Lan Wangji lands at the top of the Burial Mounds and Wei Wuxian immediately assesses the situation. There is resentful energy oozing from the cave and attacking anyone who is nearby.
Wei Wuxian pulls a talisman from his sleeve and pushes it to the entrance of the cave, sealing it off and trapping the resentful energy inside. He uses an array to dissipate the energy outside the cave.
Lan Wangji hands A-Yuan to granny Wen while Wei Wuxian helps fourth uncle to his feet.
"What happened, did someone disturb the seals in the cave?" Wei Wuxian asks him.
The man shakes his head, "No one went in the cave. It was Wen Ning, he woke up and ripped the talismans off. He was strange though, not himself. He attacked anyone that came near him. Wen Qing and some of the others went after him to try to stop him."
"Which way did they go?" Wei Wuxian asks. They hadn't seen anything on the path from town. Fourth uncle points towards the footpath that leads to the forest.
Wei Wuxian heads that way with Lan Wangji right behind him. They find Wen Qing and the others trying to surround Wen Ning but he is attacking anyone who gets close.
Wen Qing is calling his name but he isn't paying any attention to his sister. Wei Wuxian tries to get close enough to stick a talisman on him but he is hit with a wave of resentful energy that knocks him backwards. Wei Wuxian lands hard and coughs up blood.
He has managed to reduce the amount of resentful energy in Wen Ning's body over the last few weeks but what is left is still strong.
"Wei Ying!" Lan Wangji calls out, starting in his direction.
Wei Wuxian waves him off, "Binding Talisman," he chokes out.
Lan Wangji reaches into his sleeves and brings out one of the spiritual calamity pouches Wei Wuxian had given him before his trip. He takes out a binding talisman and uses it to restrain Wen Ning.
"That won't hold him for long, quick Lan Zhan play cleansing." Wei Wuxian says..
He gets to his feet and sticks several new talismans to Wen Ning. The boy just growls and struggles harder. Wei Wuxian brings Chenqing to his lips and as Lan Zhan plays Cleansing, he plays Tranquility. Wen Ning stops struggling and tilts his head as if listening.
Wei Wuxian had noticed over the last few weeks that Wen Ning responded to both melodies, but none of the Wens were music cultivators so he hasn't been able to try them together.
Wen Ning suddenly lets out a fierce howl.
"A-Ning!" Wen Qing yells, "Please don't hurt him."
Wei Wuxian gives Lan Wangji a nod and they continue playing, pushing even more spiritual energy into their efforts.
Wen Ning finally screams and falls to his knees. Only then does Wei Wuxian put down his flute. He signals for Lan Wangji to stop playing as well.
Wei Wuxian is pretty sure Wen Ning had said something. He approaches slowly, "Wen Ning?"
"Young...Lord...Wei," Wen Ning says haltingly, as if he is trying to remember how to speak. His voice is hoarse after so long.
"A-Ning," Wen Qing says joyously.
"Jiejie." Wen Ning responds.
As Wei Wuxian takes off the binding talisman he says, "Welcome back, how do you feel?"
Wen Ning considers the question and says, "Like I want to cry but I can't."
Wei Wuxian pats him comfortingly on the shoulder then stands out of the way so that Wen Qing can throw herself in her brother's arms.
YOU ARE READING
Unrestrained Heart
Fiksi PenggemarAlmost everyone has heard of the Lan Sect of Gusu and their famous wall of discipline with over three thousand rules. However, not many people are aware of why the Lans need so many rules. Lan Wangji has worked his entire life to maintain his own di...
