Together

9. Hantan Cave

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian rolled into an underwater cave which was ice cold. "What in the world is this place?!" Wei Wuxian said while he and Lan Wangji stood up, while coughing and spitting out water. "Lan Zhan, what is this place?" Wei Wuxian asked, still coughing out water. Lan Wangji looked at the tunnel entrance once before looking into the cave with a shocked expression on his face.

"Why is there a swirling tunnel beneath the cold spring?" Wei Wuxian asked again, not expecting much of an answer. Wei Wuxian continued. "What is this place?" He repeated for the third time. "It's so weird. The water is so cold, but it doesn't freeze." Lan Wangji still didn't answer and started walking into the cave along with Wei Wuxian.

Meanwhile, in the lecture hall, Lan Qiren looks at the sky with a worried expression on his face. Just where are Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian? It's been nearly 5 hours since they disappeared without a single trace. "Uncle." Lan Qiren heard his nephew Lan Xichen, Lan Wangji's older brother call him. "It is possible that Wangji and Young Master Wei are just fine and nothing happens." Lan Xichen said, trying to calm down his uncle. "I sent people to search for them." However, that still didn't ease Lan Qiren's shoulders. "Wangji has been diligent, ever since he was a boy. He would never fool around like Wei Ying." He said, prompting Lan Xichen to nod slightly. "But now... both of them are lost in the cold spring. I'm just worried that..." "Uncle, what are you worried about?" Lan Qiren sighed and looked outside. "A storm is coming."

"Second Young Master Lan." "Second Young Master Lan." "Young Master Wei." The entire Cloud Recess was filled with liveliness, with everyone searching for Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, while trying hard not to break any rules. Jiang Cheng, although worried was also annoyed. "Wei Wuxian! If you're playing a game, it's not funny. Get out right now!" He grit through his teeth.

Back in the cave, Wei Wuxian continued shivering as he followed Lan Wangji. After walking a bit deeper into the cave, they come across an ice table with a guqin on top of it. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji made their way towards it. However, after coming to a certain distance, Wei Wuxian was thrown back into water, as if someone brutally pushed him.

Wei Wuxian clumsily got back on his feet and wiped his face once. "What is that thing?" Wei Wuxian asked Lan Wangji, feeling utterly perplexed. After thinking for a while, Lan Wangji finally realized. "Killer-String." He said. "Killer String?" Wei Wuxian asked. "Isn't that one of your Lan Clan's tricks?"

Wei Wuxian stood in the water and noticed another killer note come towards him. He instantly ducked, dodging it just in time. "What is happening? Why is everything coming to me?" He asked, annoyed. Lan Wangji looked at the guqin once and realized that the guqin wasn't harming him since he is a descendent of the Lan Clan. However, Wei Wuxian wasn't from the Lan Clan, and hence sees him as a threat.

Another killer note aimed itself at Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian tried to cover himself and be injured. However, Lan Wangji threw his sword at the note and dissipated it. Wei Wuxian moved his hands away from his face and noticed rabbits on the ice, having a ribbon around heir heads. "How come the rabbits are wearing the Lan's headband?" Lan Wangji asked, looking at the ribbons around the snowballs' heads. 'I heard that every Lan member wears a forehead ribbon. The ribbon recognizes the owner and has a special power. Then why are the rabbits also wearing headbands?' Wei Wuxian thought until he finally realized.

"Lan Zhan. The headband. Hand over your headband." Wei Wuxian said, making Lan Wangji turn around and look at him. "Hurry." Wei Wuxian said again, impatiently. Lan Wangji jumped towards Wei Wuxian and tied their hands together with the headband. Lan Wangji retracted his sword and Wei Wuxian wasn't attacked anymore. While doing so, Lan Wangji's ears turned red. However, this went unnoticed by Wei Wuxian as he looked at the ribbon tying their hands together once before meeting Lan Wangji's eyes.

Finally, Wei Wuxian wasn't attacked anymore. As he raised his head, his eyes met Lan Wangji's once before shifting their attention to the guqin. Although he tried to keep cool, his heart started hammering in his chest so loudly that he feared it would burst. The 2 men made their way to the guqin.

"I want to take a closer look and see what it is. It won't allow strangers near it." Wei Wuxian said as he tried to touch the guqin. However, Lan Wangji blocked his hand midway with the hilt of his sword. "Don't touch it." He said. "This guqin is a rare masterpiece and is enhanced by power. It will attack anyone who isn't a member of the Lan clan. It might belong to a Lan's ancestor." Wei Wuxian smiled nervously. "I just want to see it. Not touch it." He said, although his hand still went towards the guqin. Lan Wangji hit his hand again. "Drop it." He said, slightly annoyed. "Have some respect to the heirloom." "How can I get a good look without picking it up?" Wei Wuxian said, looking at Lan Wangji.

"I have a way." Lan Wangji said and pulled Wei Wuxian along with him to the other side of the table. He sat down in front of the guqin and played a tune which Wei Wuxian recognized. It was Inquiry. Although he wanted to say something, he decided to wait until Lan Wangji finished the song.

Lan Wangji opened his eyes and waited for a reply. "Inquiry?" Wei Wuxian, who was sitting on the table, asked. "I heard that it's a unique skill of the Lan clan. Talk with the deceased through a guqin.." Lan Wangji looked at him for a minute. As the two men made eye contact, Lan Wangji's ears turned red and cautioned Wei Wuxian to move away.

Soon after, a response came to the guqin, which made Lan Wangji widen his eyes. "It's her." He gasped. "Who is it?" Wei Wuxian asked him. 'Wen clan of Qishan, Lan clan of Gusu, Jiang clan of Yunmeng, Jin clan of Lanling, Nie clan of Qinghe. Kill the gentry, and destroy the Yin Iron. Kill the gentry, and destroy the Yin Iron." "Lan Zhan, what is that voice?" Wei Wuxian asked, drawing out his sword along with Lan Wangji. "I don't know. But be careful." Lan Wangji cautioned.

"It sounds like the five clans are fighting for something." Wei Wuxian guessed. "Yin Iron? What is that?" "I never heard of it." Lan Wangji replied. After a while, the two men sheathed their swords again. "Yin Iron is cursed, not worth mentioning." They heard a voice from behind them, making them turn around. A woman in her mid twenties appeared and sat down in front of the guqin, smiling at the two boys.