The Tainted Jade of Gusu

Chapter 20: Haojiu BuJian! (Long time no see!)

"Aiyah, Hanguang Jun," the masked man wailed as Lan Wangji bolted the door of the Jingshi, "You are a man of high repute! You don't have fear ruining your reputation. But I still want to find a man to settle down with in the future, what if my reputation is ruined?"

Lan Wangji had to use all the self control he had mustered in the thirty one years of his existence to not start banging his head on the wall. He took a few deep breaths, then turned around and faced the masked stranger.

"Wei Ying, I know it's you. Stop messing around. "

The masked man stopped mid-tantrum and stared at Lan Wangji with a puzzled expression.

"Take off your mask."

It was impossible to argue with Lan Wangji. The silver mask came off, revealing an all too familiar countenance, sharp features, a slightly high bridged nose and a chiselled jawline. Lan Wangji could feel his heart flutter slightly, just as it used to, thirteen years back. But his composed demeanour managed to hide it well.

It was indeed Wei Wuxian, but in an unfamiliar body. And the Zidian had made no mistake. Wei Wuxian was no rogue soul that had possessed this body. This body had been voluntarily offered by the original owner, Mo Xuanyu, to the soul of the Yiling Laozu, to avenge the abuse that had been meted out to him.

"Lan Zhan," the resurrected Wei Wuxian chuckled, "you're right. You've caught me."

"Mn," Lan Wangji acknowledged, "but how did you end up at the Mo manor?"

"That's a long story!" Wei Wuxian plopped down on Lan Wangji's bed. The slight wince on his features didn't escape Lan Wangji's notice.

"Wei Ying is hurt." He commented in an extremely calm manner.

"Huh?" Wei Wuxian seemed to have a late realisation, "Oh right! Jiang Cheng hit me with the Zidian back at the Dafan mountains. Don't worry about it. Back when I lived at the Lotus Pier with Uncle Jiang, Madam Yu, Jiang Cheng and Shijie, Madam Yu used Zidian to discipline me all the time. It's gonna stop hurting soon."

"Take off your clothes."

Lan Wangji's command, out of context, made Wei Wuxian choke on air.

"How can you ask someone to take off their clothes brazenly, Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian blurted as soon as he recovered from the coughing fit, "Atleast spare yourself some face."

Lan Wangji gave him a criminal offensive side eye. Then, holding up a small bottle of medicinal salve, he patiently repeated, "Wei Ying, take off your clothes."

Wei Wuxian realised that Lan Wangji's intention was to apply the salve on the whiplash Zidian had left on his back, and he promptly took off the layers of robes that covered his upper body and bared his back to Lan Wangji.

"Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian tried to distract himself from the slight stinging sensation on his back as Lan Wangji smeared the salve carefully over the wound, "why don't you ask me what happened at Mo manor today?"

"If Wei Ying wants to tell me," Lan Wangji closed the bottle of medicinal salve and put it on the bedstand, "I'd be happy to listen."

Wei Wuxian was sitting with a layer of medicinal salve on his back, and he had to wait till it had dried before he could put the robes back on. He decided to continue,

"So, this body belongs to Mo Xuanyu, who is probably one of the bastard sons of the Jin sect leader."

"Previous Jin sect leader," Lan Wangji interrupted him, "the current Jin sect leader is Liangfang Zun."

"Anyways," Wei Wuxian continued, " this Mo Xuanyu harboured deep hatred and resentment towards his family. And honestly, I think it's fair. They treated him like scum on earth, apparently because he was not a legitimate child, and probably because he was exalted by the Jin clan for engaging in the romantic pursuit of other male Jin disciples."