The Song of Inquiry | The Untamed 陈情令

Chapter 16: Make Things Right

IT'S BEEN 2 WEEK AND 3 DAYS SINCE ASHLEY DISAPPEARED, Lan Wangji rise at 5 in the morning and venture the bits of Lotus Pier. He venture to see what he could deeply find, he remembered the time Wei Wuxian is keep persuading him to let him buy the Emperor's smile of Gusu which it was considered as Wei Wuxian's favorite liquors. He always wondered why so, but felt deeply embarrassed when he firstly drink the liquor and passed out, and not recounting the events after he passed out.

It is indeed that the two jades of Gusu Lan Sect are genetically have not possess to hold themselves in Liquor state, they drank once but they mistook it as tea. Lan Xichen when drunk is like a lunatic who keeps finding his flute but didn't noticed it was with him all along while Lan Wangji passed out when he took a small sip of the liquor. Lan Qiren didn't scold them for he understood what really happened, this events makes Lan Wangji felt deeply more embarrassed.

It's true he kept 2 bottles of Emperor's Smile in his room, he waited almost 10 years while playing the song of inquiry to talk to Wei Ying but find no answer. He keep playing the song until he responded, but those years passed...Wei Ying's spirit is nowhere to be found. He didn't went back to the Nightless city to see if his corpse still there...he let Jiang Wanyi do the search...he honestly felt the bitterness in his heart whenever those memories of old time surround him.

As he went back to the sword hall, Lan Xichen is already awake with Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi beside him. Lan Wangji walk towards them and bowed, they did the same as well. Yunmeng Clan leader Jiang Cheng is already woke as well with his nephew, Jin Ling beside him.

"Well, care to tell me what actually happened?" Jiang Cheng asked as Lan Xichen bowed towards him and replied, "Clan Leader Jiang Cheng, Ashley disappeared 2 weeks ago...she went back to do her studies in her time...but we are not aware of Xue Yang's knowledge about the song of inquiry." Jiang Cheng stood in his sit and replied,

"Well then...we must travel quick to Yi City and capture Xue Yang and saved Ashley once more." He exclaimed as they all nodded...preparing their stuff as they finally travel to Yi City.

Lan Sizhui stood and replied, "All I know about this place is that...the people in the village died a few months ago during Ashley's attendance with us...and In my opinion, the Stygian Tiger Amulet is connected in this situation...why would Xue Yang kidnapped her if he mistook her as Wei Wuxian?"

"You are right, Lan Sizhui...but we don't know if he has the Stygian Tiger Amulet with him..." Lan Jingyi replied as they agree with his statement.

"Well then, let's take the risk and go." Lan Xichen replied as they all walk in the long path towards Yi City.

The path towards Yi Ciry is a tough place to travel since they are rumors of the Yiling Patriarch's puppets still roaming around. Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi went there a month ago and seems the area of the rumors were saying are a hoax. Both of them went to the well where they rest for a while, Lan Wangji glanced up in the noon sky while Lan Xichen and others are drinking water from the well.

As they venture around a city before Yi City, they find an inn where they usually stay. Lan Jingyi and Lan Sizhui in one room while Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji as well. Both rest for the night, the two jades of Gusu Lan Sect went inside of their room, the room contains 2 separate beds and each has their own table, Lan Wangi sat in his table and summon his qin...he able to play the song of clarity while Lan Xichen sat in his bed and meditate.

After an hour of Lan Xichen's meditation, Lan Wangji paused in his music and stood. Lan Xichen opened his both eyes and let out a deep sigh. "It is true the song of clarity is indeed a relaxing music to empty our minds." He said as Lan Wangji didn't reply but heard of his brother's satisfaction while he stood and stared at him.

"I know, travelling to Yi City is tough and not much long until we found Ashley...although, there is one thing I am confused...how Xue Yang knew about Ashley? Could it be he is the one who sent her here in the beginning?" he asked as Lan Wangji didn't reply...but thought the same thing as well.

"Ashley is Wei Wuxian's reincarnation in the future...but who is your reincarnation in the future as well?" Lan Xichen asked as Lan Wangji stared at him.

"What do you mean?" Lan Wangji asked.

Lan Xichen replied, "Wei Wuxian's death affects the time itself...by seeing Ashley as his reincarnation in the future...I wonder who you are reincarnated in the future as well...As a matter of fact, I feel you two - Wei Wuxian - lacks the closure you both spent 10 years ago...and to that...it seems that what I read about the beliefs in Buddhism scriptures are true." Lan Wangji couldn't hardly believe what his brother talking about.

He deeply thought about it...he honestly never think about if Wei Wuxian is Ashley in the future...who is he in the future as? He kept thinking whether who he is...or what his reincarnated self never had a knowledge about what is happening...and why Ashley is into this situation. He began to wonder as well if Xue Yang is the one who sent Ashley in the beginning...he doesn't yet know his true intentions to her...but he deeply assumed that this is connects to Wei Wuxian's Stygian Tiger Amulet indeed.

As he went deep in thought, the candles suddenly blow itself. Lan Xichen stood and sense danger as he prepared his sword while Lan Wangji stood and unsheathe his Bichen (it is the name of his sword). Lan Xichen stood in his bed and slowly walk towards the door of their temporary room, he smelled the rotting smell of what he assumed as blood and as he caress the door, with Lan Wangji already stood in the right corner of the door. The two nodded and opened the door in such force.

Lan Wangji is the first to walk out if the door and yet he saw no one around, Lan Sizhui's candle is blown as well and the door opened itself as Lan Jingyi is forced to get out.

"HanGuang-Jun! Zewu Jun!" Lan Jingyi exclaimed as she sheathe his sword, blood dripping down in his lips. Lan Xichen suddenly walk towards the poor boy and replied, "What happened? Where is Sizhui?" Lan Xichen asked as Lan Wangji opened the door by force using his qin - which he summoned it earlier.

Lan Wangji, with his sword unsheathe beside him, witnessed a masked man fighting with Lan Sizhui. Lan Wangji hurriedly attacked the intruder and the two engage in a wild sword duel.

As they battle, Lan Wangji suddenly recognizes the intruder's swordsmanship and successfully stabbed the mask man's right abdomen, causing the masked man to retreat and used a talisman to escape.

Lan Xichen widen his eyes when he witness the duel and exclaimed, "He is using one of Wei Wuxian's talisman!" Lan Wangji noticed it as well and he felt relief because he just hit the masked man. Although, the mystery is how this masked man knew the swordsmanship of the Lan Clan.

"HanGuang-Jun, Zewu Jun...I assume this masked man is from our clan...he is very familiar with our swordsmanship...but during our duel, he is clumsy in holding his sword as if he is not used to it." Lan Sizhui said as Lan Xichen became confused at what just happened.

Lan Wangji replied, "Maybe he is associated with Xue Yang."