The world is still such a bright place

Chapter 7

Lan Wangji was sitting in the lecture hall, listening only half-heartedly to his uncle reciting the Gusu Lan sect rules. He did not need to listen anyway, he knew them by heart and could recite them even if someone woke him up in the middle of the night. That was however not the reason he was not paying attention, he was worrying about Wei Ying.

His brother had been very nervous in the morning and insisted on coming to the lectures before anyone else, he did not want to be seen by anyone while walking around with a chaperon. "While I can understand Wei Ying's reasoning and his fears, I would have preferred for him not to be so nervous. He had already had a hard time deciding to attend the lectures at all, it surely took all of his courage and determination to not say he was not coming this morning.

But he really should not worry about what others will think of him and behave freely. Everyone will surely understand if he accidently stumbled along the way or even run into someone after learning about his condition. However, I guess that is precisely what Wei Ying does not want anyone finding out. I am however afraid that it would be easier said than done, despite all our efforts, someone will learn about it sooner or later, that is unavoidable.

Is Wei Ying perhaps still worried it would have a negative impact on the Gusu Lan sect? He must know it is pure nonsense, we have been through this numerous times already. Xichen and uncle explained him time and time again that they would not mind any kind of situation he could possibly cause. We all want him to come out of the Jingshi more often and interact with other disciples as much as he likes. Even if he does not say it, I can see he is extremely lonely most of the time.

The occasions he can meet anyone beside the family are rare because he is deliberately avoiding them. While he had gotten fairly used to enjoying the sun in front of the Jingshi, going on short walks in the back mountains or playing with rabbits, he still cannot bring himself to do any of those with anyone else but Xichen, uncle and me. Last year, there was also Nie Huisang, but he had gone back to the Unclean Realm before their friendship could progress any further..."

Suddenly, Lan Wangji's contemplation had been disturbed by a disciple all but falling with a loud thud onto the seat right next to him. He had glanced at the other and scowled slightly: "It is Jin Zixuan, the Lanling Jin sect heir. I had seen him yesterday during the training, he was only observing and then he left. Even if he is a sect heir, he should have better manners; he had been rude yesterday and now he is coming in late and openly disrespecting any decorum. Who does he think he is?"

After Lan Qiren had come and started reading the rules, Lan Wangji had been watching how Jin Zixuan looked all around, visibly not paying attention at all. That in itself would not have been a problem. What was more worrying was the fact that after a while, his eyes focused onto Wei Ying's figure and would not leave him out of sight.

Wei Ying was visibly listening very attentively to the rules being read. Or that was what Lan Wangji dearly wanted to believe. He was however pretty sure his brother was actually worrying about what was happening in the room and was on high alert for anyone coming near him or trying to speak with him. Lan Wangji could judge so from how tense his shoulders were and how he was breathing more quickly than it would be usual when he was just sitting down and not doing any excessive physical activity. His hands were also clenched into his robes under the table.

Lan Wangji thought, somewhat saddened: "I was worried Wei Ying would not be able to relax first few days. Even though I have promised to not let anyone near him, it must be scary not knowing what is happening around him and imagining all the worst possible scenarios. He must be in a terrible turmoil right now... I would like to calm him down but I cannot speak in the middle of the lecture. I can only observe him and if it will seem like his state is getting worse, I will immediately take him out of here all decorum be damned.

Uncle will understand, we do not want any more episodes. Although it had been a while since the last one, it had been almost fatal for Wei Ying. We do not want a repeat of that, never."

He turned his gaze away from his brother and looked at Jin Zixuan again. The disciple was still fixing Wei Ying with his eyes and Lan Wangji found he was very bothered by the way he was doing so. There was something in the Lanling Jin sect heir's look which was making him feel ill at ease. It was as if he was looking at Wei Ying with some kind of hunger, Lan Wangji could not name it differently.

"Why does he not leave Wei Ying alone? Although my brother cannot see anything wrong, he is surely feeling alerted because of Jin Zixuan's uncomfortable stare. Wei Ying always had a way of sensing if anyone was near and if they were observing him. I guess it is just part of his survival skills and his instincts going out of control in order to protect himself. Without a doubt, he is very bothered right now...

I am worried about him. What could Jin Zixuan's intentions be? Why is he fixing Wei Ying for this long already? Does he know something? Perhaps about my brother's condition? No, impossible, no one outside of the Gusu Lan sect have any idea about it and our disciples would not just casually speak about it. For the rest of the cultivation world, Wei Ying does not even exist..."

Lan Wangji now turned his head to have a better look at the Lanling Jin sect heir. Even though it could irritate his uncle that he was not being a perfect example of a Gusu Lan sect disciple, he had to figure out what Jin Zixuan's intentions were. Lan Qiren would surely understand once he explained to him. He had also promised Wei Ying to look for anything suspicious and let him know if there was any reason to worry.

The Lanling Jin sect heir was however not looking at his brother anymore, it seemed like he was sleeping now, his eyes were closed and his head had fallen down. Lan Wangji became furious at once: "What does he think he is doing now? First he bothers Wei Ying and now he is sleeping? And uncle had just read the rule about paying attention to what is being told too! How insolent. He really has no manners; I am sure uncle would notice soon as well."

And just as Lan Wangji expected, his uncle reprimanded the Lanling Jin sect heir right the next moment: "Jin Zixuan! If you already know all the rules, perhaps you can recite them for the others?"