Chapter 75 (1/2)

Chapter 75: Distance—Part Two Translated by K of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

The three rushed toward the direction of Burial Mound. When the black peak broke through the clouds, Wei WuXian felt more and more worried

The roars of fierce corpses came from the dark forest afar. It wasn't only one, but an entire group. Lan w.a.n.gJi made a sword seal with his hand, and b.i.+.c.hen immediately began to fly even faster, although still steady.

As soon as they landed, the two saw a shadow dart from within the woods, screaming as it threw itself toward someone. b.i.+.c.hen cut it in half with one single stroke. The person on the ground was pale-faced. As he saw Wei WuXian, he shouted, ”Young Master Wei!”

Wei WuXian tossed out a talisman, ”Uncle Four, what's wrong?”

Uncle Four, ”All… All of the fierce corpses in the Demon-Slaughtering Cave got out!”

Wei WuXian, ”Didn't I set a restriction seal? Who touched it?!”

Uncle Four, ”n.o.body! It was… It was…”

Suddenly, a yell came from in front of them. It was a woman's voice, ”Ning!”

Within the forest, around a dozen cultivators of the Wen Sect stood before a figure—Wen Ning, bearing a hideous pair of white pupils. Not many of the talismans that once covered his entire body remained. In his hands, he was dragging two other fierce corpses, which had already been torn up by him, blackish blood cascading off what had almost become two sets of skeletons. Wen Ning was still beating them up, as if he wouldn't rest until they had been turned to dust. The person who stood at the front of the group, holding a sword, was Wen Qing.

Wei WuXian, ”Didn't I say not to touch the talismans on him?!”

Wen Qing didn't even have the spare seconds to be surprised that Lan w.a.n.gJi was here. She answered, ”n.o.body touched them! Not a single person went into the Cave! He tore them off on his own when he suddenly went on a rampage. Not only the ones on himself, he destroyed the restriction seals at the blood pool and the Cave as well! All of the fierce corpses in the blood pool got out. Wei WuXian, go save Granny and the others. They won't be able to hold up much longer!!!”

As they spoke, strange hissing noises came from above them. The group looked up to find a few fierce corpses that had climbed up the trees. They curved around the top of the trees as though they were snakes, snarling as sickening mucus dripped from between their teeth. When Wen Ning looked up, he saw them as well. He tossed away the crushed limb in his hand and leaped onto the tree at once!

The tree was at least twenty yards tall. To be able to leap up to such a height directly was an indicator of extreme explosive force. Soon after Wen Ning went up the tree, he tore the corpses apart, limbs flying everywhere and blood raining down on the ground. He still wasn't satisfied yet, going off the other side.

Wei WuXian pulled out Chenqing, ”Lan…!”

He wanted to entrust Lan w.a.n.gJi with saving the others as he stayed to deal with Wen Ning. When he turned around, he had already disappeared. Just as he was beginning to panic, sounds of the zither vibrated through the sky, sending off a murder of startled crows. Before he could even ask, Lan w.a.n.gJi had already gone over. Wei WuXian felt his heart settle. Putting Chenqing to his lips, he released a long note. Wen Ning's body, having landed on the ground, paused shortly.

Wei WuXian seized the opportunity, ”Wen Ning! Do you still remember me?!”

On the other side, the zither sounded three times before it went silent, meaning that Lan w.a.n.gJi was able to control the fierce corpses with just three notes. Wen Ning lowered his body slightly, deep growls coming from his throat. He was like a wild beast on alert, prepared to attack at any moment. As Wei WuXian was about to play his flute again, he suddenly realized that Wen Yuan still hugged his leg tightly, too scared to make a sound. He'd forgotten about him the whole time!

He immediately picked Wen Yuan up and threw him toward Wen Qing, ”Take him away!”

At this point, Wen Ning pounced on him.

As though he was. .h.i.t by a large boulder, Wei WuXian flew back from the force, cras.h.i.+ng onto a tree. He felt warmth rise up his throat and cursed. Lan w.a.n.gJi saw this happen just as he returned. His expression changed at once and he rushed in front of him. Wen Qing had just shoved Wen Yuan into another's arms. She wanted to check on Wei WuXian's injuries, but he got there before she could. She paused with surprise. Lan w.a.n.gJi was almost embracing Wei WuXian as he held his hand and pa.s.sed spiritual energy to him.

Wen Qing hurried, ”Let him go first—it's not necessary! Let me do it! I'm Wen Qing!”

Wen Qing of Qishan was one of the top medics. Lan w.a.n.gJi finally stopped pa.s.sing Wei WuXian spiritual energy and let Wen Qing examine his condition, although his hand still refused to let go. Wei WuXian, however, pushed him aside, ”Don't let him go!”

After Wen Ning wounded him, he walked down the mountain, arms hanging low. It was where the other cultivators of the Wen Sect were hiding from the fierce corpses. Wen Qing dashed over as she yelled, ”Run! Everyone, run! He's going towards you!”

Wei WuXian fought out of Lan w.a.n.gJi hold and forced himself to chase after Wen Ning. Lan w.a.n.gJi caught up again, ”Where is your sword?”

Wei WuXian whipped out twelve talismans, ”Don't know where I put it!”

The twelve yellow talismans formed a line in midair and began to burn. When they landed on Wen Ning, like a chain of fire, they held him down at once. With a flip of his wrist, Lan w.a.n.gJi strummed the strings of his zither. Wen Ning's footsteps seemed to have been hindered by an invisible thread. He paused, but continued to struggle forward despite the difficulty. Wei WuXian put Chenqing to his lips. Due to the blow he received, some blood sprayed out from his lips. He frowned, but he endured the pain and the blood churning within his chest, playing without a single tremble.

Under the two's collaboration, Wen Ning kneeled on the ground and let out a roar skyward. The leaves within the forest swayed back and forth. Wei WuXian finally couldn't hold it any longer and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The notes of w.a.n.gji suddenly increased in their force. Wen Ning bellowed, arms wrapped around his head, curled up on the ground.

Wen Qing wailed, ”Ning! Ning!”

She was about to rush over when Wei WuXian stopped her, ”Be careful!”

Seeing how tormented her younger brother was, under the sounds of the zither, Wen Qing felt her heart ache. Although she knew that if extreme measures weren't taken against his current state of being, he'd definitely bring about danger. Yet, she couldn't help but felt bad for Wen Ning, ”HanGuang-Jun, go easy on him!”

Wei WuXian, ”Lan Zhan! A bit softe-…”

”… Young… Master…”

Wei WuXian suddenly froze, ”Wait a second?”

He shouted, ”Lan Zhan, could you stop first?!”

The voice came from Wen Ning.

Lan w.a.n.gJi pressed his fingers onto the strings, stopping the vibrations. Wei WuXian, ”Wen Ning?!”

Wen Ning struggled to lift up his head.

Within his eyes wasn't the hideous white anymore, but a… a pair of black pupils!

Wen Ning opened his mouth, continuing, ”… Young… Master Wei…?”

It seemed that he squeezed the words out one by one, almost biting down on his own tongue. But those were indeed human words, not meaningless roars.

Wen Qing had frozen. A second later, with a scream, she threw herself toward him, howling, ”Ning!”

Both of the two fell back from the force. Wen Ning, ”Sis… -ter…”

Wen Qing pulled her younger brother into an embrace. With both tears and laughter, she buried her head in his arms, ”It's me! It's your sister, it's your sister! Ning!”

She called Wen Ning's name again and again. The other cultivators seemed as if they wanted to go throw themselves over too, but they didn't dare do it. They hugged one another in the chaos, shouting and laughing among themselves.

Uncle Four leaped down the mountain as he cheered, ”Everything's fine! It's done! It's done! Ning woke up! …”

Wei WuXian walked over and squatted beside Wen Ning, ”How do you feel right now?”

Wen Ning lay on the ground facing up, his neck and limbs still somewhat stiff, ”I… I…” He stammered for some time before finally saying, ”… I want to cry, but I can't. What's wrong…”

After a moment of silence, Wei WuXian patted his shoulder, ”You remember, don't you? You're dead already.”

When he made sure that Wen Ning really was awake, in his heart, Wei WuXian let out a long breath of relief.

He did it.

Back then, because of his momentary impulse and rage, he made Wen Ning into a low level fierce corpse. Although he could get Wen Ning to point at whom the inspectors that killed him were and tear them apart, when Wen Qing woke up and had to face her younger brother who didn't recognize her at all and could only bite and bark like a mad dog, being fed with blood and flesh, it was even more painful for her.

After he calmed down, Wei WuXian promised solemnly that he had a way for Wen Ning to return to consciousness. But, n.o.body knew that he was only talking big so that Wen Qing could relax first. In truth, he had close to no confidence and could only summon up whatever skills he had.

With the arduous days and the sleepless nights, he really did manage to keep his promise.

Wen Qing cupped Wen Ning's pale face, tears streaming down her cheeks. In the end, she still couldn't help herself from crying like she did the day she saw Wen Ning's corpse.

Wen Ning stroked her back with his stiff arms. More and more of the Wen Sect's people came up the mountain, either rus.h.i.+ng over and joining the crying pile or gazed with respect and grat.i.tude at Wei WuXian and Lan w.a.n.gJi's direction.

Wei WuXian knew that the siblings had a lot to say to each other. Wen Qing definitely wouldn't want others to see her sobbing look either. He turned, ”Lan Zhan.”

Lan w.a.n.gJi looked at him. Wei WuXian, ”You're here anyways, so why not have a seat inside?”

The two walked up to a cave on the mountain, surrounded by chilly winds.

Lan w.a.n.gJi, ”The Demon-Slaughtering Cave?”

Wei WuXian, ”That's right. I came up with the name. How is it?”

Lan w.a.n.gJi said nothing.

Wei WuXian, ”I know. In your heart, you're definitely saying 'not very good.' After the news got out, I picked up on some of the comments as well, saying that I'm someone who cultivates the demonic path to begin with—I'm the demon myself, so how could I be so shameless as to call my den the Demon-Slaughtering Cave?”

Lan w.a.n.gJi didn't comment. The two had already walked inside the cave. Wei WuXian's laughter echoed throughout the empty walls, ”But in reality, all of them are wrong. What I actually meant with this name is not at all what they interpreted it as.”

Lan w.a.n.gJi, ”How come?”

Wei WuXian, ”Simple. I often sleep like I'm dead inside of this cave. A cave that kills a demon through slumber—wouldn't it be the Demon-Slaughtering Cave?”

Lan w.a.n.gJi, ”…”

The two entered the main area. Lan w.a.n.gJi, ”What about the blood pool, then?”

Wei WuXian pointed at a pool of water within the cave, ”The blood pool is this right here.”

It was dim inside the cave, making it difficult to tell whether the water was black or red. It gave an odor of blood, somewhere between light and heavy.

Originally, a line of restriction had surrounded the pool, though it had been destroyed by Wen Ning already. Wei WuXian put it up again and tied it together.

Lan w.a.n.gJi, ”The dark energy is dense.”

Wei WuXian, ”That's right. The dark energy is really heavy, fit to nurture dark creatures. This is where I use to 'parent' the fierce corpses that haven't been completed yet. Guess how many are in the bottom?” He smiled, ”To be honest, I don't know just how many there are either. But the water in the pool is smelling more and more like blood.”

Whether it was because of the lighting or not, Wei WuXian's complexion seemed unusually pale. His smile seemed to have some eeriness to it as well. Lan w.a.n.gJi gazed at him quietly, ”Wei Ying.”

Wei WuXian, ”What?”

Lan w.a.n.gJi, ”Can you really control it?”

Wei WuXian, ”Control what? You mean Wen Ning? Of course I can. Look, he's already returned to consciousness.” Wei WuXian gloated, ”An unprecedented fierce corpse.”

Lan w.a.n.gJi, ”What would you do if he lost consciousness again?”

Wei WuXian, ”I already have experience with dealing with him when he's out of consciousness. I'm the one who controls him. As long as nothing happens to me, nothing will happen to him either.”

After a while of silence, Lan w.a.n.gJi asked, ”But what if something does happen to you?”

Wei WuXian, ”It won't.”

Lan w.a.n.gJi, ”How could you be sure?”

Wei WuXian's voice was firm, ”It won't, and it can't.”

Lan w.a.n.gJi, ”Do you intend on staying like this from now on?”

Wei WuXian, ”What's wrong with staying like this? My place not good enough for you? This mountain here is even bigger than the Cloud Recesses. Our food here is much better too.”

”Wei Ying,” Lan w.a.n.gJi spoke, ”You know what I mean.”

”…” Wei WuXian answered with reluctance, ”Lan Zhan, you… really are something out of this world. I've already changed the subject of conversation and you pulled it back again.”

Suddenly, he felt an itch at his throat. Blood began to rise up his chest. Trying to restrain it, Wei WuXian coughed a couple of times. Seeing that Lan w.a.n.gJi was going to grab his hand again, Wei WuXian dodged, ”What are you doing?”

Lan w.a.n.gJi, ”Your injuries.”

Wei WuXian, ”No need. Why use spiritual energy for such a small wound? It'll get better after some sitting around.”

Lan w.a.n.gJi didn't waste any words with him, grabbing for his hand again. At this point, two people came from outside of the cave. Wen Qing's voice sounded, ”Get better after some sitting around? Did you think I'm dead?”

Following behind her was Wen Ning, holding a tray of tea. Wen Ning's skin was ashen. Incantations that hadn't been fully wiped away yet could still be seen at his neck. Wen Yuan was the one hugging Wen Ning's leg. As soon as he came in, he stumbled toward Wen WuXian and hung himself at his leg instead. Seeing that Wei WuXian and Lan w.a.n.gJi looked at him in coordination, Wen Ning pulled the corners of his lips up, as if trying to smile. However, the muscles on his face were dead. They couldn't move.

He could only greet them, ”Young Master Wei… Young Master Lan.”

Wei WuXian lifted his leg and picked Wen Yuan up, swaying him in the air, ”Why are you here? Finished crying so soon?”

Wen Qing threatened, ”Just watch how I make you cry later!” Despite what she said, her voice still sounded nasally.

Wei WuXian, ”What a joke! How could you make me… Ah!!!”

Wen Qing walked up to him and gave him a loud slap on the back, so hard that it managed to make Wei WuXian cough up a mouthful of blood. His face is full of disbelief, ”You… You're so cruel…”

After he finished, he shut his eyes and pa.s.sed out. Lan w.a.n.gJi's face paled as he went to catch him, ”Wei Ying!”

Wen Qing, however, revealed three silver needles, scolding, ”I have crueler things that you haven't seen yet. Get up!”

As if nothing happened, Wei WuXian got up from Lan w.a.n.gJi's arms, wiping away the blood at his mouth, ”Please don't. The cruelest is the woman's heart. I wouldn't want to see that.”

It turned out that Wen Qing's slap only let out the blood that had clogged up within his chest. How could the renowned best medic of Qishan really be so rash? Seeing that it was another prank, Lan w.a.n.gJi gave a harsh flip of his sleeves and turned around, as though he didn't want to talk to such a ridiculous person ever again. Wen Ning just woke up, his reaction still slower than others. When he saw Wei WuXian cough up blood, he paused in surprise as well, but now he remembered that he injured Wei WuXian when he was still unconscious.

His spoke with guilt, ”Young Master, I'm sorry…”

Wei WuXian waved his hand, ”Enough, enough. Did you really think something would happen to me with a punch like that?”

Wen Qing watched Lan w.a.n.gJi's expression with her inky eyes, ”HanGuang-Jun, have a seat?”

Wei WuXian finally realized. So that was why he felt as though he forgot about something. Lan Zhan had been here for so long and he hadn't sat down yet. However, all that could be sat on inside the cave were a few stone beds, and strange objects were spread over every single one of them, from flags to sabers to boxes to blood-tattered bandages and unfinished fruits. The scene was almost painful to look at.

Wei WuXian, ”But there's nowhere to sit here, is there?”

Wen Qing was indifferent, ”Of course there is.” As she finished, she swept the things on one of the stone beds onto the ground, showing no mercy at all, ”Look, now there's a seat, isn't there?”

Wei WuXian was shocked, ”Hey!”

Wen Ning said as well, ”Yeah, Young Master Lan, sit and have some tea…” As he spoke, he s.h.i.+fted the tray in his hands a bit nearer to Lan w.a.n.gJi. Two teacups, washed extremely clean, sat on the tray.

Yet, Wei WuXian only glanced at them before complaining, ”How dingy. Asking a guest to drink plain water—there aren't even tea leaves in here!”

Wen Ning, ”I asked and they said they didn't have any. Uncle Four said that they didn't store tea leaves…”

Wei WuXian took up one of the cups and had a gulp, ”This really doesn't seem right. Prepare some the next time a guest comes over.” He only felt how funny it was after he said it. How could there be a next time, and how could there be another guest?

Wen Qing, ”So you still have the face to talk about it. Look at what useless things you bought, the few times you were asked to shop down the mountain. Where are the radish seeds I asked you to buy today?”

Wei WuXian, ”What useless things did I buy? I went to buy toys for Yuan, right, Yuan?”

Wen Yuan, however, did not cooperate at all, ”Brother Xian is lying. This other brother bought them for me.”

Wei WuXian fumed, ”How could this be?”

Laughter was just starting to fill the Demon-Slaughtering Cave when Lan w.a.n.gJi turned around without saying anything and proceeded to walk out of the cave.

Both Wen Qing and Wen Ning paused in surprise. Wei WuXian, ”Lan Zhan?”

Lan w.a.n.gJi's footsteps hesitated. No emotions could be distinguished from his tone, ”It is time for me to return.”

He walked out the Demon-Slaughtering Cave without turning back. Wen Ning started to panic again, as if thinking that it was his fault. Wen Yuan hurried, ”Brother!”

Using his two short legs, he tried to chase after him. Wei WuXian s.n.a.t.c.hed him up at once and tucked him under his arm, ”Wait for me here.”

He walked three steps in two and caught up to Lan w.a.n.gJi, ”You're going? I'll see you off.”

Lan w.a.n.gJi stayed silent.

Under Wei WuXian's arm, Wen Yuan looked up at him, ”Brother, you won't be eating here?”

Lan w.a.n.gJi glanced at him. He reached out and stroked his head softly.

Wen Yuan thought that he was going to stay. His face brightened up, whispering, ”Yuan heard a secret. They said that there'll be lots of good food today…”

Wei WuXian, ”This brother here has food waiting for him in his own home. He won't be staying.”

Wen Yuan replied with an 'oh'. Disappointment was plastered on his face. His head drooped down and he didn't say anything else.

The two of them along with the child tucked in under an arm walked for some time in silence until they reached the foot of Burial Mound. They stopped in unison. Neither of them spoke.

A moment later, Wei WuXian spoke up, ”Lan Zhan, you asked me if I intended on staying like this from now on. To be honest, I'd like to ask something as well. What can I do apart from this?”

He continued, ”Give up the demonic path? Then what about the people on this mountain?

”Give them up? I won't be able to do it. I believe that if you were I, you wouldn't be able to do it either.”

He continued, ”n.o.body can give me a nice, broad road to walk on. A road where I could protect those I want to protect without having to cultivate the ghostly path.”

Lan w.a.n.gJi gazed at him. He didn't reply, but both of them knew the answer in their hearts.

There was no such road.

No solution existed.

Wei WuXian spoke slowly, ”Thank you for keeping me company today. Thank you for telling me the news about my s.h.i.+jie's marriage too. But, let the self judge the right and the wrong, let others decide to praise or to blame, let gains and losses remain uncommented on. I, too, know what I should and shouldn't do. I believe that I'll be able to control it as well.”

As if he'd antic.i.p.ated such an att.i.tude since a long time ago, Lan w.a.n.gJi nodded slightly and closed his eyes.

And that marked their farewell.

On his way back up the mountain, Wei WuXian finally realized that he was the one who promised to treat Lan w.a.n.gJi to a meal, yet in the end, the two of them parted ways in an atmosphere less than relaxed. It went without saying that he forgot to pay for the meal as well.

Wei WuXian thought, Well, Lan Zhan is so rich anyways. It's no big deal if he paid for me once more. Speaking of it, he still has money on him, doesn't he? It couldn't have been all used up after just buying a few children's toys. If worst comes to worst, I'll just treat him again next time… How could there be a next time?

Now that he thought about it, for reasons this or that, he and Lan w.a.n.gJi would end up parting on bad terms every time they met each other. Maybe they really suited each other as friends.

But, it wasn't like there'd be any more chances for them to try and be friends with each other in the future.

Wen Yuan held him in one hand and a wooden sword in the other, wearing the gra.s.s b.u.t.terfly on his head, ”Brother Xian, would Brother Rich ever come here again?”

Wei WuXian bursted, ”Who's Brother Rich?”

Wen Yuan answered seriously, ”The rich brother is Brother Rich.”

Wei WuXian, ”Then what about me?”