To Give In. (The Untamed)

Chaos.

Lan Wangji sat across from Wei Wuxian's brother, Jiang Cheng. They sat under a gazebo, sheltered from the sun's rays. A table separated them. On its surface was a few scrolls and open papers. A small ink pot and used brushes. If only Lan Wangji's gaze wasn't so serious and intimidating. Jiang Cheng returned the aggressive gaze, trying to seem unphased by it all.

"You always show up amidst chaos," Jiang Cheng muttered under his breath.

"If you don't want my presence, do better." Lan Wangji responds. He knew all too well that Wei Wuxian's brother didn't like him. He could feel the tension radiating off his shoulders, infecting the air they breathed. He remembered a time they got along. They worked hard to find Wei Wuxian after the Wen Clan kidnapped him, and dropped him out of the sky, falling to the burial mounds. In those dreadful places is where Wei Wuxian was influenced by the wicked...

If only they found him in time. But it took months searching for the Yiling Patriarch. His confidant. He was shook to his core when he found out who killed the Wen clan... and how he did it. It was gruesome. Morbid. Wicked...

Lan Wangji could only muster a sigh as Jiang Cheng began to raise his voice, clearly offended by the matter.

"...Han Guang Jun!" A younger disciple from the Lan clan blurted in desperation. He almost fell, trying to reach the small gazebo from the trees.

Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng both quickly looked in the direction the voice came from. Lan Wangji stood up right from his seat, exiting the gazebo quickly. Jiang Cheng also stood but did not follow. He watched with angry yet concerned eyes.

"Help! The statue—!" The young boy didn't know how to explain their dire situation. His voice cracked. "It started moving, following my peers out of the temple...!"

Lan Wangji's brows rose in suprise. All he could think about was the kids' safety. This was just a hunt. For the young disciples to practice and hone their skills. He had no idea there would be actual trouble today. Well, besides Jiang Cheng and his nephew, Jin Ling...

Lan Wangji sighed deeply and cleared his head. He needed to get to the temple. He knew exactly what their students were up against. If they weren't careful, the dancing fairy would eat their souls.

Jiang Cheng hearing the distress in the boy's voice, he approached. Lan Wangji glanced to him with a nod. "They need us, let's not get our squabble in the way of our duty." Lan Wangji suggests, if Jiang Cheng wants to help take care of this smoothly with absolutely no distractions or casualties.

—

"How...?" Wei Wuxian asks himself as he and the kids watched in fear as the tall life-like statue had caught up to them. It's large feet shaking the ground from underneath.

Then, his question was answered. Jin Ling launched himself off the side of the steep cliff with his bow and arrow drawn. A couple arrows flew with deadly precision; stabbing the smiling lady in the chest, shoulder, and face.  His nephew landed just feet away from the smiling lady. Unfortunately, she reached with her rocky hand and yanked the arrows out.

Then, suddenly, another suprise was in-store for the Yiling Patriarch...

Out from the trees and bushes came the Ghost general; Wen Ning. His eyes blacked out, skin white as milk. Chains around his body. His hair long and free in the wind. Wen Ning landed hard between the young disciples. Concerned shouts and confused stares. They quickly backed away, forming an uneven broken circle around the ghost general.

"Is that...!?"

"It's the Ghost General!"

"This can't be!?"

"But—? He's been dead for years! He was executed!"

Wei Wuxian stared, puzzled. He almost couldn't believe what he was seeing. His heart strings were being plucked and toyed with. This was cruel. This had to be a trick. This wasn't his doing. Someone, other than him, was up to no good. He just knew it in his gut.

Without his sword, or his demonic flute; he was almost useless! Panic exploded within him as Wen Ning began to attack the kids.

He needed something and quick! He needed to disperse Wen Ning's temper. Or, at least gain some control of him! But then, he train of thought was cut off by a donkey whining by some bamboo trees. It was Apple, she was frightened.

"Bamboo trees," he commented to himself.

Zishui glared at Wei Wuxian, "Bamboo? What?"

"What— hey! Why'd you take my sword!?" Zishui's friend blurted out as Wei Wuxian acted quickly. He snatched the kid's sword in a swift motion as he ran towards Apple. He quickly sliced at the thin bamboo trees, and within seconds, he carved out a flute.~

"That crazy Mo Xuanyu!" The young disciple grumbles, as he was now without a weapon.

Zishui offers his with a kind smile. "I'll be right behind you." And his friend hesitates before taking his sword, readying his stance to defend as Wen Ning tossed a Lan Clan disciple to the side. Roaring with a frenzy. Black demonic smoke swirling in and out of him and around him.

The giant statue of a lady had picked up Jin Ling in the process. Along with another young boy. Thrashing and calling out for help. Some of the other students were distracting the smiling lady as much as they could, avoiding their souls from being taken.

Wei Wuxian spun around on his heel, placing a bamboo flute ever so slightly under his bottom lip. Forcing himself to clear his mind and ease his boney fingers... he began to play.

"Ugh!" Zishui's friend covered one of his ears, now distracted by Wei Wuxian's terrible performance. "Playing a flute!? Is he mad?"

Zishui rolled his eyes as he sucked on his teeth. "Do you really have to ask the obvious? Just ignore him and focus."

Wei Wuxian played a few notes, his fingers covering different holes of the flute. Playing notes to gain control of Wen Ning.