Thirteen years after his death, Wei Wuxian finds himself returned to life when the supposed lunatic Mo Xuanyu summons his soul into his own body using a forbidden summoning ritual.

Wei Wuxian flees to Dafan Mountain in an attempt to avoid detection but ends up encountering his former martial brother Jiang Cheng and his old acquaintance Lan Wangji.

In his youth, Wei Wuxian is a disciple of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan; he accompanies Jiang Cheng to study in the Cloud Recesses and winds up clashing with Lan Wangji over his continued flaunting of the Gusu Lan Clan's many rules.

Wei Wu Xian and Lan Wang Ji meet during a magical training and work together to solve mysteries.

After Jin Zixuan insults Jiang Yanli, Wei Wuxian engages him in a brawl; the engagement between Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli is called off; Wei Wuxian is taken home early from the Cloud Recesses.