Restart | Xue Yang

Chapter 3

Disclaimer: Mo Dao Zu Shi and The Untamed do not belong to me. The settings, characters, and plot belong, respectively, to Mo Xiang Tong Xiu and the screenwriters of The Untamed. Here, only the plot of this fanfiction and my four OCs, Huang Minghui / Lan Minghui, Lan Biyun, Li Xingsi / Wei Xingsi, and Bai Yilian / Nie Yilian, are my creations. And an important reminder that this ISN'T REAL; please value your lives and do not try to get hit by a car to get this sort of adventure.

Five years later

Five years in the Cloud Recesses had ingrained the sleep-and-rise-early schedule into a part of Lan Minghui. At Mao Shi, her eyes opened naturally, and she got ready for the new day.

After (a bland-tasting) breakfast, Lan Minghui headed to the Lanshi for lectures. Occupying a table with Lan Biyun and Lan Wangji like she did every day, a few hours ticked by slowly as the students were taught the history of the cultivational world. The rest of the day passed normally and uneventfully; Lan Qiren training them in their sword forms, music cultivation (Lan Minghui had a guqin named Daiyi), more classes, calligraphy and arts, archery, talismans...

By the time it was Hai Shi, Lan Minghui was exhausted. This had been her life for five years, but she was always feeling dead at the end of the day. She was more than ready to just collapse into her bed and indulge in her rest, but Lan Qiren had requested her presence in his study earlier. Dragging her feet out of her room, Lan Minghui entered her uncle's study. Lan Biyun and Lan Wangji were also present, kneeling before their uncle's desk and waiting for him to speak.

Lan Qiren presented each of the disciples with a sword. Lan Minghui sucked in a breath of excitement. Am I getting my sword?

"It's time for you to receive your swords," Lan Qiren announced. In the order of Lan Wangji, Lan Biyun, and Lan Minghui, he gave them their swords.

"I will name this sword... Bichen," Lan Wangji decided.

Lan Minghui tried hard not to let any memories of that scene surface, repressing her reaction by staring at the ground.

Lan Biyun named hers Yimei, and it was then Lan Minghui's turn.

As an indecisive person, she'd made her decision a while ago.

"My sword will be named Huari."

Every time she used it to defend herself, Lan Minghui would get another brilliant day to live.

A few weeks later

"Xiongzhang? What are you up to?" Lan Minghui asked curiously.

Lan Xichen was sitting at a table in the library pavilion, scribbling something and occasionally picking up his xiao, Liebing, to play a few short segments of a melody that sounded somewhat familiar.

"I'm composing a melody," Lan Xichen explained. "It should be able to move swords. Minghui, what should I name it?"

"Can I hear it first?" Lan Minghui requested.

Lifting Liebing to his lips, Lan Xichen started playing a slower, more gentle melody. The soft, lower notes of the xiao soothed her mind, and Lan Minghui remembered where she'd heard the melody. It was part of the soundtrack of The Untamed! The original title was "Liebing", so...

"How about Liebing? You're the one who composed it, so it should be named after your xiao," Lan Minghui suggested.

"Arrogance is forbidden, Minghui," Lan Xichen reminded her, shaking his head lightly.

"It's not arrogance, Xiongzhang," Lan Minghui reasoned. "There are many sword techniques and manuals that are named after the creator's sword, so why should that idea not apply to music as well?"