Mount Baifeng (百凤山, Bǎifèng Shān, lit. "hundred phoenix mountain") is a mountain used for a fateful night-hunt hosted by the Lanling Jin Clan.
Description[]
Mount Baifeng is known as a place where demons and beasts often lurk, rendering the mountain one of the top-three hunting grounds in the cultivation world. Thus, it frequently hosts large hunting competitions, during which clans both large and small can display their skill and recruit talents. Rogue cultivators and new disciples can also make their talents known during the competition.
At the base of the mountain is a vast square with ten tall watching towers so that onlookers can watch the hunting grounds. The quietest tower is the tallest, most embellished one. For the night-hunt, those who sat there are mostly elder cultivators, clan leaders, and their families.
In the back, rows and rows of maids carry either canopies or large fans. The women in the first rows all cover their faces with smaller fans, reservedly looking down at the hunting ground.
A row of targets present an obstacle before the official entry into the mountain. Those who intend on hunting can only become eligible to enter if they are able to shoot a target from a certain distance away. There are seven rings on the targets, in accordance with the seven paths of entry. The closer that the arrow is to the center, the more advantageous its respective entry path is.[1]
Night-Hunt on Mount Baifeng[]
Lead-Up and Opening Ceremony[]
Shortly after the end of the Sunshot Campaign, the Lanling Jin Clan proposes an autumn night-hunting competition among many clans. Madam Jin is particularly insistent that Jiang Yanli attend, as she still hopes that Jiang Yanli will marry her son, Jin Zixuan.
Every clan enters in a grand riding formation, although the horses are not used during the hunt. Jin Guangyao announces the arrival of each clan.
The Gusu Lan Clan enters first among the Four Great Clans. Flowers rain down upon Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji, but the Twin Jades only stop when Lan Wangji senses that Wei Wuxian has joined the maidens to throw a flower at him.
Nie Mingjue and Nie Huaisang enter next, although most maidens are too afraid to throw flowers towards Nie Mingjue. The men, however, cheer loudly for the leader of the Qinghe Nie Clan.
The Yunmeng Jiang Clan is third. Wei Wuxian rides besides Jiang Cheng, and both accept the flowers that Jiang Yanli throws towards them from her position beside Madam Jin.
Last is the Lanling Jin Clan. Wei Wuxian scoffs at the arrogance of Jin Zixuan, labelling him a "peacock." Still, without dropping his speed at all, Jin Zixuan shoots an arrow directly into the center of a target. His cousin Jin Zixun loudly dares anyone to shoot better than his cousin.
Wei Wuxian then asks Lan Wangji to lend him his forehead ribbon. Lan Xichen attempts to tell him the meaning of their ribbon, but Lan Wangji stops him.
Wei Wuxian then takes off the black ribbon around his wrist guards and ties it over his eyes. He shoots an arrow directly into the center of a target while blindfolded, outdoing Jin Zixuan to gain the Yunmeng Jiang Clan the most favorable entry into Mount Baifeng.
As Jin Guangshan jokes that they should watch out that Jin Zixun does not steal the prey, Wei Wuxian calmly replies that he will not be able to.[1]
Night-Hunt[]
The Kiss[]
Wei Wuxian then separates from the Yunmeng Jiang Clan and, still blindfolded, plays Chenqing to send the prey directly into the hands of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan. He then rests on a tree branch, and is nearly asleep when Lan Wangji approaches, pushes him against the tree, and passionately kisses him.
By the time Wei Wuxian removes his blindfold, Lan Wangji is long gone. Supposing a shy maiden to have done it, Wei Wuxian searches through the woods only to find Lan Wangji smashing a tree in frustration.
Wei Wuxian then teases Lan Wangji that he would never be kissed, and lied that he has much experience, to Lan Wangji's jealousy.[1]
Incident with Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli[]
They are interrupted by the arrival of Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli. Jin Zixuan's attempts to make conversation result only in nods, as Jiang Yanli has no desire to flatter him. Jin Zixuan then invites her to the Lanling Jin Clan's private hunting grounds, but Jiang Yanli declines.
Embarrassed, Jin Zixuan speaks harshly to Jiang Yanli. She turns to leave, and he grabs her arm, whereupon Wei Wuxian interrupts. Lan Wangji stands between Wei Wuxian and Jin Zixuan as they bicker.
Noting the sword glares of Suihua and Bichen, several cultivators make their way to the scene, including Jin Zixun, Clan Leader Yao, and Madam Jin.
Madam Jin harshly reprimands Jin Zixuan for bullying Jiang Yanli, though Jiang Yanli denies that he bullied her.[1]
Incident with Jin Zixun[]
Jin Zixun then accuses Wei Wuxian of arrogance and of taking one-third of the entire prey on the mountain, which, to Jin Zixun, was stealing more prey than he should. As Wei Wuxian attempts to leave, Jin Zixun only escalates the situation, mocking that he is so arrogant he does not even carry a sword.[1]
Wei Wuxian harshly responds that he would rise above everyone here, and Jin Zixun retorts by calling him the mere son of a servant.
This evidently infuriates Jiang Yanli. She diplomatically requests that Wei Wuxian stand behind her. First, she apologizes to Jin Zixun if Wei Wuxian has broken any rules. Second, she declares that she has never heard of any rules against taking too much prey, and demands an apology from Jin Zixun.
When Madam Jin attempts to interrupt, Jiang Yanli explains that Wei Wuxian is like a younger brother to her, and thus she cannot abide him being dismissed as the son of a servant. Madam Jin then joins Jiang Yanli in demanding that Jin Zixun apologize.
Just then, Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao arrive. As Jin Guangyao inquires what had happened, Madam Jin takes her frustrations out on her husband's bastard son, harshly criticizing him for inadequate planning.
Lan Xichen promises Jin Zixun that the hunting grounds will be expanded in two hours, but Jin Zixun claims it is too late, that he is leaving.
As Jiang Yanli and Wei Wuxian attempt to leave the messy situation, Jin Zixuan suddenly shouts out that it was not his mother who had wanted Jiang Yanli to come, but he himself. He subsequently flees in humiliation, pursued by his mother.[2]
Expanding of the Hunting Grounds[]
As everyone departs, Jin Guangyao anxiously confesses that he cannot expand the grounds in two hours, as not only has Wei Wuxian taken one-third of the prey, Nie Mingjue has also taken half of the faes and monsters.
Lan Xichen responds that he would help him, and Lan Wangji also agrees to join them.[2]
Arrival of Jiang Cheng[]
Jiang Cheng finally arrives to find only a handful of people left on the scene. Clan Leader Yao speaks coldly about Wei Wuxian's character, and Jiang Cheng then overhears other cultivators complaining that the Yunmeng Jiang Clan only gained fame during the Sunshot Campaign due to Wei Wuxian.[2]
Animation Divergence[]
In the Animation, the kiss between Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian is omitted. Moreover, the mutated Measuring Snake that Jin Zixuan describes to Jiang Yanli is not dead but alive, and attempts to attack her.[3]
Web Series Divergence[]
In the Web Series, the kiss is also omitted.
Instead of typical targets, the Lanling Jin Clan orders captive members of the Qishan Wen Clan to be placed below the targets in a display of torture.[4]
Trivia[]
The original Exiled Rebels translation referred to Mount Baifeng as "Phoenix Mountain."[1]
References[]
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