The Tainted Jade of Gusu

Chapter 19: A Painfully Familiar Melody

"Lan Er Gongzi," the current leader of the Jiang sect of Yunmeng, Jiang Wanyin's voice was caustic, "you really live up to your name. Hanguang Jun,  Light amidst darkness. Appearing in the thick of  chaos!"

Lan Wangji did not find it necessary to grace the incredibly rude comment with a reply.

"Sect Leader Jiang," Sizhui smiled apologetically, "the Lan Sect of Gusu will compensate for all the spirit binding nets that have been damaged."

"No need!" Jiang Wanyin's voice sounded irate.

"However," Sizhui turned his composed gaze towards the striking youth clad in robes inlaid with the sparks amidst snow insignia, and a red cinnabar dot on the center of his forehead, "the grounds are meant to hold equal hunting opportunity for all parties. Young master Jin using spirit binding nets all over the mountains makes it a little biased, doesn't it?"

Lan Wangji's face was as impassive as ever, but a slight glimmer of pride flashed across his eyes.

The youth in the brocade robes on the other hand seemed extremely annoyed at Sizhui's words.

"So what I set spirit binding nets?" He complained, "It's because I can afford to! Besides, if the other cultivators are skilled, they should still be able to walk without triggering the nets!"

Jingyi had been biting his tongue for so long. But the Jin brat's statement was the last straw.

 "Just because you have money doesn't mean you are superior to others," he clapped back, "besides, is that a way to behave in front of....mmfh!???"

It turned out, Jingyi had been put under the silence spell of the Lan clan. He stared up at Lan Wangji in fierce defiance.

Lan Wangji simply shook his head both ways to tell Jingyi that rude remarks weren't the best choice for the situation.

"Haha, what happened now?" The young master of Jins attempted to jeer at Jingyi, who had gone off to a corner to sulk, "Cat got your... Mmmpphh!!???"

Lan Wangji had shot him a warning glare which he had missed. And now he too had been put under the silence spell by Lan Wangji.

"What did you do to Jin Ling?" Jiang Wanyin was furious.

Lan Wangji held his gaze without uttering a single word.

"Sect Leader Jiang," Sizhui tried to deescalate  the situation, "no need to worry. This is the Lan clan silence spell. It will be lifted on its own within one incense time."

Jin Ling, on the other hand, unable to do or say anything, looked at Jiang Wanyin, his expression a mixture of distress and anger.

"Jin Ling," Jiang Wanyin tried to compose himself, "Hanguang Jun is your elder. If he's trying to discipline you, I think you should accept the lesson."

The Lan and the Jiang disciples walked their seperate ways. But all of them were meant to complete the final part of the night hunt without the supervision of the elders.

"Jin Ling," Jiang Wanyin frowned, "if you fail to catch the soul stealer, no need to return."

Lan Wangji turned towards the Lan disciples, including Sizhui and Jingyi, and his golden gaze, warm like honey left in the sun, seemed soothing to them.

"Go ahead and do your best," Lan Wangji's voice was gentle, "but no need to push yourselves beyond your ability."

Once the disciples and the young masters had left, it was only Lan Wangji and Jiang Wanyin left. Jiang Wanyin cast his gaze towards the man towering over him , wearing layers of robes that resembled mourning robes except for the very subtle Lan sect insignia of rolling clouds embroidered on them .  He could have tolerated Lan Wangji's presence in silence, if not for Lan Wangji suddenly turning his head towards the thickets of the woods, almost in search of someone.