The Beguiling Boy - Part Five is the fiftieth chapter of Mo Dao Zu Shi.
Synopsis []
Jin Guangyao attempts to chase after Nie Huaisang, but Nie Mingjue forbids him. He then claims he has come to play the guqin for Nie Mingjue, and to "acknowledge" his "mistake."
Jin Guangyao learns that Nie Mingjue has attempted to keep the saber spirit secret from Nie Huaisang, and advises him to tell his brother. Nie Mingjue says it is not necessary for his brother to know yet.
Nie Mingjue requests the head of Xue Yang if Jin Guangyao is sincerely repentant, and Jin Guangyao promises to bring it in two months, or Nie Mingjue can do with him "as he pleases."
However, less than two months later, the Qinghe Nie Clan hosts a martial arts tournament. Privately, Jin Guangyao confesses his fear that Nie Mingjue will not forgive him to Lan Xichen. He fears that the oath was a warning to him. As he frets, Lan Xichen blames the saber spirit, noting that Nie Mingjue and Nie Huaisang have fought again and still have not reconciled.
In tears, Jin Guangyao laments that Nie Mingjue insulted his mother during the stairs incident, looking down on both her and himself because she could not choose her fate as a prostitute. He asks how Nie Mingjue is any different from those who mock him.
Infuriated by Jin Guangyao's words, Nie Mingjue bursts in with Baxia unsheathed. As he fights Lan Xichen, he rushes out to hallucinate Jin Guangyao everywhere, slaughtering those in his way. Suddenly, Nie Huaisang rushes towards him, and Nie Mingjue recognizes his brother just before he dies of qi deviation.
Wei Wuxian hears Lan Wangji's voice call "Wei Ying," and finally emerges from Empathy. Realizing that his time in Paper Metamorphosis is nearly spent, he attempts to leave, only to meet with Jin Guangyao's soft sword, Hensheng.
Wei Wuxian quickly unsheathes a nearby sword, which is none other than his original sword Suibian, now a trophy in Golden Carp Tower. Shock crosses Jin Guangyao's face, and Wei Wuxian is able to escape back to Lan Wangji.
Afraid that Jin Guangyao will move Nie Mingjue's head and silence Qin Su, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji rush back towards the Fragrant Palace. However, as they encounter the disciples guarding their clan leader's bedroom, more and more people are alerted by the noise.
Jin Ling arrives with his sword unsheathed, and Lan Xichen understands his brother's expression instantly – that Nie Mingjue's head is inside.
Jin Guangyao walks out of the growing crowd, pleasantly inquiring if the reception was inadequate earlier. Lan Xichen persuades him to open the treasure vault for them, though Su She, leader of the rising Moling Su Clan, scoffs at the conduct of the Gusu Lan Clan.
Wei Wuxian is surprised to see Qin Su standing there, without having undergone any enchantment or drunk any potions. Jin Guangyao explains that he and Qin Su share all of their possessions, so it is not strange that she should be in here.
As his sense of foreboding rises, Wei Wuxian lifts the curtain with the Forbiddance Talisman to see not Nie Mingjue's head, but a dagger.
Jin Guangyao explains that the dagger has strong resentful energy, as it once belonged to an assassin. Upon holding it up, one will see that the reflection in the dagger is not oneself, but one of its victims. He confirms that it once belonged to Wen Ruohan.
Qin Su suddenly snatches the dagger, her face full of pain, anger, and humiliation. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji lunge for her, but she drives it into her abdomen. Jin Guangyao grabs her, wailing her name, while Lan Xichen pulls out medicine.
However, the dagger's resentful energy is too heavy. Qin Su dies within the "blink of an eye," as Jin Guangyao sobs and calls her name.
Jin Guangyao demands an explanation, and Lan Xichen explains that Lan Wangji has been investigating a Demonic Left Arm since Mo Village, only to determine that the severed body parts belonged to Nie Mingjue.
Nie Huaisang faints, and Jin Guangyao shouts in anger. After Lan Xichen explains that the clues have disappeared without finding the head, Jin Guangyao surmises that they investigated him, believing it to be in his treasure vault.
Wei Wuxian wonders how Jin Guangyao moved the head and persuaded Qin Su to kill herself in such a brief time. Suddenly, Jin Guangyao asks "Mo Xuanyu" if he lied to Lan Wangji.
Su She explains Mo Xuanyu's sordid history, and scoffs at why Lan Wangji would keep such a person by his side.
Jin Guangyao says that he will not bring up the past, but asks if Mo Xuanyu was involved in Qin Su's death. He attacks with Hensheng, but Bichen blocks the blow.
Multiple other swords fly towards him, and Wei Wuxian again grabs Suibian to defend himself.
Suddenly, Jin Guangyao shouts that he is the Yiling Patriarch.
Jin Ling insists that he cannot be Wei Wuxian, as Jiang Cheng once struck him with Zidian without expelling his soul. Jin Guangyao replies by reminding him that "Mo Xuanyu" summoned Wen Ning before musing that Mo Xuanyu once read the Sacrificial Ritual in his treasure vault. The ritual offers a body to an evil spirit; as it does not seize a body, it does not count as a possession.
To Wei Wuxian's shock, Jin Guangyao then explains that Suibian sealed itself after Wei Wuxian's death. Only the real Wei Wuxian, therefore, can draw the sword.
Many swords fly towards him, but Lan Wangji defends him with Bichen. Wei Wuxian leaps out the window, and when Lan Wangji follows, he tells him to stay to preserve his reputation. In response, Lan Wangji grabs his waist.
Jin Ling blocks the two, and in great distress, demands to know if he really is Wei Ying. He slashes with his sword, and eventually manages to stab Wei Wuxian in the stomach.
Wei Wuxian loses consciousness as Lan Wangji helps him escape. To himself, Wei Wuxian ponders that
When everyone feared him and flattered him, Lan Wangji scolded him right in his face; when everyone spurned him and loathed him, Lan Wangji stood by his side.
Suddenly, he speaks, recalling just when he carried Lan Wangji before.[1]
Characters []
in order of appearance:
- Jin Guangyao
- Nie Mingjue
- Wei Wuxian
- Xue Yang (mentioned)
- Lan Xichen
- Meng Shi (mentioned)
- Nie Huaisang
- Lan Wangji
- Wen Ruohan (mentioned)
- Jin Ling
- Su She
- Qin Su
- Mo Xuanyu (mentioned)
- Jiang Cheng
- Wen Ning (mentioned)
Events []
- Death of Nie Mingjue
- Discussion Conferences
- Night-Hunt on Dafan Mountain (mentioned)
- First Siege of the Burial Mounds (mentioned)
Locations[]
- Impure Realm
- Golden Carp Tower
- Mo Village (mentioned)
- Dafan Mountain (mentioned)
- Burial Mounds (mentioned)
- Jiangling (mentioned)
Creatures[]
- Demonic Left Arm (mentioned)
Cultivation Abilities[]
Cultivation Tools[]
- Baxia
- Shuoyue
- Hensheng
- Suibian
- Talismans
- Suihua
- Forbiddance Talisman
- Assassin's Dagger
- Bichen
- Zidian (mentioned)
- Sandu
Author's Note[]
Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's end-of-chapter note reads:[2]
I really wanted to show this when I began serializing, finally I am happy and satisfied.