"Okay class. So today, we will be focusing on the myths and legends of the ancient chinese history." Mr.Li started as he prepared himself for today's lesson. He is a part Filipino and part chinese, having great interest in history and so he chose to teach the subject. He's been doing the job for 15 years now and so for him, Myths, Legends and events that took place in the past is nothing but a piece of cake.

On the other hand, among the number of students who weren't paying attention at all lies Yingxuan. With his eyes and ears wide open, eager to learn about today's topic.He loves history ever since. He likes how the events of the past awaken his curiosity.

He even dreams of being an archaeologist someday.

"Who among you are familiar about the legend of the Yiling Patriarch?" The professor asked. Yingxuan immediately flipped the pages of his history book, finding the legend that his teacher just mentioned.

After a few more flipping, Yingxuan failed to find the said legend.

"It's not written in the book." The old man chuckled specifically staring at Yingxuan.

"Well Once, there was a group of cultivators over powering among all existing clans, the Wen Sect." The professor started as he walked back and forth.

"At first, they were at peace. Until their world was ruined by a certain metal containing dark energy called the Yin Metal." He added.

"That metal is extremely powerful. Whoever lay their hands and tries to have it under possession will be under it's control. The metal was broken into pieces but had been revived. The Yiling Patriarch had the fifth piece under his possession." He continued catching the attention of every student who were in that room.

"Along his activities, The Yiling Patriarch managed to achieve one thing, reviving his friend-Wen Ning and turning him into a ghost puppet. Only him can control that puppet. It killed a lot of people and was called as the Ghost General. The ghost general was dreadful as he can be. His face, pale as chalk his lips, colorless like that of a corpse, his eyes, all black and a chain was wrapped around his body to stop him from bringing disaster." He said. The students that normally doesn't give a shit about his lessons suddenly turned quiet. Every eyes and ears locked on him. Hungry for the next words that will come from his mouth.

Mr. Li was about to open his lips again when his phone rang. He gestured the students wait as he answered his phone. After a while, he stood back in front of the class.

"Okay class, we have to stop here for now. Urgent meeting." He announced causing the whole class to groan in annoyance.

"Assignment, find out the rest of the story about The Legend of the Yiling Patriarch." The teacher said.

Yingxuan doesn't know of he's seeing things or the teacher really did looked at him meaningfully.

He eyed the old man's disappearing figure as he let himself fall into deep thoughts.

Why does he feels weird? He's been encountering a lot of myths and legends ever since he was a kid but none of them gave him any strange feelings.

But this legend that his teacher just mentioned...

He knows he's being unreasonable but why does he feel like there's something unexplainable about that legend?

As the school bell rang as a notice of the class' end for the whole day, Yingxuan rushed to his bicycle which was currently chained on the tree somewhere in the school's parking area. As he was unlocking the chains he used to secure his bicycle, his eyes dropped on the chain in his hands.

Just then, Mr. Li's voice started to echo in his mind.

a chain was wrapped around his body to stop him from bringing disaster

He shook his head to clear his thoughts as he hopped on his bike and hurriedly took his way out of that school. He didn't even bothered to pay attention to the voices calling him from behind.

As he arrived home, he dropped his bag on the floor and took his way up to the second floor without greeting his mom and giving her a peck in the cheeks like he always do. He went straight to the house's library.

This library is older than him, older than his parents and even older than his grandparents.As far as he knows, this library existed even before his great great great grandparents lived. Unlike the normal modern libraries, you won't find any books published by publishing companies with the use of printers ir any type of technological device here. Instead, ancient books with it's content written by hand, dusty brushes and ink bars and wooden scrolls that seems to come from an ancient chinese era are all rested here.

Yingxuan's family is originally chinese. Yet the blood became a mix when it came to him. His mom is a Tsinoy (Chinese-Filipino) but his dad is a pure chinese. And so having a place like this in their home isn't surprising at all.

He started rummaging along the shelves looking for something interesting until he did found one.

It looks like a diary.

He picked it up as he sat on the floor infront of a small desk covered in thick layers of dust and spider webs.

As he flipped the first page, a beautiful chinese calligraphy welcomed his eyes.The hand writing looks like it was written by a young maiden with full of effort and caution. It was neatly brushed and every stroke was just too perfect.

As his eye rested on the first page, he began to read.

The lecturing of the Cloud Recesses started today. I met someone. He's Wei Wuxian of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect. Like how everyone described him, he's hard headed and always fools around. He even brought two bottles of wine and jumped off the walls just to get in. He indeed broke two house rules in a day.

A faint smile appeared on Yingxuan's lips as he read every word. He can imagine the maiden smiling from ear to ear with her cheeks turning into a shade of rose while writing this content.

Yingxuan went on scanning through the pages until one sentence caught his eye.

Wei Ying succeeded. Wen Ning is now awakened and is under control.

Wen Ning? Does it mean...

The Ghost General? Yes! It was the name Mr. Li mentioned. Wen Ning, the fearsome ghost general who was feared by a lot of people!

He's alive and breathing. He can think and can make actions by himself. He's the same old A-Ning we've met before. That innocent boy who stepped in the grounds of the Cloud Recesses with his sister. It makes me smile to see how happy Wei Ying is. His smile warms my heart. I may be a mute when it comes to my emotions that I can't say the feelings inside me but I'm more than happy to see Wei Ying smile like this again.

Wen Ning is alive? And Breathing?

Does this mean... He's not actually dead?

Yingxuan went on flipping through the pages and read every content with Wen Ning's name on it.

We thought Wen Ning was dead. For the past 16 years, neither his shadow nor a strand of his hair was seen. But today, he appeared before our very eyes. Emotionless and still as a statue. He really looked like a puppet now. His eyes was all black and empty. He's not moving, he's just there staring at the young cultivators until I heard it again. That flute. I know that melody very well. As the flute was played, Wen Ning started to move. He's manipulated. At this moment, I knew. The man beside me is hidden under a mask but I know. My eyes can't recognize him but my heart can. He's my Wuxian, My Wei Ying, the only man my heart decided to accept since the day I walked towards him and pin pointed my sword on his neck.

Yingxuan wanted to feel the emotions of love within the maiden's cheesy words however, his curiosity arose and took over every emotion in his system.

Why did Wen Ning suddenly became manipulated?

As Yingxuan went on flipping through the pages, a torn page fell off. He picked it up and noticed that it's a music sheet with the notes neatly drawn. He folded the piece of torn paper and hid it in his pocket while the diary inside his shirt tucked under the his pants.

He sneakily walked back to his room. After a successful arrival, he locked his door and made sure no one is there to see him. He sat by his study table, ready to examine the things he just sneaked out from their library that had been unused for years.

Just as he was about to open the diary, three knocks sounded from his balcony door. He immediately hid the diary and went to open the glass door. He looked around checking for anyone but no one was there. Well basically no one really climbs his walls and lands on his balcony except his bestfriend-Yrez who just developed a hobby of appearing in his balcony whenever the boy gets yelled at and scolded by his parents.

However this time, there's no Yrez present around. He was about to go back inside when he noticed something on the ground. It was a black parcel.

He picked it up with his eyebrows raised. As he went inside, he opened the box and saw a silver flute inside. The body had been carved with different patterns and on the edge was some characters he can't even read.

Yingxuan is a chinese but it's odd that he can't read this characters. Yet he's certain that they're chinese characters.

With a shrug, he picked up yhe flute and brought it to his lips. After realizing that he doesn't have any piece to play, he stopped as he remembered about the sheet he sneaked out from the old library.

He laid the music sheet flat on his study table as he started to play.

He played the song, full of emotions, drowning himself from the melody played by him.

The melody was so heartwarming. It's too aesthetic and chill as if it was a rain of snow embracing the raging flames. It's too calming.

He went on playing but had been interrupted by the loud thunder that roared in the heavens. The lights went out as thunders and lightning reigned in the sky.

Along with the heavy rains, a shadow appeared on Yingxuan's balcony. He hurriedly hid everything and went out thinking it was his bestfriend.

Yet just as he step foot on the balcony, there was no Yrez present there.

But a man with a waist length hair wearing a torn black robe.

The man has a skin pale as chalk, lips pale as that of a corpse, his eyes are all black as if his pupils expanded making his sclera disappear.

But the thing that caught Yingxuan's attention the most was...

the chain was wrapped around his body.

Yingxuan was frozen from where he stood, his eyes locked on the mysterious man. He knows this man. No! He never met this man but he's certain that this person infront of him...

Is the very person he's eager to find out about. Slowly, he walked towards the emotionless man and whispered...

"Wen Ning... You're real, not just a legend!"

**Taming the Undead**

*Written by:@weixiannu

All Rights Reserved. Copyright ©2020

Inspired by: The Untamed \(2019 Chinese Series\) and Mo Dao Zu Shi \(Anime Series and Novel\)

 \[Available on \*\*\*\*\*\*\* but in Filipino Language*\]