Mo Dao Zu Shi: Astray

The Pursuit of Knowledge, Part One

Shit! Shit! Shit!

Pan Wukun tried to move subtly to hide the Library Pavilion's books.

But it was already too late.

Lan Wangji moved swiftly and gathered the books into his qiankun sleeves.  "Unauthorized distribution of the Library Pavilion's books. A major  breach of the rules!"

Pan Wukun's heart sank. Wei Wuxian was going to get another beating because of her. "It was me! I was the one who  persuaded Wei Wuxian to-"

Lan Wangji ignored Pan Wukun. "Wei Ying. Why?"

Wei Wuxian acted as nonchalantly and calmly as possible. "Chun-ge was just  helping me carry these books from the Library Pavilion back to my room  so I can study."

Lan Wangji was not convinced. "Wei Wuxian, I must bring you in for discipline. Pan-xiushi, you must be present for a testimony."

Pan Wukun and Wei Wuxian had no choice but to follow Lan Wangji.

"Don't worry, Chun-ge, we'll be fine."

Pan Wukun wished she could believe Wei Wuxian's words.

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"I believe that Pan Wukun and Meng Xingyao would make splendid guest disciples at the Cloud Recesses."

Lan Xichen wasn't surprised by the skepticism on Lan Qiren's face.

"Xichen, Pan Wukun was just caught reading through the Library Pavilion's books without permission by Wangji. Could someone like that be trusted?  Especially if he's been spending time with Wei Wuxian?" Lan Qiren's expression turned irritated. "That Wei Wuxian! Always causing trouble!  He keeps giving Wangji grief!"

Lan Xichen knew that although Lan  Wangji was annoyed by Wei Wuxian's antics, he was also fond of his presence. He had never seen Lan Wangji be so intensely focused on someone before.

If Lan Xichen couldn't convince Lan Qiren to allow Wei Wuxian and Pan Wukun to make amends for the Library Pavilion books affair, then they would be forced to leave the Cloud Recesses.

Lan Xichen would not force Lan Wangji to befriend Pan Wukun. But he knew that Lan Wangji was fond of Wei Wuxian. If Wei Wuxian left the Cloud  Recesses, Lan Wangji would be sad. And Lan Xichen could not stand for that to happen. Ever.

"Pan Wukun may have looked at books from the Library Pavilion without permission. But our senior disciples learned from their interrogation that he did not intend to steal them. If he had  wanted to take the books for himself, he would've harmed Wei Wuxian and departed from the Cloud Recesses with the stolen books by now." Lan Xichen gave Lan Qiren a moment to reflect on his words. "Rogue cultivators travel around far more than sect cultivators. The disciples could learn much from Pan Wukun and Meng Xingyao. We haven't had a rogue  cultivator at the Cloud Recesses since-"

Lan Qiren sighed heavily. "Since Cangse Sanren..."

Back then, Cangse Sanren visited the Cloud Recesses. She was a truly unruly cultivator, always pulling pranks on Lan Qiren and arguing with him on night-hunts.

And with Wei Wuxian being the troublemaker he was to Lan Qiren, he really was too much like his mother.

Lan Xichen sought to ease Lan Qiren's worries. "Pan Wukun desired to learn more about cultivation from the Library Pavilion's books. You must admire his drive for knowledge and commend such boldness. Isn't that what you wish to foster within your disciples, shufu[1]?"

Lan Xichen began listing some of the GusuLan sect's rules.

"Learning comes first.
Do not give up on learning.
Nurture aspirations.
Have courage and knowledge."