Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: I Have Acquaintances in the Heavenly Realm - Chapter 23

After leaving the Jingshi, Lan Wangji bid farewell to the group and went to attend to his duties. Wei Wuxian then began leading Xie Lian and the others on a stroll through Cloud Recesses.

Even though Cloud Recesses was currently hosting many guests, it remained remarkably quiet.

Xie Lian said with a smile, “Given your personality, Master Wei, you must find this place a bit dull.” As he spoke, he glanced at Shi Qingxuan, who was curiously peering in every direction.

Wei Wuxian replied, “In my past life, I certainly found this place utterly boring. From top to bottom, there wasn’t a single spot that wasn’t tedious. Of course, I still think it’s boring now. However, my state of mind has changed; though it is boring, it is very pleasant.”

Shi Qingxuan couldn’t help but chime in, “Even though there are many people here, I feel it’s even more desolate than the South Sea. Strange—how do these people manage to be quieter than ghosts?”

Wei Wuxian turned around, walking backward with a grin. “The Wind Master is right. This place truly is quieter than the ghosts at Luanzang Hill. However, there are always exceptions to every rule.”

Just as Shi Qingxuan looked puzzled, a sound of arguing drifted from ahead. Although the voices weren’t loud, they were exceptionally clear in such a silent environment.

Wei Wuxian pointed with Chenqing and said, “There, do you hear that? That is the ‘exception’ I was talking about.”

A few youths ahead seemed to have a disagreement over something. They were bickering back and forth, and none of them noticed anyone approaching. Wei Wuxian crept up quietly and stuck his head into the center of their circle, looking at them with a beaming smile.

Lan Jingyi snapped, “You were the one who told us to call you the next time we went night-hunting. Now that we’ve called you, it’s fine if you don’t want to go, but why are you throwing a temper? You really are a ‘Young Mistress.'”

Jin Ling retorted, “But didn’t I also say not to invite him along?!”

Lan Jingyi argued, “Whenever we encounter something we can’t solve during a night hunt, he’s the one who helps us. There were several times we wouldn’t have made it back if not for him. Doesn’t your uncle follow you around every time, too? What’s the difference?”

Lan Sizhui interjected, “Young Master Jin, it really is true. Now, when we encounter danger while night-hunting, we don’t have to trouble Hanguang-jun anymore; Senior Wen handles it for us. So…”

Lan Jingyi added, “Hanguang-jun is busier than ever now. Do you think everyone is as idle as we are? If you don’t want to go, then forget it. I don’t particularly want to see your uncle anyway—he does nothing but go around threatening to whip people all day.”

Lan Sizhui gave Jingyi a tug. “Jingyi, watch your words.”

Jin Ling held his breath, his face flushing slightly red. “…You! …Hmph! If I’m not going, I’m not going!”

Another youth nearby said, “Actually, there’s no need to argue over this. Every time we go night-hunting together, he only follows from a distance. He doesn’t show himself unless we’re in danger. Just like your uncle—as long as there’s no danger, we don’t see either of them.”

Lan Sizhui said, “In the past, when we encountered danger during night hunts, we had to trouble Hanguang-jun to save us. Didn’t you say you felt a bit scared whenever you saw Hanguang-jun? Isn’t the current situation much better?”

Lan Jingyi remarked, “This isn’t okay, that isn’t okay… you really are hard to please. Hanguang-jun doesn’t have time to lead us on night hunts anymore. Right, Sizhui?”

Before Lan Sizhui could answer, Wei Wuxian said with a laugh, “Mhm, that’s right. Hanguang-jun is indeed very busy right now.”

The group was startled, only then realizing that someone had slipped into their circle without anyone noticing.

Lan Sizhui cupped his hands. “Senior Wei, why have you come?”

Jin Ling looked at Wei Wuxian with a complicated expression. “What are you doing here?”

Wei Wuxian replied, “And why shouldn’t I be here? However, I must give you some credit, Jin Ling. You finally didn’t bring that dog of yours along. Well done.”

Jin Ling crossed his arms and lifted his chin. “I told you, Fairy doesn’t bite people.”

Doesn’t bite? Thinking of how Su She had been mauled by that spiritual black mane hound, Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but hug his arms and shiver.

Lan Sizhui cleared his throat, his face flushing slightly. “Um… Cloud Recesses has currently banned dogs.”

Wei Wuxian’s mouth dropped open in shock. “What? Is that for real?”

Lan Jingyi confirmed, “Of course it’s real! Teacher Lan said it himself. He even had Hanguang-jun record it into the sect rules. Haven’t you seen it? It’s already carved onto the stone wall at the mountain gate. How could it be fake?”

Wei Wuxian was even more astonished. “Wait, who did you say said it?”

Lan Jingyi replied, “Teacher Lan.”

Wei Wuxian asked, “You mean Hanguang-jun’s uncle, Old Master Lan?”

Lan Jingyi nodded. “Yeah. There’s only one ‘Teacher’ in Cloud Recesses.”

Wei Wuxian patted Lan Sizhui’s shoulder and said, “Sizhui, you never tell lies. Tell me, is this true?”

Lan Sizhui nodded earnestly. “What Jingyi says is true. Before the notices for the Discussion Conference were sent out to the various sects, Teacher Lan added this specific rule.”

Before the notices were sent out?

Wei Wuxian smiled with sudden understanding. That night, Lan Zhan had returned very late and told him that a Discussion Conference was to be held at Cloud Recesses, adding that Old Master Lan had given his permission for Wei Wuxian to attend. Lan Zhan must have spent a great deal of effort to make that happen.

Imagining Lan Zhan’s solemn face as he spoke up for him in front of Old Master Lan likely being scolded until he lowered his head in silence, Wei Wuxian felt a pang of heartache. I must find a good way to thank Lan Zhan tonight, he thought.

As Wei Wuxian pondered this, an unconscious smile spread across his face.

Seeing Wei Wuxian’s expression, Xie Lian knew his mind had wandered off to who-knows-where, so he let out a soft cough. Only then did the juniors realize there were four strangers standing behind them.

Lan Jingyi asked, “Senior Wei, who are these four? I’ve never seen them before. Do you know them?”

Wei Wuxian snapped out of it and rubbed his chin. “Of course I know them. Not only do I know them, but your Hanguang-jun knows them too. Listen well—these are guests invited to Cloud Recesses by Hanguang-jun himself. Do not be impolite.”

Lan Jingyi nodded. “Oh, understood.” After saying that, he turned and bowed respectfully to Xie Lian’s group. Lan Sizhui followed suit.

Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan returned the salute with smiles, though they didn’t say much.

Wei Wuxian draped one arm over Lan Jingyi’s shoulder and the other over Jin Ling’s, looking between them with a grin. “What’s going on with you two? I could hear you arguing from miles away. Don’t you know that noise is prohibited in Cloud Recesses?”

Jin Ling awkwardly tried to shrug off Wei Wuxian’s hand, but Wei Wuxian held his shoulder in a firm grip. Unable to escape, Jin Ling could only huff coldly and turn his head away.

Lan Jingyi said, “It’s all because of ‘Young Mistress’ Jin; his temper is just too big.”

Jin Ling turned back, glaring at Lan Jingyi. “Who are you calling ‘Young Mistress’!”

Before Lan Jingyi could respond, Wei Wuxian applied a bit of pressure to his left hand on Jingyi’s shoulder. “Jingyi, Jin Ling is currently managing the entire Lanling Jin Sect on his own; it’s already very exhausting. He’s willing to take time out of his busy schedule to go night-hunting with you all; you should show him more understanding.”

As he spoke, he gave Lan Jingyi a subtle look. Jingyi caught it quickly and didn’t say anything more.

Jin Ling tried once more to shrug off Wei Wuxian’s arm and finally succeeded. “Who wants your ‘understanding’? You guys can’t understand anything at all!”

Wei Wuxian patted Lan Jingyi’s shoulder again and turned back with a beaming smile. “Yes, yes, yes. After all, none of us are Sect Leaders, so naturally, we can’t understand. But Jin Ling, you are now a grand Sect Leader; you should be magnanimous and not stoop to their level.”

Jin Ling crossed his arms and lifted his chin arrogantly. “That’s right. I naturally won’t stoop to their level.”

Lan Sizhui shook his head with a smile and patted Lan Jingyi on the shoulder as well. Fortunately, Lan Jingyi was not the type to hold a grudge. He didn’t dwell on the matter and was soon happily chatting with the others about where they should go for their next night hunt.

Seeing them huddled together again, discussing things with great fervor, Wei Wuxian quietly backed away and signaled for Xie Lian’s group to follow him.

Lan Sizhui was the first to react, calling out, “Senior Wei, where are you going?”

Without looking back, Wei Wuxian waved his hand at him. “Me? Don’t you already know where I’m going? Naturally, I’m going to find your Hanguang-jun.”