The Untamed – Xiao Zhan, Wang Yibo

Sixteen years ago, the four major cultivation families—Yunmeng Jiang Clan, Lanling Jin Clan, Gusu Lan Clan, and Qinghe Nie Clan—joined forces to besiege the Yiling Patriarch, Wei Wuxian, at the Burial Mounds. The scene was one of chaos, with blood flowing like rivers. Standing at the mountain's peak, Wei Wuxian gazed down at the mortals endlessly fighting for the Yin Tiger Tally, killing and dying in the process.

Despair filled his heart as tears fell from the corners of his eyes. He closed his eyes and allowed his body to fall from the mountaintop. However, a strong hand grasped him—it was none other than the second son of the Lan Clan, Lan Wangji. At that moment, a man named Jiang Cheng emerged from behind Lan Wangji, clutching a sword that glinted with cold light. He roared angrily, demanding Wei Wuxian’s death, and then stabbed his sword forward.

Lan Wangji failed to hold onto Wei Wuxian’s hand, and Wei Wuxian plummeted down the cliff, his fate unknown. Sixteen years passed in the blink of an eye. Jiang Cheng never found Wei Wuxian’s body, and no one knew whether Wei Wuxian was still alive. However, given Wei Wuxian’s formidable abilities, it was always possible he would reappear unexpectedly one day. Yet, no one knew that Wei Wuxian did not die.

Instead, a young man named Mo Xuanyu had used a sacrificial ritual called "body offering" to bring Wei Wuxian back to life. The "body offering," also known as the self-sacrifice curse, required the caster to use a deadly weapon to cut themselves, offering their life and blood as a price to summon an evil spirit to inhabit their body and fulfill their dying wish. Now, whether Wei Wuxian wanted to or not, Mo Xuanyu’s offering had taken effect.

If Wei Wuxian did not exact revenge according to Mo Xuanyu’s wish, his soul would be annihilated, and the wounds on his body would never heal. Wei Wuxian sighed as he gradually understood Mo Xuanyu’s plight. The young man had lived with his aunt's family, where he was constantly abused and humiliated, especially by his cousin Mo Ziyuan, who often beat and kicked him.

Coincidentally, on this day, the Mo family had invited disciples from the Gusu Lan Clan to capture evil spirits. Seizing the opportunity, Wei Wuxian embarrassed Mo Ziyuan in front of everyone, causing his aunt immense disgrace, which served as a small reprisal for Mo Xuanyu’s suffering. Wei Wuxian noticed that the Lan Clan disciples were planting summoning flags around the Mo family residence.

After carefully examining the flags, he found that the inscriptions and drawings were accurate and would not affect their usage. It seemed that, even after sixteen years, artifacts from the Yiling Patriarch still circulated in the world. A kind-hearted Lan Clan disciple, Lan Sizhui, warned Wei Wuxian not to leave his room no matter what he heard that night. However, to everyone's shock, Mo Ziyuan was possessed by an evil spirit that night and lost his left hand.

He no longer resembled a living person but rather a raging zombie, and the crowd had no choice but to tie him up. Seeing her beloved son in such a horrific state, Madam Mo broke down in tears and accused Mo Xuanyu of bringing disaster upon her family. Wei Wuxian did not bother to explain. Instead, he searched Mo Ziyuan and found a summoning flag.

It was clear that Mo Ziyuan, driven by greed, had mistaken the summoning flag for a rare treasure and secretly stole it, thus attracting the evil spirit. The group managed to temporarily subdue Mo Ziyuan, but unexpectedly, the Mo family master was also possessed. He began attacking everyone around him, and even the servant boy, A-Tong, turned into a terrifying creature and strangled himself to death with his left hand. All of them, without exception, lost their left hand.

Although the Lan Clan disciples were trained in cultivation, their skills were still lacking, and they feared they could not suppress the spirit. They considered seeking help from Hanguang-jun. Upon hearing this, Wei Wuxian immediately realized that Hanguang-jun was Lan Wangji. The thought of seeing his old confidant after so many years filled him with both excitement and dread. The Mo family descended into chaos. Wei Wuxian quickly realized that the evil spirit was latched onto someone’s left hand.

As soon as he spoke, Madam Mo’s left hand suddenly grew long, black talons as sharp as an eagle’s claws, and she lunged at the crowd. The Lan Clan disciples could not restrain her. Seeing this, Wei Wuxian deliberately commanded the now-zombified Mo family father and son to attack Madam Mo, using the fierce corpses to suppress the spirit.

Just as the fierce battle raged on, Lan Wangji, who had seen the distress signal from his fellow disciples, swiftly arrived with his guqin in hand. He immediately subdued the evil spirit with his music. Upon closer inspection, Lan Wangji discovered that the evil spirit was not a ghost but a sword spirit filled with resentment. To his astonishment, the sword bore traces of the Yin Tiger Tally.

Everyone was shocked—hadn’t the Yin Tiger Tally been destroyed along with Wei Wuxian years ago? Could this mean that the Yiling Patriarch was still alive? No one noticed that Wei Wuxian had quietly hidden in the shadows, watching Lan Wangji with a faint smile on his face.

Wei Wuxian led his donkey along the road, but he soon discovered that the donkey was extremely difficult to handle, leaving him both amused and helpless. After walking for a long while, he finally spotted a well and decided to rest in its shade. At that moment, a group of people in coarse clothes and straw sandals approached. Wei Wuxian politely moved aside to make space for them.

As they drank from the well, they muttered anxiously about how they had almost reached the foot of Dafan Mountain, yet their compass remained still. Curiosity piqued, Wei Wuxian inquired about what had happened in Dafan Mountain. It was then that he learned the mountain was recently plagued by a soul-eating beast or an evil spirit, causing several villagers to suffer from soul loss. Seeing the group engrossed in their discussion, Wei Wuxian simply urged his donkey forward.

Unexpectedly, he encountered a strange woman named A-Yan who was dancing in the middle of the road. According to A-Yan’s mother, her husband had gone into the mountains to chop wood but fell victim to soul loss. Driven by desperation, A-Yan insisted on searching for him and eventually lost her sanity, endlessly dancing toward Dafan Mountain. Wei Wuxian was deep in thought when he suddenly heard cries for help.

He rushed over and discovered that the same group of people he had seen earlier were now firmly trapped by a golden Spirit-Binding Net. Before Wei Wuxian could step forward, a young man dressed in luxurious golden robes, wielding a dazzling sword, appeared. From his extravagant attire, it was clear that he belonged to the Lanling Jin Clan. Wei Wuxian was momentarily stunned, but before he could react, his donkey charged forward, dragging him out into the open.

The young man in gold was visibly startled upon seeing Wei Wuxian. From his words, it became apparent that Mo Xuanyu, the original owner of the body, had once sought refuge in the Jin Clan but was driven out. Wei Wuxian, unimpressed by the arrogant demeanor of the young man, easily restrained him with a minor trick. However, the young man, still defiant, threatened that his uncle would soon come to deal with Wei Wuxian.

Just as he finished speaking, a familiar voice exploded behind Wei Wuxian—it was Jiang Cheng! Wei Wuxian’s expression instantly changed. Jiang Cheng, of course, did not recognize him and quickly released his nephew, Jin Ling, from the spell. Just as they were about to capture Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji arrived with Lan Sizhui and the others. Lan Wangji disapproved of Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling setting up Spirit-Binding Nets everywhere.

Without hesitation, he destroyed all the nets and even cast a temporary silence spell on Jin Ling. Although Jiang Cheng was seething with anger, he dared not offend Lan Wangji, so he took Jin Ling and left begrudgingly. Only when everyone was gone did Wei Wuxian sneak out. Passing townspeople engaged in idle chatter, mentioning that Jin Ling’s parents had died when he was young.

His mother, Jiang Yanli, was Wei Wuxian’s senior sister, yet she had ultimately died at Wei Wuxian’s hands. No wonder Jiang Cheng hated Wei Wuxian to the core. Stunned by the revelation, Wei Wuxian realized that Jin Ling was his senior sister’s son. Overwhelmed with guilt, he slapped himself—he could take anything from this world, but he absolutely could not take away what belonged to Jin Ling. Jin Ling led his group to the Goddess Shrine in Dafan Mountain.

Meanwhile, Lan Sizhui and the others had already arrived there, drawn by the presence of a naturally formed stone statue of a goddess. Although uncarved, the statue appeared hauntingly lifelike. Jin Ling, however, dismissed it with disdain and even made a wish, demanding that whatever was devouring human souls in the mountain should immediately show itself. To everyone's shock, as soon as his voice fell, a cultivator collapsed lifelessly to the ground.

Before anyone could react, the stone statue suddenly came to life. Wei Wuxian arrived just in time, slapped a talisman onto the statue, and urgently commanded everyone to retreat. This was no ordinary creature—it was a Soul-Eating Goddess! It turned out that the soul-eating culprit was neither a beast nor an evil spirit, but rather the statue itself. Those villagers who had previously made wishes at the shrine had unknowingly paid the price with their souls.

Soon, the enormous stone statue began rampaging. Despite the joint efforts of several cultivators, they could not even leave a scratch on it. Wei Wuxian immediately played his flute, summoning aid. Before long, the chilling sound of iron chains echoed through the air—Wen Ning, the Ghost General, had arrived! Although everyone had only been astonished by the stone statue, their faces now paled in terror at the sight of Wen Ning.

After all, Wen Ning had once been the right-hand man of the Yiling Patriarch. When Wei Wuxian perished, Wen Ning had also been executed, his bones crushed to dust. It was unfathomable that he was now standing before them. With a few swift moves, Wen Ning easily subdued the statue. However, fear of Wen Ning’s malevolent nature led the cultivators to surround and subdue him.

Seeing the situation escalate, Wei Wuxian quickly played his flute to control Wen Ning, ensuring he only defended himself without harming anyone. At that moment, Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng arrived. Startled, Wei Wuxian hastily changed the melody, signaling Wen Ning to retreat. Yet, as Lan Wangji firmly grasped Wei Wuxian’s wrist, he was overwhelmed by a sense of familiarity, despite firmly believing that the Yiling Patriarch was long dead. Jiang Cheng was equally stunned.

Desperate to test Wei Wuxian’s true identity, he launched his Purple Lightning Whip toward him. If Wei Wuxian had indeed forcibly possessed another’s body, the whip would have instantly separated his soul from his flesh. To his astonishment, Wei Wuxian remained completely unscathed. This meant that Wei Wuxian was not a body-possessor. But then, if he wasn’t the Yiling Patriarch, who else in the world could command Wen Ning?

Jiang Cheng’s heart tightened, his voice turning sharp as he demanded Wei Wuxian’s true identity. Wei Wuxian gazed toward the sky, his heart heavy with sorrow. If only… if only he could turn back time to sixteen years ago.

Sixteen years ago, the Jiang siblings took Wei Wuxian to the Cloud Recesses of the Gusu Lan Clan to study. At that time, Wei Wuxian was still a carefree and innocent young boy. Having lost his parents at a young age, he was taken in by his parents' old friend, Jiang Fengmian, the head of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan. Jiang Fengmian raised him as his eldest disciple alongside his daughter, Jiang Yanli, and his son, Jiang Cheng.

The three of them shared a deep bond—Jiang Yanli cared for Wei Wuxian like an elder sister, while Jiang Cheng was his closest childhood companion. On their way to the Cloud Recesses, the three passed through Caiyi Town. They planned to stay at an inn, but the entire place had already been booked by the Lanling Jin Clan. Thanks to Wei Wuxian's quick tongue, they managed to secure a few rooms.

However, much to Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng's displeasure, the young master of the Jin Clan, Jin Zixuan, arrived with a large entourage. The Jin Clan was renowned for their wealth, and Jin Zixuan, clad in luxurious attire with a cold demeanor, exuded an air of superiority. Without any courtesy, he demanded that Wei Wuxian and the others give up their rooms.

Jiang Yanli, being gentle and peace-loving, did not want to cause conflict with the Jin Clan and chose to leave quietly. In her haste, she accidentally left the Gusu Lan Clan's invitation letter at the inn. Without the invitation letter, they had no way to enter the Lan Clan's gates. As they were at a loss, Lan Wangji, the second young master of the Lan Clan, returned.

Dressed in pristine white robes, he looked as ethereal as an immortal, with sharp eyebrows and star-like eyes, but his expression was ice-cold, devoid of any warmth. Jiang Yanli and the others introduced themselves, hoping Lan Wangji would make an exception and let them in. However, Lan Wangji was unrelenting and even silenced the chatterbox Wei Wuxian. Disappointed by the strict and cold rules of the Cloud Recesses, Wei Wuxian found the place utterly unwelcoming.

Later that night, he sneaked down the mountain, bought two jars of Emperor's Smile wine, and retrieved the invitation letter. However, when he returned, Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng were gone—they had already been escorted into the Cloud Recesses by Lan Wangji. The moon hung high, and the night was intoxicatingly serene. Wei Wuxian swaggered toward the Lan Clan's gate with the wine in hand, only to find the place surrounded by barriers.

Confidently, he waved his hand and broke the barrier using a talisman, effortlessly entering the mountain. Nimbly, he climbed onto the rooftop and prepared to enjoy his wine, only to be caught red-handed by Lan Wangji, whose expression remained as cold as ever. Lan Wangji, known for his rigid adherence to rules, immediately drew his sword to discipline Wei Wuxian. Startled, Wei Wuxian hastily defended himself, but during the scuffle, one of his wine jars was shattered, leaving him crestfallen.

Lan Wangji coldly reminded him to study the Lan Clan's rules. Wei Wuxian curiously glanced at the stone tablet, only to find the Lan Clan's rules densely inscribed—countless and meticulous. He sighed, lamenting the rigid and lifeless discipline of the Cloud Recesses. Reluctant to follow the rules, he leaped back onto the rooftop, drinking his wine in defiance. His logic was simple: if he did not step inside, the Lan Clan could not control him.

Frustrated by his defiance, Lan Wangji immediately silenced him again and prepared to take him to his uncle, Lan Qiren, and elder brother, Lan Xichen, for punishment. At that moment, Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen were examining a corpse that Lan Wangji had brought back earlier. The body was covered in terrifying red cracks that resembled spiderwebs. Lan Qiren sensed traces of dark magic within the body and prepared to investigate further.

However, the noisy commotion outside drew their attention—Lan Wangji had brought in Wei Wuxian for punishment after he broke the rules of the Cloud Recesses. In the presence of his elders, Lan Wangji lifted the silence spell. Wei Wuxian immediately began complaining but quickly changed his tone when he learned that Lan Wangji had escorted Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng safely inside. Relieved, he apologized sincerely to Lan Wangji. Wei Wuxian's attention then shifted to the strange corpse in the room.

Upon closer examination, he realized that although the body showed no signs of life, it still carried traces of spiritual energy, indicating that it was not truly dead but rather a manipulated puppet without consciousness. What the Lan Clan did not know was that this puppet was connected to the Qishan Wen Clan.

Meanwhile, in the Wen Clan’s territory, Nightless City, Wen Ruohan, the leader of the Wen Clan, commanded his skilled and beautiful physician, Wen Qing, to infiltrate the Cloud Recesses and locate a piece of Yin Iron. Wen Qing accepted the mission and left. In the meantime, Wen Ruohan's subordinate, Xue Yang, was secretly refining large numbers of puppets, controlled by a piece of Yin Iron in Wen Ruohan's possession. Wen Ruohan then ordered Xue Yang to find the remaining three pieces of Yin Iron, promising to help him fulfill his personal wish in exchange.

The Lan Clan had extremely strict family rules, and every disciple who came to study there was required to follow them and stay away from any unorthodox or demonic practices. On the first day of class, Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji, and the other disciples respectfully bowed to their teacher, Lan Qiren, and listened as he recited the three thousand five hundred rules of the Lan Clan.

Wei Wuxian, who had always been carefree and unruly, found the lecture extremely dull and tedious. His attention quickly wandered as he began looking around and whispering jokes to Nie Huaisang, the young master of the Nie Clan, who was equally uninterested. While the disciples were absorbing the rules, the formal gift-giving ceremony began.

The prominent Jin Clan showed its generosity with a grand gift—Jin Zixuan presented a book of the River Luo’s classics, personally compiled by his father, as a gift to the Lan Clan, showcasing both wealth and status, leaving the other disciples envious. The Qinghe Nie Clan, represented by Nie Huaisang, offered a fine purple clay alchemy furnace as a token of sincerity. Accompanying Nie Huaisang was his subordinate Meng Yao, an illegitimate son of the Jin Clan's leader.

Meng Yao had once gone to the Jin Clan to seek recognition but was driven out, leading him to serve under the Nie Clan. Many people looked down on Meng Yao, but Lan Xichen treated him with kindness and respect, which deeply moved Meng Yao. The ceremony proceeded smoothly until an unexpected interruption occurred—Wen Chao, Wen Qing, and Wen Ning from the Qishan Wen Clan arrived uninvited.

Wen Chao, the second son of Wen Ruohan, was notorious for his arrogance, rudeness, and lack of regard for others. Without any respect, he barged into the hall and rudely interrupted Jiang Cheng's formal bowing ceremony. Displeased by Wen Chao's haughty demeanor, Wei Wuxian was about to confront him when Wen Chao ordered his men to draw their swords.

Fortunately, Lan Xichen quickly intervened by playing his flute, casting a spell that caused all the swords to fall to the ground, preventing a conflict. Seizing the moment, Wen Qing stepped forward and respectfully explained that they had come to study, introducing her younger brother, Wen Ning, who humbly presented the Wen Clan's gift. Seeing the situation under control, Lan Qiren instructed Lan Xichen to accept the gift and allow the Wen siblings to stay.

Wei Wuxian soon became close friends with Nie Huaisang, and the two often sneaked off to the back mountain to fish. Nie Huaisang greatly admired Wei Wuxian's courage, and when he heard that Wei Wuxian had even fought with Lan Wangji, he was utterly astonished. Meanwhile, Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren privately discussed the arrival of the Wen Clan members.

They suspected the Wen Clan’s true intentions were far from sincere, especially since the appearance of lifeless puppets recently seemed closely linked to the Wen Clan. Before leaving, Meng Yao made a special trip to bid farewell to Lan Xichen and expressed his deep gratitude for the kindness shown to him. On the other side, Wen Qing secretly ventured to the back mountain to investigate whether there were any traces of the Yin Iron.

However, she was blocked by the boundary spell set up by the Lan Clan. Coincidentally, Wei Wuxian and Nie Huaisang were fishing nearby when Wei Wuxian spotted Wen Qing. Playfully, he approached her and asked what she was doing, but Wen Qing maintained a serious demeanor. Realizing that the back mountain was a forbidden area, Wei Wuxian quickly warned her not to trespass.

Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng noticed that Wei Wuxian had been restless over the past few days and couldn’t help but complain to his sister, Jiang Yanli. However, Jiang Yanli simply smiled gently. She had always found Wei Wuxian adorable and cared for him like a younger brother. Just then, Wei Wuxian joyfully returned with grilled fish, generously offering one to Jiang Cheng. Watching her two younger brothers bickering affectionately, Jiang Yanli felt warmth in her heart. The next day, classes officially began.

However, Wei Wuxian had little interest in studying. During class, he mischievously made hand gestures, drew a turtle on a piece of paper, and playfully stuck it on Lan Qiren’s back. Lan Wangji, who noticed his prank, was infuriated and immediately stopped him. Unfazed, Wei Wuxian switched his target and began teasing Lan Wangji, much to the latter's exasperation. Annoyed by Wei Wuxian’s behavior, Lan Qiren called on him to answer a question.

To everyone's surprise, Wei Wuxian answered fluently and confidently, even proposing a radical theory of using resentful spirits to counteract evil forces. Lan Qiren was outraged—such a method was considered heretical by the Lan Clan, whose core value was to purify and guide, not to exploit malevolent spirits. Furious, Lan Qiren hurled his inkstone at Wei Wuxian and ordered him to leave the class, punishing him with a task of copying the family rules a thousand times.

Wei Wuxian, disheartened, slumped his shoulders and walked out. Later, Wei Wuxian wandered to the mountain where he encountered Wen Ning practicing archery. They quickly struck up a friendly conversation, and Wen Ning found Wei Wuxian's cheerful and playful nature endearing. Just then, Wen Qing appeared, hurriedly taking Wen Ning away.

Wei Wuxian’s response completely infuriated Lan Qiren, resulting in him being punished to copy the family rules and having Lan Wangji supervise him. Wei Wuxian had no choice but to comply, reluctantly and aimlessly copying the rules. After a long while, feeling utterly drained, he set down his brush and smirked mischievously. He then walked over to see what Lan Wangji was doing. Lan Wangji completely ignored him and continued quietly copying and organizing the materials.

With a flattering smile, Wei Wuxian began to apologize, claiming that he truly didn’t know about the Lan Clan’s rules. Otherwise, he would never have drunk alcohol at the Cloud Recesses. Lan Wangji, intolerant of Wei Wuxian’s glib tongue, believed that he had no intention of mending his ways and immediately ordered him to stay silent. Wen Ning noticed that his sister had been in low spirits ever since they arrived in Gusu, as if she were searching for something.

Wen Qing, her brows furrowed, remained silent. She clearly remembered the order from Wen Ruohan — to find the Yin Iron. Seeing that his sister was unwilling to speak, the sensible Wen Ning did not pursue the matter. Wen Qing gently stroked her brother’s hair, a trace of sorrow flashing in her eyes. Their family had practiced medicine for generations, yet she was unable to cure her brother’s illness.

One day, she was determined to take her brother and leave the Nightless City forever. After much difficulty, Wei Wuxian finally finished copying the family rules. Acting uncharacteristically obedient, he stood before Lan Wangji and even presented a portrait he had drawn of Lan Wangji, humorously adding a large cluster of flowers around his temples. Lan Wangji remained as expressionless as ever, scolding Wei Wuxian for being utterly ridiculous.

Setting aside the portrait, Lan Wangji opened a book, not realizing that Wei Wuxian had switched it with an erotic painting. As soon as Lan Wangji saw the content, he reacted as if burned, instantly tossing the book aside and shooting to his feet, furiously reprimanding Wei Wuxian for his shamelessness and insisting they go outside to duel.

Wei Wuxian, ever the rascal, argued that fighting was strictly forbidden in the Cloud Recesses, causing Lan Wangji’s face to flush with anger. In a fit of rage, Lan Wangji tore the erotic painting into pieces. Proud of his mischief, Wei Wuxian gleefully shared the incident with Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang. However, Jiang Cheng was utterly embarrassed, believing that Wei Wuxian’s behavior had disgraced the Jiang Clan, and refused to listen to him any further.

Just then, they noticed a bird of prey from the Qishan Wen Clan circling above — a type of bird commonly used for surveillance. This puzzled them, as it was unclear why the Wen Clan would send such a bird to monitor the area. Meanwhile, Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen were also discussing a recent disturbance in the back mountain’s boundary. Soon after, they received word that water ghouls had been causing havoc in Caiyi Town, resulting in numerous casualties.

The townspeople had pleaded with the Lan Clan to exterminate the creatures. Lan Xichen found the situation suspicious, wondering why a place familiar with water would suddenly become infested with water ghouls. Determined to investigate, he decided to bring Lan Wangji along the next day. That evening, Jiang Yanli fell ill while strolling by the creek and was brought back by Wen Qing.

Watching Jiang Yanli’s gentle care toward Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng reminded Wen Qing of her younger brother, Wen Ning. Hearing about the water ghouls, Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng eagerly volunteered to help. Wen Qing and Wen Ning also expressed their desire to join, and Lan Xichen readily agreed. Seeing this, Lan Wangji seemed slightly surprised, but Lan Xichen jokingly remarked that he had assumed Lan Wangji wanted Wei Wuxian to come along, which was why he agreed.

The group arrived at Caiyi Town, where the locals explained that Biling Lake had always been peaceful until recently. Many villagers had mysteriously gone missing after falling into the lake, never to be seen again. Sensing something sinister, the group immediately set off for the lake. As they approached the lake, it was shrouded in thick fog, obscuring their vision. Carefully, they boarded small boats to cross the lake. Wei Wuxian’s sharp eyes darted around, taking in his surroundings.

Without warning, he used his sword to flip a large splash of water toward Lan Wangji’s boat. Startled, Lan Wangji quickly avoided the splash, causing his boat to capsize. As the boat turned over, a hideous water ghoul clung to its bottom. Wei Wuxian grinned, apologizing playfully, claiming that he suspected the creature was hiding beneath the boat and was afraid it would escape if he made a noise.

Lan Wangji, unamused, coldly instructed Wei Wuxian to stay away from him. Just then, a massive swarm of water ghouls crawled up from beneath the boats. Wei Wuxian swiftly drew his sword, Suibian, and began slaying the creatures. Curious, Lan Wangji asked the name of his sword. Upon learning it was called "Suibian," meaning "whatever," Lan Wangji visibly twitched, exasperated that such a powerful sword had such a careless name. The water ghouls came in wave after wave.

During the battle, Jiang Cheng was injured in the leg and was tended to by Wen Qing. Meanwhile, Wen Ning noticed that the water in the lake’s center had turned an ominous black color. Realizing that the water ghouls were intentionally luring them toward the lake’s center, Lan Wangji immediately sensed danger. Attempting to retreat, they discovered the boats were immobilized as the ghouls formed a giant water trap. With no other choice, everyone resorted to sword flight to escape.

In the chaos, Wen Ning fell behind and lost consciousness. Without hesitation, Wei Wuxian descended to save him but was horrified to find that Wen Ning’s eyes had turned pupil-less, resembling a lifeless puppet. In his shock, he almost dropped Wen Ning, but Lan Wangji quickly intervened, pulling them both to safety. Lan Xichen immediately played his flute, driving back the water trap. The water quickly dispersed, leaving no trace of the ghouls.

Wen Ning remained unconscious, causing Wen Qing to become defensive when Wei Wuxian tried to approach. However, Wei Wuxian calmly pointed out that a cultivator like Wen Ning should not be so easily affected by water. He suspected that Wen Ning must have a hidden past that made him vulnerable to evil energy. Gently, he handed Wen Qing a protective talisman to give to Wen Ning. Once Wen Ning regained consciousness, the group began their journey back.

On the way, Wei Wuxian cheekily bought some loquats and tossed them toward Lan Wangji, who, without a glance, threw them back. Unfazed, Wei Wuxian tossed them to Jiang Cheng instead. Lan Wangji, however, remained solemn and preoccupied, still contemplating the mystery of the water trap.

Wei Wuxian secretly bought a few jars of Emperor’s Smile wine on the way back and happily drank with Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang upon returning. He praised the wine’s subtle aroma and rich taste, but Jiang Cheng scoffed, saying Wei Wuxian was describing the wine as if it were a person. Wei Wuxian retaliated by mocking Jiang Cheng’s taste in women, and the three of them began bickering playfully. Unexpectedly, Lan Wangji walked in.

Wei Wuxian, grinning mischievously, invited Lan Wangji to join them for a drink, but Lan Wangji naturally refused. Amused, Wei Wuxian quietly placed a talisman on Lan Wangji’s back, instantly turning him into a wooden puppet, obediently following Wei Wuxian’s command to drink. This was the first time Lan Wangji had ever touched alcohol. After just one cup, he became intoxicated, his composure entirely gone.

Seeing this, Wei Wuxian had no choice but to support him back to his own bed. Giggling, Wei Wuxian teased Lan Wangji to call him "Wei-gege" (Brother Wei), and to his surprise, Lan Wangji did so without hesitation. What amused Wei Wuxian even more was that despite being drunk, Lan Wangji was still mindful of his crooked forehead ribbon.

In Lan Wangji’s mind, the forehead ribbon was of utmost importance — aside from his parents or spouse, no one was allowed to touch it. Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but laugh, thinking Lan Wangji was destined to remain a bachelor for life. Their conversation naturally shifted to their backgrounds. Wei Wuxian shared that his parents had died when he was four, leaving him with vague memories of them.

Lan Wangji, too, had a difficult upbringing, having lost his mother at a young age. Meanwhile, Lan Xichen reported the water ghoul incident to Lan Qiren, expressing suspicion that it might be related to the Wen Clan’s soul-capturing practices. Lan Qiren was surprised to hear that Wei Wuxian had played a significant role in resolving the matter.

Knowing that Wei Wuxian was the son of Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren, Lan Qiren sighed, remarking that it was no wonder Wei Wuxian was so cunning — he was exactly like his mother. Just then, a disciple arrived to report that Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng, and Nie Huaisang had been caught secretly drinking, with Lan Wangji also involved. Furious, Lan Qiren sentenced both Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji to three hundred strikes of the discipline ruler.

Wei Wuxian tried to plead on Lan Wangji’s behalf, admitting that he was the one who had "tempted" him into drinking, but Lan Wangji willingly accepted the heavy punishment. As a result, both of them were severely punished, with Wei Wuxian taking the full brunt of three hundred strikes. Lan Xichen later offered Wei Wuxian a place to rest and recover, also explaining that Cangse Sanren had once been Lan Qiren’s study companion.

Cangse Sanren had always been mischievous and carefree, whereas Lan Qiren was strict and rigid, which was why he now imposed high expectations on Wei Wuxian. Wen Qing secretly sent a message to Wen Ruohan, reporting that Biling Lake was indeed harboring a Water Abyss and that a white-eyed individual had appeared. Wen Ruohan’s response was concise — the Yin Iron was in the water.

Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian went to the back mountain to find Lan Wangji, but unexpectedly stumbled upon Lan Wangji bathing in a hot spring. Flustered, Lan Wangji hastily dressed himself upon seeing Wei Wuxian approach. Teasingly, Wei Wuxian grinned and stepped into the spring, trying to befriend Lan Wangji and even inviting him to visit Lotus Pier. However, Lan Wangji remained indifferent.

Suddenly, a powerful underwater current surged from beneath them, pulling both of them into a vortex and dragging them into a hidden underground passage. At the end of the passage, they discovered an ancient guqin engraved with the Lan Clan’s forbidden text. The guqin appeared to recognize Lan Wangji’s bloodline and did not harm him, but as soon as Wei Wuxian approached, it unleashed a violent force to repel him.

Wei Wuxian speculated that Lan Wangji’s forehead ribbon might have protective properties, so the two of them tied the ribbon around their wrists and approached the guqin together. The ribbon’s protective energy allowed Wei Wuxian to draw near without being attacked. Lan Wangji then sat down and began to play the guqin, but the sound reverberated through the cavern, as if echoing the voices of various sects searching for something.

As the two were still puzzled, a dignified and strikingly beautiful woman appeared — Lan Yi. Lan Wangji immediately bowed in respect, and Wei Wuxian recognized her name. Lan Yi was a legendary figure in the Lan Clan, the creator of the renowned String-Killing technique, and the only female head of the Lan Clan. The outside world believed she had long passed away, but she was clearly still alive. Curious, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian inquired about the Yin Iron.

Lan Yi took out a fragment of the Yin Iron and fell into deep contemplation. Lan Yi then recounted a dark history from hundreds of years ago. Back then, Yiling Burial Mound was a sacred land, and Xue Zhonghai, the most powerful National Preceptor, once used the Yin Iron to gather resentment from the living, sacrificing humans to feed the ancient spirit beast, Xuanwu. This act caused massive carnage among the cultivation sects.

The five great clans were eventually forced to unite and destroy Xue Zhonghai, turning Yiling from a holy ground into a mass grave. However, the Yin Iron had already absorbed an overwhelming amount of resentment, giving it consciousness and making it impossible to eliminate. The five great clans ultimately agreed to split the Yin Iron into four fragments and seal them in spiritually rich locations to prevent further disasters.

They also made a pact to never speak of the Yin Iron again. Lan Yi confessed that, in her younger days, she had sought to innovate and experiment with new cultivation methods. After learning about the Yin Iron from her close friend, Baoshan Sanren, she began researching it. She later discovered that one fragment of the Yin Iron was sealed within the Lan Clan’s Cold Pool Cave.

Against Baoshan Sanren’s warning, Lan Yi attempted to purify the Yin Iron but was instead possessed by its resentment. To prevent further disaster, she used her own spiritual energy to forcibly suppress the Yin Iron, but it came at the cost of her freedom. From that moment on, she could never leave the Cold Pool Cave.

Lan Yi explained that her spiritual consciousness had been guarding this place for many years, preventing anyone from stepping into the forbidden grounds of the Lan Clan. Wei Wuxian, knowing that Baoshan Sanren was his mother Cangse Sanren’s master, asked what became of his grandmaster. Lan Yi sighed, surprised that so much time had passed and that Baoshan Sanren now had a grand-disciple.

Sadly, ever since Lan Yi caused a great disaster, Baoshan Sanren had chosen to live in seclusion, and Lan Yi herself was too ashamed to seek her out. Lan Wangji wondered if it was Lan Yi who had summoned them to this place, but Lan Yi shook her head. She explained that over the past century, her spiritual power had been suppressing the Yin Iron and maintaining the barrier in the back mountain.

However, in the past ten years, the Yin Iron’s resentment had begun to stir, and her spiritual strength was weakening. She feared that the resentment had already seeped into the water. Lan Yi speculated that the Yin Iron’s restlessness was due to the emergence of the other fragments.

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji exchanged a look of realization — the cultivator they had encountered earlier who was controlled by the spirit-capturing technique must have been turned into a puppet using a method similar to Xue Zhonghai's. Lan Yi continued, explaining that ever since the seal was broken, the Yin Iron fragments had begun resonating with one another. The Yin Iron was inherently a spiritual artifact and could not be completely destroyed.

Once shattered, its resentment spread, and wherever it was buried, evil beings would inevitably arise. The only solution was to gather all the fragments and permanently suppress them in the Cold Pool. However, Lan Yi regretted that her time was nearing its end, and she would not be able to complete this arduous task herself. Without hesitation, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji knelt down, promising to fulfill Lan Yi’s last wish.

Smiling with relief, Lan Yi gradually turned into mist and dissipated, leaving behind a fragment of the Yin Iron. Wen Qing had come to the back mountain to investigate clues about the Yin Iron when she happened to run into Jiang Cheng, who was looking for Wei Wuxian. Just then, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji stumbled out from the mountain, and Jiang Cheng hurriedly approached them. Only then did they realize that an entire day and night had passed.

Wen Qing inquired about what lay within the mountain wall, but Wei Wuxian cleverly deflected, saying that he and Lan Wangji were swept into a vortex, and aside from ice and water, there was nothing else. He added that they had spent a great deal of effort finding the exit. As he finished speaking, Wei Wuxian turned back and flashed a mischievous grin at Lan Wangji. The two of them brought the Yin Iron to Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen.

However, neither appeared surprised, as they were already aware of the Yin Iron’s existence and of Lan Yi’s situation. They also knew that the spirit-capturing cultivator and the Water Abyss were linked to the Yin Iron. Just then, a black bird raised by the Wen Clan appeared outside the window.

Realizing that the Wen Clan had been secretly monitoring them, they quickly deduced that the true purpose of the Wen Clan's disciples coming to study at Cloud Recesses was to search for the Yin Iron. Moreover, Wen Ruohan already possessed one fragment and knew another was hidden at Cloud Recesses, which was why he had sent his people to investigate. Lan Qiren believed that if the Yin Iron were allowed to resurface, it would lead to bloody chaos.

The only solution was to re-seal it in the Cold Pool, strengthen the barrier, and prohibit anyone from approaching. Lan Wangji was worried that this was only a temporary solution, especially since Wen Ruohan now knew of the fragment’s existence. However, Lan Qiren insisted, leaving Lan Wangji with no choice but to obey.

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji had grown noticeably close, prompting Jiang Cheng to tease that Wei Wuxian might as well join the Lan Clan and never return to Lotus Pier. Wei Wuxian immediately shook his head, claiming that no place could possibly be better than Cloud Recesses. At the same time, Wen Ruohan had already learned that the Yin Iron at Cloud Recesses had been discovered. He sent Xue Yang to Liyang, which delighted Xue Yang greatly.

Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, along with others, gathered to make lanterns. Wei Wuxian mischievously drew a white rabbit on his lantern — a clear reference to the rabbit they encountered in the Cold Pool Cave. To his surprise, a rare smile appeared on Lan Wangji’s face when he saw it. During the lantern ceremony, others teased Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan about their engagement, suggesting they release a lantern together for good fortune.

However, Jin Zixuan coldly walked away with his servants, leaving Jiang Yanli embarrassed. Unwilling to tolerate such behavior, Wei Wuxian chased after Jin Zixuan, only to overhear him telling his servant that he never agreed to the marriage and that it should no longer be brought up. Furious on behalf of his senior sister, Wei Wuxian confronted Jin Zixuan and started a physical fight.

By the time the others arrived, the news of Jin Zixuan’s reluctance to marry Jiang Yanli had already spread. Jiang Yanli did not show anger but quietly led Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng away, though Wei Wuxian was still indignant. Wei Wuxian’s impulsive actions led to him being punished with kneeling.

However, the matter was serious enough that Lan Qiren decided to summon Jiang Fengmian and Jin Guangshan to discuss how to resolve the engagement between the Jiang and Jin families. Jiang Fengmian took the initiative to suggest breaking off the engagement, believing that since the two were to spend their entire lives together, it would be unfair if Jin Zixuan was unwilling. After some hesitation, Jin Guangshan agreed.

Upon hearing the news, Wei Wuxian was furious and rushed to check on Jiang Yanli. He found her sitting quietly, holding an embroidered pouch, her expression filled with sorrow. Seeing this, Wei Wuxian secretly used a spirit charm to conjure a small paper figure that danced through the window to amuse her. Jiang Yanli smiled faintly, recognizing Wei Wuxian’s little trick. Though disheartened, she accepted that fate could not be forced.

Meanwhile, Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen discussed the Yin Iron matter with Jiang Fengmian. Jiang Fengmian recalled that several small clans near Liyang had been mysteriously slaughtered with no survivors, and the culprit seemed to be a young guest cultivator from the Wen Clan with the surname Xue. Lan Xichen immediately realized that the Wen Clan’s ambitions were surfacing and that they needed to act quickly.

Around the same time, Wei Wuxian, Jiang Yanli, and Jiang Cheng came to bid farewell to Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen, as their study period had ended and they were returning to Lotus Pier. Lan Qiren sternly instructed Jiang Fengmian to discipline Wei Wuxian properly, expressing concern about his lack of restraint. Jiang Fengmian smiled helplessly and expressed his gratitude for the Lan Clan’s guidance. Wei Wuxian hoped to bid a proper farewell to Lan Wangji, but Lan Wangji ignored him.

Lan Xichen smiled wistfully, commenting that Cloud Recesses would soon return to its usual quiet without Wei Wuxian’s presence. As they prepared to leave, Wei Wuxian hesitated, worried about leaving the rabbits behind since he feared Lan Wangji would feel lonely without them. In the end, he decided to leave them. However, as he walked away, he suddenly recalled Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen’s conversation. Realizing that Lan Wangji might have gone alone to pursue the Yin Iron, Wei Wuxian’s expression immediately darkened.

Wei Wuxian suspected that Lan Wangji intended to search for the Yin Iron alone, which made him very worried. Just then, Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli came to find Wei Wuxian and couldn’t help but laugh when they saw him holding a snow-white rabbit. Shortly after the three of them left, Lan Wangji arrived at the same spot. He looked at the adorable rabbits, seemingly lost in thought.

That night, while Lan Xichen was meditating in his room, Wen Chao suddenly came to visit. As soon as he entered, he started inquiring about the back mountain of the Lan Clan. Lan Xichen refused to reveal anything, but Wen Chao, acting arrogantly, threatened Lan Xichen with Lan Wangji’s life, demanding the immediate handover of the Yin Iron. The next morning, Jiang Cheng discovered that Wei Wuxian had left without saying goodbye.

Jiang Fengmian could do nothing but helplessly let him be. At this moment, Wei Wuxian finally caught up with Lan Wangji, who was on his way down the mountain, insisting on accompanying him. However, Lan Wangji maintained his cold and indifferent demeanor. Left with no choice, Wei Wuxian mischievously stuck a spirit talisman on Lan Wangji’s back, hoping to make him more obedient. While the two were playfully scuffling, Lan Wangji suddenly sensed movement from the Yin Iron.

The two of them did not notice that Wen Chao and Wen Qing had been secretly observing them from the shadows. After Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli returned to Lotus Pier, Jiang Cheng couldn’t stop worrying about Wei Wuxian’s safety. He quietly packed his things and set off to find him. Jiang Yanli, understanding his intentions, did not stop him but simply reminded him to be careful.

Meanwhile, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian arrived at a bustling market, where they happened to encounter Nie Huaisang. The three of them marveled at the lively scene. It turned out that a reclusive lady known as the Flower Keeper had suddenly invited talented and elegant cultivators from all over to a poetry gathering at her residence. It was said that the Flower Keeper would personally receive those she deemed worthy.

As the group chatted in amazement, colorful paper suddenly floated down from the sky. Lan Wangji, however, remained as aloof as ever, prompting Nie Huaisang to sigh in admiration, calling Lan Wangji a true gentleman of grace. When the three returned to their inn, they unexpectedly found the feathers of a night owl on the ground — a clear sign that Wen Chao had been there.

Wei Wuxian and the others quickly deduced that the Yin Iron must have caused the Flower Queen, the ruler of all flowers, to mutate and imprison the real Flower Keeper. The large poetry gathering was likely a ploy to find more Yin Iron fragments. Nie Huaisang, having heard about the Yin Iron for the first time, was astonished. At the same time, Wen Qing reported to Wen Chao, suggesting they should assist Xue Yang.

However, Wen Chao dismissed her, not only refusing to follow orders but also using the lives of Wen Qing’s clan as leverage to force her compliance. Wen Chao then traveled to Dafan Mountain and drew a talisman on the statue at the Shrine of the Goddess. While on his way to find Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng happened to encounter Wen Qing, who secretly warned him that Wei Wuxian might be in grave danger.

Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian and his companions arrived at Dafan Mountain, where they encountered an elderly woman in a trance, repeatedly murmuring about the soul-capturing Goddess. Wei Wuxian did not think much of it and, together with Lan Wangji and Nie Huaisang, followed the old woman to the village at the foot of the mountain. The entire village gave off an eerie and unsettling atmosphere.

The old woman eventually led them to the Shrine of the Goddess, where a statue of the Goddess stood. Nie Huaisang found the concept of a soul-capturing Goddess to be incredibly strange and difficult to believe. From the locals, Wei Wuxian and the others learned that the statue was originally a peculiar human-shaped stone. Over time, it began to transform into the figure of a Goddess, even absorbing the spiritual consciousness of people.

Although a prominent master had once sealed the Goddess, the statue still brought misfortune to the village, and the shrine eventually fell into abandonment. Wei Wuxian’s sharp mind quickly guessed that the so-called master must have been from the Wen Clan. That night, the three of them decided to spend the night in the shrine. During the night, Nie Huaisang had a nightmare and woke up screaming, startling both Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian.

While the two scolded Nie Huaisang for overreacting, they suddenly noticed that the statue of the Goddess had begun to move. Its face twisted into a horrifying smile as it stepped down from its pedestal like a giant, launching an attack on the three of them. Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian fought desperately to subdue it, eventually immobilizing the statue.

However, they were unaware that many villagers, having lost their spiritual consciousness, had become like walking corpses and were now swarming toward the shrine. The grotesque, mindless villagers soon reached the shrine and began to frantically pound on the doors. Above them, the Wen Clan’s night owl circled, seemingly directing the villagers’ assault. Despite Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji using spirit talismans to seal the entrance, it was proving futile. The situation grew increasingly dire.

On a dark and windy night, the zombie-like villagers broke through the gates of the Shrine of the Goddess and swarmed inside. Wei Wuxian and the others were panic-stricken and quickly used a spell to form a barrier, barely holding back the frenzied villagers. Lan Wangji suggested breaking through the crowd, but Nie Huaisang, terrified out of his wits, feared that charging out would only lead to certain death.

Seeing Nie Huaisang rambling incessantly, Lan Wangji simply cast a silencing spell on him. Just as the three were at odds over their next move, a faint flute sound echoed from afar. The villagers immediately quieted down and were drawn toward the sound, heading toward an open space. The person playing the flute was none other than Wen Qing. The villagers steadily approached Wen Qing.

She quickly fanned the flames of a bonfire to keep them from advancing, but suddenly, a night owl flew overhead, and Wen Qing's expression changed drastically. Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian and the others were about to leave when a man's voice suddenly called out from behind them. Wei Wuxian instantly recognized the voice as Jiang Cheng's and shouted for him to come out quickly. With a grin, Jiang Cheng stepped out of hiding and joined the group.

When they reached Wen Qing, they noticed she was struggling to suppress the villagers’ madness. Wen Qing informed them that the only way to restore the villagers to normal was to kill the night owl. Wei Wuxian immediately cast a golden silk barrier to protect Jiang Cheng, Nie Huaisang, and Wen Qing, then rushed into the forest with Lan Wangji to hunt down the night owl.

However, as soon as they stepped into the forest, a dense mist suddenly enveloped the area. Even though Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were very close, they could no longer see each other. Forced to rely on their senses, they coordinated silently and attacked the owl. The owl was cunning and managed to entangle Wei Wuxian with an iron chain, tying him to a tree.

Seizing the opportunity, Wei Wuxian pretended to be dead, and when the owl let down its guard, he swiftly captured it and killed it. With the owl’s death, the villagers’ consciousness returned. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji returned to check on everyone, while Wen Chao emerged angrily, scolding the owl for being useless. Wen Qing then led everyone to the burial ground of the Wen Clan’s ancestors.

She revealed that the Shrine of the Goddess was originally the Wen Clan's ancestral hall. When she was a child, she used to accompany her family there to offer sacrifices. However, the Dancing Goddess statue suddenly came to life and attacked people, as its heart was missing a vital piece. Although Wen Qing managed to escape death, her younger brother Wen Ning was soul-captured by the statue, leaving him mentally impaired.

Later, Wen Qing and Wen Ning were taken in by Wen Ruohan. Meanwhile, Wen Chao, having failed to support Xue Yang as instructed, was harshly scolded by Wen Ruohan and ordered to retrieve the Yin Iron at all costs. On the other side, while traveling through the forest, Wei Wuxian and the others came across a wild pheasant and excitedly attempted to capture it.

Lan Wangji, however, remained skeptical of Wen Qing and questioned whether she truly did not know the reason why the Dancing Goddess lost control. Wen Qing denied it repeatedly, but Wei Wuxian bluntly exposed the truth — the heart of the Dancing Goddess originally contained a fragment of the Yin Iron, which absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

However, Wen Ruohan later extracted the Yin Iron, causing the statue to lose its source of energy and instead feed on human spiritual consciousness. Although Wen Qing was aware of the truth, she had no power to change anything. After bidding everyone farewell, she returned alone to Nightless City, as her mother was still there. Jiang Cheng felt reluctant to part with Wen Qing, but Wei Wuxian comforted him, saying they would surely meet again.

Wei Wuxian and his group arrived at the bustling market of Liyang. Overjoyed, Wei Wuxian spent a large sum to buy wine and inquired about any recent strange occurrences in the area. The shop assistant mentioned that there was a grand mansion belonging to the Chang Clan, a prominent cultivation family stationed in Liyang. However, despite housing over a dozen people, the entire household had recently vanished without a trace.

During the day, the mansion appeared deserted, but at night, eerie knocking sounds could be heard from within, as though someone was trapped inside. Just as they were pondering this, the Yin Iron in Lan Wangji’s arms suddenly began to react. Images of gruesome massacres flooded Lan Wangji’s mind, prompting him to immediately decide to visit the Chang residence. Nie Huaisang, too terrified, firmly refused to join them.

Upon arriving at the Chang residence, they used spiritual power to unlock the main gate. To their horror, two corpses clad in red were found hanging at the entrance, and the ground inside was soaked with blood. The entire Chang family had been wiped out. What was even more terrifying was that none of the corpses had pupils — it was clear that they had been turned into puppets before death.

Wei Wuxian and the others had no idea who the perpetrator was. Following Lan Wangji’s lead, they slowly turned around and saw Xue Yang perched on the roof. Dressed in black, Xue Yang wore a sinister smile and greeted them casually. Just then, a white-clad cultivator, Xiao Xingchen, descended from the sky — it was clear he had been pursuing Xue Yang all along.

Furious, Xiao Xingchen accused Xue Yang of slaughtering his fellow cultivators and vowed to capture him today, having failed in previous encounters. Xue Yang merely sneered disdainfully and suddenly leapt away, attempting to escape using his light-footwork technique. However, Wei Wuxian had anticipated this and quickly used spiritual threads to bind Xue Yang, causing him to fall heavily from the rooftop. Yet Xue Yang showed no fear; instead, he seemed amused.

He engaged in fierce combat with Xiao Xingchen while Wei Wuxian assisted from the side. Wei Wuxian used a talisman called "Wu Yi" to temporarily subdue Xue Yang. However, Xue Yang was extremely cunning and unleashed a technique called "Qian Kun Sleeve," attempting to kill someone in the chaos. Fortunately, Song Lan, another cultivator, arrived just in time and helped restrain Xue Yang. Xiao Xingchen informed everyone that Xue Yang was behind the recent massacres of several cultivation clans.

Although Xue Yang was young, his crimes were already notorious. Lan Wangji suspected Xue Yang was in possession of the Yin Iron and demanded he hand it over. Wei Wuxian even searched Xue Yang’s body but found nothing. The group suspected that Xue Yang had hidden the Yin Iron somewhere within the Chang residence, so they split up to search, but their efforts were in vain.

Wei Wuxian questioned whether Wen Ruohan was behind Xue Yang's actions, but Xue Yang denied working for the Wen Clan, claiming everything he did was purely out of personal vendetta. At that moment, Nie Huaisang and Meng Yao arrived, informing everyone that Jin Guangshan had received a secret letter from Lan Xichen, requesting Lan Wangji to visit Qinghe. The group decided to accompany Lan Wangji to Qinghe, while Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan prepared to part ways.

Before leaving, Wei Wuxian learned that Xiao Xingchen was a disciple of Baoshan Sanren. Delighted, Wei Wuxian eagerly asked about her whereabouts, but Xiao Xingchen explained that his master roamed the world, and he himself had never met Cangse Sanren. Disappointed, Wei Wuxian could only watch as Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan walked away.

Meng Yao led the group to Unclean Realm and informed them that Wen Ruohan had recently sent envoys demanding that all prominent cultivation clans send their direct disciples to Qishan to receive "teachings. " Otherwise, Wen Ruohan would send people to "invite" them forcibly. This terrified Nie Huaisang, as he was the only direct disciple of the Nie Clan, and he dreaded becoming a hostage. Just then, Nie Mingjue, the formidable and authoritative head of the Nie Clan, emerged.

His imposing presence commanded natural respect, causing everyone to marvel. Nie Huaisang, who was always fearful of his older brother, instantly lowered his head in apprehension. Upon learning of Xue Yang’s crimes, Nie Mingjue immediately wanted to execute him on the spot. However, Wei Wuxian quickly stepped in to stop him, and Meng Yao also persuaded him to keep Xue Yang alive to extract the location of the Yin Iron.

Listening to Meng Yao’s advice, Nie Mingjue relented and ordered Xue Yang to be imprisoned in the dungeon. Later, when Meng Yao went to instruct the dungeon master to guard Xue Yang closely, he was met with insults. The dungeon master scornfully called Meng Yao a "prostitute's son," mocking his background. Meanwhile, the group discussed Xue Yang's background.

Wei Wuxian suspected he might be a descendant of Xue Zhonghai, but what was clear was that the Wen Clan was determined to get their hands on the Yin Iron, making a major conflict between the cultivation clans and the Wen Clan inevitable. That night, Wei Wuxian lay on the roof of Lan Wangji’s room, drinking wine and casually dozing off, unaware that Lan Wangji had already departed.

The following morning, Wen Chao suddenly arrived with his men, demanding that the Nie Clan hand over both Xue Yang and the Yin Iron. Nie Mingjue firmly refused, and a battle was about to break out. Meng Yao, who had gone to check the dungeon, failed to return, and soon news spread that Xue Yang had escaped. Alarmed, Nie Mingjue rushed to the dungeon and witnessed Xue Yang stabbing the dungeon master in the chest.

Meng Yao, standing to the side, nervously explained that Xue Yang had killed the dungeon master, but Nie Mingjue struggled to believe it. In his anger, Nie Mingjue approached Meng Yao aggressively, unaware that someone was about to ambush him from behind. Seeing this, Meng Yao instinctively shielded Nie Mingjue, but despite his efforts, Nie Mingjue was heavily struck by Wen Chao and spat out blood.

Wei Wuxian and the others quickly rushed over to support Nie Mingjue and sternly warned Wen Chao not to overstep his bounds, as they were still within the Nie Clan’s territory. However, Wen Chao remained arrogant and revealed that his elder brother, Wen Xu, had already led an army to slaughter the Gusu Lan Clan. Even if Lan Wangji rushed back to Gusu, he would only find a burned-down Cloud Recesses. Having said that, Wen Chao left triumphantly.

Severely injured, Nie Mingjue returned to his chamber and summoned Meng Yao. It was then that Meng Yao admitted to killing the dungeon master. He revealed that the dungeon master had frequently robbed him of his battle credits and even deliberately released Xue Yang while simultaneously insulting his mother as a "prostitute. " Overcome with grief and anger, Meng Yao killed him.

Nie Mingjue was torn — he wished to execute Meng Yao for his crime but found himself unable to do so. In the end, he ordered Meng Yao to leave the Nie Clan and go wherever he wished, as long as he never returned.