Part 11 – Bad Behavior
Wei Wuxian was aghast. Of course, he and Jiang Cheng had had their differences in the past. Even so, this was a new low!
“Jiang Cheng,” he wailed, feeling hit below the belt, “how could you?!”
“Don’t start that with me!” Jiang Cheng bit out, Blossom and Cherry bristling along with him. “Why shouldn’t I have dogs if I want them?! Am I not the master of Lotus Pier? Not everything in the world must revolve around you and your ridiculous eccentricities! You’re never here anyway, so why should I care to humor you? Just for posterity’s sake? Don’t be absurd!”
This rant was so over-the-top Wei Wuxian figured Jiang Cheng must have been stewing it over in his head for some time. Further proof of his guilt, in Wei Wuxian’s mind. Jiang Cheng knew how much this dog-keeping would upset him!
“How can I not take this personally?” Wei Wuxian cried, deeply hurt. “After so many years, you choose now to do this? It’s as good as telling me I’m not welcome here. Uncle Jiang would frown upon it! It’s clear you don’t care anything for me, or you wouldn’t harbor such—such beasts!”
Said beasts cocked their heads as Wei Wuxian pointed accusingly at them. Jiang Cheng ground his teeth, twisting Zidian wrathfully on his finger.
He seemed on the verge of lashing out in his typical, overblown fashion. Most likely he would have, verbally or otherwise, had not Lan Wangji intervened.
“Wei Ying,” he said firmly, “calm yourself. You go too far.”
“But, Lan Zhan…”
“Jiang Wanyin is right in what he says. This is his home, and he may keep dogs here if he wishes.” As Jiang Cheng let out a terse breath of vindication and Wei Wuxian sagged miserably, Lan Wangji tipped up his chin. “If you are afraid, just stay close to me.”
Wei Wuxian blushed, beaming despite himself. “Hanguang-Jun, I love you so much!”
As the Nie, Lan and Jiang disciples shifted uncomfortably, Lan Wangji smiled faintly back. Nie Huaisang fanned his bright cheeks, while Jiang Cheng glanced away in disgust.
“Best get it out of your system now,” he warned, fixing the couple with a stern look. “I’ll have none of that going on beyond this gate. You two are rooming separately.”
“Of course,” Wei Wuxian replied, without missing a beat.
…Of course he would just sneak into Lan Wangji’s room, anyway. Jiang Cheng glared, as if reading this intention right off his thick face.
“How long are we going to keep standing around here?” Jin Ling complained.
It was obvious he was eager to get away from his uncle and catch up with his friends from Gusu Lan. Wei Wuxian couldn’t blame him.
“Yes, Jiang Cheng, you’re being a poor host, you know!” Wei Wuxian piled on. “We’ve been traveling all day. Poor A-Yuan is about to fall asleep standing up.”
Lan Sizhui flushed, clearly wondering what he’d done to be singled-out like this. He’d just been standing perfectly normally. If anyone had been slouching a bit, it had been Lan Jingyi. But there had been no rhyme or reason to it. Wei Wuxian had just happened to think of Lan Sizhui first.
Somehow, Jiang Cheng’s expression managed to chill and darken further. As he took a menacing step toward the Lan Sect juniors, they retreated behind Lan Sizhui.
“A-Yuan?” Jiang Cheng demanded. “As in Wen Yuan.”
Lan Sizhui paled, but held his ground. “…Yes, Sect Leader Jiang—my surname by birth is Wen.”
“So the rumor was true.” Jiang Cheng sneered coldly. “A Wen in Lan’s guise. And still you dare to show your face before me. You Wen-dogs know no shame.”
As Lan Wangji stepped forward, Wei Wuxian frowned. “Jiang Cheng,” he began, but the sect leader cut him off with a vicious glare.
“Shut up,” he said, his dark flinty gaze slanting aside. “And you, Hanguang-Jun—coming at me like that, are you so quick to go back on your own words? I can permit what dogs I like here, can I not? Well, Wen-dogs are not welcome.” His gaze snapped back to Lan Sizhui, full of hate. “Get out of my sight.”
A slight tremor ran through Lan Sizhui. Before either Wei Wuxian or Lan Wangji could stop him, he hopped on his sword and took off into the sky.
Mo Dao Zu Shi © Mo Xiang Tong Xiu