Indecisive

Wei Wuxian suddenly murmured: '... Lan Zhan.'

He reached out and caught hold of Lan Wangji's sleeve. Lan Wangji had been keeping vigil at his side; immediately he leaned down and said softly, 'I'm here.'

Yet Wei Wuxian did not wake; his eyes were still tightly shut, but his hand held on, as if dreaming, mumbling, '... You... don't be angry...'

Lan Wangji was slightly taken aback, then said gently, 'I'm not angry.'

Wei Wuxian said, '... Oh.'

Hearing that, he seemed relieved, and his fingers loosened.

Lan Wangji sat beside Wei Wuxian for a while longer; seeing that he lay still again, he made to rise. Who knew that Wei Wuxian's other hand would suddenly seize him again, hugging his arm tightly and crying, 'I'll go with you, take me back to your home, quick!'

Lan Wangji's eyes widened.

After shouting that, Wei Wuxian seemed to have woken himself; his long lashes fluttered and he slowly opened his eyes, the pupils clearing from confusion to lucidity. Suddenly he realized both his hands were clutching Lan Wangji like a drowning man clutching at a life-saving straw or a floating log.

He immediately let go, almost rolling himself away, but the movement was too large and tugged at the wound on his abdomen. With an 'Ah,' he frowned and then remembered the injuries on his body. As stars danced before his eyes, Jin Ling, Jiang Cheng, Jiang Yanli, Jiang Fengmian, Madam Yu... many faces spun before him in turn. Lan Wangji pressed him down and said, 'The abdominal wound?'

Wei Wuxian said, 'Wound? It's nothing, doesn't hurt...'

Lan Wangji held him firm, lifted his clothes, and saw the abdomen had been properly bandaged. Peeling back the bandages to check, he found the wound had already healed completely. Looking at his leg, the Curse Mark had also vanished.

Wei Wuxian asked, 'How long have I been lying here?'

Only after confirming his injuries were indeed fine did Lan Wangji release him, saying, 'Four days.'

Jin Ling's sword had struck true; the wound was not shallow. To heal completely in four days without a scar would have required the Gusu Lan clan's top-quality elixirs. Wei Wuxian voiced his thanks and took the opportunity to mock himself: 'In this second life I've become so delicate—one stab and I can't hold up.'

Lan Wangji said mildly, 'Whose body, when stabbed, can hold up?'

Wei Wuxian said, 'Not necessarily. If it were my body from my previous life, even with half my intestines hanging out I could stuff them back and fight another three hundred rounds.'

Seeing that he had just woken and had already started talking nonsense again, Lan Wangji shook his head and turned his face away. Wei Wuxian thought he was about to leave and hurriedly said, 'Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan! Don't go. I'm talking nonsense, I'm no good, don't ignore me.'

Lan Wangji said, 'Are you still afraid of people ignoring you?'

Wei Wuxian said, 'I'm afraid, I'm afraid.'

It had been a very long time since he had known the feeling of someone keeping vigil by his side when he woke from an injury.

Lan Wangji wore two swords at his waist; he removed Suibian and handed it to him: 'Your sword.'

Seeing this sword, Wei Wuxian was stunned for a moment, then a beat later said, 'Thank you.'

He grasped the hilt and slowly drew it; a pair of eyes reflected in the gleaming blade. Wei Wuxian stared at those eyes for a while, then sheathed Suibian again and said, 'It really has undergone Sword Sealing on its own?'

Lan Wangji also grasped Suibian's hilt and pulled; it didn't budge a bit. Wei Wuxian sighed, patted the blade, and thought to himself: 'I knew Jin Guangyao wouldn't dare fabricate... It really has sealed. A one-in-ten-thousand great fortune has fallen upon me, and now it's cast iron: the one who can draw it is without a doubt Wei Wuxian, no escape, no denial possible.'

Looking around, he saw it was a clean, simple room, dimly lit, with only a paper lamp glowing in one corner. Wei Wuxian asked, 'Where is this?'

Lan Wangji said, 'Cloud Recesses.'

Wei Wuxian said, 'You brought me back to Cloud Recesses? What if your elder brother finds out?'

Someone said, 'I have already found out.'

A person stepped out from behind the screen, white robes and forehead ribbon, face like fine jade, expression solemn.

Having recuperated in Cloud Recesses for four days without being seized by the Lanling Jin clan, Wei Wuxian figured Lan Xichen posed no threat, and with Lan Wangji by his side, he was not on guard. He suddenly recalled something and asked, 'And the corpse of Chifeng-zun?'

Lan Xichen said, 'Elder brother's remains have been witnessed by the various clans. For now they are in Nie Huaisang's keeping, and I have also sent someone trustworthy to watch over them.'

Wei Wuxian was slightly reassured and asked again, 'And Jin Guangyao's reaction?'

Lan Wangji said, 'Flawless.'

Wei Wuxian had long known Jin Guangyao would put on a thorough front; he only needed to confirm that no destruction of the corpse could be done. Unexpectedly, Lan Xichen said slowly, 'He says that this matter will be investigated to the end and an explanation will surely be given. And since Young Master Wei has awakened, Wangji, perhaps you should also give me an explanation.'

Lan Wangji stood and said, 'Elder Brother.'

Lan Xichen let out a long sigh and said, 'Wangji, what am I to say to you.'

Lan Wangji said, 'Elder Brother, Chifeng-zun's head is indeed in Jin Guangyao's possession.'

Lan Xichen asked, 'You saw it with your own eyes?'

Lan Wangji said, 'He saw it with his own eyes.'

Lan Xichen asked, 'You believe him?'

Lan Wangji said, 'Yes.'

He answered without hesitation, and Wei Wuxian's chest warmed. Lan Xichen said, 'And Jin Guangyao?'

Lan Wangji said, 'Cannot be trusted.'

Lan Xichen smiled and said, 'Wangji, how do you determine whether a person is trustworthy or not?'

He looked at Wei Wuxian and said, 'You believe Young Master Wei, while I believe Jin Guangyao. The matter of Elder Brother's head being in his hands—none of us witnessed it with our own eyes. We all rely on our own knowledge of another person, trusting that person's words.'

'You believe you understand Wei Wuxian, so you trust him; and I believe I understand Jin Guangyao, so I trust him. You trust your own judgment—so can I not trust mine?'

Wei Wuxian, fearing the two brothers might argue because of this, said, 'Lan-zongzhu!'

He was not incapable of understanding Lan Xichen. From Nie Mingjue's perspective, he had seen Jin Guangyao's treacherous cunning and ambition in full. However, if Jin Guangyao had always shown a facade before Lan Xichen for so many years, there was no reason for Lan Xichen not to believe his sworn brother and instead believe a notorious person steeped in blood and scandal.

Lan Xichen nodded and said, 'Young Master Wei, you need not worry. Before the truth comes to light, I will not favor either side, nor will I reveal your whereabouts. Otherwise, I would not have let Wangji bring you to my Cold Chamber and tend your wounds.'

Wei Wuxian said, 'Many thanks to Lan-zongzhu for giving me this chance. Chifeng-zun's head is in Jin Guangyao's secret chamber—it is absolutely true. Not only did I see it, I was also infected by its resentful energy and saw some things. Would this count as proof?'

Lan Xichen said calmly, 'Young Master Wei, perhaps you did indeed see something. Yet you cannot prove that you saw it in a secret chamber within Koi Tower.'

Wei Wuxian said, 'Mm. True words indeed. Then let me speak of something else. Chifeng-zun's direct cause of death was indeed qi deviation, but don't you find the timing a little too coincidental? The Saber Spirit's mischief was one cause, but have you not considered that there might be other inducements behind it?'

Lan Xichen asked, 'What do you think the inducement is?'

Wei Wuxian said, 'The Pure Heart Profound Melody.'

Lan Xichen said, 'Young Master Wei, do you know that the Pure Heart Profound Melody he played was personally taught to him by me?'

Wei Wuxian said, 'Then please, Lan-zongzhu, listen and see if there is anything strange about this tune.'

His flute was placed by the bedside; Wei Wuxian picked it up, thought for a moment, then began to play. When the piece ended, he said, 'Lan-zongzhu, is this tune indeed the one you taught to Jin Guangyao?'

Lan Xichen said, 'Precisely.'

Wei Wuxian felt a slight surprise but steadied himself and asked, 'What is the name of this tune?'

Lan Xichen said, 'This tune is called Xihua (Cleansing Melody), which has the effect of clearing the heart and calming the spirit.'

Wei Wuxian said, 'Xihua. I have heard many famous pieces of The Mystic Gate; why do I have no impression of its name or melody?'

Lan Wangji said, 'This tune is obscure and difficult to master.'

Lan Xichen said, 'Precisely.'

Wei Wuxian asked, 'Was it Jin Guangyao who specifically asked to learn this one?'

Lan Xichen said, 'Indeed.'

Wei Wuxian asked, 'Is it truly so difficult to master? Then why would Jin Guangyao specifically choose this tune instead of others easier to learn?'

Lan Xichen said, 'Because I told him that while Xihua is difficult to master, its effectiveness is extremely good. This tune is indeed tricky; just now, didn't Young Master Wei also play a section incorrectly?'

At these words, Wei Wuxian's heart stirred, and he said, 'I played incorrectly just now?'

Lan Wangji said, 'There was a section in the middle that was wrong.'

Wei Wuxian laughed and said, 'No, no. It's not that I played wrong. It's that Jin Guangyao was wrong! When the resentful energy invaded, that's exactly how he played it. I can guarantee that I repeated the piece note for note without a single mistake.'

Lan Xichen said in surprise, 'Then it was he who learned it wrong? That... is impossible.'

Wei Wuxian said, 'Indeed, it is impossible. Lianfang-zun is so brilliant and possesses a prodigious memory—how could he remember the tune incorrectly? Most likely it was intentional. I will play it once more; Lan-zongzhu, Hanguang-jun, please listen carefully this time to that ‘wrong’ section.'

He indeed played it again, and when he reached near the end of the second section, Lan Wangji said, 'Stop.'

Lan Xichen said, 'It's this very section.'

Wei Wuxian lowered the flute from his lips and said, 'Truly this section? Yet I feel that it doesn't sound discordant.'

Lan Xichen said, 'Indeed, it is not discordant. However, it is absolutely not a part of Xihua (Cleansing Melody).'

If it were an ordinary playing error, it would never blend so seamlessly with the rest of the original composition; this melodic section must have been deliberately polished and inserted. And this section, not belonging to Xihua but mixed into it as a foreign melody, was very likely the key to Nie Mingjue's death.

After pondering for a moment, Lan Xichen said, 'Follow me.'

Stepping out of the room, Wei Wuxian was slightly taken aback.

It was a secluded little dwelling, hidden in some out-of-the-way corner of Cloud Recesses. The Lan clan's immortal residence lay deep in the mountains, where pines stretched like canopies, and azure trees and orchids flourished. Flowers were not absent, but they were all of the fresh and elegant kind—magnolia, gardenia, white chrysanthemum—serving merely as fleeting, scattered embellishments. Yet before this house, purple gentians had been planted in profusion. The blossoms were delicate, their color alluringly vivid, endearing to behold, and in the night they seemed to emit a faint phosphorescence, beautiful beyond dream or illusion.

Wei Wuxian's heart sensed something surely amiss here, but he only had time for a hurried glance, no leisure to investigate in detail. The hour of hai had passed; most people within Cloud Recesses had long retired, leaving the place utterly silent. Meeting no one on the way, Lan Xichen led them directly to the Library Pavilion.

Cloud Recesses had been ravaged by a great fire; the Library Pavilion was no longer the same as before. But after its reconstruction, the layout was identical, and even the magnolia tree outside had been replanted. The three entered the pavilion, and Wei Wuxian asked doubtfully, 'Lan-zongzhu, can we find the source of this melody here?'

Lan Xichen said, 'Not here.'

He walked to a row of bookshelves, crouched down, lifted the mat spread upon the floor, and pulled up the wooden planks beneath, saying, 'It can be done here.'

Beneath the planks was a hidden door.

Lan Wangji said, 'Forbidden Book Chamber.'

Beneath the hidden door was a dark staircase of over fifty steps. The three descended the stairs one by one, and what appeared before Wei Wuxian's eyes was a dry, spacious underground stone chamber where footsteps echoed emptily. Within the Forbidden Book Chamber stood rows of bookshelves, sparsely filled with books sorted into categories, covered in dust as if untouched for many years.

Lan Xichen then led them to a row of bookshelves and said, 'This entire shelf holds Records of Strange Scores.'

In the Forbidden Book Chamber there was a writing desk, upon which sat a single paper lamp. Lan Wangji took paper and brush that had seen no use for years from the shelf, and from memory wrote out three copies of that melodic section's score. The three then sat around the desk, dividing the work, each responsible for dozens of volumes, comparing page by page with the scores transcribed in the forbidden books, searching for a matching section.

Yet after two hours, none of the three had found a score matching that melody. In other words, its origin remained undiscovered.

As Wei Wuxian skimmed through the scores, he thought to himself: 'Could it be that even the Records of Strange Scores in the Gusu Lan clan's Forbidden Book Chamber does not contain this tune? Impossible—if the Lan clan hasn't collected it, other places would be even less likely to have it. Surely Jin Guangyao didn't compose a divine melody himself? If that's the case, it's troublesome; to prove this tune is cursed, I'd have to find someone to listen to it for months and test it. But although he's clever, he is after all a latecomer to the art; he shouldn't be so clever as to compose from scratch...'

Wei Wuxian had been reading the dense, tiny characters for so long that his eyes were strained. With a few volumes left, he planned to set them aside for now. Lan Wangji had already finished his own stack and silently took over the volumes Wei Wuxian had put down, lowering his head to continue searching. Lan Xichen slowly raised his eyes, saw this, and seemed about to speak but stopped himself.

At that moment, Lan Wangji said, 'This one.'

He handed over the volume in his hands, and Wei Wuxian immediately perked up. But after carefully examining the two pages he had opened and comparing them with the fragmentary score, he said, 'They're completely different?'

Lan Wangji stood up, moved to sit beside him, and pointed out: 'Look at the preceding and following pages.'

Their heads drew close together, Lan Wangji's voice right by his ear, low and magnetic, and Wei Wuxian's hand trembled slightly, nearly dropping the book. With great effort he steadied his mind and forced his gaze away from Lan Wangji's long, pale fingers to examine carefully, saying, 'Ah, the preceding and following pages.'

At first glance, this music book seemed unremarkable, but a person well-versed in musical theory, paying closer attention, would notice that the piece on the opened page did not connect with the pieces on the preceding and following pages.