The Song of Inquiry | The Untamed 陈情令

Chapter 05: Clarity

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN??" LAN XICHEN ASKED as Ashley replied, "The Stygian Tiger Amulet is used by me - Wei Wuxian in the past, that amulet is get rid of...is it?" she asked as Lan Qiren replied, "It is...but it's possible that you are right..." Lan Wangji widen his eyes as all of this events makes sense.

"So...the reason of me being here...the Aqua Demon...is because the Stygian Amulet is used and I don't see the pattern at all...I came in this time when I play a flute...and...I became dizzy...I heard the sound...not mine but it's different..." Lan Xichen was shock and replied, "What music? It means someone used it..." Ashley became confused and replied, "What do you mean?"

Lan Xichen stared at Lan Qiren as he replied, "Ashley, I already knew how your time works in our time." She widen her eyes as Lan Qiren continued, "If you remember the music before your unexpected departure in this world, we'll see if my theory is true...rest for a while. We will be back tomorrow." Ashley nodded as Lan Wangji walk back to the Sword Hall with her.

Lan Qiren stared at Jiang Cheng, "Now you understand." He said as Jiang Chen sighed in defeat, "I neither forgive him...her...but, what choice do I have?" He replied as Lan Xichen smiled, "Jiang Cheng, you will learn to forgive when you realized the sacrifices Wei Wuxian had given...for the sake of your clan." Jiang Cheng left speechless after the two clans from Gusu Lan Sect left him behind with Jin Ling with his side,

"Jiang Cheng...who is that girl? I never saw her before..." he asked as Jiang Cheng let out a small faint smile in his face, "She is from Gusu Lan Sect, a foreigner from a faraway place." He replied as the both of them stared at the lotus seeds rustling as the cold wind brushed against them.

"Ayaaaa, I'm stuffed from all the lotus seeds I just ate! Oiiiiii" Ashley exclaimed while walking with Lan Wangji whose aloof aura always stays with him, "How boring..." He replied as Ashley stop in her tracks and stare at him.

"From what I know, you always said that...even when you're with Wei Wuxi-"she paused as she realized of what she said. "Errrr...I mean, I want to drink..."she continued as Lan Wangji deeply sigh. "You know, in my time...there are plenty of treats! Oh! How I miss to drink some bubble tea...oh! And spicy! Ayaaaa I love spicy food!" Lan Wangji widen his eyes when she said that, he realized how Wei Wuxian loved spicy food in the past and here he was, Wei Wuxian's reincarnated in a girl while he deeply felt relief.

He deeply thought to himself that perhaps she is the one...but regret in that thought for he thinks it's weird for him that he will take advantage of Ashley as a girl. He never once thought what would be if Wei Ying would be a girl in the after all, as he realized that this girl with her is Wei Wuxian's reincarnation in the modern time, he became distracted.

Both of them stop in their room as they went inside, Lan Wangji sat and played a calming music in his Guqin while Ashley sat down and talk continuously. She added, "Oh! I remember a song that I always sang whenever I feel that I longed for someone..." This caught Lan Wangji's attention as he look at Ashley,

"What do you mean?" He asked as she replied, "When I was a kid, I had this weird dreams...the music I always hum even I don't know what it is...I...I felt like this dreams always repeated in my whole life...I became conflicted with myself and this...I felt like there is a reason why I'm in this world...in your time...I wish I knew somehow..." Lan Wangji stood and walk closer to her as he knelled down and stared at her, "Ashley, don't doubt things easily without knowing what is the real cause. "He said as the two leaned each other.

Ashley didn't know what to do as force keeping them closer until their lips almost touch but stop as Lan Wangji stood and walk away - walking towards his table and play his Guqin. Ashley felt the sting in her heart towards what just happened, she lay down in the bed as she closed her eyes, sleeping peacefully while Lan Wangji on the other hand, felt the discomfort feeling towards her.

Lips almost touched, it felt like a dream...Lan Wangji stood and walk towards the sleeping figure, memories of the day the night hunt started, where he kissed the dumbfounded Wei Wuxian in the tree - blindfolded on, their lips touched.

He never kissed anyone without consent as he live in the Gusu Lan Sect rules in his entire life until he leaned closer to the sleeping figure, leaned lips towards her forehead and kissed it in comfort, before he spoke, "Ashley..."

Morning came and Ashley woke up, realizing Lan Wangji gone in bed. She stood and went out of the room as she is greeted by Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren with the other Lan Sect disciples - Sizhui and Jingyi.

"Good Morning!" she exclaimed as they nodded. "So, I will show you the music that I believe that take me here." Lan Xichen replied, "Well then." Ashley nodded as she prepared her Flute while Lan Wangji watch from afar.

She positioned herself and start playing, she detailed the music based on what she heard. The melody is calming from the beginning but began to ruin as Lan Qiren exclaimed, "Stop!" Ashley stopped as Lan Qiren stood, "it can't be...the song of clarity?" Lan Xichen is shocked as well and the two disciples couldn't believe of what they heard.

"Ashley...is it true that melody played before your appearance in here?" Ashley replied, "Yes...why?" Lan Qiren stood and brushed his beard while Lan Wangji walk towards them and stood beside Ashley.

"Ashley...this is serious...you really must go back in your time..." Lan Qiren replied as Ashley is shocked form what he said, "What do you mean?" Lan Xichen walk towards her,

"Ashley, the music you played is learned from Gusu Lan Sect...someone from my clan used it against you...it means your time and ours is endangered...for your safety, you must go home so no evil knows your already here this far..." he replied as Ashley became confused,

"I-I don't understand...did you already know how?" Lan Qiren replied, "I told Lan Wangji about the Song of Inquiry..."

"The song to communicate with Ghosts?"

"Yes, this song is tougher than we thought..."

"What do you mean?"

"This song can travel and turn back in its original time by placing a music note that the player holds dear...the music note he will play based from his intention in using the music...since Ashley is reincarnation of Wei Wuxian in the modern time, the song of inquiry allows who already died and whose reborn to do this kind of music...Lan Wangji must do this music to back her in her proper time..." Lan Wangji widen his eyes as he nodded. Tears began to appear in Ashley's eyes as Lan Wangji summon his Guqin and sat down,

"Guys...I guess my stay is limited..." she replied as all of them nodded. "Go." Lan Qiren exclaimed as Lan Wangji played the music...it was calming and the song of clarity until the melody changed to the music Ashley heard ever since her childhood, tears continued to fall in her eyes as she became dizzy and lightweight once more.

"Lan Zhan...goodbye..." She spoke before her body fell down due to the lightweight feeling she felt and all she can see is nothing but void darkness.