang Cheng looked up in surprise.
"Sect Leader Lan, what is the meaning of this? Wei Wuxian is someone from my YunmengJiang. With all due respect, I can take care of my own people. It's not GusuLan's turn yet to offer help."
Lan Xichen remained unfazed and replied calmly, "There is no need to bother Sect Leader Jiang. Xichen can take care of Wei-Gongzi myself. Now, please excuse me."
Really, all kinds of people kept appearing and obstructing him! He had been delayed earlier by Jin Guangyao. Now that he's about to leave once again, Jiang Cheng suddenly came and blocked his way.
Looking at Lan Xichen's retreating figure, Jiang Cheng hastily chased, "Where do you think you’re taking Wei Wuxian?! And you—Wei Wuxian! How long are you going to keep pretending to be dead? Aren’t you going to wake up soon?"
In the past, they had often played around. It wasn't the first time Wei Wuxian pretended to cough up blood or pretend to die by floating in the lake. This time, similarly, he didn't believe something really happened to Wei Wuxian, and thought that the other party must have been pretending once again to make a fuss.
But Lan Xichen wasn't someone who grew up playing by pretending to be dead. Hearing Jiang Cheng's words, he couldn't help but feel displeased. In his opinion, given their closeness, Jiang Cheng should have been the one standing beside Wei Wuxian.
"Sect Leader Jiang, please mind your words. Wei-Gongzi is not pretending to be in any plight. Besides," Lan Xichen glanced toward Jin Guangshan, "even if he were awake, he would have all the legitimate reasons to make any fuss."
After a moment’s thought, Lan Xichen suddenly realized he couldn't leave a hidden danger here. On the front foot, he cleaned up all accusations and pointed out the real culprit, LanlingJin — but what if on the back foot, Jiang Cheng later unanimously accepted what LanlingJin tried to impose on Wei Wuxian? Wouldn't that have been self-defeating!?
Considering this possibly laughable outcome, Lan Xichen had to remind Jiang Cheng about it.
"Sect Leader Jiang, you are still young, and it hasn't been long since you began looking after your Clan's affairs. I understand your concern about keeping your Sect's reputation and preventing others from speaking inadequately about your leadership. Therefore, as fellow Sect Leaders, let me give you a piece of advice: please do not rashly let any person denigrate your own people without proper investigation. Protecting the honor of your aid is necessary. Otherwise, would you like others to think your Clan is easy to bully, and anyone could just wrong your Sect's member without fearing you asking for justice on the latter date? Lastly, to answer your question, I will take Wei Wuxian back to Gusu."
Without waiting for a reply, Lan Xichen strode outside, quickening his pace.
As he exited the courtyard, he stumbled upon his younger brother who flurried in a hurry to his direction.
"Wangji!" He called out to stop him.
Lan Wangji braked himself on time and turned to face him. "Xiongzhang. I heard, Wei Ying, he..."
As a person, Lan Wangji was not someone who would poke his nose into matters or join the crowd to watch the excitement when an incident occurred. He had noticed the commotion earlier, but paid no heed to it. It was only when he heard someone mention Wei Wuxian that he was later prompted to hurry here.
During this brief exchange, his gaze naturally shifted to Lan Xichen. Only then did he notice his older brother was carrying someone. "Xiongzhang, that..." He questioned with his eyes.
Lan Xichen nodded. "It is Wei-Gongzi. I will explain the rest later. Let us return to Gusu first."
Lan Wangji's eyes widened visibly. In less than a breath, he stepped forward, his attention fixed entirely on the person in his brother’s arms. "Wei Ying! What happened to him? He-,"
Unfortunately, Lan Wangji's words were abruptly cut off as Jiang Cheng suddenly dashed outside and yelled,
"Sect Leader Lan, stop! Give Wei Wuxian to me! He is from YunmengJiang, and he should be taken back to Lotus Pier!"
Jiang Cheng had been left stunned earlier by Lan Xichen’s lecture. He had yet to fully process it, but the moment he heard that Lan Xichen intended to bring Wei Wuxian to Gusu, all kinds of reflections were immediately thrown to the back of his mind. His focus was attracted solely to: someone wanted to drag Wei Wuxian to Gusu in front of his face, yet again!
'Damn it! You really think I'm just a background board, do you?!'
'Every one of you, GusuLan, keep trying to poach my corner and abduct Wei Wuxian to Gusu!'
Lan Xichen frowned at Jiang Cheng's persistent obstruction. Unwilling to be delayed any longer, he cast a glance at Lan Wangji. The two brothers shared a tacit understanding, and immediately synchronized their movements.
Lan Wangji turned and stood firmly in Jiang Cheng’s path.
His gaze turned icy as he positioned himself to prevent anyone from holding Lan Xichen back.
With the way cleared, Lan Xichen moved swiftly through the winding corridors of Jinlintai without further hindrance.
Despite his urgency, he could not allow his haste to be used against him. He did not unsheathe his sword until he reached the main entrance of Jinlintai. Only then did he finally take flight toward Gusu.
He hadn't flown for long, only just leaving the Lanling territory, when Lan Xichen sensed someone approaching from behind.
Glancing back, he put his guard down as he recognized the figure turned out to be Lan Wangji.
"Wangji." He greeted him. "Thank you for your help. I'm sorry, Xiongzhang has to trouble you just now."
Lan Wangji shook his head. The younger brother pursed his lips and suddenly extended both of his hands. "Give him to me."
Lan Xichen, "Hmm?"
Lan Wangji repeated his words seriously, "Wei Ying. Give him to me. I will hold him."
Lan Xichen, "..."
You!
Every single one of you keeps trying to seize Wei Wuxian away from my arms!