CHAPTER 3

The disciple of Lotus Pier led the four members of the Lan family through the courtyard gates. Along the way, the scent of lotus flowers wafted in the air, and the girls' pink sleeves and silk skirts seemed even more fragrant, as if all the unmarried maidens of the entire sect had gathered at Lotus Pier. The girls were dressed splendidly, with shining hairpins and rings that glittered more than the butterflies among the flowers. Lan Wangji cast a sidelong glance at the lively scene, slightly dazed.

The disciple brought the four to a quaint little courtyard. Before saying much, he hurriedly left, explaining that many distinguished guests were present at Lotus Pier now, and the hosts were overwhelmed. He was just tasked with passing messages and could not guarantee whether they could meet or not.

This remark immediately made Lan Qiren unhappy. He didn't lose his temper but crossed his arms and looked at the sky, implying he was not particularly eager to meet this suddenly popular prospective son-in-law. He recalled how this brat had once cried under his rod, his posterior sore.

The disciple guarding the gate was only a youth, somewhat too old to be called a boy yet still small in stature, looking like a child who couldn't read the atmosphere and spoke bluntly. Outside, a shout of "Sixth Junior Brother" called him away, and he took off running.

Lan Qiren said nothing and went to the main hall to set up his own wind stove, tea utensils, and tea leaves from his Universe Bag, preparing his own refreshments. The two young ladies went to the west wing room and settled themselves. The Lan family valued tranquility, and their female cultivators were even more quiet. Ah Ya and Ah Yun did not join the other girls for frivolity. After a moment, faint sounds of the guqin came from the room. Lan Wangji, having arranged everything in the east wing room, placed his Wangji Qin on the table and plucked a few strings with one hand, then glanced outside.

Halfway through the piece, he looked out again. When the song finished, he got up and left. As soon as he stepped out of the courtyard, he attracted many gazes. The Lan family maintained strict standards; even at home, Lan Wangji rarely interacted with female cultivators, and here, he did not dare start conversations easily. He wandered aimlessly for a long time before catching sight of a disciple from the Jiang clan and inquired about Wei Wuxian's whereabouts.

The young disciple looked up—it was the same Sixth Junior Brother from before—he rubbed his head looking troubled and said to Lan Wangji, "Many girls have been asking where Eldest Senior Brother is, I've been looking everywhere too. I'm afraid he's gotten caught up chatting with someone, getting tied up."

Lan Wangji snorted coldly, clearly meaning to say, "That's not called being tied up, it's called being truly enchanted." He started to head back to the room, feeling somewhat annoyed at what he had come here for. But Sixth Junior Brother stopped him and pointed toward the gate.

Wei Wuxian was sitting not far outside the gate, chatting happily with a farm girl delivering watermelons. Upon hearing about Wei Wuxian's matchmaking, the farm girl put down the melon and lingered at the gate to watch the lively crowd. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, several colorful clouds drifted down from the sky, and people arrived in flocks—men and women, mostly parents escorting daughters, some elder brothers too.

For a moment, the clamoring at the dock grew even louder. The immortals of the sect did not buy anything but only watched. Some little fairies were curious that the Jiang Pavilion actually had a market right at its front gate—quite novel. As they looked around, some sisters came together, chattering excitedly and pointing here and there.

The farm girl, seeing all the girls dressed prettily, felt envious. She glanced at Wei Wuxian beside her, nodding repeatedly as if to say only someone like this could be worthy of their Ah Xian. Wei Wuxian looked at a cart piled with melons, knocked on several, then instructed the servants to transport them home, cutting up some to distribute among their household guests.

The farm girl said, "You're so young, why not enjoy yourself for a few more years? Getting married so soon—isn't that going to make life tough?" Wei Wuxian chuckled, "If my wife looks like you, it wouldn't be tough at all."

The farm girl giggled, "Oh, your mouth is so sweet! Whoever ends up getting married with you is in for it!" Laughing for a while, she added, "Ah Nong and Ah Chun are going to be so sad. They have been saying all along they want to marry you, Brother Xian. I told them not to count on it. Those two cried all night!"

Just then, two little girls with small braids burst out from the crowd, calling "Brother Xian!" and rushed at Wei Wuxian, each grabbing an arm and swaying him side to side. Wei Wuxian said, "Why are you two here too?" Ah Nong said, "I want to be Brother Xian's bride! You promised!" Ah Chun said, "Me too! Me too! Brother Xian promised us!"Wei Wuxian pulled his arms free and patted their heads, "Not in this lifetime. How about next life?"

Little girls pouted, seeming very sad. They glanced at her mother beside her. The peasant woman smiled quietly without saying a word, then the little girl finally turned to Wei Wuxian and reluctantly said, "Will I be able to be Brother Xian's bride in the next life?" Wei Wuxian extended his pinky finger, "If you don't believe me, how about we make a pinky promise?"

The little girl seemed to be happy again. She grinned, reached out and hooked her pinky with his, saying, "Then Brother Xian and Ah Nong have promised that in the next life, Brother Xian will marry Ah Nong!" Wei Wuxian said, "Hmm! In the next life, Brother Xian will definitely marry you!"

Another girl hurried forward, reaching out to grab his finger, "Ah Chun wants too! Ah Chun wants too!" Wei Wuxian hooked her pinky as well and said, "Alright~ Brother Xian will marry Ah Chun as his bride in the life after next!" The two little girls laughed happily, and one planted a kiss on Wei Wuxian's cheek.

At this, Sixth Junior Brother commented, "Eldest Senior Brother has been owing this peach blossom debt for generations and lifetimes; I wonder if he can ever pay it off?" No sooner had he finished speaking than Lan Wangji slightly froze, watching from outside the door at the playful cluster, then silently turned away.

Sixth Junior Brother saw a white shadow flicker before his eyes; Lan Wangji's cold aura drifted past, already ten steps away. He hurriedly asked, "Second Young Master Lan? Aren't you going to look for Eldest Senior Brother?" Lan Wangji didn't turn back and said, "No need."

"Huh?" Sixth Junior Brother rubbed his head, puzzled. Just as he was about to turn away, someone suddenly jumped to him.

"Where is Wei Wuxian? Where has he gone? There's a ton of things waiting for him to do! Leaving guests hanging, where is he?!" After a moment, an angry Jiang Cheng grabbed Wei Wuxian, while the two little girls clung to Wei Wuxian's clothes, reluctant to part.

Jiang Cheng threw Wei Wuxian a look of disdain, "Playing around with girls again?" "What kind of words are those?" Wei Wuxian said goodbye to the two girls and the peasant woman, being dragged by Jiang Cheng to the door to greet guests. Just then, a voice rang out from afar in the air: "Brother Wei! Brother Jiang!"Nie Huaisang stepped down and jogged toward them. This fellow peer and classmate of three months wore a heavy and thick long robe, a mysterious black beast-patterned crown on his head, exquisite floral and bird carvings at his waist, and carried a mysterious iron fan that clicked open as he leisurely waved it. The mountains and rivers carved on the fan lacked grandeur but had delicate elegance.

Wei Wuxian said, "Huaisang, you came too?"Nie Huaisang said, "Brother Wei's matchmaking event—how could I miss it?"Jiang Cheng said, "I think it's to avoid homework at home, right?" Nie Huaisang's expression tightened and he coughed repeatedly. Wei Wuxian looked at his outfit and said, "Brother Nie, you're quite spirited. Dressing so nicely—is it because..." he gave a meaningful wink, "...you want to steal food from my mouth?"

The girls who came to Yunmeng to propose were truly the best resources of the immortal families. No matter how capable Wei Wuxian was, he could only marry one. The many beauties everywhere attracted many playboys. Under the pretext of delivering daughters, some parents would also bring sons to enjoy the festivities, look for flowers, and pick up leftovers—very pleased to gain advantages.

Nie Huaisang hurriedly waved his hand in panic, "How could I dare steal food from Brother Wei, and I don't have that ability anyway..." He closed his fan and lifted a jingling bunch of items at his waist.

"I've always dressed like this, but I was a bit restrained while at the Lan family—too many rules there... Besides, I just saw Lan Wangji also came. Brother Wei, you better be careful. Someone like him is probably the real competitor..."

Wei Wuxian was overjoyed, "Lan Zhan came too?" He nearly jumped up, ran into the courtyard, looking around everywhere. Not seeing the "ice pillar" for a moment, he was a bit disappointed, then turned out again, "Well, I'll look for him later."

Jiang Cheng's expression was strange: "Why are you so happy? I just saw he saw you at the door and left immediately—he clearly doesn't like you. You're giving him a hot face, and he's giving you a cold back. Aren't you pathetic?"

Wei Wuxian leaned on the doorframe, "You don't know. He must miss me. Otherwise, why would he travel so far to Yunmeng? This has nothing to do with him. If he isn't looking for me, is he looking for you?" Jiang Cheng gulped and was speechless.

"Uh..." Nie Huaisang shrugged and frowned, "I also just saw Lan Qiren come from afar... luckily my Elder Brother didn't come. Otherwise, if he asked Mr. Lan about my homework again, I'd be in trouble. "His face showed a look of surviving disaster. Hearing this, both Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian shivered simultaneously.

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