Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: I Have Acquaintances in the Heavenly Realm - Chapter 19

As the Discussion Conference approached, the entirety of Cloud Recesses had begun intense preparations. Lan Wangji, acting as the temporary Sect Leader, grew increasingly busy, returning to the Jingshi later and later each night.

Wei Wuxian had also spent several consecutive days in the Jingshi drawing talismans, but his new inventions had yet to reach success. Aside from the “Spirit-Summoning Talisman”—a rather risky creation—he truly hadn’t come up with a better invention.

Consequently, Wei Wuxian decided to step out of the Jingshi for a walk. It had been quite a while since he last wandered through Cloud Recesses.

Along the way, every disciple of the Lan Sect who saw Wei Wuxian stopped in their tracks to salute him. Though Wei Wuxian didn’t quite understand why, he politely returned each gesture with a smile.

At that moment, two familiar faces approached from the opposite direction.

Wei Wuxian smiled and said, “Sizhui, Jingyi, hello there!”

Lan Sizhui bowed and said, “Senior Wei.”

Lan Jingyi also bowed, “Senior Wei.”

Wei Wuxian remarked, “The Discussion Conference is starting soon; you all seem quite busy.”

Lan Jingyi sighed, “Isn’t that the truth? Nowadays, we’re busy with conference matters all day, then we have to do our schoolwork at night. We must sleep by the Hour of the Pig and wake up by the Hour of the Rabbit. If we don’t finish our assignments, we have to copy the sect rules. It’s honestly exhausting, day in and day out.”

Lan Sizhui gave Lan Jingyi a gentle tug, saying, “Jingyi, watch your words and your conduct.”

Lan Jingyi replied, “I’m just complaining a bit to Senior Wei. He can definitely understand me, right, Senior Wei?”

Wei Wuxian smiled and agreed, “It is indeed quite tiring.”

Lan Jingyi shot a triumphant look at Lan Sizhui. “See, Sizhui? I told you Senior Wei would understand.”

Wei Wuxian then added, “Having to teach, manage the conference, and check schoolwork on top of it all—it really is quite tiring.”

Lan Jingyi: “…”

Lan Sizhui lowered his head, covering his mouth to stifle a light laugh.

As the three stood on the path, disciples would occasionally stop to salute Wei Wuxian. He was starting to grow weary of returning the salutes.

Looking at the disciples, Wei Wuxian asked in confusion, “Do you two know why they all salute when they see me?”

Lan Jingyi crossed his arms over his chest and curled his lip. “What else could it be for? It’s all because of Hanguang-jun.”

Wei Wuxian was even more puzzled. “Hanguang-jun?”

Lan Jingyi nodded. “Exactly! Hanguang-jun told everyone during a lesson long ago: Seeing Wei Ying is like seeing me. Those who do not respect him shall be punished.”

Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Sizhui in disbelief. “Sizhui, is what Jingyi saying true?”

Lan Sizhui nodded. “It is true, Senior Wei. By now, everyone throughout Cloud Recesses knows that seeing Senior Wei is the same as seeing Hanguang-jun.”

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Wei Wuxian reached up to scratch his hair. “That Lan Zhan… how could he be so reckless? Does Old Master Lan know about this? Was he angry?”

Lan Jingyi answered, “Teacher Lan knows, of course. Whether he’s angry or not, I couldn’t say—but at the very least, he hasn’t opposed it.”

This left Wei Wuxian even more stunned. No opposition? That was truly unexpected.

Lan Jingyi continued, “Anyway, Senior Wei, you are very distinguished in Cloud Recesses now. Who doesn’t know the nature of your relationship with Hanguang-jun? You two…”

Lan Sizhui suddenly clamped his hand over Jingyi’s mouth. “Senior Wei, my apologies. Jingyi just speaks this way. We have matters to attend to, so I will take Jingyi and head off first. Please, enjoy your stroll. Farewell.”

After they hurried away, Wei Wuxian stood with his hands behind his back, gave a helpless shrug, and smiled. Whatever, he thought. As long as I can be with Lan Zhan, it doesn’t matter.

Tired of returning salutes all the way, Wei Wuxian took a back path to the rear mountains. It was uninhabited and relatively peaceful there.

The rabbits on the back mountain were becoming more numerous and plump. Wei Wuxian tucked his flute, Chenqing, into his waist and picked up a rabbit, giving it a little shake. “Little bunny, did you miss me?”

The rabbit gave Wei Wuxian a flat look, turned its face away, and ignored him.

Wei Wuxian lifted it higher. “Hey! Why do you have the same expression as Lan Zhan? Look at me, look at me! Have you forgotten who brought you here in the first place?”

The rabbit continued to ignore him, not even sparing him a second glance.

Wei Wuxian lay down on the ground, placing the rabbit on his chest. “If I had known, I should have roasted and eaten you back then, so you wouldn’t be ignoring me now!”

“But seriously, Lan Zhan has raised you all very well. Every single one of you is so fat.”

With one hand pillowing his head and the other stroking the rabbit, Wei Wuxian relaxed with his legs crossed and swinging. A few bolder rabbits huddled beside him, squinting their eyes as they enjoyed the sun.

Suddenly, Wei Wuxian remembered the protective talisman Xie Lian had given him. He sat up abruptly, startling the rabbits into scurrying away. Watching their round little backsides disappear, Wei Wuxian laughed. “Why are you all so timid? You’re a far cry from your Hanguang-jun.”