Chapter 134 (Manhua)

## Synopsis

Wei Wuxian's Paperman has been sucked into Empathy by the overwhelming resentful energy of Nie Mingjue's head.

He awakens to the smell of blood and observes Nie Mingjue sheath his saber, having just slain Wen Xu at Hejian during the Sunshot Campaign.

Nie Mingjue commands the head hung up for all to see. He inquires the identity of the man who cleaned up the battlefield last time, his subordinate says that the man is Meng Yao.

Wei Wuxian recalls that Jin Guangyao would still be known as Meng Yao, his mother's name at this point.

Nie Mingjue seeks Meng Yao out for his efforts cleaning up the battlefield.
Finding him outside a cave, away from the others, Nie Mingjue overhears many members of the Qinghe Nie Clan mocking Meng Yao's past.

His father, Jin Guangshan, was widely known for his womanizing ways. Meanwhile, Meng Yao's mother was a famous prostitute. Jin Guangshan, unfortunately, forgot her as soon as he left.

After his mother's death, Meng Yao approached Golden Carp Tower to ask for his father's acceptance. Unfortunately, Meng Yao had also arrived on the birthday of his brother Jin Zixuan. Sensing the hot-tempered Madam Jin's rage, Jin Guangshan commanded Meng Yao chased away so that his family would not encounter him when they ventured outside for the auspicious lantern lighting.

And so, Meng Yao was kicked down the many steps of Golden Carp Tower. He rolled down the steps, all the way from the top to the bottom. He has been a joke to the cultivation world ever since.

Infuriated at their mockery, Nie Mingjue chastises the men and encourages Meng Yao.
Eventually, as Nie Mingjue is continually impressed with Meng Yao's conduct looking after the civilians displaced by the war, he appoints Meng Yao his deputy.

One day, Lan Xichen arrives in Hejian. Lan Xichen declares that he will only stay one night, as he must leave to assist Lan Wangji.

Later, Nie Mingjue overhears Meng Yao's conversation with Lan Xichen, who says that Jin Guangshan is recruiting people to help in Langya. While he acknowledges his dream of earning his father's approval, Meng Yao insists that he cannot leave Hejian.

To Meng Yao's astonishment and gratitude, Nie Mingjue enters and announces that he will send Meng Yao to Langya with a letter of recommendation. To repay him, all Meng Yao must do is kill a few more Wen-dogs on the battlefield.

## Characters

*In order of appearance:*

* Wei Wuxian
* Nie Mingjue
* Wen Xu (severed head)
* Meng Shi (mentioned)
* Jin Guangyao
* Jin Guangshan (mentioned)
* Jin Zixuan (mentioned)
* Madam Jin (mentioned)
* Lan Xichen
* Lan Wangji (mentioned)

## Locations

* Hejian
* Golden Carp Tower (mentioned)
* Langya (mentioned)

## Divergence from the Novel

The significance of Wen Xu's death and the details of what happened to his body are cut from the manhua, as is the scene wherein Nie Mingjue encounters terrified civilians.

Several details of Meng Yao's past are cut: the fact that Jin Guangshan lied about the rarity of the pearl keepsake he gave Meng Shi, the fact that Meng Shi raised Meng Yao as a cultivator despite their status, and the fact that he grew up in Yunmeng.

Nie Mingjue's inaccurate advice that Meng Yao can become a steady swordsman is cut; in the novel, Wei Wuxian recognizes that Meng Yao has started cultivation too late to develop any skill with depth.

The details of Lan Xichen's meeting in Hejian are also omitted – that he was traveling to mediate between Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, that no one drank the tea Meng Yao poured excepting Lan Xichen. Nie Mingjue's request that Lan Xichen return Nie Huaisang's saber to his brother in Gusu is also cut, as are Nie Mingjue's questions on how Lan Xichen and Meng Yao know each other.

## References

1. ↑ Manhua, Chapter 134
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Novel, Chapter 48