Wuji: A Promise Kept

82

Lan Ruochen was introduced to the other five disciples. Ruochen was immediately welcomed with open arms and he immediately felt happy to be accepted. After being introduced, he was sent to Baoshan's for a week to get caught up on the training he missed. He wouldn't miss too much of the lectures this week as it was just reviewing for them and a test.

Ruochen was exempted from that test as it was the end of a term. When he returned from his week away, he will be caught up and the new term would start. So he was actually in a good position right now. Things just so happened to be working out.

Wangji was preparing the exam, and Wuxian was just relaxing by him. Wangji was better at setting written tests while Wuxian does better with activities. As Wuxian was sitting there leaning against Wangji, he began to feel like he was being summoned.

"Lan Zhan, I don't mean to interrupt you, but I am feeling a tug to go to the spirit world. Will you watch over me?" Wuxian asked.

"Mnn," Wangji replied, "be safe."

"I will," Wuxian said as he sat cross legged and began to meditate. It was the easiest way for him to enter the spirit world. He felt himself being pulled in and opened his eyes.

"Everything seems to be okay," Wuxian said to himself, "hello? Did someone call for me?"

"A'Xian?" A female voice called out.

Wuxian turned, "Shijie, is everything okay?"

Jiang Yanli looked distraught, but she was unable to shed tears due to being a spirit, "A'Xian, Tan Lan...he..."

"What happened? Are you safe?" Wuxian asked.

"He took Mother and Father," Yanli said, "he even took my husband."

"What?!" Wuxian asked, "Uncle Jiang, Madam Yu, and Jin Zixuan?"

"They are done, you have to avenge them," Yanli said, "I am safe for now. Wen Qing came to help me and brought me to her family. My parents can't be reborn but you have to please try."

"I will, it's just, I don't know how to destroy him," Wuxian said.

"He is a wrath ghost, how else do you exterminate ghosts?" Yanli asked, "get Hua Cheng!"

Wei Wuxian nodded and promised to do whatever he can. He woke up and had tears in his eyes.

"Wei Ying, what happened?" Wangji asked.

"Lan Zhan," Wuxian said. He couldn't get out the words as he crawled into Wangji's lap and sobbed. He couldn't stop crying long enough to explain. He didn't care much for the three but at the same time, Madam Yu, Jiang Fengmian, and Jin Zixuan will never be reborn again. Their souls were destroyed by Tan Lan.

Wangji just sat there trying to comfort Wuxian as best as he could. Wangji sent an emergency message to his Uncle, brother, Hua Cheng, and Baoshan. They arrived within a few minutes.

"Wangji, what is wrong?" Lan Qiren asked.

"All I know is Wei Ying was called to the spirit world and came back in tears. He hasn't told me anything yet," Wangji explained.

"A'Xian, will you please try to talk to us?" Xichen asked.

"Shijie called for me," Wuxian replied, "she told me Tan Lan...he devoured Sect Leader Jiang Fengmian, Madam Yu, and Jin Zixuan...Jin Ling's father...Jiang Cheng and Shijie's parents...they won't ever be reborn again."

"Wei Wuxian, I am very sorry," Hua Cheng said, "this is a creature that has affected you most and it was never my intention."

"I don't blame you," Wuxian said, "I just don't know what I am going to say to Jin Ling and Jiang Cheng. They can't even summon their spirits anymore."

"Your Shijie, is she currently safe?" Baoshan asked.

"She found refuge with Wen Qing," Wuxian answered, "how to we stop this creature?"

"We will have to fight it in the spirit world if we can't get him to come out here," Hua Cheng said.

"We won't have much abilities in there, we will be defenseless," Wuxian said.

"The only way it would work is if I take you in through Ghost City," Hua Cheng said, "you being immortal allows you to go in with ease, but your disciples can't come. Your partner can but it will only be me, Xie Lian, you, and Hanguang Jun."

"If it only takes us four, so be it, I don't want anyone else losing their life for this. We just need to know what to do," Wuxian said.

"It would have to wait to be explained until we get to Ghost City. Once everything is set in motion, we cannot turn back," Hua Cheng said.

"So what should we do then?" Wuxian asked, "we just got a new disciple. They have exams this week but then what?"

"Let Xichen and I handle your students for the time being," Lan Qiren said, "this is starting to get serious and you two are needed to end this."

"We can come get you guys tomorrow so you can have the rest of the day to see anyone you need to before you go," Hua Cheng said.

"Very well," Wangji said, "how will we break the news to Jiang Wanyin?"

"Allow Shufu and I to handle it," Xichen said, "it might be best if it were us anyway."

Wuxian nodded and turned to snuggle into Wangji again. He was done with this conversation. He wanted to go hide away at the Jingshi. Wangji took care of the papers on his deck and took Wuxian back to the Jingshi. He then prepared a hot bath and snuggled with Wuxian afterwards. Wuxian curled into Wangji as he felt so small.

He didn't have much love for Jiang Fengmian and Madam Yu, but they raised him and took him off the streets. They let him cultivate and gave him food and shelter. Madam Yu was not the nicest person, but Jiang Fengmian still tried to do his best. The two lost their lives fighting the Wens while Wuxian and Jiang Cheng got away during the Massacre of Lotus Pier. Now those two people will never be summoned, Jiang Cheng can never get the chance to see them again, and Jin Ling will never know what his father looked like.

Wuxian worried about the other important people in his life that had lost their lives and hoped that they were safe. He wished there was a way to know but unless he could reach them, it would be difficult.

Wangji worried for Wuxian. It was a huge shock and no one was expecting this. It should have been expected but at the same time, who could have predicted Tan Lan would target specific spirits. Wangji prayed that his parents were safe. He hoped that Wuxian's parents were safe. He hope that Tan Lan would back off but Wangji knew Tan Lan would not unless it was by force. Wangji was going to make sure to protect Wuxian but also make sure that Tan Lan gets what he deserves.