Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: I Have Acquaintances in the Heavenly Realm - Chapter 6

The group reached a tavern, and Wei Wuxian pulled Lan Wangji straight inside. Xie Lian looked at the character for “Wine” hanging at the entrance and gave a helpless smile before following them in.

Hua Cheng followed at Xie Lian’s side with his hands behind his back, saying, “Gege, if you do not wish to go in, we needn’t.”

Xie Lian turned to look at Hua Cheng with a smile. “San Lang, don’t you think Young Master Wei is very much like Qingxuan?”

Hua Cheng replied, “I only know that Gege does not like drinking. As for whether they are alike or not, Heixuan would know best.”

Xie Lian insisted, “I think they are very similar.”

Hua Cheng nodded. “Mn. If Gege says they are alike, then they are alike.”

Xie Lian smiled and said nothing more, turning to sit at the table with Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. Hua Cheng naturally followed closely and sat beside him.

Wei Wuxian sat next to Lan Wangji, leaning his entire body against him. He sat with absolutely no regard for proper posture, looking as though he were bone-deep lazy.

Lan Wangji, however, remained sitting perfectly upright. He had long since grown accustomed to Wei Wuxian’s behavior and made no attempt to correct him.

In the past, he had been single-mindedly focused on making Wei Wuxian become the version of himself that he deemed “correct,” which had only led to misunderstandings. The current Lan Wangji would no longer correct him; as long as Wei Wuxian stayed by his side like this, it was enough.

Wei Wuxian said to Xie Lian, “Daozhang Xie, what would you like to eat? It’s a rare occasion for you to visit the cultivation world; wouldn’t it be a waste not to try the local delicacies?”

Xie Lian replied, “We do not know what delicacies are available here. Young Master Wei, please order as you see fit.”

Unsure of Xie Lian and Hua Cheng’s preferences, Wei Wuxian ordered a mix of spicy and non-spicy dishes. Knowing they didn’t drink, he also ordered a pot of tea.

Wei Wuxian had the waiter bring the tavern’s best wine, but upon tasting it, he found it mediocre. Compared to the Emperor’s Smile of Gusu, it was truly lacking.

Leaning against Lan Wangji, he looked up at him, swirled the wine in his hand, and said, “Lan Zhan, this wine is far inferior to Emperor’s Smile. Emperor’s Smile tastes much better.”

Lan Wangji set down his chopsticks, reached into his Qiankun bag, and pulled out another jar of Emperor’s Smile to hand to Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian sat bolt upright, his spirits instantly lifted. He said with a grin, “Lan Zhan! You actually have more Emperor’s Smile? Quick, let me see how much is left. Take it all out!”

Lan Wangji stowed the Qiankun bag away and said, “There is no more.”

Wei Wuxian didn’t believe him and leaned over Lan Wangji, trying to snatch the bag.

Lan Wangji caught Wei Wuxian’s restless hands and said, “Wei Ying.”

Only then did Wei Wuxian stop and sit back properly. “Alright, alright. One jar is better than none. But Lan Zhan, remember to bring more next time we go out.”

Lan Wangji nodded. “Mn.”

Just then, it was time for the tavern’s storyteller to begin. The audience erupted into applause to welcome him to the stage.

Wei Wuxian propped one foot up on his stool, leaning one arm on Lan Wangji’s shoulder while holding his Emperor’s Smile in the other. He took a swig and watched the storyteller on stage.

Hua Cheng picked up the teapot, poured a cup of water, and handed it to Xie Lian. Xie Lian took the water, drained it in one go, set the cup down, and turned to watch the storyteller as well.

As for Hua Cheng, he propped his chin on his hand and leaned against the table, facing the stage, yet his eyes remained fixed unblinkingly on Xie Lian.

The storyteller began: “All those past incidents had nothing to do with the Yiling Patriarch! It turns out they were all the work of that son of a prostitute, Jin Guangyao. Who would have thought that the Yiling Patriarch, whom everyone once wished to execute, would end up being the great benefactor who saved the Great Sects?”

“The Yiling Patriarch is actually a good man.”

“However, in the end, the Yiling Patriarch still practices the Path of Heterodoxy, associating with resentful spirits and ghostly energy all day. It is said he still holds a Stygian Tiger Seal in his hand. Who knows if a benefactor might one day turn into a villain?”

Hearing the first part, Lan Wangji remained expressionless, silently eating his meal. But upon hearing the latter part, he slammed his bowl onto the table with a heavy “thud,” causing the porcelain to crack.

Lan Wangji’s face showed visible anger. Wei Wuxian set down his Emperor’s Smile and immediately took hold of Lan Wangji’s hand, saying with a smile, “Lan Zhan, look at you. Why use so much force? The bowl is cracked; how are you going to eat now? Waiter! Over here, please bring a new bowl.”

“Coming! Guest, please wait a moment.”

The waiter brought a fresh set of bowl and chopsticks and cleared away the cracked bowl.

Lan Wangji looked at Wei Wuxian’s smiling face, his brow furrowing slightly as his fists clenched. “Wei Ying!”

Wei Wuxian took another swig of Emperor’s Smile and asked, “Lan Zhan, do you trust me?”

Lan Wangji replied, “I do.”

Wei Wuxian smiled. “Lan Zhan, as long as you trust me, it’s fine. Whether others believe me or not doesn’t matter. At least they consider me a good person for now. As for the future, no matter how much is said now, words are wind what would be the point?”

“They have always only chosen to believe what they want to believe. After enough time has passed, they will eventually see whether or not I am a villain.”

He took another swig of wine and continued, “Besides, doesn’t their behavior just prove from another perspective how much they fear me? Or rather, how much they fear the Stygian Tiger Seal I carry? It’s just half a seal replicated by Xue Yang, yet they won’t let it go. It’s truly laughable and tragic.”

Lan Wangji looked at Wei Wuxian with heartache and said, “Wei Ying, I will certainly clear your name and restore your reputation!”

Wei Wuxian’s smile grew even more radiant. “Mn. Lan Zhan, I believe you. You definitely can!”