Lan Zhan's Untamed (Lan Zhan x Wei Wuxian)

6 years & 3 months : Spirit

"Hanguang-Jun" the kind spirit bows and I reciprocate.

"The same?" She enquires and I nod.

How many years has it been Wei since I started playing Inquiry everynight? I look around and sigh, too many years it feels. Have I given up the hope of finding you? No. One day maybe I will finally get an answer.

Every single night, I play in your name. Evoke the kind Spirit with only one plea on my lips. 'Have you found my Wei?'. These trees and the surrounding around me are now too familiar with my plight. It's been that long. Will I ever stop? No, it's impossible.

"Hanguang-Jun" her voice is soft and I can guess she hasn't found anything about you.

"It's alright, thank you" I am about to dismiss her when she stops me "Hanguang-Jun" she pauses "haven't you ever been curious as to my identity?"

Her question surprises me. Never in all these years have we ever interacted beyond few questions. She has been constant in my life but never have I pried into her matters. But today, for some reason her spirit looks dejected too.

"You have been a soul on whom, I have come to rely on, when it is about my Wei Ying. We are not that different. You're here because you have an unfulfilled desire and so am I".

"Hanguang-Jun" her voice is soft, almost maternal like "I have seen you since you were just a young child. Back then I was a wandering soul, crying for help of my own and in that process, I heard your plea instead. Watching you play all alone, I could not bear your pain, I... still can't".

Her words soothe the aching heart of mine.

"Hanguang-Jun, what do you wish for?" her question makes me smile inwardly and I answer with utmost truth.

"I wish to be a resentful spirit" my answer surprises her.

"Why?"

"Maybe then the diabolical king will come and seek me. Take me back to the place where he is and I could dance to the tune of his Chenqing".

"Lan Zhan" Wei's voice whisper and I close my eyes.

"But even that won't be possible, he does not own the instrument that could possess me" it's with Jiang Cheng.

"Hanguang-Jun, you could never turn into a resentful spirit"

"Why not?"

"You're soul is too pure. It's untouched. It's chaste" her words glow but my heart breaks.

"So there is no chance in this eternity for me to be with my Wei?" My voice is solemn.

"Hanguang-Jun, I promise, promise that I shall keep searching for your soul for an eternity, if that is what I have been destined for, and the day I find him, I will send him back to you. Will tell him the story of a boy who played the Zither only for one soul, and even after the soul perished, the young boy did not give up. He kept playing till his fingers bled, his heart bled and his soul was given to the diabolical king".

I smile at her kind words.

"Years ago when I met him, I did exchange my soul with the diabolical king himself, didn't I?"

She bows and slowly fades away.

In her place, there are two fireflies that dance around, arousing a desire in my heart. Reminiscing the time Wei Ying and I had lit those lanterns and made a promise on the same grounds.