Chapter 87: Loyalty—Part Nine
Translated by K of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
As Wei WuXian spoke, he grabbed two branches and started to climb up the trunk of the tree. With great ease, he leaped up until he reached an area near the top. Wei WuXian finally stopped, Hm, it should be about here.
He buried his face inside a cluster of thick leaves and only looked down after a long while. His voice was high, tinged with laughter, Back then, it felt so scarily high, but looking at it now, it really wasnt that high.
The instant he wrapped his arms around the tree, Wei WuXians eyes had warmed. When he looked down, his sight was already blurred.
Lan WangJi was standing right beneath the tree, looking at him with his chin raised. He was clothed in white as well. He didnt hold a lantern, but moonlight glided down his body, almost enveloping him in a soft halo, making him seem so bright. He looked up at the top of the tree with a dedicated expression. He seemed to have walked a few steps closer, almost as if to stretch his arms out.
All of a sudden, an abnormally strong impulse surged into Wei WuXians mind.
He wanted to fall down again, just like back then.
A voice inside of him said, If he catches me, Ill
At this point where he thought Ill, Wei WuXian let go. Seeing that he fell out of the tree without any warning, Lan WangJis eyes immediately widened. He shot forward just in time to catch Wei WuXian, or one might say, be caught by Wei WuXian.
Lan WangJis figure was slender. He seemed to be quite the scholarly young master, but his power wasnt to be disregarded. Not only was his arm strength shocking, his lower body was steady too. But, after all, it was a grown man who jumped from the tree, so although he caught Wei WuXian, he staggered slightly, walking a step backward. Immediately, however, he steadied himself. Just as he was about to let go of Wei WuXian, he realized that Wei WuXians arms were tightly wrapped around his neck, preventing him from moving in the slightest.
He couldnt see Wei WuXians face. Wei WuXian couldnt see his face either, but he didnt need to. When he closed his eyes, all he breathed in was the cold sandalwood on Lan WangJis body.
His voice was hoarse, Thank you.
He wasnt scared of falling. All these years, hed fallen many times. But falling on the ground still hurt, after all. If someone was there to catch him, itd be more than wonderful.
Hearing Wei WuXian thank him, Lan WangJis body seemed to freeze for a second. The hand that was about to be laid on Wei WuXians back paused before it returned.
After a moment of silence, Lan WangJi responded, You are welcome.
With a long time of hugging, Wei WuXian finally parted with him. Standing with his back straight as ever, he spoke as though nothing happened, Lets go back!
Lan WangJi, No more reminiscing?
Wei WuXian, Yes, more reminiscing! But theres nothing to see if we walk farther out. Itd be the wilderness there, and weve seen enough of that in the past few days. Lets go back to Lotus Pier. Ill take you to see the last place.
The two returned to the dock and entered the gates of Lotus Pier once again. They walked across the training field. As they passed by an ornate little building, Wei WuXian stopped and took a few more looks. His expression seemed different. Lan WangJi asked, What is wrong?
Wei WuXian shook his head, Nothing. The place I lived in used to be here. Now its gone. It really was torn down. All of these are new.
They passed by the layers of buildings and arrived at a quiet place in the depths of Lotus Pier, in front of a black eight-cornered palace. As if scared that hed startle someone, Wei WuXian gently pushed the doors open and walked inside. Before the palace neatly lay rows and rows of tablets.
It was the YunmengJiang Sects ancestral hall.
He found a hassock and kneeled down. Taking three of the incense sticks in the container, he ignited them with the candlelight and stuck them into the bronze tripod in front of the tablets. He prostrated three times to two of the tablets, and turned to Lan WangJi, I used to come here a lot.
Lan WangJi had on an expression of understanding, Kneeling as punishment?
Wei WuXian mused, How did you know? Thats right. Madam Yu punished me almost every day.
Lan WangJi nodded, I have heard of a few things.
Wei WuXian, Its so famous that even people outside Yunmeng, even you Gusu people knowhow could it be a few things? But, to be honest, in all these years, Ive never seen a second woman whose temper was as bad as Madam Yus. She told me to go to the ancestral hall and kneel no matter how small the matter was. Hahaha
But, apart from this, Madam Yu had never really done anything to harm him.
He suddenly remembered that this was the ancestral hall and that Madam Yus tablet was right in front of him. He immediately apologized, Im sorry, Im sorry.
To make up for his thoughtless words, he lit up three more sticks of incense. Just as he raised them above his head, still apologizing in his mind, it suddenly got darker beside him. He turned to find that Lan WangJi had also kneeled down beside him.
Now that they were in the ancestral hall, for the sake of courtesy, of course he had to show his respect as well. Lan WangJi also took three sticks of incense and, sweeping his sleeve to the side, and ignited them using one of the red candles. His movements were proper, and his expression was grave. Wei WuXian tilted his head to look at him, his lips curving upward almost uncontrollably. Lan WangJi glanced at him and reminded, The ashes.
The three sticks of incense that Wei WuXian held had been burning for quite a while. A bit of ashes had already accumulated at the top, close to falling off. However, he still refused to insert them into the tripod, instead saying, Lets do it together.
Lan WangJi didnt object. And so, each with three sticks of incense, the two of them kneeled among rows of tablets and bowed down to Jiang FengMian and Yu ZiYuans names together.
Once. Twice. The movements were exactly the same. Wei WuXian, Thats it. He finally placed the incense into the tripod.
In the end. Wei WuXian glanced at Lan WangJi, whos kneeling as properly as ever beside him. He put his hands together and uttered in his heart, Uncle Jiang, Madam Yu, its me again. Im here to disturb you two again. But I really did want to bring him here and show him to you. Let the two prostrates we just did count as prostrating* to the Heavens and the Earth, and to the Father and the Mother. Please help me reserve the person beside me for now. Ill owe you the last prostrate for now, and find some chance to make up for it in the future
*In traditional Chinese marriages, one has to prostrate three times: once to the Heavens and the Earth, once to the Father and the Mother, and once to the Husband and the Wife (each other).
At this point, a cold laugh suddenly came from behind the two.
Wei WuXian was in the middle of his silent prayers. Hearing the sound, he trembled as his eyes sprang open. He turned around to see Jiang Cheng standing in the middle of a clearing outside of the ancestral hall, his arms folded.
His voice was chilling, Wei WuXian, you really dont take yourself as an outsider, do you? You come and leave whenever you want. You take with you whomever you want. Do you perhaps still remember whose sect this is? Whos the owner?
Doing this, Wei WuXian wanted to keep it away from Jiang Cheng in the first place. Now that he discovered them, he knew theyd definitely be faced with some vicious remarks. He didnt want to argue, I didnt take HanGuang-Jun to the other, more confidential places of Lotus Pier. We only came to greet Uncle Jiang and Madam Yu with a few sticks of incense. Were finished already and well be leaving now.
Jiang Cheng, If youre leaving, please go as far as possible. Dont let me see or hear you fooling around in Lotus Pier again.
Wei WuXian felt his brows twitch. He saw Lan WangJis right hand press onto his sword and stopped him at once.
Lan WangJi turned to Jiang Cheng, Watch your words.
Jiang Cheng was quite blunt, I think youre the ones who should watch your actions.
Wei WuXians brows throbbed even harder, and the ominous feeling within him grew as well. He spoke to Lan WangJi, HanGuang-Jun, lets go.
He then turned around and prostrated a few more times before the Jiang couples tablets before standing up with Lan WangJi. Jiang Cheng didnt stop him from prostrating, but he didnt hide his mocking tone either, You really should kneel for them properly, having dirtied their eyes and contaminated their peace.
Wei WuXian threw him a sideways glance, speaking in a calm voice, Im only here to burn some incense. Thats enough, isnt it?
Jiang Cheng, Burn some incense? Wei WuXian, are you really that dense? Its been so long since you were kicked out of our sect, and here you are taking unwelcome people with you to burn incense for my parents?
Wei WuXian was already about to pass around him and leave. When he heard this, he suddenly stopped, his voice low, Well, say it out loud. Whos an unwelcome person?
If he were alone here, hed be able to pretend like he heard nothing of what Jiang Cheng said. However, with Lan WangJi with him, no matter what, he wouldnt want Lan WangJi to suffer through Jiang Chengs vulgar remarks and obvious malice alongside him.
Jiang Cheng mocked, Look how forgetful you are. What does unwelcome people mean? Then let me remind you. It was because you played the hero and saved Second Young Master Lan, whos standing beside you right now, that the entire Lotus Pier and my parents went down with you. And that wasnt enough. With the first time, soon comes the second. You even had to save Wen-dogs and drag my sister down with you. What a person you are! Whats more, youre even so generous as to take the two to Lotus Pier. The Wen-dogs strolling in front of my sects gates; Second Young Master Lan came here to burn incense. Youre here on purpose to remind me, to remind them. He continued, Wei WuXian, who do you think you are? Who gave you the face to take whomever you want into our sects ancestral hall?
Wei WuXian knew that Jiang Cheng had to settle this with him no matter what.
For Lotus Piers destruction, Jiang Cheng thought not only that Wei WuXian responsible, but also that Wen Ning and Lan WangJi were responsible too. He wouldnt give a friendly look to either of the three, let alone when they were walking right in front of his face at the same time inside Lotus Pier. He was probably infuriated.