TFOD Chapter 38

Lan Jingyi peeked through the door crack, then quickly blocked the opening with his body, stammering, “T-t-there are so many!”

Wei Wuxian asked, “Are they corpses? How many is ‘so many’?”

Lan Jingyi replied, “I don’t know! The whole street is full, probably hundreds! And there are more and more! I think those two paper figures can’t hold on much longer!”

If the pair of paper figures guarding the door could no longer hold, the corpses from the entire street would surge into the store. To fight them meant exposure to the corpse poison powder, and in the struggle, the poison would spread quickly. To not fight meant being torn to pieces and devoured. Xiao Xingchen, gripping his sword, was about to push open the door, probably wanting to hold them off as much as he could with his remaining strength, but a layer of purple-red aura welled up on his cheeks and he collapsed to the ground. Wei Wuxian said, “Just sit there quietly. This will be resolved soon.”

He casually cut his right index finger on Lan Jingyi’s sword again, letting the blood drop. Lan Jingyi said, “Are you going to use the ‘Dotting the Eyes Summoning Generals’ technique again? Dotting both eyes of each paper figure—how much blood will you lose? Do you want me to share some of mine?”

Immediately, other young men rolled up their sleeves, “I can share some too…”

Wei Wuxian was amused and exasperated, “No need. Do you have any blank talismans?”

These young disciples of prestigious families were still young and had not yet trained to the point where they could draw talismans on the spot, so they carried only pre-drawn talismans. Lan Sizhui shook his head, “No, we don’t.” Wei Wuxian didn’t mind, “Drawn ones are fine too.”

Lan Sizhui then took out a stack of yellow talismans from his Qiankun pouch. Wei Wuxian took just one, roughly scanned it, and held his right index and middle fingers together, drawing a dragon-like flourish with his blood over the cinnabar lines, combining the crimson blood and vermillion cinnabar into a new talisman. With a flick of his wrist, the yellow talisman with red symbols spontaneously ignited in the air. Wei Wuxian extended his left hand, catching the ash that gently fell after the burning, closed his fingers, lowered his head slightly, and then opened his hand, softly blowing the black ash from his palm towards the rows of paper figures, whispering, “Wildfire never dies, spring wind brings it back to life.”

The ash brushed against their faces.

The foremost Yin Force Warrior suddenly raised the large blade he had been holding at his side and shouldered it.

Next to him, a paper beauty with a high, cloud-like hairstyle and extravagant clothing slowly raised her right hand, her slender, elegant fingers turning and twirling as if she were a languid noblewoman admiring her long, scarlet fingernails. At her feet stood two paper children, a boy and a girl. The boy playfully tugged at the girl’s braid. The girl stuck her tongue out at him, a nearly nine-inch-long tongue suddenly emerging from her small mouth, piercing a large hole in the boy’s chest like a venomous snake before retracting just as quickly, both poisonous and ruthless. The boy opened his mouth wide, revealing his rows of sharp, white teeth, and bit her arm. The two paper children had started fighting each other.

Twenty to thirty paper figures began swaying back and forth one after another, as if stretching their limbs. As they moved, they whispered to each other, the rustling sounds rising and falling around them. Though not alive, they were more lifelike than living beings.

Wei Wuxian said, “Hold your breath.”

After speaking, he moved aside, clearing the way for the door, and slightly bowed, gesturing an invitation.

The wooden door flew open again, and the sweet, rotten stench of corpse poison powder rushed in. Everyone immediately covered their mouths and raised their sleeves to block it. The Yin Force Warrior roared and charged out first, with the rest of the paper figures filing out in single file.

The wooden door closed again after the last paper figure left. Wei Wuxian asked, “Did anyone inhale any of it?”

Everyone shook their heads. Wei Wuxian then helped Xiao Xingchen up. He was about to find a place for him to lie down, but realized there wasn’t anywhere suitable. Xiao Xingchen ended up sitting on the cold, dusty floor. He still held his Frost Blossom sword tightly. He slowly regained consciousness, coughing a few times and speaking weakly, “What was that… ‘Dotting the Eyes Summoning Generals’ technique you used just now?”

Wei Wuxian said, “I have a rough understanding of it.”

Xiao Xingchen thought for a moment, then smiled gently, “Yes… for killing these corpses, it is indeed the best method.”

After a pause, he continued, “However, practicing this way, you are highly susceptible to being devoured by the vengeful spirits and fierce ghosts under your control. Even the founder of this method, the Yi Ling Patriarch Wei Wuxian, couldn’t escape it. My personal suggestion is that you be more careful in the future, and use it less unless absolutely necessary. You should focus on training in other techniques instead…”

Wei Wuxian sighed internally and said, “Thank you for the advice.”

Most famous cultivators would clearly state their stance, draw boundaries, and declare that they were irreconcilable with certain individuals. But this junior uncle, in his own near-death state, still advised him, reminding him to be wary of backlash. This demonstrated that he was a kind-hearted and gentle soul. Looking at the thick bandages over Xiao Xingchen’s eyes, and thinking of his experiences, Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but feel a sense of pity.

Usually, only inexperienced young disciples would be more curious about such unorthodox practices than disgusted and condemnatory. Except for Jin Ling, whose expression remained dark, everyone else was crowding at the door crack to watch the battle. “Help… that female paper figure’s nails are so terrifying, one scratch and you’d have five gouges.” “Why is that little girl’s tongue so long and stiff? Is she a hanging ghost?” “That male one is so strong! He can actually lift so many corpses at once, and now he’s throwing them to the ground! Look, look! He smashed them! They’re broken!”

After being gently admonished by Xiao Xingchen, Wei Wuxian picked up the last bowl of unfinished sticky rice porridge on the table and said, “You’re deeply poisoned. There’s a bowl of something here that might help alleviate it, or it might be completely useless, and it’s very hard to swallow. Do you want to try it? If you don’t want to live, then never mind.”

Xiao Xingchen accepted the bowl with both hands, “Of course I want to live. If I can, I should live as much as I can.”

However, as soon as he took a sip, the corners of his mouth twitched, and he had to clench them tightly to keep from spitting it out. After a long pause, he said politely, “Thank you.”

Wei Wuxian turned his head and said, “Did you see that? Did you see that? What did he say? You guys are just spoiled and picky, making so many complaints after eating the porridge I made.”

Jin Ling said, “Did you make that? Besides adding a pile of weird things at the end, what else did you do?”

Xiao Xingchen said, “But I was just thinking. If I had to eat this every day, I’d choose death.”

Jin Ling laughed loudly without reservation, and even Lan Sizhui couldn’t help but “pfft” with amusement. Wei Wuxian looked at them speechlessly, and Lan Sizhui immediately straightened his face. Just then, Lan Jingyi exclaimed happily, “Okay, they’re all dead. We won!”

Xiao Xingchen quickly put down his bowl, “Don’t open the door yet. Be careful, they might be back…”

Wei Wuxian said, “Don’t put down the bowl, pick it up and finish it.” As he said that, he moved closer to the door and looked through the crack. After the inhuman battle, thin white fog and purple-red dust filled the air. The corpse poison powder was gradually dissipating, and the group of paper figures slowly patrolled the street, walking among the corpse fragments. If they encountered a corpse that was still moving, they would stomp it hard, until it was completely reduced to a puddle of meat.

Other than that, all was silent. For now, no new corpses had arrived.

Just as Wei Wuxian was about to relax, a very light, very faint movement came from above his head.

The sound was so faint that it was almost imperceptible. It sounded like someone was walking swiftly on the roof tiles, but this person’s movement was extraordinarily light and eerie, the sound of his footsteps almost non-existent. Wei Wuxian’s senses were sharp, and he managed to pick up the subtle collision sounds between the tiles. This movement couldn’t escape Xiao Xingchen’s notice either, despite his blindness, and he warned, “Above!”

Wei Wuxian shouted, “Scatter!”

As soon as his words fell, the roof above the hall shattered, creating a large hole, and broken tiles, accumulated dust, and fallen leaves rained down. Luckily, all the young men had scattered quickly, so no one was injured by the debris. A black figure descended through the hole in the roof.

The person was wearing a black Taoist robe, tall and upright, standing as straight as a pine. He had a fly-whisk tucked behind his back, a long sword in his hand, a refined face, and a slightly upturned head, giving off an aura of haughty isolation.

However, his eyes were empty, without any pupils, completely deathly white.

A fierce corpse!

Just as this fact registered in everyone’s minds, he thrust his sword forward.

He was targeting Jin Ling, who was closest to him. Jin Ling blocked with his own sword, feeling an immense force that numbed his arm. If his sword, “Suihua”, didn’t possess extraordinary spiritual power, his blade would probably have broken and he would have been killed. The black-robed fierce corpse didn’t succeed with one strike and thrust again, the movements flowing like clouds and water, and his ruthlessness as deep as a sea of hatred. This time, the strike was aimed directly at Jin Ling’s arm. In a moment of desperation, Xiao Xingchen raised his sword to block the blow for Jin Ling. Perhaps the corpse poison surged through him, because he finally collapsed and fell still. Lan Jingyi asked in alarm, “Is he dead or alive?! I’ve never seen a corpse that’s so…”

A fierce corpse with such agile movements and such exquisite swordsmanship!

He didn’t finish his sentence because he immediately remembered that he had seen one before.

The Ghost General was like this too!

Wei Wuxian stared intently at the Taoist, his mind racing. He pulled out the bamboo flute from his waist and immediately played a long, piercingly shrill tune that made everyone present cover their ears. When the Taoist heard the flute sound, his body swayed, the hand holding his sword trembled, but he still thrust his sword forward!

He couldn’t be controlled. This fierce corpse was being controlled by someone else!

Wei Wuxian evaded the lightning-fast strike, and, while sidestepping, calmly played another tune. In a moment, the paper figures patrolling outside also jumped onto the roof, then leapt through the hole. The Taoist corpse noticed the change, and his right hand slashed twice, cutting two of the paper figures into four parts from head to toe. His left hand drew his fly-whisk, and the countless soft, white strands transformed into steel whips and poisonous barbs. One flick could cause heads to explode and limbs to break, and if it accidentally swept someone, they might be pierced full of holes like a sieve. Wei Wuxian said amidst the chaos, “Don’t come over here, stay put in the corner!” After saying that, he continued playing, the flute tune sometimes playful and light, other times as loud and angry as a roar. Though the Taoist was fierce and used both hands, wave after wave of paper figures continued to jump down, surrounding and attacking him. When he attacked one, another attacked from another direction. He killed in front, another attacked from behind, and he couldn’t keep up. Suddenly, an Yin Force Warrior fell from the sky, hitting and stepping on the Taoist’s shoulder, pinning him to the ground.

Immediately after, three more Yin Force Warriors leapt down from the hole above, crashing onto him one after the other.

It was said that Yin Force Warriors were immensely powerful. Craftsmen would add objects to make them heavier when creating them. After the spirits of lonely wild ghosts possessed them, each one became even heavier than the last. One crushing down would be akin to being crushed by Mount Tai. To be crushed by four at once and not cough up internal organs was quite remarkable. The Taoist-robed fierce corpse was pinned down by the four Yin Force Warriors, unable to move.

Wei Wuxian walked over. He noticed a tear in the fabric of the Taoist’s back. He smoothed it out and inspected the area, noticing a thin, narrow wound near his left shoulder blade. “Turn him over.”

The four Yin Force Warriors flipped the Taoist over, making it easier to inspect him. Wei Wuxian held out his injured finger, touching it to their lips one by one as a reward. The Yin Force Warriors extended their bright red paper tongues, slowly and carefully licking the blood from their mouths, seeming to savor it. Wei Wuxian then lowered his head and continued his examination. The Taoist also had the same type of thin, narrow wound on his left chest, near the heart. It was as if he had been stabbed through the heart with a sword.

The fierce corpse struggled, emitting low roars from his throat, dark blood trickling from the corners of his mouth. Wei Wuxian pinched his cheeks, forcing his mouth open, and when he looked inside, he found that his tongue had also been pulled out from the roots.

Blindness and tongue removal. Blindness and tongue removal.

Why were these two characteristics occurring so frequently?

After observing for a moment, Wei Wuxian realized that this fierce corpse’s appearance was similar to Wen Ning’s when he was controlled by the black nails. His heart skipped a beat. He felt around the fierce corpse’s temples and actually felt two small metal points!

These black nails were used to control high-level fierce corpses, causing them to lose their minds and the ability to think for themselves. Wei Wuxian didn’t know the identity or character of this corpse, so he couldn’t pull the nails out without further consideration. He felt that he needed to question him first. But since his tongue was already removed, even if the fierce corpse regained consciousness, he wouldn’t be able to speak. He turned to the young men of the Lan family and asked, “Who among you has studied Inquiring the Spirit?”

Lan Sizhui raised his hand, “I have. I’ve studied it.”

Wei Wuxian asked, “Did you bring your guqin?”

Lan Sizhui answered, “I did.” He immediately took a simple-styled, polished wood guqin from his Qiankun pouch. Wei Wuxian looked at the guqin, which seemed quite new, “How skilled are you with your guqin language? Have you had any practical experience? Can the summoned spirit lie?”

Lan Jingyi interrupted, “Hanguang-Jun said that Sizhui’s guqin language is acceptable.”

If Lan Wangji said that something was “acceptable”, then it must be acceptable. He wouldn’t exaggerate or diminish its quality, so Wei Wuxian felt at ease. Lan Sizhui said, “Hanguang-Jun told me to focus on quality over quantity. The summoned spirit can choose not to answer, but it absolutely cannot lie. So as long as it is willing to answer, what it says must be the truth.”

Wei Wuxian said, “Then let’s begin.”

The guqin was placed in front of the Taoist’s head. Lan Sizhui sat on the ground, the hem of his robes spread neatly. He tested two notes and nodded. Wei Wuxian said, “The first question, ask him who he is.”

Lan Sizhui thought for a moment, muttered the incantation, and then carefully played the first note.

After a while, the guqin strings vibrated, producing two notes that sounded like breaking metal.

Lan Sizhui opened his eyes wide. Lan Jingyi urged, “What did he say?”

Lan Sizhui said, “Song Lan!”

…Xiao Xingchen’s close friend and fellow cultivator, Song Lan?!

Everyone looked at the unconscious Xiao Xingchen in unison. Lan Sizhui whispered, “I wonder if he knows that it’s Song Lan…”

Jin Ling also lowered his voice, “He probably doesn’t know. He’s blind, and Song Lan is mute, and now a mindless fierce corpse… It’s better if he doesn’t know.”

Wei Wuxian said, “The second question, ask him, who killed him.”

Lan Sizhui seriously played a note.

This time, the silence lasted three times as long as the last time.

Just as they all thought that Song Lan’s soul was unwilling to answer this question, the guqin strings trembled and rang out three sorrowful notes.

Lan Sizhui blurted out, “Impossible!”

Wei Wuxian asked, “What did he say?”

Lan Sizhui said in disbelief, “He said… Xiao Xingchen.”

Xiao Xingchen killed Song Lan?!

They had only asked two questions, but the answer to each was more shocking than the last. Jin Ling said doubtfully, “You must have played it wrong!”

Lan Sizhui replied, “But the questions ‘Who are you?’ and ‘Who killed you?’ are the easiest and most frequently asked questions in ‘Inquiring the Spirit’. Everyone who starts learning it begins with these two questions. They’ve practiced them countless times. I double-checked it just now, and I definitely didn’t play it wrong.”

Jin Ling said, “Either you played ‘Inquiring the Spirit’ wrong, or you interpreted the guqin language wrong.”

Lan Sizhui shook his head, “It’s impossible that I played it wrong, and it’s even more impossible that I interpreted it wrong. The three characters and the name ‘Xiao Xingchen’ are not common in the spirit’s responses. If he had said another name and I had misinterpreted it, it wouldn’t have been possible for me to have misinterpreted it into exactly that name.”

Lan Jingyi murmured, “…Song Lan went looking for the missing Xiao Xingchen, but Xiao Xingchen killed him… why would he kill his best friend? He doesn’t seem like that kind of person?”

Wei Wuxian said, “Let’s not worry about that now, Sizhui, ask the third question: who’s controlling him.”

Lan Sizhui’s face was serious. He dared not breathe as he played the third note. Many pairs of eyes were fixed on the strings, waiting for Song Lan’s response.

They heard Lan Sizhui decipher it word by word, “The… person… behind… you…”

Everyone turned around sharply. They saw Xiao Xingchen, who was previously unconscious on the ground, already sitting up. He rested his cheek on his hand and smiled at them, then raised his left hand, which was covered in a black glove, and snapped his fingers.

The crisp snap resounded in Song Lan’s ears, as if an explosion went off right next to him. Song Lan suddenly threw off all four Yin Force Warriors who were pinning him down!

He leapt to his feet, wielding both sword and fly-whisk, using both hands to attack. He slashed and twisted at the four Yin Force Warriors, turning them into a flurry of colorful paper fragments. His long sword pressed against Wei Wuxian’s throat, while his fly-whisk threatened the young men from the noble families.

In the small confines of the shop, the situation had changed dramatically in an instant.

Jin Ling placed his hand on his sword. Wei Wuxian glanced sideways and saw him, quickly warning, “Don’t move. Don’t add to the chaos. When it comes to swordsmanship, all of you combined aren’t a match for… Song Lan.”

His spiritual energy in this body was weak, and he didn’t have his sword with him. And then there was the unknown Xiao Xingchen at his side. It was unclear if he was a friend or foe.

Xiao Xingchen said, “The adults need to talk, so the kids should leave.”

He made a gesture to Song Lan, who silently obeyed and began to usher the group of young disciples out. Wei Wuxian said to the young men, “Go outside first. You can’t help here. The corpse poison powder should have settled by now. Don’t run around outside, and avoid kicking up the dust. Breathe slowly.”

When Jin Ling heard “You can’t help here,” he was both dissatisfied and frustrated. Unwilling to surrender, but also knowing that he was truly powerless, he walked out first in anger. Lan Sizhui hesitated before exiting. Wei Wuxian said, “Sizhui, you’re the most sensible. Take care of them. Can you do that?”

Lan Sizhui nodded. Wei Wuxian said, “Don’t be afraid.”

Lan Sizhui said, “I’m not afraid.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Lan Sizhui even smiled, “You and Hanguang-Jun are very similar, Senior.”

Wei Wuxian was surprised, “Similar? How are we similar?” They were clearly two completely different people. But Lan Sizhui only smiled without answering, and led the others outside.

He said to himself silently, “I don’t know either, but I just feel like it. It’s as if as long as either one of those two seniors is there, there’s no need to be worried about anything.”

Xiao Xingchen, from who knows where, pulled out a small, red pill and ate it, “That’s so touching.”

After eating it, the purple-red color on his face rapidly faded. Wei Wuxian asked, “Antidote for corpse poison powder?”

Xiao Xingchen said, “Correct. Much more effective than your bowl of dreadful porridge, isn’t it? And it’s sweet.”

Wei Wuxian said, “Your act was a bit too much. The way you bravely fought off the corpses outside, then seemed to run out of strength, and then the way you blocked the attack for Jin Ling and lost consciousness—was all that an act for us?”

Xiao Xingchen raised a finger, shaking it in front of his face, “It wasn’t an act for ‘you,’ but for ‘you’ specifically. I’ve long admired the Yi Ling Patriarch’s reputation. It’s better to meet once than to hear about him a hundred times.”

Wei Wuxian didn’t react to this and remained expressionless. Xiao Xingchen continued, “I bet you haven’t told anyone who you really are, right? So I haven’t exposed you either. I let them leave so we can close the doors and talk in private. How’s that? Am I considerate?”

Wei Wuxian asked, “The corpses in Yi City are all under your control?”

Xiao Xingchen replied, “Of course. From the moment you walked in and started playing that flute, I sensed something strange about you. So, I decided to act myself, to test you. Sure enough, the ‘Dotting the Eyes Summoning Generals’ technique, such a low-level technique, can achieve such formidable power. It must have been performed by its creator.”

They walked the same path. Both were practitioners of unorthodox methods, so they couldn’t fool each other. Wei Wuxian said, “So you took these kids hostage. What is it you want me to do?”

Xiao Xingchen smiled, “I want you, Senior, to do me a favor. Just a small favor.”

His mother’s younger disciple was actually calling him ‘Senior’. This generation was quite messed up. While Wei Wuxian was silently amused by that thought, he watched Xiao Xingchen take out a soul-locking pouch and place it on the table, saying, “Please.”

Wei Wuxian placed his hand on the soul-locking pouch, took its pulse as if he was examining a patient, then said, “Whose soul is this? It’s shattered like this. It can’t even be put together with glue. It’s just barely holding on with a last breath.”

Xiao Xingchen said, “If this person’s soul were that easy to piece back together, then why would I need your help?”

Wei Wuxian withdrew his hand, “You want me to repair this soul? Forgive my bluntness, but the amount of soul in here is too small. And this person must have been tormented greatly during life, suffering immense pain. It is very likely that they committed suicide, not wishing to return to this world. If a soul does not have the will to live, it is ninety percent impossible to save. If I’m not mistaken, this soul was forcibly pieced together and is likely to dissipate the moment it leaves the soul-locking pouch. You must be aware of this.”

Xiao Xingchen said, “I’m not aware. I don’t care. You must help me with this favor. Senior, don’t forget that the group of kids you brought are all outside, waiting for you to lead them out of danger.”

His tone was very peculiar, sounding warm and even somewhat sweet, yet it carried an inexplicable cruelty. It was as if the previous moment, he would have been calling you ‘brother’ and ‘senior’ with enthusiasm, and the next moment, he would turn on you and become a ruthless killer. Wei Wuxian smiled, “You’re also better to see in person than to hear about. Xue Yang, why would a hooligan like you pretend to be a Taoist?”

After a pause, “Xiao Xingchen” raised his hand and removed the bandages over his eyes.

Layer after layer of bandages fell away, revealing a pair of bright, sparkling eyes.

Perfectly intact eyes.

This was a young and likeable face that could be considered handsome, but the pair of tiger teeth that were exposed when he smiled made him seem cute, almost childlike, and concealed the ruthlessness and savagery in his eyes.

Xue Yang threw the bandages to one side, “Oops, you found out.”

Wei Wuxian said, “You deliberately acted like you were in pain and afraid so people would feel bad and not remove your bandages to check; you deliberately revealed a part of your Frost Blossom sword; you deliberately made a slip and said you were a wandering Taoist. Not only do you use the ‘bitter flesh’ tactic, but you also exploit people’s sympathy, playing the role of a detached and righteous immortal very well. If it wasn’t for the fact that you know things you shouldn’t know and you do things you shouldn’t be able to do, I really would have believed that you were Xiao Xingchen.”

Moreover, during the ‘Inquiring the Spirit’, the last two questions that Song Lan answered had the answers, “Xiao Xingchen” and “The person behind you all.”

If “The person behind you all” was also Xiao Xingchen, then there would be no reason for Song Lan to have used a different way of expressing himself.

Unless, “Xiao Xingchen” and “The person behind you all” were not the same person at all. Song Lan wanted to warn them that this person was dangerous, but if he had directly said ‘Xue Yang’, he was afraid that they would not recognize the name, so he had no other choice but to do it like that.

Xue Yang smiled cheekily, “Who asked him to have a good reputation, and me a bad one? Of course I would have to pretend to be him so it would be easier to gain people’s trust.”

Wei Wuxian said, “Your acting is exquisite.”

Xue Yang said, “Not at all, not at all. I have a very famous friend, now that is what you call exquisite acting. I’m just not good enough. Okay, let’s not waste any more time, Senior Wei. You have to help me with this favor.”

Wei Wuxian said, “The black nails that controlled Song Lan and Wen Ning are your doing, right? You were able to recreate half of the Yin Tiger Seal, so why would you need my help to fix a soul?”

Xue Yang said, “It’s not the same. You’re the originator. If you hadn’t created the first half of the Yin Tiger Seal, I wouldn’t be able to make the second half by myself. You’re definitely more powerful than me. So what I cannot do, you can definitely do.”

It was truly baffling why strangers had such inexplicable confidence in him. Wei Wuxian touched his chin, unsure if he should return the compliment, saying, “You’re too modest.”

Xue Yang said, “That’s not modesty, it’s just the truth. I never like to exaggerate when I speak. If I say I’m going to kill a person’s entire family, then it’ll be their entire family. Not even their dog would be left.”

Wei Wuxian asked, “Like the Chang Clan of Leyang?”

Before Xue Yang could answer, the door was suddenly smashed open, and a black figure flew inside.

Wei Wuxian and Xue Yang moved backwards at the same time, moving away from the square table. Xue Yang quickly grabbed the soul-locking pouch. Song Lan gently braced himself on the table, flipping himself in the air, landing on the table, and dissipating the force. He immediately raised his head and looked towards the door, black blood vessels crawling up his face.

Wen Ning, dragging his iron chains, entered the room, enveloped in a white mist and dark wind.

As early as when he played the first tune on his flute, Wei Wuxian had already sent the command to summon Wen Ning. He said to Wen Ning, “Go fight outside, and don’t break anything. Watch over the living people and don’t let any other corpses get close.”

Wen Ning raised his right hand, whipping a chain forward. Song Lan raised his fly-whisk to meet it. The two objects collided, twisting around each other. Wen Ning pulled the chain backward, Song Lan did not let go, and was dragged outside along with it. The young disciples from the noble families had already hidden in another shop next door and were craning their necks to watch with their eyes wide open. Fly-whisk, iron chains, and long sword clanged, sparks flying. They thought that the fight between the two fierce corpses was absolutely ferocious, each move ruthless, every strike hitting flesh. Only fierce corpses could fight so brutally. If two living people were to fight like this, they would have already been missing arms and legs, with their brains splattered all over the place!

Xue Yang asked, “Who do you think will win?”

Wei Wuxian replied, “Do I need to guess? It’ll definitely be Wen Ning.”

Xue Yang said, “It’s a shame that I hammered so many brain-piercing nails into him and he still wouldn’t listen. It can be very frustrating when things are too loyal to their masters.”

Wei Wuxian said flatly, “Wen Ning is not an object.”

Xue Yang laughed loudly, “Didn’t you notice that what you just said could be interpreted ambiguously?” When he said the word “could,” he suddenly drew his sword and lunged. Wei Wuxian dodged the attack, “Do you always start attacking halfway through a sentence like that?”

Xue Yang said in surprise, “Of course. I’m a hooligan, remember? And it’s not like you didn’t know that. I also didn’t want to kill you, just make it so you can’t move and bring you back with me, so that you can slowly help me repair this soul.”

Wei Wuxian replied, “I already told you that I’m powerless to help.”

Xue Yang said, “Don’t be so quick to refuse. If you don’t have a solution by yourself, then maybe the two of us can discuss and explore it together.” Before he finished, he struck again with his sword. Wei Wuxian avoided each attack while navigating the broken paper pieces on the floor, thinking, “This little hooligan is surprisingly skilled.” Watching Xue Yang swing his sword faster and faster, and with more and more wicked precision, he couldn’t help but say, “Are you taking advantage of the fact that my spiritual energy is low in this body?”

Xue Yang answered, “Yes, I am!”

Wei Wuxian had finally met someone who was even more shameless than himself, so he chuckled and returned with a smile, “One would rather offend a hero than a hooligan. That’s talking about you. I won’t fight you. I’ll switch to someone else.”

Xue Yang smiled, “Switch to who? That Hanguang-Jun? I had over three hundred corpses go and ambush him, and he…”

Before he finished speaking, a white figure descended from the sky. The ice-cold, clear blue light of Bichen attacked him head-on.