and sings the tune without the words

by Rose Thorne

Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with The Untamed, and make no money writing fanfiction.

Chapter Nine

Dear Lan-gongzi,

I know you've probably been worried, and I don't know whether your didi's letter had a lot of information, so I thought I would update you.

I was with A-Xian for moral support when Wen Qing came to examine him, and Wen-zongzhu hurt my didi by trying to force the curse from his head, and there was some sort of backlash before anyone could try to intervene. A-Xian screamed so loudly and his eyes glowed deep red and he was floating and surrounded by black smoke, which your brother tells me is how resentful energy looks. Then it all blasted out and the next thing I knew, A-Xian was on the ground and the healing pavilion had exploded out, and Wen-zongzhu was dead in the most awful ways, almost like he was mummified. Aside from him, his sons were a bit addled from the incident and had minor injuries, but all others were unharmed even though the healing pavilion was largely destroyed.

The Wen tried to take A-Xian into custody while he was unconscious, which none of us allowed, and then they resorted to an attempt on his life, which A-Niang foiled, so they were all forced to leave except Wen Qing, who defected with her branch for some reason. Her family is being moved here, and she has the sweetest little didi, A-Ning—he and A-Lian play and take naps together, though he's a few years older than her. Thankfully, A-Lian didn't witness what occurred in the healing pavilion, but she's been so worried about her erge.

But I digress; your brother is well, though sticking to A-Xian like glue in the days he was unconscious and even after he regained consciousness. A-Xian doesn't remember anything about what happened, which is probably for the better. When he woke, he was frightened and confused, but as soon as your brother called his name he calmed. Apparently when he woke up it was a little like after he was first cursed and his memory was blank, but it all came back when Lan Wangji called his name. They are inseparable and I do not envy your uncle when it comes time for him to return to Gusu with your brother.

A-Xian felt terribly about the damage to the healing pavilion, and apologized to Kang-daifu when he learned of it, but Kang-daifu said better the place took the damage and not the people, and said he must have tried his best to protect everyone in such circumstances. That helped a lot, though A-Xian is still quite distressed that anyone died at all, which was certainly not his fault, not since Wen-zongzhu caused the backlash.

A-Die called for a discussion conference, and so Lotus Pier has so many visitors from the different clans, and so many of them are making these terrible assumptions about A-Xian that it's hard to want to leave the family area. A-Lian has already kicked a sect leader in the shin for speaking badly about her gege, though I daresay I wished I could do the same, as Yao-zongzhu has a different terrible lie every time I have the misfortune of being near him. His latest is that A-Xian has enthralled us through dark magic and crafty tricks, as though his adoption is some sort of plot.

I know this isn't befitting of a young lady of the gentry, but it's so hard to listen to my didi be called a criminal when he doesn't even remember what happened and Wen-zongzhu hurt him. A-Niang has taken to loudly telling anyone who says anything negative that someone who tries to harm a child like that deserves what they get, which is having some impact as the different sect leaders meet A-Xian and learn of his condition and the curse that has taken his memories.

That Xiansheng is firmly on A-Xian's side has also helped matters, as he also witnessed everything and his virtuous reputation commands respect, but I worry terribly about what could befall my didi. It's not his fault he was cursed, or that he was attacked.

Several Wen emissaries have arrived, only they all seem to be against each other, with conflicting ideas of who should be the next Wen-zongzhu. I've been keeping my ear open, and there are rumors that Wen Ruohan's sons are imprisoned—but there are also those terrible rumors about A-Xian, so I don't know what's reliable. So I'm sneaking to listen to the discussion in a bit. I'll continue this letter after.

Nie-zongzhu arrived and is on A-Xian's side, said he's a bright and kind boy whose curse is unfortunate and powerful. He says Wen-zongzhu shouldn't have ignored the doctors and meddled with the curse, particularly since A-Xian is known to have confusion when meeting new people. He related how A-Xian called him by a strange title and then passed out, and that his amnesia leads him to confusion as he pieces together what comes to him from fragments of memory. He said that Wen-zongzhu's decision to directly try to yank the resentful energy from A-Xian's mind like he did implies he may have been experimenting with demonic cultivation.

He also chastised Yao-zongzhu for maligning A-Xian and told him only a coward spreads vile rumors about anyone, and that he's done it against a child makes him the lowest of the low. Yao-zongzhu tried to say A-Xian must be faking and the resentful energy is being used to confuse us all and his adoption should be annulled because it was unacceptable to bring a degenerate into a gentry family, and A-Niang lost her temper. It got a bit violent, and A-Die reminded Yao-zongzhu of A-Xian's parentage, both esteemed cultivators and one the daughter of Baoshan Sanren, and said that if he couldn't stop maligning their son, he could find another main sect to sponsor the Yao clan.

Anyway, Yao-zongzhu tried to get other small sects to support him, calling A-Niang a barbarian for punching him, but he didn't make for an imposing figure with a bloody face and even Ouyang-zongzhu, who's supposed to be his close ally, wouldn't stand with him, so he left in disgrace after Kang-daifu set his broken nose.

After that, A-Xian was made to speak even though he was still shaken by Yao-zongzhu's words, and your brother accompanied him, bless him, saying it was only proper that he support his betrothed. A-Xian was told to relate what he remembered of what happened, which was nothing, only that he woke at Lotus Cove in the infirmary and was told he had been attacked while training, and he's only regained bits and pieces of memory, and he passes out sometimes as a result and is a bit ill afterward. When asked about Wen-zongzhu, he said he didn't remember even meeting him, that there was just a blank space in his mind and his head still hurts from what happened.

Then when Jin-zongzhu asked a question he said something I didn't understand, something about hurting the civilians, and passed out. Your brother caught him before he could fall, and A-Niang carried him out and has barred access to anyone but family and approved doctors. While he was being taken out, Nie-zongzhu related what happened at the Cloud Recesses when he met A-Xian and he was similarly confused in speech and fell unconscious, so they've seen how it occurs, now, at least.

I'm afraid I missed the rest, as I focused on A-Xian. I have soup ready for when he wakes, and your brother remains at his side. Meng-ayi and Mo-guniang and their sons are ensconced in the family area as well and looking after him, too, since Jin-zongzhu is here and knows they're here—he came and had a confrontation with A-Die about it back around A-Cheng's birthday and they're afraid he might try to force them to Lanling.

All witnesses are being called, so it will last several more days. Wen Qing intends to provide her testimony tomorrow, and says it will include things about her uncle that will not be taken well, but will hopefully shift the focus away from A-Xian and allow him some peace. No one has given him time to recover from Wen-zongzhu's attack, even.

Wen Qing believes the Wen clan will ultimately split after an internal war, which is why her family is coming to Lotus Pier to join the Jiang sect. Her and her didi are being kept under guard in the family wing for now, but she's been allowed to examine A-Xian with Kang-daifu's oversight. She doesn't believe her uncle did any lasting damage with whatever he did, thankfully, and Kang-daifu concurs.

While things are difficult, your uncle and my parents have things well in hand. Nie-zongzhu's support is helping significantly. I think the whole of jianghu will be on shaky ground for a bit, and we'll just have to be vigilant.

I hope this eases the worry I'm sure you're feeling. Truly, I understand Xiansheng's decision to keep the Lan heir safe, though I know you would prefer to be here with your didi.

Sincerely,

Jiang Yanli

Dear Jiang-guniang,

I thank you sincerely for the letter, which is understandably more detailed than the one Wangji sent; he was rather upset when he wrote it, as I believe your didi had only just awoken, and yours has clarified the situation a bit.

Wen-zongzhu's attack on Jiang Wuxian is completely baffling, as it's not clear what he was hoping to achieve in trying to forcibly remove the resentful energy. Even given what Jiang Wuxian said about Wen Qing, according to Wangji, his reaction was more like an attack, and it certainly wouldn't give him more information. Everyone knows attempting to forcibly remove a curse can cause disastrous backlash—that's why the Cloud Recesses keeps extensive records of known curses and how to remove them without harming the victim further! I'm relieved Jiang Wuxian was not more badly affected.

I dare not speculate on the possibility of Wen-zongzhu's use of resentful energy, but that may be what caused Wen Qing's defection and request for asylum from the Jiang, if true. That may be something she will be discussing during her testimony, but it's far too serious an accusation to make idly. Resentful energy corrupts those who attempt to wield it, and has done so throughout history, which would sadly explain his disastrous decision as he would not be thinking clearly if he were corrupted thus.

I'm relieved that your didi is recovering, and that Wangji is helping him so much; I wonder if it might be prudent to keep them together, rather than trying to separate them, as they are definitely quite attached to one another and so far better together. Wangji was devastated when Muqin passed, and hadn't come out of his shell at all until he met Jiang Wuxian, and the progress he's been making since is wonderful to see. Part of me wishes I could have been the one to help him, since I'm his gege, but just seeing him improve is more than satisfactory for me, so I'm thankful to your didi.

From what occurred with Yao-zongzhu, it sounds rather like GusuLan will not sponsor him, either—Shufu has great respect and affection for Jiang Wuxian, and he would never be willing to aid someone willing to spread vicious gossip about him. What Yao-zongzhu was actually accusing Jiang Wuxian of was cultivating resentful energy, implying he is a demonic cultivator, and Shufu will never tolerate such an atrocious and completely false accusation. It is a serious charge and not one to make in idle supposition, as I've said, and it sounds as though he is trying to impress the Wen contingent for some reason, though I cannot speculate on his logic.

I am unsurprised by Yu-furen's violent response, and glad she was the one to do it as I have no doubt Wangji would have otherwise, which would have caused far worse fallout! Wangji is very protective of Jiang Wuxian, and is incensed that anyone would accuse him of wrongdoing when he was clearly attacked.

I wouldn't be surprised if Nie-zongzhu feels similarly about such slander, as he is a person who will not tolerate such conduct. I know this through his son, as Nie Mingjue is a good friend of mine. He has a little bit of a soft heart for my didi and insisted he could call him Dage (though Wangji refuses), and I daresay he may feel similarly about Jiang Wuxian and Jiang Wanyin when he meets them. He's very protective of his own didi, too. I think you would enjoy meeting him if he's at Lotus Cove for the discussion conference.

This is all to say that Yao-zongzhu will need to petition either Jin-zongzhu or whoever succeeds Wen Ruohan to sponsor his clan, and from your description it sounds like the latter may be unlikely. With Jiang Wuxian's vocal confusion about Jin-zongzhu occurring as a public event, he may be sympathetic to Yao-zongzhu if he is offended, so that may be an area of concern in the future. That he knows the Jiang are sheltering two of his former paramours and unacknowledged sons may increase that risk, so perhaps keep watch for that.

It is concerning that the Wen heirs may have been imprisoned, but it's equally possible some in the sect want that, while others are supporting either Wen Chao or Wen Xu and pitting them against each other. The Wen sect has grown almost too big and too quickly under Wen Ruohan, and the transition of power following his death was never going to be easy. Following his untimely death, it's almost certainly complete chaos. Try not to take rumors to heart, as often they seem to be based on the agenda of the gossiper rather than reality—this is why the Cloud Recesses has a rule against gossip!

I hope Wen Qing's testimony takes the focus off your didi, too. He deserves a chance to heal from what Wen-zongzhu did, and he's just the sort of person to hide his hurt to try to help. That's what we older siblings must look out for, and perhaps you may enlist other older siblings to help, like Wen Qing and Nie Mingjue. I will of course do the same at the Cloud Recesses when our brothers are here.

I completely understand missing the rest of the discussion, as your didi of course comes first. My guess is that other disciples were similarly watching the proceedings out of fear for him, and you might see if any are willing to share what you missed. Another resource might be the servants. They will be able to at least let you know if you missed anything concerning.

Thank you for the detailed letter, and I hope you will continue to keep me abreast of any developments. Reading this has eased some of my worries, now that I know that Nie-zongzhu has become a sort of ally. That added layer of protection brings me much relief.

Sincerely,

Lan Xichen

There are so many little things going on here, including the fact that older!wwx is in fact a cultivator of resentful energy and they have no idea. A bit of irony, though he cultivates the ghost path rather than demonic cultivation.

For Wen Ruohan, I'm going more CQL in terms of budding demonic cultivator. He's obviously already taken possession of one piece of Yin iron, which is now in the hands of an unstable sect on the brink of civil war, whoops! Surely this won't become an issue in the future!

But the Dafan Wen have defected and are being evacuated into Yunmeng, the Nie are on the side of the Jiang because Nie-zongzhu met and liked Jiang Wuxian at the Cloud Recesses in what amounted to an accidental meeting. Yao-zongzhu gossiped as per usual and to avoid having to backtrack made an ill-advised power play to assuage his giant ego. And Jin Guangshan is pissed because the Jiang are sheltering his bitches and bastards, and now Jiang Wuxian has deliriously spoken of him killing Wen Qing and abusing the peasants, which certainly won't ease his anger.

And poor Jiang Wuxian is like Wei Wuxian waking up in Mo Xuanyu's body after 13 years and learning he's apparently been blamed for all evil in the jianghu.

On a personal note, I'm working on dealing with issues involving my chronic conditions, mental health, and healthcare, and it might take all summer. I can only do what I can, and I have to accept that. It's hard to accept being disabled.

Bright side is we found a sweet stray puppy and may adopt her if she's not chipped.

This was simmering in the back of my mind while I worked on a chapter of "the thread may stretch or tangle but it will never break" and was a surprisingly quick write. Thanks to adrian_kres for the beta!

Glossary:

a-die - dad (informal)

a-niang - mom (informal)

dage - eldest brother

didi - little brother

erge - second eldest brother

daifu - doctor

furen - madam

jianghu - cultivation world

muqin - mother (formal)

shufu - uncle

xiansheng - teacher

zongzhu - sect leader