"And that's all for today, everyone."

The guest disciples collectively groaned.

Wei Wuxian clasped his hands and begged, "Come on! One more chapter, please, Chun-ge!"

"Now, now, Wei Ying. The suspense in waiting is part of the fun," Pan Wukun teased.

Wei Wuxian pouted. "So cruel!" Then he grinned to show that his words were said in good nature.

The Legend of Evil Spirits Book Club had met several times over the past few months.

The Cloud Recesses Lectures was a great time for the cultivation sects' young cultivators to make friends and alliances.

Lan Xichen showed up at the Book Club sometimes to check up on Lan Wangji.

Qin Su, Lan Xichen, Jiang Cheng, and Jin Zixuan also made acquaintances as future sect leaders. Jiang Cheng and Jin Zixuan kept a respectable distance from each other.

Wei Wuxian and Luo Qingyang even got along in their shared status as the children of servants. Even if Luo Qingyang was slightly annoyed by his teasing.

Lan Wangji got along with Luo Qingyang well enough. He found her strong sense of justice admirable. It also helped that she was adamantly clear that she held no romantic interest in Wei Wuxian.

As for Pan Wukun, she was surprised people still showed up to the latest book club meetings.

Pan Wukun being from Nanyue turned away a significant number of people from making meaningful alliances and friendships with her. But unbeknownst to her, some returned to the Book Club because of Wei Wuxian's influence.

"I can't believe you would treat Pan Wukun this way! Especially since he helped at the Waterborne Abyss and is the leader of the Book Club!" Wei Wuxian had said to them.

Wei Wuxian was popular and the head senior disciple of the YunmengJiang sect. So his words swayed many of the guest disciples to continue associating with Pan Wukun. It was obvious Wei Wuxian held a lot of respect for Pan Wukun.

Qin Su even declared that Pan Wukun was still her rival no matter where she was from.

Some of the female guest disciples giggled as they looked at Pan Wukun.

In their eyes, even if Pan Wukun was from Nanyue, she was still the charming rogue cultivator.

Since Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng attended the Book Club, Jiang Yanli was also present. She enjoyed listening to the story alongside them. All three were quite enthusiastic.

In the crowd of guest disciples, Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli accidentally met eyes.

Jin Zixuan silently turned his head away.

Jiang Yanli did not show it, but she was quite dejected.

Jin Zixuan's behavior did not escape Luo Qingyang's notice.

Luo Qingyang asked Jin Zixuan to secretly go somewhere alone to talk. To his relief, it was not for romantic purposes.

"So things are not going so well between you and Jiang-guniang."

Jin Zixuan frowned and crossed his arms, remaining silent. "…"

"Qin Su and I have spent time with Jiang-guniang. She is quite kind and gentle."

Jin Zixuan released an irritated sigh. "I didn't ask to be engaged to her. I didn't get to make a choice!"

Luo Qingyang huffed. "Well, do you ever think that she probably didn't ask to be engaged to you either?"

Jin Zixuan stiffened.

"Think about it! Why would she even want to marry someone who thinks so lowly of her!"

Luo Qingyang spoke freely with Jin Zixuan because she knew that she could be honest with him. He made that clear after expressing his frustrations dealing with people's sweet falsities as the LanlingJin sect's heir. He also treated her fairly even if she was a servant.

Jin Zixuan's head hung low. "I do not know if Jiang-guaniang only wants me for power and prestige."

He did not know if he could ever find true, sincere love. Even if his betrothed wasn't Jiang Yanli, everyone in the cultivation world was clamoring to marry him for riches and fame. But never for him.

Luo Qingyang's eyes softened. "Try talking to Jiang-guniang then. Perhaps you two can figure out how to speak with your parents about the arranged marriage."

Jin Zixuan snorted. "You sound like Pan Wukun."

Luo Qingyang laughed. "Well, if even Pan Wukun told you this, perhaps it wouldn't hurt for you to listen?"

A bark came from the bushes. Jin Zixuan's dog, Star appeared.

"Star! What are you doing here?" Jin Zixuan said in surprise.

Luo Qingyang giggled and petted Star's head. "Such a cute dog!"

Star, having met Luo Qingyang before and taking a liking to her, happily leaned into her touch.

Jin Zixuan sighed. "I should take Star back."

"All right, Jin-gongzi! I'll see you later when everyone's making lanterns!"

Jin Zixuan walked with Star back to his room in the guest disciples' dormitory and thought about Jiang Yanli.

He was reluctant to marry her. She was mediocre and yet he had to marry her just because she was born into the prestigious Jiang clan. Because of a promise his mother and Madam Yu made long ago.

But Jin Zixuan could never show disapproval to his mother, as that would've been a disrespectful act of an undutiful son. But he was able to be honest with Luo Qingyang, seeing her as a trusted friend.

If he followed Luo Qingyang's advice and spoke to Jiang Yanli, could they even agree to speak to their parents about the marriage?

He did not want to break his mother's heart.

Jin Zixuan sighed. "What do I do, Star?" He scratched Star behind her ears. Her soft fur gave him some comfort.

Sadly, Star did not have an answer for him. She could only lay her head on his lap and stare up at him as he stroked her fur.

Jin Zixuan just wasn't ready to deal with Jiang Yanli.

The guest disciples were all going to be making lanterns to set off into the sky later and she was going to be there.

He wasn't ready.

"Is that Little Carrot and Snowball on your lantern, Lan Zhan?"

Lan Wangji nodded.

Wei Wuxian chuckled. "Aw, how cute!"

No one could tell by looking at Lan Wangji's face, but he was very flustered.

Wei Wuxian glanced over at Pan Wukun's lantern. "What's that on yours, Chun-ge?"

"…My family and friends." Pan Wukun had drawn cartoon stick figures of herself surrounded by her loved ones from her world and Xuhou.

Wei Wuxian pouted. "Where's me and Lan Zhan? And shijie? Jiang Cheng? Qin Su? Mianmian? Meng Xingyao? Aren't we your friends?"

"…You're already here with me though."

Wei Wuxian grabbed Pan Wukun's lantern, adding stick figures of himself and the other people he mentioned. "There! Now your wish is complete!"

Pan Wukun blinked at Wei Wuxian, startled. She didn't know what to say.

Wei Wuxian smiled softly and gently handed her the lantern back. "Please, Chun-ge. Let us be part of your life too."

Pan Wukun still had no words. She glanced at Lan Wangji. He silently nodded at her.

Pan Wukun's heart warmed. "…Thank you."

Pan Wukun looked at the other guest disciples curiously. Qin Su and Luo Qingyang were happily working on their lanterns, with Qin Su drawing herself as a cool sect leader triumphantly holding her sword up in the air while Luo Qingyang drew pretty flowers. Jiang Cheng was happy next to Jiang Yanli, spending time with his older sister. But when Jiang Cheng wasn't looking, Jiang Yanli cast quick glances over at Jin Zixuan, who was standing not too far away from the YunmengJiang sect disciples.

Luo Qingyang stood close to Qin Su and Jin Zixuan. Pan Wukun found it nice that Luo Qingyang and Jin Zixuan were good friends, closer than they were in CQL.

Pan Wukun noticed that Luo Qingyang seemed to stare at Jin Zixuan significantly.

He slowly turned his head away in response. He looked…nervous.

Luo Qingyang's eyes flashed with resigned disappointment.

Pan Wukun wondered what was going on over there. She stared at Wei Wuxian warily, making sure he wasn't going to try to punch Jin Zixuan for the second time. He had punched Jin Zixuan during this lantern event in CQL, after all.

Luckily, Wei Wuxian showed no signs of anger or fist clenching. And Jin Zixuan showed no signs of planning to insult Jiang Yanli, especially in front of everyone.

Along with everyone else, Pan Wukun shut her eyes and clasped her hands together, wishing with all of her heart.

Home. I wish to go home.

She did not say her wish aloud, not daring to even whisper it. It was too personal. She didn't want to feel too open and vulnerable around all these guest disciples. Telling Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji what was on her lantern was already too much.

Next to her, Pan Wukun heard Wei Wuxian whisper, "I, Wei Wuxian, wish I could always stand with justice and live with no regrets."

She didn't have to look to know that Lan Wangji was staring at Wei Wuxian with heart eyes.

She opened her eyes to witness the array of glowing paper lanterns light up the night sky.

Everyone released their hopes and dreams into the heavens, wanting the best for their futures.

But Pan Wukun knew what their futures held.

War and death.

Should she even consider getting involved with stopping the Wens?

…No. She couldn't make an enemy out of the QishanWen sect.

She didn't have that kind of power.

She doubted her foreknowledge was enough to stand against centuries of a powerful cultivation sect's might.

She couldn't even save Meng Shi…

She could not endanger Pan Heng and Xuhou.

But damn it, what kind of person was she just to leave everything and allow tragedies and horrific crimes to pass?

Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji. Lan Xichen. Jiang Yanli. Jiang Cheng. Jin Zixuan. Luo Qingyang. Meng Xingyao. Qin Su. They were all going to suffer so much.

Which guest disciple and GusuLan cultivator at this lantern event was going to be left standing after the Wens' attack on the Cloud Recesses and the Sunshot Campaign?

But what could Pan Wukun even do? She was just one person! And a rogue cultivator at that!

She wasn't even from this world! Was it even her place to interfere? These people were all just characters from a novel, weren't they?!

…She didn't know what to do.

She just wasn't ready…

Pan Wukun focused her eyes on her lantern drifting away in the sky. It was growing smaller and smaller, flying further away out of sight.

Whatever happened next, she just wanted to be home at the end of it all…