Looking around, Wei WuXian suddenly exclaimed, “I’m hungry.”
Lan WangJi looked up. Of course, Wei WuXian wasn’t hungry at all. He had just eaten three pies at the vendor in front of Lotus Pier’s gates. Lan WangJi only ate one, however, and it was the only thing he’d eaten in the past two days. The matter was on Wei WuXian’s mind. Before them, there seemed to be almost no signs of human habitation. It was likely that they’d have to keep drifting for a long while to reach a town or a city to rest and dine.
Lan WangJi replied a moment later, “Pull over?”
Wei WuXian, “There aren’t many people on the shores here, but I know somewhere to go.”
At once, Wen Ning picked up the oar and rowed toward the direction he pointed. Soon, the ferry turned to a side branch of the river and drifted into a lotus lake.
In the lake were lotus leaves of all different heights, almost forming a blanket. The thin ferry broke through the crowded stems and coasted toward the depths of the lake. Viewed from above, following the ferry was a string of waving lotus leaves. To roam amid the green umbrellas, push a large leave aside, and find plump seed pods hidden underneath, one after another—it was like finding a small treasure. Grinning, Wei WuXian was just about to reach out and grab them when Lan WangJi suddenly called, “Wei Ying.”
Wei WuXian, “What’s wrong?”
Lan WangJi, “Is there an owner to this lake?”
Wei WuXian’s face was completely honest, “Of course not.”
Of course there was. Ever since Wei WuXian was eleven, he’d often stolen lotus seed pods and water chestnuts in the many lakes of Yunmeng. He’d originally given up the hobby for a long time, but now that they needed to obtain food so that they could keep going, he had to go back to his old ways again.
Lan WangJi’s voice seemed lukewarm, “I heard the lotus lakes around here all have owners.”
“…” Wei WuXian, “Hahahahahaha really? That’s too bad. You’ve really heard of a lot of things, haven’t you? I haven’t even heard of this. Let’s go then.”
Having been exposed, of course he wasn’t so shameless as to make Lan WangJi join him in doing such foolish things. That the renowned HanGuang-Jun would steal lotus seed pods in someone else’s lake really didn’t seem appropriate. Just as he was about to pick up the oar in embarrassment, Lan WangJi reached out and plucked off one of the seed pods.
He handed the seed pod to Wei WuXian, “There is no next time.”
Please do NOT comment with ANY spoilers!! Thank you!
Chapter 91: Longing (Part Two)
Translated by K of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
With an almost insatiable force, Wei WuXian picked as many lotus seeds as he could. There was almost no room on the boat left to put their feet, all three of them sitting amid mountains of green lotus seed pods. When the skin was torn off, the creamy green seeds could be seen hidden right inside the brown, puffy coats. Dig them out, peel the coats off, and there were the seeds, soft and snowy. They had a refreshingly sweet taste. Even the centers were made of watery greens, not at all bitter.
Wen Ning continued to peel the seed pods, sitting at the front of the boat. Lan WangJi stopped only after he peeled two. As he saw Wen Ning pass them the peeled seeds, he shook his head and let him give them to Wei WuXian. Alone, Wei WuXian finished the entire boat. They finally arrived at the docks of Yunping City after being afloat for another three or four hours.
The shallow regions of the docks were cramped with small fishing boats. A few groups of women were gathered on the stone stairs before the waters, washing clothes. Shirtless boys with tanned skin dove and swam around the edge of the river.
Suddenly, a ferry slowly drifted over. One person was at the end of the boat, head hanging low, but the two young men inside both had striking looks. The man sitting at the front was dressed in snow white, carrying a most ethereal air while the grinning youth right beside him had quite a pretty face as well. People rarely saw such figures on a daily basis, so everyone widened their eyes and stared as hard as they could. A few of the boys swimming in the river gathered toward them like fish. Around seven or eight heads bobbed up and down beside the ferry.
Wei WuXian, “If I may ask, is Yunping City here?”
A girl washing clothes by the river blushed, “Yes, it is.”
Wei WuXian, “We’re here. Let’s go.”
The ferry docked. Lan WangJi was the first to stand up. After he was on land, he turned around and helped Wei WuXian up. Both of the two had gotten off already, yet Wen Ning was still on the boat, unable to move an inch. The swimming boys watched as he looked down and said nothing, strange marks crawling up his neck across his pale cheeks. They found him strange, but felt amused instead of scared. Over ten pairs of hands clung onto the boat and shook without stop, so hard that Wen Ning almost couldn’t steady himself.
Wei WuXian turned around, “Hey! What are you doing? Don’t bully him.”
Wen Ning hurried to reply, “Young Master, I can’t get off.”
As he called out for help, two of the boys slapped the river’s surface to splash him with water. Wen Ning pulled a helpless smile, at a loss as to what to do. If only the boys knew the ‘person’ they were fooling around with could tear their bodies, even their bones, into smithereens, how could they make fun of him they way they were right now?
Wei WuXian tossed over the few lotus seed pods that were left, “Catch!” The boys immediately scattered, fighting for the seed pods. Wen Ning could finally jump ashore. Embarrassed, he patted the drenched hem of his robe.
Even out of the entire Yunmeng, Yunping City wasn’t just some small place, but rather bustling instead. The three entered the city. On their way were countless vendors and passerby. Wen Ning didn’t like places that buzzed with people; he disappeared in silence shortly afterward. From the address in his memory, Wei WuXian asked as he walked, but when they finally arrived at their destination and confirmed what they saw, both were somewhat surprised.
Wei WuXian looked at the grand building, prosperous with incense, “This is… a Guanyin Temple?”
*Deity of Mercy
Lan WangJi, “Mn.”
Jin GuangYao really didn’t seem like the devout type. The two exchanged a look with each other. Together, they passed the flood of visitors, crossed the tall threshold, and entered the temple. The temple had three courtyards. Everywhere smoke could be seen and woodblocks for prayers could be heard. It didn’t take long to complete an entire circle around the temple. The last courtyard was the Guanyin Palace. Before the two even stood for long before the entrance, a monk came to greet them with his palms put together. The two returned the salut.
Wei WuXian chatted with him for a while, asking in a casual manner, “Most temples are built inside mountains. Ones inside cities are truly rare.”
The monk smiled, “Those in the city often toil all day. Don’t they also need such a Guanyin Temple to pray and search for inner peace?”
Wei WuXian smiled as well, “Wouldn’t the noise disturb Guanyin?”
The monk, “Guanyin delivers all from torment. How could they be disturbed by people?”
Wei WuXian, “Is Guanyin the only one this temple worships?”
The monk, “That’s right.”