The Song of Inquiry | The Untamed 陈情令

Chapter 12: Beyond Time

BEEP BEEP BEEP

"Argh..." she exclaimed while getting up and realized she slept in her study table. She glanced at her alarm clock who already pointed at 7:00 in the morning. Shiya! she thought as she get up and stretch her whole body, indulging the short term pleasure, she turn and saw Lan Wangji gone.

"Shiya! Where did he go?" she mutter to herself as she glanced at her study table, with a note beside her laptop. She sat down in her chair and pick up the note, she examined the handwriting as it is written in mandarin. She shook her head as she realized she can speak mandarin in his time, but unfortunately not in hers.

She picked up her phone and opened 'Google Translate' to translate the note into her own language. Her eyes widen when the note translated as;

I came back to Lotus Pier, May your wisdom and courage succeed you in taking your final exams

She blinked as she realized Lan Wangji returned in his time, she let out a deep sigh and focus on herself. She prepared towels and personal hygiene stuff as she prepare her bath, the sound of water falling through the faucet excites her while waiting the tub to full, she sat down and glanced at her phone - scrolling and updating her accounts as she became idle few weeks ago.

"Ashley!" a voice of her grandma exclaimed as she stood and walk towards the bath, turning off the faucet in time and went back to her room where she walk downstairs to greet her grandma.

The intoxicating smell of bacon and eggs tempt her to eat breakfast before taking a bath. "It smells delicious, grandma!" she exclaimed as her grandma smiled in delight. "Well, its Sunday so better eat to gain your strength from all the journey you went through."

"Yes grandma...wait what?!" she exclaimed as her uncle already woke up and walk towards her.

"I went upstairs to greet you, but you fell asleep...and, I'm quite surprised you brought a noble man." Her uncle spoke in a serious tone as Ashley gulped.

"I-I can expla-"

"There is no need, Lan Wangji is his name isn't it?" he interrupt.

Ashley became speechless and sighed in defeat while listening to her uncle's lecture.

"To know what really happened, while I enter your room...he just woke up like he sense some enemy nearby...Oh, you have to see the look on his face when he saw me...it's funny but I admire him...he is calm."

Ashley felt the awkward feeling and embarrassment when his uncle learned about Lan Wangji,

He continued, "He introduced himself, he is quite noble...I see. I invited him downstairs to talk about your situation which it makes sense because your grandma and your sister are very suspicious why you're beginning to disappear last week...and it all make sense."

Ashley played with her hands as she can't believe Lan Wangji told her uncle about what happen. And with that, she felt ashamed and conflicted to herself.

"She is found by my brother, Lan Xichen in front of Cloud Recesses...and that's how the mysterious murders started." Lan Wangji replied as her uncle listened attentively.

"Then, we fought an aqua demon near Lotus Pier where Wei Wuxian's brother and a friend Yunmeng Clan Leader Jiang Cheng ruled there. We managed to fight the demon and dangerous it was for her to stay...my uncle suggests to bring her back by playing the song of Inquiry."

He continued, "After a month, she came back and helped them to investigate by going back to Lotus Pier...after 2 days and 1 night, she came back here to do her studies...please on her behalf, forgive her...I can see she has responsibilities between my world and hers..." he stood and bow but her uncle stood and grabbed his wrist.

"You know, Ashley...as cheerful as she is...I never thought she will be what you considered as reincarnation of your old friend...I give you my condolences...but in the situation she endured...helped her...I believe this a test for her...she is such a misunderstood person...I hope you understand." He replied as Lan Wangji nod.

"Yes, I keep my promise." He replied as Ashley's uncle shook his head.

"By the way, how can you speak English? When you're language in your time is Mandarin?" he asked as Lan Wangji smirked and replied,

"I use a spell to understand Ashley...she didn't know I put a spell on her that can speak my language whatever she pleased."

"hmm, I see...well then, thank you for aiding her...I will talk to her in case she realized of your absence."

"Thank you." He replied as he summon his qin and played the song of Inquiry as he traveled back to Lotus Pier.

"He seems a nice guy...I can see that you admire him." He replied as he ended his lecture. Ashley on the other hand, felt the guilt of what just happened. It's getting complicated every day...there is a reason to resist this feeling...I don't want to hurt myself... she thought to herself as she continued to eat her breakfast, brushing off the image of Lan Wangji in her mind.

It was Monday and it was the first day of her final exams, Ashley never felt pressure when she didn't finished her review last night. Thoughts of Lan Wangji succumbed her and couldn't focus on what she is literally doing, she felt the ache of her heart and sighed in defeat. I guess, I should let go and focus on dealing myself first she thought to herself as she glanced in the mirror.

All she can see is herself, petite, pale skin, waist length black long hair, she doesn't know how she is reincarnated as Wei Wuxian for she didn't see what he really looked like. She began to doubt her role in Lan Wangji's world, she doesn't know when or where to leave that world and endure the pain trials in her time. She glanced at her flute, the one Lan Xichen gave her - she still brought it with her - she felt the resemblance of Wei Wuxian but resist when she realized her sudden behavior.

After the painful trial in the first day of her final exams, Ashley toss her backpack in bed and lay down - ignoring the fact she didn't change her clothes. Tears began to flow in her eyes as she wept through the night, she felt conflicted whether she will keep helping them or not. All she knew was that she doesn't know whether she liked Lan Wangji because she is Wei Wuxian...or maybe Wei Wuxian's soul liked Lan Wangji and not her.

She let out a deep sigh and continue to silently wept and slowly fall in her deep slumber, not aware the fact that a figure stood in front of her bedroom door is stalking her. Cloaked with black robes and wearing some kind of mask, the figure use some kind of talisman and brought the weeping girl with him through the shadows.