Chapter Text
Three people were seen walking together somewhere on Baifeng Mountain.
To be exact, it was two people walking side by side and discussing matters seriously, while the third strolled about as if wandering through a back garden. His head turned left and right, paying attention to whatever caught his interest. Even if it was just a simple scene of a squirrel nibbling on some acorns.
The person wanted to take a closer look at the chubby squirrel, yet his popularity with small animals remained as disheartening as ever. The squirrel instantly felt goosebumps rise all over its fur. Looking at this grinning human, it somehow knew that once those grabby paws landed on its body, its peaceful days would be over. Thus, it scampered away in a flash.
At the front, Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao were discussing the current hunt in earnest. Both wore mild expressions on their faces. Rather than two sworn brothers spending time together, it resembled two politicians meeting for a joint project.
Lan Xichen himself actually felt pleasantly surprised by their current status quo. These days, since he regarded Jin Guangyao as his political adversary, he found himself learning much more from their exchanges than when he had mostly viewed the man as a close friend. It was because, as brothers, he would always look upon Jin Guangyao with favor and subconsciously carry bias. Even if he wished to deny it, the kindness and trust he had once given Jin Guangyao might have been tainted, in some respects, by "pity".
He had once regarded Jin Guangyao as helpless and somewhat powerless. Subconsciously, even his acknowledgment of the man’s abilities had been mixed with "sympathetic appreciation". However, as merely a political opponent, Lan Xichen would undoubtedly view him more critically, scrutinizing every move and analyzing it with logic rather than emotion.
Jin Guangyao himself truly was exceptional in terms of administrative ability. In this case, when an intelligent individual like Lan Xichen worked alongside him, there was much to learn and refine through their interactions. The realization left Lan Xichen with mixed feelings. It turned out he could sharpen himself more as a Sect Leader, not through brotherhood, but through rivalry.
As Lan Xichen thought about how his younger brother had improved by leaps and bounds in communication skills, it suddenly seemed understandable. Perhaps it was because Lan Wangji now regarded him as his greatest rival. Having a worthy opponent to watch out for might indeed ignite a person’s ambition and passion, especially when it was healthy competition free from jealousy.
Jin Guangyao was still speaking about whether the hunting grounds should be expanded after reviewing the number of participants who had arrived today.
“…and considering the abilities of some of the cultivators, the previous allotment of space likely won’t be enough for them to display their skills fully. What do you think, Er-Ge?”
"Er-Ge?"
Hearing no answer from Lan Xichen, Jin Guangyao had to turn his head to look at the opponent of this conversation.
At some point, Lan Xichen’s attention had drifted elsewhere. He had deliberately slowed his pace to match the third person’s advancement. Wei Wuxian had unknowingly stopped some distance behind them earlier and was only now catching up.
The moment Wei Wuxian drew near, Lan Xichen wordlessly wrapped an arm loosely around his waist and pulled him closer to his side. The motion was smooth and natural, as though done purely out of instinct. As he did so, his gaze softened unconsciously, looking at Wei Wuxian with unspeakable tenderness.
Wei Wuxian himself was occupied with peeling some kind of wild fruit in his hand. It was unknown from which tree he had picked it. Taking a small bite of the juicy flesh, he turned slightly and fed it directly into Lan Xichen’s mouth. The other man accepted it without hesitation.
Lan Xichen’s hand subconsciously caught Wei Wuxian’s wrist, his lips almost brushing the fingers as if intending to lick away the remaining juice. However, his movement froze halfway as he remembered they were not alone. Instead, he calmly took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the sticky fingers clean.
Only afterward did he turn back toward Jin Guangyao with an apologetic smile.
“My apologies. I did not quite catch the latter half of your words just now. However, I understand your suggestion, and I agree. Considering the enthusiasm surrounding this hunt, expanding the current scope is indeed necessary.”
Jin Guangyao’s gaze flickered briefly toward the hand still resting at Wei Wuxian’s waist before returning to Lan Xichen’s face.
He shook his head and smiled back in understanding. "It doesn't matter. Since Er-Ge also agrees, then regarding where and how we should proceed—,"
The two sworn brothers resumed discussing official matters.
Although Jin Guangyao’s mouth continued speaking calmly, inwardly, he was rather taken aback. Fortunately, his acting skills were as excellent as ever. None of his astonishment showed on his face.
At this moment, there were only three people present. Each knew the others’ secrets. Each understood exactly what the others had done.
To say it in other words: everyone here knew there was no such thing as a long-established relationship dating back to when they were fifteen and eighteen years old.
In conclusion, there was no need to continue pretending to be harmonious merely for the sake of maintaining the image of a loving couple.
And yet Lan Xichen was still...
Recalling the unconscious tenderness in Lan Xichen’s expression just now, Jin Guangyao suddenly felt as though he had realized something. Yet he still found it difficult to believe. After all, how could it be possible? Neither Lan Xichen nor Wei Wuxian had ever displayed any inclination toward cut-sleeve behavior before.
Glancing back at Wei Wuxian, Jin Guangyao saw the young man walking with an effortless ease. Every movement was fluid—not elegant or graceful, but still strangely pleasing to the eye. Even something as casual as folding his arms or tilting his head slightly could make a maiden’s heart skip a beat. Jin Guangyao later realized it was likely because the young man possessed a remarkably proportioned figure. Each part of his body had developed beautifully. Thus, even a simple gesture, like brushing fingers against his chin, could appear extraordinarily attractive.
For girls, that is, Jin Guangyao felt he needed to emphasize his statement.
Next, looking at his face...
Well, there was no more left to explain.
There's a saying that once someone is good-looking enough, they can charm both men and women.
Jin Guangyao shifted his gaze back toward the road. Perhaps, he thought, that was what had happened with Lan Xichen and Wei Wuxian. Perhaps they truly had become enchanted by one another despite never previously showing any inclination toward such feelings.
The two sworn brothers—now more accurately political partners—eventually decided on the expansion of the hunting grounds. Jin Guangyao tactfully excused himself to supervise the Lanling Jin cultivators in carrying out the arrangements, while Lan Xichen volunteered to personally oversee the expansion in certain areas.
Naturally, he took Wei Wuxian along with him, and unsurprisingly, the work was completed far faster than expected.
After finishing early, the pair naturally did not return immediately to rejoin the other cultivators.
Instead, they wandered off deeper, engaging in some roleplay in the forest.
"Huh? What's the matter?"
When Wei Wuxian and Lan Xichen emerged from the thick forest after finishing their little “play,” they were greeted by bursts of sword light flashing across the sky.
They recognized one of them as Bichen.
Lan Xichen furrowed his eyebrows solemnly. "That should be Wangji. Let's go and see what happened."
The scene they encountered upon arriving at the source of the disturbance was Lan Wangji standing in front of several unfamiliar cultivators, facing a group of people clad in the robes of the Lanling Jin Sect.
Wei Wuxian covered his face and muttered in a tired sigh, “Why is it always those Jin Clan people again? Are they sick or something? Chasing after us and barking at our heels like dogs?”
Lan Xichen didn't comment and directly landed beside his younger brother. Wei Wuxian also jumped lightly from Shuoyue and walked over to Lan Wangji's side.
"Wangji? What happened?"
Lan Wangji glanced at the two newcomers and shook his head. "Nothing."
If Lan Wangji said nothing, then it really was not something troublesome he couldn't handle.
Wei Wuxian swept his gaze toward the cultivators behind Lan Wangji. Earlier, from afar, he had assumed they belonged to another sect. Looking more carefully now, however, and judging from their mismatched robes, they appeared to be Rogue Cultivators instead.
To his surprise, he saw Jiang Yanli standing among them.
He immediately hurried over to her side. “Shijie, why are you here? Where’s Jiang Cheng? Why aren’t you resting in the watching tower?”
“A-Xian.” Jiang Yanli smiled reassuringly. “A-Cheng is still hunting. I came because Auntie asked me to tour the hunting grounds with Jin-Gongzi.”
"Jin Zixuan?"
Wei Wuxian understood at once. It must have been Madam Jin again, trying to create opportunities for her son and Jiang Yanli to spend time together.
"Then, why are you here alone...? Where is that guy?"
A nearby Rogue Cultivator answered Wei Wuxian's question instead: "Jin-Gongzi is over there, opposite."
Only then did Wei Wuxian finally bother looking toward the cluster of Jin cultivators whom he had completely ignored since arriving.
Standing on the other side were Jin Disciples, headed by Nephew Jin, whose name Wei Wuxian didn't even know, and also Jin Zixuan.
The latter had Suihua drawn out. It was the source of the sword light that clashed with Bichen earlier. Wei Wuxian frowned, rather displeased at this.
Without another word, he walked back to Lan Wangji and scrutinized him from head to toe, front to back, left to right. Lan Wangji looked at him questioningly. After finishing his inspection, Wei Wuxian finally patted his sleeves in satisfaction.
“Lan Zhan. I was just checking whether you lost a strand of thread from your robe or if some dust got blown onto you. Good, everything still looks immaculate.”
It was not injuries he was worried about. Facing Jin Zixuan, there was no possibility whatsoever that Lan Wangji would suffer even the slightest scratch. Wei Wuxian simply wished to indulge his own concern, worrying that the pristine Hanguang-Jun might have gotten dirt on his robes from the commotion.
Lan Wangji, "..."
Hanguang-Jun was currently contemplating whether to suppress his ability to a point where he could gain some noteworthy injuries to make a fuss for.
By now, more cultivators had begun arriving one after another, drawn by the clash of spiritual swords.
Madam Jin recognized Suihua's spark from afar and hurried toward the scene. Upon arrival, she immediately spotted Jiang Yanli and rushed to her side first. "A-Li, what happened? Are you two alright?" She worriedly checked on Jiang Yanli.
After Jiang Yanli reassured her, Madam Jin finally noticed the strange atmosphere. Her son and the Jin cultivators stood opposite the Gusu Lan Sect and several rogue cultivators. Lan Wangji still held Bichen in his hand, while Jin Zixuan had yet to sheath Suihua.
"A-Xuan! Are you alright?" Afterward, she turned to ask for an account from Lan Xichen, who was also on-site, "Sect Leader Lan, may I ask what happened here? Why did Hanguang-Jun draw his sword against the heir of the Lanling Jin Sect?"
Lan Xichen replied calmly, “Madam Jin, Lan-mou would also like to know what transpired here. Why did Jin-Gongzi draw his sword against the Second Young Master of my Lan Clan? Is there some grievance between LanlingJin and GusuLan that must be settled? If so, perhaps we should settle it here and now.”
Madam Jin, "..."
Lan Xichen inwardly rolled his eyes.
It truly was the LanlingJin Sect. Without even understanding the situation, they had already framed the matter as though others were at fault. Did they think he was incapable of acting equally unreasonable?
Turning toward Lan Wangji and Jin Zixuan, he said, “Why don’t both parties recount what happened from their own perspective?”
Then he inclined his head toward Jiang Yanli and added, “Maiden Jiang, since you were present, I believe you can serve as a fair witness and determine whether their accounts are truthful or whether something has been omitted.”
"A-Li..." Madam Jin took her hands in distress. "You were here to have a walk with A-Xuan. Did that stupid son of mine behave foolishly again?"
Jiang Yanli always had a bland face on weekdays; her features were mild. She was indeed the daughter of Jiang Fengmian. Both Father and Daughter were rather lackluster in expression and placid in nature. In this situation, she just smiled placatingly at Madam Jin and turned toward Lan Xichen, giving him a salute.
“Zewu-Jun may rest assured. Naturally, Yanli also does not wish for misunderstandings to arise.”
Lan Xichen nodded appreciatively before signaling for Lan Wangji to speak first.
The matter itself was actually rather simple.
As Jin Guangyao and Lan Xichen had discussed earlier, the hunting grounds had become overcrowded. The number of participants far exceeded expectations, and their enthusiasm for displaying their abilities was equally astonishing. It had not even been a few hours since the hunt began, yet most of the prey within the mountains had already been wiped out.
Nie Mingjue alone had practically cleared half the mountain beasts by himself, accounting for nearly 50% of the prey.
Meanwhile, although Lan Xichen and Wei Wuxian had not participated in the hunt directly, there was still Lan Wangji representing the Gusu Lan Sect. While Lan Wangji himself was not particularly competitive, the Lan disciples accompanying him were exceptionally eager. After spending two months night-hunting under the guidance of both Hanguang-Jun and Wei-Gongzi, they were desperate to display their improvements before the cultivation world.
Therefore, more than 80% of the prey was taken down shortly after the official entry.
Previously, Jin Zixun had been forcibly sent away from the square to cool his head. As a result, he entered the hunting grounds later than everyone else. Once inside, he was eager to hunt some high-level Demon or famous Beast to make a name for himself. Who would have thought that there were barely any Beasts or Demons left?
What irritated him most was that he had to compete with Rogue Cultivators over the remaining prey. Even more infuriating was the fact that, perhaps due to sheer bad luck, those Rogue Cultivators were like a pack of hyenas that always knew where the meat was. By the time Jin Zixun arrived at any location, the Demon, Beast, or whatever prey had already been taken down by someone else.
How could Young Master Jin—the nephew of Sect Leader Jin, from the Clan that had emerged as the biggest winner of the Sunshot Campaign—possibly endure such humiliation? Enraged, Jin Zixun ordered the Jin Cultivators accompanying him to seize the insolent Rogue Cultivators and teach them a lesson. Naturally, the Rogue Cultivators refused to remain silent. In this case, a fight broke out.
The commotion was immense. Even Jin Zixuan, who had been in the middle of showing off his peacock feathers before Jiang Yanli, was drawn to the disturbance. Seeing that it involved his cousin, Zixun, he immediately stepped forward to support him.
At that moment, Jin Zixun was already confronting the Rogue Cultivators in open combat. Swords clashed violently. He had ordered the Jin Cultivators behind him to besiege the fewer-numbered Rogue Cultivators. Unexpectedly, one of the Rogue Cultivators was exceptionally skilled and managed to break free from the encirclement to fight Jin Zixun one-on-one. Naturally, Jin Zixun quickly fell into a disadvantage.
This was the scene Jin Zixuan witnessed upon arrival. He had not yet understood the situation, but he still drew Suihua without hesitation and struck toward the Rogue Cultivator. After all, that was his cousin being attacked. The instinct born of twenty years of familial ties naturally led him to stand up to anyone who threatened Jin Zixun.
It was then that Lan Wangji—Hanguang-Jun, who every chaos must come—arrived at the scene as well. Before Suihua could reach the Rogue Cultivator, Bichen had already streaked across the air like a bolt of lightning, knocking the sword aside. The clash of the two spiritual swords erupted into a burst of sparks that shot skyward, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.
What Lan Wangji and Jin Zixuan recounted afterward only covered the parts each of them had personally witnessed.
At this time, Jin Zixun finally interjected, "GusuLan truly is impressive! After taking away thirty percent of the prey, you still choose to defend these wild Cultivators who stole my prey!"
“Who the hell stole your prey?!” one of the Rogue Cultivators snapped back from the opposite side. “We were the ones who brought the prey down first, and you suddenly barged in to attack what we had already worked so hard to subdue! Who exactly is the thief here?!”
Jin Zixun sneered. “Whoever lands the killing blow owns the prey. You claim you worked hard to take it down, but who knows whether your words are true? In the end, I was the one who killed it.”
The Rogue Cultivator’s complexion alternated between pale and flushed with fury at such shameless reasoning.
But some of the spectators also couldn't help but murmur in favor of Jin Zixun.
There were indeed cases where others shamelessly asked for recognition, claiming they had contributed a little or saying that without their assistance, such a result couldn't have been achieved.
A guest Cultivator of LanlingJin said, "What Jin-Gongzi said makes sense. It is the fact that the one who killed the prey is Jin-Gongzi."
Others also added, "That's right. If you said that others stole your prey, these are only your words. Then shouldn't you give us evidence?"
“Evidence?” one of the Rogue Cultivators laughed angrily. “Why should we prove ourselves? He’s the one who stole our prey! Isn’t the proof already obvious enough?!”
The man who had spoken earlier on Jin Zixun’s behalf shook his head and sighed dramatically toward the surrounding crowd. “See? They cannot produce any evidence and still insist on being unreasonable.”
Once a few people openly voiced their opinions, others subconsciously began leaning in the same direction. More and more spectators started siding with Jin Zixun, cornering the Rogue Cultivators. The more those people spoke, the more excessive their accusations became.
Even when the Rogue Cultivators painstakingly explained in detail how they had subdued the prey, nobody truly listened. It was to the point that they felt like the whole world was condemning them, and no matter what they said, it fell on deaf ears. It was utterly frustrating.
Seeing that others were on his side, Jin Zixun's voice became arrogant, "Just a bunch of nobodies. Do you think that if you come together, you might be worth a dime?"
As expected, one of the Rogue Cultivators became incensed. "What nonsense! If it weren’t for us weakening the Mountain Fae with talismans and exhausting it with traps, do you think you could have killed it so easily? The Mountain Fae was already on the verge of dying, even a cripple could’ve hacked it to death!"
Jin Zixun scoffed, "Just using a talisman? You said you've weakened the Fae?" He laughed mockingly. "You think those broken talismans can compare to our Lanling Jin's tools?"
The instant those words left his mouth, his body abruptly toppled backward.
His body was stuck rigidly on the ground, unable to move.
One moment, he was standing facing the Cultivators opposite, and the next, he suddenly faced the clear blue sky.
Jin Zixun couldn't react and could only roll his eyes blankly.
On his forehead, a yellow talisman with red cinnabar was pasted directly in the center. Coupled with his position as he fell, it resembled how a Cultivator subdued a walking corpse. Needless to say, who the evil walking corpse was.
Someone laughed lightly from the other side. "My bad, my bad. A talisman accidentally slipped out from my sleeve."
The person speaking was Wei Wuxian.
The spectators had yet to recover from the shock of Jin Zixun’s sudden collapse. None of them had noticed when Wei Wuxian released the talisman, nor had anyone managed to stop it. Somehow, they wondered if the person lying on the ground at this time was themselves...or if what Wei Wuxian shot was a weapon...wouldn't they...
This realization immediately sent chills down their spine.
Wei Wuxian, on the other hand, was smiling innocently, seemingly unaware of people looking at him with horror. He strolled forward at an unhurried pace and called out leisurely, “Oh? Did it fly over to Jin-Gongzi’s side? Jin-Gongzi, could you return my talisman for me?”
Jin Zixun’s eyes rolled frantically left and right, but he could not move even a finger. He could not even open his mouth to speak. Wei Wuxian raised his brows in exaggerated surprise.
“Hm? Why aren’t you answering? Don’t tell me you can’t get up?”
He immediately shook his head in disbelief. “No way. It’s only a simple talisman. Surely it can’t compare to the countless protective treasures LanlingJin has bestowed upon you, right? How could you possibly still be unable to stand?”
Then, as though suddenly enlightened, he smacked a fist into his palm. “Ahhh, I understand now! Jin-Gongzi must simply enjoy lying on fresh grass.”
He grinned brightly. "Hey...look at me. After all, how could a Young Master from Lanling Jin Clan, who owns countless precious treasures, be unable to get up from a piece of talisman? You must have wanted to get a new experience, right? Don't worry, Baifeng Mountain is larger than you think. You don't have to be so eager to hoard your favorite spot here. No one’s going to compete with you for it."
"Pfftt—"
It was unknown who started it, but the spectators around snickered one after another. They tried to turn their head to the side and covered their mouth with their sleeve. But some chortles still escaped from the gaps.
Only then did Jin Zixuan finally come to his senses and hurriedly rip off the talisman from his cousin's forehead.
The moment the talisman came off, Jin Zixun shot upright and roared furiously, “Wei Wuxian!!!”
"Here, here. No need to shout so loudly, Jin-Gongzi. Even if Baifeng Mountain is large, we’re hardly standing that far apart. I can hear you just fine." Wei Wuxian spoke with a half-smiling face.
The color on Jin Zixun's face changed rapidly, from pale white to red to purple, due to sheer humiliation. His resentment toward Wei Wuxian deepened instantly. In the first place, he had long detested Wei Wuxian ever since hearing rumors that the man had openly quarreled with Jin Zixuan during the Flower Banquet.
During the Sunshot Campaign, Jin Zixun was injured early and remained stationed at the rear until the end of the war. Everything he knew about Wei Wuxian came solely from hearsay, and he had never personally witnessed him on the battlefield. Naturally, he thought the stories had been exaggerated. After all, which achievements of the past famous Cultivators did not get some embellishment?
Just this morning, he wanted to show Wei Wuxian some color and make him aware of his place when facing LanlingJin. Unfortunately, he was stopped halfway. He didn't understand why he was prevented at that time. He assumed that his Uncle and cousin simply didn't want to challenge Wei Wuxian to give some face to GusuLan.
But now that he had a decent reason to challenge Wei Wuxian openly, they wouldn't stop him, right?
“Wei Wuxian!” Jin Zixun suddenly unsheathed his sword and pointed it straight at him. “If you dare, stop relying on petty tricks and fight me properly with a sword!”
Everyone was shocked to see his brazenness.
But their surprise was soon replaced by curiosity.
Wei Wuxian never brought his sword anywhere. Unlike BaXia's prowess, which had revealed Nie Mingjue's high cultivation, Wei Wuxian's cultivation had remained obscured over the past few years of the war. Everyone was wondering how high Wei Wuxian's cultivation was, or how splendid his swordsmanship was.
Jin Zixun himself never regarded Wei Wuxian seriously.
As for him being able to raise fierce corpses to fight? Jin Zixun's perception of those fierce corpses was the same as those he faced during his own nighthunt, who were not much of a threat. To be precise, it was the kinds of walking corpses who, if they met Wei Wuxian, would either run back uphill faster than their descent, or just simply grovelled to the ground, unable to even stand up.
Therefore, even if Wei Wuxian surprisingly brought his sword with him today, he didn't think much about it.
He never knew Wei Wuxian's ability as a Cultivator in the past, either.
Jin Zixun had never even met Wei Wuxian during their youth. Back then, he had not been qualified to participate in LanlingJin’s delegation during the Inter-Sect Conferences. He had never witnessed the competitions where Wei Wuxian once dazzled the cultivation world as a teenager. It was only this time that LanlingJin Sect had become so glorious that even Cats and Dogs within could soar to the sky. Even a Waste, as long as they were Jin Clan members, they would act like they weighed some catties.
Wei Wuxian remained silent in response to this provocation. People couldn't see much from his expression. There's only a slight smile on the corner of his mouth. He had long known something like this would happen the moment he agreed to carry Suibian again.
Receiving no immediate response from Wei Wuxian, Jin Zixun kept taunting, "Why don't you draw your sword? Heh. You can only play with cheap tricks, but can't fight as a real Cultivator should?"
Lan Xichen frowned slightly and stepped closer toward Wei Wuxian, seemingly intending to intervene.
Inadvertently catching sight of Lan Xichen, however, Jin Zixun suddenly sneered with contempt. "Just a son of a servant. Just because you have successfully climbed into the bed of a man, how dare you be so bold!"
Both Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen suddenly froze upon hearing this.
Wei Wuxian's pupils shrank visibly. His hand unconsciously reached ChenQing at his waist.
However, before anyone could react—
A deafening bang exploded through the forest.
Then came the sharp crack of splintering wood.
And another thunderous boom.
The next moment, when people blinked their eyes, Jin Zixun was no longer standing where he had been. His body had been hurled dozens of meters away and smashed directly into a massive tree. The trunk itself split violently in half from the force of impact.
Lan Xichen slowly flexed his left hand.
“My apologies,” he said gently. “Lan-mou had no ill intentions. I merely wished to pat Jin-Gongzi awake, lest he still be muddled from drink, as Sect Leader Jin suggested earlier.”
He even lifted his hand slightly for everyone to see.
“As you can observe, I did not use any Spiritual Energy. I simply did not expect Jin-Gongzi to be… so fragile.”
Everyone present could indeed tell that Lan Xichen had not used Spiritual Energy.
But in their mind, they vigorously shook their heads like a rattle. 'Zewu-Jun, I don't think that is patting someone awake at all!'
Rather than patting, it was more like, swatting away. As light as if he were swatting a buzzing fly.
Glancing at the motionless Jin Zixun in the distance, whose condition was unknown, whether still alive or dead, Lan Xichen sighed in regret. "...That being said, if he is truly this delicate, I'm afraid Wei-Gongzi will have trouble restraining himself too much from accidentally hurting him."
Madam Jin opened and closed her mouth with difficulty. On one hand, she didn't worry much about a nephew compared to if it were her son. But on the other hand, looking at Jin Zixun, who at the very least would have to be bedridden for half a year there, she knew she should say something.
"Sect Leader Lan, this is...what do you mean by this?" In the end, she still had to ask for an explanation.
Lan Xichen spoke mildly, with no emotion in his voice. "Madam Jin, for a member of your Jin Clan to dare insult a Senior Cultivator of another Major Clan publicly, I really have to wonder what happened with the discipline of LanlingJin Sect. Or is it really true that the Jin Clan truly has an unresolved grudge against my Lan Clan? Jin-Gongzi over there hasn't apologized for slandering the Second Young Master of my Clan, and yet just now he dares to denigrate the Sect Leader's spouse, whom my GusuLan Sect has recognized to the Clan."
Madam Jin’s face darkened instantly.
To question a Great Sect’s teachings and discipline publicly was no small humiliation.
Before she could attempt to salvage the situation, however, Lan Xichen had already turned toward Jin Zixuan.
Once again, his voice carried that same infuriatingly mild gentleness. "Jin-Gongzi, I remember that you were also sent to Qishan to be educated under Wen Chao back then. You should know best the behavior of stealing others' efforts and robbing others' achievements in nighthunting from being herded around like cattle by Wen Chao. I wonder if you have anything to say now that the familiar thing is happening again today, done by your own cousin. You shouldn't think that if others did that, it is intolerable, but if your cousin did it, it is alright. Do you?"
Jin Zixuan’s face flushed bright red from the sarcasm.
Being reminded of that dark period when he was scolded and humiliated every day by Wen Chao, he couldn't speak to refute for a while.
It was Madam Jin who had to hurry and alleviate the tense situation. "Sect Leader Lan, please do not take this matter too seriously. Zixun is still a child. He speaks recklessly without thinking. Besides, he was only eager to spar with Wei Ying."
"Still a child?"
Lan Xichen was amused to hear that a 20-year-old-something man could still be called a child.
But he understood immediately.
Now that they had plastered "still a child"-status upon Jin Zixun's head, then if Lan Xichen insisted on pursuing the matter, they could turn the situation around. If he bothered himself with the "child", Lan Xichen would be judged as immature and unwise. After all, as an adult, you have to tolerate a child's ignorance, right?
As expected, when it came to being unreasonable, LanlingJin had mastered the skill.
He shook his head and had to be broad-minded, bypassing the issue. "It doesn't matter what that...that little Jin-Gongzi thinks about. However, Lan-mou has to say something and must make clear——"
His voice was calm, and his eyes swept to other Cultivators who had unknowingly grown in size to be the spectators here.
"...Ever since Wei Wuxian entered GusuLan Sect, he shall only draw his sword on behalf of the Lan Clan. No one deserves the honor of him drawing his sword unless they mean it to challenge the GusuLan Sect."
In this life, Lan Xichen knew that Wei Wuxian thought, there would never be a day for his fine sword to embellish his presence once again.
It felt hypocritical. Trouble was bound to happen. As expected, it did.
Lan Xichen had required him to strap Suibian to his waist regardless.
In this life, Wei Wuxian was his family. There's no need to feel hypocritical. Nor was there any need to worry. Because Lan Xichen would protect his honor as if it were his family's honor.