Once upon a time, there was a little child who liked sweet things very much. But because he had neither parents nor money, he could never have such things. So, every day, he had been dreaming of someone who could give him candy every day.
When Xue Yang was just a young child, he was much more naive, trusting, and simple-minded. However, a traumatic incident during his childhood created the villain he became. The orphaned Xue Yang was seven when he encountered Chang Ci'an, the leader of the Yueyang Chang Clan, who promised Xue Yang a plate of pastries if he delivered a letter for him. Xue Yang happily agreed. Unfortunately for the little boy, he became the victim caught in a petty fight between two egotistical men. The recipient of the letter was a heavily built man with whom Chang Ci'an had had a conflict, and the content was a mockery. The merciless man was provoked enough to physically abuse the innocent little kid and dragged him by his hair back to the shop where the boy had met the sender. However, the cowardly Chang clan leader had already left, and there were no pastries waiting for Xue Yang. The dejected child happened to run into Chang Ci'an again afterward. Xue Yang still clung to his hope of claiming the pastries he had been promised, but Chang Ci'an merely kicked him away. Overwhelmed with distress, the little boy ran after the dishonest Chang clan leader's ox cart and jumped in front of it to force him to stop. Chang Ci'an lashed the young and badly beaten Xue Yang with the driver's whip before running the wheel of the ox cart over the child's hand, crushing his little finger into tattered meat. On that terrible day, Xue Yang received nothing but pain: a severed finger and a bruised and battered bodyâall as a result of the cruelties of two self-centered grown men. Unbeknownst to them, they had created a murderous delinquent who would soon repay their "kindness".
Wei Wuxian and Xue Yang shared similar childhood backgrounds. They both lost both parents at such a young age and had to live as street urchins, scrapping for leftover food and hoping for someone to be kind enough to help them fill their hungry bellies. The difference was that Wei Wuxian was fortunate that someone did get him off the streets, but Xue Yang only got to see the worst side of humanity. Both children grew up to be quick-witted, sharp, and intelligent. The irony was that Xue Yang ended up practicing demonic cultivation as well. His cleverness was almost on par with Wei Wuxian's. The best examples were: Xue Yang was the only person who figured out how to restore the other half of the Yin Tiger Tally and managed to raise a sentient fierce corpse. He was also skilled in swordsmanship and capable of wielding double swords. Similar to the protagonist, Xue Yang tended to smile and laugh through everything as a defense mechanism. Despite everything that had happened, Xue Yang still yearned for love and affection. The devastating ordeals he went through eventually moulded him into a sociopath.
That was how the original plot unfolded in the novel.
*****
As they walked down the streets of Kuizhou with Lan Wangji, Xiao Zhan's eyes were glued to every child they passed by. He estimated that Xue Yang would be around nine or ten years old at present, but so far, they had yet to see a child that fit his characteristics. They had been wandering for hours, and he had been asking the same questions to strangers, looking for the young version of Xue Yang in all nooks and crannies.
It was getting dark. After three days of going in circles without getting any results, Xiao Zhan began to question his knowledge from the novel. Xiao Zhan propped his elbows on the bridge fence, and he was a little grouchy. "Lan Zhan, I think I could draw the blueprint of this town by now. Where the heck is the kid? Is there any other town with the same name? Or is he still in Yueyang?"
"We can stop searching if you want," Lan Zhan suggested.
Xiao Zhan glared in his direction, snapping, "Aren't you giving up too quickly? It's only been three days. Not long enough to stop looking!"
Lan Wangji had learned to tolerate his occasional short-tempered outbursts. He calmly replied, "I meant, stop for today. We can continue tomorrow."
Feeling guilty about his crankiness, Xiao Zhan reached out one of his hands to massage the broad shoulder beside him. "I'm at fault. Sorry for snapping at you."
Lan Wangji no longer flinched at his touches. He looked at the moody face and said, "It's okay. Let's eat first."
Xiao Zhan's eyes sparkled at the mention. He eagerly nodded and they made their way back to the town center. On their way, there was a huge commotion happening. Xiao Zhan peeked through the crowd to see what the noisy occasion was about. He saw a scrawny-looking child curled up on the ground as he was getting beaten up and kicked around by an adult.
He did not waste even a single second before he landed in front of the cursing man. Kicking the abusive man squarely in his abdomen and sending him flying away, he shielded the weak young boy from being further harmed. His narrowed eyes landed on every single one of the bystanders who had only watched as the scene unfolded, and some even chided the boy for his interruptions. The crowd quickly dispersed upon catching his fierce, fiery gaze.
Lan Wangji caught up to Xiao Zhan and immediately checked on the kid, whose injuries were visible.
"What the hell are you doing to a defenseless child?" Xiao Zhan's expression was dark as he snarled at the man who was doubled over and groaning in pain. Trembling in fear as Xiao Zhan got closer to him, the man begged, "Please have mercy, esteemed Cultivator. Please spare me!"
"Mercy? Did you show any mercy when you senselessly abused a child?" Xiao Zhan was furious.
The man replied, "It was because he was a thief. He stole a pastry from my stall and cursed at me when he was caught. It was his fault!"
Xiao Zhan fumed with rage, he grabbed the cruel man's collar and lifted him up in the air. He felt a strong urge to snap the man's neck into half. His aura was menacing. "You almost killed a young kid for a fucking pastry? Should I kill you over that crap?" he roared.
The area was already deserted by this point. Seeing no one would help him, the man pleaded for his leniency over and over again. The hold on his collar tightened and nearly suffocated him. Dangling in the air, he struggled in an attempt to free himself and tried to pry the young cultivator's hand open. "Forgive me. Please spare me."
Despite all that, Xiao Zhan did not budge. A diabolical smile spread across his lips, befitting his title as Yiling Patriarch. "Hey, I am cursing at you too. Why don't you try to beat me up? So, you only hit a weak kid because you are bigger and stronger, huh? How does it feel to be the helpless weak one now?"
"Wei Ying!" Lan Wangji's voice rang in Xiao Zhan's ears.
Xiao Zhan slowly turned his head in his direction and stole a glance at the boy under his care. The small body was crying in pain on the ground, with a bloody mouth and bruises all over. He scrunched his eyebrows as he took a closer look. The boy looked like the exact person they were looking for. Xiao Zhan was seething in anger. The flames of the hell were nurturing the monster inside him. His eyes glowed in blood red, he clenched his jaw, "Seeing that you were eager to murder some child for a snack, life must carry very little meaning to you. Choose. Should I beat you to death or just break your neck?"
The man trashed and kicked around even more. Feeling like he was choked by invisible hands, he panicked and began crying out for help.
Lan Wangji seized Xiao Zhan's free hand. He spoke softly, "Wei Ying, calm down."
The low voice was the wake-up call Xiao Zhan needed. He felt like the burning fire inside him was being doused with ice-cold water. He gradually lowered his hand, but he did not let the man go. His eyes returned to their normal shade. Thankfully, the boy did not witness any of that.
However, Xiao Zhan still dissatisfied, and he frowned, "Can I at least kick him on the crotch, so he won't reproduce?"
As Lan Wangji took a momentary pause to think, the man was frantically flailing to escape the possibility of being sterile. Coming to a decision, he silently returned to attend to the wounded boy and strategically blocked the kid's view from seeing the aggressive punishment.
Receiving his permission, Xiao Zhan grinned, and his eyes gleamed with deviltry. He gave a warning kindly, "Clench your teeth."
The child abuser deserved that powerful flying kick to the groin, and his face blanched white as he landed on the ground a few feet away. With that, Xiao Zhan may or may not have castrated him biologically. He then moved toward Lan Wangji to take a good look at the kid's face. The restless boy had a look of distrust and wariness toward them.
Lan Wangji notified him, "There was no significant harm done. Mostly bruising and minor cuts."
Xiao Zhan nodded in acknowledgment. He observed the boy's body language before attempting a conversation with him.
The boy sat up and folded his arms in front of his knees wordlessly, creating an invisible barrier.
"Are you hungry?" Xiao Zhan tried to make him talk.
"..." The boy only stared blankly at the two of them.
"Would you like to join us for dinner?" Xiao Zhan asked.
"..." A hint of a spark lit in the young kid's eyes. Xiao Zhan displayed a gentle smile on his face and offered his hand. The boy reluctantly took his hand, his eyes still showing contempt. Xiao Zhan helped the boy up and gently patted away the dirt that tainted the boy's already ragged and dirty clothes.
"Shall we have our dinner at the inn?" Lan Wangji asked.
Xiao Zhan examined the boy's face and wiped away the blood with his handkerchief. "Yes. Can you get a clean change of clothes for him first? Meet us there."
Lan Wangji nodded and left without delay.
Xiao Zhan spoke to the boy, "How are you feeling?"
"."The boy did not say anything and looked confused at the act of kindness.
"Do you think you can walk? Should I carry you?"
"I can walk." The boy finally broke his silence.
Xiao Zhan smiled warmly at his short response. He took the boy's hand in his and started walking at a slow pace towards the lodging.
As soon as he arrived at the inn, he requested that a warm bath and a full-course dinner suited to a child's palate be prepared, as well as some sweet snacks for dessert. The owner was more than happy to oblige, as this customer never hesitated to splurge, and thanks to that, business was good for the month.
Xiao Zhan helped the young kid with his bath, carefully cleaning the lacerations and cuts and making small talk to increase his rapport. "How old are you?"
"Nine." The boy dropped his guard a little.
"What is your name?" Xiao Zhan finally asked the most important question of the day.
The boy looked like he was weighing the pros and cons of revealing his identity for a while. He finally answered, "Xue Yang."
Xiao Zhan felt like the weight on his shoulders had been lifted, and he cheerfully introduced himself, "Hi, Xue Yang. I am Wei Wuxian."
Xue Yang did not know how to respond, so he just nodded slightly. Xiao Zhan did not mind. He knew he needed to approach the boy slowly and steadily.
Lan Wangji arrived on time and returned not only with a new outfit but also with some emollient and bandages. Xiao Zhan did not forget to introduce Young Master Lan to the boy as they carefully tended to his wounds together.
Xiao Zhan felt a stab in his heart when he saw the boy's disfigured hand missing its last digit. He could not imagine the pain the boy had suffered. He tenderly stroked the nine-year-old child's head, who looked at him with a puzzled face. He spoke softly, "I'm sorry that happened to you."
Xue Yang simply stared at him without a word, although there was a hint of red around the rims of his eyes.
Lan Wangji was also disturbed by the sight of the ghastly scar. His sympathy for the small boy piled up, and he realized there were many unfortunate people in this cruel world.
All cleaned up and dressed up, Xiao Zhan seated Xue Yang at the table that was filled with food. Xue Yang swallowed his saliva, for he was starving, but he did not dare to move.
Xiao Zhan put a shorter chopstick in the boy's hand and got some dishes into his bowl. He coaxed, "Don't be shy. You can eat."
Lan Wangji softened his facial expression and gently encouraged the boy to eat as well. His voice was gentle as he urged, "Eat."
Xiao Zhan then picked up some dishes for Lan Wangji first before he served himself, as if it had become a habit. "You too, Lan Zhan."
"Mn." Lan Wangji hummed, a tiny smile playing on his lips, and Xiao Zhan returned the smile with a bright grin of his own.
The wary little boy only ate when both of them started chewing their food.
"Here, I got some snacks for you." Xiao Zhan pushed the plate full of sweet pastries toward him after they were done with the main course.
"For me?" Xue Yang instantly broke into a smile and swiped the plate toward himself, guarding it like a precious treasure. His long wait for his reward was finally over. He took his first bite of the dessert. His face lit up in pure delight and awe as he took his time to savor the sweet flavors that he had once desperately longed to taste.
"Xue Yang, can you come over here? You can bring the plate with you." Xiao Zhan patted the empty space beside him.
"Okay." Xue Yang answered, lowering his guard and shifting to Xiao Zhan's side. He was already on his second pastry.
With the table cleared of plates and food debris, Lan Wangji placed his Guqin on it.
A question slipped out of Xue Yang's reddish lips, "What's that?"
Xiao Zhan answered while readjusting his sitting posture to a lotus position, "That is a musical instrument. That brother will play a song that can help you forget bad things for a while. Do you want to try? You just need to sit down and close your eyes."
Xue Yang's eyes flickered between the instrument and the two men before agreeing, "Okay."
Soon after, the room was filled with soothing and calming music. Xiao Zhan had heard this song countless times by now, but every time he listened to it, he still felt like he was walking on clouds, and his negative thoughts disappeared into thin air. When he opened his eyes again, Xue Yang was nodding off to sleep while sitting up, and his hand was holding a half-eaten pastry. He chuckled at the sight of the cute view before getting up to tuck the sleeping boy into the daybed after cleaning the crumbs off his body. He scrutinized the fair face that had multiple scratches and cuts on it. Xue Yang had a baby face that made him look even younger than nine, and his thin body frame made him look smaller than kids of the same age.
Xiao Zhan could not fathom how someone could do such terrible things to this child and let out a sigh. He took a seat in front of Lan Wangji and hunched over the table. He lamented, "Lan Zhan, how could someone be so cruel and still get away with it? He was seven years old, and he must have been even smaller in size at that time. Who in their right mind would do such a thing to such a harmless child? One of the perpetrators was a cultivator, a clan leader on top of that. Yet, no one punished him. He is more evil than a monster."
Lan Wangji could read between his lines and asked him, "What are you implying?"
Xiao Zhan grinned at his razor-sharp perception. He then stated, "Evil should be exorcised, no? An eye for an eye."
"The revenge is not yours to take, Wei Ying." Lan Wangji was uneasy at the slight change in Wei Ying's temperament ever since that night in the Burial Mounds. His Wei Ying no longer hesitated to use the demonic arts and was easily agitated these days. Earlier, the killing intent was dense and clouded his senses. Had he stepped in a second later, the man, as much as he deserved to be beaten to a pulp, would probably have died. Now, he was suggesting punishing another person.
Xiao Zhan retorted dryly, "Do you want that boy to murder an entire clan for revenge, then?"
"No, but you don't have to be the executioner," Lan Wangji answered resolutely. He was willing to compromise for Wei Ying's sake.
Xiao Zhan huffed. "Then who?"
"Let me officially report that incident to my brother first," Lan Wangji said consolingly.
Xiao Zhan puffed up his cheeks to soothe his growing irritation and conceded, "Hurmph... Fine. As long as you promise that Clan Leader Chang and the other man will pay for their crimes."
"Trust me, Wei Ying." Lan Wangji then swore an oath to handle the matter so that Wei Ying would not have to dirty his hands or put himself in a situation where he might lose control.
Xiao Zhan laid his head on the table and gazed at the handsome features and called out, "Lan Zhan."
"Mn?" Lan Wangji answered, his brow slightly raised.
"My mind is a mess again." Xiao Zhan complained. He drew a long breath before speaking in a hushed tone, "The kid is sleeping, so you can't use your instrument."
"Straight to the point, Wei Ying," Lan Wangji said quietly.
Xiao Zhan giggled softly before teasingly putting out his request, "Sing for me."
Lan Wangji sighed lightly and gave in. He couldn't deny the request when Xiao Zhan looked at him with those starry eyes. "Alright, but not here."
"Where then?" Xiao Zhan lifted his head off the table, excited at the prospect.
"Bed," Lan Wangji replied bluntly.
"Huh?" Xiao Zhan sprang up to a seated position with his eyes wide open, taken aback by the one-word answer. He asked in bewilderment, "Sorry, what?"
Lan Wangji stood up and motioned to him, "Go to bed. I'll sing for you there."
Something is wrong with this gutter brain of mine!
"Oh...Okay." Xiao Zhan sauntered toward the wooden bed as he chastised himself inwardly.
Lan Wangji trailed closely behind and observed as the man pulled the blanket up to his chest. He sat on the edge of the bed while setting his deep gaze on Xiao Zhan's face. "Close your eyes, Wei Ying."
"Hmm..." Xiao Zhan murmured as he complied.
Shortly after, Lan Wangji began humming the melody they both knew softly, but loud enough for Xiao Zhan to hear.
Xiao Zhan smiled, pleased with the soothing sound that played in his ears like gentle rain on a hot summer day. His muscles slowly relaxed as the tension flew out the window with the calming lullaby.
A smile painted across Lan Wangji's face as he watched the other slipping into a peaceful slumber. He whispered softly, "Goodnight, Wei Ying."