Inquiry

Okay, so in the Lan cultivation they use inquiry to have a conversation with the spirits. What I'm wondering, but can't remember if MXTX addressed this in the novel, it's can the spirits not hear them when they speak their questions out? I understand using the music to translate the spirits responses but can they not just hear what the cultivators are asking if they verbalize it (like the man eating cake and Jin ling)? What are your theories?