TFOD Chapter 18

Several disciples punted their boats, using nets to chase the dark shadows in the water. Another shout came from the other side: “There’s one here too!”

There, a patch of dark shadows flipped over in the water as well, and several small boats sped off, dragging their nets behind them, but they didn’t catch anything. Wei Wuxian said, “That’s strange. The shape of these shadows doesn’t look human. And they keep changing in length, size… Lan Zhan, beside your boat!”

Lan Wangji’s Bichen sword on his back responded to his call and shot out of its scabbard, piercing into the water. A moment later, it flew out of the river with a sharp whistle, creating a rainbow of water. But it had not struck anything.

He held his sword in his hand, his expression solemn, about to speak, when another disciple on the side also sent his long sword flying, stabbing at a black shadow that had just swum past in the river.

But after his sword went into the water, it didn’t come out again. He activated his sword technique, summoning it again and again, but nothing was called out of the water. His sword seemed to have been swallowed by the lake water, vanishing without a trace. This disciple looked to be a young man about the same age as Wei Wuxian and the others. Having lost his sword, his face grew paler and paler. An older disciple at his side said, “Su She, we haven’t figured out what’s in the water yet, why did you send your sword into the water without authorization?”

Su She seemed somewhat flustered, but his expression was still fairly composed: “I saw the Second Young Master send his sword into the water too…”

He didn’t finish his sentence before he understood how reckless his words were. Whether it was Lan Wangji or the sword Bichen, they were not comparable to anyone else. Lan Wangji could send his sword into the water without a problem even when the enemy was unknown, but others might not be able to do the same. His pale face turned a bit red with shame, as if he had been insulted. He glanced at Lan Wangji, but Lan Wangji didn’t look at him, focusing intently on the water. After a short while, Bichen was unsheathed again.

This time the sword did not pierce into the water, but with a flick of its tip, it pulled a black shadow that had just darted by from the bottom of the water. The wet, dark mass fell onto the deck with a “thump.” Wei Wuxian, standing on tiptoe, saw that it was actually a piece of clothing.

Wei Wuxian laughed so hard he almost fell into the river, saying, “Lan Zhan, you’re amazing! This is the first time I’ve seen someone catch a water ghost by pulling up their clothes.”

Lan Wangji was merely examining the tip of Bichen sword for anything unusual, seemingly determined not to speak with him. Jiang Cheng said, “Shut your mouth. What was swimming in the water just now was definitely not a water ghost, just a piece of clothing!”

Of course Wei Wuxian could see it too, he just didn’t feel right if he didn’t tease Lan Wangji a couple of times. “So, what was darting back and forth just now was this piece of clothing? No wonder the nets couldn’t catch it, the swords couldn’t stab it, and its shape kept changing. But a piece of clothing can’t swallow a celestial sword. There must be something else in the water.”

At this time, the boats had drifted to the center of Biling Lake. The color of the lake water was very deep, a dark, murky green. Suddenly, Lan Wangji raised his head slightly, saying, “Return immediately.”

Lan Xichen asked, “Why?”

Lan Wangji said, “The thing in the water intentionally lured the boats to the center of Biling Lake.”

As soon as his voice fell, everyone felt the boats suddenly sink.

The water quickly spread into the boats. Wei Wuxian suddenly realized that the water in Biling Lake was no longer murky green, but rather close to black. Especially near the center of the lake, a giant whirlpool had unknowingly appeared, and over a dozen boats were spinning around in the whirlpool, sinking as they spun, as if they were being sucked down by a giant black mouth!

The sounds of swords being unsheathed rang out one after another as people successively flew into the air on their swords. Wei Wuxian had already ascended into the air. Looking down, he saw that the deck of the boat where the disciple Su She who had driven his sword into the water was standing had been swallowed by Biling Lake. He was knee-deep in the water, his face full of panic, but he didn’t cry for help, perhaps he was too scared. Without a second thought, Wei Wuxian bent down and reached out, grabbing his wrist, and pulling him up.

With the extra weight of one person, the sword beneath his feet suddenly sank, but it was still rising. However, before they rose very high, a sudden burst of great force came from Su She’s side, almost pulling Wei Wuxian off his sword.

Su She’s lower body had already sunk into the black whirlpool in the lake. The whirlpool was spinning faster and faster, and his body was sinking deeper and deeper, as if something was lurking at the bottom of the water, holding onto his legs and dragging him down. Jiang Cheng had been standing on his Sandu sword, leisurely ascending to about twenty zhang above the surface of the lake. When he looked down, he charged back down with a frown, saying, “What are you doing again?!”

The suction from Biling Lake was getting stronger and stronger. Wei Wuxian’s sword was good at being light, agile and clever, but it was weak in strength, and it was almost forced down to a low altitude close to the surface of the lake. While stabilizing his body, he used both hands to grab onto Su She, shouting, “Someone lend a hand! If I can’t pull him up, I’m going to have to let go!”

Suddenly, the back of Wei Wuxian’s collar tightened, and his body was lifted into the air. He turned his head to see Lan Wangji holding his collar with one hand. Although Lan Wangji was just looking indifferently in another direction, he, alone with one sword, was bearing the weight of three people while fighting against the unknown force from the lake. Still, they were steadily rising, rising higher and higher. Jiang Cheng was slightly shocked: “If I had rushed down to pull Wei Wuxian up just now, riding on Sandu, I probably wouldn’t have been able to ascend so quickly and steadily. Lan Wangji is only about the same age as me…”

At this moment, Wei Wuxian said, “Lan Zhan, your sword is pretty strong! Thank you, thank you, but why did you grab my collar? Wouldn’t it be better to pull me up? I’m not comfortable like this. I’ll extend my hand to you, you can pull me.”

Lan Wangji said coldly, “I do not touch others.”

Wei Wuxian said, “We’re so familiar with each other, what are you talking about, others?”

Lan Wangji said, “Not familiar.”

Wei Wuxian pretended to be hurt, saying, “How could you be like this…”

Jiang Cheng couldn’t take it anymore, scolding, “How could *you* be like this!!! Can you say less when you’re being held by your collar and dangling in the air?!”

The group of people rode their swords quickly away from Biling Lake and landed on the shore. Lan Wangji let go of his right hand that was holding Wei Wuxian’s collar, and calmly turned around, saying to Lan Xichen, “It’s a Waterborne Abyss.”

Lan Xichen shook his head: “This is troublesome.”

As soon as the name “Waterborne Abyss” was spoken, Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng knew what it was. The most terrifying thing in Biling Lake and this riverway wasn’t some water ghost, but the water flowing within it.

Some rivers or lakes, due to their topography or currents, often experience shipwrecks or people falling into the water. Over time, that body of water would develop a personality. Just like spoiled young ladies who must have fancy food and clothes, every once in a while a cargo ship or a living person had to sink as a sacrifice. If there wasn’t one, it would act up and demand it on its own.

The people in Caiyi Town were all well-versed in water, and there were very few incidents of shipwrecks or people falling into the water. A Waterborne Abyss couldn’t possibly have been cultivated nearby. Since a Waterborne Abyss appeared here, there was only one possibility: it was driven over from another place.

Once a Waterborne Abyss was formed, the entire body of water would become a monster, extremely difficult to get rid of. Unless the water was drained, all the sunken people and objects were salvaged, and the riverbed was left exposed to the sun for three or five years. But that was almost impossible. However, there was a selfish and harmful way to alleviate the immediate worry and trouble of one place. And that was to drive it into other rivers and lakes, to cause trouble for another place.

Lan Wangji asked, “Has any place been bothered by a Waterborne Abyss recently?”

Lan Xichen pointed at the sky.

What he was pointing at wasn’t anything else, it was the sun. Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng exchanged glances, understanding in their hearts: “The Qishan Wen Sect.”

Among the cultivation world, large and small sects were scattered everywhere like stars. However, above them all was a behemoth that absolutely towered over them, the Qishan Wen Sect.

The Wen Sect used the sun as their family crest, meaning “competing with the sun in glory, living as long as the sun.” Their immortal residence took up a large area, comparable to a city, called Nightless City, also known as “The Immortal Capital That Never Sleeps.” It was said that there was no night within the city. They were called a behemoth, because no other family could match them in terms of the number of disciples, their power, their land, and their immortal artifacts. Many cultivators considered it the greatest honor to become a guest elder of the Wen Sect. Given the Wen Sect’s style of conduct, it was very likely that they had driven the Waterborne Abyss in Caiyi Town here.

Although the source of the water demon had been identified, everyone fell silent instead.

If the Wen family had done it, no matter how much they condemned or accused them, it wouldn’t help. First of all, their family wouldn’t admit it, and secondly, there would be no compensation of any kind.

One disciple said indignantly, “If their family drove the Waterborne Abyss here, it will be the end of Caiyi Town. If the Waterborne Abyss grows bigger and spreads into the waterways of the town, then so many people will be living on top of a monster every day. That’s really…”

Being saddled with this kind of trouble that was thrown at them by others, the Gusu Lan Sect would inevitably be plagued with constant trouble from now on. Lan Xichen sighed, “Enough. Enough. Let’s go back to town.”

They boarded new boats at the ferry and paddled towards the densely populated area of the town.

After passing through the arched bridge, the boats entered the waterway, and Wei Wuxian started acting up again.

He threw away his punt pole and stepped on the edge of the boat. He checked his hair in the reflection of the water to see if it was messy. It didn’t seem like he had just battled several water ghosts and escaped from the mouth of a Waterborne Abyss. He casually threw a flirtatious wink to the two banks: “Sisters, how much are the loquats a jin?”

He was very young, and his looks were handsome and bright. This kind of spirited and unrestrained charm was truly like a flirtatious peach blossom drifting with the water. A woman adjusted her bamboo hat and raised her head, laughing, “Young master, how about I give you one for free?”

Her Wu dialect was soft and sweet. The way she spoke was melodious, the sound pleasant to the ear. Wei Wuxian clasped his hands in greeting, “Of course I would want one from a sister!”

The woman reached into her basket and touched something. With a flick of her wrist, a round, golden loquat flew out, “Don’t be so polite, you’re just so handsome!”

The boat was moving very quickly, and the two boats passed close to each other immediately. Wei Wuxian caught it, laughing, “Sister, you are even more beautiful!”

He was chatting and attracting attention, while Lan Wangji was looking straight ahead, a picture of noble integrity. Wei Wuxian tossed the loquat in his hand, suddenly pointing at him, saying, “Sisters, do you think he is handsome or not?”

Lan Wangji never expected that he would suddenly be pulled into this, and he didn’t know how to react. The women on the river said in unison, “Even more handsome!” It seemed like there were also a few men who were laughing and joking within the crowd.

Wei Wuxian said, “Then who will give him one? If you only give it to me and not him, I’m afraid he will be jealous when he gets home!”

The entire river was filled with the sounds of laughter. Another woman paddled a boat towards them, saying, “Okay, okay, I’ll give him two. Take mine, young master!”

The second one landed in his hand as well, and Wei Wuxian called out, “Sisters, you’re beautiful and kind-hearted. I’ll come buy from you next time. I’ll buy a basket!”

The woman’s voice was bright, and she was even bolder, pointing at Lan Wangji, saying, “Tell him to come too, you guys can come together!”

Wei Wuxian brought the loquat to Lan Wangji’s eyes. Lan Wangji was looking straight ahead, saying, “Take it away.”

Wei Wuxian then took it away, saying, “I knew you wouldn’t want it. So, I originally didn’t plan to give it to you. Jiang Cheng, catch!”

Just then, Jiang Cheng flew by in another small boat, catching the loquat with one hand. He revealed a slight smile, and then scoffed, “Are you being all flirtatious again?”

Wei Wuxian said with a smug grin, “Get lost!” He then turned his head to ask, “Lan Zhan, you’re from Gusu, so you can also speak the language here, right? Teach me, how do you curse people in Gusu dialect?”

Lan Wangji gave him a “You’re boring” look, then boarded another boat. Wei Wuxian didn’t really expect him to answer anyway. It was just that he found the local accent very cute, and he thought that Lan Wangji must have spoken like this since he was a child. He was just teasing him for fun. He tilted his head back and took a gulp of the rice wine. He then took the round, dark, shining little jar, and with a push of his punt pole, went to go beat Jiang Cheng.

Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen stood side by side. This time, their expressions were even a bit similar, both looking troubled, thinking about how to deal with the Waterborne Abyss and how to explain things to the town leader of Caiyi Town about the many follow-up matters.

A cargo ship with a heavy load came from the opposite direction, the boat packed with baskets of heavy, golden loquats. Lan Wangji glanced at it, and continued to look straight ahead.

But Lan Xichen said, “You want to eat loquats, do you want to buy a basket to take home?”

“…”

Lan Wangji flicked his sleeves and left, “I don’t!”

He went to stand on another boat.