The Song of Inquiry | The Untamed 陈情令

Chapter 02: Clarity

THIS IS VERY EXHAUSTING... she silently mutter to herself as she can't believe her tour with Lan Wangji around Cloud Recesses can be interesting and exhausting. Long walks and energy filled is required but for Ashley, she can't take the long walks in her modern time.

Cars and Buses exists but not in this time where energy is needed every day. Shiya, I need to adjust in this time...she thought to herself as the two reached the river and paused their tour for a while. Lan Wangji sat and summon his Guqin as he play a calming music while Ashley on the other hand stared mostly in the water - using as a mirror to look on herself.

Lan Wangji paused his music and stared at Ashley silently doubting the girl's identity, he deduced the flute in her grasp as he widen his eyes. It can't be... he thought to himself as memories of what it seemed yesterday slowly ached his heart.

For the past 10 years, Lan Wangji endure such grief after Wei Wuxian's death and Cloud Recesses is not the same without his cheerful and troublemaker aura. While watching the clear blue sky, he saw Lan Xichen walking towards his uncle, Lan Qiren's room with a girl whose hair is tied in a half-bun with strips of red fabric flows with her hair.

He deeply thought for a moment if he is hallucinating...seeing a girl in that form, he thought and hoped that maybe Lan Xichen walk towards him and introduced the girl - deeply hoping Lan Xichen would tell him that it's him...his Wei Ying. He spent most of his life playing the song of inquiry (it's a song where you can communicate ghosts of dead loved ones) and hoping Wei Wuxian would reply in his pleas, but came no answer.

As now the girl in front of him, he expressed deep joy when he saw a flute in her grasp and hoping it could be him. He sighed calmly, not showing his true feelings...he decides to keep it from himself and once he proved his theory true...he doesn't know what to do.

Ashley played with the flute Lan Xichen gave her as Lan Wangji spoke, "Where are you from?" Ashley silently screamed as she don't know what to answer. Shiyaaa, should I tell him I'm in a foreign etc...? She thought to herself and smiled at him,

"errrr, I'm from a foreign place...uhhhh, Master Lan Qiren kept me when he found me in the streets...my parents are killed during the war..." she replied as she hoped inside he would believe her until she received "Mn" as a response, which she became happy.

Wei Wuxian always teased Lan Wangji in the series...hmmm, should I try? She thought to herself as she stood and scoot closer to Lan Wangji...which to his surprise and didn't flinch. "hey, I heard you from people that you're the most disciplined disciples in Cloud Recesses, am I right?" she asked as she received no answer,

"You know, I always wanted to meet you...but I have no ways since my parents died and I spent a month in the streets...oh! I hate when there's a dog nearby-"she paused and realized what she said.

Lan Wangji stared at her, she gulped as she began to secretly panic. Shiyaaaa! Why the hell did I told him about dogs? Yes! I love dogs but why the hell did I just spill some of Wei Wuxian's past??? Shiyyyyaaaaaa she thought to herself as Lan Wangji walked closer towards her, a hint of pink flushed in her both cheeks.

"You're afraid of dogs?" he asked as Ashley gulped, Shiyaaaaa why he is getting close????? She thought to herself as she walk backwards until her back leaned against the wooden tree. Lan Wangji walk towards her as the two are almost close, Ashley's face flushed as she stared upon his eyes whose expression she couldn't explain.

Suddenly, he stopped himself as he turned and walk away leaving Ashley confused written in her face. "It's 6, let's go back." She nodded as she followed him. Shiyaaaa....that was close she silently mutter to herself as the two went back to Lan Qiren's room where Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren are already there.

"How is it, Usagi?" Lan Qiren asked as Ashley became confused how he knew her fake name? She stared as Lan Xichen whose staring in 'I told him' look. Finally realized what it meant, Ashley play along. "It's good, Master...and thank you for the tour, HanGuang-Jun." Ashley bowed like she saw in the series as Lan Qiren smiled.

"Tomorrow is the start of the ceremony...make sure you'll be in time...Lan Xichen will show your room." Lan Qiren said as Ashley nodded. "Goodnight." He added before Lan Xichen escort her to her room. "Let's go." He said as Ashley followed him, leaving Lan Wangji and Lan Qiren in the room. "Wangji." He called as Lan Wangji walk towards the chair and sat down. Lan Qiren thought for a moment and spoke,

"You already know her, do you?" Lan Wangji widen his eyes as his realizations from earlier is right. "Uncle I-" Lan Qiren added, "I ask you a favor to protect her at all cost...her advanced knowledge about the history and her situation in time is serious...there is a possibility she could be...him in the future." Lan Wangji is speechless as his uncle continued,

"Her real name is Ashley...While you two are gone, me and Lan Xichen went to the forbidden library of Pavilion and found a book where a time travelling in the future exist...using the song of inquiry." Lan Wangji widen his eyes when he learned about what his uncle just said.

"The song of inquiry only communicates with Ghost."

"Indeed, but as I venture the book, it has a twist."

"What do you mean, Uncle?"

Lan Qiren sighed and replied, "The song of Inquiry can travel time but, I will tell the rest when it's time."

"So, the reason I will tell you this is because Ashley's appearance in this time has a reason...you and her must know each other even more...investigate the killings...it maybe connects in her situation." Lan Qiren added as Lan Wangji stood and bowed.

"I will." He replied as he was about to walk out,

"Wangji." He stared at his Uncle.

"Don't tell her about this...until we solve the problem...she has to know." Lan Wangji nodded as He left the room while Lan Qiren can be seen holding the book in his grasp.