Photos and art are not mine, credit to owners.

I should make a clarification. When it says bond test/ Dream. The two are asleep and the Dream is the test. So Baoshan has a way to make the Dream seem very real. The two are actually still asleep, but they are dreaming this test. The test will determine if they are compatible lovers or not.... ;)  there is more to it as well but that would be spoiling it if I said something about it now. Read on and see.

~*Bond Test/Dream*~

The two actually slept through the night and remained safe. Despite not knowing what place they were in, and what creatures they will encounter, they were determined to make it through it together. By morning, they both felt refreshed and went on their way, heading northwest. They don't know what the compass was pointing to, but it was enough to go on.

"Lan Zhan, last night I thought of something interesting," Wei Ying said.

"What?"

"Since we got here, not only have I been injured but this place played on my fear. A glance at that demonic bear looked similar to what my parents fought the night they died. Then the wolves came which played a fear of mine. I am guessing your fear is to see me hurt or having something bad happen to me. Since we woke in that forest that is all that I have noticed, playing on our fears," Wei Ying explained his theory.

Lan Zhan thought his words through carefully. His fear is losing Wei Ying again. He hurt a lot back when he died in Nightless City. He still has so much regret from back then, and the scars on his back will always be a reminder of his regrets. He could not stand beside Wei Ying like he wanted to. He believed in him, but trust was something different. Trust is developed based on a party's knowledge about another. Believing is a value of acceptance to the facts or circumstances. He did not want to lose Wei Ying back then, and he doesn't want to lose Wei Ying now that he is beside him again.

"After you died and came back, my biggest fear was losing you again. It still is to this day. If something were to happen and you disappeared again, I don't know if my heart can handle it again," Lan Zhan admitted as they stopped walking.

He was crying, and had no idea he was. He has not shown this emotion in a long time. His brother was the last person to see him cry. Now, he is with Wei Ying, who is witnessing his tears fall against his will, and he did not know how to stop them.

"Lan Zhan," Wei Ying said pulling him into a hug, "I will not leave you again. You have my word. I will always come to you and my heart belongs to you. I know how heart you were back then. I may have not realized it right away due to my ignorance but I know that losing me is something you fear most."

"I love you, Wei Ying," He told him.

Wei Ying carefully pulled for the hug a little to look his man in the eyes. His golden eyes ignited a fire in his heart. A fire that can never be quenched.

"I love you too, Lan Zhan."

~*Mildly Mature Content*~

Lan Zhan leaned in and kissed Wei Ying. Wei Ying reached up and pulled Lan Zhan closer to him. Lan Zhan kissed him gently, carefully, but it wasn't gentleness Wei Ying wanted, not now, not after all this time, and he knotted his fists in Lan Zhan's robes, pulling him harder against him. He groaned softly, low in his throat, and then his arms circled Wei Ying, gathering him against his body. In the middle of all the kissing, they collapsed to the ground rolling over on the grass, tangled together, still kissing.

Still on top of Wei Ying, Lan Zhan pulled from the kiss. Wei Ying was trapped between him and the green grass below him. Wei Ying could have tried to move but he was struck by the proximity of everything Lan Zhan was. Wei Ying's senses subdued by this staggering rush of adrenaline, fluttering from head to toe. There was no time for more thoughts as Wei Ying launched himself at Lan Zhan's lips for more.

Transfixed, his thoughts were silenced by Wei Ying's taste, as if his lips sunk in a perfect fit, as if it wasn't wrong. Lan Zhan was too astounded to mentally process his actions yet bewildered at the response of his senses and how they surrendered under the witchery of his lips. Lan Zhan's lips were unrestrained as he cupped Wei Ying's face with once of his hands. Wei Ying slid his fingers down Lan Zhan's sculpted forearm.

Heat rose from every inch of himself that he was no longer able to control. There was nothing but the sound of Wei Ying gasps drawing Lan Zhan in, awakening something feral within. Whatever this was, it was pulling Wei Ying in more, the urgency of those perfect lips sinking in as if consuming Wei Ying's core. The way Lan Zhan's warm and untamed body pressed against his. If hearts could explode, Wei Ying's could detonate right now.

There was a little inner fight within Lan Zhan not to push things to far, but he was having a hard time keeping control as he sent him freckles ablaze as his lips made a run for Wei Ying's neck, melting into his flesh, making him moan. Wei Ying was not making this easier on Lan Zhan to stay in control as his hands were everywhere. Lan Zhan skipped a beat, straddling him in a swift move while cuffing his arms with a hand above the head, taking his again into the warmth of his own mouth. Wei Ying was drowning in sandalwood and sunlight. The taste of Lan Zhan on his tongue was like sun-warmed honey. Like cool water sliding down his parched throat. Like the promise of all his tomorrows in a single sigh. He knew, as Lan Zhan knew, that they were lost in this kiss, not wanting to find a way out.

Breathless, the kiss finally broke. They stared into each other's eyes for a long while just trying to steady their breathing. Wei Ying couldn't help but laugh a little in happiness and excitement at the moment they just shared. It was incredible for him. Each time they kissed, it felt like they were exploring something new about each other.

"That was amazingly fun," Wei Ying said finally able to speak.

"We can continue this any time," Lan Zhan said, "But I feel like we should try to find a way back home, or at least figure out why we are hear."

Wei Ying smiled up at him and nodded. Lan Zhan got up off of him and helped his lover off the grounds, "Should we continue walking northwest?"

"Would you prefer to fly?" Lan Zhan asked with a smirk on his face.

"Maybe," Wei Ying said folding his arms making a pouting face.

Lan Zhan chuckled out a few breaths at his man's adorable expression and pulled him close to his chest, "Flying it is," He said as he hopped on Bichen holding on to Wei Ying.

The two head towards the northwest, the further north they went, the warmer it got. There was a town about an hour into traveling that actually had civilization this time. The people seemed unfriendly though. It was like there was conflict everywhere. The two had to figure out was was going on.

"Excuse me Sir," Wei Ying said approaching a merchant who looked a bit friendlier then others, "Can you answer a few questions for me?"

"Of course, what would you like to know?" The merchant said happily willing to answer their questions.

"Can you tell me where we are?" Wei Ying asked, "The name of the village and the region we are in? Maybe if there are any clan's or sects within the area?"

"Oh, you are in the region of Dongying* (Where Collection of Turmoil is supposedly found according to legends)," the merchant answered, "This village may look small at the entrance but I can tell you it is not, further into the village it will become a city. As far as clans, you would have to go across the waters for that, they are located in Hunan, are they not? If you mean authority, then I would have to say they were all once rogue cultivators."

"Oh, Dongying...I have heard of a legend from this place, something about turmoil?" Wei Ying said curiously.

"Legend? It is no legend. If you are referring to the Collection of Turmoil, it has gone missing long ago, I would say good riddance but if you traveled around at all, half the locations are vacant and giant creatures roam the place. All of that is because someone with ill intentions got to that music and spread it across the region, killing thousands and creating hybrid like beasts," The merchant said, "No one knows how to cleanse this land. If they did, they would have gone to the capital center a long time ago and done so."

"Where is the capital Center? We are not from this region?" Wei Ying asked.

"Just continue down the road through the village, you will know the building when you see it. It is hard to miss a giant glass building," He pointed out.

I looked at Lan Zhan and he nodded at me. I thanked the merchant for his time and left with Lan Zhan, "So this place was left in ruins when the music was take from here? As far as cleansing, I could say Lan Clan's music is good for that, but it may be something completely different."

"You are correct," Lan Zhan said, "Why don't we go to the Capital Center to see if we can find more answers."

Wei Ying nodded and they went on their way, "Can we stop somewhere to rest and eat first? Maybe find a change of robes? I am a mess Lan Zhan."

Lan Zhan looked at his partner and realized that Wei Ying was still in his tattered robes. Lan Zhan's were a bit dirty as well. They both could use some time to rest and gather their strength.

"Let us go find and inn," Lan Zhan said.

The two found a nice inn further within the village. It was a fairly nice inn as well. They decided to have the room for a few days so they can investigate the area and see what was going on. For now, bathing, eating and sleeping was the only thing that they had in mind at the moment.

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According to legend, it was written by a cultivator from the Gusu Lan Clan who journeyed to Dongying (Japan). In the hands of a skilled cultivator, the songs in Collection of Turmoil are able to take a life in seven notes. The songs in Collection of Turmoil are also able to cause illness and disturb the mind.
https://modao-zushi.fandom.com/wiki/Collection_of_Turmoil