Nie Huaisang, however, had his interest piqued. “San-ge, what song is that? Can I listen? Let me tell you, that out-of-print book you found for me last time…”

This was the second young master of the Nie Clan of Qinghe, Nie Huaisang.

“That band of graverobbers probably asked around and heard there was a grand tomb on Xinglu Ridge. They marked this target and came prepared."

Nie Huaisang was unenthusiastic about his practice, especially given the scorching sun, so his efforts were half-hearted at best. He only took a couple more swings before claiming he was tired and joyfully trotting over to see what gifts Jin Guangyao had come bearing this time.

But Nie Huaisang didn’t make it to his side before Nie Mingjue collapsed to the ground.

"The last incident got resolved, but now there's new problems!"

“How did it go? Did he see it? What was his reaction?”

Nie Huaisang started guessing at random. “So was it because we breathed in that fog?”

Perhaps Nie Huaisang had really been a “head-shaker” before Nie Mingjue’s passing. After Nie Mingjue’s death, however, he went from knowing nothing to knowing everything—including the fact that Nie Mingjue’s corpse had been swapped and the true colors of the san-ge he had once trusted.

"I mean to say, the place he blew up just so happened to be the earliest of the Saber Offerings Halls constructed on Xinglu Ridge."

“Yeah, I think he makes a good point."

Although Nie Huaisang greatly admired his older brother, he also feared Nie Mingjue bringing up the subject of schooling the most.

If only Nie Huaisang could feel, as Wei Wuxian did, the force with which Nie Mingjue’s anger blazed at that moment—then he would not grin as cheekily. “Da-ge, it’s time for a break!”

“How would I know?” Nie Huaisang answered. “But given how San-ge…ah, no, how Sect Leader Jin looked, I guess it was probably something very important to him.”

If only Nie Huaisang could feel, as Wei Wuxian did, the force with which Nie Mingjue’s anger blazed at that moment—then he would not grin as cheekily. “Da-ge, it’s time for a break!”

"The last incident got resolved, but now there's new problems!"

Nie Huaisang started guessing at random. “So was it because we breathed in that fog?”

Nie Huaisang’s eyes bulged when he saw the bright, gleaming blades. Without his bodyguards around, he didn’t even dare breathe heavily, but cowered in a corner behind Lan Xichen and sneezed quite a number of times.

Overjoyed, Nie Huaisang repeatedly greeted, “Hello, san-ge!” as he hurriedly scooped the tableful of fans into his arms.

He had a refined, scholarly face, yet always wore a submissive expression that made him look like an easy target for bullying into compliance.

“…I don’t know, I really don’t know!”

There was something left on the ground. It was Jin Guangyao's cap. Nie Huaisang bent to pick it up before strolling out the door.

He smiled apologetically. “Hanguang-jun…and this gentleman…”

The one who succeeded him to the position of family head would have been his little brother, Nie Huaisang.

He obstinately refused to admit to anything, so Lan Wangji set down the piece of fabric the black-haired spirit dog had torn off. Nie Huaisang tried to cover the part of his sleeve that was missing.

"I mean to say, the place he blew up just so happened to be the earliest of the Saber Offerings Halls constructed on Xinglu Ridge."

“Hanguang-jun, and this gentleman…I’ve said everything. Please absolutely do not let this out. Otherwise…”

Nie Mingjue struck out, and the two items of white porcelain Nie Huaisang had grabbed from the fire shattered to pieces in his hands. The scrolls of calligraphy and paintings had already turned to ash.

Nie Huaisang started guessing at random. “So was it because we breathed in that fog?”

Nie Huaisang’s eyes bulged when he saw the bright, gleaming blades. Without his bodyguards around, he didn’t even dare breathe heavily, but cowered in a corner behind Lan Xichen and sneezed quite a number of times.