Chapter Text
It was Jin Guangshan who marched directly first inside the room, loudly denouncing,
"What a disgrace! Wei Wuxian! I didn't expect you, in LanlingJin's banquet, you could not 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 busted all his lines with no reservation the moment he stepped into the room. Behind him were other Cultivators whom he brought 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 followed Jin Guangshan barging into the room suddenly found the content of the condemnation and the target who was berated in person - was completely different.
There, in the guest quarter, the scene that they caught in surprise wasn't a scandalous scene of Wei Wuxian being caught in a bed with a woman. Instead of finding a woman left miserably with ambiguous marks all over her body on the bed, it was Lan Xichen who was in the middle of picking up the shattered pieces of robes on the floor.
At their sudden arrival, the Lan Sect Leader who was caught off guard immediately took off his outer robes and covered the person on the bed tightly. Last night he had shattered Wei Wuxian's pants to smithereens, that's why no matter how he put a large robe on as a blanket, it's still rather conspicuous that the person under had no pants. Besides, during the few seconds before the cover-up, others could glimpse that the person lying on the bed was none other than Wei Wuxian. With a condition none other than being "left with ambiguous marks all over in a ravished image".
"..."
'??? The situation doesn't seem right!'
Somehow, Jin Guangshan's barrage of accusations prior:
(੭⁰‸⁰)━🥊Couldn't keep your etiquette
(੭⁰‸⁰)━🥊Committing promiscuity within other 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 unadulterated remarks right on his face, Lan Xichen felt himself staggered for a second.
Afterward, as he stood beside the bed, trying so hard to hide the person behind him with his silhouette, Lan Xichen's eyes were extremely cold.
"Sect Leader Jin, what do you mean by this discourtesy of barging into the room of the guest you have invited yourself? Is this how LanlingJin Clan has its teaching? To treat their guests with no shred of respect!?"
Jin Guangshan was having a malfunction. His mouth was gaping on and off, knowing that he ought to say something but didn't know what to say. His cheap son, Jin Guangyao, who usually knew what to say in this kind of situation, was also unusually dumbfounded.
This was - absolutely - God forbid - Not within their plan at all!!
No, actually, 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.
To be more precise, 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 gather himself back.
Even if this situation had never been one in his wildest premonition, he still had to mediate it immediately!
"No, ErGe, please hear me out," he hurriedly said, "This is not what you think!"
Right after he said this, Jin Guangyao realized there seemed to be something wrong with his words. Wait a minute, 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 how to solve the derailed plan at hand.
"ErGe, I have to tell you, actually this morning the daughter from one of our LanlingJin's affiliates couldn't be found. Afterward, someone said she was spotted last night, and the person who was with her was Wei-Gongzi. The maiden's parents are worried about their daughter. 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 quarter.
He added afterward, "——It wasn't us LanlingJin's intention to be rude, however, Father is also in a difficult situation. 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 fought with Brother Zixuan, almost leaving the banquet before it even started." He frowned slightly, looking powerless.
"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, deserve the honor of him to show his sword. Let alone LanlingJin's Sect Heir, I'm afraid even if it's Father himself who meets him, he wouldn't take Sect Leader Jin seriously. Even then, Father can't bear to see the girl's parent being so anxious. That's why Father has to bring other important figures in the Cultivation World so that Wei-Gongzi would at least be willing to listen to our words..." Jin Guangyao smiled at the other Cultivators, acknowledging their "important presence".
The other uninvited intruder who were cued immediately felt proud in their hearts for being acknowledged.
At this time, Jin Guangyao didn't forget to sum up, "Well, that's to be expected. After all, Wei-Gongzi is indeed very powerful. His achievement in the past war is the biggest. Others even said that without Wei Wuxian, how could Sunshot Campaign be won?"
This was totally stepping on everyone's mines and provoked 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 Gusulan DoubleJade were willing to support other Sects, going back and forth from Gusu to many battlefronts, then let them do it! If Wei Wuxian was willing to go to the war by himself, eradicating 3,000 or 5,000 WenDogs on his own, then everyone would be happy not to risk their lives!
However, Now that the war had ended, everyone wanted to be known as a Hero!
It's absolutely impossible to let someone hog the limelight!
"Arrogant!"
"The war is the effort of everyone else's!"
"How many people have shed their blood on the battlefield, how could it be said the war was won because of one person's effort!"
"I know that Wei Wuxian has been drunk on his power, thinking that he's the most powerful, looking at everyone as if they are inferior, but who gave him this courage?!"
"It's outrageous!" Others shook their head.
"Sect Leader Jin, Wei Wuxian is indeed too much. Not only has he abandoned his courtesy, having no sword to attend a banquet, but now, he even dares to act unscrupulously in your Sect's ground! This can't be tolerated anymore!"
At this point, unlike how people saw Nie Mingjue - who's similarly powerful but had a bad temper - with reverence, people saw Wei Wuxian with fear but had no respect. The former had the identity of being the leader of one Major Sect to back his reputation, but the latter...uh, what was Wei Wuxian's rank in YunmengJiang, again? Senior Cultivator? Elder? Jiang Cheng's Deputy? The son of YunmengJiang's former Servant? Or still a mere Head Disciple? Position did matter. Status did matter. They're called aristocratic clans for this very reason.
Now that Wei Wuxian was seen in an unconventional state, and taking advantage while he was still unconscious, people dared to criticize him without restraint.
This was it!
This was what Jin Guangyao hoped to achieve. Everyone's focus would be diverted from Lan Xichen, and fell completely on Wei Wuxian.
Just a little more, just a bit more push, he could try to salvage this situation and let everyone think nothing is happening between Lan Xichen and Wei Wuxian. Let them think Lan Xichen was, just "passing by"! So what if Zewu-Jun was too kind that he would even help arrange someone else's discarded torn robes in someone else's room?!
Even if something did happen, we would make sure everyone thought nothing happened!
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, despite they had caught the "adultery", no one moved or dared to say anything related to the issue.
The stalemate was broken, however, with Sect Leader Yao.
"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 in front of his eyes! As a wise Senior, it's his obligation to give his opinion to the youngsters who have committed some mistake.
"What kind of Zewu-Jun, what kind of Jade-like Gentleman, and what kind of conduct! Committing promiscuity in other sect's ground! 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 so hard to mediate the situation, resolving it in a way that wouldn't offend GusuLan or Lan Xichen. They had carefully minded their words, insinuating that it was Wei Wuxian who was entirely to blame. Lan Xichen's existence should be minimized as little as possible.
But this idiot actually broke the jar and accused Lan Xichen!
'Fuck you!!!!! Goddamn! 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 face turned darker at the hurl of insults.
It wasn't just him who was vilified. His status as GusuLan's Sect Leader meant his integrity represented his Clan. His reputation was also the Lan Clan's reputation.
In his whole life, never once had he been thoroughly scolded and insulted. Never had he ever been questioned about his dignity. Besides, the matter of character and morality, what did these strangers know about it? Speaking like they were on the moral high ground, criticizing his conduct, what the hell did you know about, just who do you think you are?!
No shred of smiles, once characterized him as the gentler Jade on Lan Xichen's expression, could be seen right now.
Coldly he spoke, "Oh? I wonder what basis Fellow Cultivators here use to talk about my conduct? Xichen would like to hear. 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, "What is obvious? Was it obvious that I was spending my night in my Cultivation Partner's room? Or was it obvious that I'm doing what a Cultivation Partner might do in our private chamber?"
Lan Xichen uttered those words without blinking an eye. Deep down in his mind, he quickly added "My soon-to-be Cultivation Partner", I didn't lie! Now that everything has come to this, there's only one result, it's impossible not to take any responsibility.
"!! Cultivation partner??" Everyone else was surprised to hear this.
Since when did Lan Xichen become a Daolu with Wei Wuxian? Why haven't I heard about it yet? Sect Leader Lan, are you sure you're not making this up on the spot? Even if it's a lie, please make a more believable one! 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 siblings was frantically screaming in his heart. Dear ErGe, 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 track right now? Shouldn't the right priority be to preserve your reputation and make bigger cases smaller, while making other trivialities greater?
Lan Xichen, however, was oblivious to the distress signal that his Third Brother was desperately sending him.
On the contrary, he continued to plunge into the abyss of no return, strengthening the words he said prior.
"Fellow Cultivators have heard it right. I have met with Wei-Gongzi since we were very young (true). I have had a good impression since back then (my lil bro's only friend!). We have met several times more after (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.
Sighing with a disappointed expression, he shook his head in regret. "...But who would have expected that LanlingJin couldn't give us privacy until the right time..."
Lan Xichen was likewise, an eloquent person. With just one sentence, he completely threw shade at the Jin Clan. From today onwards, Cultivators would be distrustful and feel insecure whenever they were invited to Jinlintai.
Let's not mention private affairs being disclosed like this, what if their words were being eavesdropped during their stay? Who didn't have a little secret in their hearts? Everyone had a side they were unwilling to be known by others.
At last, the smile that was absent from Lan Xichen's face just now finally appeared once again. Though there's no warmth in it.
He said, "Never mind about that. I have to thank Sect Leader Jin for his good intentions and the Jin Clan's wonderful hospitality. It really saves Xichen some trouble from choosing the right time to announce his lifelong's matter."
The ancestors said, a gentleman is someone who will repay evil with virtue.
The other cultivators had to praise Lan Xichen in their hearts. As expected of Zewu-Jun, what an exemplary gentleman! Even if you were being slandered and humiliated, you didn't unsheathe your sword and kill people for the utter disrespect, but instead thanked the villain for breaching your privacy.
"Well then. Now that the banquet is over, Xichen will not prolong his stay."
With a swift movement, he turned around, picked up Wei Wuxian, and carefully held him in his arms.
He made sure to make the young man's appearance had nothing to be ogled about. On the other hand, nothing could be observed on Lan Xichen's face either. It's as if the action of gently checking the other person had been done many times. His every action came off as extremely natural, it didn't seem like he was having a psychological barrier in doing so.
"Please, excuse me." He said as he strolled out of the room.
Jin Guangyao couldn't help but raise his foot, and raised his hand, trying to say something. "Please wait a minute, ErGe, I-,"
I...what?
I didn't mean to involve you?
It's not my intention to make you fall into this situation?
I thought Wei Wuxian would have just been slightly wronged anyway?
I never expected you to fall into the scheme my cheap Father has arranged for him and burnt the consequence 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 who was stopped, finally turned to face his younger sworn brother.
Looking at Jin Guangyao faintly, he asked, "Lianfang-Zun, is there any more thing 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 to his title. Someone who thought positively and spread warmth to the world. Even toward Wei Wuxian, even if the young man was clearly different from what he appeared in his youth, Lan Xichen still didn't judge him maliciously. 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, as the young man having a youthful temper.
But having a good temper was not the same as someone who had no bottom line.
At least, Lan Xichen's bottom line was unmistakably trampled today.
It couldn't be clearer that he was drugged, schemed, and even being humiliated by LanlingJin, could he, at this point, still able to smile and say to Jin Guangyao,
'It's okay, Brother. I trust you. Even if I was drugged in your sect's banquet —— even if you and your father brought cultivators to scold me bloody and expose my shame —— I still have no complaints about you!'
That's impossible.
Even if he didn't want 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 person who was slandered, framed, and insulted as a result was none other than himself.
The grace that was dangerously ruined was also his own Clan.
It's simply, "You will only know how the pain feels like, if the hurt happens upon you."
The commotion on this side of 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 felt his eyebrows jerked in bad premonition. He stood up and cursed, "What kind of trouble did he stir this time?!"
Wei Wuxian couldn't have lost himself and finally killed Jin Zixuan in his own home, right? Why couldn't he, stay obediently for a second, for goodness sake? Jiang Cheng's face twisted in a gloom. Deep down inside his heart, he blamed it on his Father's past leniency who had shaped Wei Wuxian to be so wilful. He was used to being so free in Lotus Pier, and as a result, he couldn't control his conduct in other Sect's ground.
Following the LanlingJin servant, he impatiently rushed to the center of a mess.
As he arrived at the problematic guest quarter, he saw many Cultivators from various Sects gathered. He vaguely heard some people arguing inside, and he felt his heart was about to jump out. 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 came inside, preventing Wei Wuxian from arguing more and losing their Sect's face more along the way.
"——Come here, You! I said, you, Hmm?? Wei, Wei Wuxian...?"
He abruptly stopped his fit, looking left and right, but still couldn't find the person he thought was having a confrontation here.
He caught a Cultivator nearby and questioned him, "Where is Wei Wuxian!"
The Cultivator sputtered, "Uh, Wei, Wei-Gongzi is..." His eyes drifted to Lan Xichen on the other side of the room.
It was at this time that Jiang Cheng eventually discovered the center of the room right now was, surprisingly, not Wei Wuxian, but Lan Xichen instead. When he took a closer look, only then did he also notice that Lan Xichen was currently carrying someone whose face and entire body were covered tightly.
"Wei Wuxian!" His eyes widened, and in two or three strides he quickly crossed the room, his hands anxiously reaching out
Looking at Jiang Cheng's gesture, seemingly wanting to rip the person's covered face and snatch him away, Lan Xichen evaded to the side, letting Jiang Cheng's hands fall in the air.
"???" Jiang Cheng looked up in surprise.
"Sect Leader Lan, what's 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 their help."
Lan Xichen was unfazed and replied calmly, "There's no need to bother Sect Leader Jiang. Xichen can definitely take care of Wei-Gongzi on my own. Now, please excuse me."
Really, all kinds of people kept being in the way! He was about to come out earlier, but was delayed for a moment by Jin Guangyao. Now that he's about to leave once again, Jiang Cheng suddenly came and hindered his business.
Looking at Lan Xichen's retreating figure, Jiang Cheng hastily pursued, "Where do you think you're going to take Wei Wuxian to?! Also, you, Wei Wuxian! Until when are you going to keep pretending to die there, 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 too, 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 the close relationship they had, Jiang Cheng should be the person who stand beside Wei Wuxian in this case.
"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 Wei-Gongzi were to be awake right now, he has all the legitimate reason to make any fuss."
On second 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're still young and it hasn't been long since you've begun looking after your Clan's affair. I can understand your nervousness 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'm bringing Wei Wuxian back to Gusu."
Quickening his pace, Lan Xichen strode outside, no longer bothering to wait for any reply or response.
As he walked out of the courtyard's path, 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 looked toward him. "Xiongzhang. I heard, Wei Ying, he..."
As a person, Lan Wangji was not someone who would poke his nose and join to see the excitement when some accident happened. He had noticed the commotion, but paid no heed about it earlier. It was only when he heard someone mentioning Wei Wuxian in the speech that he was later prompted to hurry here.
Within this short interaction, his gaze was automatically shifted to Lan Xichen, and at this moment he noticed his older brother was carrying someone. "Xiongzhang, that.." He questioned with his eyes.
Lan Xichen nodded. "It's Wei-Gongzi. I'll tell you the rest later, let's first go back to Gusu."
Lan Wangji's eyes widened visibly, and he rushed toward Lan Xichen in less than a breath, his eyes zoomed in completely on the person in his older brother's arms. "Wei Ying! What happened to him? He-,"
Unfortunately, Lan Wangji's words were 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 was previously left dumbstruck from being preached by Lan Xichen. He had yet to digest the words carefully, but when Lan Xichen said he'd 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?!'
'Each 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 gave a look to Lan Wangji. The 2 brothers had a tacit understanding, and immediately synchronized their actions.
Turning around, Lan Wangji stood firmly in the way. His eyes were chilly, as he positioned himself to prevent anyone from holding Lan Xichen back.
In this way, Lan Xichen breezed past the meandering hallways between palaces in Jinlintai with no more hindrance.
Despite his haste, he couldn't have his anxious rush to be used against him. He didn't unsheathe his sword, not until he finally reached the front entrance of Jinlintai. Only then was he finally able to directly take a flight back to Gusu.
He hadn't flown for long, and had just been out from the Lanling area, when Lan Xichen noticed someone streamed in from behind.
Glancing to his back, he put his guard down as he detected the upcoming person 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 lip 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!
Each one of you keeps trying to seize Wei Wuxian away from my arms!