TFOD Chapter 12

The Lan Sect’s immortal residence was nestled in a deep mountain outside Gusu city.

Among the scattered pavilions and gardens, mountain mist perpetually enveloped the continuous white walls and dark tiles. Being amidst it felt like being in a celestial cloud sea. The morning mist was thick, and the dawn was hazy, perfectly matching its name – “Cloud Recesses”.

The mountains were quiet, and the people were tranquil, their hearts like still water. Only the distant bell sounds resonated from the high towers. Although not a monastery, it possessed the desolate, cold, and meditative Zen spirit.

This Zen spirit was suddenly broken by a long, mournful cry, causing many disciples and students who were engaged in morning reading and sword practice to shiver. They couldn’t help but glance towards the mountain gate from where the sound was coming.

Wei Wuxian was at the mountain gate, hugging a flower-patterned donkey and wailing. Lan Jingyi said, “Stop crying! You were the one who said you liked Hanguang-Jun. Now you’ve been brought back, what are you still howling about?”

Wei Wuxian was crestfallen.

After the events on Dafan Mountain, he had no opportunity to re-summon Wen Ning, nor to investigate why Wen Ning had lost his mind, nor why he had reappeared in the world. He was just dragged back by Lan Wangji.

In his youth, he had been sent to the Lan Sect with disciples from other families to study for three months. He personally experienced the stifling boredom of the Gusu Lan Sect. He was still haunted by the countless family rules carved on stone tablets, which numbered over three thousand. Just now, as he was being pulled and dragged up the mountain, he glanced at the rule stone wall and saw another thousand had been added, bringing the total to over four thousand. Four thousand!

Lan Jingyi said, “Alright! Stop making a noise, Cloud Recesses prohibits loud noises!”

It was precisely because he didn’t want to enter Cloud Recesses that he was making such a loud commotion!

Once dragged in, it would be difficult to get out again. When he had come to study back then, each family’s disciples had been given a pass token to wear, so they could come and go freely. Otherwise, they couldn’t pass through the barrier of Cloud Recesses. More than a decade had passed, and the security would only be stricter, not looser.

Lan Wangji stood silently before the mountain gate, his ears closed, observing coldly. When Wei Wuxian’s crying subsided a little, he said, “Let him cry. When he’s tired of crying, drag him in.”

Wei Wuxian hugged the little flower donkey and cried even more miserably, knocking his head against the donkey’s.

How miserable! He thought that after being whipped by Purple Lightning, all suspicion should have been cleared. He had gotten carried away for a moment, and added to his habitually frivolous and teasing mouth, he had jokingly disgusted Lan Wangji. Who knew that Lan Wangji wouldn’t play by the old rules at all? What was the reason? Could it be that after a decade, his cultivation had increased so much, but his mind had become more narrow-minded instead?

Wei Wuxian said, “I like men, there are so many handsome men in your family, I’m afraid I won’t be able to restrain myself.”

Lan Sizhui reasoned with him, “Young Master Mo, Hanguang-Jun brought you back, it’s actually for your own good. If you don’t come with us, Sect Leader Jiang won’t let it go. Over the years, countless people have been caught and taken back to Lotus Pier for interrogation, and no one has ever been released.”

Lan Jingyi said, “That’s right. Sect Leader Jiang’s methods, you haven’t seen them, have you? They’re very vicious…” At this point, he remembered the rule “Don’t speak ill of others behind their backs,” and he glanced at Lan Wangji. Seeing that Hanguang-Jun didn’t look like he would punish him, he boldly muttered, “It’s all because of the evil influence brought about by the Yi Ling Patriarch. Too many people learn his tricks instead of cultivating properly, and Sect Leader Jiang is so paranoid. Can he catch them all by himself? Just look at you, playing the flute like that… heh.”

This “heh” was more eloquent than a thousand words. Wei Wuxian felt it necessary to argue, “Actually, this, maybe you won’t believe it, but I usually play the flute pretty well…”

Before he could finish his defense, several white-robed cultivators walked out from the main gate.

These people were wearing the Lan Sect uniform, each in plain white robes as white as snow, with their sashes lightly fluttering. The one in the lead was tall and slender. Besides his sword, he also had a white jade flute hanging at his waist. Lan Wangji slightly bowed to him in greeting, and the man returned the bow. He looked at Wei Wuxian and smiled, saying, “Wangji never brings guests home, who is this one?”

This man stood opposite Lan Wangji as if looking in a mirror. However, while Lan Wangji’s pupils were extremely light, like pale glass, his eyes were a deeper, gentler, and more peaceful shade.

It was none other than the Gusu Lan Sect Leader, Lan Huan, Ze Wu-Jun Lan Xichen.

The water and soil of a place nurture the people of that place. The Gusu Lan Sect has always been recognized as a family that produces handsome men. This generation’s twin jades were particularly outstanding. Although the two brothers were not twins, their appearances were eight or nine points similar, making it difficult to discern who was more handsome. However, the same color revealed two distinct styles. Lan Xichen was gentle and kind, while Lan Wangji was too cold and stern, keeping people at a distance and lacking approachability. Therefore, in the ranking of young masters of the cultivation families based on appearance, the former was ranked first, and the latter was ranked second.

Lan Xichen, worthy of being a Sect Leader, didn’t show a hint of unnaturalness upon seeing Wei Wuxian hugging a flower-patterned donkey. Wei Wuxian released the donkey and greeted Lan Xichen with a smiling face. The Gusu Lan Sect emphasized seniority and respect. If he just talked nonsense to Lan Xichen, he would definitely be beaten out of Cloud Recesses by the Lan family members with sticks. Just as he was about to show off his skills, Lan Wangji glanced at him, and his two lips couldn’t be separated.

Lan Wangji turned his head and continued to talk to Lan Xichen in a serious manner, “Brother, are you going to see Lianfang-Zun again?”

Lan Xichen nodded, “To discuss the next discussion conference at Golden Carp Tower.”

Wei Wuxian, unable to open his mouth, resentfully returned to the flower donkey’s side.

Lianfang-Zun was the current Lanling Jin Sect Leader, Jin Guangyao. The only illegitimate son that Jin Guangshan had acknowledged. Jin Ling’s uncle and Jin Ling’s father Jin Zixuan’s half-brother – and also his current identity, Mo Xuanyu’s, half-brother. They were both illegitimate sons, but it was a world of difference. Mo Xuanyu slept on floor tiles and ate leftovers at Mo Manor, while Jin Guangyao sat in the highest position of the cultivation world, commanding wind and rain. Lan Xichen could invite him whenever he wanted, and discussion conferences could be opened whenever he wanted. But it was no wonder that the two Sect Leaders of the Jin and Lan families were so close, they were sworn brothers after all.

Lan Xichen said, “The thing you brought back from Mo Manor last time, Uncle has taken a look at it.”

Upon hearing the three words, “Mo Manor,” Wei Wuxian involuntarily paid attention, but his lips parted. Lan Xichen had released his gag, and said to Lan Wangji, “It’s rare for you to bring someone back, and you are so happy. You must treat your guests well, don’t be like this.”

Happy? Wei Wuxian looked closely at Lan Wangji’s face.

How could anyone tell he was happy?!

After watching Lan Xichen leave, Lan Wangji said, “Drag him in.”

Wei Wuxian was dragged alive into the place he had vowed never to set foot in again.

The guests that had previously visited the Lan Sect were all prominent figures of renowned families. Never had there been a guest like him. The young disciples pushed and shoved him, all finding it fresh and fun. If not for the strict family rules, the path along the way would have been filled with laughter and chatter. Lan Jingyi asked, “Hanguang-Jun, where should he be dragged?”

Lan Wangji said, “The Jingshi.”

“…The Jingshi?!”

Wei Wuxian didn’t understand. The others looked at each other, not daring to speak.

That was Hanguang-Jun’s study and bedroom, where he never allowed others to enter…

The Jingshi was simply furnished, without any unnecessary items. On the folding screen, the meticulously painted flowing clouds slowly shifted and changed. A guqin table was placed in front of the screen. In the corner, a three-legged incense burner made of carved white jade emitted wisps of light smoke, filling the room with the cool scent of sandalwood.

Lan Wangji went to see his uncle to discuss official matters, while Wei Wuxian was shoved inside. As soon as Lan Wangji left, Wei Wuxian went out. After wandering around Cloud Recesses for a short while, as expected, without a pass token, even if he climbed over the high white wall, he would immediately be bounced back by the barrier and quickly attract the patrols nearby.

Wei Wuxian could only return to the Jingshi.

He was never truly anxious in his heart, no matter what happened. He paced back and forth in the Jingshi with his hands behind his back, believing he would find a solution sooner or later. The refreshing scent of sandalwood was cool and serene. Though it wasn’t clinging, it was very moving. He idly thought, “Lan Zhan has this scent on him. It must be from practicing the guqin and sitting still here, and the scent got onto his clothes.”

Thinking this, he couldn’t help but get closer to the incense burner in the corner. As he got closer, he felt that a piece of the wooden floorboard was noticeably different from the others. A strange feeling arose in Wei Wuxian, and he began tapping and knocking. Having dug holes and graves to look for secret passages so many times in his past life, in a short while, he managed to flip open a floorboard.

Discovering a hidden secret place in Lan Wangji’s room was already enough to surprise Wei Wuxian. But when he saw what was hidden inside, he was even more astonished.

After the floorboard was lifted, another rich fragrance that was originally mixed with the sandalwood and not easily noticed permeated the air. Seven or eight round, black, lacquered small jars were squeezed into a square little cellar.

This Lan Wangji had really changed. He even hid alcohol!

Alcohol was prohibited in Cloud Recesses. Because of this, the first time they had met, they had a small fight, and Lan Wangji had even knocked over a jar of “Emperor’s Smile” he had brought up from Gusu city.

After returning from Gusu to Yunmeng, Wei Wuxian had never had the chance to drink this unique brew of Gusu, “Emperor’s Smile” again. He remembered it for a lifetime, always saying that he would have a chance to come back and taste it. But he never succeeded. And the alcohol hidden here, he knew just by smelling it, was indeed “Emperor’s Smile”. He had never imagined that Lan Wangji, a person who was so strictly disciplined and abstained from alcohol, would one day be found by him having dug a hole in his own room to hide alcohol. It was truly a case of heaven’s way having a cycle.

While marveling, Wei Wuxian finished drinking one jar. He had a great alcohol tolerance and was also a big addict. After thinking about it, Lan Wangji owed him a jar of Emperor’s Smile. After so many years, he should collect some interest. So he drank another jar. Just as he was getting excited, a flash of inspiration suddenly occurred. Why was getting a pass token so difficult? Inside the territory of Cloud Recesses, there was a cold spring with many miraculous effects, used by the main family’s male disciples for cultivation. It was said to have miraculous effects, such as calming the mind and dispelling evil fire. When they went into the cold spring, they would always take off their clothes. If he took off his clothes, how could he hold the pass token with his mouth?

Wei Wuxian slapped his hand, finishing the last gulp of the current jar. He looked around and realized there was nowhere to throw it, so he filled two of the empty jars with water, sealed them back up, and returned them to the cellar, covering the hole with the wooden floorboard. After finishing this task, he would go look for a pass token.

Although Cloud Recesses had been burned down once before the “Sunshot Campaign,” the rebuilt layout was the same as before. Wei Wuxian followed his memories through the winding paths and soon found the cold spring located in a secluded place.

The disciples guarding the spring were far away. The female disciples had another designated area in Cloud Recesses and wouldn’t use this one. Also, no one in the Lan family would dare to do such a shameless thing as to spy near the cold spring. Thus, the security was not strict, which was convenient for Wei Wuxian to be shameless. Coincidentally, a set of white robes had been placed on the white stone after the overlapping orchids. Someone had already arrived.

This set of white robes was folded very neatly, to the point of being infuriating. It looked like a block of snow-white tofu, and even the forehead ribbon was folded meticulously. When Wei Wuxian reached into it to search for a pass token, he almost couldn’t bear to mess it up. Peeking past the dense orchids, he glanced into the spring and suddenly fixed his gaze.

The water in the cold spring was freezing, unlike a hot spring. There was no heat haze to bewitch the eyes, and so he could clearly see the upper body of the person in the spring who had their back to him.

The person in the spring was tall and slender, with fair skin, and jet-black hair that was wet and gathered to one side. The lines of their waist and back were smooth, beautiful, and powerful. In short, they were a beauty.

But Wei Wuxian was definitely not stunned by the sight of a beauty bathing, so he couldn’t move his gaze. Even if they were beautiful, he wouldn’t actually like men. It was truly the things on this person’s back that made him unable to move his gaze.

Dozens of crisscrossing scars.

These were the marks left by the Disciplinary Whip. Among the cultivation world, there was a Disciplinary Whip used to punish disciples of their own clan who had committed major mistakes. After being flogged, the scars would never disappear. Although Wei Wuxian had never been whipped with the Disciplinary Whip, Jiang Cheng had. He tried his best, but couldn’t make this mark of shame fade even a little. So Wei Wuxian would never misremember these kinds of scars.

Usually being struck with the Disciplinary Whip once or twice was already a serious lesson, enough to make the punished remember it for life, and not dare to make the same mistake again. The number of Disciplinary Whip scars on this person’s back was at least thirty. He didn’t know what kind of heinous mistake they committed to be beaten like this. But if they were really heinous enough, why not just kill him to clean up their own sect?

At this moment, the person in the spring turned around. Below the collarbone, near the heart, there was also a clear brand. Upon seeing that brand, Wei Wuxian’s surprise instantly reached its peak.