TFOD Chapter 105

Wei Wuxian, bringing Wen Ning, headed straight for the Guanyin Temple in the city. During the day, he and Lan Wangji had scouted the way, planning to come back at night for a more thorough investigation. They wanted to break the temple’s array and see what was being suppressed inside, hoping it might help in dealing with Jin Guangyao. Who knew he’d slept until the Xu hour and woken up to that kind of mess, which ruined the plan. Now, Wei Wuxian felt all out of sorts and decided to seek out Jin Guangyao, the source of his ill-fortune.

It was deep into the night, and every household’s lights were out. The Guanyin Temple’s doors were also tightly shut. From outside the high walls, the courtyard seemed pitch black. However, as Wei Wuxian took two steps up the wall, before he even reached the eaves, he suddenly stopped, thinking, “Something’s not right.”

Wen Ning also stopped, whispering, “There’s a barrier.”

Wei Wuxian made a hand gesture, and the two quietly landed on the ground, leaving the main gate. They moved to a corner at the back of the Guanyin Temple, carefully climbing the wall. Hidden behind a roof beast, they peeked into the courtyard.

At this sight, both were taken aback.

Inside the Guanyin Temple, the lights were blazing, and it was filled with people. Half were monks, and half were cultivators dressed in the Jin Sect’s star and snow-wave robes. The two groups stood mixed together, all with arrows nocked, bows drawn, and swords in hand. They seemed to be guarding something, on high alert, occasionally whispering. However, because the Guanyin Temple was surrounded by special concealment barriers, from the street outside the high walls, the temple seemed completely dark, silent, and no light, fire, or voices could escape.

But what surprised Wei Wuxian was not the barrier, nor the monks and fake monks, but the person standing in the middle of the courtyard in white.

It was Lan Xichen.

Lan Xichen wasn’t bound or restrained in any way. Even his sword and the *dongxiao* Liebing were at his waist. He stood peacefully among the crowd, and the monks and cultivators treated him with utmost respect, even responding with “yes, yes.”

Wei Wuxian observed for a while, then whispered to Wen Ning, “Go back to the inn quickly, and bring Hanguang-Jun here immediately!”

Wen Ning nodded and vanished. Wei Wuxian didn’t see Jin Guangyao, he didn’t know if he was here or not, nor whether the Yin Tiger Seal was in his hands. He hesitated for a moment, then bit his finger, bringing the bleeding fingertip towards the opening of the Soul Locking Bag on his waist. He’d intended to lure a few small ghosts to help him quietly summon some Yin energy. Who knew, just at that moment, a sound of dogs barking came from the end of the long street outside the Guanyin Temple.

Wei Wuxian’s soul almost flew out of his body.

He almost broke down, desperately suppressing the urge to run away, trembling as he hugged the roof beast. He listened to the dog barking getting closer and closer, and his heart was full of fear. He couldn’t help but chant, “Help me, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, help me!”

After chanting, it seemed that from that name, he managed to draw a little bit of courage and forced himself to calm down. Wei Wuxian desperately hoped the dog was an unowned stray, and that it would go away quickly. But the heavens were unkind, and amidst the barking, a clear young voice rang out, scolding, “Fairy, shut up! It’s the middle of the night, are you trying to wake everyone on the street?!”

It was Jin Ling!

Lan Xichen’s expression tightened. Most of the Lanling Jin cultivators could recognize the voice of the young sect leader Jin Ling, and they exchanged glances, nocking arrows. Jin Ling’s voice came quickly, and in a short while, he arrived at the entrance of the Guanyin Temple, saying, “Hush! Hush! If you bark again, I’ll boil you! …Where are you taking me?”

Wei Wuxian’s heart was jumping out of his chest in fear, “Jin Ling, you unlucky kid, get out of here!!!”

But Jin Ling stopped at the entrance of the Guanyin Temple. Fairy howled and seemed to be running around the ground, digging into the soil and walls. Jin Ling was puzzled, “Is it here?”

After a moment of silence, he actually knocked on the door, asking, “Is anyone there?!”

Inside the courtyard, all the cultivators were holding their breaths, with arrows on their bows, pointing towards the main gate but not releasing them, as if waiting for orders. Lan Xichen whispered, “Do not harm him!”

His voice couldn’t escape the Guanyin Temple’s barrier, and the others didn’t let their guard down or lower their bows. Jin Ling also seemed to notice that something was amiss. Even if there were no night watchmen in the temple, his knocking had been loud enough to wake anyone who was asleep. There was no way there should be no reaction at all. Therefore, he stopped speaking outside. Wei Wuxian hadn’t even finished sighing in relief, when suddenly more barking came from outside, and Jin Ling angrily said, “Hey, why are you running back again?!”

Wei Wuxian was overjoyed, “Good Fairy!!!”

Jin Ling said, “Fairy! Come back! Damn it!”

Wei Wuxian thought, “Little ancestor, hurry up and leave with it!!! Please!!!”

Who knew that a moment later, a faint sound of small stones falling could be heard. Wei Wuxian hadn’t understood what that sound was, then suddenly he broke out in cold sweat, “Damn it, this kid is climbing the wall!”

On the other side, Jin Ling immediately saw the courtyard filled with bows and arrows pointing at him. His pupils shrunk. A monk, perhaps having never seen Jin Ling before, or determined to eliminate any intruder, released an arrow, which flew toward Jin Ling with a whoosh!

Listening to the sharp sound, Wei Wuxian knew the archer was a master, and if Jin Ling were hit by this arrow, it would pierce right through him. The only thing he had to defend with was the bamboo flute he always carried with him after his rebirth. In a desperate move, Wei Wuxian jumped onto the top of the wall, flicked his wrist, and shouted, “Jin Ling, run!”

He had thrown the bamboo flute. It deflected the arrow and changed its trajectory. The flute shattered into pieces. Jin Ling’s figure disappeared from the wall, he must’ve run away. However, this also exposed Wei Wuxian’s hiding spot. Hundreds of arrows rained down like a storm, shooting the roof beast Wei Wuxian had used to hide behind into a hedgehog. Wei Wuxian thought how close he had been, all of them had superb archery skills and cultivation. If Jin Ling was able to get away it would be a problem. He jumped off the wall and was just about to whistle with his fingers when a voice suddenly sounded behind him, laughing, “I advise Young Master Wei not to. It’s nothing if the flute breaks, but if your fingers or tongue are gone, that would be sad.”

Wei Wuxian immediately stopped, agreeing, “You speak very reasonably.”

The man said, “Shall we?”

Wei Wuxian nodded, “Sect Leader Jin is too kind.”

Jin Guangyao smiled, “It’s my pleasure.”

They walked around in a large circle and then arrived in front of the Guanyin Temple, and Wei Wuxian was speechless.

The Guanyin Temple’s gate was open, and Jin Ling indeed hadn’t escaped. Several monks were pointing swords at him. He looked at them, hesitated for a moment, and still called out, “Little Uncle.”

Jin Guangyao said, “Hello, A-Ling.”