Caiyi Town, Biling Lake

"Wei-xiong, you really struck it lucky. The old man went to our sect's Discussion Conference last night, so we don't have classes for a few days!"

"A lucky strike, indeed, almost as if Heaven is blessing me with its clouds"

Jiang Cheng stood on the side, carefully cleaning his sword "When he comes back, you're still gonna get your punishment"

Wei Wuxian responded, "Why would a living person worry about what happens after they die? I'll just live freely as long as possible. Let's go. I refuse to believe that I can't find any pheasants on this mountain of the Lan Sect"

The five walked together, passing through the reception room of the Cloud Recesses. Suddenly, Wei Wuxian stopped in his tracks and exclaimed, "There are two lil' fuddy!"

Both looked as if they were carved out of ice and jade, wearing the same snow-white robes, and had sword tassels which swayed in the breeze, alongside ribbons on their clothes. The only differences were their ambiences and facial expressions. Wei Wuxian could tell at once that, if the one with a stern face was Lan Wangji, the gentle one must be the other Jade of the Lan Sect-ZeWu-Jun, Lan Xichen.

As Lan Wangji saw their small group, he scrunched his brows. As if he would be tainted if he looked a moment longer, he moved his gaze away and stared into the distance. On the other hand, Lan XiChen smiled, "And you are...?"

Jiang Cheng showed his respect with a salute, "Jiang Wanyin of Yunmeng."

Wei Wuxian followed, "Wei Wuxian of Yunmeng."

Lan XiChen returned the salute. HuaiSang whispered "Brother XiChen"

Lan XiChen turned to him, "Huaisang, a while ago, as I returned from Qinghe, your brother asked of your studies. How is it? This year, will you be able to pass?"

Huaisang replied, "Generally speaking, yes..." He looked at the Jie sibling "Lately, young master Nie's attention when we study have improved" Xue mutters "That'll be good news for his brother"

Wei Wuxian grinned, "Zewu-jun, what are you two going out for?"

Lan Xichen, "To exterminate a water ghoul. We were short of hands, so I came back to find Wangji"

Lan Wangji spoke coldly, "Brother, we do not need to engage in small talk. This matter permits no delay; it is time for us to depart"

Wei Wuxian hurried, "Wait, wait, wait. I know how to catch water ghouls. Zewu-jun, why don't you take us along?"

Lan Xichen smiled without words. Lan Wangji declared, "It is against the rules"

Wei WuXian, "How is it against the rules? We used to catch water ghouls all the time in Yunmeng. Besides, we don't have classes these days anyways."

It was true that people of the Jiang Sect were adept at this, and Jiang Cheng also wanted to make up for the face which the YunmengJiang Sect lost during this stay at the Lan Sect, "That's right. Zewu-Jun, we'd definitely be of help"

"It is not necessary. The GusuLan Sect is also..." Before Lan WangJi finished talking, Lan XiChen spoke while smiling, "Sure, then. Many thanks for your help. Do some preparations, and we can depart together. Are you three coming as well?"

Huaisang also wanted to join in, but he had been reminded of his older brother. Cringing silently, "I'll pass and go back so that I can review...but tame these two with you, I'm sure they'd like a new experience" With this act, he hoped that Lan Xichen would put in some good words for him. They went back to their rooms to prepare.

Lan Wangji looked at them from behind, "Brother, why did you decide to bring them? Exterminating ghouls is not suited for joking around"

Lan Xichen answered, "The head disciple and only son of Sect Leader Jiang are quite well-known in Yunmeng. While the Jie siblings have a good reputation at Qinghe Sect. It is likely that they know more than joking around"

Although Lan Wangji didn't express his opinion, the phrase "I beg to differ" was written all over his face.

Lan Xichen spoke again, "And, also, you wish for them to go as well, do you not?"

Lan Wangji was stunned.

Lan Xichen, "I only agreed because you looked as if you wanted to make friends with them"

Only after a while did Lan Wangji finally respond, speaking with great difficulty, "There was no such thing"

He wanted to defend himself further, but the fours already grabbed their swords and headed over, so Lan WangJi had to shut his mouth.

The place where the water ghouls haunted was named Caiyi Town, it was connected with paths of water. The rivers were filled with boats of baskets and people. On the banks, they sold flowers, fruits, bamboo crafts, pastries, tea, and silk.

As two boats crashed into each other, and a few jars of rice wine were spilled, even the voice of the two arguing boatmen were soft.

Wei Wuxian found it quite interesting. He bought two jars of rice wine and gave one to Jiang Cheng, "Gusu people talk in such a sugary way. How is this arguing? If they see how Yunmeng people argue, they might be scared to death..."

Having only stayed for a short time, the group boarded ten-or-so narrow boats, and rowed toward where the water ghouls gathered. Gradually, the number of houses on the banks decreased, and the river path became quieter as well.

This water path led to a large lake ahead of them, named Biling Lake. Caiyi Town hadn't been haunted by water ghouls ever since tens of years ago, yet, for the past few months, people had started to fall into this path and Biling Lake. A few days ago, Lan XiChen casted a few nets over this area. He expected to catch one or two water ghouls, but got about a dozen instead. He cleaned the corpses and carried them to a nearby part of the town, only to find that some corpses were not familiar to any of the local people, and remained unclaimed. Yesterday, he set up the net formation again, and caught quite a few again.

Wei Wuxian spoke, "It doesn't seem like that the corpses drowned somewhere else and floated here either. Water ghouls are picky about their area. Most of the time, the only place they settle on is the place they drowned at, and they usually don't leave there"

Lan Xichen nodded, "That is correct. This was why I thought that it was no trivial matter, and asked Wangji to come, in case something happens."

Jie Xue asked, "Zewu-jun, as what young master We said. Water ghouls are really clever. If we use the boats and take our time like this, isn't it possible that they'll hide underwater and not come out? Won't we have to keep on searching forever? What if we can't find them?"

Lan Wangji replied, "We will wait until we find them. After all, we do what we must"

Wei Wuxian, "Just by using nets?"

Lan Xichen, "That is right. Does the YunmengJiang Sect have other methods?" Wei WuXian smiled but didn't respond. Of course, the YunmengJiang Sect used nets as well.

"It'd be great if there's something that can attract the water ghouls" Jie Chun mutters "Or something that can point out their directions, like a compass" Wei Wuxian added.

Jiang Cheng spoke, "Look down at the water and concentrate on finding them. You're letting your imagination run again"

Wei Wuxian, "Cultivation and riding on swords also used to be just imagination"

"Lan Zhan, look at me!" Wei Wuxian splashed the water but Lan Wangji managed to jump on a different boat "Pathetic!"

However, Wei Wuxian used the bamboo paddle to tip over the the boat. On the bottom of it boat, there were three water ghouls clinging onto the wooden boards.

A disciple nearby suppressed the three. Lan Xichen smiled, "Young Master Wei, how did you know that they were below the boats?"

Wei Wuxian knocked on the side of the boat, "Simple! The displacement of water was wrong. He was the only person who stood on the boat, yet the displacement was greater than those of boats that carried two people. There must have been something on the bottom"

Lan Xichen praised, "You are experienced indeed"

Wei Wuxian's spoke, "Lan Zhan, I didn't splash water on you on purpose. Water ghouls are really clever. If I said it out loud, they would've heard it and got away" he asked although he knew the answer, "Why do you look so gloomy? Don't worry. Today, I'm really here to help"

A disciple shouted, "The net moved!"

Sure enough, the ropes of the net started to wobble. Thick, long hair formed veils of black satin, surging and swelling around the boats. Amid them, pairs of ghastly hands gripped onto the sides. Lan Wangji backhandedly drew his sword, Bichen, and severed ten-or-so wrists on the left of the boat, leaving only palms with fingers digging deep into the wood. As he was about to cut the ones on the right, a red light flashed past, and Wei WuXian's sword was already back in its sheath.

The strange shifts of the water had ceased, and the net also became still. Although, a few moments ago, Wei Wuxian's sword attacked at an extremely fast speed, Lan Wangji could already tell that the sword he carried was of very high quality. He asked with a serious face, "What is the name of this sword?"

Wei Wuxian, "Suibian (Whatever)"

Lan Wangji stared at him. Wei Wuxian thought that he didn't hear properly, so he repeated it again, "Suibian"

Lan Wangji frowned, "This sword has a spirit. Calling it as one pleases is disrespectful"

Wei Wuxian let out a sigh and passed the sword over for Lan Wangji to see the characters on the sword. It was "Suibian", indeed.

Wei Wuxian showed his consideration, "I know that you want to ask me why it's called this name. It was just that, when Uncle Jiang gave me the sword and asked me what I wanted to call it, I came up with more than twenty names, but wasn't satisfied with any of them. I thought that I could let Uncle Jiang give it a name, so I answered, 'Whatever!' But, who knew that, after the sword had been forged and taken out, these two characters were on it. Uncle Jiang said, 'If this is the case, then why not let this sword be named Suibian?' To be honest, this name isn't bad either, right?"

Lan Wangji spoke through his gritted teeth, "... Ridiculous!"

Wei Wuxian carried his sword on his shoulder, "You're such a boring person. Don't you see how fun this name is? It's especially good at tricking serious ones like you, and it works every single time. Haha!"

The Jie siblings were silently finishing off the ghouls on their boats. At the same time within the virid lake, a long shadow darted around the small boat. Seeing the shadow, they immediately spoke,

"There's more"

"Get ready"