The Unbroken (The Untamed Fanfic)

::Chapter 4 (2/4)::

((Ep. 5))
{Lan Xiao}

As my brothers and I made our way across the bridge, we were stopped by rushed footsteps from behind us.

"Zewu Jun." They bowed.

I saw that it was just Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng, and Wen Qing.

"Young Master Wei, Young Master Jiang. You..." Lan Xichen trailed off.

"Zewu Jun. It's said that there are Water Ghosts near Biling Lake and we don't have lectures these days, so we want to go practice with you." Jiang Cheng said as Wei Wuxian nodded in agreement.

"Yes, let us go with you."

"It's against the rules." Lan Zhan replied.

"Why? Yunmeng has a lot of brooks. Jiang Cheng and I played near the water during our childhood. Taking on Water Ghosts is easy for us. Besides, we don't have courses these days." Wei Wuxian said with a tone of persuasion.

"Right Zewu Jun. We can help you for sure." Jiang Cheng backed him up.

"There's no need." Lan Zhan repeated.

"They should come, what if you both need help?" I asked.

It was silent for a moment before Lan Xichen stepped in.

"Then the two young masters please follow me."

"Clan leader Lan. I want to hone my skills, too." Wen Qing informed.

"Zewu Jun, Lady Wen is well versed in medicine. Although the Water Ghosts are easy to deal with, some ordinary villager may be hurt during the exorcism, and she can do the job of curing them." Wei Wuxian added.

"Then, Lady Wen, please go with us." Zewu Jun replied.

"Wen Qing! Wait for us!" Wen Ning exclaimed as he dragged Wen Mei beside him.

"Wen Ning? Little Wen?" Wei Wuxian asked.

Both Wens slightly bowed towards his direction then turned to their sister.

"Why did you come? I've told you, I..." Wen Qing wasn't able to finish scolding them.

"Wen Qing, I heard that you are going to do the exorcism of Water Ghosts. I want to go with you to see the ghosts." Wen Ning told her.

"I also want to know how the ghosts look like, I'll try not to be in your way." Wen Mei also said as she clutched her backpack.

"Ning, Mei, it might be very dangerous." Qing softly warned as she wiped the sweat off their foreheads with her sleeves, then placed a hand on their shoulders.

"I asked the both of you to stay there. Why don't you listen?" She asked.

"I..." Ning was at a loss for words, while Mei looked down.

Wei Wuxian sighed.

"Lady Wen, your brother is very talented and is a vastly superior archer. Your sister seems to have those gifts as well, and also looks like she knows about medicine. I don't think anything will go wrong. And I'll protect them. It will be all right. A simple exorcism of Water Ghosts won't be that dangerous."

Wen Qing seemed to think about it then looked at Xichen.

"Clan Leader Lan. My siblings are so young and impolite, they came here because of their curiosity for Water Ghosts as Qishan is dry and mountainous. But Clan Leader Lan, don't worry. Mei, Ning, and I won't interrupt the exorcism. Forgive us and allow my brother and sister to go with us, please."

"Never mind, Lady Wen. Since they came, let them go with us." My oldest brother accepted and smiled.

~~~

As we left Cloud Recesses I quickly made my way next to Wen Mei.

"So you like things like this?" I asked.

"You could say that..." She agreed with a small nod.

"Is there anything else in particular?"

"Hm... w-well I really enjoy seeing different places. It gives me an idea for my drawings." She replied.

"Oh~, it'll be my first time going there as well. Maybe I'll like traveling." I shrugged my shoulders.

Our conversation surprisingly went on as we reached Caiyi Town.

"Qing is it alright if I wonder around town?" Mei asked her sister.

"No. It's too dangerous for someone your age to be going alone." She disagreed.

"I wanted to go with her too..." I added.

"If you want, we could keep an eye on them. While we're at it I hope we'll be able to get some information from the people around about the ghosts." Jiang Cheng suggested as he approached us along with my brother.

Mei and I looked at her sister in anticipation. Her sister shook her head, then agreed with a sigh.

"Okay, okay. Just be careful." She warned with a worried tone.

"We will." Mei smiled.

We then followed Jiang Cheng and my brother deeper into town.

Every once in a while Mei would stop and observe flowers, buildings, and the busy streets.

"You two, wait here and don't go anywhere. We'll be right back." Jiang Cheng instructed while he and my brother entered an inn.

We began to start another conversation when a group of kids our age approached us.

"Hey! Are you two new here?" A boy asked.

"Yeah, we just arrived. Though we won't be here for long." I replied as Mei nodded in agreement.

"Have the both of you seen our town's river garden?" Another one of the kids asked.

"N-no. You guys have a garden?" Mei quietly answered.

"Yeah! Do you guys want to join us? We were just on our way there." A girl said.

"Let's go." I asked Mei as I felt myself getting excited.

"But didn't Jiang Cheng ask us to wait here?" Mei replied, uncertain if we should leave.

"We'll be right back. Besides it'll be just a quick peek at the garden then we'll return." I explained, giving her a small nudge.

"Okay." She got up, tightly holding her paint book.

We followed the group of kids to the river garden. As we went through one of the alleys I couldn't help but feel that something was off. I was about to ask one of the kids how much longer until we'll get there when I noticed a man putting a cloth over Mei's mouth.

"Mei-!" A strong pair of arms took a hold of me as a cloth was placed over my mouth.

The both of us struggled but the sickly sweet scent got to my head along with a chill. I felt my body get weak and my eyes began to close. The last thing I heard was one of the kids asking to get paid.

'Lan Xichen... find us.'