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 Ten

Xichen,

Jiang Yanli has been a bit busy and said you would appreciate an update. To be direct, it's a mess.

Apparently the Jiang sect has taken in two women who have bastard children by Jin-zongzhu, and he decided to petition that they be handed over to him like so much chattel. A-Die told him that coming to a sect and demanding their women be given to him wasn't unexpected from him even if it was more brazen than his usual infidelity and that, as well as Jiang Wuxian's health, led to the discussion conference being recessed for a few days.

Yu-furen has been a force to behold, and Yao-zongzhu has already departed with a broken nose. She's fiercely protective of her children, and anyone who dares blame Jiang Wuxian for Wen Ruohan's demise regrets it shortly. One would think he was her child by blood.

Wen Qing's testimony about Wen Ruohan's activities was rather damning. Apparently there's some Yin Iron artifact tainted by resentful energy that led to a big war generations ago and it was split into pieces and locked away in multiple locations. One of those was near her village, and in unsealing it he awakened a goddess statue that killed her parents and damaged the spiritual consciousness of her didi. He expected her to treat the effects of his use of resentful energy and often implied he would harm Wen Ning, who's younger than A-Sang!

She started to detail some of his terrible experiments, and Lan Qiren insisted the content was not appropriate for children, which apparently includes me, and we were made to leave. When she returns to the family area following each day, she looks worn enough to be an adult, and yet she is only our age.

The discussion conference has shifted away from whether Jiang Wuxian is responsible for Wen-zongzhu's death, which seems to be a relief for the Jiangs. From what I've heard, the consensus seems to be that he caused his own death through dabbling with demonic cultivation and hubris. We hear a little through the servants, who report to Jiang Yanli what they can.

The last few days, A-Sang and I have been cloistered with the Jiangs and your brother during the day. When you wrote me about the bond Jiang Wuxian has with your brother, I found it hard to believe, but seeing them together I can see why you're certain they were destined to meet. The boy is bright, if often confused by his loss of memory, and has a weird way of drawing people in, almost eerie but not in a threatening way. When he first met me, he asked where my mustache was and then passed out, and remembered none of it when he woke. I'm given to understand something similar happened when he met A-Die. It must be somewhat terrifying to not know what of your memory you can trust, but he seems to try to think positively, which I suppose is really his only viable option.

Jiang Wanyin reminds me of Wangji in his biting stage, but with words, with a temper like his mother, very protective of his siblings. He's frustrated with not being allowed to attend the discussion conference, but it comes out of worry for his brother. I'd not heard Jiang Wuxian had a meimei, but the child takes after him in certain mannerisms and clearly adores him, so I suppose she just hadn't been publicly known of when their parents went missing. It's their business, and not mine to pry into.

Jiang Yanli has a way of calming Jiang Wanyin and keeping the days on a certain pace and trying to keep everyone from climbing the walls. Wen Ning sometimes cries for his jiejie and needs consoling and distraction, and she provides the latter while her siblings provide the former. Even Jiang Lian will tug him over to play with toys when he's getting upset. A-Sang has found a friend in Jiang Wuxian, who also enjoys painting, and that keeps him at least somewhat distracted. He also enjoys listening in on the Jiangs practicing their instruments, to the extent that I half-expect him to want to learn himself.

She seems to have taken over some of her niang's duties for the duration of the discussion conference, including organizing the servants and attending to household matters, but with the added burden of recent events it is quite a lot. She has the help of a woman named Meng Shi, whose son Meng Yao is also cloistered, as well as a young lady named Mo Yun and her infant son. They're the ones Jin Guangshan demanded, and it's pretty clear why, but they're understandably nervous about his demands.

Wangji is quite well, but very distracted by Jiang Wuxian, who had a fever while he was unconscious. I'm no longer surprised by their betrothal, given their closeness. He seems content to let Jiang Wuxian yammer on about whatever he's thinking about at any given time (seriously the boy never stops talking), and he's actually listening because he'll occasionally respond. I've never heard him speak so much as he does to Jiang Wuxian.

It is difficult not to be bored. The furor about Jiang Wuxian has died down, thankfully, and we're just waiting for the conference to end. It'd be one thing if there were tournaments, but it's definitely not the typical discussion conference. They've got the family area locked down with regular patrols by senior disciples, even, after the attempt on Jiang Wuxian.

Not that I expected it to be the typical discussion conference with what's happened, but I also didn't think I wouldn't be allowed to attend—not that I want to hear about Wen Ruohan's resentful energy experiments any further than I have, as what has been trickling in to Jiang Yanli has been unsettling and there is much the servants won't tell us. It's already bad enough that we're not relaying any of it to the younger ones, and poor Wen Qing's exhaustion is understandable if she's been forced to watch much of it. I gather Wen-zongzhu felt it constituted medical training for her to be present, so no wonder she grabbed at the opportunity for her entire family to flee from the Wen sect.

As much as the discussion conference started with accusations against Jiang Wuxian, I'm of the opinion that, had Wen Ruohan lived, a war would have been inevitable; either he would have gone mad from wielding resentful energy, or he would have sought more power, or perhaps both. That he was killed basically attacking the boy should have made it clear he caused his own demise, but some among the gentry need an even clearer indication he is a villain somehow—I've made note personally of those who would excuse an attack on an ill child, as I don't think they should be trusted, and I will share them if you wish, but not on paper. I think your uncle will be largely concerned with the disposition of whatever artifact Wen Ruohan was using, which I'm sure some in the Wen sect would like to keep, if it is to be found.

I don't know if I'll still be in Lotus Cove for you to reply, but I'm stuck here until the discussion conference ends. I wish you were here but also you're better off not being here. At least Meng Yao is a decent conversationalist, and Jiang Yanli and Wen Qing (when she's available) are also good to talk with about cultivation, for all that they're focusing on healing. I just wish I could do some training, but I suppose I'll have to settle for meditating with Baxia instead.

Hopefully the rest of the conference goes quickly. Maybe after I can convince A-Die to visit Gusu somehow.

Mingjue

Mingjue,

I very much appreciate your letter, as I've been nearly frantic for news; were it up to me, I would indeed be there with you all and glad for it—it's so difficult to be so far away from my didi during such a fraught time.

I have seen Yu-furen in action, so I am not surprised you admire her, and I find her admirable as well. I find Jiang-zongzhu similarly so, his approach to his children and sect different from the Lan. I don't know if I told you, but we stayed for quite some time when Jiang Wuxian was first injured, and our time there was an experience I learned much from, something you might also discover.

I'm glad you're with the Jiangs instead of at the conference directly, if I'm at all honest, since I heard there was at least one attempt on Jiang Wuxian's life and I fully expect Wangji would throw himself between him and any threat, an assessment with which I'm certain you will agree. The news that Jiang Wuxian is less of a focus now that something worse has been revealed about Wen Ruohan is welcome, but I also wonder how the Wen delegations are handling the news, whether they are still defending their late sect leader.

Honestly, even if it was borne of Jiang Wuxian's confusion, you would look very mature with a mustache; I know it bothers you that disciples sometimes see you as a child, and that could potentially help?

Jiang Wuxian hides much of his frustration with his memory, but he has a very positive personality and bounces back quickly. He has had several terrifying nightmares, both at Lotus Cove and the Cloud Recesses, and I know he has worried that some of what he dreams is from memory, that his memories hide something terrible, but from what others have said he has always been positive since he first came to Lotus Cove, and surely he wouldn't have been if his memories so tormented him.

I didn't know what to make of the Jiang family dynamic when I first arrived at Lotus Cove, but I think your assessment of Jiang Wanyin is accurate, and you have clearly seen Jiang Yanli's fortitude and determination. I'm glad she has been gathering information from servants, but it's disturbing that there are things Wen Qing is testifying about that they find too terrible to relate—Shufu and the Jiangs certainly have their hands full!

Jiang Lian has a similar disposition to Jiang Wuxian and absolutely adores him. I'm sure you've found that she's inquisitive and curious about nearly everything. She wants to learn the dizi, konghou, guqin, and xiao—basically every instrument she's seen played. I understand she's inherited Jiang Yanli's practice konghou, so perhaps she'll start with that.

Musical cultivation might be a viable option for Huaisang, if he does become that interested. It may not be the Nie cultivation style, but at least he'd be cultivating? I know it bothers you that he doesn't cultivate at all. Jiang Yanli did not have the health for traditional cultivation, but she's decided she can still work on other forms, like musical and medical. It may be worth consideration. I'm glad to hear that your didi and Jiang Wuxian get along—you might find that Huaisang is influenced positively by him as well. If nothing else, it would be nice to see this generation grow stronger together by building good ties.

I only met Meng Shi and her son fleetingly, as the Jiangs took them in while we were there, along with Mo-guniang and her son, and both were taken from unpleasant situations and given new lives by the Jiangs. I'm glad you're speaking with Meng Yao—apparently he was never given proper books on cultivation, only incorrect manuals his mother could find, so I know he likely appreciates your conversation very much. Hopefully Jin-zongzhu accepts the denial.

Wangji is more expressive than he has been since Muqin died, and it's all thanks to Jiang Wuxian. He seems to just interact more with the world since they met again at Lotus Cove—Jiang Wuxian even helped him forge friendships with his peers. While cutsleeve marriages are unusual, in this case I believe their connection could easily blossom into romance, making their union that much stronger. I'm glad you see it too.

I have not had opportunity to meet Wen Qing or her brother, and I dread to think of the impact Wen Ruohan's experiments with demonic cultivation had on them, particularly with the impact on young Wen Ning's spiritual cognition. As an older sibling I'm certain she must have been terrified for her didi's safety and well-being. Lotus Cove is a good place for her and her family to go, as the Jiangs are certain to treat them kindly. They've shown willingness to "take in strays" as others might say derisively, but I think rather it's that when a Jiang decides you're clan, that's what you become.

I'm relieved that it's boring for you, as cruel as it may be, because a lack of furor means safety. If the focus can remain on the apparent crimes of Wen Ruohan instead of Jiang Wuxian, I know it will also relieve Jiang Yanli and Wangji, and lead to less tension in general.

You are probably right regarding the potential for war in the future had Wen Ruohan lived. There is no shortage of historical examples of the way resentful energy taints the minds of demonic cultivators, and those who seek to gain power by resorting to that path tend toward megalomania anyway. Why else would anyone abandon the wide path after having cultivated to become as strong as Wen Ruohan? That our generation could have seen a war on that scale is sobering, and imagining Wangji ever having to experience such is sickening. I'm sure you feel similarly about Huaisang.

Hopefully that possibility has been averted, but you're right that it depends on the disposition of the Yin artifact. I daresay keeping an eye on the situation isn't unwarranted, including regarding the sect leaders who tried to excuse what was done to Jiang Wuxian. I know there's a precept about gossip, but in this case I don't believe it is such, given the possible ramifications to our siblings. Jiang Yanli and Wen Qing might like to be included, as they are also older siblings and more people paying attention is a good thing.

I'm certain the Jiangs will forward my letter to the Unclean Realm if you have departed. I think even if you don't intend to become a healer, you may learn things from discussing cultivation with Jiang Yanli and Wen Qing that can be applied to other branches of cultivation. Even if there isn't, there's nothing wrong with pursuing knowledge for the sake of it.

I hope you get to come here. It would be very nice to see you.

Xichen

So since Nie-zongzhu isn't getting killed by Wen Ruohan, Nie Mingjue has no reason to hate the Wen clan specifically. And also has time to be a kid, to a certain extent. This means also that there can be an older sibling brigade. Pity the fool who hurts a didi.

I've started supplements for my osteoarthritis this week and it seems to be helping. Visiting friends and resting. Had a decent holiday, though overdid it a bit and my body let me know. Visiting friends and having a good time.

I'm okay. Just working on accepting that my job is to heal and rest and recover. I'm applying for disability because it's been a year and I'm realizing it took time to get this bad and will take time to get better.

I wrote about 47k words of fanfiction in 2023, so I at least was able to do that. Hopefully 2024 will bring more energy and brainpower to write.

Glossary:

a-die = dad

didi = younger brother

furen = madam

jiejie = older sister

muqin = mother

shufu = uncle

zongzhu = sect leader