The Untamed Fanfic Chapter 3.5

Instructions

______ WEI WUXIAN Wei Ying walks the old dirt path leading to the outskirts of Gusu. Everything looks the same, but feels so new, almost like a distant dream. It’s so strange to be back here, but it’s nice. Wei Ying smiles to himself as he passes through the market, eyes scanning all the different booths, the vendors shouting for him to buy various goods; “Fresh melons! Sweet and tasty!” ((word of honor reference?!)) “A carved comb for your loved one!” “Good-luck trinkets! Get rid of bad spirits!” Wei Ying heads over to the melon stand, examining melons that definitely don’t look to be fresh and tasty, their color dull and mold sprouting on their lumpy edges. “Want a melon? Or two?” An old woman with a head of grey hair squints up at him, shuffling around behind the booth. Well, she clearly has very poor eyesight, Wei Ying thinks, but maybe I can help her out. “Ma’am, those melons aren’t very good, why don’t you let me help you collect some fresh ones? The older woman frowns, “I don’t have money for your help, if you’re not going to buy anything go away.” “Wait!” Wei Ying exclaims, “I don’t need you to pay me, I can do it for free!” The woman’s frown deepens, “For free? Don’t you want something in return?” “Well….” Wei Ying thinks, “not really….” “Hmp,” She sighs, “I can’t let you work for free. You can think about what you want while you go get me some new melons.” The woman disappears for a couple seconds, and comes back with a wheelbarrow, shoving it at Wei Ying. “Here. Go. The field is down that path at the end of the road, near the woods.” She points in the wrong direction, towards a temple. “Ah, don’t worry, I got it.” But, which path? Wei Ying wonders. “Don’t take too long, I need to sell something before the sun sets!” The old woman shouts, pushing him into the street. “Sheesh,” Wei Ying mutters, rubbing his back, “I’ll get her melons on time, no need to be rude.” He tightens his grip on the wheelbarrow, navigating through the street. Wei Ying stops at another melon stand, where a middle aged man stands, counting his money. “Excuse me.” “Oh! You want some melons?! I have a bunch!” The man exclaims cheerfully. “Sorry, maybe another time. Could you tell me how to get to the melon field?” “Oh. Okay. It’s over there,” the man points ahead, “just through that woods, make sure to stay on the dirt path.” ______ //Wei Ying's taking a side quest lol// WEI WUXIAN (STILL) After loading big, fresh melons into the wheelbarrow, Wei Ying heads back down the path, sweat running down his face. There are no sounds of birds in the trees, just the occasional scampering of a mouse. “Hey! Get back here!” A sudden shout from the woods makes Wei Ying almost drop the wheelbarrow. He gently sets its handles on the ground, and looks to see where the noise came from. Wei Ying whips around, seeing a ghost fly past him, its face sunken and eyes big, hair whipping around its face. “Look out!” Someone yells, and Wei Ying jumps to the side as two young cultivators draw their swords, trying to subdue the ghost. Should I help? He wonders, but the cultivators seem to have it taken care of, the ghost laying on the ground, thrashing, as one of them kneels on the ground to tie it up. The other cultivator puts his sword back in its sheath, his blue and white robes standing out against the dark woods. Wait…. Blue and white robes…. The standing cultivator turns around and gasps, “Senor Wei?!” exclaims Lan Jingyi, “Why are you in Gusu?! The other Lan junior dusts off his hands and stands by Jingyi. Wei Ying thinks he must be new because he doesn’t recognize him. “Lan Jingyi,” He smiles and walks towards him, “it’s good to see you! I was just on my way to visit the Lan clan.” Jingyi frowns, “So then why do you have melons?” “Well, I got a little sidetracked…. But anyway, are you all good with that ghost?” The new junior steps forward. “We got this. Hanguang-Jun sent us on a practice mission to capture it. We’ll bring it back now.” Wei Ying nods. “Then I’ll return these melons, and I’ll also head back to Cloud Recesses.” “Do you want us to head back with you?” Jingyi asks. “No, it’s okay. I should really get these melons back. The sun is almost setting.” “Okay….” Jinyi says as he and the new junior grab the ghost’s arms and start heading off. “Senor Wei!” The new junior turns his head around, “We’ll see you there, and I’ll tell Hanguang-Jun that you’re coming.” Wei Ying nods in acknowledgement, picking up the wheel barrow and continuing down the path. ______ That old lady will be so mad if he's late. Do you have any questions about this so far? Does it make sense?