The Untamed Recap, Plot, Synopsis

The Untamed Synopsis

Sixteen years ago, the world was divided into five, Gusu Lan, Yunmeng Jiang, Qinghe Nie, Qishan Wen, and Lanling Jin, who ruled the world together. The Wen Family was dominant, and the other four families suffered from it.

Among the youths, Wei Wuxian, the son of a deceased member of the Jiang family, has a cheerful personality. He met and became friends with Lan Wangji, a disciple of the Gusu Lan family, who is known for his elegance.

By chance, they discovered the secret that the Lan Family has been guarding, and they inherited the will to eliminate the hidden danger for the people.

But they never thought that the master behind everything was Wen Ruohan, the head of the Wen family. The other four families can not stand the humiliation, they joined forces to crush the Wen family.

After the ruin of the Wen family, Wei Wuxian went against all the families to protect the innocent members of the Wen family. However, he was eventually victimized by a traitor and caused a big disaster, mistakenly harming his senior sister, Jiang Yanli. He chose to end his life by jumping off a cliff.

Sixteen years later, Wei Wuxian appeared in the Mo Family as Mo Xuanyu and met his old friend, Lan Wangji.

A series of weird murder cases in Mo Family seems to be confusing. As the truth was uncovered step by step, Jin Guangyao, who was behind the scenes, gradually can hardly hide.

In the end, Jin Guangyao died, and Lan Wangji took up the mission of protecting the world, while Wei Wuxian did not forget his original intention, and lived freely.

The Untamed Recap

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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.

Meng Yao was unable to gain Nie Mingjue's forgiveness for killing the dungeon master and was subsequently expelled from the Nie Clan. Nie Huaisang was reluctant to part with Meng Yao, but he could only watch as he left despondently. Unable to suppress his doubts, Nie Huaisang approached his brother to ask for clarification, but Nie Mingjue, his face dark, rebuked him for being disrespectful.

Jiang Cheng also stepped forward, expressing concern that since Meng Yao was injured, it would be dangerous for him to leave in such a condition. However, Nie Mingjue spoke firmly, stating that there was no need to discuss the matter any further. Wei Wuxian was worried that Cloud Recesses and Lan Wangji might also be targeted by the Wen Clan. Jiang Cheng then reminded him that the Wen Clan might have also sent people to Lotus Pier in Yunmeng.

Realizing the danger, Wei Wuxian decided to return to Yunmeng with Jiang Cheng at once. When they arrived, they heard from local vendors that many unfamiliar faces had recently appeared in Yunmeng, claiming they were seeking refuge under Jiang Fengmian. Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng rushed home and were relieved to find Lotus Pier still peaceful and untouched. Knowing they had left home without permission, the two knelt in the main hall, awaiting punishment from Jiang Fengmian.

When Jiang Fengmian came out, they both admitted their wrongdoing. Sighing, Jiang Fengmian simply asked if they had encountered any danger along the way. Moments later, Jiang Yanli learned that her younger brothers had returned and happily came to welcome them. Jiang Fengmian then instructed everyone to have a meal together. Just as they were about to eat, their mother, Yu Ziyuan, appeared. She carried herself with a commanding presence, far from the demeanor of an ordinary woman.

As everyone gathered around the table, Jiang Fengmian finally spoke, informing them that the Wen Clan had also sent envoys to Yunmeng, demanding that within seven days, each clan send their direct disciples to Qishan for "re-education" under the Wen Clan's supervision. As a result, Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian would have to depart for Qishan in the coming days. Yu Ziyuan was infuriated. She slammed her chopsticks down, ridiculing her husband’s passive attitude.

The Wen Clan's letter made it clear that if any clan dared to defy the order and refused to send their direct heirs, they would be branded as enemies of the cultivation world and would face extermination. Sneering coldly, Yu Ziyuan declared that sending their sons to Qishan was no different from offering them as hostages. Her anger then turned toward Wei Wuxian.

Displeased with his presence in Lotus Pier, Yu Ziyuan sarcastically asked Jiang Fengmian if he really intended to send Wei Wuxian to Qishan. Jiang Fengmian gave an ambiguous response, further fueling Yu Ziyuan's fury. She bitterly mocked herself, claiming that she could never compare to Wei Wuxian's mother — not in her husband's heart, and not even in raising her own son, as Jiang Cheng could never measure up to Wei Wuxian.

In her eyes, not only was her son less talented, but now he would be the first to be sent as a hostage. Jiang Cheng tried to comfort his mother, but Yu Ziyuan angrily warned him not to follow Wei Wuxian’s lead and stormed off in frustration. Meanwhile, Lan Wangji was ambushed on his way back to Gusu by Wen Chao and Wen Zhuliu.

They demanded that he hand over the Yin Iron, but Lan Wangji managed to outmaneuver them and escape. Wen Chao, however, was in no hurry to give chase, as his brother Wen Xu had already led an army to Cloud Recesses to destroy the Gusu Lan Clan. Even if Lan Wangji returned, he would only find ruins. Indeed, Cloud Recesses was under siege. Wen Xu’s men set the mountains ablaze, slaughtering anyone in their way.

Lan Qiren, overwhelmed with rage upon hearing the news, coughed up blood. In a critical moment, he instructed Lan Xichen to flee with the ancient texts while the remaining disciples took refuge in the Cold Pond Cave. Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng, still unaware of the disaster, voiced their concerns to Jiang Fengmian.

However, Jiang Fengmian was already aware of the situation, explaining that the Lan Clan had become a prime target of the Wen Clan due to the Yin Iron. He then informed Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng that they would leave for Qishan in three days. The two agreed without hesitation. At the same time, Wen Xu continued his assault on Cloud Recesses.

Lan Qiren insisted on waiting for all disciples to gather before retreating to the Cold Pond Cave, but this delay gave Wen Xu an opportunity to strike. Just as Wen Xu was about to kill Lan Qiren, Lan Wangji arrived in time to fend off the attack. Lan Qiren quickly led the remaining disciples to the cave, but Wen Xu captured a disciple named Su She.

Out of fear for his life, Su She revealed the method to enter the cave using a forehead ribbon. Lan Wangji, who overheard everything, stepped out of the cave and willingly surrendered himself in exchange for the safety of his fellow disciples. Wen Xu agreed but cruelly ordered his men to break one of Lan Wangji’s legs before taking him to Qishan. The Yin Iron Lan Wangji had been safeguarding also fell to the ground and was taken away.

Meanwhile, in Nightless City, Wen Ruohan was dealing with internal disobedience. Furious at Wen Qing for previously releasing Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, he publicly executed a subordinate as a warning. He then threatened Wen Qing that if she ever defied his orders again, he would turn Wen Ning into a puppet. Soon, Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng arrived at Nightless City, only to find Nie Huaisang and Jin Zixuan also present — but there was no sign of Lan Wangji.

Moments later, Wen Chao arrogantly entered the hall and ordered his men to bring Lan Wangji forward. When Lan Wangji finally appeared, he was dressed in white, his expression cold and indifferent, but his presence was noticeably weaker after enduring severe injuries.

Wen Chao, in an attempt to suppress the crowd, confiscated everyone's swords. Only Jin Zixuan refused to comply, but fortunately, a Jin Clan female disciple named Mianmian was quick-witted and managed to flatter Wen Chao, making him very pleased. As a result, Jin Zixuan was spared from punishment, though his sword was still forcibly taken. Wen Chao then declared that each person would receive a copy of The Wen Clan Glorious Records, a book recording the Wen Clan's past glories.

He ordered everyone to memorize its contents and threatened that failure to recite it would result in severe punishment according to clan rules. Meanwhile, Wen Qing visited Wen Ning and mentioned that Wen Ruohan had recently summoned many clan disciples to Qishan. Wen Ning couldn't help but wonder if Wei Wuxian was among them. Hearing Wei Wuxian's name, Wen Qing suddenly recalled Wen Ruohan's earlier threats and broke out in a cold sweat.

She sternly warned her brother not to get involved with Wei Wuxian in any way. Wen Ning was displeased, muttering that he had a favorable impression of Wei Wuxian. On the other side, Jiang Cheng was secretly thinking about Wen Qing, hoping he might be able to see her here. Soon, Wen Chao began calling on people to recite The Wen Clan Glorious Records. When it was Lan Wangji's turn, he simply stated that he did not know it.

However, Wei Wuxian cheerfully volunteered himself and, to Wen Chao's infuriation, recited a passage from the Lan Clan's house rules instead. Enraged, Wen Chao ordered Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian, and Jin Zixuan to clean the manure in the vegetable garden as punishment. The three had no choice but to comply. While scooping manure in the garden, Wei Wuxian tried to strike up a conversation with Lan Wangji about the whereabouts of the Yin Iron.

He playfully patted Lan Wangji's shoulder, but unexpectedly, Lan Wangji, who had always avoided physical contact, flinched violently, causing his bucket to fall to the ground. Hearing the commotion, Wen Chao rushed over and began whipping Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. In a fit of anger, Lan Wangji grabbed the whip with his bare hand, which only made Wen Chao more ruthless.

He smugly declared that he had already obtained the Yin Iron from Lan Wangji, and now that the Wen Clan possessed three pieces, the only remaining fragment might either be with Xue Yang or hidden by Wei Wuxian. Wen Chao then ordered his men to drag Wei Wuxian to the dungeon and "teach him a lesson. "Lan Wangji tried to stop them, but his efforts were in vain, and Wei Wuxian was forcibly taken away.

Standing atop the mountain, Wen Ning watched helplessly. Wen Qing quickly pulled her brother aside, scolding him not to interfere. Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian, who usually feared nothing, was utterly terrified — because Wen Chao deliberately locked him in a cell with a massive and ferocious dog, exploiting his greatest fear. Horrified, Wei Wuxian banged on the door, his hair disheveled, looking utterly miserable.

Just then, a dart containing toad venom flew through the window, striking the dog and rendering it unconscious. It was Wen Ning who had come to his rescue. Wen Ning then handed Wei Wuxian some medicine for his injuries and nervously informed him that Wen Qing was not in any immediate danger but had been acting very strangely lately. Wei Wuxian, understanding Wen Qing's difficult position, bore no resentment toward her.

Wen Ning then gravely revealed that after Wen Chao returned, he announced that the Wen Clan had "cleansed" the Lan Clan by burning down most of Cloud Recesses. He also disclosed that Lan Wangji's leg had been broken by Wen Xu. Hearing this, Wei Wuxian was consumed with rage but urged Wen Ning to return quickly to avoid arousing suspicion. The next day, Wei Wuxian sensed Wen Chao approaching and hastily removed the dart from the dog.

When the beast woke up, its strength had significantly diminished, allowing Wei Wuxian to remain unharmed. Wen Chao, seeing that Wei Wuxian was still alive, dragged him out in front of everyone. Feigning nonchalance, Wei Wuxian smiled as if nothing had happened.

Wen Chao then publicly declared that Cloud Recesses was now under the Wen Clan's control, the Nie Clan in Qinghe had been "suppressed" for defying orders, the Jin Clan in Lanling was cooperative enough to survive, and Jiang Fengmian of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan was still in hiding. Furious, Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng clenched their fists, deeply worried about the fate of Lotus Pier. Meanwhile, Wen Ning kept pestering Wen Qing for news about Wei Wuxian.

Annoyed, Wen Qing snapped at him, emphasizing that she was not intentionally siding with the Wen Clan but was only trying to protect her brother. However, she feared that if Wen Ning continued to intervene, he would only bring disaster upon himself. Not long after, Wen Chao received a report that mysterious disturbances had been occurring in Muxi Mountain, where fierce beasts roamed, and none of the dispatched cultivators had returned.

Sensing an opportunity, Wen Chao decided to take Wei Wuxian and the others to investigate. Before leaving, Wei Wuxian attempted to ask Lan Wangji about his leg injury, but Lan Wangji simply responded with indifference, claiming he was fine.

Wen Chao led the group toward Muxi Mountain. Along the way, Wei Wuxian grew increasingly worried about Lan Wangji's leg injury, so he offered to carry him, but the stubborn Lan Wangji firmly refused. Watching Lan Wangji struggle with his limp, Wei Wuxian came up with an idea. He created a small paper figurine and secretly attached it to Wen Qing, using it to communicate with her.

Through the figurine, Wei Wuxian asked Wen Qing to find a way to make Lan Wangji rest. Understanding his intention, Wen Qing suggested that everyone stop and rest. Wen Chao immediately became suspicious and warned Wen Qing not to stir up trouble. Soon, they arrived at Muxi Mountain. A woman named Wang Lingjiao arrogantly ordered everyone to find the cave where the beast resided.

Wang Lingjiao, once a mere maidservant to Wen Chao's official wife, had now become his mistress through seduction. Though she possessed no real skill, she acted with unbearable arrogance, relying on Wen Chao's favor. Despite everyone's efforts, they found no sign of the cave until Wei Wuxian produced a talisman and dispelled the thick mist surrounding the mountain. Instantly, the cave entrance appeared before them. Holding torches, Wei Wuxian led the group into the cave.

Inside, it was filled with rubble, dimly lit, and eerily terrifying. When they reached the end of the path, Wen Chao shoved Wei Wuxian forward to test the danger. Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng quickly followed, worried for his safety. Fortunately, Wei Wuxian was unharmed. As they ventured deeper, they came across a vast, bottomless pool of water that glowed an eerie green.

Wen Chao soon arrived and, in his usual cruelty, planned to cut Mianmian’s wrist to use her blood to lure the beast. Outraged, Jin Zixuan immediately stepped forward to protect Mianmian, and Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji could no longer stand by. They launched a full-blown fight against Wen Chao's subordinates, and in a desperate moment, Wei Wuxian seized Wen Chao, held his sword to his throat, and jumped onto a large boulder in the water.

Fearing for his life, Wen Chao's face turned pale, and even Wen Zhuliu did not dare to make a move. However, Wei Wuxian soon realized that the boulder beneath his feet was trembling. At first, he thought it was an earthquake, but Jiang Cheng quickly pointed out that the boulder itself was moving. Before anyone could react, an enormous head emerged from the water — it was a ferocious Xuanwu of Slaughter!

Lan Wangji immediately ordered everyone to hold their breath as the beast's poor eyesight would prevent it from locating them without sound. Unfortunately, Wen Chao, trembling with fear, loudly called for Wen Zhuliu to rescue him. This immediately attracted the Xuanwu’s attention, and it lunged toward them. Amid the chaos, Wang Lingjiao, still bearing a grudge against the beautiful Mianmian, tried to scald her face with a burning iron.

Wei Wuxian quickly intervened but was burned on his chest in the process. Seeing that the situation was critical, Wen Chao led Wang Lingjiao, Wen Qing, and the others in a hasty retreat. Ignoring Wen Qing's protests, he shamelessly cut the escape rope and sealed the cave entrance with large rocks, abandoning Wei Wuxian and the others to their fate.

As despair loomed over the group, Lan Wangji noticed that the water contained floating maple leaves, despite the cave having no maple trees. This indicated the presence of an underground outlet connected to an external stream. Acting quickly, Wei Wuxian threw a torch to distract the Xuanwu while Jiang Cheng dove into the water to investigate. Soon, Jiang Cheng discovered an opening large enough for five or six people to pass through.

Wei Wuxian ordered everyone to escape immediately while he stayed behind to hold off the beast. As Mianmian fled, she stumbled and cut her hand on a rock. Her blood seeped into the water, triggering the Xuanwu’s bloodlust. The beast turned its full aggression toward Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji immediately came to his aid but aggravated his leg injury, causing it to bleed profusely again.

Wei Wuxian, gritting his teeth, managed to drag Lan Wangji into a narrow crevice where the Xuanwu’s head could not reach. Seeing Lan Wangji's pale face, Wei Wuxian hastily set his broken bone and used Lan Wangji's forehead ribbon as a makeshift bandage. Lan Wangji, who had always avoided physical contact, froze in disbelief but said nothing.

Realizing that Lan Wangji had internal injuries, Wei Wuxian remembered the healing medicine Wen Ning had given him but realized he had lost it in the scuffle. Desperate, Wei Wuxian did something outrageous — he began to take off his own clothes, deliberately provoking Lan Wangji to anger. As expected, the always-composed Lan Wangji was so infuriated that he forcefully coughed up the congested blood, significantly alleviating his condition.

At that moment, the burn on Wei Wuxian’s chest began to throb with intense pain, but he paid no mind. Even if the scar remained for life, he felt no regret — after all, it was proof of his bravery in saving Mianmian. Trying to lighten the mood, Wei Wuxian casually reassured Lan Wangji that someone would eventually come to their rescue. However, Lan Wangji remained silent, his face shrouded in sorrow.

Cloud Recesses had been reduced to ruins, his uncle was gravely injured, and his brother was missing — there was little hope left for their sect. Wei Wuxian, too, was tormented with unease. He did not know whether Jiang Cheng had safely escaped or what had become of Lotus Pier and his family. Despite his own doubts, he put on a smile and vowed to protect Lan Wangji until help arrived.

Lan Wangji drifted in and out of consciousness, and while he was asleep, Wei Wuxian took the opportunity to dive into the pool to explore. He discovered that the Xuanwu of Slaughter was highly intelligent and would notice any disturbance after the time of one incense stick. Unfortunately, he still couldn't find the exit Jiang Cheng had mentioned and feared it might have been blocked by the beast.

It seemed that he and Lan Wangji were destined to have another fierce battle with the Xuanwu. Lan Wangji recalled what Lan Yi had once said — centuries ago, Xue Zhonghai had tamed an ancient beast, the Xuanwu of Slaughter, to cause mass destruction. Now it was clear that the creature in the pool was that very beast left behind by Xue Zhonghai. However, Wei Wuxian showed no fear, instead feeling a surge of excitement.

If he could slay an ancient beast, it would surely make a name for him in the world of cultivators. Determined to kill the Xuanwu, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji carefully crafted numerous arrows and devised a plan. Wei Wuxian would sneak into the Xuanwu's massive shell, locate its weak spot, and force it to emerge from its shell. Meanwhile, Lan Wangji would use his String Killing technique to engage it in battle.

Enduring the stench, Wei Wuxian entered the Xuanwu's shell and discovered countless human corpses inside. The corpses were twisted and lifeless, with even their spiritual consciousness devoured. It was evident that the Xuanwu not only consumed humans but also ground their souls into nothingness. Amidst the carnage, Wei Wuxian discovered a rusty sword.

The moment he touched it, agonizing wails echoed around him — the sword was saturated with immense resentment, and it was likely what kept the Xuanwu trapped within the pool. Wei Wuxian decisively pulled out the sword, triggering the Xuanwu's fury. The beast lunged toward him, and after several grueling rounds of combat, Wei Wuxian drove the sword into the Xuanwu's jaw, forcing it out of its shell. Lan Wangji seized the opportunity and launched a fierce attack.

Yet, Wei Wuxian refused to let go of the sword, even as a sinister black aura surged from it, causing him to feel intense discomfort. Moments later, a wicked smile flickered across his face. Raising his hand, Wei Wuxian commanded the countless scattered swords on the shore to rise in unison and pierce into the Xuanwu's neck. With Lan Wangji's final strike, the ancient beast was finally slain. Exhausted, Wei Wuxian collapsed into the water and lost consciousness.

Lan Wangji rushed to pull him ashore. When Wei Wuxian woke up, he claimed that the overwhelming screams of tormented souls had caused him to faint. Noticing that Wei Wuxian had developed a high fever, Lan Wangji immediately channeled his spiritual energy to stabilize him. In his fevered haze, Wei Wuxian groggily asked Lan Wangji to sing him a song. To his astonishment, Lan Wangji, usually aloof and reserved, actually obliged and softly hummed a tune.

Wei Wuxian found the melody so beautiful that he drifted back into unconsciousness with a faint smile. When Wei Wuxian finally woke up, he found himself lying on the grass outside the cave. Jiang Cheng and Jin Zixuan were present, but Lan Wangji had already left for Gusu. It turned out that Wei Wuxian had been unconscious for seven days and seven nights. Without a sword, Jiang Cheng couldn't fly back to Yunmeng to seek help.

Fortunately, Jin Zixuan persuaded Jin Guangshan to rally various clans to rescue Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. Deeply moved, Wei Wuxian expressed his gratitude to Jin Zixuan, acknowledging his sense of responsibility. However, no one noticed that Wei Wuxian had quietly taken the cursed sword from the Xuanwu’s body, now enshrouded in thick resentment. Meanwhile, Wen Chao was ordered to search for Xue Yang and the final piece of Yin Iron.

Upon hearing that Jin Zixuan had led a group into Muxi Mountain, Wen Chao suspected that Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were still alive. He immediately dispatched his subordinates to investigate and sent Wen Zhuliu and Wang Lingjiao to Lotus Pier. Back in Yunmeng, Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian finally returned home, but Wei Wuxian's weakened body quickly caused him to collapse again. Jiang Yanli tenderly cared for him until his condition gradually improved.

However, the atmosphere at Lotus Pier was not peaceful. Jiang Fengmian showed excessive concern for Wei Wuxian while treating Jiang Cheng with severe harshness. This gave Madam Yu the perfect opportunity to mock Wei Wuxian. She bitterly insinuated that outsiders believed Jiang Fengmian was still infatuated with Cangse Sanren, which was why he favored Wei Wuxian so much. Some even speculated that Wei Wuxian was actually Jiang Fengmian's biological son.

Jiang Fengmian was livid at these accusations, while Jiang Cheng, feeling overshadowed, also grew displeased. Noticing the tension, Wei Wuxian immediately chased after Jiang Cheng to explain. Only then did Jiang Cheng’s expression soften, and the two made amends.

The leader of the Yao Clan from Pingyang arrived at Lotus Pier with his surviving servants, his body covered in blood and severely injured. He collapsed on the ground and sorrowfully recounted his grievances to Jiang Fengmian. It turned out that the Yao Clan had escaped from Qishan and traveled all the way back to Pingyang, but they still couldn't avoid the wrath of the Wen Clan.

The entire family had been slaughtered, and the clan leader barely escaped with his life before seeking refuge in Lotus Pier. Jiang Fengmian, being a chivalrous man with a kind heart, immediately ordered his servants to prepare a guest room and provide treatment for the Yao Clan leader. Jiang Cheng, however, was deeply worried. He knew the Wen Clan had their eyes on them and feared that Lotus Pier was no safer for the Yao Clan.

He expressed his concerns to his father, warning that the Wen Clan would not let them off so easily. Jiang Fengmian pondered for a while and realized that only the Jin Clan of Lanling had the power to rival the Wen Clan. Without delay, he decided to depart for Lanling with Jiang Yanli the next day, bringing the Yao Clan leader with them, while leaving Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng behind to guard Lotus Pier.

The next day, the surface of the lake was calm, with lotus flowers blooming everywhere. Jiang Fengmian and Jiang Yanli set out on their journey. Although Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng were reluctant to part with their father and sister, they believed they would return safely soon. Wei Wuxian, however, suggested that they should plan ahead in case the Wen Clan decided to invade Lotus Pier, ensuring they would have a strategy to defend it.

Meanwhile, Wen Chao reported to Wen Ruohan that the Xuanwu of Slaughter had been killed, but the weapon used to suppress it had disappeared without a trace. Wen Ruohan, who was already struggling with abnormalities in his body due to the Yin Iron, was infuriated by the report. Furious, he ordered Wen Chao to find the missing weapon and destroy Lotus Pier. Wen Chao accepted the mission and, full of malicious intent, began plotting the massacre.

Soon after, Wang Lingjiao, emboldened by her relationship with Wen Chao, led a group of Wen Clan disciples to Yunmeng. Upon arrival, she began arresting people under fabricated charges and swaggered into Lotus Pier with an air of arrogance. She sneered at the decorations, mocked the Jiang Clan disciples, and accused them of harboring ill intentions toward the Wen Clan. Madam Yu, known for her strong-willed and proud nature, was unable to tolerate Wang Lingjiao’s impudence.

She coldly questioned Wang Lingjiao about her true intentions. Wang Lingjiao, feigning superiority, claimed she was here to punish Wei Wuxian on behalf of Wen Chao for his previous disrespectful behavior. She demanded that Madam Yu severely discipline Wei Wuxian.

Not stopping there, Wang Lingjiao went on to imply that if Madam Yu refused to act, it would prove that the rumors about Jiang Fengmian’s infatuation with Cangse Sanren were true — that his excessive care for Wei Wuxian stemmed from a hidden romantic attachment. Knowing that the Wen Clan posed a huge threat, Madam Yu realized that if she didn’t punish Wei Wuxian, the consequences could be catastrophic.

Gritting her teeth, she raised the Zidian whip and ruthlessly lashed Wei Wuxian until his skin was torn and bloodied. Yet, Wang Lingjiao remained unsatisfied and maliciously demanded that Madam Yu sever Wei Wuxian's right hand to ensure he would never forget this lesson. With her face darkened with rage, Madam Yu ordered the servants to close the gates.

Wang Lingjiao, assuming Madam Yu was about to cripple Wei Wuxian, clapped her hands in delight and declared that Lotus Pier would soon become a supervision office under the Wen Clan. Jiang Cheng desperately shielded Wei Wuxian from harm. Wang Lingjiao, brimming with arrogance, walked down the steps and threatened everyone to comply. At that moment, Madam Yu suddenly moved like lightning, delivering a heavy slap across Wang Lingjiao’s face, sending her crashing to the ground.

Without hesitation, Madam Yu unleashed Zidian and struck down Wang Lingjiao’s guards. She then seized Wang Lingjiao’s jaw, lifted her with immense strength, and slapped her again. Furious, she declared that even when beating a dog, one must consider the owner. Wang Lingjiao, a lowly concubine, dared to enter Lotus Pier and humiliate her family — she was simply courting death! With a cold glare, Madam Yu stomped on Wang Lingjiao’s face, crushing her into the ground.

Wang Lingjiao was livid but utterly powerless in combat. She could only resort to threatening Madam Yu by bringing up the Wen Clan. Madam Yu sneered in disdain, declaring that she didn’t fear the Wen Clan and would rather die than allow them to humiliate her family. Without hesitation, she ordered her subordinates to kill Wang Lingjiao on the spot. However, before the fatal strike could land, Wen Zhuliu arrived just in time to rescue Wang Lingjiao.

Madam Yu coldly mocked him, reminding him that he was born Zhao, yet had forsaken his ancestors to serve the Wen Clan — utterly disgraceful. Without a word, Wen Zhuliu launched into combat against Madam Yu. Wang Lingjiao seized the chaos to run outside and release a distress signal. Despite his injuries, Wei Wuxian urged Jiang Cheng to stop Wang Lingjiao, but Jiang Cheng instead rushed to protect his mother, taking a heavy blow from Wen Zhuliu.

Wang Lingjiao successfully sent the distress signal, sealing the Jiang Clan’s fate. Madam Yu’s maid risked her life to stall Wen Zhuliu while Madam Yu hurriedly escorted Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng onto a boat. Using Zidian, she bound the two tightly and urged Wei Wuxian to protect Jiang Cheng at all costs. Gritting her teeth, Madam Yu kicked the boat into the river and cast an acceleration spell, ensuring they could escape.

Both Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng were heartbroken, knowing this meant Madam Yu would likely face death. As the boat drifted down the river, they unexpectedly encountered Jiang Fengmian and Jiang Yanli. Upon learning what had happened, Jiang Fengmian wasted no time. Using Zidian, he bound Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng, and Jiang Yanli together and commanded them to head to Meishan to seek shelter with their grandmother. Then, without hesitation, Jiang Fengmian turned back toward Lotus Pier, determined to stand by his wife and face death alongside her.

The small boat drifted for a long time until Zidian finally released its binding, allowing Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian to break free. Without hesitation, they dismantled the wooden planks and used them as paddles, desperately rowing back toward Lotus Pier. For safety reasons, they asked Jiang Yanli to stay behind and wait for them. At that moment, the once peaceful and beautiful Lotus Pier had turned into a sea of blood.

The Jiang Clan disciples had been massacred, and Madam Yu fought desperately despite being gravely injured. Just as she was about to collapse, Jiang Fengmian finally arrived with reinforcements and rushed to her aid. Unfortunately, they were still outnumbered by the large army sent by the Wen Clan. Jiang Fengmian was eventually pierced through the chest by a sword and fell lifeless to the ground.

Madam Yu, devastated and unwilling to live without him, laughed bitterly toward the sky before resolutely stabbing a dagger into her own heart. In her final moments, she clutched her husband's hand tightly and closed her eyes. The couple died together, hand in hand. By the time Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian arrived, it was too late. They didn’t dare act recklessly and instead hid on the rooftop, silently observing.

They watched as corpse after corpse was dragged out of the house and began to grow increasingly anxious. Holding onto a sliver of hope, they prayed that Jiang Fengmian and Madam Yu were still alive. However, their hope was utterly crushed when they saw the lifeless bodies of Jiang Fengmian and Madam Yu lying side by side in the main hall, their hands still tightly clasped in death.

Wang Lingjiao nestled coquettishly in Wen Chao’s arms, arrogantly mocking the dead Madam Yu without a trace of sympathy. Wen Chao, indifferent to the bloodshed around him, continued to flirt with Wang Lingjiao, caring only about appeasing his mistress. Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian were overwhelmed with grief and rage, clenching their fists so tightly that their nails dug into their palms.

Their hatred for Wen Chao and Wang Lingjiao burned so fiercely that they wished they could tear them apart on the spot. Consumed by despair, Jiang Cheng abruptly lost control, leaping from the rooftop and running frantically toward the wilderness. Wei Wuxian immediately followed, fearing for Jiang Cheng's safety. Jiang Cheng ran endlessly through the wilderness until he suddenly realized — they still needed to retrieve their parents’ bodies.

Without hesitation, he turned around and insisted on returning to Lotus Pier for revenge. Wei Wuxian, recognizing the imminent danger, desperately held him back, refusing to let him throw his life away. In his devastation, Jiang Cheng grabbed Wei Wuxian by the throat, blaming him for standing up to protect Lan Wangji and the others, which in turn made the Wen Clan target the Jiang Clan, resulting in the destruction of their entire sect.

Wei Wuxian did not resist, allowing Jiang Cheng to vent his grief. Eventually, Jiang Cheng’s strength gave out, and he slumped helplessly to the ground, choking with sobs. He cried bitterly, expressing his longing to bring his parents back, to return to the Lotus Pier that once stood proudly, but deep down, he knew nothing could ever return to how it was before. The two of them spent the entire night in the wilderness, silently mourning their loss.

When dawn broke, Wei Wuxian pulled Jiang Cheng to his feet, reminding him that despite their pain, Jiang Yanli was still waiting for them. Together, they trudged toward the forest where Jiang Yanli was hiding. Upon seeing them approach with swollen, bloodshot eyes and expressions filled with sorrow, Jiang Yanli’s heart sank. Even before they spoke, she already knew the answer. Trying to brace herself, Jiang Yanli took a deep breath, hoping she was wrong.

But when Wei Wuxian finally explained what had happened, Jiang Yanli completely broke down. Her body trembled uncontrollably as she burst into tears, unable to accept the brutal reality. That day, heavy rain poured from the sky as if to cleanse the world of its filth, yet it could not wash away the blood that soaked Lotus Pier, nor could it erase the immense grief weighing down their hearts.

Jiang Yanli, overwhelmed with sorrow and exposed to the rain, soon developed a high fever. Wei Wuxian did his best to care for her and Jiang Cheng, who remained in a state of numbness. Knowing they could not stay in one place for long, Wei Wuxian left the inn to buy medicine for Jiang Yanli. However, the streets were heavily patrolled by the Wen Clan’s soldiers, who were still hunting down any remaining members of the Jiang Clan.

Wei Wuxian immediately heightened his guard, ready to fight if discovered. Luckily, the Wen Clan soldiers apprehended another suspect at the far end of the market, allowing Wei Wuxian the chance to slip away. He rushed back to the inn, only to find Jiang Cheng missing. Realizing something was terribly wrong, Wei Wuxian quickly told Jiang Yanli to seek refuge at Granny Liu's residence, promising he would bring Jiang Cheng back safely.

Following his intuition, Wei Wuxian hurried back toward Lotus Pier, only to encounter Wen Ning at the entrance. To his shock, Wen Ning revealed that Jiang Cheng had been captured and taken back by Wen Chao. Initially, Wei Wuxian considered capturing Wen Ning as a hostage, but his conscience prevented him from doing so. Much to his surprise, Wen Ning expressed a genuine willingness to help rescue Jiang Cheng. Despite his internal hesitation, Wei Wuxian chose to trust Wen Ning.

That night, Wen Chao hosted a grand banquet in Lotus Pier to celebrate his victory, and he even hung the bodies of Jiang Fengmian and Madam Yu at the gates as a display of his power. Wen Ning, having secretly drugged the wine, watched in silence as Wen Chao drank without suspicion. Wen Chao even forced Wen Zhuliu to drink, but Wen Zhuliu, with his sharp intuition, noticed something off about the wine.

However, he chose to remain silent and drank it anyway, knowing he had no grounds to question his master. Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian hid in the dark, his heart pounding anxiously, hoping Wen Ning would succeed in rescuing Jiang Cheng.

After the devastating massacre, the night over Lotus Pier was as heavy as congealed blood. Wei Wuxian anxiously hid by the lakeside in a small boat, waiting for Wen Ning to bring Jiang Cheng out. A few Wen Clan subordinates staggered onto the boat, drunkenly complaining that the wine at Lotus Pier was terrible.

Wei Wuxian's heart sank — they were drinking Lotus Pier's signature Lotus Wine, which he once shared with Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng amidst a garden full of blooming lotuses. Now, however, everything was gone. As Wei Wuxian was lost in thought, Wen Ning finally appeared, carrying an unconscious Jiang Cheng and handing him over along with Zidian.

Wen Ning even arranged for someone to retrieve the bodies of Jiang Fengmian and Madam Yu so they could have a proper burial. Wei Wuxian leaned in to check if Jiang Cheng was still breathing, his heart filled with dread. Wen Ning quickly reassured him that although Jiang Cheng had suffered severe injuries, including broken ribs from Wen Chao's discipline whip, he was still alive. Wei Wuxian's heart felt bitterly cold.

Wen Ning suggested they head to Yiling, where Wen Qing was waiting and might be able to help. With no other options left, Wei Wuxian reluctantly agreed. The next day, Wen Chao awoke only to discover that the wine from the previous night had been drugged, and Jiang Cheng had been rescued. Enraged, Wen Chao conducted a harsh interrogation and soon learned that Wen Ning had visited the kitchen earlier, giving him the perfect opportunity to drug the wine.

Furious, Wen Chao clenched his teeth and vowed to capture Wei Wuxian and the others. He suspected that Wen Ning would lead them to Yiling to seek help from Wen Qing, so he decided to bring Wen Zhuliu and personally hunt them down the next day. Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning successfully reunited with Jiang Yanli, and the four of them traveled to the Wen Clan's Supervisory Office in Yiling.

Wei Wuxian remained cautious and grabbed Wen Ning by the collar, demanding to know his true intentions. Wen Ning sincerely explained himself, and only then did Wei Wuxian let his guard down. Moments later, Wen Qing arrived. She was shocked to see them but chose not to expose them, instead arranging a place for them to stay. Jiang Cheng remained unconscious. Wei Wuxian stayed by his side day and night, refusing to leave.

When Wen Qing came to inquire about the situation at Lotus Pier, Wei Wuxian clenched his fists and vowed that everyone responsible for the massacre would pay with their lives. While treating Jiang Cheng, Wen Qing discovered something horrifying — Jiang Cheng's golden core was completely destroyed. It was clear that Wen Zhuliu, known as the Core Melter, had dissolved Jiang Cheng's core, leaving him without spiritual power.

From now on, Jiang Cheng would be no different from an ordinary person, unable to cultivate again. After several days, Jiang Cheng finally regained consciousness. However, his expression was vacant, and he ignored Wei Wuxian's constant concern. Wei Wuxian tried his best to lift Jiang Cheng’s spirits, forcing himself to smile and joke, but Jiang Cheng had already realized that his spiritual core was gone. He was now nothing but a cripple, incapable of avenging his parents.

Overwhelmed by despair, Jiang Cheng lashed out in a frenzy. The more Wei Wuxian tried to console him, the more painful it became for Jiang Cheng, as he remembered that his parents were also rendered powerless before being slaughtered. Wen Qing attempted to support Jiang Cheng, but he harshly pushed her away, refusing to interact with anyone from the Wen Clan.

Determined to find a solution, Wei Wuxian begged Wen Qing for ancient medical texts and spent countless days and nights studying them. He hardly ate or rested, his entire being consumed with finding a way to restore Jiang Cheng’s core. Wen Qing often brought him meals, but Wei Wuxian barely noticed. Wen Qing urged him to visit Jiang Yanli, as she had been caring for Jiang Cheng and was deeply worried.

When Wei Wuxian finally went to see Jiang Yanli, she was sitting by Jiang Cheng’s bedside, pleading with him to stay strong and not give up. Wei Wuxian tried to appear cheerful but looked extremely haggard. He then suggested seeking help from Lan Wangji, believing he might have a solution. However, Jiang Yanli immediately grabbed his arm, pleading tearfully for him to stay. Wei Wuxian lowered his head in shame, blaming himself for bringing disaster upon Lotus Pier.

Jiang Yanli broke down in tears, telling Wei Wuxian that blaming himself now was meaningless. Their parents were gone, Jiang Cheng was gravely injured, and if they lost Wei Wuxian too, she would truly be left alone in the world. Unable to hold back any longer, Wei Wuxian also burst into tears, and the two of them wept bitterly in each other's arms. Wen Qing silently watched this scene, her heart filled with sorrow.

She then quietly joined Wei Wuxian in searching through ancient texts, hoping to find a way to rebuild Jiang Cheng’s core. Finally, after days of desperate searching, Wei Wuxian discovered a method recorded in an ancient text. However, his face turned paler the more he read. The method required the donor to transfer their own golden core, sacrificing their cultivation forever. The next day, Wei Wuxian brought the method to Wen Qing, who was utterly shocked and refused to help.

She knew the cost was far too great. But Wei Wuxian persisted, pleading with her over and over. Reluctantly, Wen Qing admitted she only had a fifty percent chance of success, but Wei Wuxian still insisted. As long as there was a chance, it was enough for him.

Wei Wuxian went up the mountain to catch wild chickens but unexpectedly discovered Song Lan, whose eyes had been blinded. Shocked, Wei Wuxian quickly brought him back to Wen Qing's residence, where both Wen Qing and Wen Ning carefully treated his injuries. Wei Wuxian and Jiang Yanli also took great care of him, and only then did Song Lan begin to recount his tragic experience.

After parting ways with Wei Wuxian and the others, Song Lan had been traveling with Xiao Xingchen. Several months ago, Song Lan returned to Baixue Pavilion to celebrate his master’s birthday, only to find the place covered in corpses and rivers of blood — his master had also been murdered. The sight of the massacre left Song Lan devastated.

Just as he was grieving, Xue Yang, who had been lying in wait on the rooftop, suddenly descended and scattered a handful of poisonous powder toward Song Lan. An excruciating pain instantly consumed Song Lan’s eyes, and his desperate screams echoed through the air. Xue Yang stood aside, grinning maliciously. It turned out that Xue Yang was the one who slaughtered everyone in Baixue Pavilion and had intentionally ambushed Song Lan to blind him. His cruelty was utterly despicable.

Everyone who heard Song Lan’s account felt a chill down their spine. Song Lan vaguely remembered that, amidst his hazy consciousness, Xiao Xingchen had found him. Xiao Xingchen mentioned that Baoshan Sanren might be able to heal his blindness and then brought him to Yiling. After that, Song Lan was unsure how he ended up being saved by Wei Wuxian. Hearing this, an idea sparked in Wei Wuxian’s mind.

He immediately approached Jiang Cheng, claiming that he had a way to find Baoshan Sanren and help Jiang Cheng restore his golden core. Jiang Cheng, who had been drowning in misery, finally showed some sign of life and even agreed to get out of bed and eat something.

Wei Wuxian told him that he needed to cover his eyes on the way to the mountain where Baoshan Sanren lived, and under no circumstances was he allowed to remove the blindfold or look around. If anyone asked about his identity, he was to claim he was the son of Cangse Sanren. Jiang Cheng listened attentively and nodded, fully trusting Wei Wuxian. He began to wolf down his meal, hoping to regain his strength for the journey.

That night, Wei Wuxian sought out Wen Qing, informing her that Song Lan’s eyesight was recovering well and that he would soon leave. Wei Wuxian intended to have Song Lan escort Jiang Yanli to Jinlin and meet up with Lan Wangji and the others. He then requested some calming powder from Wen Qing.

As Wen Qing handed him the powder, a trace of helplessness flashed across her smile — she couldn’t help but wonder what Jiang Cheng would do once he discovered the truth. Wei Wuxian’s expression was firm; he believed there was no "what if. "Later, Wei Wuxian brought the calming powder to Jiang Yanli. Knowing Wei Wuxian hadn’t eaten dinner, she had specially saved a bowl of lotus root and rib soup — his favorite dish — for him.

As Wei Wuxian drank the soup, he was flooded with childhood memories. He remembered his first day arriving at Lotus Pier when he was still a child. Fearful of dogs, he had climbed a tree, terrified, while Jiang Cheng teased him. It was Jiang Yanli who found him in the dark, carried him back, and reconciled the two boys, turning them into inseparable friends. The three of them had shared a joyful and harmonious childhood together.

Caught up in his memories, Wei Wuxian felt deeply moved. Jiang Yanli lovingly reminded him that no matter what happened, the three of them would always stay together and never abandon one another. Soon, the calming powder took effect, and Jiang Yanli drifted off to sleep. Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng then entrusted her to Song Lan, asking him to escort her to Jinlin and reunite with Lan Wangji.

With everything settled, Wei Wuxian took Jiang Cheng up the mountain to find Baoshan Sanren. The mountain was dense with lush greenery, and after a long trek, they finally reached the summit. Wei Wuxian carefully blindfolded Jiang Cheng and instructed him to continue alone. Jiang Cheng trusted Wei Wuxian wholeheartedly and walked forward without hesitation. After a long walk, a woman suddenly appeared behind him, questioning his identity and purpose.

Remembering Wei Wuxian's instructions, Jiang Cheng replied that he was the son of Cangse Sanren and hoped that the immortal master would help him. The woman listened in silence for a while before tossing a silk ribbon to Jiang Cheng, instructing him to follow her but forbidding him from removing the blindfold. Without a doubt, Jiang Cheng followed her guidance, unaware that the woman was actually Wen Qing.

Meanwhile, the massacre of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan had become the catalyst for the other prominent clans to rise against the Wen Clan. The three major families united to initiate what would later be known as the Sunshot Campaign.

Seven days later, Wei Wuxian appeared in the marketplace. He wore a bamboo hat, his face pale and filled with pain as he clutched his abdomen, seemingly in great discomfort. He had agreed to meet Jiang Cheng here, so he entered a teahouse to wait. Unexpectedly, he was intercepted by Wen Chao. With a vicious expression, Wen Chao stepped on Wei Wuxian's hand, pinning him to the ground.

Wei Wuxian, too weak to fight back, coughed up blood from the severe beating. Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng was on a lush green mountain. In his daze, he dreamt of returning to Lotus Pier, recalling the warm moments spent with his parents. However, his dream quickly turned into a nightmare — his mother’s eyes bled, the Lotus Pier was engulfed in flames, and Wen Zhuliu struck him heavily, destroying all his cultivation.

Jiang Cheng woke up screaming, only to realize he was lying at the mountain’s summit, his body surging with spiritual power. Foolishly, he assumed this was the work of Baoshan Sanren, not knowing that Wei Wuxian had already sacrificed his own golden core to restore Jiang Cheng’s. At that moment, Wei Wuxian, now powerless without his golden core, was being cruelly tortured by Wen Chao and Wang Lingjiao.

They viciously beat him, demanding he reveal Jiang Cheng's whereabouts, but Wei Wuxian refused to speak. Furious, Wen Chao maliciously planned to destroy Wei Wuxian’s golden core and cripple his arms to make his life a living hell. Wei Wuxian laughed wildly, showing no fear. He swore that even if he died, he would return as a vengeful ghost to haunt Wen Chao.

Wang Lingjiao scoffed and ignored his threats, grabbing a scorching hot branding iron and ruthlessly pressing it onto Wei Wuxian’s old wound, causing it to tear open and gush with fresh blood. Despite the excruciating pain, Wei Wuxian clenched his teeth and did not utter a sound. Frustrated by his unyielding defiance, Wen Chao decided to take him to the Burial Mound in Yiling — a place filled with countless corpses, heavy resentment, and deadly hostility.

Anyone who entered never came out alive. With a sinister grin, Wen Chao shoved Wei Wuxian off the cliff. Wei Wuxian screamed as he fell into the sea of black mist, eventually hitting the ground and losing consciousness. Because Wen Qing had secretly helped Wei Wuxian, she was thrown into prison and placed under heavy surveillance, while Wen Ning was severely beaten, his face bruised and swollen.

Wen Qing held her brother, heartbroken, while Wen Ning kept asking if Wei Wuxian was safe. At the Burial Mound, Wei Wuxian gradually regained consciousness. He found himself lying amidst withered weeds, surrounded by darkness and chilling wails of agony. In the distance, he saw the black sword he once pulled from the Xuanwu of Slaughter. His body and spirit were severely damaged, his eyes bloodshot, but he gritted his teeth and dragged his battered body toward the sword.

The sinister voices around him grew louder, calling his name, demanding to know if he sought vengeance. Wei Wuxian used his last ounce of strength to grip the sword’s hilt and stabbed it heavily into the ground. His once bright and carefree nature was now utterly consumed by bloodthirsty vengeance. Three months later, in Qishan, a group of Wen Clan lackeys brazenly discussed the extermination of the Jiang family and the torture of Wei Wuxian.

Suddenly, Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng stormed in, their expressions cold and menacing. Lan Wangji demanded to know Wei Wuxian’s whereabouts. The terrified lackeys confessed that Wei Wuxian had been thrown into the Burial Mound. Both Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng were shocked. Before long, the Lan Clan discovered Wei Wuxian’s sword, now sealed and unable to be drawn by anyone. Meanwhile, in Qishan, Wen Chao was reading a letter when Wang Lingjiao suddenly screamed in terror.

Wen Chao, annoyed, scolded her harshly. Wang Lingjiao trembled in fear, haunted by nightmares of Wei Wuxian returning as a vengeful ghost. Wen Chao dismissed her fears and stormed out. Shivering, Wang Lingjiao picked up the crumpled letter, which stated that the major clans were gathering in Lanling to launch a joint attack on the Wen Clan — the beginning of the Sunshot Campaign. The Sunshot Campaign progressed rapidly.

Nie Mingjue personally killed Wen Xu, and Jin Zixuan safely escorted Jiang Yanli to Qinghe. Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji soon reunited with Jiang Yanli, who was overwhelmed with joy to see her brother again. However, upon learning that Wei Wuxian was missing, her heart sank in despair. Strangely, Nie Mingjue noticed that Meng Yao did not seek refuge with the Jin Clan but instead vanished without a trace. Wang Lingjiao, sensing the Wen Clan's imminent downfall, began plotting her escape.

She gathered her valuables, preparing to flee. But when she opened her jewelry box, she was horrified to find a pair of freshly gouged-out eyes soaked in blood. Screaming, she desperately grabbed a talisman from the door and pressed it to her chest. Trembling, she cautiously checked the box again, only to find gold and silver jewelry inside. Relieved but still uneasy, she hugged the treasures tightly, unaware that her nightmare had only just begun.

Wang Lingjiao sensed something was wrong. She turned around in confusion, only to be horrified by the sight of that pair of bloody eyes still lying on the ground. She let out a piercing, heart-wrenching scream, disturbing Wen Chao, who was drowning his sorrows with alcohol in the next room. Agitated by the noise, Wen Chao cursed angrily, ordering Wang Lingjiao to shut up.

Just then, a chilling wind blew through the room, the door creaked open, and a crooked figure of a woman drifted in. Wen Chao was so terrified that his soul almost left his body. When he finally focused his eyes, he realized the person standing there, bleeding from all seven orifices, was none other than Wang Lingjiao. At that moment, Wei Wuxian stood atop the roof, dressed in all black, playing a pitch-black flute.

Thick black mist surrounded both his body and the flute, making the night appear even more ominous. As the mournful sound of the flute reverberated, Wang Lingjiao’s stiff arms stretched out, and she crawled toward Wen Chao, begging him for help. Wen Chao, pale with fright, gripped his sword and thrust it into Wang Lingjiao's chest, but she showed no sign of pain. After pausing momentarily, she continued to crawl forward. Wen Chao completely broke down.

Wang Lingjiao stumbled around the room like a madwoman, tearfully confessing her regret for murdering innocent people. Eventually, she grabbed a shard of porcelain and viciously disfigured her own face. Wei Wuxian then tossed a white silk rope onto the beam, and without hesitation, Wang Lingjiao slipped the noose around her neck, ending her own life. Wen Chao was scared out of his wits, knocking his head against the floor and begging for his life.

Moments later, Wen Zhuliu arrived and swiftly dragged Wen Chao away. Not long after, Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng stormed into the place with their men, only to find all the Wen Clan members dead — and the deaths were gruesome beyond imagination. Some were strangled, some burned, some drowned, and others poisoned. The scene was horrifying. Upon discovering Wang Lingjiao’s hanged body, Jiang Cheng could no longer suppress his rage.

He lashed her corpse with Zidian to avenge his parents. Lan Wangji noticed that the talismans pasted by the Wen Clan to ward off evil spirits had been altered into summoning symbols. However, it was unclear who had done it. Jiang Cheng, though equally puzzled, was indifferent as long as the culprit’s intention was to destroy the Wen Clan. In the dungeon, Jiang Cheng found Wen Qing.

He had always harbored favorable feelings toward her, so he offered her a chance — if she severed ties with the Wen Clan, he would provide her shelter. Wen Qing, however, declined. After all, she carried the Wen bloodline, and with Wen Ning already taken away by the Wen Clan, she could not abandon her family. Jiang Cheng understood and reluctantly gave Wen Qing a comb as a keepsake, instructing her to seek him if she ever needed help.

Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng continued pursuing Wen Chao, but along the way, they noticed that someone else had been targeting the Wen Clan's remnants. This left them puzzled. Eventually, they traced Wen Chao and Wen Zhuliu to a small hut. Hiding on the rooftop, they watched as Wen Zhuliu supported a trembling Wen Chao toward a table. Wen Chao was in utter panic, refusing to even light a candle, consumed only by the desire to escape.

Wen Zhuliu stopped him, insisting on treating his injuries first. Wen Chao hesitated before carefully removing his cloak. What was revealed was a ghastly sight — his head was now bald, covered with horrifying, festering wounds and bloodied gashes. The few remaining strands of hair clung to his scalp in a miserable, fish-scale-like pattern. Wen Zhuliu applied ointment, causing Wen Chao to scream in agony. Yet, he dared not shed tears for fear of worsening his infected wounds.

Hearing that it would take another two days to reach his father, Wen Chao exploded in anger, cursing Wen Zhuliu for being useless. When Wen Zhuliu rose without a word, Wen Chao panicked, terrified that Wen Zhuliu would abandon him. However, Wen Zhuliu simply glanced toward the door and coldly muttered, “No need. ” At that moment, the door slowly creaked open, accompanied by unhurried footsteps.

Wei Wuxian emerged from the darkness, a wicked smirk curling at the corner of his lips, his black flute in hand. Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng, still hidden on the roof, were stunned by his eerie appearance. Wei Wuxian sneered. Did Wen Chao really think Wen Zhuliu could still save his life? Wen Zhuliu, unflinching, continued shielding Wen Chao. He owed a debt of gratitude to the Wen Clan and was determined to repay it with his life.

Wei Wuxian’s gaze darkened. What a joke — Wen Zhuliu was repaying that kindness with the blood of innocent people! Without further words, Wei Wuxian raised his flute and played. Instantly, black mist rolled in, summoning a ghostly woman dressed in red. Her long, sharp nails slashed away Wen Chao’s cloak, exposing his grotesque scalp. Wen Chao’s screams of horror filled the air before he passed out.

Wen Zhuliu lunged forward to protect him, but the ghost retaliated with merciless attacks, overwhelming him. Unable to bear the scene any longer, Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng leaped down from the roof. Wei Wuxian was startled. Without hesitation, Jiang Cheng used Zidian to strangle Wen Zhuliu’s neck. The man flailed desperately in mid-air, his bulging eyes about to burst from their sockets. With a final agonized cry, Wen Zhuliu died.

Jiang Cheng finally felt a shred of satisfaction for avenging his parents. After Wen Zhuliu’s death, Jiang Cheng rushed to embrace Wei Wuxian, anxiously asking where he had been these past three months. Wei Wuxian feigned nonchalance, dismissing the notion that he had been thrown into the Burial Mound. However, Lan Wangji’s sharp gaze did not miss the truth. He soon realized that it was Wei Wuxian who altered the talismans and slaughtered the Wen Clan using sinister methods.

Confronting him, Lan Wangji demanded to know why Wei Wuxian had abandoned the sword path in favor of such dark arts. Wei Wuxian, unable to reveal that his golden core had been taken, stubbornly insisted that it was none of Lan Wangji’s business. At that moment, Wen Chao regained consciousness and, seeing Wen Zhuliu’s corpse, began kowtowing desperately to Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng for mercy.

Wei Wuxian turned to Lan Wangji, coldly stating that this was Jiang Clan’s personal vendetta, and Lan Wangji had no place interfering. Helplessly, Lan Wangji left, his heart heavy with sorrow. Ultimately, Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng executed Wen Chao, finally avenging Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan. Before the ancestral tablets, Wei Wuxian knelt down and murmured, his voice laced with bitterness — he had fulfilled his promise to protect Jiang Cheng and seek vengeance. His mission was complete.

Now, at long last, Wei Wuxian could finally see his shijie again. He followed Jiang Cheng to Qinghe and spotted Jiang Yanli’s familiar figure, tenderly treating the wounded. With his voice trembling, he softly called out, “Shijie. ” Jiang Yanli turned around in surprise, her face lighting up with joy. Tears welled in Wei Wuxian’s eyes. After all the agony and separation, it was finally a blissful reunion.

Jiang Yanli was overjoyed to see Wei Wuxian alive and well, and she burst into tears of happiness. She gazed at Wei Wuxian’s thin face with teary eyes, feeling deep sorrow for him. Jiang Yanli wanted to know where Wei Wuxian had been all this time, but Wei Wuxian was unwilling to say much. He held Jiang Yanli tightly and promised that this time, he would never be separated from her and Jiang Cheng again.

The three of them were destined to be a family, never to part for a lifetime. Jiang Yanli’s eyes reddened, and Jiang Cheng, standing beside them, showed a warm smile. At that moment, Nie Huaisang came running over, shouting excitedly to see Wei Wuxian. Taking the opportunity, Jiang Cheng dragged him away, saying he was preparing a banquet that evening to welcome Wei Wuxian. However, Wei Wuxian’s reaction was indifferent.

After everyone had dispersed, he sat alone, gently stroking his black flute. Outside the door, Lan Wangji silently observed everything, his eyes filled with concern that Wei Wuxian might walk down a dark path. Elsewhere, Wen Ruohan, upon hearing of Wen Chao’s tragic death, was heartbroken yet refused to accept defeat, roaring that he would see how the great clans could possibly overcome the mighty Wen Clan. The Nie Clan hosted a banquet to welcome Wei Wuxian.

Seeing that Wei Wuxian was not carrying a sword, Nie Mingjue questioned the reason. Others added fuel to the fire, mocking Wei Wuxian, saying that as a disciple of a noble clan, he refused to carry a sword—how arrogant he must be. Wei Wuxian did not bother explaining, merely responding with a cold smile. The crowd whispered among themselves, suspecting that Wei Wuxian had practiced some sinister magic, likely relying on underhanded tricks.

As everyone raised their cups in a toast to unite against the Wen Clan, Wei Wuxian silently took his wine jug and left the banquet hall. The others watched his departure awkwardly, unable to stop him. Slowly, Wei Wuxian walked to the courtyard. Through the window, he saw Lan Wangji’s proud and aloof figure and recalled the words Lan Wangji had spoken about the dark and deviant path. Smiling self-deprecatingly, he drank to drown his sorrows.

Jiang Cheng followed him outside, advising him to carry his sword from now on. Wei Wuxian refused to reveal the truth, only saying that in his youth, he had been reckless and enjoyed showing off his swordsmanship. Jiang Yanli later visited Wei Wuxian’s room and curiously touched the black bamboo flute, only to feel a burning pain as if scalded.

Realizing that this spiritual weapon had already recognized Wei Wuxian as its master, Jiang Yanli advised him to give it a good name. Wei Wuxian’s eyes flickered with a complex light as he named the black flute "Chenqing. " Jiang Yanli naturally sensed the changes in Wei Wuxian, but she did not press him. She knew that when Wei Wuxian was ready, he would speak on his own.

Meanwhile, Lan Wangji sat in his room, reminiscing about the past when Wei Wuxian was a lively and eloquent youth in their academy. The memory felt like a lifetime ago. The once carefree and spirited Wei Wuxian seemed to have vanished, replaced by someone burdened and solemn, with none of his former carefree radiance. Jiang Cheng searched everywhere but could not find Wei Wuxian, so he went alone to attend the council meeting.

Because Wei Wuxian had missed the discussions regarding the Sunshot Campaign with the other clans, many began to gossip, accusing him of arrogance and indiscipline. At that moment, Wei Wuxian was atop a mountain, where he unintentionally saw Wen Qing and others being held as prisoners, subjected to inhumane treatment. His flute, Chenqing, stirred restlessly in his hands, nearly beyond his control. With no other choice, Wei Wuxian fought to maintain his clarity of mind and played Chenqing.

The sorrowful melody resonated through the mountains, sending rocks tumbling down to temporarily help Wen Qing and the captives. Once the prisoners were taken away, Wei Wuxian finally regained his composure. Jiang Yanli found Wei Wuxian on the mountain and brought him back. Wei Wuxian reassured Nie Mingjue that there was no need to worry about defeating Wen Ruohan because something in this world must exist to counteract the Yin Iron. With that, he turned and left.

The noble clan disciples, seeing that he still carried no sword, cast scornful glances at him, but Wei Wuxian remained indifferent, paying them no mind. Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen were discussing the philosophy of life when they encountered Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng. Having no way to avoid them, Wei Wuxian had to step forward to greet them, but his gaze toward Lan Wangji was always evasive.

Lan Xichen could tell that Lan Wangji was deeply concerned about Wei Wuxian, yet Lan Wangji adamantly denied it. Jiang Cheng continued to remind Wei Wuxian that swordsmanship was the true path of cultivation and should not be neglected. Wei Wuxian forced a lighthearted smile, but only he knew the truth—without his golden core, he could never wield a sword again. Lan Wangji hesitated outside Wei Wuxian’s door, wanting to knock but ultimately holding back.

Just then, Jiang Yanli arrived to seek Lan Wangji’s guidance. Lan Wangji, filled with worry, warned Jiang Yanli that the path Wei Wuxian was taking would damage his soul. However, these words were overheard by Wei Wuxian. He stepped out and retorted coldly, his tone sharp. Angered, Lan Wangji turned on his heel and left. Jiang Yanli hurriedly explained, and only then did Wei Wuxian realize he had misunderstood Lan Wangji. He quickly ran after him.

Lan Wangji drew his sword and swiftly attacked Wei Wuxian. Caught off guard, Wei Wuxian barely managed to evade the strike, nearly getting injured. Only then did Lan Wangji withdraw his sword, solemnly questioning why Wei Wuxian refused to carry his sword. Wei Wuxian responded with a bitter, helpless smile, full of unspoken pain.

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian sat on the rooftop under the night sky, both feeling a sense of déjà vu. Back in the Cloud Recesses, Wei Wuxian had once drunkenly hugged a jar of Emperor’s Smile, only to be caught red-handed by Lan Wangji. The memory remained vivid in his mind. Wei Wuxian sighed, lamenting the absence of Emperor’s Smile at this moment.

Lan Wangji’s expression was solemn as he once again warned Wei Wuxian that cultivating unorthodox techniques would corrupt his mind. This time, Wei Wuxian responded seriously, stating that he was not following the same path as Xue Chonghai—his cultivation was of the Ghost Path. Wei Wuxian explained that he had come to understand the Ghost Path during his three months of disappearance. This method relied on music and talismans, using a single bamboo flute to control all things.

Lan Wangji’s eyes revealed concern. The Ghost Path required immense mental control—like retrieving chestnuts from fire; a single misstep could lead to demonic corruption, with unimaginable consequences. Wei Wuxian understood Lan Wangji’s worries and firmly promised that he would never fall into demonic ways. Lan Wangji had nothing more to say—he could only do his best to support Wei Wuxian. Soon, the final stage of the Sunshot Campaign began.

Under Nie Mingjue’s leadership, the allied forces vowed to storm Nightless City and take Wen Ruohan’s head. At that very moment, Wen Ruohan was refining the three pieces of Yin Iron. With them, he had created numerous indestructible puppets. These creatures were impervious to blades and flames, forming an impenetrable wall of defense. No matter how skilled the cultivators from the major clans were, they were no match for these terrifying monsters and were forced to retreat.

The leaders gathered to discuss how to counter Wen Ruohan. Nie Mingjue proposed assassinating him—if Wen Ruohan died, the puppets would lose their commander and be easily defeated. However, assassinating Wen Ruohan was easier said than done, and the plan was quickly dismissed. At that moment, Lan Xichen presented a map of Qishan’s defensive formations, clearly marking the Wen Clan’s strongholds. Spirits lifted, the allies felt victory was within reach.

While checking on the wounded, Wei Wuxian suddenly learned that Jiang Yanli was in trouble. Shocked, he rushed over to find Jiang Yanli in tears, while Jin Zixuan stood nearby, looking impatient. After much explanation, the truth came to light. Jiang Yanli had been preparing meals for the allied forces, and every day, she made three extra bowls of soup for Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng, and Jin Zixuan.

Because she was shy, she asked Jin Zixuan’s maid, Ah Yuan, to deliver the soup. Unfortunately, today, Jiang Yanli had brought the soup herself and ran into Jin Zixuan. He mistakenly assumed she was trying to gain his favor, scolding her and telling her to behave with dignity. Hearing the full story, Wei Wuxian furrowed his brows in anger and struck Jin Zixuan to the ground.

The Jin Clan members tried to intervene, but Wei Wuxian’s flute sent them all reeling. At the critical moment, Lan Wangji arrived in time to stop Wei Wuxian. With Jiang Yanli also stepping in, Wei Wuxian finally stormed away in fury. Elsewhere, Nie Mingjue questioned Lan Xichen about the source of the Qishan formation map. However, Lan Xichen remained tight-lipped.

With the campaign against the Wen Clan still unfinished, he refused to reveal the identity of the person who provided the map. Left with no choice, Nie Mingjue let the matter drop. The second assault on Nightless City began. The allied forces faced relentless puppet attacks, and Nie Mingjue, having infiltrated the stronghold, was now missing.

Though Wei Wuxian and the others sensed that Wen Ruohan was deliberately luring them into Nightless City, they had no other choice but to press forward. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were both curious about the identity of the person who had provided the map, but Lan Xichen insisted that the individual was a friend, not a foe. Even if they had led the cultivators into Nightless City on purpose, there must have been a reason.

What they didn’t know was that, at that very moment, Nie Mingjue had been captured by Wen Ruohan and was being mercilessly tortured. To his shock, Meng Yao appeared in Nightless City—clearly, he had already sided with Wen Ruohan. With nothing left to lose, Nie Mingjue fought desperately, attempting to assassinate Wen Ruohan. However, outnumbered and overpowered, he was ultimately killed.

Wen Ruohan, who knew that Nie Mingjue had slain his eldest son, Wen Xu, glared at Nie Mingjue’s corpse in hatred before exhaling deeply. Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji, and the others had fought their way to the outskirts of Nightless City. Just as they cleared a bloody path, countless puppets emerged, advancing menacingly toward them. With no other choice, the cultivators engaged in battle once more.

Seeing everyone struggling in combat, Wei Wuxian finally stepped forward and began playing Chenqing. Under everyone’s shocked gazes, eerie black mist emanated from Wei Wuxian and Chenqing. As the haunting melody spread, dark fog surged across the battlefield, seemingly obeying Wei Wuxian’s every command. The mist seeped into the puppets’ bodies. The once-menacing creatures ceased their attacks on Lan Wangji and the others, instead turning to fight the Wen Clan soldiers viciously.

Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng stepped aside in disbelief, while Wei Wuxian remained entranced in his playing. With the sound of Chenqing, a thousand ghosts bowed—rendering even Wen Ruohan’s Yin Iron powerless.

Wen Ruohan realized he could no longer control the puppets outside. Panicked, he rushed out the door and immediately saw Wei Wuxian playing Chenqing. Stunned, Wen Ruohan had never expected that something in this world could suppress Yin Iron. Wei Wuxian calmly spread his hands, and two spirit artifacts emitting black mist slowly descended. He told Wen Ruohan with composure that this was not called Yin Iron, but Yin Tiger Tally.

Furious, Wen Ruohan grabbed Wei Wuxian by the throat, but at that very moment, the Yin Tiger Tally unleashed immense power, causing countless puppets to collapse. Wen Ruohan watched in disbelief as this unfolded before his eyes. Before he could react, Jin Guangyao suddenly stabbed him through the chest from behind, causing him to spit blood and die on the spot. Everyone was momentarily stunned before bursting into joyous celebration—this Sunshot Campaign had finally achieved a great victory.

Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao entered the Nightless City hall, where Nie Mingjue struggled to open his eyes—he was still clinging to life. Seeing Jin Guangyao, Nie Mingjue immediately became enraged and shakily picked up his saber to charge at him. Lan Xichen quickly stopped him and explained that Jin Guangyao had only pretended to defect to Wen Ruohan to lower his guard, allowing him to provide the Qishan Formation Map and seize the chance to assassinate Wen Ruohan.

Nie Mingjue was skeptical but hesitantly lowered his saber. Lan Xichen continued to explain that when he had escaped Cloud Recesses, it was also Jin Guangyao who had saved his life. Hearing this, Nie Mingjue finally stopped doubting Jin Guangyao. After sleeping for three days, Wei Wuxian woke up to see his senior sister, Jiang Yanli, watching over him without leaving his side.

Overjoyed that Wei Wuxian was unharmed, Jiang Yanli affectionately urged him to heed Lan Wangji’s advice and use the Yin Tiger Tally sparingly to avoid harming his mind. Wei Wuxian learned that Lan Wangji had been playing the guqin daily to help calm his spirit, which deeply moved him. Without Lan Wangji’s help, he wouldn’t have recovered so quickly. As the siblings talked, Lan Wangji arrived at the door with his guqin on his back.

Dressed in pristine white as always, he entered and immediately began playing to help Wei Wuxian focus his mind and restore his energy. Wei Wuxian obediently followed along, quickly feeling refreshed. However, Lan Wangji’s eyes were filled with worry. He still believed the Yin Tiger Tally was an evil artifact and feared that it would corrupt Wei Wuxian’s mind.

As they discussed the nature of righteousness and wickedness, a commotion suddenly erupted outside—it turned out that the remnants of the Wen Clan were fleeing and being hunted down. Jin Guangshan, the father of Jin Zixuan, had arrived to join the manhunt. Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue believed that Wen Ruohan alone was responsible for the chaos, and the Wen Clan members did not deserve death.

However, Jin Guangshan insisted otherwise, fearing that a missing piece of Yin Iron might fall into their hands, with disastrous consequences. Jin Guangyao, who had assassinated Wen Ruohan and made great contributions in the Sunshot Campaign, had been acknowledged by his family and officially renamed Jin Guangyao.

He proposed a solution—there was an ancient path in the valley called Qiongqi Path, a secluded and easily defensible location where the Wen Clan members who did not deserve death could be imprisoned permanently, ensuring they would pose no future threat. Wei Wuxian felt increasingly uneasy about the situation—he no longer knew who was truly righteous or evil, who was light or dark.

Meanwhile, Lan Wangji remained concerned that Wei Wuxian would lose himself to the Yin Tiger Tally, as it was not the proper path. He decided to have Wei Wuxian practice guqin pieces to help maintain his clarity of mind. Just then, the sounds of slaughter echoed from the foot of the mountain. The Jin Clan had begun indiscriminately massacring innocent Wen Clan members.

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji rushed down to intervene, playing their instruments together—a requiem to console the souls of the departed, hoping they could rest in peace. Meanwhile, Nie Mingjue, Jin Guangyao, and Lan Xichen pledged brotherhood, solemnly bowing to heaven and earth, vowing to live and die together, standing by each other in hardship. That evening, the prominent clans gathered for a grand banquet. Jiang Cheng had officially become the head of the Jiang Clan.

Jin Guangyao, no longer the timid man he once was, finally stood tall and earned the admiration of the crowd. However, despite his great contributions, Wei Wuxian remained in the background, silently standing behind Jiang Cheng without drawing attention to himself. During the feast, Jin Guangshan suggested that now that the war was settled, Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli should resume their engagement.

He argued that this would also allow the Jin Clan to better take care of Jiang Yanli, the daughter of the late Jiang Fengmian. Jiang Cheng felt torn—he knew his sister still harbored feelings for Jin Zixuan, but accepting the proposal might make the Jiang Clan seem too eager to align with the Jin Clan. As he hesitated, Wei Wuxian suddenly stepped forward and rejected Jin Guangshan’s proposal.

Wei Wuxian stepped forward, stating that since this concerned an important marriage matter, Jiang Yanli’s opinion should be sought first. Jiang Cheng followed suit, saying that indeed, such a matter required Jiang Yanli’s consent, and it was not for others to interfere.

Jiang Yanli then expressed her gratitude for Jin Guangshan’s goodwill but stated that as a daughter of the Jiang clan, it was her duty to return to Yunmeng and rebuild Lotus Pier, making it inappropriate to discuss marriage at this time. With that, Jin Guangshan had no choice but to drop the matter.

Next, Jin Guangyao stood up and, on behalf of the Jin clan, sincerely invited all the great sects to attend the Phoenix Mountain Hunt at Jinlintai in the autumn. It was a grand event, and everyone raised their cups in agreement, expressing their commitment to attending. After the banquet, Jin Guangyao saw off the guests and then quietly went to see Jin Guangshan in a private chamber.

He reported that he had once overheard from Wen Ruohan that the last piece of Yin Iron was in Xue Yang’s possession. However, despite interacting with Xue Yang before, he had not found any Yin Iron on him, which suggested that Wei Wuxian, who had been in contact with Xue Yang, might have taken it first. Jin Guangshan had long feared the Yin Iron. He pondered carefully—Xue Yang was currently missing, and Wei Wuxian now had the Stygian Tiger Seal.

Something was definitely amiss. Thus, he instructed Jin Guangyao to closely monitor Wei Wuxian’s movements. At this time, Wei Wuxian, along with Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng, returned to Lotus Pier. However, when they pushed open the doors, the familiar and warm scene of their home was gone, replaced by ruins. Even the rooftops still bore the Wen clan’s sun emblem.

Jiang Cheng, furious, lashed out with Zidian, destroying the sun emblem in a fit of rage, venting his deep-seated hatred. Meanwhile, Lan Wangji was quietly playing his guqin when Lan Xichen came to visit. Lan Wangji expressed his desire to enter the forbidden chamber of the Library Pavilion to study the guqin music scores. Before Lan Xichen could decide whether to approve, Lan Qiren summoned them for a discussion.

Although Lan Qiren had not personally participated in the Sunshot Campaign, he was well aware of the battle’s progress. He had also heard about Wei Wuxian and believed that his cultivation path was heretical. Thus, he did not want Lan Wangji to associate with him and instead wanted him to stay in Gusu, helping to restore ancient texts and family rules.

However, Lan Wangji’s heart was not in such tasks—he knelt and earnestly pleaded for permission to enter the Library Pavilion’s forbidden chamber. Lan Qiren, maintaining his stern demeanor, did not give a clear answer, and Lan Wangji, knowing the strict family rules, dared not press further. At this time, Jiang Cheng officially assumed the position of sect leader of the Jiang clan at Lotus Pier. Wei Wuxian watched him with a heart full of relief.

From then on, Jiang Cheng began rigorously training the Jiang clan’s disciples, but Wei Wuxian remained his usual carefree self, often absent from Lotus Pier, which inevitably led to Jiang Cheng’s growing dissatisfaction. Bored, Wei Wuxian went drinking at the marketplace, where he unexpectedly ran into Lan Xichen. The two found a tavern to chat, and Wei Wuxian laughed when he learned that Lan Wangji was revising family rules.

Lan Xichen, however, solemnly informed him that Lan Wangji had been diligently studying the guqin piece "Washing Blossoms," which had a calming effect and could help Wei Wuxian if he listened to it. Only then did Wei Wuxian realize that Lan Xichen had come to persuade him. Lan Xichen earnestly continued, saying that the Gusu Lan clan could help Wei Wuxian return to sword cultivation to prevent him from straying further down a dangerous path.

Wei Wuxian’s smile froze—he rejected the Lan clan’s goodwill, insisting that although the Stygian Tiger Seal was difficult to control, he would persist in trying. Perhaps he was the rare genius meant to wield it. Wei Wuxian wobbled back to Lotus Pier, still holding his wine jar. The sight of him enraged Jiang Cheng, who couldn’t help but shove him, unexpectedly knocking him to the ground.

Jiang Cheng, unaware that Wei Wuxian no longer had a golden core and could no longer engage in combat, assumed his loss of spiritual power was due to excessive drinking. Wei Wuxian did not explain, silently enduring his frustration and grievances. Wei Wuxian then walked to the ancestral hall, where Jiang Yanli was already waiting for him. She knew he had argued with Jiang Cheng again and feared he might leave Lotus Pier for good.

Feeling a pang of emotion, Wei Wuxian leaned against Jiang Yanli’s lap and promised that he would not leave her, nor would he leave this home. Jiang Cheng, standing outside, overheard their conversation and felt a twinge of regret. He realized he had been too harsh on Wei Wuxian. When Wei Wuxian came out and saw Jiang Cheng, the two playfully bickered and soon made up. They even privately discussed Jiang Yanli’s feelings for Jin Zixuan.

Wei Wuxian was frustrated—how could his gentle, kind senior sister fall for someone as arrogant as that peacock Jin Zixuan? Thus, Wei Wuxian tried his best to live a peaceful life at Lotus Pier. Sometimes, he couldn’t help but wonder—perhaps returning to those carefree, joyful days wasn’t as impossible as it seemed.

Wei Wuxian and Jiang Yanli went out to gather lotus roots. The two siblings chatted and laughed as they returned home, only to find Jin Zixuan waiting for them. He had come to Lotus Pier specifically to deliver an invitation, inviting the Jiang clan to attend the hunting event at Phoenix Mountain. Wei Wuxian had never liked Jin Zixuan, so he immediately mocked him.

However, Jin Zixuan, who was usually aloof, behaved differently this time—he said that his mother sincerely hoped Jiang Yanli would come. When he learned that Jiang Yanli was willing to attend, he couldn't hide his joy. At some point, the way Jin Zixuan looked at Jiang Yanli had changed, filled with tenderness and reluctance—he had already fallen for her. Before leaving, Jin Zixuan asked Wei Wuxian if he knew where the last piece of Yin Iron was.

Wei Wuxian refused to answer, which angered Jin Zixuan. Jin Zixuan then pointed out that the Yin Tiger Tally was extremely powerful and had injured many cultivators during the Sunshot Campaign. He hoped Wei Wuxian would give them an explanation. Soon, the Jiang siblings and Wei Wuxian arrived at Phoenix Mountain, where cultivators from all over had gathered. Lan Wangji and others were among them.

Jin Guangyao, representing the Jin clan, read out the rules for entering the mountain: one had to hit the target with an arrow to qualify. Not only that, but the Jin clan deliberately used Wen clan captives as human shields in front of the targets, using their lives for amusement. Seeing how cruelly the Jin clan treated the captives, Wei Wuxian was furious and wanted to intervene, but Jiang Cheng stopped him with a glance.

Jin Zixuan took the lead, hitting the bullseye with his exceptional archery skills, earning widespread admiration. No one stepped forward to challenge him for a while. Wei Wuxian had an idea—he blindfolded himself with a black cloth and shot an arrow swiftly, hitting the bullseye precisely. The crowd erupted in cheers. Seeing the outstanding performances, the Jin clan announced that this was merely the opening round and that the real competition would take place during the hunt.

Phoenix Mountain was lush and dense. Wei Wuxian sat leisurely in the forest, playing "Chenqing" on his flute. Many spirit beasts, as if enchanted, rushed into the Jiang clan's traps. Jiang Cheng knew it was Wei Wuxian’s doing but was helpless against him. Just then, Wei Wuxian caught sight of Lan Wangji. The two quickly started talking, and Wei Wuxian solemnly said that he had once regarded Lan Wangji as a lifelong confidant.

Lan Wangji, just as serious, replied that he still did. As they spoke, they suddenly saw Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli passing by, so they quickly hid. Jin Zixuan carefully examined the ground, noticing the slime left behind by a Man-Faced Spirit Snake. Enthusiastically, he explained the characteristics of the prey to Jiang Yanli, expressing his desire to invite her to the Jin clan’s private hunting grounds in the future.

Jiang Yanli seemed hesitant, and Jin Zixuan misunderstood, thinking she disliked being with him. He became sullen. Unable to bear seeing his senior sister being wronged, Wei Wuxian stepped in to defend Jiang Yanli, causing a commotion that even attracted Madam Jin. Jin Zixuan’s cousin, Jin Zixun, had always disliked Wei Wuxian. He mocked him, accusing him of using sinister methods to hunt.

Wei Wuxian was infuriated—he had only played his flute, so how could that be considered an evil technique? Jin Zixun changed the topic, criticizing Wei Wuxian for attending such an important event without carrying a sword, calling him arrogant and disrespectful. Wei Wuxian, unable to tolerate it any longer, stubbornly refused to reveal the real reason for not carrying a sword.

Instead, he declared that his abilities were unmatched—even without a sword, no one in the Jin clan could compare to him! Jin Zixun's words became increasingly offensive. He started insulting Wei Wuxian’s background, calling him the son of a servant. Wei Wuxian clenched "Chenqing" tightly, his emotions spiraling out of control. Lan Wangji immediately grabbed him, urging him to calm down, while Jiang Yanli pulled him behind her to prevent him from acting recklessly.

Jiang Yanli stood before Jin Zixun, her expression cold. She first apologized for Wei Wuxian capturing too many prey, which made Jin Zixun feel triumphant, thinking he had the upper hand. However, Jiang Yanli quickly changed her tone. She pointed out that, throughout history, there had never been a rule limiting how much one could hunt in such events. Wei Wuxian had not broken any rules; hunting was purely about skill.

Though his method differed from others, it was a technique he had honed himself, so why should anyone complain? Furthermore, hunting was about competition—why was Jin Zixun bringing up personal background? Jiang Yanli had grown up with Wei Wuxian, regarding him as her own brother. She could not tolerate anyone insulting him. Therefore, she firmly demanded that Jin Zixun apologize! For the first time, Wei Wuxian saw his senior sister fiercely protecting him.

He clenched his fists, tears welling up in his eyes—he felt both wronged and deeply moved. Seeing that Jiang Yanli was truly angry, Madam Jin hurriedly stepped in to mediate. However, Jiang Yanli refused to back down. To her, Wei Wuxian was family, and when family was humiliated, it was never a trivial matter. Left with no choice, Madam Jin began scolding Jin Zixun. At that moment, Jin Guangyao and Lan Xichen arrived.

Madam Jin had always disliked Jin Guangyao, the illegitimate son, and now she vented her frustration on him, blaming him for failing to organize the hunting event properly. The atmosphere grew unbearably awkward. In the end, Jin Zixun stormed off, quitting the hunt altogether. Jiang Yanli held Wei Wuxian’s hand, gently comforting him. Jiang Yanli decided to leave with Wei Wuxian, but Madam Jin repeatedly tried to persuade her to stay, even advising her to distance herself from Wei Wuxian.

However, Jiang Yanli refused to abandon him no matter what, leaving Madam Jin feeling helpless. At this moment, Jin Zixuan, who had remained silent all along, finally spoke up. He uncharacteristically urged Jiang Yanli to stay, saying that he wanted her to stay—for himself. As soon as he said this, everyone was stunned. Realizing what he had just blurted out, Jin Zixuan looked around awkwardly and, feeling embarrassed, turned and ran away.

But because of this, Jiang Yanli no longer felt the urgency to leave, and Wei Wuxian had no choice but to go along with her wishes. Feeling unwelcome, Wei Wuxian wandered around Lanling alone. Jiang Cheng, meanwhile, was baffled, not understanding what had just happened. He overheard gossip about Wei Wuxian’s Yin Tiger Tally being forged from Yin Iron and that people planned to avoid any hunting events involving the Jiang clan in the future.

Hearing this, Jiang Cheng’s veins bulged in anger, his whole body trembling. While wandering in Lanling, Wei Wuxian unexpectedly ran into a destitute Wen Qing. Both were shocked to see each other. Meanwhile, at the Jin clan’s residence, Lan Wangji remained troubled. Lan Xichen asked him what was on his mind. Lan Wangji lifted his clear, bright eyes and quietly said, "I want to take someone back to the Cloud Recesses. Take them back, and hide them away." Lan Xichen immediately knew who he was referring to. He sighed softly, knowing that the only problem was—whether that person would be willing.

Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen were surprised to see Su She at the Jin clan's residence. Su She had once betrayed the Lan clan out of cowardice, proving himself to be anything but a man of loyalty and righteousness. However, Jin Guangyao was quite warm toward Su She—it was he who had invited Su She to the Jin clan.

Lan Xichen, taken aback, warned Jin Guangyao that Su She was a man of grave crimes, but Jin Guangyao feigned ignorance, claiming he knew nothing about it. The banquet celebrating the hunting event officially began. Jin Guangyao, on behalf of the Jin clan, congratulated the Jiang clan on their successful hunt.

Jiang Cheng, knowing that their victory had stirred dissatisfaction among the other clans, quickly spoke up to ease tensions, offering to divide the prey among everyone as a gesture of goodwill. As the crowd raised their cups in celebration, Jin Zixun deliberately tried to provoke conflict by pressuring Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji to drink, fully aware of the Lan clan’s strict prohibition against alcohol. To avoid souring the mood, Lan Xichen reluctantly drank the wine Jin Zixun offered him.

Seeing his success, Jin Zixun smugly continued pressuring Lan Wangji, but Lan Wangji remained indifferent and refused to respond. At that moment, Wei Wuxian walked in with a cold expression and downed the drink in one gulp. Jin Zixun glared at Wei Wuxian, who appeared calm but carried a hidden menace. Wei Wuxian stated that he had urgent matters to confront Jin Zixun about, but Jin Zixun, arrogant as ever, dismissed him outright.

Wei Wuxian cut straight to the point, asking Jin Zixun if he knew someone named Wen Ning. Jin Zixun’s facial muscles twitched slightly, but he stubbornly refused to admit anything. Wei Wuxian continued, detailing an incident from a month ago—Jin Zixun had been hunting near Ganquan, chasing after an eight-winged bat king. In the process, he had come across a group of surviving Wen clan members and taken several of them captive. Leading them at the time was Wen Ning.

Jin Zixun continued to deny it, so Wei Wuxian provided even more details. Frustrated that he couldn’t capture the bat king, Jin Zixun had forced the Wen clan members to carry Summoning Banners as live bait. Naturally, they were terrified and refused. Wen Ning had stepped forward, stammering as he tried to reason with Jin Zixun. During their argument, the bat king had escaped, infuriating Jin Zixun, who then viciously beat the captives and took them away by force.

Since then, they had disappeared without a trace. Realizing that Wei Wuxian was demanding their return, Jin Zixun lashed out with curses. Even Jin Guangshan, the head of the Jin clan, lost his patience, berating Wei Wuxian for disrupting their banquet and declaring that the Stygian Tiger Seal should be confiscated from him. Wei Wuxian had reached his limit.

The Qishan Wen clan had already fallen, but now the Lanling Jin clan was engaging in similarly despicable acts—were they not doomed to repeat the Wen clan’s fate? Jin Zixun continued to spew arrogant justifications, insisting that Wen clan survivors deserved death. Wei Wuxian no longer hesitated. He gave Jin Zixun a final warning—if he did not reveal Wen Ning’s whereabouts within three counts, there would be consequences. As he spoke, an ominous aura of killing intent surrounded him.

Finally, Jin Zixun panicked and admitted that Wen Ning was at Qiongqi Path. Only then did Wei Wuxian calm down and turn to leave, while Jin Guangshan, seething with rage, overturned the banquet table in fury. Wei Wuxian informed Wen Qing of Wen Ning’s whereabouts, vowing to rescue him. Overcome with worry for her brother, Wen Qing burst into tears, and Wei Wuxian quickly comforted her.

Little did they know, at that very moment, Wen Ning was being brutally tortured and killed at Qiongqi Path. Meanwhile, the great sects were growing increasingly resentful of Wei Wuxian, and even Jiang Cheng was furious. As Wen Qing and Wei Wuxian rushed to Qiongqi Path through the pouring rain, they searched desperately but found no trace of Wen Ning. Left with no other choice, they ventured into a valley filled with corpses.

Wen Qing collapsed in grief, frantically searching among the dead. At last, she saw a familiar figure—Wen Ning, his body covered in wounds, impaled with a Summoning Banner, his death unbearably tragic. Wen Qing was consumed by sorrow, while Wei Wuxian’s eyes burned with hatred. He played his flute, Chenqing, determined to seek justice from the murderers. In truth, the Jin clan had been secretly conducting dark experiments at Qiongqi Path.

Now that Wei Wuxian had discovered their deeds, they were willing to kill even more to silence him. As the torrential rain poured down, Wei Wuxian strode forward with heavy steps. The Jin disciples, well aware of his power, fell to their knees, begging for mercy. Wei Wuxian harshly questioned them about what sinister technique they had been practicing and who had killed Wen Ning. Yet, even facing death, they refused to confess.

Seeing their stubbornness, Wei Wuxian played Chenqing, summoning Wen Ning to expose the murderers himself. As the haunting melody of Chenqing filled the air, Wen Ning descended from the sky. His face was as pale as a ghost’s, his eyes filled only with dilated pupils. He began mercilessly slaughtering the Jin cultivators. Wei Wuxian had not intended to take lives, but Wen Ning was beyond control, driven by bloodthirsty vengeance.

Desperately, Wei Wuxian called out Wen Ning’s name, pouring all his strength into trying to stop him. In the final moment, Wen Ning suddenly froze, as if a trace of warmth and clarity flickered in his vacant gaze. At last, he stopped his rampage and collapsed weakly to his knees. Determined, Wei Wuxian rescued the surviving Wen clan cultivators and led them to escape. Meanwhile, Lan Wangji, deeply worried for Wei Wuxian, had also arrived at Qiongqi Path.

The two met in the midst of chaos. Wei Wuxian’s face was filled with grief and indignation—he had no idea where he would go from here, but the world was vast, and surely, there was a place for him somewhere. Lan Wangji’s expression was solemn. From this moment forward, Wei Wuxian had truly deviated from the righteous path—there was no turning back. Under the night sky, Wei Wuxian’s eyes shone brightly. A deviant from the righteous path? Deviant from what? Betraying whom? He had already made up his mind—there would be no turning back.

In the torrential rain, Wei Wuxian's emotions were on the verge of collapse. Back then, he had hoped to eradicate evil alongside Lan Wangji, but now, the world had changed, and the lines between right and wrong had become blurred. Was this truly the promise they had sworn to uphold?

At this moment, Wei Wuxian only hated himself for not stopping the Jin clan from using living people as bait earlier; otherwise, Wen Ning would not have ended up like this. Holding Chenqing, Wei Wuxian let the rain mix with his tears and fall together. If a battle was inevitable in the future, he would rather die at Lan Wangji’s hands, with no regrets, having lived his life to the fullest.

Lan Wangji knew he was powerless to convince Wei Wuxian, so he could only let him go. Thus, Lan Wangji watched as Wei Wuxian’s figure gradually disappeared into the darkness. His heart was filled with complex emotions as he threw away his umbrella, allowing the rain to wash over him. Wei Wuxian led the remaining elderly, women, and children of the Wen clan to the Burial Mounds, intending to settle there.

Meanwhile, Lan Wangji returned to the Jin clan, where the clan leaders of various families sat upright, waiting to hear Jin Guangyao recount Wei Wuxian's actions. Jin Guangyao declared loudly that Wei Wuxian had turned Wen Ning into a puppet at Qiongqi Path, gone on a killing spree, murdered the overseers, and secretly harbored the remnants of the Wen clan at the Burial Mounds.

He had even set up multiple barriers at the foot of the mountain to prevent the Jin clan from entering. Jiang Cheng felt humiliated and immediately stood up to apologize to the Lanling Jin clan on Wei Wuxian’s behalf. However, Jin Guangshan refused to let it go. The overseers had come from various clans; how could they tolerate such a massacre?

Jiang Cheng argued desperately, saying that the Wen siblings had once shown kindness to the Jiang clan, which was why Wei Wuxian spared them. Lan Xichen also agreed, pointing out that during the Sunshot Campaign, the Wen siblings had never participated in any massacres and could still be considered good people. Even so, the clan leaders present refused to relent, all shouting that every last member of the Wen clan deserved to die.

With ulterior motives, Jin Guangshan began to sow discord, claiming that Wei Wuxian had been disrespectful to Jiang Cheng. The other clan leaders chimed in, asserting that Jin Guangshan had only meant well by offering to safeguard the Yin Tiger Tally, but Wei Wuxian, harboring a petty mindset, suspected others of coveting his treasure—it was truly laughable. At this moment, Lan Wangji finally lost his patience.

He coldly refuted them, stating that he had never once heard Wei Wuxian speak disrespectfully of Jiang Cheng. Seeing the tense atmosphere, Jin Guangyao quickly stepped in to mediate, yet the others remained indignant, condemning Wei Wuxian for abandoning the sword path in favor of practicing an evil and unorthodox way. With a grim expression, Jin Zixun accused Wei Wuxian of indiscriminately killing innocents for the sake of a few Wen clan members.

Mianmian could no longer bear to listen and bravely spoke up in Wei Wuxian’s defense. She argued that the Sunshot Campaign was a battlefield—if killing during war was considered indiscriminate slaughter, then wasn’t everyone guilty? As for the present matter, if the overseers had indeed harmed Wen Ning, then Wei Wuxian was merely upholding justice and could not be accused of killing without cause. Her words stirred a great commotion, provoking heated rebuttals from the clan leaders.

Mianmian stood her ground, countering with sound reasoning, but the overseers, desperate to evade responsibility, naturally insisted that they had not harmed Wen Ning. However, the clan leaders continued to bully her with their authority, twisting logic to their favor. Disgusted by their hypocrisy, Mianmian refused to be associated with them any longer. In a fit of anger, she removed her Jin clan belt and announced on the spot that she was severing ties with the clan before storming out.

Jin Guangshan’s accusations became increasingly outrageous, claiming that Wei Wuxian intended to establish his own faction. He then incited Jiang Cheng to deal with Wei Wuxian. Left with no choice, Jiang Cheng had to promise to give everyone an explanation and vowed to retrieve the Yin Tiger Tally. Meanwhile, Lan Wangji returned to the Cloud Recesses and was scolded by Lan Qiren for sneaking into the Library Pavilion and secretly helping Wei Wuxian escape.

Lan Qiren told Lan Wangji that, as his uncle, he had always been strict with him, hoping he would excel and not repeat the mistakes of his father. Lan Wangji's expression turned solemn—he knew his uncle was truly angry this time. Outside Jiang Yanli’s door, Jin Zixuan paced anxiously. When Jiang Yanli stepped out, she said that she would be leaving with Jiang Cheng the next day.

Panicked, Jin Zixuan, who was deeply in love with her, pleaded for her to stay in Koi Tower so that he could take care of her for the rest of his life. At the Burial Mounds, Wei Wuxian watched over Wen Ning, whose eyes remained tightly shut, his entire body covered in talismans. Wen Qing entered with food, and Wei Wuxian told her that Wen Ning could now hear sounds—they could try calling out to him.

Wei Wuxian led the Wen clan members in farming. The young Wen Yuan clung to Wei Wuxian and refused to let go. Wei Wuxian playfully scared him, threatening to plant him like a radish. However, Wen Yuan was unafraid and instead plopped himself into a dirt pit, imagining that if he were planted, he would sprout many little brothers and sisters. At this moment, Jiang Cheng arrived at the Burial Mounds with his men.

Using Zidian, he broke through the barrier and entered alone, only to witness Wei Wuxian and Wen Qing leading the people in farming. It was then that Jiang Cheng realized that Wei Wuxian had no intention of establishing his own sect—he merely wanted to provide a home for the surviving members of the Wen clan. Jiang Cheng followed Wei Wuxian into the cave within the Burial Mounds and saw Wen Ning, whose appearance had changed drastically.

Wei Wuxian explained that Wen Ning had lost part of his spiritual consciousness to the Dancing Goddess when he was young, making him a rare target for luring evil spirits. That day, when Wei Wuxian and Wen Qing found him, he had already been possessed by malevolent forces, his spiritual veins severed, with only a sliver of life remaining.

Initially, Wei Wuxian had intended to use the power of the Yin Tiger Tally to awaken Wen Ning and punish the Jin clan, but unexpectedly, he turned Wen Ning into a puppet, causing him to slaughter indiscriminately. Moreover, Wen Ning had always been timid and reserved in life, burying all his emotions deep within. After losing his mind, all his suppressed anger, restlessness, and fear surfaced. Now, Wei Wuxian wanted to awaken Wen Ning’s consciousness. Jiang Cheng found this utterly absurd and completely incomprehensible.

Jiang Cheng hesitated, wanting to ask if Wei Wuxian’s Yin Tiger Tally was forged from Yin Iron. He also pointed out that restoring Wen Ning’s consciousness was nearly impossible—nothing more than a wild fantasy. Wei Wuxian could only chuckle, joking that he had already boasted about it, so now he had no choice but to save Wen Ning. Jiang Cheng was both angry and troubled. These past days, countless major and minor clans had surrounded him, demanding an explanation.

That was why he had come, despite his reluctance. Wei Wuxian remained indifferent. Since ancient times, debts had to be repaid, and murderers had to pay with their lives. The overseers who were killed had brought it upon themselves—this matter should have been settled. Jiang Cheng’s tone grew increasingly impatient. At this point, the only solution was to make a decision—if they handed over Wen Qing and the others, there might still be room for negotiation. Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened.

If they handed over Wen Qing and the others, they would be walking straight to their deaths! Jiang Cheng couldn’t afford to care anymore. The situation was urgent—how could he still worry about others’ fates? Wei Wuxian finally lost his temper. Back when the Jiang clan was in dire straits, it was Wen Qing and her brother who risked their lives to shelter him and Jiang Cheng. They even helped transport the bodies of Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan.

Now that the overall situation had stabilized, was Jiang Cheng really going to be ungrateful? Jiang Cheng was caught between a rock and a hard place. He had not forgotten the kindness of Wen Qing and her brother, but times had changed. Everyone hated the Wen clan—if Wei Wuxian went against the tide, he would be committing an unforgivable crime against the world. Since Wei Wuxian refused to act, then Jiang Cheng was willing to be the villain.

As he spoke, Jiang Cheng drew his sword and was about to strike Wen Ning. Wei Wuxian grabbed the blade with his bare hands, blood streaming from his palms, yet he refused to let go. Jiang Cheng had no choice but to withdraw his sword. He earnestly tried to persuade Wei Wuxian. In the eyes of the Four Great Clans, Wei Wuxian was a maverick, an extraordinary hero, someone who stood above the rest.

But the moment he voiced opposition to them, he would be seen as insane, a heretic, someone who had strayed onto a demonic path—he would never again be free from their scrutiny. In other words, if Wei Wuxian insisted on protecting the Wen clan members, then Jiang Cheng would be unable to protect Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian sighed. If he couldn’t be protected, then so be it. He might as well abandon it all.

From now on, he would be a fugitive, severing all ties with the Yunmeng Jiang clan. Jiang Cheng was utterly devastated. He left in fury, formally severing ties with Wei Wuxian. And even now, Jiang Cheng remained unaware of everything Wei Wuxian had done for him. Wei Wuxian led the Wen clan members in gathering fruit and fishing. Life was hard, but there was joy in their simplicity. However, Wen Qing remained troubled.

She couldn’t bear to keep dragging Wei Wuxian down. She wanted him to return to his old life, to go back to the Jiang clan. But Wei Wuxian had made up his mind—he would not leave. He had made a promise, and he would see it through. He would bring Wen Ning back to normal. That night, Jiang Cheng tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

He thought about the comb Wen Qing had returned to him earlier in the day, feeling an inexplicable mix of emotions. If Wen Qing had once come to him with that comb, asking for help, would he have been as unwavering as Wei Wuxian? Yet Wei Wuxian, for the sake of Wen Qing and Wen Ning, was willing to abandon everything—even if it meant defying the world. Meanwhile, Wen Ning had started to regain consciousness. He could even speak.

Wen Qing was greatly relieved, while Wei Wuxian played Chenqing under the moonlight, utterly at ease. The next day, Jiang Cheng stormed in to challenge Wei Wuxian to a duel. Even though Wei Wuxian no longer had his golden core and his combat strength had greatly diminished, he still had Chenqing in hand. The two fought fiercely, matching each other blow for blow. In the end, both were wounded.

With this, Jiang Cheng officially declared to the world that Wei Wuxian had betrayed his sect, turned against the world, and had been expelled from the Yunmeng Jiang clan. That same night, Jiang Yanli dreamt of Wei Wuxian drifting away in a lone boat, never to return to Lotus Pier. Wei Wuxian, injured, returned to the Burial Mounds, but he still made sure to buy food and meat for everyone.

He maintained his usual cheerful demeanor in front of Wen Qing. Meanwhile, Jin Zixuan planted lotus flowers for Jiang Yanli with his own hands. He confessed his deep feelings for her, promising to build a new Lotus Pier for her in Jinling. A month later, rumors of the Yiling Patriarch spread among the common people. They said he was terrifying—he had betrayed his sect, slaughtered innocents, and refined puppets.

Hearing such absurd rumors, Lan Wangji was so enraged that he turned and left. At that moment, Wei Wuxian was at the marketplace with Wen Yuan, buying potatoes. But in the blink of an eye, Wen Yuan disappeared. Wei Wuxian searched frantically, only to find Wen Yuan clinging to Lan Wangji’s pant leg, wailing loudly. Lan Wangji looked utterly flustered, unsure of what to do.

Wei Wuxian approached cheerfully, and when Lan Wangji saw him, his eyes flickered with a mix of surprise and joy. He even bought Wen Yuan a small toy. The three of them got along effortlessly, as if nothing had changed.

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian found a teahouse to sit for a while. The two of them remained silent, with only Wen Yuan excitedly running around. Wen Yuan liked Lan Wangji very much, constantly circling around him. Lan Wangji also seemed to like the child, indulgently pulling him into his embrace. Wei Wuxian asked Lan Wangji what brought him to Yiling. Lan Wangji remained silent, so Wei Wuxian couldn't help but tease, "Could it be that you came for me?

" In truth, Wei Wuxian understood Lan Wangji’s intentions, but he simply didn’t want to listen to those tranquil melodies. He would rather hear about interesting happenings in the outside world. Lan Wangji finally spoke, saying that in half a month, Jiang Yanli would be marrying Jin Zixuan. Wei Wuxian was first shocked, then a little despondent. Such an important event, yet he knew nothing about it. But then again, even if he did, what difference would it make?

No matter what, in Wei Wuxian’s eyes, Jin Zixuan was unworthy of the gentle Jiang Yanli. His senior sister was the best person in the world. Lan Wangji wanted to offer some words of comfort, but before he could, Wei Wuxian suddenly pulled out a talisman. The moment it appeared, it burned into ashes. Wei Wuxian's face changed drastically. Realizing that something had happened at the Burial Mound, he quickly grabbed Wen Yuan and rushed back.

Lan Wangji, uneasy, followed after him. Upon returning, Wei Wuxian discovered that it was Wen Ning who had lost control. His eyes were pure white, his entire body exuding a heavy killing aura as he wildly attacked others. Wei Wuxian told Lan Wangji that he had been using the Yin Tiger Tally to treat Wen Ning, hoping to restore his consciousness. But somehow, Wen Ning had broken through the restraints on his own and ended up in this state.

At that moment, even Wei Wuxian was unable to subdue Wen Ning. Fortunately, Lan Wangji played his guqin to calm him, slowing Wen Ning’s movements. Wei Wuxian seized the opportunity to use a talisman to seal Wen Ning, restoring his peace. Once Wen Ning was calm, he reopened his eyes, and at last, his pupils had returned to black. Though his speech was hesitant, he was at least able to recognize Wei Wuxian and Wen Qing.

Overjoyed, Wen Qing burst into tears and hugged her younger brother tightly. Wei Wuxian took Wen Ning’s pulse and reassured them that Wen Ning had merely experienced a nightmare, but now everything was fine. Wei Wuxian then invited Lan Wangji to visit the Demon-Suppressing Cave on the Burial Mound.

Seeing the blood pool and rows of talismans inside, Lan Wangji remained worried about Wei Wuxian, fearing that one day, he would lose control over the Yin Tiger Tally and bring about disaster. Wei Wuxian repeatedly assured him that he would not let the Yin Tiger Tally spiral out of control. Just then, the Wen siblings entered. Wen Ning was now walking and speaking no differently from a normal person.

As they chatted and laughed together, it seemed as if the darkness of the past had never existed. As it grew late, Wei Wuxian walked Lan Wangji down the mountain. He spoke his true feelings, admitting that he had no other choice but to end up here. Now, he had to protect the Wen clan survivors, and there was no other path for him.

Wen Yuan was reluctant to part with Lan Wangji, but everyone had their own path to walk. Lan Wangji could not stay at the Burial Mound for long and had no choice but to leave. Wei Wuxian carried Wen Yuan back up the mountain, only to see that the Burial Mound was decorated with many red lanterns.

It turned out that the Wen clan survivors wanted to properly thank him for taking care of them, so they had prepared a feast with fine wine. Wei Wuxian was touched and celebrated heartily with everyone. After several rounds of drinks, he drunkenly confessed his frustrations. He mumbled about how he had once promised his senior sister the most grand wedding, yet now, he couldn't even attend it.

He rambled on about how useless he was, and Wen Qing’s eyes were filled with heartache. Meanwhile, rumors about the Yiling Patriarch, Wei Wuxian, and the Ghost General, Wen Ning, were spreading among the people. Some even impersonated Wei Wuxian’s supposed "first disciple," using his name to scam others in the marketplace. No one could have imagined that the fearsome Wei Wuxian was, at this very moment, happily selling radishes alongside Wen Ning.

Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning carried a large sack of radishes to the market to sell. Wen Ning, looking adorably clueless, held up a radish and called out softly, but no one paid him any attention. Just then, the swindler impersonating Wei Wuxian appeared again to deceive people. With a small trick, Wei Wuxian quickly taught him a lesson. As he wandered around in high spirits, he suddenly froze as if struck by lightning—he had spotted Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng didn’t say much and simply led Wei Wuxian to a courtyard. Wei Wuxian was still in shock when he suddenly saw a figure standing in the yard, draped in a black cloak. That person slowly turned around—it was Jiang Yanli. She smiled warmly and removed her cloak, revealing a bright red wedding robe with an elaborate phoenix coronet, looking stunning. Wei Wuxian was momentarily dazed.

Jiang Yanli smiled and said that she was about to get married and had come specifically to let him see her in her wedding attire. Wei Wuxian was both surprised and overjoyed, showering her with praise. The three of them sat around the table just like in the past. Jiang Yanli had specially brought her signature lotus root and pork rib soup, serving it to her two younger brothers.

She even asked Wei Wuxian to choose a courtesy name for the child in her belly. After thinking for a moment, Wei Wuxian decided on "Rulan. "Wei Wuxian devoured the soup, feeling that his senior sister’s cooking was the most delicious thing in the world. The kind-hearted Jiang Yanli had even saved a bowl for Wen Ning, bringing it out for him. Wen Ning was overwhelmed by the gesture.

He took a careful sip, then immediately wanted to save the rest to bring back for Wen Yuan. Jiang Cheng held his bowl and "respectfully" toasted Wei Wuxian, hailing him as the Yiling Patriarch. Wei Wuxian nearly choked on his soup and hurriedly told Jiang Cheng to shut up. The two bickered just like before, all slick words and sharp tongues.

It turned out that their apparent fallout had been staged for outsiders—only by doing so could they silence the rumors. Jiang Cheng wanted to persuade Wei Wuxian to turn back, but Wei Wuxian had no path to return to. Nor did he want to turn back—he could only keep moving forward. And so, after this brief meeting, Wei Wuxian parted ways with Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng.

He was reluctant to leave his senior sister and Jiang Cheng, but there was nothing he could do. With tears in his eyes, he walked away. Wen Ning carefully carried the soup all the way back, not spilling a single drop, determined to give it to Wen Yuan. That night, Wei Wuxian had no appetite for dinner. He missed his senior sister deeply, even entertaining the whimsical idea of planting lotus roots on the Burial Mound.

After everyone had gone to rest, Wen Ning finally brought the lotus root and pork rib soup to Wen Yuan, who smacked his lips and earnestly savored the delicious taste. Wen Qing saw this and only then learned from Wen Ning that Wei Wuxian had met with Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli that day. Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian held the pendant his senior sister had given him earlier that day, feeling a mix of emotions.

He reminisced about the wonderful days spent at Lotus Pier, sighing endlessly—there was no going back. Wei Wuxian continued trying to grow lotus roots. After much effort, a small sprout finally emerged, only for the ignorant Wen Yuan to pluck it. Furious, Wei Wuxian scolded him, making Wen Yuan wail in fear. Wen Qing comforted Wen Yuan and told him to tell Wei Wuxian, "If you miss your sister, you should go visit her.

" So, Wen Yuan toddled over to deliver the message. Looking at the adorable child, Wei Wuxian felt his anger melt away instantly. Meanwhile, the Jin clan was busy preparing for Jin Zixuan’s wedding. Jin Guangyao was handling matters with great diligence, earning the satisfaction of both Jin Zixuan and Jin Guangshan. However, Jin Guangshan still harbored suspicions toward Jin Guangyao, his illegitimate son, firmly intending to pass the leadership of the Jin clan to Jin Zixuan.

A year later, Wei Wuxian was still selling radishes with Wen Ning when he heard the news that five days ago, Jiang Yanli had given birth to a baby boy, named Jin Ling, with the courtesy name Rulan. The Lanling Jin clan planned to host a grand banquet to celebrate. Wei Wuxian was all smiles, thrilled beyond words. Jin Guangyao seemed to adore little Jin Ling, playing with him using a rattle drum.

However, Jin Guangshan’s attitude toward Jin Guangyao remained cold, fueling the latter’s discontent. To celebrate the birth of a new heir, the Jin clan invited many prominent clan leaders and elders. Lan Wangji spoke up in defense of Wei Wuxian, arguing that since Wei Wuxian was also Jin Ling’s elder, he deserved an invitation to the Jin clan’s celebration. Lan Xichen agreed, and even Jin Zixuan acknowledged the reasoning.

Over the years, Wei Wuxian had not committed any grave misdeeds, and since Jiang Yanli cared deeply for him, this could be an opportunity for the siblings to reunite. Thus, Jin Guangyao suggested to Jin Guangshan that they send an invitation to Wei Wuxian, inviting him alone to Koi Tower for Jin Ling’s one-month celebration. Once he arrived, they would demand that he hand over the Yin Tiger Tally as an explanation to the public.

If Wei Wuxian refused, they would at least make him swear not to kill indiscriminately before letting him return to the Burial Mound. Jin Guangshan found the idea acceptable and prepared to have Lan Wangji deliver the invitation. Meanwhile, Jin Zixun seemed to be feeling unwell, and a deep, unreadable gleam flashed in Jin Guangyao’s eyes—as if everything was already under his control.

With the efforts of Wei Wuxian and the others, the Burial Mounds became full of life, and they successfully grew lotuses and lotus roots. Wei Wuxian carefully told Wen Yuan that the lotus seeds grown in the Burial Mounds were excellent protective talismans that ward off evil and should be worn, but must never be eaten. At this moment, Wei Wuxian was both surprised and delighted to receive an invitation from the Jin clan.

Learning that he could attend Jin Ling’s full-moon banquet and see his senior sister, he was overjoyed. Meanwhile, rumors about the Lanling Jin clan spread like wildfire among the common folk. People were discussing how the Jin clan was building a watchtower and how the newborn young master, Jin Ling, was extraordinary from birth, with a prestigious background. They speculated that this full-moon ceremony would be held with great extravagance.

As people gossiped, someone mysteriously revealed that Wei Wuxian had also received an invitation and would be attending the banquet. At this, everyone shook their heads, believing that Wei Wuxian was a villain who should never have been invited. No one realized that the so-called Yiling Patriarch was right nearby, buying a pendant as a gift for Jin Ling. Wei Wuxian held up the pendant, while Wen Ning praised it repeatedly.

However, Wei Wuxian merely smiled—this was just a small trinket. His true gift for Jin Ling was a powerful string of prayer beads. As long as Jin Ling wore them, they would protect him from low-level demons and ghosts. Thus, Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning chatted happily as they set off for Lanling. Unexpectedly, when passing through Qiongqi Path, they were suddenly surrounded by Jin Zixun and his men.

Jin Zixun was furious, demanding that Wei Wuxian remove the curse from him. Wei Wuxian was baffled. Jin Zixun tore open his robes, revealing his chest covered in dense, horrifying blood wounds—clear signs of the vicious curse "Thousand Gaping Wounds. " It turned out that Jin Zixun had somehow been cursed and immediately assumed that Wei Wuxian was responsible. Naturally, Wei Wuxian refused to admit to such baseless accusations.

Enraged, Jin Zixun ordered his men to fire arrows and kill Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian remained unafraid—not only because he had Chenqing but also because Wen Ning was by his side. Wen Ning yanked off the talisman restricting him, let out a fierce roar, and transformed into the terrifying Ghost General. He lifted a massive rock as a shield for Wei Wuxian and then charged into battle against Jin Zixun’s men. They were no match for him.

Seeing Wei Wuxian alone, Jin Zixun lunged at him with his sword and even snatched away the gift meant for Jin Ling. Just as the two were about to clash, Jin Zixuan suddenly descended from the sky to stop them. It turned out that Jin Guangyao had informed Jin Zixuan of the situation, prompting him to intervene. Jin Zixuan sternly rebuked Jin Zixun for his recklessness.

"Thousand Gaping Wounds" might not have been caused by Wei Wuxian, and besides, it was Jin Zixuan himself who had invited Wei Wuxian to the banquet. If Jin Zixun acted so outrageously, where would that leave him and Jiang Yanli? However, Jin Zixun remained unrepentant, spewing slander, claiming that anyone associated with Wei Wuxian would be tainted. As he spoke, he deliberately crushed the string of prayer beads Wei Wuxian had prepared for Jin Ling.

Seeing his carefully crafted gift destroyed, Wei Wuxian could no longer tolerate it—he decided Jin Zixun was beyond forgiveness. Jin Zixuan tried to mediate, urging Wei Wuxian to have Wen Ning stand down so they could resolve the matter peacefully at Jinlintai. Wei Wuxian sneered—if Wen Ning withdrew, he would immediately be riddled with arrows and die without a corpse left behind.

Besides, Jin Zixuan had invited him to the banquet—was he truly unaware that Jin Zixun had planned an ambush? Jin Zixuan was at a loss for words. He genuinely had not known about Jin Zixun’s reckless actions. But Wei Wuxian no longer listened—he began to play Chenqing, commanding Wen Ning to deal with the detestable Jin Zixun. Jin Zixuan stepped in front of Wei Wuxian, continuing to plead for peace. However, in a horrifying twist, Wen Ning lost control.

Mistaking Jin Zixuan for a threat to Wei Wuxian, he suddenly thrust his hand into Jin Zixuan’s chest, ripping out his heart. Poor Jin Zixuan fell in his final moments, still thinking of Jiang Yanli. Wei Wuxian was struck with horror, while Jin Zixun staggered backward in fear. Wen Ning grabbed him by the throat and killed him as well.

At that moment, Jiang Yanli was cradling Jin Ling, still eagerly awaiting the return of Wei Wuxian and Jin Zixuan—only to receive the devastating news of Jin Zixuan’s death at Wen Ning’s hands. Overcome with grief, she was inconsolable, and the entire clan was left in shock. Wei Wuxian fainted from the blow, and Wen Ning carried him back to the Burial Mounds. In his hazy consciousness, Wei Wuxian struggled to wake up.

When he finally managed to open his eyes, he saw Wen Ning kneeling timidly beside him. Wen Ning had regained his clarity and was now fully aware of the irreparable mistake he had made. Wei Wuxian, overcome with rage, kicked Wen Ning away and grabbed him by the collar, shouting furiously, "Now that you’ve killed Jin Zixuan, what about my senior sister? What about Jin Ling? And what about me? "Wen Ning was filled with regret, but the deed was done.

Tears streamed down Wei Wuxian’s face as he crumbled, utterly lost as to what to do. At that moment, Wen Qing used a needle to inject Wei Wuxian with a paralyzing agent, rendering him immobile. As he collapsed, Wen Qing spoke calmly, "In the days you were unconscious, the Jin clan sent a message—they will spare you if we turn ourselves in. So I have decided to take Wen Ning to Jinlintai to face judgment. "Wei Wuxian struggled in agony.

He had never cursed Jin Zixun. Anyone who cast such a curse would suffer a backlash—if they could find the afflicted person, the truth would be revealed. Moreover, he had been the one controlling Wen Ning; if anyone had to face judgment, it should be him, not Wen Ning! Wen Qing shook her head. "The truth no longer matters. This paralyzing agent will wear off in three days. By then, it will all be over.

"Wei Wuxian tried to protest, but Wen Qing cast a spell on his forehead, lulling him into a deep sleep. With tears in her eyes, she whispered, "I’m sorry. . . and thank you. "Wen Qing and Wen Ning stepped out of the house. The remaining members of the Wen clan gathered around them, all volunteering to accompany them to Jinlintai to face their fate. Thus, the elderly and young alike journeyed to Lanling.

Jin Guangshan and Jin Guangyao stood coldly, ordering their disciples to surround them, determined to exterminate them all to avenge Jin Zixuan. Wen Qing held Wen Ning’s hand—whatever awaited them, they deserved it. To have lived this long, to have spent happy days in the Burial Mounds, was already a blessing. Meanwhile, Jiang Yanli, clad in mourning attire, knelt before Jin Zixuan’s memorial tablet, holding Jin Ling in her arms.

Her face was pale, and she looked like a lifeless shell. Three days later, Wei Wuxian finally awoke. Staggering out of the house, he found the Burial Mounds completely empty. The laughter and warmth that had once filled the place had vanished without a trace.

Wei Wuxian silently arrived at Jinlintai and saw the frail figure of his senior sister. He dared not make a sound, nor did he dare to step forward. Madam Jin was accompanying Jiang Yanli in the mourning hall. The pain of losing her son had aged her overnight. Staggering, she stepped out to get some food for the haggard Jiang Yanli, only to unexpectedly see Wei Wuxian hiding in the shadows.

Jiang Yanli rushed out holding Jin Ling, tears streaming down her face, but she did not scold Wei Wuxian—she only wept sorrowfully. Madam Jin, on the other hand, broke down and screamed for people to come. With tears in his eyes, Wei Wuxian had no choice but to flee. He ran into the woods, where the black energy of the Yin Tiger Seal surrounded him, disturbing his mind. Wei Wuxian teetered on the edge of madness, unable to control himself.

The Jin Clan slaughtered all of the Wen Clan members and hung their corpses on the city walls, exposing them for three days. They even scattered the ashes of the ringleaders to the wind as a warning to all. The onlookers whispered among themselves, saying that although Wen Ning had surrendered himself, he later lost control and went on a killing spree at Jinlintai. They blamed Wei Wuxian for practicing demonic arts, calling him despicable.

Some lamented that the Lan Clan was truly unlucky—most of the people Jin Zixun had led to ambush Wei Wuxian at Qiongqi Path were from the Lan Clan, and they had all met their deaths. Fortunately, Wen Ning and Wen Qing had been reduced to ashes and could no longer cause harm. At that moment, Wei Wuxian stood behind the crowd. He gazed coldly at the hanging corpses and spoke, shocking everyone. He was utterly enraged.

Lifting Chenqing to his lips, he played a tune that sent people flying. Some, undeterred, shouted at him to prove himself at the Oath Assembly by challenging the great clan leaders. Wei Wuxian's face darkened—debts should be settled with their rightful owners. He indeed shouldn't waste time here. He should go to the Oath Assembly and settle this once and for all. That night, Jin Guangshan gathered the clan leaders, smashing a cup as an oath.

He scattered the ashes of Wen Qing and Wen Ning, ensuring they could never return, and then discussed strategies for dealing with Wei Wuxian. Suddenly, a cold laugh came from the rooftop. The people inside looked up to see Wei Wuxian, clad in black, lounging against the eaves with a wicked smile. Jin Guangshan berated Wei Wuxian for his audacity. But Wei Wuxian remained unfazed—he had always been arrogant.

Back during the Sunshot Campaign, he had single-handedly taken on three thousand opponents, so what was there to fear now? Wei Wuxian then questioned Jin Guangshan—hadn’t they agreed that after eliminating Wen Qing and Wen Ning, the matter would be settled? Why, then, were they now after the rest of the Wen Clan and his life? Jin Guangshan twisted his words, saying that the two matters were separate. Others chimed in to support him.

Wei Wuxian finally saw the truth—Jin Zixun had provoked him first, but in the end, he was the one at fault. Even defending himself was considered a crime! The Jin Clan disciples remained on high alert, aiming their arrows at Wei Wuxian and falsely accusing him of cursing Jin Zixun. Wei Wuxian was left speechless. No matter how he tried to defend himself, they insisted he was guilty.

Even if he jumped into the Yellow River, he wouldn't be able to clear his name. To these so-called righteous clans, Wei Wuxian was an irredeemable villain. One of the Jin disciples suddenly launched a sneak attack, shooting an arrow into Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian sneered, pulled the arrow out, and flung it back, taking the attacker's life. Jin Guangshan was horrified and immediately ordered a formation to ensure Wei Wuxian would not leave alive.

Jiang Cheng was caught in the middle, while Jin Guangyao watched gleefully. The battle began. Wei Wuxian played Chenqing, commanding dark energy and fierce spirits to attack. None of his opponents could withstand him, falling one by one. However, his summoned creatures did not harm the Yunmeng Jiang Clan. Just then, Lan Wangji descended from the sky, cradling his guqin. Under the bright moonlight, his figure appeared especially tall and imposing.

Wei Wuxian laughed—he had always known that one day, he and Lan Wangji would have a real fight. Neither of them wasted words. Lan Wangji flew forward to stop Wei Wuxian, saying that the situation had changed and that things were not as simple as they seemed—he needed to stop fighting. Wei Wuxian was puzzled when suddenly, he heard a voice call out, “A-Xian!

” He immediately realized it was his senior sister searching for him and hurriedly rushed to find her. The battlefield was chaotic. Jiang Yanli stumbled as she searched for Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng, but with so many people, she couldn’t locate her brothers. Seeing Wei Wuxian descend, the surrounding cultivators attacked. Lan Wangji urged Wei Wuxian to play his flute while he fought back.

Just as Wei Wuxian started playing, a shadow emerged from the darkness of the attic, also playing a flute. The dark creatures stopped obeying Wei Wuxian’s commands and became even more frenzied, attacking indiscriminately—including the Yunmeng Jiang Clan. Even the corpses on the battlefield suddenly stood up, transformed into bloodthirsty puppets. The scene became a living hell. Jiang Yanli, frail and delicate, was so focused on searching that she didn’t notice a puppet sneaking up behind her.

A sharp blade slashed across her body. Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng were horrified and rushed toward her. Jiang Yanli, weakly smiling, reached out to touch Wei Wuxian’s face, gently scolding him for running too fast earlier—she hadn’t even gotten a clear look at him. At that moment, an assassin tried to strike Wei Wuxian from behind. Seeing this, Jiang Yanli pushed him aside, taking the fatal stab to her chest.

The attacker panicked, realizing he had mistakenly killed Jiang Yanli. Jiang Cheng roared in anguish, clutching his sister in his arms. Wei Wuxian, consumed by fury, killed the assailant on the spot. But no matter what, he could not save Jiang Yanli. She coughed up blood—there was no hope of survival.

Thanks for your patience! Here’s the translation:With the efforts of Wei Wuxian and the others, the Burial Mounds became full of life, and they successfully grew lotuses and lotus roots. Wei Wuxian carefully told Wen Yuan that the lotus seeds grown in the Burial Mounds were excellent protective talismans that ward off evil and should be worn, but must never be eaten. At this moment, Wei Wuxian was both surprised and delighted to receive an invitation from the Jin clan.

Learning that he could attend Jin Ling’s full-moon banquet and see his senior sister, he was overjoyed. Meanwhile, rumors about the Lanling Jin clan spread like wildfire among the common folk. People were discussing how the Jin clan was building a watchtower and how the newborn young master, Jin Ling, was extraordinary from birth, with a prestigious background. They speculated that this full-moon ceremony would be held with great extravagance.

As people gossiped, someone mysteriously revealed that Wei Wuxian had also received an invitation and would be attending the banquet. At this, everyone shook their heads, believing that Wei Wuxian was a villain who should never have been invited. No one realized that the so-called Yiling Patriarch was right nearby, buying a pendant as a gift for Jin Ling. Wei Wuxian held up the pendant, while Wen Ning praised it repeatedly.

However, Wei Wuxian merely smiled—this was just a small trinket. His true gift for Jin Ling was a powerful string of prayer beads. As long as Jin Ling wore them, they would protect him from low-level demons and ghosts. Thus, Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning chatted happily as they set off for Lanling. Unexpectedly, when passing through Qiongqi Path, they were suddenly surrounded by Jin Zixun and his men.

Jin Zixun was furious, demanding that Wei Wuxian remove the curse from him. Wei Wuxian was baffled. Jin Zixun tore open his robes, revealing his chest covered in dense, horrifying blood wounds—clear signs of the vicious curse "Thousand Gaping Wounds. " It turned out that Jin Zixun had somehow been cursed and immediately assumed that Wei Wuxian was responsible. Naturally, Wei Wuxian refused to admit to such baseless accusations.

Enraged, Jin Zixun ordered his men to fire arrows and kill Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian remained unafraid—not only because he had Chenqing but also because Wen Ning was by his side. Wen Ning yanked off the talisman restricting him, let out a fierce roar, and transformed into the terrifying Ghost General. He lifted a massive rock as a shield for Wei Wuxian and then charged into battle against Jin Zixun’s men. They were no match for him.

Seeing Wei Wuxian alone, Jin Zixun lunged at him with his sword and even snatched away the gift meant for Jin Ling. Just as the two were about to clash, Jin Zixuan suddenly descended from the sky to stop them. It turned out that Jin Guangyao had informed Jin Zixuan of the situation, prompting him to intervene. Jin Zixuan sternly rebuked Jin Zixun for his recklessness.

"Thousand Gaping Wounds" might not have been caused by Wei Wuxian, and besides, it was Jin Zixuan himself who had invited Wei Wuxian to the banquet. If Jin Zixun acted so outrageously, where would that leave him and Jiang Yanli? However, Jin Zixun remained unrepentant, spewing slander, claiming that anyone associated with Wei Wuxian would be tainted. As he spoke, he deliberately crushed the string of prayer beads Wei Wuxian had prepared for Jin Ling.

Seeing his carefully crafted gift destroyed, Wei Wuxian could no longer tolerate it—he decided Jin Zixun was beyond forgiveness. Jin Zixuan tried to mediate, urging Wei Wuxian to have Wen Ning stand down so they could resolve the matter peacefully at Jinlintai. Wei Wuxian sneered—if Wen Ning withdrew, he would immediately be riddled with arrows and die without a corpse left behind.

Besides, Jin Zixuan had invited him to the banquet—was he truly unaware that Jin Zixun had planned an ambush? Jin Zixuan was at a loss for words. He genuinely had not known about Jin Zixun’s reckless actions. But Wei Wuxian no longer listened—he began to play Chenqing, commanding Wen Ning to deal with the detestable Jin Zixun. Jin Zixuan stepped in front of Wei Wuxian, continuing to plead for peace. However, in a horrifying twist, Wen Ning lost control.

Mistaking Jin Zixuan for a threat to Wei Wuxian, he suddenly thrust his hand into Jin Zixuan’s chest, ripping out his heart. Poor Jin Zixuan fell in his final moments, still thinking of Jiang Yanli. Wei Wuxian was struck with horror, while Jin Zixun staggered backward in fear. Wen Ning grabbed him by the throat and killed him as well.

At that moment, Jiang Yanli was cradling Jin Ling, still eagerly awaiting the return of Wei Wuxian and Jin Zixuan—only to receive the devastating news of Jin Zixuan’s death at Wen Ning’s hands. Overcome with grief, she was inconsolable, and the entire clan was left in shock. Wei Wuxian fainted from the blow, and Wen Ning carried him back to the Burial Mounds. In his hazy consciousness, Wei Wuxian struggled to wake up.

When he finally managed to open his eyes, he saw Wen Ning kneeling timidly beside him. Wen Ning had regained his clarity and was now fully aware of the irreparable mistake he had made. Wei Wuxian, overcome with rage, kicked Wen Ning away and grabbed him by the collar, shouting furiously, "Now that you’ve killed Jin Zixuan, what about my senior sister? What about Jin Ling? And what about me? "Wen Ning was filled with regret, but the deed was done.

Tears streamed down Wei Wuxian’s face as he crumbled, utterly lost as to what to do. At that moment, Wen Qing used a needle to inject Wei Wuxian with a paralyzing agent, rendering him immobile. As he collapsed, Wen Qing spoke calmly, "In the days you were unconscious, the Jin clan sent a message—they will spare you if we turn ourselves in. So I have decided to take Wen Ning to Jinlintai to face judgment. "Wei Wuxian struggled in agony.

He had never cursed Jin Zixun. Anyone who cast such a curse would suffer a backlash—if they could find the afflicted person, the truth would be revealed. Moreover, he had been the one controlling Wen Ning; if anyone had to face judgment, it should be him, not Wen Ning! Wen Qing shook her head. "The truth no longer matters. This paralyzing agent will wear off in three days. By then, it will all be over.

"Wei Wuxian tried to protest, but Wen Qing cast a spell on his forehead, lulling him into a deep sleep. With tears in her eyes, she whispered, "I’m sorry. . . and thank you. "Wen Qing and Wen Ning stepped out of the house. The remaining members of the Wen clan gathered around them, all volunteering to accompany them to Jinlintai to face their fate. Thus, the elderly and young alike journeyed to Lanling.

Jin Guangshan and Jin Guangyao stood coldly, ordering their disciples to surround them, determined to exterminate them all to avenge Jin Zixuan. Wen Qing held Wen Ning’s hand—whatever awaited them, they deserved it. To have lived this long, to have spent happy days in the Burial Mounds, was already a blessing. Meanwhile, Jiang Yanli, clad in mourning attire, knelt before Jin Zixuan’s memorial tablet, holding Jin Ling in her arms.

Her face was pale, and she looked like a lifeless shell. Three days later, Wei Wuxian finally awoke. Staggering out of the house, he found the Burial Mounds completely empty. The laughter and warmth that had once filled the place had vanished without a trace.

Wei Wuxian had feared nothing in his life except for dogs. The moment he saw Fairy, the large dog, he was scared out of his wits and fled in terror, shaking all over and loudly calling for Lan Wangji to save him. Lan Wangji descended from the sky and blocked Wei Wuxian, causing Fairy to tuck its tail and run away. Knowing Lan Wangji's strength, Jin Ling had no choice but to leave in frustration.

A wandering charlatan, seeing that Wei Wuxian had driven Jin Ling away, was immensely grateful and took the opportunity to share news of recent strange occurrences. He spoke of a place five or six miles away called Xinglu Ridge, also known as Man-Eating Ridge. It was said that there was a Man-Eating Fortress there, inhabited by monsters that specifically preyed on humans—a truly terrifying place.

Wei Wuxian continued to probe further, questioning why the Qinghe Nie Clan, under whose territory Xinglu Ridge fell, would allow such a threat to persist. The charlatan sneered, saying that if it were the Nie Clan of the past, they would have swiftly eliminated the monsters without hesitation. However, the current clan leader, Nie Huaisang, was ignorant of everything—weak and incapable of handling affairs. There was no hope of him undertaking such a major task.

As Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji journeyed on, Wei Wuxian sighed with emotion, surprised that after sixteen years, Nie Huaisang had become the clan leader. Lan Wangji had only heard that Nie Mingjue had succumbed to qi deviation and died suddenly in public, leading to Nie Huaisang’s succession. However, he did not know the details of the event. Curious, Lan Wangji asked why Wei Wuxian was so afraid of dogs.

Initially reluctant to speak, Wei Wuxian finally revealed that when he was young, he often had to snatch food from vicious dogs, which led to his deep-seated fear. Just then, the barking of Fairy rang out again. Frightened, Wei Wuxian hid behind Lan Wangji, but the dog did not charge at them. Lan Wangji scanned their mist-filled surroundings and deduced that despite Fairy being a spiritual dog, it could not find a way in.

Relieved, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji soon discovered an ancient fortress with a gaping hole in its wall. They immediately understood—Jin Ling must have dug the entrance open and entered, leaving Fairy outside in distress. Without delay, the two hurried inside. The fortress was lined with stone walls, and sharp ghostly wails echoed in Wei Wuxian’s ears, making him feel dizzy. He deduced that a powerful spiritual entity was present.

Sure enough, as they ventured further, they discovered numerous stone coffins. However, instead of corpses, the coffins were filled with sharp swords. Seeing this, Lan Wangji played his guqin to communicate with the spirits within the fortress and gather clues. To their surprise, the spirit that responded knew nothing about the fortress, leaving both Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji puzzled and disappointed.

As they pressed on with their inquiries, the spirit revealed that a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy had indeed entered the fortress and was still inside. Disbelieving, Wei Wuxian searched further but found nothing. Lan Wangji cautiously asked the spirit its age and origin, only to receive a shocking reply—the spirit was a sixteen-year-old from Lanling. Wei Wuxian was stunned—this spirit was actually Jin Ling! Following the spirit’s guidance, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji finally found Jin Ling trapped within the walls.

He was barely alive—had they not dug him out in time, he might have perished. While Lan Wangji channeled spiritual energy into him, Wei Wuxian searched further inside the walls, only to uncover countless corpses that had long since turned to bones, each frozen in different postures. Suddenly, Jin Ling’s eyes snapped open, and in a daze, he began walking toward the walls again. Wei Wuxian quickly stopped him, and together with Lan Wangji, carried him out of the fortress.

At that moment, they caught a glimpse of a mysterious figure flashing past. Lan Wangji immediately pursued the person while Wei Wuxian focused on finding a place to settle Jin Ling. After placing Jin Ling on a bed, Wei Wuxian intended to remove his shoes and socks. However, he was shocked to find ominous curse marks on Jin Ling’s legs. Quickly unfastening Jin Ling’s robe, he was relieved to see that the marks had not yet spread to his chest.

When Jin Ling awoke, he saw Wei Wuxian undressing him and, overcome with embarrassment and anger, bolted away in an instant. Wei Wuxian stood up to chase him, only to spot Jiang Cheng approaching with Jin Ling. He hurriedly hid, thinking he could escape Jiang Cheng’s notice, but when he turned his head, he was face-to-face with Fairy. Terrified, he screamed and dashed out, only to be forced into revealing his identity when Jiang Cheng confronted him.

Jiang Cheng’s eyes widened, filled with a mixture of joy and anger. Jiang Cheng took Wei Wuxian back and interrogated him, demanding an explanation. He even let Fairy loose inside to frighten him. In his panic, Wei Wuxian instinctively called out for his senior sister, Jiang Yanli, which only infuriated Jiang Cheng further. Jiang Cheng dredged up grievances from sixteen years ago and berated Wei Wuxian endlessly, even scolding him for the harsh words he had spoken to Jin Ling.

Remorse washed over Wei Wuxian as he recalled how he had once insulted Jin Ling, saying that he had a mother who gave birth to him but none to raise him. Guilt overwhelmed him. Jiang Cheng then demanded to know Wen Ning’s whereabouts. Wei Wuxian genuinely did not know, but Jiang Cheng refused to believe him. At that moment, Jin Ling entered, claiming that he had encountered Wen Ning earlier.

Jiang Cheng believed him and immediately used Zidian to bind Wei Wuxian before setting off to capture Wen Ning and exact vengeance. Once Jiang Cheng left, Jin Ling secretly released Wei Wuxian and led him to the forest, repaying him for saving his life earlier. Wei Wuxian sincerely apologized to Jin Ling, admitting that he should never have spoken such hurtful words on Dafan Mountain.

Jin Ling bit his lip—this was not the first time he had been the subject of whispers and mockery. One day, he would prove that he was stronger than anyone else. Watching Jin Ling’s proud and stubborn demeanor, Wei Wuxian subtly knocked him unconscious and transferred the curse marks onto himself.

Jin Ling woke up, completely unaware that Wei Wuxian had transferred the curse mark away. He thought Wei Wuxian had deliberately attacked him. Wei Wuxian came up with an idea and lied that Lan Wangji was coming, scaring Jin Ling into running off. That night, Wei Wuxian walked alone through the silent streets. Looking up, he saw Lan Wangji standing on a bridge in his white robes, bathed in the clear moonlight, making him appear even more upright and dignified.

Wei Wuxian sighed inwardly—he had always thought Jiang Cheng would be the one by his side while Lan Wangji would forever stand in opposition. Yet time had passed so swiftly, and everything had reversed. Wei Wuxian stepped forward, and Lan Wangji quickly noticed the curse mark on his leg, along with the wounds left by Zidian’s lashes. His expression darkened. Wei Wuxian, pretending to be carefree, laughed it off, saying it was just an ordinary curse mark, nothing serious.

Lan Wangji frowned and insisted on carrying him. Wei Wuxian, feeling that being carried as a grown man was embarrassing, refused. Lan Wangji merely sighed lightly, bent down, and lifted Wei Wuxian onto his back. Wei Wuxian had no choice but to comply. Testing the waters, he asked how Lan Wangji had recognized him back at Dafan Mountain. Lan Wangji didn’t give a direct answer, only telling Wei Wuxian to figure it out himself.

Back in their room, Lan Wangji showed Wei Wuxian a piece of cloth he had torn from the mysterious person’s clothing. It bore the Nie Clan’s emblem. Wei Wuxian then put on a mask, and the two of them went to confront Nie Huaisang, determined to get the truth about the rumored man-eating fortress. Years had passed, but Nie Huaisang was still as timid as ever, responding to every question with an "I don’t know.

" Seeing this, Wei Wuxian simply sat down and started reasoning with him. Wei Wuxian explained leisurely that while there had always been rumors about a man-eating fortress on Xinglu Ridge, there had never been any real victims, proving the stories to be mere rumors. Such rumors kept ordinary people away from the ridge, making it a defensive measure—this was the first layer of defense.

The second layer was the supernatural creatures on the ridge, frightening off anyone who ventured too close. The third layer was the maze formation near the stone fortress, preventing cultivators from entering. The purpose of these defenses was clearly to keep the so-called "man-eating fortress" hidden. Given that this place was within the Qinghe Nie Clan’s territory, it was obvious that they had set everything up. At this point, Nie Huaisang could no longer deny the truth.

He admitted that the fortress was not a man-eating den but the ancestral tomb of the Nie Clan. Unlike other cultivation clans that practiced swordsmanship, the Nie Clan’s ancestors were butchers, so they cultivated the Dao of the Blade. Each successive clan leader’s saber carried immense hostility and murderous energy, leading nearly every one of them to eventually succumb to qi deviation and die violently.

While alive, a clan leader could control their saber’s aggression, but after death, the unrestrained blade would become a deadly weapon, requiring sacrifices to appease its spirit. The sixth patriarch of the Nie Clan devised a solution: he placed the sabers of his father and grandfather inside coffins in the stone fortress and buried them alongside supernatural creatures as funerary objects to suppress the blades’ violent energy. This brought the Nie Clan several generations of peace.

At first, the Nie Clan’s blade tomb was just an ordinary burial site, but it was later disturbed by grave robbers. As they rummaged through the tomb, they accidentally awakened the blade spirits and unleashed the buried malevolent entities. With fewer sacrificial offerings, the grave robbers themselves became replacements, absorbed into the walls of the fortress. From then on, rumors spread of a man-eating entity on Xinglu Ridge.

To keep people away, the Nie Clan exaggerated these tales, making them even more terrifying. Jin Ling had unknowingly broken part of the wall when he entered the fortress, causing the trapped remains of the grave robbers to spill out. The walls needed to be "fed," and so he was nearly absorbed in their place. Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian promised to keep the secret, and only then did Nie Huaisang nervously leave.

Lan Wangji noticed the curse mark on Wei Wuxian’s leg was growing more severe and grew increasingly concerned. At that moment, the sword spirit inside the spirit-locking pouch reacted, as if resonating with the curse mark. The two quickly played a Requiem Melody together to subdue the sword spirit. Wei Wuxian realized that the "man-eating fortress" was precisely where the sword spirit was leading him. Determined, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji returned to the fortress.

By now, Nie Huaisang had sealed the area again, but Lan Wangji, without hesitation, tore down the wall once more. Skeletons poured out, yet no further clues were found. Wei Wuxian had Nie Huaisang open all the stone coffins and carefully examined the sabers inside, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Lan Wangji pondered for a moment and noticed that the saber of Nie Mingjue, Baxia, was missing.

Nie Huaisang’s expression turned grave as he recalled that Nie Mingjue had suddenly gone berserk during the Jin Clan’s Hundred Flowers Banquet, his meridians shattering, and then mysteriously disappeared. No one had ever found his body. Wei Wuxian drew a sharp breath. It seemed highly likely that the sword spirit inside the spirit-locking pouch was actually the blade spirit of Baxia. If the blade spirit was so agitated, then Nie Mingjue had probably met a tragic end.

To uncover the truth, they needed to follow the blade spirit’s guidance. As they continued their journey, they stopped at an inn to rest. The innkeeper was animatedly recounting the massacre of the Chang Clan years ago, mentioning that Xue Yang was now a guest cultivator of the Jin Clan. This greatly surprised Wei Wuxian. Xue Yang had suddenly reappeared at Jinlintai a few years prior. While most clan leaders had demanded severe punishment, Jin Guangshan had strongly opposed it.

Even Chang Ping, the only survivor of the Chang Clan, had recanted his testimony, claiming that Xue Yang had nothing to do with the massacre. In this way, Xue Yang narrowly escaped death. However, after Jin Guangshan’s passing and Jin Guangyao’s rise to power, Xue Yang was eventually cast out. Wei Wuxian was curious—if Xue Yang had been set free, had Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan not confronted him?

Lan Wangji replied that Xiao Xingchen had gone missing, and Song Lan had disappeared on a journey, never to be seen again. Meanwhile, Chang Ping, after recanting his statement, had his eyes gouged out and later died by lingchi. The weapon used for his execution was none other than Xiao Xingchen’s sword, Shuanghua. Naturally, people assumed Xiao Xingchen had killed Chang Ping in revenge. The unpredictability of fate was truly ironic. Even Lan Wangji, rarely given to emotion, uncharacteristically raised a cup of wine and drank, sighing at the cruel twists of life.

Lan Wangji got drunk after just one cup, completely unconscious. Helpless, Wei Wuxian had to support him back to their room. It seemed that Lan Wangji's tolerance for alcohol hadn't changed at all—he still collapsed after just a sip. After settling Lan Wangji down, Wei Wuxian went outside alone to play his flute. In the vast darkness of the night, Wen Ning appeared, bound in chains. His eyes were dull and lifeless, as if he did not recognize Wei Wuxian.

Seeing the chains, Wei Wuxian deduced that someone had used them to restrain Wen Ning, not only physically but also mentally. He searched the back of Wen Ning's head and, sure enough, found two long needles. When he pulled them out, Wen Ning's face contorted in pain before finally regaining his senses. Having been separated for so long, Wen Ning recounted how he had accompanied Wen Qing to Jinlintai that day, only to be imprisoned by Jin Guangshan.

After that, his memory grew increasingly fuzzy until he heard Wei Wuxian’s flute, which allowed him to break free from his restraints. As he spoke, he suddenly dropped to his knees, apologizing profusely. He believed that everything had happened because of him—if he had not killed Jin Zixuan, neither Wei Wuxian nor Wen Qing would have suffered.

Wei Wuxian quickly helped him up, comforting him and even planning to secretly use Lan Wangji’s Bichen Sword to cut the chains and set Wen Ning free. Just as Wei Wuxian turned around, he was shocked to see Lan Wangji standing behind him. He hurriedly tried to explain, only to realize that Lan Wangji was still drunk and hadn't actually heard what he had said.

Wei Wuxian wanted to take Lan Wangji back to the inn, but he took a wrong turn and ended up at a farmhouse. Though intoxicated, Lan Wangji stubbornly walked into the yard, grabbed a chicken, and insisted on giving it to Wei Wuxian. Helpless, Wei Wuxian had no choice but to accept the chicken. Meanwhile, Lan Wangji stood up on his own and scrawled a message on the railing: "Lan Wangji was here.

"Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but laugh and decided to join in on the mischief, writing another line: "Wei Wuxian was here too. " After that, he finally managed to support Lan Wangji back to the inn. The room was eerily silent when they entered. Sensing something was wrong, Wei Wuxian stepped in cautiously and, sure enough, found a masked person lying in wait. The intruder suddenly lunged at him with a sword.

Despite being drunk, Lan Wangji instinctively shielded Wei Wuxian and engaged in battle with the masked assailant. Wei Wuxian was shocked—the masked person seemed extremely familiar with Lan Wangji’s sword techniques. Could he be someone from the Lan clan? Realizing he was at a disadvantage, the masked attacker quickly used a teleportation talisman to escape. After the enemy fled, Lan Wangji remained in a dazed state.

Seeing this as a rare opportunity to hear some honest words from him, Wei Wuxian seized the moment to ask a few questions. When he asked why Lan Wangji had chosen to help him, Lan Wangji lowered his gaze and answered, "Because I have regrets. On the battlefield of Nightless City, I did not stand by your side. " Wei Wuxian was deeply moved by his words.

He solemnly told Lan Wangji that none of it was his fault and that he had no reason to blame himself. Lan Wangji, half-asleep, said nothing more. As the hour of Hai arrived, he followed his usual routine, went to bed, and refused to answer any further questions. The next morning, with the sun high in the sky, Wei Wuxian got up early and saw a group of children playing, pretending to be the clan leaders of the great sects.

Just then, Lan Wangji emerged, looking completely serious as if he had forgotten everything that happened the night before. Wei Wuxian chose not to expose him. Instead, he nervously told Lan Wangji that the masked intruder was likely someone familiar with the Lan clan. They continued on their journey and soon learned that their next destination was Yi City—a place rumored to be cursed, where those who lived there either died young or met tragic ends.

As they spoke, they arrived outside the city gates. The place was shrouded in dense fog, giving it an eerie and desolate atmosphere. As Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji ventured deeper into the mist, they could barely see each other. To their surprise, they encountered Jin Ling, Lan Sizhui, and their group. It turned out that Jin Ling and Sizhui had heard strange noises and seen shadowy figures darting about in the city, preventing them from leaving.

As they conversed, a horde of puppets suddenly swarmed in from outside the city. Fortunately, Lan Wangji acted quickly and destroyed them. Wei Wuxian was startled—these puppets were controlled by the Stygian Tiger Seal. Someone had clearly managed to replicate it. Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, another masked person suddenly appeared, seemingly trying to snatch Wei Wuxian’s spirit-trapping pouch.

Lan Wangji immediately engaged the attacker while Wei Wuxian led Jin Ling and the others away to a safer location. Along the way, he noticed that some of them had been poisoned by the puppets and carefully guided them to move cautiously. They finally found a shop and went inside, only to discover that the entire place was filled with paper effigies, making for an unsettling sight. The shopkeeper was an elderly woman, frail and haggard. Wei Wuxian noticed the telltale markings of a puppet on her neck and immediately grew wary.

Wei Wuxian needed help cooking glutinous rice porridge to detoxify everyone. Lan Sizhui volunteered, and Jin Ling eagerly followed along. The two told Wei Wuxian that they had been chasing something here. They called it a "thing" because they had no idea who or what it was. It came and went without a trace and even threw dead cat corpses to scare people.

Once the glutinous rice porridge was ready, Wei Wuxian took Sizhui and Jin Ling to serve it to everyone. However, the porridge had an odd taste, making everyone cough from the spiciness. Just then, a knocking sound came from outside. Wei Wuxian peeled back the window paper and saw a thin, frail girl slowly approaching with a crutch. He exaggerated his reaction on purpose, making Jin Ling and Sizhui curious enough to peek out the window as well.

They were shocked to see the girl’s blank eyes, blood dripping from her mouth—a truly terrifying sight. Wei Wuxian remained calm and instructed everyone to observe carefully. They soon realized that the white-eyed girl was a beggar, blind and mute, unable to speak even if she wanted to. However, she had followed them all the way here, seemingly trying to ask for help. At that moment, a blind man suddenly stumbled forward.

Wei Wuxian was shocked to recognize him as Xiao Xingchen. Ignoring the poisonous fog outside, he used a spell to guide Xiao Xingchen into the house. Wei Wuxian gave Xiao Xingchen the glutinous rice porridge to detoxify him, but danger still lurked. Outside the wooden house, a swarm of corpses suddenly appeared, overwhelming the area.

Just as Wei Wuxian was about to draw a talisman to repel them, a loud noise came from the rooftop, and Song Lan crashed down, swinging his sword to attack Wei Wuxian and the others. Wei Wuxian noticed the dark corpse marks on Song Lan’s neck and quickly played "Chenqing" to stop his frenzied attack. The group hurriedly tied Song Lan up to prevent him from losing control again.

Wei Wuxian stepped forward and was shocked to find that Song Lan’s tongue had been removed. Searching the back of Song Lan’s head, he pulled out a nail—exactly like the ones found in Wen Ning’s brain, undoubtedly the work of the same person. Since Song Lan could not speak, Wei Wuxian asked Sizhui to play the zither and perform a "Spirit Inquiry" to ask for his name and who had harmed him.

After questioning, Sizhui revealed in astonishment that this man was indeed Song Lan, but he had been wounded by Xiao Xingchen! Everyone was in disbelief. They all knew that Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen were as close as brothers—how could they have ended up killing each other? However, Sizhui’s interpretation was correct, leaving the situation utterly baffling. Wei Wuxian’s expression grew serious as he instructed Sizhui to ask who was controlling Song Lan.

Sizhui’s face darkened, as Song Lan’s answer was: "The person standing behind you all. "At that moment, the seemingly unconscious Xiao Xingchen curled his lips into a sinister smile. With a snap of his fingers, Song Lan suddenly broke free from his restraints, roaring as he pressed his sword against Wei Wuxian’s throat. Wei Wuxian told Sizhui to take everyone and leave while he stayed behind to negotiate with "Xiao Xingchen.

"It turned out that this "Xiao Xingchen" was actually Xue Yang in disguise. Xue Yang had long seen through Wei Wuxian’s true identity. The entire elaborate setup was orchestrated just to make Wei Wuxian restore the shattered soul inside the Spirit-Locking Pouch. Although Wei Wuxian had no idea whose soul was inside the pouch, he could tell that the person was already dead, and the soul was so fragmented that resurrection was impossible.

Upon hearing this, Xue Yang’s expression changed drastically. He threatened Wei Wuxian, demanding that he find a way to repair the broken soul no matter what, or he would never let the matter rest. After all these years, Xue Yang had not changed. He was still as strikingly handsome as ever but just as ruthless. In front of Wei Wuxian, he casually admitted that before heading to Nightless City, he had already secretly kept a piece of Yin Iron.

He had also long known that there were a total of five pieces of Yin Iron in the world. The sword Wei Wuxian retrieved from the Xuanwu of Slaughter’s body contained the last fragment, which allowed him to forge the Stygian Tiger Seal. Seeing the situation, Wei Wuxian deduced that Xue Yang was responsible for the massacres at the Chang Clan and Bai Xue Pavilion.

Just as he was seething with rage, Wen Ning suddenly charged in to protect Wei Wuxian and engaged in a fierce battle with Song Lan. While Wen Ning fought Song Lan, Xue Yang seized the opportunity to ambush Wei Wuxian. He shamelessly declared that he was determined to capture Wei Wuxian and make him repair the broken soul. At this critical moment, Lan Wangji descended from the sky, engaging in an intense battle with Xue Yang.

Wei Wuxian quickly led the others away, deciding to follow the blind and mute girl’s lead. She brought them to a place filled with coffins, anxiously tapping one of them with her cane. When Wei Wuxian helped her open it, he was shocked to find the real Xiao Xingchen’s corpse inside. The girl burst into heart-wrenching sobs, her sorrow palpable. Feeling sympathy for her and determined to uncover the truth, Wei Wuxian decided to use "Empathy" to relive the past.

The so-called Empathy technique allows one's spiritual consciousness to enter the body of another person and experience their memories. Wei Wuxian pressed his palm against the blind girl's and closed his eyes. Slowly, he felt his consciousness merge with hers, reliving everything she had gone through. The blind girl’s name was A-Qing. Ten years ago, she was still an innocent and lively young girl.

Forced by circumstances, she pretended to be blind to gain people's sympathy and alms while occasionally engaging in petty theft. One day, A-Qing stole a purse at the marketplace and accidentally bumped into Xiao Xingchen. At that time, Xiao Xingchen was completely blind. When he learned that A-Qing was also blind, he sympathized with her and encouraged her to mend her ways, allowing her to follow him on his journey.

While traveling through the mountains, Xiao Xingchen and A-Qing happened upon a severely injured man. Since Xiao Xingchen could not see, he was unaware that the person he had rescued was actually Xue Yang. When Xue Yang slowly woke up and saw Xiao Xingchen, he was momentarily shocked. However, upon realizing that Xiao Xingchen did not recognize him, he relaxed. Under the care of Xiao Xingchen and A-Qing, Xue Yang's injuries gradually healed.

Ever suspicious, Xue Yang tested A-Qing multiple times to confirm whether she was truly blind. Only after several trials did he finally lower his guard around her. A-Qing did not like Xue Yang. She felt that he was clearly a cultivator, yet he never revealed his identity, always being secretive—surely up to no good. However, when she voiced her concerns to Xiao Xingchen, he dismissed her worries.

And so, Xue Yang continued to live with them, even "kindly" guiding Xiao Xingchen in eliminating what he claimed were walking corpses. Xiao Xingchen, trusting him, wielded his sword against them, unaware that the ones dying under his blade were ordinary, defenseless people. Three years passed in this manner. One day, outside the city, A-Qing encountered Song Lan. Upon learning that he was Xiao Xingchen's close friend, she happily led the way for him.

However, as they reached the house, Song Lan suddenly caught sight of Xue Yang slipping through the door. His face changed drastically, and he stood frozen in shock. Hiding behind a haystack, A-Qing curiously asked Song Lan what was wrong. Song Lan trembled all over, watching in rage as Xue Yang casually chatted with Xiao Xingchen. When Xue Yang stepped out with a basket, preparing to buy groceries, Song Lan, filled with hatred, lunged at him.

Xue Yang, seeing Song Lan, did not appear frightened and instead smirked with his signature devilish grin. The two immediately engaged in an intense battle. Song Lan demanded to know why Xue Yang had deliberately approached Xiao Xingchen. Xue Yang sneered and revealed the truth—during these years, Xiao Xingchen had indeed killed many "evil creatures," but he had never realized that they were actually living, breathing humans.

It turned out that Xiao Xingchen had given his own eyes to Song Lan so that he could see again. Now blind, Xiao Xingchen relied on his sword, Shuanghua, to sense resentful energy and slay supposed evildoers. However, Xue Yang had discovered a loophole—if he cut out the tongues of those poisoned, even Shuanghua could not differentiate between a walking corpse and a living person.

So, Xue Yang went around cutting people's tongues out and then tricked Xiao Xingchen into killing them. Song Lan trembled with rage, cursing Xue Yang for his cruelty, for taking advantage of Xiao Xingchen's blindness and making him suffer unbearably. Xue Yang remained indifferent. To him, Xiao Xingchen had lost his sight for Song Lan's sake. So, what right did Song Lan have to condemn him? Song Lan was thrown into turmoil. Seizing the opportunity, Xue Yang released toxic mist.

As Song Lan inhaled it, he screamed in pain. With calculated malice, Xue Yang plunged his sword into Song Lan's mouth, cutting out his tongue. Song Lan spewed blood, blindly swinging his sword at Xue Yang. At that moment, sensing the commotion outside, Xiao Xingchen rushed out, following the guidance of his sword. Without hesitation, he drove his blade straight through Song Lan's chest. Song Lan turned his head in disbelief.

Struggling forward, he tried to place his Fuxue sword in Xiao Xingchen's hands, hoping he would recognize him. But in the end, he failed. Xue Yang, laughing cheerfully, pulled Xiao Xingchen back inside to prepare dinner, while Xiao Xingchen, trusting him completely, remained unaware that he had just slain his closest friend. Hiding behind the haystack, A-Qing witnessed everything. She was so terrified that her soul nearly left her body.

Through the Empathy technique, Wei Wuxian had now learned the entire truth. He loathed Xue Yang's wickedness, his face twisting in fury. Jin Ling and the others, watching Wei Wuxian’s expression, feared that he might never wake from the trance. They hurriedly rang a bell beside his ear. Wei Wuxian gasped as he regained consciousness.

Looking at Xiao Xingchen’s corpse inside the coffin, he had already deduced what had happened next—after dealing with Song Lan, Xue Yang must have also harmed Xiao Xingchen and A-Qing. The fragmented soul inside the Spirit-Trapping Pouch could only belong to Xiao Xingchen. Wei Wuxian clenched his teeth in rage. No matter what, Xue Yang had to die! At that moment, Lan Wangji was still locked in a fierce battle with Xue Yang.

Seizing an opportunity, Lan Wangji snatched Shuanghua and the Spirit-Trapping Pouch from Xue Yang’s grasp. Enraged and humiliated, Xue Yang disappeared into the thick fog. Seeing that Lan Wangji had lost track of Xue Yang, Wei Wuxian deliberately spoke to agitate Xue Yang, exposing his countless atrocities over the years and forcing him to show himself.

Wei Wuxian exposed Xue Yang’s series of evil deeds, causing Xue Yang to burst into maniacal laughter in midair. Wei Wuxian coldly remarked that Xiao Xingchen utterly detested Xue Yang, yet Xue Yang shamelessly clung to him—truly despicable! Hearing this, Xue Yang suddenly emerged from the thick fog. Of course, he knew that Xiao Xingchen hated him, but since Xiao Xingchen was determined to be a noble and virtuous man, he would make sure Xiao Xingchen didn’t get his way!

Wei Wuxian listened quietly and continued questioning: What did all of this have to do with Chang Ping? Why did Xue Yang ruthlessly kill him? Xue Yang’s eyes glowed with a cold light—he loathed the Chang clan to the core and had sworn to exterminate them, not even leaving a single dog alive. Wei Wuxian then tried to provoke him further, attempting to shake Xue Yang’s mental state with words.

However, Xue Yang was extraordinarily resilient—despite his injuries, he seemed completely immune to pain and even attempted to launch a sneak attack on Wei Wuxian, only to be stopped by Wen Ning. Having no choice, Wei Wuxian continued provoking him, speculating that someone had secretly helped Xue Yang forge the Yin Tiger Tally using fragments of Yin Iron.

But no matter how much Wei Wuxian shouted, Xue Yang remained silent, making it impossible to pinpoint his location in the thick fog. Just then, the sound of a bamboo pole tapping suddenly echoed through the mist. A flash of realization struck Wei Wuxian—A-Qing was guiding them to Xue Yang’s position. He quickly instructed Lan Wangji to strike toward the sound of the bamboo pole, and sure enough, the sword pierced Xue Yang.

Furious and humiliated, Xue Yang never expected to fall at the hands of a blind and mute girl. Enraged, he drove his sword straight through A-Qing’s chest. She collapsed instantly, dying a tragic death. At the same time, Lan Wangji swiftly ran his sword through Xue Yang’s body, severing one of his arms. Blood gushed from Xue Yang’s severed arm as a masked figure suddenly descended from the sky, snatching the Yin Tiger Tally from Xue Yang’s grasp with lightning speed.

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were both shocked and immediately realized that Xue Yang and the masked figure were working together, serving the same master. Lan Wangji noticed that the masked figure’s techniques bore the hallmarks of the Lan Clan but also contained elements of the Lanling Jin Clan, filling him with quiet astonishment. At that moment, Song Lan, who had finally regained his senses, struggled to his feet.

His eyes burned with fury and hatred as he brought his sword down, ending Xue Yang’s life. Xue Yang, who had always been arrogant and domineering, was now completely powerless. He collapsed weakly to the ground, and the last thing that flashed through his mind was his final moments with Xiao Xingchen. The truth could not be hidden forever—Xiao Xingchen had eventually learned that the person he had saved was none other than Xue Yang.

Enraged by Xue Yang’s senseless slaughter, he furiously demanded to know why Xue Yang had exterminated the Chang Clan. Xue Yang painfully recalled his childhood. When he was just a child, he had chased after Chang Ping’s father, Chang Cian, begging for candy, only to be ruthlessly knocked under a carriage. His fingers had been crushed beneath the wheels, reduced to a bloody pulp. It was easy to imagine the immense pain he had suffered.

He hated Chang Cian with every fiber of his being, and when he grew up, he took his revenge, slaughtering over fifty members of the Chang Clan in one fell swoop to satisfy his hatred. Yet Xiao Xingchen could not understand Xue Yang. Even if Chang Cian had crushed his fingers, Xue Yang should not have sought revenge through mass slaughter—he certainly should not have massacred Baixue Pavilion or blinded Song Lan. Xue Yang sneered maliciously.

Everything he had done was because Xiao Xingchen loved meddling in affairs that were none of his business—pretending to be righteous while being utterly ignorant of the real world. He was nothing more than a naïve fool! Enraged, Xiao Xingchen swung his sword at him, but Xue Yang cruelly revealed the truth.

He detailed everything to Xiao Xingchen, explaining that the "evil spirits" he had been killing were actually living humans—people whose tongues had been cut out so they could not cry for help. Xiao Xingchen was in utter disbelief. He wanted nothing more than to kill Xue Yang on the spot. However, Xue Yang nimbly dodged his attack and goaded him into dueling the person behind him.

Xiao Xingchen instinctively heard the approaching sword and parried the strike, immediately feeling a chilling sense of familiarity. Trembling, he reached out to touch the hilt of the opposing sword. When his fingers brushed against the engraved characters “Fuxue,” he finally understood—the person before him was Song Lan. But Song Lan had already become a lifeless puppet, devoid of consciousness. Realizing he had been deceived by Xue Yang and had committed an unforgivable mistake, Xiao Xingchen was overwhelmed with despair.

He wept bitterly, but his hollow eyes held no tears—only blood. He collapsed to the ground, picked up his Shuanghua sword, and resolutely slit his own throat. For the first time, Xue Yang was truly shocked. However, he did not panic. As always, he thought he could turn Xiao Xingchen into an obedient puppet, ensuring he would never leave his side. Happily, Xue Yang prepared the soul-summoning ritual.

He meticulously cleaned the bloodstains from Xiao Xingchen’s body and even set up a banquet, waiting for him to wake up. Once everything was ready, Xue Yang snapped his fingers with a delighted grin, expecting Xiao Xingchen to sit up. To his surprise, there was only silence. Xiao Xingchen showed no sign of revival. Startled, Xue Yang leaned in to check and finally realized that Xiao Xingchen’s soul had shattered beyond recovery. He would never “come back” again.

Like a child who had lost his favorite candy, Xue Yang knelt beside Xiao Xingchen and wailed bitterly. No matter how much he threatened or pleaded, Xiao Xingchen was gone—completely and utterly. In desperation, Xue Yang devised a plan—he would find a Soul-Locking Pouch and ask Wei Wuxian to help piece together Xiao Xingchen’s shattered soul. But by now, it was all futile. Clutching the candy Xiao Xingchen had once given him, Xue Yang closed his eyes.

Wei Wuxian and the others buried A-Qing’s remains, while Song Lan lingered beside Xiao Xingchen’s body. Wei Wuxian handed Xiao Xingchen’s broken soul to Song Lan. Unable to speak, Song Lan carved a line into the ground with his sword:From this day forward, he would carry Shuanghua and walk the earth, as if Xiao Xingchen were still by his side, slaying demons and evil. Watching Song Lan’s departing figure, Wei Wuxian sighed inwardly. "Bright moon, clear breeze—Xiao Xingchen.

Proud snow, unyielding frost—Song Zichen. Will they ever meet again? "After Song Lan left, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji followed the guidance of the blade spirit and discovered a pitch-black coffin. Working together, they pried open the lid and were shocked to find a headless corpse inside. At that moment, the blade spirit transformed into Baxia’s form—it was clear that this headless body was none other than the missing Nie Mingjue. Leaving Yi City, the group arrived in Tanzhou.

In the marketplace, Sizhui was entranced by a toy, unable to recall anything from before he was three years old, though a vague shadow lingered in his memory. Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian caught a glimpse of a small boy’s silhouette, which immediately reminded him of Wen Yuan. With a deep sigh, his heart filled with sorrow. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji bought a rabbit-shaped lantern. As they returned to their lodgings, they learned that Lan Xichen had also arrived.

Upon hearing that Nie Mingjue’s corpse had been found, Lan Xichen was both shocked and grieved. Wei Wuxian brought up the masked figure who was proficient in both Lan and Jin Clan swordplay. He subtly voiced his suspicion—this person was likely Jin Guangyao, as only he had intimate knowledge of Nie Mingjue and strong ties to the Lan Clan.

Lan Xichen defended Jin Guangyao, insisting that he had been by his side in conversation for days and had not used any teleportation talismans. In truth, Lan Xichen knew that Jin Guangyao was the prime suspect, but he still found it difficult to believe that his sworn brother could be the true mastermind. Wei Wuxian advised him to consider the bigger picture and turned to leave.

Lan Xichen called out, addressing him as "Young Master Wei"—it was clear that he had already recognized Wei Wuxian through Lan Wangji’s behavior, confirming that an old friend had returned.

Sizhui and Jin Ling talked about the Yiling Patriarch, Wei Wuxian. Jin Ling believed that all these bad things were secretly done by Wei Wuxian, but Sizhui did not think so, which made Jin Ling very displeased. It was not until Lan Wangji came downstairs that everyone scattered like birds and beasts.

Contrary to his usual behavior, Lan Wangji asked the shopkeeper for a pot of wine, leaving everyone stunned with their mouths agape, wondering why Lan Wangji, who had always followed the strict rules, was acting this way. At this moment, Wei Wuxian was in his room, bored out of his mind. He opened the window and saw Wen Ning hanging outside, his hair disheveled, looking somewhat frightening. However, Wen Ning did not mind.

He blinked and wanted to say a few more words. But just then, Lan Wangji walked in carrying the wine. In a panic, Wen Ning fell from the roof with a heavy thud, quickly got up, and fled in a hurry. Wei Wuxian, both amused and helpless, sat down and looked in surprise at the wine in Lan Wangji's hand. Without hesitation, he started drinking by himself.

Lan Wangji then brought up the serious matter—he hoped that next month, Wei Wuxian would accompany him to Jinlintai to attend the Discussion Conference and find Nie Mingjue’s head near Jin Guangyao. As Wei Wuxian hesitated, Lan Xichen also came over to persuade him, stating that if Jin Guangyao was truly a wicked man beyond redemption, he would not show any mercy. Thus, Wei Wuxian put on a mask and traveled to Jinlintai with the Lan brothers.

Jin Guangyao came out to greet them. After many years, he still had the same warm and smiling demeanor, treating everyone with enthusiasm and courtesy. As the banquet began, Jin Guangyao entered gracefully with his wife, Qin Su. The two of them looked like a perfect match, a true pair made in heaven. Just as everyone was drinking and chatting, Nie Huaisang suddenly burst in, crying and pleading with Jin Guangyao to help him solve a problem.

Jin Guangyao had no choice but to take him to the backyard to talk in detail. Wei Wuxian noticed that the people of the Jin Clan were looking at him strangely. Since he was now using Mo Xuanyu’s identity, he wanted to investigate the connection between Mo Xuanyu and the Jin Clan. Sure enough, as soon as Wei Wuxian stepped into the backyard, he was immediately surrounded by several Jin Clan members, led by a young man named Jin Chan.

Jin Chan insisted that Mo Xuanyu had once harassed Qin Su and that he must be properly taught a lesson today. Wei Wuxian sighed inwardly—of all the people Mo Xuanyu could have harassed, he just had to pick Jin Guangyao’s wife. He was really asking for trouble. At that moment, Jin Ling suddenly rushed out and stood in front of Wei Wuxian.

Seeing this, Wei Wuxian took the opportunity to teach Jin Ling a few moves, enabling him to defeat Jin Chan effortlessly. After driving Jin Chan away, Wei Wuxian grinned and told Jin Ling that he had already moved on and no longer had feelings for Qin Su. Jin Ling had some doubts about Wei Wuxian’s identity, but he did not want to dwell on it.

He just hoped that Wei Wuxian would leave as soon as possible to avoid any misunderstandings with Jin Guangyao. As he spoke, Jin Ling even pretended to call Fairy. Terrified, Wei Wuxian immediately ran away. He sneaked into Lan Wangji’s room, where Lan Wangji was already waiting for him. Wei Wuxian took out a paper effigy and infused it with his spiritual consciousness.

The paper effigy immediately came to life, agilely climbing onto Lan Wangji’s forehead and tugging at his forehead ribbon. Lan Wangji gently told the paper effigy not to cause trouble and reminded it to be extremely careful when investigating Jin Guangyao. With that, the paper effigy swiftly slipped out through the door crack and made its way to Jin Guangyao’s residence, the Fragrant Jade Hall.

It wriggled its thin body through a window slit and landed lightly on the desk, trying to examine the letters on the table. Unfortunately, the letters were pressed down, and the paper effigy was not strong enough to pull them out. Before it could succeed, Qin Su suddenly walked in.

The paper effigy quickly hid to the side and was shocked to see that Qin Su’s face was deathly pale, completely different from her lively expression in the banquet hall earlier. Qin Su trembled as she picked up a letter, but suddenly, Jin Guangyao’s voice rose behind her. She turned around in fear, seeing Jin Guangyao looking at her with his usual gentle expression, but at this moment, his smile seemed terrifying.

Qin Su, shaking, told Jin Guangyao that she had just met someone, heard some things, and obtained this letter. Jin Guangyao kept his signature smile as he took the letter and carefully read through it. Gradually, his smile froze, his entire expression turning sinister as he began to argue that everything written in the letter was nonsense and slander. Tears welled up in Qin Su’s eyes. Even now, Jin Guangyao was still trying to deceive her—it was too horrifying!

As she spoke, nausea overcame her, and she crouched down, dry heaving. Jin Guangyao responded calmly, saying that they had lived harmoniously for so many years, their marriage was once blissful, and as long as Qin Su did not mind, everything could go back to the way it was. Qin Su refused to believe Jin Guangyao’s lies any longer. She thought of their deceased son, A-Song, and felt a chill deep in her heart.

A terrifying suspicion arose—was A-Song killed by Jin Guangyao? At this moment, Jin Guangyao had no time to think about that. He only wanted to know who had revealed everything to Qin Su. Qin Su struggled against him in anger. Only now did she finally see her husband’s true face—he was a man who had ruthlessly killed his own son, a man who would stop at nothing for power! Jin Guangyao’s eyes gleamed with cold light.

No matter what, A-Song had to die; if he had grown up, the secret would have been impossible to keep. Qin Su interrupted Jin Guangyao, slapping him twice with all her strength. Seeing that Qin Su refused to reveal the informant’s identity, Jin Guangyao made up his mind. He sealed some of Qin Su’s meridians and took her into a secret chamber. The paper effigy hurriedly followed behind.

Inside the secret chamber, Qin Su was restrained as Jin Guangyao pressured her to reveal the informant’s name. At that moment, the paper effigy accidentally made a faint noise. Jin Guangyao’s ears twitched, and his expression changed dramatically. Realizing that an intruder had sneaked into the chamber, he quickly hid Qin Su and cautiously approached a covered rack. Lowering his voice, he asked, “Were you just watching me?”

As he spoke, Jin Guangyao slowly lifted the curtain covered in talismans, revealing Nie Mingjue’s head. However, the head was encased in armor, with its eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all sealed, making it an eerie sight. Once Jin Guangyao moved away from the rack, the paper effigy slipped inside. Not only did it see Nie Mingjue’s head, but it also discovered the blueprint for creating the Yin Tiger Tally.

The paper effigy pressed itself against Nie Mingjue’s head, and at that moment, in Lan Wangji’s room, Wei Wuxian suddenly sat upright, his brows furrowed and his hands forming a gesture. Lan Wangji was startled—Wei Wuxian had begun empathizing.

Wei Wuxian's eyes were tightly shut, and the muscles on his face trembled. Lan Wangji knew he was caught in an empathy trance and was deeply astonished. At this moment, Wei Wuxian was attached to Nie Mingjue's head, following his spiritual consciousness, experiencing the past encounters between Nie Mingjue and Jin Guangyao. Many years ago, Jin Guangyao was not yet the imposing Chief Cultivator.

Back then, he was called Meng Yao, an illegitimate son of Jin Guangshan, born from an unacknowledged affair. Carrying a token, he traveled a great distance from Yunmeng to Lanling to seek recognition from his father. However, Jin Guangshan, being a philanderer with countless children born out of wedlock, refused to acknowledge Meng Yao, the son of a prostitute, and cruelly kicked him down from the golden platform of Jinlintai. From then on, Meng Yao wandered the world alone.

Even after finding refuge with the Nie Clan, he could not escape malicious gossip and ridicule, becoming the target of mockery. Despite his humble origins, Meng Yao worked diligently and earned Nie Mingjue’s appreciation. When Nie Mingjue overheard his subordinates gossiping maliciously, he reprimanded them in anger and, for the first time ever, appointed Meng Yao as his deputy general, giving him an opportunity to showcase his talents.

Later, during a chaotic battle, Meng Yao deliberately killed a Nie Clan leader who had insulted him and attempted to frame Xue Yang for the crime. Unexpectedly, Nie Mingjue witnessed the entire scene. It was then that he realized Meng Yao had always feigned weakness and suffering in his presence to gain sympathy and climb the ranks. Being a man of unwavering principles, Nie Mingjue resolutely expelled Meng Yao from the Nie Clan.

For years, Meng Yao vanished without a trace until the Sunshot Campaign at Nightless City, where Nie Mingjue, captured by Wen Ruohan, saw him again. By then, Meng Yao had become ruthless, killing anyone who displeased him without hesitation, acting like Wen Ruohan’s loyal hound. Nie Mingjue was furious but was knocked unconscious by a palm strike from Meng Yao. When he awoke, he found himself in Lan Xichen’s arms.

Remembering Meng Yao’s actions, Nie Mingjue roared in anger and swung his blade, only to be stopped by Lan Xichen. Lan Xichen insisted that Meng Yao was an undercover spy within Wen Ruohan’s ranks, and Meng Yao knelt, pleading his case. Though burning with rage, Nie Mingjue ultimately spared Meng Yao’s life, considering their past acquaintance.

Not long after, Nie Mingjue, Lan Xichen, and Meng Yao became sworn brothers, vowing that if any of them harbored disloyalty, they would face divine retribution. From then on, Meng Yao, having earned merit for assassinating Wen Ruohan, reinvented himself as Jin Guangyao and basked in his newfound prestige. However, before Nie Mingjue, he remained deferential and continued to play the Cleansing Melody for him. As time passed, Nie Mingjue’s temperament grew increasingly irritable, showing signs of deviation into madness.

One day, upon learning that Jin Guangyao refused to eliminate Xue Yang, Nie Mingjue stormed into Lanling to confront him. After all the betrayals and conflicts, Nie Mingjue had finally seen Jin Guangyao’s true nature. He understood clearly that Jin Guangyao’s reluctance to kill Xue Yang stemmed from his unwillingness to defy Jin Guangshan’s orders and his determination to maintain his power within the Jin Clan. Jin Guangyao sneered and admitted it outright.

In his view, killing a few Nie Clan cultivators in the past was justified—after all, sacrifices were inevitable for great ambitions. Besides, Nie Mingjue himself had slain countless souls; what right did he have to judge him? Enraged, Nie Mingjue’s face turned crimson as he furiously demanded why Jin Guangyao was unwilling to sacrifice himself but was so eager to sacrifice others. Jin Guangyao’s smile was chilling—how could he sacrifice himself? He was of the noblest status!

Furious beyond measure, Nie Mingjue kicked Jin Guangyao off Jinlintai. Jin Guangyao crashed to the ground, blood streaming down his face, yet he gracefully stood up, his gaze as cold as a blade. Nie Mingjue raised his great saber, ready to execute his sworn brother. However, a sharp pain suddenly surged through his chest, forcing him to clutch at it.

Jin Guangyao remained calm and smirked, slowly ascending the steps as he revealed that all along, the Cleansing Melody he had played for Nie Mingjue had been subtly altered into a tune that led to qi deviation. Nie Mingjue was both shocked and furious. He lost all reason, succumbed to his madness, and, bleeding from all orifices, howled as he wildly swung Baxia, trying to kill Jin Guangyao. But he could no longer discern his surroundings.

Hearing the commotion, Nie Huaisang hurried over, but Jin Guangyao immediately put on a sorrowful façade, tightly embracing Nie Huaisang to prevent him from approaching the frenzied Nie Mingjue. Thus, Jin Guangyao and Xue Yang, working in collusion, bound Nie Mingjue in chains, intending to turn him into a puppet. Yet, even then, Nie Mingjue resisted, thrashing his head in defiance. Seeing this, Jin Guangyao steeled his heart and ordered Xue Yang to finish the job.

With a wicked grin, Xue Yang swung his blade, and Nie Mingjue’s head fell to the ground, his eyes remaining open in death. Wei Wuxian jolted out of the empathy trance, so shaken that he almost lost his footing. Before he could recover, Jin Guangyao lunged forward, sword in hand. It turned out Jin Guangyao had never let his guard down—he had been waiting for Wei Wuxian to reveal himself.

Wei Wuxian swiftly dodged, but after several exchanges, he began to struggle. Just then, he caught sight of Suibian within the secret chamber and rushed toward the sword, stepping onto its hilt in hopes that it would unsheathe itself to aid him. At the critical moment, the long-sealed Suibian finally burst free, clashing with Jin Guangyao’s sword. Seizing the opportunity, Wei Wuxian slipped out of the chamber and fled back to Lan Wangji’s side.

Lan Wangji had been playing the Cleansing Melody for Wei Wuxian the entire time. Seeing him awaken, he finally sighed in relief. Wei Wuxian recounted everything he had just witnessed, and knowing time was of the essence, the two immediately set out to confront Jin Guangyao. Jin Guangyao hesitated, and soon, Lan Xichen arrived, also urging Jin Guangyao to open the secret chamber. At that moment, Su She appeared to speak in Jin Guangyao’s defense.

Su She, who had once betrayed the Lan Clan, now shamelessly defended Jin Guangyao. Knowing that he had no choice but to open the secret chamber today, Jin Guangyao let out a helpless smile and led everyone inside with composure. The furnishings in the chamber remained unchanged. Qin Su stood expressionless in the center, which secretly surprised Wei Wuxian. Jin Guangyao had neither moved Qin Su nor killed her—why was that? Wei Wuxian suspiciously lifted the curtain and was shocked to discover that Nie Mingjue’s head was gone, replaced by a peculiar dagger.

Jin Guangyao held up the dagger to show everyone. At that moment, Qin Su, who had been silent, suddenly seemed possessed, rushing forward to seize the dagger and stabbing it into her abdomen, dying on the spot. Everyone was stunned. Jin Guangyao cradled Qin Su’s corpse, crying uncontrollably as he questioned why they had forced him to open the treasure chamber. Soon, Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang arrived after hearing the news. Lan Xichen had no choice but to explain the discovery of Nie Mingjue’s headless corpse. Nie Huaisang immediately fainted, while Jin Guangyao deliberately put on a look of grief and shock, quickly shedding suspicion by appearing as a weak victim.

Tears welled in Jin Guangyao’s eyes as he began to probe maliciously, quickly shifting the blame onto Wei Wuxian. Jin Chan and others seized the opportunity to attack, and Jin Guangyao even drew his sword, intending to take this chance to silence Wei Wuxian forever. At the critical moment, Lan Wangji stepped forward to protect him. In his desperation, Wei Wuxian grabbed the sword Suibian beside him, and to everyone's astonishment, he easily pulled it from its sheath. The crowd was dumbfounded—Suibian had recognized its master! Other than the Yiling Patriarch, Wei Wuxian, who else could have drawn Suibian?

Jin Guangyao smoothly turned the conversation to the incident on Dafan Mountain, where Wei Wuxian had summoned Wen Ning. He then told everyone that Mo Xuanyu had studied the secret texts on sacrificial body offerings, implying that Mo Xuanyu had willingly sacrificed himself to bring Wei Wuxian back to life. As he spoke, Jin Guangyao prepared to strike against Wei Wuxian. Seeing the danger, Lan Wangji fled with Wei Wuxian, only to find themselves surrounded outside by layers of Jin Clan disciples. Jin Guangyao sneered as he closed in. With nowhere to retreat, Wei Wuxian simply removed his mask, revealing his true face to everyone.

Jin Guangyao smiled as he examined Wei Wuxian, surprised that after sixteen years, Wei Wuxian was still so formidable, causing chaos as soon as he returned—not only bewitching Jin Ling but even influencing Lan Wangji. To everyone's shock, Lan Wangji took a stand beside Wei Wuxian, publicly declaring that he had long recognized Wei Wuxian’s identity and was willing to follow him to the very end. Wei Wuxian didn’t want to drag Lan Wangji down; if he left this place with him, Lan Wangji’s reputation would be completely ruined.

However, Lan Wangji had already made up his mind. The two of them swiftly overpowered the Jin disciples, carving a bloody path out. Just then, Jin Ling suddenly charged forward. Believing that Wei Wuxian was responsible for the loss of his parents, he ruthlessly stabbed his sword into Wei Wuxian’s abdomen. Caught off guard, Wei Wuxian coughed up blood, and Lan Wangji quickly carried him away. Jin Ling, terrified, dropped his sword to the ground, while Jiang Cheng watched from a distance, his expression unreadable.

As heavy rain poured down, Lan Wangji supported the staggering Wei Wuxian, struggling forward. Thanks to Lan Wangji continuously transferring spiritual energy into him, Wei Wuxian was able to regain his strength quickly. At that moment, he was deeply moved—when the whole world wished for his death, only Lan Wangji stood by his side. Such loyalty was truly rare and precious. Lan Wangji brought Wei Wuxian back to the quiet room in the Cloud Recesses. Aside from the sword wound on his abdomen, there was still the final sacrificial scar on his arm. Only by killing Jin Guangyao and fulfilling Mo Xuanyu’s last wish could this scar fully heal.

By now, Wei Wuxian was certain that Mo Xuanyu had learned Jin Guangyao’s secret, which led to his expulsion from Jinlintai—not because of the rumors about him harassing Qin Su. Doubts swirled in Wei Wuxian’s mind—who had been secretly guiding him and Lan Wangji toward uncovering the truth behind Nie Mingjue’s death? Whoever had orchestrated such an elaborate scheme was certainly no ordinary person. Just then, Lan Xichen arrived, gracefully entering the room. He told Wei Wuxian to stay there temporarily, as he believed the Jin Clan wouldn’t dare to search Cloud Recesses.

Lan Wangji firmly told Lan Xichen that Nie Mingjue’s head was indeed in Jin Guangyao’s possession. However, Lan Xichen still wished to believe in Jin Guangyao. Feeling helpless, Wei Wuxian suddenly recalled hearing Jin Guangyao play Cleansing Melody during his empathy experience. He played the tune exactly as he had heard it. Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji quickly noticed that parts of the melody had been altered. Realization dawned upon Wei Wuxian—Jin Guangyao had deliberately tampered with the tune.

Lan Xichen, now also suspicious, led Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian to the secret chamber of the Library Pavilion, where they found a book titled Disordered Souls, an Eastern magic text. The eerie melody Jin Guangyao had played originated from this very book. Wei Wuxian pointed out that if Jin Guangyao had secretly infused this demonic tune into the Cleansing Melody while playing it for Nie Mingjue, it would have acted like a slow poison, gradually driving him insane and pushing him into qi deviation.

Wei Wuxian deduced from the missing page in Luan Po Chao that Jin Guangyao must have secretly torn out the section recording the demonic melody, taken it away to practice, and blended it into Qingxin Yin. This way, even if the truth were exposed in the future, the origin of the altered melody would be impossible to trace. At this point, Lan Xichen still refused to believe that Jin Guangyao was a villain. Wei Wuxian helplessly remarked that Jin Guangyao had once been an undercover agent in Buye Tian and had even found Wen Ruohan’s secret chamber—how could he not be capable of sneaking into something as minor as the Lan Clan’s library chamber?

Lan Xichen’s gaze grew heavy. He was well aware that more and more clues pointed toward Jin Guangyao. However, in Lan Xichen’s mind, Jin Guangyao was someone who endured humiliation, cared for the people, and respected both the powerful and the weak. It was difficult for him to believe that such a person could have orchestrated the death of Nie Mingjue and woven such an intricate web of schemes. After much deliberation, Lan Xichen decided to proceed with caution before making any judgments.

Wei Wuxian privately asked Lan Xichen why Lan Wangji had whip scars on his body. With a sigh, Lan Xichen recounted the events. The battle at Buye Tian had been devastating. After the war, Jin Guangyao led people to search Luanzang Gang’s Demon-Suppressing Cave, but Lan Wangji had fought desperately to stop him, preventing the search. However, Lan Wangji’s defiance had caused a massive uproar. Lan Qiren, furious, took Lan Wangji back to Cloud Recesses and punished him with three hundred strikes of the discipline whip, forcing him into seclusion in the Cold Pool Cave. Yet even while enduring his punishment, Lan Wangji refused to admit fault, which only further enraged Lan Qiren and left him deeply disappointed.

Hearing all this, Wei Wuxian felt both touched and melancholic. Staring at the tranquil chamber before him, Lan Xichen revealed that this was the residence of his and Lan Wangji’s biological mother. It turned out that their father had fallen in love with their mother at first sight. However, due to past grudges in the martial world, their mother had killed a respected elder of the Lan Clan. Though deeply pained, their father had defied all opposition and brought her back to Cloud Recesses, marrying her against the wishes of the clan and treating her as his lifelong love. To avoid public scrutiny, he and their mother secluded themselves in this chamber and never emerged—even when Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji were born, they were handed over to Lan Qiren for care. As a result, Lan Qiren harbored great resentment toward their mother, which only deepened his hatred for those who practiced unorthodox methods or had questionable morals.

Later, when their mother passed away, Lan Wangji was devastated. No matter the weather, he would come to this chamber every month, sitting alone in the corridor, burdened with longing. Lan Xichen shared this story to help Wei Wuxian understand that when Lan Wangji first discovered Wei Wuxian practicing demonic cultivation, he had struggled deeply with it. Now, Lan Xichen found himself in a similar dilemma—after believing for years that he understood Jin Guangyao, he was realizing he might have been completely wrong. Perhaps, in the end, human nature was like fire when viewed head-on and ice when seen from the side.

Wei Wuxian went to find Lan Wangji to thank him, but when the words reached his lips, he found them too sentimental and swallowed them back. It seemed Lan Wangji had expected him to come—he had already prepared Emperor’s Smile. Wei Wuxian drank it all in one gulp, and the two of them discussed the mysterious flute melody that had appeared at Qiongqi Path and Buye Tian, both finding it puzzling. Back in the battle at Buye Tian, Wei Wuxian had lost control of Chenqing—now it was clear that someone had played another melody at the time. It must have been Jin Guangyao playing Luan Po Chao, which had thrown everything into chaos, making it impossible to turn back.

Leaning against the railing, Wei Wuxian drank Emperor’s Smile in large gulps. Over the years, so many who had loved him were now gone, but at least Lan Wangji was still by his side. A true confidant in life was enough. Moved by this thought, Wei Wuxian said, “I’m sorry. Thank you.” Lan Wangji lifted his gaze—he was willing to always trust and stand by Wei Wuxian.

Jin Guangyao visited the Lan Clan and returned to Lan Xichen the jade token that had once granted him free passage. He then told Lan Xichen that Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian were still missing, and since the other sects suspected the Lan Clan, Lan Xichen should allow a search to prove their innocence. Lan Xichen remained noncommittal, so Jin Guangyao continued, saying that many more puppets had appeared, all heading toward Luanzang Gang. He suggested that it must be Wei Wuxian activating an array and causing trouble, and that another siege of Luanzang Gang seemed imminent. Jin Guangyao invited all clan leaders to Jinlintai to discuss the matter and asked if Lan Xichen would attend.

Lan Xichen nodded slightly, agreeing to go. Jin Guangyao’s face revealed a meaningful smile as he added that he would also be holding a burial for Nie Mingjue and hoped Lan Xichen would come to send him off. After Jin Guangyao left, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian emerged from behind a screen. The group prepared to split up, and Lan Xichen clenched his teeth—if Jin Guangyao truly was beyond redemption, he would not show mercy.

And so, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian set off, leading the little donkey, Lil Apple. Amidst the green mountains and flowing waters, Wei Wuxian played a cheerful tune, while Lan Wangji walked steadily beside him, utterly at ease. Suddenly, inspiration struck Wei Wuxian—he finally realized how Lan Wangji had recognized him. That day at Dafan Mountain, he had played the same melody that Lan Wangji had once hummed in Xuanwu Cave. Yet to this day, Wei Wuxian still did not know the name of that tune.

As they traveled, the two chatted and soon arrived at a farmhouse, hoping to ask for some water. Finding no one home, Wei Wuxian playfully picked up a watermelon. Just then, a couple returned, carrying a child. The two of them quickly hid behind a haystack and listened as the couple used the legend of the Yiling Patriarch to scare their child. Curious, Wei Wuxian peeked out and was astonished to see that the woman, named Qingyang, was actually Mianmian.

Mianmian was overjoyed to see Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. She introduced her husband to them—though he was not from the cultivation world, he was honest and kind-hearted, and now accompanied her on night hunts. Wei Wuxian crouched down to look at Mianmian’s adorable young daughter and wanted to give her a New Year's gift. Lan Wangji immediately took out some silver and handed it to Wei Wuxian to give to the child.

Mianmian told them that there were rumors of walking corpses appearing outside the city, but despite searching for a long time, she had yet to find any. Just as she finished speaking, a terrifying scream came from not far away. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji hurried over, only to discover that the one shouting was actually Wen Ning. Wen Ning had his hair disheveled and was covered in dirt and mud, having camouflaged himself with weeds.

Wei Wuxian couldn't help but laugh, thinking Wen Ning had been robbed. Wen Ning cautiously explained that he had been secretly following Wei Wuxian all along and had been dealing with walking corpses along the way, which left him in this sorry state. Wei Wuxian sighed softly—he had told Wen Ning to find a place to hide, but Wen Ning still followed him. Since that was the case, they might as well travel together.

The three of them soon arrived in Yiling, a place filled with memories and emotions. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji had once shared tea here and played with Wen Yuan, but that was a long time ago. The thought of Wen Yuan filled Wei Wuxian with sorrow—if Wen Yuan were still alive, he would be in his teens by now. Lan Wangji parted his lips as if wanting to say something but ultimately remained silent.

The surroundings of Yiling were far from peaceful. They encountered many walking corpses and only managed to escape after a fierce battle. Upon reaching the mountain, they discovered that sections of the surrounding walls had been knocked down—clearly, someone had arrived before them. Years had passed, and Burial Mound was now in ruins. The lotus flowers and lotus roots that had once been painstakingly cultivated were long gone.

As Wei Wuxian gazed at the desolate scene, he seemed to hear the laughter of the past, filling him with sorrow. Suddenly, a group of walking corpses lunged at them. Wen Ning engaged them in battle, while Lan Wangji handed Suibian to Wei Wuxian for self-defense. Wei Wuxian drew the sword, but his posture was unfamiliar, and his spiritual energy was weak, surprising Lan Wangji.

Wei Wuxian quickly covered it up, claiming that Mo Xuanyu’s body had low spiritual energy and couldn't unleash Suibian’s full power. After dealing with the walking corpses, they entered the Demon Subduing Cave and were shocked to find Sizhui, Jin Ling, and others tied up, unable to move. Some Jin clan disciples mistakenly thought that Wei Wuxian had captured them and immediately hurled insults at him.

Jin Ling couldn't bear to listen any longer and spoke up to stop their arrogance, only to be insulted in return—mocked as someone who "had a mother but was not raised by her. " This remark struck Jin Ling's sore spot, and he furiously struggled, ready to fight. Wei Wuxian heard everything clearly. He walked over and handed Suibian to Wen Ning.

Wen Ning stepped forward with his sword, causing the younger cultivators to tremble in fear at the sight of the Ghost General. However, Wen Ning only cut the ropes cleanly without harming anyone. Sizhui was delighted to see Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, while Jin Ling wore a cold expression. His feelings toward Wei Wuxian were conflicted—on one hand, he resented him for causing his parents' deaths, but on the other, he didn’t believe Wei Wuxian was truly a villain.

The Demon Subduing Cave was narrow and dark, so the group decided to escape. Wen Ning volunteered to drive away the walking corpses but soon returned—several prominent clans had gathered at Burial Mound, forcing him to retreat. Wei Wuxian told Wen Ning to hide, while he and Lan Wangji led the younger cultivators out. The disciples of the great clans saw Lan Wangji standing firmly by Wei Wuxian’s side and criticized him for disgracing his reputation as a noble cultivator.

However, no matter how they condemned him, Lan Wangji remained cold and unwavering at Wei Wuxian’s side. Wei Wuxian was puzzled not to see Lan Xichen or Jin Guangyao among the crowd. He soon learned that both had been ambushed at Jinlintai and were seriously injured.

Meanwhile, Nie Huaisang, known for his cluelessness, had shown up at Burial Mound as well, though he still played the same timid and noncommittal role, claiming he was just there to make up the numbers. Among the disciples was a man named Yi Weichun, who had lost a leg in the Battle of Nightless City. He loudly demanded vengeance against Wei Wuxian.

Others, despite having no personal grievances with Wei Wuxian, self-righteously declared that he must die for the sake of justice. Wei Wuxian sternly refuted their baseless accusations, asserting that he would not accept a crime he had not committed. He pointed out that the murder of Nie Mingjue, Qin Su’s suicide, and the gathering of walking corpses had nothing to do with him. But despite his reasoning, the crowd refused to believe him.

Wei Wuxian continued, saying that in the years he had been gone, someone had secretly kept Wen Ning hidden while publicly claiming he had been destroyed. Clearly, this person had ulterior motives. At that moment, another wave of walking corpses attacked. The cultivators engaged in battle but soon found themselves poisoned, losing their spiritual energy. They had no choice but to retreat into the Demon Subduing Cave.

Wei Wuxian looked at them and found their attitude laughable—despite being in such dire straits, they still guarded against him. If he truly wanted to harm them, who among them could stop him? Among them, Su She kept provoking and taunting. Lan Wangji, with an icy expression, silenced him with a spell. Su She clutched his throat, glaring hatefully at Lan Wangji.

Wei Wuxian seized the moment to bring up Su She’s past betrayal of the Lan Clan, causing a heated argument between the Lan disciples and Su She’s followers. During the quarrel, someone pointed out that the Suppressing Evil Melody played by Su She had been full of flaws. Wei Wuxian was suddenly struck with realization—he understood how they had been poisoned. When they had fought the walking corpses earlier, Su She had pretended to use his guqin to exorcise them.

In reality, he had subtly altered the melody, inserting a tune that temporarily disabled spiritual energy. The Lan Clan, though they might have noticed something off, would have assumed it was due to Su She’s lack of skill, never suspecting he was deliberately setting a trap. Exposed by Wei Wuxian, Su She’s face darkened, and he vehemently denied the accusation, claiming he had never studied forbidden melodies in the Lan Clan. Wei Wuxian smiled slightly—why would Su She need to enter the Lan Clan’s library himself when his master had access to it?

Wei Wuxian pretended to be deep in thought and speculated that as long as Su She’s master could enter the secret chamber of the Cloud Recesses, obtaining the Luan Po Chao would naturally be effortless. It seemed that the only person with both free access to Gusu and high status was none other than Jin Guangyao. Su She’s expression grew uglier by the moment. Wei Wuxian continued, saying that today’s siege was nothing more than a well-directed play by Jin Guangyao. To avoid suspicion, he had feigned injury and refused to come, instead sending Su She to secretly sabotage the others. If all the major clans’ disciples perished at Burial Mound, the blame would undoubtedly fall on Wei Wuxian.

Su She, his face dark, retorted that Jin Guangyao was already the Chief Cultivator who commanded the cultivation world—he had no need to fight for power, so why would he needlessly sacrifice the disciples of the great clans? What benefit would that bring him? Seeing how confidently Su She spoke, Wei Wuxian challenged him to play the battle tune he had just performed once again. Naturally, Su She did not dare. Wei Wuxian smiled slightly and took out two pages of sheet music from his robe, claiming that they were remnants of Luan Po Chao found in Jin Guangyao’s secret chamber. If Lan Qiren were to examine them, he could easily determine whether Su She had indeed played a demonic tune.

Su She, flustered and desperate, drew his sword to attack, unwittingly falling into Wei Wuxian’s trap—exposing himself as someone who had not lost his spiritual power. Now, Su She could no longer refute the accusations. He coughed up blood, destroyed the array on the ground, and used a teleportation talisman to flee. Wei Wuxian was stunned. Both he and Lan Wangji realized that Su She was the masked man who had stolen Xue Yang’s Yin Tiger Talisman.

As soon as Su She escaped, hordes of corpses swarmed in. Wen Ning shut the doors and went out alone to fight, while Wei Wuxian informed the others that the Yin Tiger Talisman in Su She’s hands was a replica made by Xue Yang. In other words, all these corpses were under Su She’s control. Though Wen Ning was the Ghost General, he was still only one person. Against the never-ending waves of corpses, he gradually struggled to hold his ground. Sizhui and Jin Ling stepped in to help, but their efforts were barely enough to make a difference. At the critical moment, Wei Wuxian drew a Summoning Yin Flag on himself, making himself a living target to lure the corpses while Lan Wangji and Wen Ning struck from the sides. Only then did the major clans find a chance to escape with their lives.

To avoid further complications, the major clans decided to take temporary refuge at Lotus Pier. Jiang Cheng was concerned for Wei Wuxian’s safety, and Sizhui also worriedly went back to check on him, only to see Wei Wuxian, weak and exhausted, slowly approaching with the support of Lan Wangji. It was clear they had just fought a fierce battle. The group prepared to travel to Lotus Pier by boat. Unexpectedly, Sizhui became seasick, puzzling everyone, as people from Gusu were not supposed to suffer from seasickness. At that moment, Wen Ning cautiously approached and tentatively asked for Sizhui’s name and whether his parents were still alive.

Sizhui politely replied that his surname was Lan, his name was Yuan, and his courtesy name was Sizhui. He explained that his parents had passed away, and he had been raised by Lan Wangji since he was four or five years old. He no longer remembered anything from before that time. The more Wen Ning listened, the more excited he became—he was convinced that the young man before him was Wen Yuan. Carefully, he took out a toy butterfly from his robe—it was Wen Yuan’s favorite childhood toy. Sizhui was stunned. He felt that both the butterfly and Wen Ning’s face looked familiar, yet no matter how hard he tried, he could not recall where he had seen them before.

Just then, Jin Ling angrily drew his sword and charged forward. The sight of Wen Ning immediately reminded him of his father’s murder, filling him with rage. In his fury, he accidentally knocked over Sizhui, who had been trying to mediate. The crowd scolded Jin Ling for his reckless behavior. Clutching the sword left behind by Jin Zixuan, Jin Ling burst into heartbreaking sobs, and in the end, it was Jiang Cheng who called him to his side. Soon, the group arrived at Lotus Pier. Wen Ning, knowing that he was unwelcome, pitifully lingered outside. Sizhui, however, felt an inexplicable sense of closeness to him and took the initiative to chat with him. The two quickly became engrossed in conversation.

Two women named Sisi and Bicao arrived at Lotus Pier, claiming to have urgent matters to report. Jiang Cheng brought them into the hall, where everyone gathered to listen. Sisi spoke first, recounting an event from eleven years ago. At the time, she had been a courtesan, but after her face was slashed by an enemy, her business declined drastically. Left with no choice, she joined a group of aging courtesans to do lower-class prostitution work. One day, they were offered a high price for their services. After being transported by carriage to a mysterious location, they were shocked to discover that the man they were meant to serve was a middle-aged man tied to a bed—that man was Jin Guangshan.

Sisi and the others immediately sensed that something was wrong, but their employer refused to let them leave and forced them to continue “serving” the man. Jin Guangshan struggled violently, and before long, he took his last breath, scaring Sisi and the others out of their wits. However, even then, their employer refused to let them go. In the end, all of Sisi’s companions were killed to silence them. Only she survived by desperately pleading for her life, swearing to keep the secret. She was imprisoned ever since. Recently, someone unknown had set her free, and she finally resolved to expose the employer’s crimes.

Everyone was dumbfounded. Based on Sisi’s description, the employer was undoubtedly Jin Guangyao, with Xue Yang as his accomplice. At this moment, the other woman, Bicao, spoke up. She introduced herself as Qin Su’s personal maid and revealed an event from twelve or thirteen years ago. Many years ago, after Qin Su’s mother learned that her beloved daughter was to marry Jin Guangyao, she became deeply troubled, barely eating or drinking. Eventually, she passed away from grief. On her deathbed, she confided a shocking secret to Bicao.

It turned out that Jin Guangshan had once taken advantage of Qin Su’s mother while intoxicated. She had been furious but dared not speak out. Later, she gave birth to Qin Su—who was actually Jin Guangshan’s daughter, making her Jin Guangyao’s biological sister!

When Qin Su’s mother learned that Jin Guangyao was going to marry Qin Su, she lived in constant fear and anxiety. Unable to confront Jin Guangshan, she secretly told Jin Guangyao the truth, hoping he would stop the marriage. However, despite knowing that Qin Su was his own sister, Jin Guangyao still went through with the wedding. This realization devastated Qin Su’s mother, and she passed away in despair and terror.

Hearing Bicao’s shocking revelation, the crowd clenched their fists in fury, feeling that Jin Guangyao was truly worse than a beast.

The crowd was abuzz with discussion. If Jin Guangyao wanted to secure his position within the Jin Clan, he needed the strong support of his father-in-law, Qin Cangye. That was why he went against all moral boundaries and married his own sister, Qin Su. With this realization, everyone finally understood why rumors had spread that Jin Guangyao had ruthlessly killed his own child.

Since a child born from siblings had a high probability of being mentally impaired, Jin Guangyao must have feared the judgment of others, leading him to kill the child and shift the blame onto someone else. Wei Wuxian realized that the person who had revealed the truth to Qin Su must have been Bi Cao. However, he couldn't understand why, after keeping the secret for so many years, she suddenly decided to expose it now.

A trace of panic flashed across Bi Cao’s face as she stammered that she had only come forward after hearing about Qin Su’s tragic death at Jinlintai, wanting to seek justice for her mistress. The other noble clans were furious, but Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji still found many suspicious points. First, Jin Guangyao was ruthless—why had he spared Sisi? Even though there were now eyewitnesses, there was still no physical evidence. However, the others did not share their doubts.

They had already deemed Jin Guangyao a monstrous villain who killed his father, brother, son, master, and friends. They were certain that he was behind the deaths of Nie Mingjue and Jin Zixuan as well. The crowd grew more and more enraged, vowing to storm Jinlintai and bring Jin Guangyao to justice. Wei Wuxian only felt a deep sorrow in his heart.

Just days ago, Jin Guangyao had been widely praised as the revered Lianfang-zun, yet now he had become a target of universal condemnation. As Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji discussed the situation in the corridor, they wondered who had orchestrated Sisi and Bi Cao’s revelations. Whoever it was must have had a mind as calculating as Jin Guangyao’s. For now, it was difficult to determine the true motives of the mastermind, but Jin Guangyao’s crimes were undeniable.

Lan Wangji decided to send an urgent message to Lan Xichen, warning him to be extra cautious. The two of them continued walking and arrived outside the Jiang Clan's ancestral hall. After some hesitation, Wei Wuxian ultimately followed Lan Wangji inside to pay respects to Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan. At that moment, Jiang Cheng stormed in angrily, accusing Wei Wuxian of having no right to step into the Jiang Clan's ancestral hall.

Seeing Jiang Cheng’s harsh words, Lan Wangji became furious and was ready to act, but Wei Wuxian quickly stopped him. However, Jiang Cheng refused to let the matter go, berating Wei Wuxian for endangering the Jiang Clan when he tried to play the hero for Lan Wangji, causing the clan’s downfall. He also blamed Wei Wuxian for saving the Wen Clan remnants, which led to the deaths of Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan.

Now, Wei Wuxian had the audacity to bring Wen Ning and Lan Wangji to Lotus Pier—it was absolutely unforgivable. Wei Wuxian, seeing Jiang Cheng targeting Lan Wangji, sternly demanded that he apologize. He even grabbed Jiang Cheng by the collar but ultimately let go, realizing they were in the ancestral hall. With a heavy heart, he left with Lan Wangji. Furious, Jiang Cheng chased after them, drawing Zidian and preparing to fight.

Wei Wuxian, having lost his golden core and just endured a fierce battle, was too weak—he began bleeding from his nose and collapsed. Wen Ning rushed over and took several lashes from Zidian but bit his lip and handed Suibian to Jiang Cheng, telling him to draw the sword. Driven to desperation, Jiang Cheng gripped the hilt and pulled hard—Suibian unsheathed itself effortlessly. Both Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji were stunned.

Finally, Wen Ning revealed the truth—inside Jiang Cheng’s body was Wei Wuxian’s golden core. That was why Suibian had recognized him as its master. Jiang Cheng was utterly shattered, screaming in denial. Wen Ning then described in detail what had happened on the mountain that day. Only then did Jiang Cheng realize the truth—his golden core had never been restored. Instead, Wen Qing had extracted Wei Wuxian’s golden core and transferred it to him. Jiang Cheng was in unbearable agony.

No wonder Wei Wuxian never carried a sword anymore. No wonder he had resorted to practicing demonic cultivation. It was because he had no golden core and had no other path left. Lan Wangji listened intently, his eyes widening in shock as he turned to the unconscious Wei Wuxian. To have one's golden core removed—how excruciating must that have been? A deep ache filled Lan Wangji’s heart, and before he realized it, tears streamed down his face.

He carefully lifted Wei Wuxian and carried him away. Wen Ning handed Suibian to Jiang Cheng, telling him that if he still refused to believe, he could try letting someone else draw the sword and see if they succeeded. Jiang Cheng was on the verge of breaking down. He snatched Suibian and ran off, shouting incoherently. Wen Ning and Lan Wangji took Wei Wuxian onto a boat.

Wen Ning thanked Lan Wangji for taking care of Wen Yuan, and only then did Lan Wangji reveal the truth. Years ago, he had gone to the Burial Mounds searching for Wei Wuxian but instead found a sick and feverish Wen Yuan hiding in a cave. Seeing the child in such dire condition, Lan Wangji had taken him back to Gusu to care for and raise him.

Trembling, Lan Wangji asked Wen Ning if the process of removing a golden core was painful. Wen Ning nodded. To ensure the quality of the golden core remained unaffected, Wei Wuxian had undergone the entire procedure without anesthetics—fully conscious. He had endured two days and nights of unimaginable suffering as his once-vibrant spiritual energy drained away, leaving him powerless. Yet, he never wavered. Lan Wangji felt a whirlwind of emotions surge through him.

He recalled how he had once questioned Wei Wuxian about practicing demonic cultivation, never realizing the immense sacrifice he had borne. At that moment, Wei Wuxian finally awoke. Lan Wangji, keeping his promise to Wen Ning, did not tell him that Jiang Cheng had learned the truth. Wei Wuxian stared blankly at the lotus-filled lake before them, and for a moment, he seemed to see Jiang Yanli sitting at the bow, smiling and calling him over to eat lotus seeds.

His nose tingled, and he instinctively reached out to pluck a fresh lotus pod, peeling it open. The lotus fields here belonged to someone, but for once, Lan Wangji did not stop him. Instead, he sat beside Wei Wuxian, peeling and eating lotus seeds with him. The three of them enjoyed the moment together. Just then, a messenger butterfly arrived with urgent news—Jin Guangyao had come to Yunmeng. A thought suddenly struck Wei Wuxian.

He recalled seeing a land deed in Jin Guangyao’s secret chamber, which mentioned a property in Yunping City, Yunmeng. It seemed likely that Jin Guangyao would head there. Without hesitation, the three of them set off immediately and soon arrived at their destination. On the streets of Yunping City, a group of thugs was harassing Wen Ning. Seeing this, Wei Wuxian conjured an illusion of countless butterflies, using them to distract the troublemakers and help Wen Ning escape.

Wen Ning was constantly pestered by mischievous children at the marketplace, so Wei Wuxian told him to return to the inn and rest while he and Lan Wangji headed to the address listed on Jin Guangyao’s land deed. To their surprise, the place Jin Guangyao had purchased turned out to be a Guanyin Temple. The temple was bustling with people, incense offerings were abundant, and the worshippers came in an endless stream.

As they entered the temple, Lan Wangji immediately noticed the presence of an array—a complex one at that—seemingly suppressing something. According to the monks in the temple, the roof was under renovation, and the temple would be closed for three days. Wei Wuxian scrutinized the so-called monks, his heart brimming with questions. Generally, temples were built in tranquil mountain forests, yet this Guanyin Temple stood in the middle of a noisy city.

Moreover, the monks here had not even taken their vows—it was all too suspicious. That night, when all was silent, Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji, and Wen Ning sneaked into the temple to investigate, only to discover a barrier set in place. Wei Wuxian instructed Wen Ning to stay outside as backup while he and Lan Wangji leaped over the wall. To their shock, they saw a group of Jin Clan disciples fully armed and ready, with Lan Xichen among them.

As Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were still reeling from surprise, Jin Ling approached with Fairy, his spirit dog. The Jin disciples immediately tightened their bows, prepared to unleash a rain of arrows the moment Jin Ling broke through the temple gates. Lan Xichen furrowed his brows and sternly instructed the disciples not to harm Jin Ling. Jin Ling knocked on the temple door, but no one answered. Determined, he struggled to climb the wall, intending to jump inside.

However, as soon as he reached the top, he was met with countless arrows aimed directly at him. In the crucial moment, Wei Wuxian threw out his flute to block the arrows, allowing Jin Ling to escape. Unfortunately, this exposed both Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, forcing them to storm into the temple and engage in battle. However, Jin Guangyao had anticipated this.

In the blink of an eye, he used a thin strand of guqin string to tighten around Wei Wuxian’s throat. With Jin Guangyao holding him hostage, Wei Wuxian had no choice but to retreat step by step, while Lan Wangji dared not act rashly. At this moment, Lan Xichen stepped forward helplessly, admitting with shame that he had misjudged Jin Guangyao and fallen into his trap, resulting in the loss of his spiritual energy and rendering him powerless to help.

Jin Guangyao smirked cunningly and turned to question Wei Wuxian on how he had found this place. Upon learning that it was through the land deed, his expression darkened into a chilling smile. If he had known this would happen, he should have stored the land deed separately from Nie Mingjue’s head to prevent any future trouble. Hearing this, Lan Xichen’s gaze darkened. He could no longer deceive himself—Nie Mingjue had indeed been murdered by Jin Guangyao.

Jin Guangyao ordered his men to capture Jin Ling and commanded them to hunt down Fairy, lest the spirit dog bring others to their location. Jin Ling stared at Jin Guangyao in horror, unable to believe that the uncle he had respected since childhood could be so terrifying. Wei Wuxian, on the other hand, was curious about what treasure was hidden in the temple, but Jin Guangyao ignored him and instead ordered his men to dig faster.

Lan Wangji attempted to seize the opportunity while Jin Guangyao was distracted to rescue Wei Wuxian, but he ultimately failed. Instead, Jin Guangyao forced Lan Wangji to sheath his sword and seal his own spiritual veins. At that moment, the sky roared with thunder, and Jin Guangyao led his people inside the temple to take shelter from the rain. His usual gentle smile remained, but under the eerie light, it seemed all the more chilling.

With Lan Wangji’s spiritual veins sealed, he was no longer a threat to Jin Guangyao, who simply left him with Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian was deeply moved by Lan Wangji’s earlier actions, but Lan Wangji merely responded calmly, saying that he had not done it out of guilt but because it was simply the right thing to do. Soon, Su She arrived at the Guanyin Temple, dragging an unconscious Nie Huaisang with him.

He claimed that he had encountered Nie Huaisang along the way and had brought him as a hostage. Lan Xichen questioned Jin Guangyao with grief, asking why he would even target Nie Huaisang. Jin Guangyao replied leisurely, saying that having another clan leader in his grasp would tip the scales further in his favor. Once everything was settled, he would naturally release Nie Huaisang.

Lan Xichen stared at Jin Guangyao, now fully aware that he could no longer trust a single word from him. Su She then leisurely strolled over to where Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian were being held. Mocking their downfall, he even raised his sword, intending to kill Wei Wuxian. Just as the situation turned critical, a commotion erupted outside. Su She went to check and was sent flying back, coughing up blood.

It turned out that Fairy had brought Jiang Cheng to the rescue. Wielding Zidian, Jiang Cheng engaged in an intense battle with Jin Guangyao’s sinister melodies, while Fairy relentlessly chased after Su She. After several rounds, Jiang Cheng gained the upper hand. Knowing he was at a disadvantage, Jin Guangyao deliberately brought up Jiang Cheng’s past—his desperate search for someone to draw Wei Wuxian’s sword—hoping to shake Jiang Cheng’s resolve.

Hearing Jin Guangyao’s words, Wei Wuxian was utterly shocked and turned to Lan Wangji for confirmation. Lan Wangji could only tell him to stay calm. Seeing that he had struck Jiang Cheng’s sore spot, Jin Guangyao continued his verbal assault. He sneered, recalling how years ago, Jiang Cheng had always been overshadowed by Wei Wuxian.

Yet after the Sunshot Campaign, it was as if Jiang Cheng had taken some miraculous golden core medicine, allowing him to rise rapidly and single-handedly support Lotus Pier. How impressive indeed. Jiang Cheng stood frozen as if struck by lightning. Taking advantage of his distraction, Jin Guangyao thrust his sword at him.

Jiang Cheng, unable to evade in time and also wary of Jin Guangyao targeting Wei Wuxian, suffered an injury and was forced to sit back, gritting his teeth in pain. Meanwhile, Jin Guangyao’s subordinates had finally unearthed the hidden treasure. Ignoring everyone else, Jin Guangyao immediately went to inspect it. At this moment, Wei Wuxian also realized what had happened—Wen Ning must have revealed the truth about the golden core transplant.

He felt a tinge of frustration, having explicitly told Wen Ning not to say anything. Jiang Cheng, with an expression of deep resentment, lifted his head and glared fiercely at Wei Wuxian.

Jiang Cheng saw that Wei Wuxian still wanted to hide the truth about the golden core transfer even now. He was both angry and heartbroken. He was furious that Wei Wuxian had done such a great thing but refused to say anything—was he just waiting for Jiang Cheng to be eternally grateful? Wei Wuxian lowered his gaze; that was never his intention. However, Jiang Cheng became even more agitated.

It seemed that Wei Wuxian was truly on a higher level than him. No wonder even their father had praised him so highly when he was alive. Whether it was talent, cultivation, or temperament, Jiang Cheng could never surpass Wei Wuxian! Jiang Cheng's emotions spiraled out of control. He was supposed to be the rightful heir of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan, yet for so many years, he had been overshadowed by Wei Wuxian at every turn.

Even his entire family had perished because of him. And yet, Wei Wuxian had once promised that as long as Jiang Cheng was the head of Yunmeng, he would always follow him, never betraying the Jiang Clan. If Gusu had the Twin Jades of the Lan Clan, then Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng would be the Twin Prides of Yunmeng. Listening to Jiang Cheng’s grievances, Wei Wuxian remained silent.

Jiang Cheng was shouting hoarsely, unable to accept that all of his achievements and cultivation were built upon Wei Wuxian’s sacrifice. Jiang Cheng’s face was covered in tears as he wept bitterly. Finally, he choked out an apology to Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian smiled warmly. He did not need gratitude—he considered it something he owed to the Jiang family. Now that everything had passed, he hoped Jiang Cheng would not dwell on it, nor see it as a burden.

There was no need for either of them to be trapped by the past. The Guanyin Temple fell into silence. Meanwhile, Nie Huaisang groggily woke up, completely unaware of what had just happened or how he had been captured by Su She. At that moment, the people digging for the so-called treasure suddenly let out horrifying screams. Su She supported Jin Guangyao as they staggered out.

Jin Guangyao’s hands were covered in bloody wounds that quickly darkened to a purplish-black color, indicating a severe injury. Everyone exchanged wary glances before turning their attention to the unearthed "treasure"—a pitch-black coffin. But there was no treasure inside. Instead, it contained the corpse of Nie Mingjue! His severed head had been crudely sewn back onto his neck, the rough stitching still exposed. Seeing this gruesome sight, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

Wei Wuxian speculated that this was not the item Jin Guangyao had been searching for. Someone must have secretly swapped it beforehand. Su She immediately accused Wei Wuxian of being behind it, but Wei Wuxian scoffed at the accusation. If it were truly his doing, Jin Guangyao wouldn’t have just suffered minor wounds—he would be in far worse shape.

Clearly, someone had been secretly working against Jin Guangyao from the shadows, first bribing Bi Cao, then rescuing Si Si to expose Jin Guangyao’s crimes, and now swapping the treasure for Nie Mingjue’s corpse, delivering this "grand gift" to Jin Guangyao. Having been outmaneuvered, Jin Guangyao furiously ordered his men to tie up Wei Wuxian and the others before instructing Su She to retrieve medicine to treat his wounds.

While applying the medicine, Su She accidentally exposed the skin beneath his robes, revealing a terrifying pattern of holes—scars from backlash caused by an evil curse! Wei Wuxian and the others were shocked. After all this time searching, they had stumbled upon the answer effortlessly—Su She and Jin Guangyao had been the ones to place the curse on Jin Zixun! Lan Xichen was heartbroken as he questioned Jin Guangyao, while Jiang Cheng struggled furiously against his bindings.

If Jin Guangyao had not ordered Su She to curse Jin Zixun, then none of the subsequent tragedies would have happened. Wei Wuxian was also perplexed—he had no enmity with Jin Guangyao, so why had he gone to such lengths to frame him? Jin Guangyao was shameless as he sneered, "No one starts off with enemies. But once the first strike is made, grudges begin to form. " Su She, unable to hold back, spoke as well.

He had willingly followed Jin Guangyao because he had always resented how the noble sect heirs looked down on him. Just because he was of low birth, was he destined to remain inferior for life? Lan Wangji coldly rebuked him, saying that a treacherous person like Su She would never be tolerated in the Cloud Recesses, regardless of his background.

Seeing Wei Wuxian’s indignant expression, Jin Guangyao walked up to him with a sinister grin and shamelessly argued, "Even if I hadn’t framed you, with your reckless nature, it was only a matter of time before you were hunted down and made an enemy of the world. " Wei Wuxian clenched his teeth in fury, while Jiang Cheng’s face darkened with rage. He angrily cursed Jin Guangyao as the son of a prostitute. That struck a nerve.

Jin Guangyao’s expression twisted as he mockingly reminded Jiang Cheng that he, too, had participated in the siege against the Yiling Patriarch. What right did he have to rage now? After all, Wei Wuxian’s downfall was partly Jiang Cheng’s responsibility. Seeing Jin Guangyao remain utterly unrepentant, Wei Wuxian deliberately brought up Nie Mingjue’s death. At that moment, thunder rumbled outside, casting eerie shadows on Nie Mingjue’s corpse, making it look even more terrifying.

Although Wei Wuxian did not have Chenqing, he whistled, summoning the half-piece of the Stygian Tiger Seal hidden on Jin Guangyao’s person. Instantly, a black mist surged forth. Already burdened with guilt over his murders, Jin Guangyao was thrown into complete panic, hallucinating vengeful spirits closing in on him. In desperation, he bit his tongue and spat out blood, dispelling the dark energy and regaining some composure. Jin Guangyao staggered to his feet, sighing in admiration.

"The Yiling Patriarch truly is formidable. Just a whistle, and you can control the Stygian Tiger Seal. " But at that moment, both Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji had regained their spiritual power. They moved in perfect sync, restraining Jin Guangyao and injuring Su She. Left with no options, Jin Guangyao had no choice but to surrender the half-piece of the Stygian Tiger Seal.

Under Wei Wuxian’s questioning, Jin Guangyao could no longer deny it—he had started working with Xue Yang back in the Unclean Realm. Despite their combined efforts, they had only managed to create half of the Stygian Tiger Seal. Jin Guangyao was extremely curious: where had Wei Wuxian found his own half of the seal? When he learned that Wei Wuxian had accidentally obtained it from within the Tortoise of Slaughter, he finally understood.

Lan Xichen pressed his sword against Jin Guangyao’s throat, utterly disappointed in him. But to everyone's surprise, Jin Guangyao suddenly fell to his knees, abandoning all dignity to beg Lan Xichen for mercy, pleading for his life.

Jin Guangyao put on a pitiful expression in front of Lan Xichen, expressing his willingness to hand over the Yin Tiger Tally and leave for Dongying after this night, never to return. He only hoped that Lan Xichen would grant him a way out. Lan Xichen's face was grave, and he refused to let Jin Guangyao call him "Second Brother" anymore. Such a ruthless person was not worthy of being his brother.

Jin Guangyao wept bitterly, claiming that the siege of the Burial Mounds was a moment of madness, all because someone had sent him a threatening letter, warning that his scandals would be exposed. With no other choice, he devised the plan to lure the major clans to their deaths at the Burial Mounds.

Lan Xichen was furious, yet he forced himself to remain patient and crouched down to ask Jin Guangyao: since he knew Qin Su was his biological sister, why did he still marry her? Tears streamed down Jin Guangyao’s face as he recalled the past. He had spent countless efforts to make Qin Cangye agree to the marriage, never expecting that just before the wedding, Madam Qin would secretly come to him and reveal the truth.

It was like being struck by lightning. Even so, he dared not call off the marriage, for he had no excuse and did not dare reveal the truth, fearing that it would lead to a fallout with Jin Guangshan and Qin Cangye. Ultimately, it was all because of Jin Guangshan’s lustful nature—seducing women everywhere, even his own subordinates’ wives, without a care, to the point that he did not even realize he had a daughter. It was utterly disgusting.

Hearing this, Lan Xichen was incredulous and questioned Jin Guangyao—was that why he had used such despicable means to kill Jin Guangshan? Jin Guangyao nodded and admitted it. In rage, Lan Xichen slapped him hard, but Jin Guangyao did not resist. Instead, he continued confessing, revealing that he had also played a part in Jin Zixuan’s death.

It turned out that, years ago, Jin Guangyao had deliberately allowed Jin Zixun to ambush Wei Wuxian at Qiongqi Path and then leaked the information to Jin Zixuan. When Jin Zixuan arrived, Jin Guangyao and Su She worked together to play a demonic melody, causing Wen Ning to lose control and kill both Jin Zixuan and Jin Zixun. Upon hearing this, Jin Ling was overwhelmed with fury.

He lunged at Jin Guangyao, unable to accept that the uncle he had always respected was the one responsible for his father’s death. Jin Guangyao looked at Jin Ling in sorrow and finally voiced his deepest resentment. All his life, he had envied Jin Zixuan—envied how Jin Zixuan was cherished and protected by Jin Guangshan, while he himself had been treated like a dog, kicked down the stairs of Jinlintai, humiliated and ridiculed.

Killing Jin Zixuan had been the only way he could find some relief. In truth, Jin Guangyao had once held expectations for his father, but one drunken night, Jin Guangshan had carelessly dismissed him as insignificant. That became the last straw that crushed Jin Guangyao’s last shred of mercy. From that moment on, all his hopes turned into hatred and a thirst for revenge. At this, everyone was silent.

A hateful person was often pitiful as well—no one knew whether to feel sympathy for Jin Guangyao or despise him. Just then, Jin Guangyao seized an opportunity and used a hidden zither string to strangle Jin Ling’s neck, intending to take him hostage and escape. As they were locked in a standoff, a loud commotion suddenly erupted outside. Next, Sizhui was thrown heavily into the hall.

He struggled to his feet and, gasping for breath, told Wei Wuxian that he had tried his best but could not stop the person outside. Wei Wuxian was confused about whom Sizhui was referring to until a figure emerged from the black mist outside, exuding an overwhelming killing intent. The figure carried a heavy Baxia saber, each step slow and oppressive.

At first glance, he looked just like Nie Mingjue, but upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Wen Ning. Both Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji quickly realized that Wen Ning had been possessed by Baxia’s saber spirit. Indeed, Wen Ning’s every movement now resembled Nie Mingjue’s. With a furious roar, he leaped up and slashed down with Baxia. Jin Guangyao, terrified, loosened the zither string around Jin Ling’s neck. Wei Wuxian immediately pulled Jin Ling away.

The saber landed squarely on Jin Guangyao’s shoulder, severing his entire arm. Blood gushed out instantly. Jin Guangyao let out a blood-curdling scream, his blood splattering onto Jin Ling. Baxia followed the scent of blood and turned its aggression toward Jin Ling. In that critical moment, Wei Wuxian shouted Wen Ning’s name, snapping him back to some awareness.

However, he was still unable to control Baxia, and just as he was about to lose himself entirely, Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen played the Cleansing Melody together, while Wei Wuxian blew his flute, Chenqing, gradually subduing Baxia. At that moment, Nie Huaisang suddenly let out a shrill cry. The others rushed over to find him lying on the ground, claiming that Su She had attacked him. Su She looked bewildered, while Nie Huaisang kept shouting for help.

Just as Baxia had been suppressed, it suddenly flew up again—this time, stabbing directly into Su She’s heart. Su She collapsed, dead on the spot. Even in death, his eyes remained fixated on the grievously wounded Jin Guangyao, as though still unwilling to abandon him. Su She had been ruthless to others but had always been unwaveringly loyal to Jin Guangyao.

Now that he was dead, Wei Wuxian played Chenqing again, finally sealing both Baxia and Nie Mingjue’s corpse back into the coffin. With things momentarily settling down, Lan Xichen, despite knowing Jin Guangyao’s countless sins, was still too kind-hearted. He treated Jin Guangyao’s wound, though he warned him that if he dared to make another move, he would show no mercy.

Nie Huaisang, who had been listening to their conversation, suddenly raised his head, a flicker of sinister cunning flashing through his eyes. Lan Xichen asked Nie Huaisang to hand him the wound medicine. Nie Huaisang picked up the medicine bottle from the ground but deliberately slipped it into his sleeve, pretending to fumble for it. As Lan Xichen turned to retrieve the medicine, Nie Huaisang stared fixedly at something behind him and suddenly shouted for him to be careful.

Thinking that Jin Guangyao was attacking, Lan Xichen did not hesitate—he swung his sword around and stabbed Jin Guangyao straight through the chest. Jin Guangyao stared in utter disbelief, eyes wide open.

Jin Guangyao stared wide-eyed, pierced through the chest by Lan Xichen’s sword. Lan Xichen clenched his jaw—he had clearly said that if Jin Guangyao made another move, he would show no mercy. Why did Jin Guangyao still knowingly break the rules? Jin Guangyao gritted his teeth as well. He had done nothing! It was all Nie Huaisang’s doing! His features twisted in pain, but he forced himself to stand, staring daggers at Nie Huaisang’s innocent-looking face. So this was the infamous "I don’t know anything" act—he had hidden himself so well. To think that in the end, he had fallen into Nie Huaisang’s hands!

Lan Xichen was shocked, unsure of whom to believe. Jin Guangyao’s voice carried a hint of sobs as he spoke. He had harmed countless people and committed many crimes, but he had never once thought of harming Lan Xichen. Back when Lan Xichen was persecuted by the Wen Clan and left stranded, it was he, Jin Guangyao, who had taken him in, helped him rebuild the Lan Clan, and never once suppressed him. But in the end, Lan Xichen, just like Nie Mingjue, could not tolerate his existence! Jin Guangyao grew more agitated as he spoke, gripping the blade of the sword with his bare hands, blood streaming down. Since Lan Xichen refused to leave him a way out, then they would perish together.

With that, Jin Guangyao endured the pain and grabbed Lan Xichen by the shoulder, dragging them both toward Nie Mingjue’s coffin. His blood seeped into the coffin, causing it to tremble violently. Even the objects in the Guanyin Temple shook, signaling that the entire structure was about to collapse. Everyone rushed to escape. Jin Guangyao let out a tragic laugh, saying that he would take Lan Xichen with him in death. Lan Xichen still could not bring himself to kill Jin Guangyao. He resigned himself to his fate, prepared to die—yet, in the final moment, Jin Guangyao suddenly shoved Lan Xichen away with all his strength. He himself, along with Nie Mingjue’s coffin, was buried beneath the ruins.

Lan Xichen had survived, but he felt no joy. Sitting outside the Guanyin Temple, he was consumed by sorrow. He once thought he understood Jin Guangyao best. Then, after learning the truth about him, he believed he had finally seen him clearly. But after what had just happened, he was uncertain again. Jin Guangyao… just what kind of person was he?

Nie Huaisang sat beside Lan Xichen, comforting him. "Who can truly see through a person?" he mused. Lan Xichen slowly turned to look at him. He only wanted to know—had Nie Huaisang really seen Jin Guangyao trying to attack just now? A cold glint flashed in Nie Huaisang’s eyes, but his words remained the same—uncertain, unsure. Beneath that seemingly naive appearance lay a deeply calculating mind.

With Jin Guangyao’s death, the final scars on Wei Wuxian’s arm from the sacrificial ritual also healed. He decided to leave with Lan Wangji. Jin Ling searched everywhere for Wei Wuxian, only to learn from Jiang Cheng that he had already left. Throwing a childish tantrum, he complained that his uncle hadn’t tried to keep Wei Wuxian from leaving. Jiang Cheng pretended to raise his hand as if to hit him, telling him to stop causing trouble and go home.

Jin Ling chased after Jiang Cheng, asking if he had anything he wanted to say to Wei Wuxian. Jiang Cheng shook his head. His mind drifted back to that fateful day, when the three of them were fleeing and encountered the Wen Clan cultivators. He had drawn the enemies away for Wei Wuxian and was captured, losing his golden core. Just like how Wei Wuxian had given up his own golden core for him without ever revealing the truth, Jiang Cheng now found himself with no opportunity to speak the words he had buried for so long. In the end, he could only whisper, "Take care."

At that moment, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were preparing to set off with Little Apple when Sizhui and Wen Ning caught up with them. Sizhui told Wei Wuxian that he had recently recalled some past memories—he remembered Wei Wuxian planting him in the ground like a radish, bringing him along to meals with Lan Wangji, only for Lan Wangji to be the one who ended up paying. Wei Wuxian’s expression shifted from shock to excitement, then disbelief. In his memories, Wen Yuan had already died.

Lan Wangji then told Wei Wuxian the truth he had never spoken before—Sizhui was Wen Yuan.

Overcome with emotion, Sizhui hugged Wei Wuxian. They laughed and played like they had in the past. Squatting down, Sizhui wrapped his arms around Wei Wuxian’s leg, just like he had done as a child. Wen Ning then told Wei Wuxian that he planned to take Sizhui back to Qishan to build a memorial for their lost clansmen. After that, he would send Sizhui to the Cloud Recesses—going forward, Sizhui would have to walk his own path. As for Wen Ning himself, he would no longer follow Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian was happy for Wen Ning—he was finally going to live an independent and free life. He wished that Wen Ning would always be carefree and untroubled.

After bidding farewell to Sizhui and Wen Ning, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji returned to the Cloud Recesses. Lan Wangji had now taken on the role of Chief Cultivator, a heavy responsibility. There, they encountered Nie Huaisang once again. Wei Wuxian had long since figured it out—Nie Huaisang had been the one pulling the strings from behind the scenes. Curious, he asked, "After putting in so much effort, don’t you want to be the Chief Cultivator yourself?"

Nie Huaisang casually waved his fan, gazing out at the distant mountains. He remarked that he was a man who knew his limits. What he should do, he would never let another do in his place. What he should not do, he naturally had no interest in. With that, he strolled away at a leisurely pace.

Wei Wuxian had no desire to probe further. Everything was over, and there was no point in saying more. Free-spirited as ever, he decided to wander the world once again. Preparing to part ways with Lan Wangji, he declared that he would roam freely, his home wherever he pleased. But just as he led Little Apple into the lush green mountains, playing Chenqing without a care, a voice called out behind him. Wei Wuxian turned around in surprise—then, a joyous smile spread across his face…

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