Chapter 5: Serendipity {2}

Hearing this, the white clad youths immediately spread out further, each watching their surroundings with heightened vigilance. Weng Li, however, continued eating her meal unhurriedly, as if the ongoing events had nothing to do with her. She only occasionally spared a glance at the talisman, which twitched slightly each time she did.

The youth named Jing Yi let out another pained “Ah!” and clutched his head tightly. Suddenly enraged, he shouted, “Who’s there? If you have the guts, stop hiding in the shadows! Don’t you dare come out and fight me properly?”

The other youths chimed in, “Yeah! Coward! Hiding in the dark like a rat! Come out and fight us face to face!”

At that moment, the handsome man coldly rebuked them, “Enough! All of you, shut your mouths!”

The white clad youths seemed terrified of him and instantly fell silent. The handsome man’s sharp eyes swept across the dining hall before suddenly locking onto Weng Li’s table and freezing there.

Weng Li secretly found the situation amusing but couldn’t laugh aloud. She suppressed her laughter, though her shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

Then Jing Yi cried out “Ah!” again, covering his head once more. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he glared wide eyed with pursed lips, cautiously scanning his surroundings. His expression seemed to say, “Just wait until I catch you, you sneaky troublemaker. You’re dead when I do!”

Suddenly, the handsome man’s pupils contracted. With a “clang,” he drew his sword and lunged toward Weng Li in one fluid, lightning fast motion. Sensing the blade aimed at her, Weng Li merely sidestepped slightly. Smiling, she deftly used her chopsticks to tap the flat of the sword, redirecting its force outward and parrying the thrust. She then looked up at the handsome man, her face still graced with a radiant smile, and remained silent before resuming her meal as if the attack had been nothing more than a playful jest.

The handsome man was slightly taken aback by Weng Li’s composure, though his surprise lasted only a moment before his expression returned to its usual impassivity.

Beside Weng Li, Feng Yi sprang to his feet. With a “clang,” he unsheathed his Phoenix Tail Sword and pointed it at the handsome man, demanding, “What do you think you’re doing?”

Seeing Feng Yi draw his sword, the white clad youths swarmed forward, their blades collectively aimed at Weng Li and Feng Yi, master and servant.

Though Weng Li had calmly evaded his strike, the handsome man neither flinched nor dodged Feng Yi’s sword. His expression remained unperturbed as he kept his own blade pointed at Weng Li and said coldly, “Who are you? Why are you toying with my disciple?”

Weng Li tapped her bowl and plate lightly with her chopsticks, casually raising her eyes to meet the handsome man’s gaze. A sweet, captivating smile curled her lips as she replied, “Oh, so that noisy child is your disciple. How unexpected! Someone as reserved as you could teach such a chatterbox. Ah, it seems the teacher doesn’t always define the student. But I haven’t asked which family’s Guest Cultivator might you be?”

A young man in white was about to step forward and introduce himself when a sharp glare from the handsome man in white forced him back.

The handsome man in white pressed his sword forward slightly and said coldly, “Who are you? Why use such underhanded means to toy with people?”
Weng Li feigned innocence, “Did I? Who did I toy with? I’m not even that close to you all. How could I possibly toy with you?”

The handsome man in white replied, “I don’t care who you are or what magic you used. If cultivation is only for fooling others, what’s the point of practicing it?”

Several other young men chimed in, “Exactly! If you dare to mess with people, at least have the courage to state your name!”

Unfazed, Weng Li raised her eyebrows slightly, bit her chopsticks, and continued smiling at the man. “Well then, I am none other than the Heretical Devil, the utterly hideous, green faced and fanged Witchcraft Saintess you were just talking about!”

Upon hearing this, the young men who had been discussing the Witchcraft Saintess lowered their heads, stepped back, and exchanged awkward glances, rendered speechless.

Seeing the young men silent, Weng Li still wore a cheerful smile and said, “What’s wrong? Did I disappoint you? I’m neither ugly nor green faced and fanged. In fact, I’m quite adorable, right?” After saying this, she let out a series of clear, bell like laughs.

Hearing this, the handsome man swiftly sheathed his sword with a “clang” and bowed slightly. “My disciples were impolite and spoke out of turn. Please forgive them.” He then glanced sideways at the young men in white.

The young men in white immediately understood and cupped their hands in apology, “We apologize, miss. Our earlier words were offensive. Please do not take offense.”

Weng Li was never one to hold grudges. Seeing the young men so humble and polite, she couldn’t very well press the issue. She turned to look at the Talisman on the table, and the hair bound Talisman instantly burst into flames with a “poof.”

The handsome man stared intently at the burning Talisman and said, “This Talisman you’re using seems different from ordinary ones.”

Weng Li glanced at the burning Talisman, then smiled at the man and said, “Oh, you mean the Inscription Talisman? Yes, it’s quite different. I invented it myself.”

The handsome man looked at Weng Li but remained silent, though his eyes held a question.

Weng Li seemed to read the question in his eyes and smiled again, explaining, “It’s quite simple, really. I use a special needle to embed scriptures into the Talisman. It’s invisible to the naked eye and only becomes visible during spellcasting. Your cultivation must be quite advanced! Most cultivators wouldn’t notice any difference.”

Soon, the hair bound Inscription Talisman turned to ashes as they conversed.

Seeing the Talisman reduced to ashes, Weng Li turned to the young men in white and said, “Alright, it’s all fine now. I was just joking around earlier, no need to be so tense.”

The handsome man nodded slightly and said, “Since all is well, miss, we shall take our leave.” With that, he prepared to lead the young men in white away.

But Weng Li suddenly called out softly to the handsome man, “Hey… you there, are you just going to leave like that?”

The handsome man paused, stopped in his tracks, and turned back to ask, “Is there anything else, Miss?”
Weng Li gazed into the handsome man’s light colored eyes and suddenly felt her heart pounding rapidly. It was a sensation she had never experienced before.

Unconsciously swallowing hard, she hesitated before saying, “You… you should at least tell me your name. We just… crossed paths, after all.” Usually quick witted and articulate, she found herself stumbling over her words.

The handsome man maintained his cool expression as he nodded slightly and replied, “Gusu Lan Clan, Lan Wangji.” After speaking, he turned and led the group of white robed youths out of the tavern.

Only after the white robed youths had disappeared into the distance did Weng Li sit back down, murmuring indistinctly to herself, “Gusu Lan Clan, Lan Wangji. So his name is Lan Wangji.”

Meanwhile, after the group of white robed youths had left the restaurant, Lan Sizhui asked Lan Jingyi, “Jingyi, are you injured?”

Lan Wangji interjected, “That young lady meant no harm. She was merely teasing Jingyi.”

Lan Jingyi nodded in agreement, “Yes, the force hitting my head wasn’t particularly strong. It didn’t hurt much.”

Lan Sizhui chuckled, “Then why did you scream so terribly? I thought it must have been excruciating.”

Lan Jingyi explained, “It was completely unexpected, don’t you understand? Ah, but whoever said the Witchcraft Saintess was extremely ugly if that woman just now was truly the Witchcraft Saintess, she could be described as absolutely stunning.” Scratching his chin, he continued, “I never expected the Witchcraft Saintess to be so beautiful.”

Lan Sizhui nodded as well, “Indeed, in all my life, this is the first time I’ve seen such a beautiful woman.”

The other youths chimed in, “Yes, she’s truly exquisite. Like a fairy from a painting.”

Lan Wangji, who had been walking at the front, suddenly turned back and said, “You must learn to be more careful with your words in the future. That young lady’s beauty extends far beyond her appearance.”

The Lan juniors looked at Lan Wangji with puzzled expressions.

Lan Wangji continued, “I observed that her cultivation level is not beneath mine. When she countered my sword strike earlier, she merely used a pair of chopsticks to deflect it effortlessly. Moreover, her control of spiritual power and physical force was exceptional. For someone so young to master spiritual energy so perfectly, and to understand how to inscribe scriptures onto Talismans to enhance their efficacy this is what you should truly observe and learn from.”

Hearing this, the youths quickly bowed with clasped hands, “Yes, Immortal Capital.” Moments later, the group of white robed youths drifted away like ethereal beings.