It had been 5 months since I returned to YunShen Buzhi. Brother and SiZhui were happy. I hadn't stayed with them for a long time. I had arranged a room to keep SiZhui close to me during my stay.

Since what had happened in Xining, I had realized that I had no right to give in to despair. There were people near me who loved me and relied on me. I could not behave selfishly even for love of you.

As a result of the dream I had had when I was unconscious. I had decided to let things take their course. If you were to come back, I knew you would find me, I was sure of it.

Every day before I went to bed, I played my question to the spirits. One evening, SiZhui came and sat next to me.

"Han Guangjun, can I ask a question? "I smiled.

I smiled. "That's what you just did! "I liked to tease him when it was just the two of us.

"SiZhui, I already told you that when we are alone, you can call me father" His smile changed his face!

"I am listening, ask your question".

"Father, every night you play the same chords on Wangji, what do they mean? "His face was stretched towards me and his eyes questioning ... and worried?

"Inquiry, or if you prefer, the "question to the spirits" SiZhui was smart, he knew that our clan communicated with the souls of the dead through music and specifically the qin.

"What do you ask the spirits? You always ask the same question! "

Interesting, he had noticed that my question was the same, while some nights I could phrase it differently! This child seemed to be good at interpreting the language of the qin!

"I ask them because I am looking for a person I have lost."

"Why don't they answer you? "

"Probably, because they don't know the answer".

"Can a spirit lie?"

"No, it can't lie but it can choose not to speak! "

"Father, one day you said that one could lie by omission! So if the spirit does not want to speak, can we consider that it is lying? "

"If the spirit has decided to speak, then it will tell the truth. If it has decided to remain silent, then it will not report itself! ".

SiZhui seemed to think, then he nodded. I had noticed that he always took time to think about the answers we gave him before telling us that he understood.

"Father, do you think I could learn to play the qin? What about Inquiry?"

"Why?"

"I would like to know... "he hesitated. He lowered his head slightly and looked at me with an embarrassed expression.

"I would like to know, if my parents are happy to see, the life I am leading beside you".

"I'm sure they are! Why wouldn't they be? All parents want the best for their child. Do you miss them? "

"Not really, I have no memories of them! But sometimes things come back to me when I dream. A tall, smiling man playing with me ... a bowl of soup that set my throat on fire ... a wicker butterfly flying in the blue sky ... a flute as black as night. "

My heart clenched. It wasn't his parents he remembered, but you and that year at the Burial Ground. That year when you had been a father to him who had never known his parents.

"If you want, I will teach you, but I warn you, you will not be able to question the spirits for several years. It takes at least 10 years of study to start using Inquiry! "

"I'll be patient, Father."

"Perfect, it's getting late, it's past our bedtime. Go now. "

"Yes father, sleep well! ".

SiZhui retired to his room. I got up and went out to the terrace. The moon was round tonight.

Wei Ying, I hope that from where you are, you can see him and be proud of him. This child is a blessing.

I walked into the Jingshi and went to a chest where I kept the things I had as a child. I opened it. I took the large case and the instrument inside.

It had been years since I had touched this qin. Not since my mother gave me hers, Wangji. I didn't know then that it would be the last time I would see her!

I left my room and went to SiZhui's room. I entered quietly. He was already asleep.

I took the qin out of its case and put it on his desk.

Tomorrow I will give him his first lesson.

I had decided to tell him one of Lan Yi's secrets. This one would take much longer to learn than "inquiry" and he wouldn't be able to show it for several years!

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)