[R18] The Patriarch of the Demonic Way (newly revised version) – Chapter 16 of “The Patriarch of the Demonic Way (Newly Revised Edition)” [English]

Chapter 16 Elegant Fourth 6

In order to prevent the old-fashioned men and young old-fashioned men named Lan from attacking him in the middle of the night and dragging him out of bed to punish him, Wei Wuxian slept with his sword in his arms all night.Unexpectedly, it was a calm night. On the second day, Nie Huaisang came to him overjoyed and said, “Brother Wei, you are really lucky. The old man went to Qinghe to attend a symposium at my house last night. You don’t have to listen to me these days!”

Without the old one, the younger one is left, which is not easy to deal with!Wei Wuxian jumped up and put on his boots while exulting: “I’m really lucky. The auspicious clouds are shining and the heaven is helping me.”

Jiang Cheng was cleaning his sword carefully and poured cold water on him: “When he comes back, you still won’t be able to escape a punishment.”

Wei WuXian said, “I don’t care about my posthumous affairs while I’m alive. How many days can I spend wandering around? Come on, I don’t believe there aren’t a few little pheasants on this mountain in the Lan family.”

The three of them were holding each other’s backs, passing by the elegant living room of Yunshen. Wei Wuxian suddenly said “Huh”, stopped in his tracks, and said curiously: “Two little Gu…Lan Zhan!”

Several people walked out of the elegant room. The two young men headed by them had ordinary ice-carved faces, and were dressed in ordinary white clothes like snow. Even the sword spikes on their backs were ordinary and swaying in the wind along with the streamers. Only their temperament and expressions were completely different.Wei Wuxian immediately recognized that the stern-faced one was Lan Wangji, and the calm one must be the other of the Lan family’s twins, Lord Zewu Lan Xichen.

When Lan Wangji saw Wei Wuxian, he frowned and glared at him almost “viciously”, as if he would be tainted if he looked at him for a moment longer. He looked away and looked into the distance.Lan Xichen smiled and said, “Who are you two?”

Jiang Cheng bowed and said, “Yunmeng Jiang sings at night.”

Wei Wuxian also responded politely: “Yunmeng Wei Wuxian.”

Lan Xichen returned the favor, and Nie Huaisang’s voice was as quiet as a mosquito: “Brother Xichen.”

Lan Xichen said: “Huaisang, I came from Qinghe not long ago, and your elder brother asked about your studies. How is it? Can you pass this year?”

Nie Huaisang said, “It’s probably okay…” Like a wilted melon with frost, he looked at Wei Wuxian for help.Wei WuXian chuckled: “Zewu-Jun, what are you going to do?”

Lan Xichen said: “To get rid of the evil spirits. We are short of manpower, so come back to find Wangji.”

Lan Wangji said coldly: “Brother, why bother to say more, let’s set off without further ado.”

Wei Wuxian said hurriedly: “Slowly, slowly. I know how to catch water ghosts. Can Lord Zewu pick us up?”

Lan Xichen smiled and said nothing, and Lan Wangji said, “It’s against the rules.”

Wei Wuxian asked, “What’s wrong with the rules? We often catch water ghosts in Yunmeng. Besides, we don’t have to listen to lessons these days.”

Yunmeng has many lakes and water, and is rich in water evil spirits. The Jiang family is really good at this. Jiang Cheng is also determined to make up for the humiliation of the Yunmeng Jiang family in the past few days, and said: “Yes, Mr. Zewu, we will definitely be able to help.”

“No need. The Gusu Lan clan also…” Before Lan Wangji could finish speaking, Lan Xichen said with a smile, “Okay, thank you very much. Get ready and let’s go together. Can Huaisang go with you?”

Although Nie Huaisang wanted to join in the fun, when he met Lan Xichen, he thought of his eldest brother. He felt frightened and did not dare to play around. He said: “I won’t go, I will go back to study…” With this attitude, he hoped that Lan Xichen could say a few more good words in front of his eldest brother next time.Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng returned to their rooms to prepare.

Lan Wangji looked at the backs of He and the two of them, frowning in confusion: “Brother, why did you bring them with you? It’s not a good time to play around to get rid of evil spirits.”

Lan Xichen said: “Sect leader Jiang’s first disciple and only son are well-known in Yunmeng, and they may not only know how to joke around.”

Lan Wangji was noncommittal, but “I disagree” was written all over his face.

Lan Xichen added, “Besides, aren’t you willing to let him go?”

Lan Wangji was stunned.

Lan Xichen said: “From the look on your face, you seem to want the eldest disciple of Sect Leader Jiang to go with you, so I agreed.”

In front of the elegant room, the silence was as frozen as ice.

After a long while, Lan Wangji finally said with difficulty, “That’s absolutely not the case.”

He still wanted to defend himself, but Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng quickly came over with their swords on their backs.Lan Wangji had no choice but to remain silent, and the group set off with their swords.

The place where water ghosts haunt is called Caiyi Town, which is more than twenty miles away from the Cloud Recesses.

Caiyi Town is connected by waterways. I don’t know whether it is the dense network of rivers intertwined in the small town, or whether it is the spider web-like waterways with densely packed residential buildings on both sides.White walls and gray tiles, the river is crowded with boats and baskets, men and women.Flowers, vegetables and fruits, bamboo-carved pastries, bean tea and silk fabrics are sold along the river.

Gusu is located in the south of the Yangtze River, and the sounds that come to your ears are soft and soft.The two ships collided head-on, and several jars of glutinous rice wine were turned over. Even the two boatmen seemed to be arguing.There are many lakes in Yunmeng, but there are few water towns like this.Wei Wuxian was surprised, so he bought two jars of glutinous rice wine and handed one jar to Jiang Cheng, saying, “Gusu people are so talkative. This is not a quarrel. Let’s go and see how Yunmeng people quarrel. It can scare them to death…Lan Zhan, look at what I’m doing. I won’t buy you a small thing, and your family can’t drink.”

Without stopping for much, we took a dozen small boats and rowed towards the gathering place of water ghosts.Gradually, there are fewer and fewer residential buildings on both sides of the river, and the river becomes quiet.Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng each occupied a boat, and while competing to see who could row faster, they listened to the news related to the water evil in this place.

This river leads to a large lake ahead, called Biling Lake.There has never been a water ghost in Caiyi Town for decades, but in recent months, people have frequently fallen into the water in this river and Biling Lake, and cargo ships have also sunk inexplicably.A few days ago, Lan Xichen set up a formation and cast a net here, expecting to catch one or two. Unexpectedly, he caught more than a dozen water ghosts in a row.They cleaned the bodies and took them to nearby towns for questioning. They found that many bodies were unclaimed and no one knew them locally.Yesterday we set up the formation again and actually caught a lot more.

Wei WuXian said, “It’s unlikely that they drowned in other places and floated here along the current. Water ghosts recognize their territory and usually only recognize a piece of water as the place where they drowned. They rarely leave.”

Lan Xichen nodded: “Yes. So I felt that this matter was not trivial, so I asked Wangji to come with me, just in case something unexpected happens.”

Wei WuXian said, “Zewu-Jun, the water ghosts are very smart. Row your boat and search slowly. If they hide under the water and don’t come out, don’t you have to keep looking? What should you do if you can’t find them?”

Lan Wangji said: “Until I find it. It’s my duty.”

Wei WuXian said, “Just use a net to catch him?”

Lan Xichen said: “That’s right. Does Yunmeng Jiang have any other methods?”

Wei Wuxian smiled but didn’t answer.Of course Yunmeng Jiang also used a net, but because of his good water properties, he always jumped into the river and directly dragged the water ghost up.This method is too dangerous and cannot be used in front of the Lan family. If it reaches Lan Qiren’s ears, he will inevitably be taught a lesson.He changed the topic and said: “It would be great if there was something that could attract the water ghost to come by itself, like a fishing bait. Or it could point out its direction, like a compass.”

Jiang Cheng said: “Look down at the water and look for you with all your heart. Here comes another whim.”

Wei Wuxian said, “Cultivating immortals and wielding swords was once a wild dream!”

When he lowered his head, he could just see the bottom of the ship Lan Wangji was riding on. With a thought in his mind, he shouted: “Lan Zhan, look at me!”

Lan Wangji was concentrating on guarding, and when he heard the words, he couldn’t help but look at him, but he saw Wei Wuxian swiping the bamboo in his hand, and a pole of water splashed out.Lan Wangji stepped forward and lightly jumped onto another boat, avoiding the splash. He was annoyed that he was just joking and said, “Boring!”

However, Wei Wuxian kicked the side of the boat where he was standing, and flipped the boat over, exposing the bottom.And on the wooden board at the bottom of the boat, there were actually three water ghosts with swollen faces and dead white skin stuck firmly on them!

The disciples who were close immediately restrained these three.Lan Xichen smiled and said, “Mr. Wei, how did you know they were at the bottom of the boat?”

Wei Wuxian knocked on the side of the boat: “Simple! The draft is wrong. There was only he standing on the boat just now, but the draft is heavier than a boat with two people. There must be something stuck on the bottom of the boat.”

Lan Xichen praised: “You are indeed experienced.”

Wei Wuxian gently moved the water, and the boat flew forward until it was alongside Lan Wangji.The two boats were next to each other, and he said: “Lan Zhan, I didn’t mean to throw water at you just now. The water ghosts are very good. If I say it out, they will run away when they hear it. Hey, pay attention to me. Look at me, Mr. Lan.”

Lan Wangjiyu condescended to him, looked at him, and said, “Why do you want to follow?”

Wei Wuxian said sincerely, “I’m here to apologize to you. It was my fault last night, I was wrong.”

Lan Wangji Yintang turned faintly black.He probably hasn’t forgotten how Wei Wuxian “apologized” to him before.Wei Wuxian knowingly asked, “Why do you look so ugly? Don’t be afraid, I’m really here to help today.”

Jiang Cheng couldn’t stand it anymore and said, “If you want help, stop talking nonsense and come here!”

One of the disciples shouted: “The net has moved!”

Sure enough, the net rope shook violently.Wei Wuxian perked up, “It’s coming, it’s coming!”

Thick black silk-like long hair billowed beside dozens of boats, and pairs of pale palms climbed onto the sides of the boats.Lan Wangji drew his sword with his backhand, took it out of its sheath, and cut off more than a dozen wrists on the left side of the ship, leaving only the palm with its fingers dug deeply into the wood.Just as he was about to cut the one on the right, a red light flashed and Wei Wuxian had already sheathed his sword.

The unusual movement in the water stopped, and the net rope became calm again.Just now, Wei Wuxian’s sword came out very fast, but Lan Wangji had already seen that what he was carrying must be a high-grade spiritual sword, and asked solemnly: “What is the name of this sword?”

Wei Wuxian said, “Whatever.”

Lan Wangji looked at him.Wei Wuxian thought he didn’t hear clearly, so he said again: “Whatever.”

Lan Wangji frowned and refused: “This sword has a spirit. Calling it anything you want would be disrespectful.”

Wei Wuxian let out a sigh and said, “Here’s a twist. I’m not telling you to call it whatever you want, but the name of my sword is ‘Whatever’. Look,” he said, handing it over to Lan Wangji so that Lan Wangji could read the words on the sword.There are two ancient characters engraved on the scabbard, and they really are the word “casual”.

Lan Wangji was speechless for a while.

Wei Wuxian said considerately, “You don’t have to tell me, I know, you must want to ask me why I am called this name? Everyone asks if it has any special meaning. Actually, there is no special meaning, but when Uncle Jiang gave me the sword, he asked me what I wanted to be called? I thought about it at the timeThere were more than 20 names, but none of them were satisfactory, so I asked Uncle Jiang to choose one for me.Who knew that when the sword was finished, it would have these two words on it.”In that case, let’s just call it whatever.”

Finally, Lan Wangji squeezed out two words through his teeth: “…ridiculous!”

Wei Wuxian put the sword on his shoulder and said, “You are so boring. What a fun name. It’s so accurate for a serious person like you, haha!”

At this time, a long black shadow flashed around the boat in the green lake.After Jiang Cheng finished killing the water ghost on the he side, he was still paying attention to see if he missed anything. When he saw the black shadow, he immediately shouted: “Here we go again!”