Grandmaster of Heavenly Charm

However, after a moment of hesitation, Jiang Cheng forced himself to suppress his hostility. Despite his displeasure, as the leader of a sect, he had to consider more than just his personal feelings, unlike the impulsive Jin Ling. Since the decline of the Nie clan of Qinghe, the Jin clan of Lanling and the Lan clan of Gusu had grown closer due to the friendship between their leaders. This left Jiang Cheng, solely managing the Jiang clan of Yunmeng, in a rather isolated position among the three great sects.

Lan Wangji, known as Hanguang-Jun, was a highly respected cultivator, and his elder brother, Lan Xichen, was the leader of the Gusu Lan clan. The brothers were known for their harmony, and it would be unwise to create unnecessary conflict with them. Moreover, Jiang Cheng's sword "Sandu" had never officially clashed with Lan Wangji's "Bichen," leaving the outcome of such a confrontation uncertain. While Jiang Cheng possessed the powerful heirloom ring "Zidian," Lan Wangji's guqin "Wangji" was equally renowned. Jiang Cheng, unable to tolerate being at a disadvantage, wouldn't consider confronting Lan Wangji without absolute certainty of victory.

Slowly, Jiang Cheng withdrew his left hand from the ring. It was clear that Lan Wangji was determined to intervene, making it inconvenient for Jiang Cheng to play the villain. He decided to let this matter slide for now. Turning to Jin Ling, who was still angrily covering his mouth, Jiang Cheng said sarcastically, "If Hanguang-Jun wants to punish you, just accept his discipline this time. It's quite an achievement for him to manage disciples from other sects."

His tone was mocking, though it wasn't clear who the target of his derision was. Lan Wangji, never one to engage in verbal sparring, remained silent. Jiang Cheng, his words still laced with sarcasm, continued: "Why are you still standing here? Waiting for the prey to impale itself on your sword? If you can't handle whatever's in this mountain today, don't bother coming to me again!"

Jin Ling glared fiercely at Wei Wuxian but didn't dare to do the same to Lan Wangji, who had silenced him. He sheathed his sword, bowed to the two elders, and retreated with his bow. Lan Sizhui said, "Sect Leader Jiang, the Gusu Lan sect will replace the spirit-trapping nets that were destroyed."

Jiang Cheng sneered, "That won't be necessary!" He chose the opposite direction and casually descended the mountain. His retainers followed silently, their faces gloomy with the knowledge that punishment awaited them upon return.

As their figures disappeared, Lan Jingyi exclaimed, "How can Sect Leader Jiang be like this!" Realizing he had violated Lan sect rules about speaking ill of others, he quickly glanced at Hanguang-Jun and fell silent. Lan Sizhui smiled gently at Wei Wuxian, saying, "Master Mo, we meet again."

Wei Wuxian managed a strained smile. Lan Wangji then spoke, his instructions concise and unembellished: "Get to work."

The young disciples, suddenly remembering their purpose on the mountain, set aside their other thoughts and respectfully awaited further instructions. After a moment, Lan Wangji added, "Do your best. Don't overexert yourselves."

His voice was low and magnetic, capable of making one's heart tremble if heard up close. The disciples responded obediently and headed into the depths of the forest. Wei Wuxian thought to himself that Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji were indeed completely different people, even their words of caution to the younger generation were polar opposites. As he pondered this, he noticed Lan Wangji giving him an almost imperceptible nod, which slightly startled him.

Lan Wangji had always been incredibly serious, seemingly devoid of any playfulness since his youth. He was strict and inflexible, with no tolerance for misconduct, and strongly disapproved of Wei Wuxian's use of demonic cultivation. Lan Sizhui must have informed Lan Wangji about Wei Wuxian's suspicious activities at the Mo manor, yet he still acknowledged him with a nod, presumably in gratitude for helping the Lan sect disciples. Wei Wuxian instinctively returned the gesture, and when he looked up again, Lan Wangji had vanished.

After a moment's pause, Wei Wuxian turned and began walking down the mountain.

Whatever prey lurked in the mountain, he couldn't pursue it now. Wei Wuxian would compete with anyone but Jin Ling.

It had to be Jin Ling, of all people.

Among all the disciples of the Lanling Jin sect, he never imagined he would encounter Jin Ling. Had he known, how could he have mocked Jin Ling for being "born but not raised by a mother"? If anyone else had said such a thing to Jin Ling, Wei Wuxian would have taught them the meaning of "words have consequences." But it was he himself who had uttered those cruel words.

After a moment of stillness, Wei Wuxian raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face.

The slap was loud and forceful, leaving his right cheek stinging. Suddenly, there was a rustling in the nearby bushes, and Wei Wuxian glanced over to see a flowery donkey's head poking out. He lowered his hand. This time, the donkey approached him of its own accord. Wei Wuxian tugged gently on its long ears and said with a wry smile, "You wanted to play the hero, but you made me the righteous one instead."

As the flower-crowned donkey brayed softly, a group of cultivators appeared at the end of the slope, heading towards them. After Lan Wangji had destroyed all four hundred spirit-trapping nets with a single sword strike, the cultivators who had been hesitating in Buddha's Feet town had surged back up the mountain. This group was now Jin Ling's competition. Wei Wuxian considered for a moment whether he should drive them away again but ultimately decided to silently step aside.

The group of disciples from various sects complained as they walked: "This young Master Jin, spoiled by both the Jin and Jiang sects, is already so domineering at such a young age. If he takes over the Lanling Jin sect in the future, we might as well not live!"

Wei Wuxian slowed his pace to listen.

A compassionate female cultivator sighed, "How can they not spoil and dote on him? He lost both parents at such a young age."

"Sister, you shouldn't say that," another retorted. "So what if he lost both parents? There are many orphans in this world. If everyone behaved like him, where would that leave us?"

"Wei Wuxian was really ruthless. Jin Ling's mother was Jiang Cheng's own sister, the shijie who raised him."

"Jiang Yanli was truly wronged, raising such an ungrateful brat. Jin Zixuan's fate was even more tragic, meeting such an end just because of some past conflict with Wei Wuxian."

"It seems Wei Wuxian had conflicts with everyone..."

"Indeed. Have you ever heard of him having a good relationship with anyone besides those mad dogs he raised? He made enemies everywhere, angering both gods and men. Even Hanguang-Jun despises him; they're like fire and water."

"Speaking of which, we were fortunate to have Hanguang-Jun's help today..."

As they walked on, the sound of a babbling brook gradually reached Wei Wuxian's ears.

This is what Wei Wuxian heard upon his return, a sound unfamiliar to his ears when he first arrived. It dawned on him that he had taken a wrong turn on his descent, veering onto an unfamiliar path.

Leading his donkey, Wei Wuxian found himself at the edge of a stream. The moon had risen, its light unobstructed by branches above the bank, casting fractured silver reflections on the water's surface. In those rippling mirror images, Wei Wuxian saw a face that shifted and changed with the current.

Frustrated, he struck the water with his palm, dispersing the ridiculous visage. He raised his dripping hand and, using the stream water, scrubbed away the facade he had worn.

The reflection that emerged was that of a strikingly handsome young man. His features seemed purified by the moonlight - clear brow, bright eyes, and lips curved in a slight smile. Yet, as he gazed down at himself, droplets clung to his eyelashes, falling like tears.

This youthful, unfamiliar face bore no resemblance to the infamous Yiling Patriarch, Wei Wuxian, who had once turned the world upside down in a storm of blood and chaos.

After staring at this face for a long while, Wei Wuxian rubbed his eyes and slumped down by the stream's edge.

It wasn't that he couldn't bear the criticisms of others. When he had made his choices, he had been fully aware of the path that lay ahead. He had steeled himself with the Jiang Clan's motto: "Attempt the impossible."

Yet, despite believing his heart to be as unyielding as stone, he found that he was still flesh and blood after all.

His little flower donkey, seeming to sense his melancholy, refrained from its usual impatient braying. After a moment of quiet, it wandered off, swishing its tail. Wei Wuxian remained motionless by the stream. The donkey looked back, stomped its hooves, but still got no response. Reluctantly, it returned, tugging at Wei Wuxian's clothes with its teeth.

Realizing he could either stay or go, but the donkey was intent on moving, Wei Wuxian allowed himself to be led. The flower donkey guided him to a clearing surrounded by trees. There, nestled in the grass, lay a Qiankun pouch. Above it hung a torn golden net, likely dropped by some unfortunate cultivator during their escape.

Wei Wuxian picked up the pouch and examined its contents: a jumble of items including medicinal wine gourds, talismans, and a small demon-detecting mirror.

As he rummaged through, he absently pulled out a talisman. Suddenly, a flame erupted in his hand.

It was a Yin-Burning Talisman, designed to ignite in the presence of yin energy. The stronger the yin energy, the more fiercely it burned. Its immediate combustion indicated the proximity of a spirit.

Alert now, Wei Wuxian used the burning talisman to probe his surroundings. As he turned east, the flame weakened; when he faced west, it flared violently. He took a few steps in that direction and saw a hunched white figure beneath a tree.

The talisman burned out, its ashes falling from his fingertips. An old man stood with his back to Wei Wuxian, muttering to himself.

Wei Wuxian approached cautiously, the old man's words becoming clearer.

"It hurts, it hurts so much," the old man whimpered.

"Where does it hurt?" Wei Wuxian asked.

"My head, my head," came the reply.

"Let me take a look," Wei Wuxian said.

As he moved to the old man's side, Wei Wuxian saw a gaping, bloody hole in his forehead. This was a dead soul, likely murdered by a blow to the head. He wore fine burial clothes, indicating he had been properly laid to rest. This was no lost soul of the living.

Yet, such a spirit should not exist on Mount Dafan.

Troubled by this anomaly, Wei Wuxian leapt onto his donkey's back, gave it a firm pat, and urged it towards the direction Jin Ling and the others had taken into the mountain.

Near the ancient burial mounds, cultivators lingered, hoping to catch any wandering spirits. Some boldly waved yin-attracting flags, only to summon wailing ghosts. Wei Wuxian reined in his donkey and called out, "Excuse me, may I ask a question? Where have the young masters from the Jin and Lan families gone?"

His cleaned face seemed to garner more respect, and a cultivator replied, "They left for the Celestial Maiden Shrine."

"The Celestial Maiden Shrine?" Wei Wuxian echoed.

A young girl with a round face, part of a family that had sneaked back after the spirit-trapping nets were destroyed, pointed the way. "It's over there. It's a cave shrine on this mountain."

Wei Wuxian pressed further, "Which deity is enshrined there?"

"I think it's a natural stone statue of a celestial maiden," the girl replied.

Wei Wuxian nodded. "Thank you."

Without delay, he spurred his donkey towards the shrine.

The pieces were falling into place: a lazy groom, a lightning-struck coffin, a bridegroom devoured by wolves, father and daughter losing their souls, ornate burial clothes... Like beads on a string, they formed a complete picture. No wonder the wind chimes couldn't detect it, nor could the yin-attracting flags summon it. They had all underestimated what lurked within Mount Dafan.

It wasn't at all what they had assumed it to be!