Unparalleled Bravery

Lan Wangji looked straight ahead and said, 'Nothing.'

Wei Wuxian said, 'We're acquaintances by now, aren't we? So cold, won't even look at me. Is your leg really all right?'

Lan Wangji said, 'We are not.'

Wei Wuxian turned around, walking backward so that Lan Wangji had to see his face. He said, 'If something's wrong, don't push yourself. Is your leg injured or broken? When did it happen?'

He was about to say, 'Do you need me to carry you?' when a fragrant breeze wafted to his nose. Wei Wuxian turned his head toward the front and side, and his eyes lit up at once.

Seeing him suddenly fall silent, Lan Wangji followed his gaze. There, a group of three or four young women walked together, and in their midst was a girl in a light crimson outer robe covered with a thin gauze shawl. A breeze stirred the gauze into a fluttering dance, and her figure from behind was especially pleasing.

What Wei Wuxian was looking at was precisely that back.

One of the young women laughed. 'Mianmian, that sachet of yours is wonderful. Since you put it on, the bugs really have stayed away, and the scent is so nice — just a whiff makes a person feel especially clear-headed.'

The one called Mianmian indeed had a voice that was soft and sweetly sticky: 'The sachets are filled with chopped medicinal herbs — they have many uses. I've got a few more here; who else wants one?'

Wei Wuxian drifted over like a slanting gust of wind. 'Mianmian, save one for me too.'

The girl was startled, not expecting a strange young man's voice to cut in abruptly. She turned, presenting a pretty face to the person behind her, and frowned slightly. 'Who are you? Why are you calling me Mianmian too?'

Wei Wuxian grinned. 'I heard them all calling you Mianmian and thought that was your name. What, isn't it?'

Lan Wangji watched coldly from the side. Jiang Cheng, seeing him act up again, rolled his eyes dramatically.

Mianmian's face flushed bright red. 'You're not allowed to call me that!'

Wei Wuxian said, 'Why not? How about this: you tell me your name, and I'll stop calling you Mianmian. What do you say?'

Mianmian said, 'Why should I tell you just because you ask? Before asking someone else's name, you ought to give your own first.'

Wei Wuxian said, 'My name is easy. Remember it: I'm called “Yuandao.”'

Mianmian silently repeated the name 'Yuandao' to herself twice, but couldn't recall any young master from a cultivation family bearing that name. Yet judging by his bearing and manner, he didn't seem like an unknown nobody. She looked at the rather teasing smile on Wei Wuxian's lips, puzzled.

Suddenly, from beside them came Lan Wangji's cold, low murmur: 'Playing with words.'

It hit her all at once — he was playing on the line 'Mianmian longs for Yuandao,' teasing her. She stamped her foot in indignation. 'Who longs for you? You're shameless!'

The several young women collapsed into giggles, exclaiming, 'Wei Wuxian, you really are so shameless!'

'Never seen anyone so annoying!'

'Let me tell you, her name is…'

Mianmian tugged them away. 'Let's go, go! I forbid you to tell him.'

Wei Wuxian called from behind, 'You can leave, but give me a sachet! Ignoring me? Won't give it? If you don't, I'll ask someone else your name — someone's bound to tell me…'

Before he finished shouting, a sachet came flying from ahead and hit him square in the chest. Wei Wuxian let out an exaggerated 'Ow!' and clasped a hand to his heart, then spun the sachet's ribbon around his finger with dizzying speed. He walked back to Lan Wangji, still spinning it and grinning. Seeing Lan Wangji's expression grow even colder, he asked, 'What? Giving me that look again. Oh, right, where were we? Let's keep talking. How about I carry you?'

Lan Wangji looked at him quietly. 'Is this how you behave with everyone — like a frivolous scoundrel?'

Wei Wuxian thought for a moment. 'Seems like it?'

Lan Wangji lowered his eyes and after a long pause said only: 'Reckless!'

Those two words seemed gritted out, carrying a trace of inexplicable resentment, and he didn't even spare him another glaring look. Lan Wangji forced himself to pick up speed and walk ahead. Seeing him push himself again, Wei Wuxian said quickly, 'Fine. You don't have to walk so fast; I'll go.' He hurried in strides and caught up with Jiang Cheng.

But Jiang Cheng gave him no friendly face either, biting out, 'You're so boring!'

Wei Wuxian said, 'You're not Lan Zhan, so why are you copying him saying I'm boring? His face today is even grimmer than usual — what's wrong with his leg?'

Jiang Cheng snapped, 'You've still got the leisure to bother about him? Worry about yourself! Who knows what hole Wen Chao, that idiot, is driving us to Muxi Mountain to find, and what tricks he's up to again. Let's hope it's not like last time killing the tree yao, making us surround it as human shields.'

A disciple nearby said quietly, 'His expression is bound to be grim. The Cloud Recesses was burned last month — you still don't know, do you?'

Wei Wuxian started at the words. 'Burned?!'

Jiang Cheng, having heard plenty of such things these past days, was not as shocked. 'The Wen Clan burned it?'

The disciple said, 'You could say that. Or you could say… it was burned by the Lan Clan themselves. Wen Xu, the Wen Clan's eldest son, went to Gusu. I don't know what charge he laid against the Lan Clan Master, but he forced the people of the Gusu Lan Clan to burn their own immortal residence with their own hands! Dressed it up in fine words as “cleaning house” and “renewed rebirth.” Most of the Cloud Recesses and its surrounding hills were burned; a century-old paradise, just ruined like that. The Lan Clan Master is gravely injured, his fate unknown. Sigh…'

Wei Wuxian asked, 'Does Lan Zhan's leg have something to do with this?'

The disciple said, 'Of course. The first thing Wen Xu ordered them to burn was the Library Pavilion. He declared that anyone who refused would see trouble. Lan Wangji refused and was surrounded by Wen Xu's men and attacked; his leg was broken. Not yet healed, and now he's dragged out here again — who knows what they're putting him through!'

Wei Wuxian thought it over carefully. These past few days, aside from being scolded by Wen Chao, Lan Wangji really had moved very little. He was always either standing or sitting, never saying a word. He was someone who placed great importance on bearing and decorum, so of course he wouldn't let anyone see his leg was injured.

Jiang Cheng, seeing him seem about to walk toward Lan Wangji again, grabbed him. 'What's wrong with you again! How dare you still go provoke him — have you no regard for your life!'

Wei Wuxian said, 'I'm not going to provoke him. Look at that leg of his — these days of rushing and torment have certainly made the injury worse, and it was only when he couldn't hide it anymore that people noticed. If he keeps walking like this, that leg is very likely ruined. I'm going to carry him.'

Jiang Cheng pulled him tighter. 'You're not even close with him! Can't you see how much he detests you? You want to carry him? I'm afraid he doesn't even want you taking half a step closer.'

Wei Wuxian said, 'It doesn't matter if he detests me; I don't detest him. I'll just grab him and hoist him up. Can he choke me to death from my back?'

Jiang Cheng warned, 'We can barely take care of ourselves — where do we get the time to meddle in other people's business?'

Wei Wuxian said, 'First, this is not idle business. Second, these things must always have someone to manage them!'

As the two whispered in argument, a Wen Clan servant came over and barked, 'Stop murmuring to each other — watch yourselves!'

After the servant, a lovely young woman came forward. This woman's name was Wang Lingjiao, one of Wen Chao's attendants. How exactly she attended him need not be spelled out; everyone knew. She had originally been a maid of Wen Chao's legal wife, but because she had some looks, she exchanged flirtatious glances with her master and wound up in his bed. When a man rises, even his chickens and dogs ascend; now, among the cultivation clans, there was even a middling 'Wang Clan of Yingchuan.'

Her Spiritual Power was low, so she could not wear a superior-grade spiritual sword; instead, she held a slender branding iron. Every Wen house servant carried one—no need to heat it in fire; pressed against a person’s skin, it would leave The Brand, unbearably painful.

Wang Lingjiao held it in her hand and scolded majestically, 'Young Master Wen told you to look for the cave entrance properly — what are you whispering about?'

In this state of the world, even a bed-climbing maid could strut and act insufferably before them. Both of them felt like laughing and crying at once.

Just then, someone nearby shouted, 'Found it!'

Wang Lingjiao immediately had no time for them. She ran over, looked, and called out joyfully, 'Young Master Wen! We found it! The entrance has been found!'

It was a very well-hidden cave, concealed at the base of an old banyan tree so thick it took three people to wrap their arms around it. They hadn't found it before because, first, the opening was tiny — less than half a zhang square — and second, thick tangled roots and vines had woven into a sturdy net that blocked it, with a layer of dead branches, fallen leaves, mud, sand, and stones on top, making it exceptionally concealed.

Pushing aside the rotting leaves, branches, and soil, and cutting away the roots, this pitch-dark, gloomy cave was laid bare.

The opening led deep underground. A chill that made one shiver blasted out. A stone thrown inside was like a stone sinking into the sea — not a sound came back.

Wen Chao was overjoyed. 'This must be it! Quickly, everyone go down!'

Jin Zixuan could bear it no longer. He said coldly, 'You brought us here claiming it was a Night Hunt for a yao beast, so may I ask exactly what kind of beast? Tell us in advance so we can work together to deal with it and not be thrown into chaos like last time.'

Wen Chao said, 'Tell you?'

He straightened up, pointed first at Jin Zixuan, then at himself. 'How many times do I have to say it before you remember? Don't get it wrong. You are only cultivators under my command. I am the one who issues orders. I don't need anyone to advise me. The one who directs battles and deploys forces is me alone. The one who can subdue yao beasts — also me alone!'

He bit down on the words 'me alone' with particular emphasis, his tone lofty and absurdly arrogant, making it both detestable and ludicrous to hear. Wang Lingjiao scolded, 'Did you not hear what Young Master Wen said? Hurry up and get down there!'

Jin Zixuan, standing at the very front, forcibly swallowed his anger, flipped his robe's hem, grabbed a particularly thick vine, and without hesitation leaped straight into the bottomless cave.

This time, Wei Wuxian could deeply empathize with his feelings. Whatever demons and monsters were in that cave, facing them was definitely more comfortable than facing Wen Chao and company. One more moment letting that dog couple torment his eyes, and he feared he really wouldn't be able to resist dragging them all down to mutual destruction!

The rest followed after Jin Zixuan, entering the cave one by one.

These forcibly gathered young masters had had their swords confiscated, so they could only climb down slowly. The vines grew along the earthen wall, thick as a child's wrist and very sturdy. As Wei Wuxian climbed down bit by bit, he silently calculated how deep they were going.

After sliding down about thirty some zhang, their feet finally touched the ground.

Wen Chao called down from above a few times to confirm it was safe, then stepped onto his sword, wrapped an arm around Wang Lingjiao's waist, and leisurely rode the sword down. In a moment, his Wen Clan disciples and servants also landed one after another.

Jiang Cheng said quietly, 'Let's hope what he's hunting this time isn't something too hard to handle. There's no telling if this place has any other exits. If a yao beast or a fierce wraith suddenly bursts out in the cave, this vine is so long and might even snap — escaping would be near impossible.'

The others all shared the same thought and instinctively looked up at the now tiny white opening above, hearts full of worry and vigilance.

Wen Chao hopped off his sword. 'What's everyone standing around for? Do I have to teach you what to do? Move!'

The group of youths was herded deeper into the cave.

Since they were to scout the way ahead, Wen Chao ordered servants to give them some torches. The cave's ceiling was high and broad, the torchlight unable to reach its top. Wei Wuxian noted the echoes: the deeper they went, the more vast and empty the echoes became, and he feared they were already over a hundred zhang beneath the surface.

The group leading the way stayed on high alert, torches raised. After walking for an unknown stretch of time, they finally arrived before a deep pool.

If this pool were on the surface, it would be a vast lake. The water was inky black, and many rocky islets of varying sizes jutted out from it.

And ahead, there was no path left to follow.

Yet the path had reached its end, and the target of the Night Hunt still hadn't appeared; they didn't even know what it was. Everyone's hearts were clouded with doubts, and they remained anxious and on edge.

Having not seen the expected yao beast, Wen Chao was growing impatient. He swore a couple of times, then suddenly had a 'flash of inspiration.' 'Find someone, string them up, let out some blood, and lure that thing out.'

Most yao beasts are mad for blood; they will certainly be drawn out by the heavy scent of blood and a living person hung helpless in midair!

Wang Lingjiao answered and immediately pointed at a young woman, ordering, 'Let her do it!'

That young woman was the very 'Mianmian' who had been giving away sachets on the road earlier. She was stunned to be singled out so suddenly. Wang Lingjiao's selection seemed casual, but in truth it had been brewing for a while. Most of the people the clans sent were young men, so Wen Chao couldn't help paying extra attention to the few young women there. Mianmian in particular was good-looking, and Wen Chao had groped her several times with his greasy hands. She could only swallow her indignation, but Wang Lingjiao had seen it all and harbored hatred in her heart.

As soon as Mianmian realized it truly was her being pointed at, her face filled with terror and she backed away repeatedly. Wen Chao, seeing that Wang Lingjiao had chosen this girl, remembered he hadn't yet had a chance to lay hands on her and felt a bit regretful. 'This one? Pick someone else.'

Wang Lingjiao said aggrieved, 'Why change? You can't bear to part with this one since I picked her?'

Her coquettish pleading made Wen Chao’s heart bloom with delight, half his body limp. He looked at Mianmian’s attire, certain she was no main branch disciple, at most a student, perfect for bait—even if she were lost, no noble house would come fussing. He said, ‘Nonsense, what’s there to be reluctant about? Suibian you, Jiaojiao’s call!’

Mianmian knew that if she was hung up, she would likely not return alive, and she fled in panic. But wherever she tried to hide, people scattered away in droves. Wei Wuxian made a slight move, but Jiang Cheng immediately held him back with a death grip. Mianmian suddenly noticed two people who stood unmoving, and she hurried to hide behind them, trembling.

These two people were Jin Zixuan and Lan Wangji.

The Wen Clan servant who stepped forward to tie her up saw they had no intention of moving aside and shouted, 'Get out of the way!'

Lan Wangji remained impassive and did not respond.

Seeing the situation turn, Wen Chao warned, 'What are you two standing there for? Can't understand human speech? Or do you want to play the hero saving the beauty?'

Jin Zixuan raised his brows. 'Haven't you had enough? Having others act as your meat shields wasn't enough, and now you want a living person's blood for bait?!'

Wei Wuxian was slightly surprised. 'This fellow Jin Zixuan actually has some guts.'

Wen Chao pointed at them. 'Is this rebellion? I'm warning you, I've put up with you for a long time. Now do it yourselves at once — tie this wench up and hang her! Otherwise, none of the people your two clans brought here need to go back!'

Jin Zixuan sneered coldly but did not budge. Lan Wangji likewise acted as if he had heard nothing, still as if in meditation.

However, a Gusu Lan Clan disciple standing nearby had been trembling slightly at Wen Chao's threats and at last could hold back no longer. He rushed forward, grabbed Mianmian, and prepared to tie her. Lan Wangji's brows drew together sharply, and he struck out with a palm, sending him flying aside.

Though he said not a word, the expression with which he looked down at that disciple was imposing without anger, and the meaning in his eyes was unmistakable: For the Gusu Lan Clan to have a disciple like you is truly disgraceful!

That disciple's shoulders trembled as he slowly retreated, unable to meet anyone's eyes. Wei Wuxian whispered to Jiang Cheng, 'Ai, with Lan Zhan's temperament, this is going to turn ugly.'

Jiang Cheng clenched his fists as well.

Given this scene, staying out of it and deluding themselves that no blood would be shed was likely no longer possible!

Wen Chao flew into a towering rage. 'Rebellion! Kill them!'

Several Wen Clan disciples drew gleaming swords and charged at Lan Wangji and Jin Zixuan. The 'Core-Melting Hand' Wen Zhuliu stood behind Wen Chao with his hands behind his back, not making a move, as if he felt he wasn't needed at all. And indeed, these two young men, outnumbered and bare-handed, were at a disadvantage to begin with; added to that, they had been worn down by days of travel, their condition was terrible, and Lan Wangji was wounded as well — they definitely wouldn't last long. Wen Chao watched his subordinates brawl with them and his mood improved greatly. He spat, 'Going against me — what garbage. People like this truly deserve to be killed.'

From beside him came a laughing voice: 'Right, those who bully others relying on family power, those evildoers — they all deserve to be killed. Not only killed, but their heads should be cut off and cast before the masses to be reviled, as a warning for posterity.'

At these words, Wen Chao whipped his head around. 'What did you say?'

Wei Wuxian said with feigned surprise, 'Do you need me to repeat it? Very well. Those who bully others relying on family power, those evildoers — they all deserve to be killed. Not only killed, but their heads should be cut off and cast before the masses to be reviled, as a warning for posterity — heard it clearly?'

Wen Zhuliu, upon hearing this, looked thoughtful and cast a glance at Wei Wuxian. Wen Chao raged, 'How dare you spout such utter nonsense, such treasonous, heretical ravings!'

Wei Wuxian first curved his lips in a soft 'pfft', then burst out into a peal of unrestrained laughter.

Amid everyone's astonished stares, he leaned on Jiang Cheng's shoulder, laughing until he could barely breathe, and said, 'Utter nonsense? Treasonous? I say you're the one! Wen Chao, do you know who said what I just said? Surely you don't. Let me tell you then. Those very words were spoken by your own clan's founding patriarch — the great, great renowned master Wen Mao. And you dare curse your ancestor's famous words as utter nonsense and treasonous? Well cursed, bravo! Hahahaha…'

That copy of the Wen Sect Essential Records distributed earlier — even the most banal Wen family blather was dissected repeatedly for hidden profundities and blown up to the heavens. Wei Wuxian had been sickened after flipping through just a couple of pages, let alone memorizing it. But Wen Mao's line, because he found it so bitterly ironic, he remembered crystal clear.

Wen Chao's face flushed red and paled by turns. Wei Wuxian added, 'By the way, what's the crime for insulting a renowned master of the Wen Clan? What's the punishment? I recall it's death without exception, isn't it? Mm, very well, you can go die now.'

Wen Chao could hold back no longer. He drew his sword and stabbed at him. With this charge, he rushed beyond Wen Zhuliu's protective range.

Wen Zhuliu was always on guard against attacks from others but had never anticipated Wen Chao breaking away on his own initiative. When Wen Chao suddenly struck, he was caught off guard and couldn't react in time. But Wei Wuxian had deliberately provoked Wen Chao, waiting precisely for this moment of uncontrollable rage. The smile on his lips didn't fade; his hand shot out like lightning, and in a flash he seized the sword, reversed the attack, and in one move had Wen Chao restrained!

With one hand holding Wen Chao captive, he leaped in a few bounds to one of the rocky islets in the deep pool, opening distance from Wen Zhuliu. With his other hand he pressed Wen Chao's own sword against his neck and warned, 'Nobody move. Move again and I'll let your Young Master Wen bleed a little!'

Wen Chao shrieked heart-rendingly, 'Don't move! Don't move!'

Only then did the disciples besieging Lan Wangji and Jin Zixuan halt their attacks. Wei Wuxian shouted, 'Core-Melting Hand, you don't move either! You all know the Wen Clan head's temper. Your master is in my hands. If he sheds even a single drop of blood, none of the people here, including you, will live!'

Wen Zhuliu indeed withdrew his hand. Seeing that he had the situation under control, Wei Wuxian was about to speak further when suddenly he felt the entire ground tremble.

He said warily, 'Jiang Cheng! Is it an earthquake?'

They were now inside an underground cave. If there were an earthquake and the mountain collapsed, whether it blocked the entrance or buried them alive, both would be horrifying. But Jiang Cheng said, 'No!'

But Wei Wuxian felt the ground shaking even more violently; the blade trembled so much it nicked Wen Chao's throat, making him scream. Jiang Cheng suddenly bellowed, 'It's not an earthquake — it's the thing beneath your feet that's moving!!!'

Wei Wuxian realized it too — it was not the ground trembling, but the rocky islet he was standing on. Not only was it trembling, but it was rising steadily, more and more of it breaking the water's surface.

He finally understood: this was not an island, but a colossal creature lurking submerged in the deep pool — and right now, he was standing on the back of that very yao beast!