The Lord and Master of The Universe had a big problem.

And its name was Wei Ying.

He looked at the Angel of Death with some degree of thoughtfulness, wondering what to do, now that he had the full story, because while mistakes were made, when it came down to it, everything had happened sort of automatically.

As if it were meant to.

He had checked, and the child, Lan Zhan's Soul seemed to be alright, if anything, he was growing up to be even more diligent and perfect, a great example to his peers. So much so, that L&M thought he might even go on to cultivate immortality. The child had taken his words to heart and seemed to be genuinely looking for a solution or a way to help this Angel, Wei Ying, who was standing before him now.

"I need your help." He admitted, too reluctantly. He was never going to hear the end of this...

"This one is ready. What would you like me to do?"

Wei Ying was just returned from the first levels of Hell, where he had been teaching new little demons their jobs, how to trap Souls, how to punish the bad ones and how to give hope to the ones willing to change. It was a rewarding job, and he felt like it wasn't really a punishment either. But if he had a complaint, it would be that he was not allowed to leave. Unaware of the restrictions placed upon him, he had unwittingly walked into a forcefield of electric whips, rendering his back into a map of pain.

Someone should have said...really.

He had only been trying to leave because the promise he had made to young Lan Zhan was weighing on his mind and now, whenever he had a spare moment or time to let his thoughts wander, it always seemed to drift back to the little boy and the promise Wei Ying had made, that he would go back and show him that he was okay.

Wei Ying wasn't sure how much time had passed by, or how old Lan Zhan would be nowadays, but he was certain the baby had turned into a little heartbreaker. He would remember the seriousness of the baby's expression, one so young having to experience such hardships, and yet his innocent approach to it all had been such a surprise. He hoped with all of his heart that Lan Zhan had forgotten their encounter and why it had happened, even though this made him incredibly sad.

It would have been nice to be remembered.

The Lord and Master of The Universe was actually quite happy with Wei Ying's progress. That encounter with the Little Lan had unfreezed his heart, and with every step, Wei Ying was flourishing. But L&M got the feeling he was waiting for something. Thirteen years was a long time to hold a wish inside your heart, to keep it alive.

So his original intention for Wei Ying to return to himself was already coming true, and if he was honest, Wei Ying had repented enough. L&M was going to grant him his freedom, provided he fulfill one last quest.

"So...there's a beast..."

**********

Lan Zhan was approaching his twentieth birthday.

He was not looking forward to it.

There was a knock in the door of the Jingshi and he suppressed a sigh.

It was his Xiongzhang.

XiChen was the only one who came to visit him here...or anywhere.

Lan Zhan rose to open the door, bowing his greeting.

But today, XiChen was looking...excited.

"Happy birthday, Didi."

"Thank you, Xiongzhang."

He uncovered the tray he was carrying, revealing a few pieces of rice cake. Lan Zhan looked at him then, and gave him a small smile. Only his big brother knew how much he loved the sweet treats.

They shared the pieces, though XiChen stopped after two and Lan Zhan knew it was deliberate. He waited until Lan Zhan finished eating, to speak.

"Uncle would like you to meet a family. They have a young daughter who is around your age."

Lan Zhan would have gotten up and left if they had been talking in the Hanshi, and he suspected this was the very reason why XiChen had come to him. So he wouldn't be able to escape.

"Xiongzhang knows my answer." He replied instead, with the futile hope that this would be it, and no more would be said about it.

"Didi...please." His voice was full of pain. "You cannot spend the rest of the life waiting for him."

That wasn't at all fair.

Lan Zhan was not prepared for the lance of pain that speared through him at the mention of Wei Ying.

"I can." He contradicted.

He was nothing if not stubborn.

"But you don't even know if he still exists...or if he can come back. It's all very well to say he promised, but what if he's somewhere where he cannot escape from?" XiChen patted his knee.

Lan Zhan was reminded of countless conversations like this, ones that spurred his desire for more knowledge on how to cultivate to immortality. He hoped that once he had, other realms would be open to him and he could go looking for himself.

Wei Ying's face was fading from his memory, but he steadfastly hung on to the sound of his cheerful voice, and the feeling of safety the Angel had imbued with him.

Wei Ying was alive, Lan Zhan had to believe that.

It wasn't just guilt that held this belief, not any more. In the beginning, Lan Zhan had been drowning in it, unable to see past his role in what had happened. It was his fault that Wei Ying had gotten in so much trouble in the first place, and Lan Zhan had needed him more than ever.

Wei Ying was a person who kept his promises, and Lan Zhan never forgot that part. There were times in the middle of the night when he would blink awake and see those two hands making a pinkie promise, sealing it with a heart. His own one yearned with almost a physical pain, wanting to see the angel again.

To make sure he was alright...but there was more to it now.

Lan Zhan had felt a connection between them and now his heart held a small, fragile hope...of something more.

He never told anyone, but he wondered if XiChen knew about his sitting outside the Jingshi and playing Inquiry every night. When he was a child, he used to come to sit outside this place whenever he could manage to escape whoever might be watching him then. Hoping that the Angel would come back.

When he had learned through music cultivation that summoning and speaking to Souls was possible, he had been overjoyed. He had applied himself to the study with renewed hope, wanting to see his Angel again, hear his soft voice speak to him once more.

For the longest time, his uncle and brother thought he was still waiting for his mother. But Lan Zhan never forgot his last meeting with her, keeping that warmth and love she had shown him deep within. He didn't even feel bad anymore, that she had died. He was able to put it down to the natural order of the things, and while he still missed her, it helped that he was able to live in her old house. His best memories were from here, with her, and it now became a source of comfort rather than grief.

The deepest sigh from his brother had Lan Zhan looking up. He had forgotten they had been talking about something...

"Won't you reconsider?" XiChen asked him, already knowing his answer.

"This one begs forgiveness." He bowed while remaining seated.

"Don't be silly, Didi. You know I'm only worried about you. To spend your life alone...it is a long time to be lonely."

"Not for long." Lan Zhan could feel it, this excitement in his bones.

If he had voiced his thoughts and confessed to the rapid beats of his heart at some as yet unforseen event in the future which was happening soon, he was convinced they would think him silly.

But these feelings were real, something physical in the air, as if it was magnetised already in anticipation.

"Very well then. I shall pass on your answer to uncle." He stood up.

In this light, Lan Zhan could see the tightness in his eyes, the slight clenching of his jaw and the straight lines of his posture. XiChen had a lot of things to deal with too, aside from unwanted marriage proposals; as it was, he was only trying to do his best.

In an act of uncharacteristic sentiment, Lan Zhan stood up and hugged him. XiChen was surprised at first, but his strong arms came around him nonetheless, holding him tight for a few moments. This was his baby brother after all, and XiChen wanted nothing more than his happiness.

Until he found his Angel, Lan Zhan knew he would always be able to depend on his brother.

********

The alarm bells started ringing in the early hours of the morning.

Lan Zhan had been lying awake after another bizarre dream of a man with silver starlight eyes and once his own were open to the ceiling of the Jingshi, he found it impossible to sleep again.

Within seconds, he was up and dressed, Bichen in hand and out of the door.

He met XiChen outside walking fast to the Great Hall.

"I'll gather reinforcements." He said, knowing Lan Zhan wanted to be first on the scene, to see what the problem was.

And because Hanguang-Jun was their best cultivator even at this young age, he could let him go. WangJi would never put himself at unnecessary risk, knowing what it would do to his elder brother.

Lan Zhan went to the Bell Tower first, and flying there was easiest.

"What happened?" He asked the sentry.

"A black Winged shadow broke through our wards...and...and it was being chased by something else." The man stammered, looking shocked.

"Where?"

He pointed towards the Eastern ridges, a densely forested area high up in the mountains with treacherous cliff dropping away into ravines. It was sectioned off for a reason.

Lan Zhan told him to inform his brother, the Sect Leader, while he flew away in that direction.

Here, in the dead of night, static electricity hummed in the air, and again, Lan Zhan was filled with anticipation, a strange kind of joy...one he had experienced only as a child.

But he tried to calm himself; feelings did not equate to reality and he would do better to keep a level head. So far, in the stillness of the night, not even an owl hooted. It was as if the whole world was holding its breath.

And then there was a mighty roar, so close by that the sound waves were powerful enough to shake Lan Zhan's stance; he immediately summoned WangJi and began strumming, sending out blue pulses of spiritual energy to suppress whatever it was.

It must be big for it to emit such loud noises; and as Lan Zhan got closer, he heard the sounds of it thrashing among the trees trying to get away. And then he hadca breakthrough.

He flew towards a clearing at top speed, aiming to get there and descend before whatever it was, could, and thereby attacking with the element of surprise. He was correct for guessing where it was going, but not at all prepared for its size or its ferocity.

Huge fangs dripping with blood came into view first, followed by a massive head with round black eyes, at least twenty surrounding it like a crown. The beast was hairy and was crawling with eight legs but bore no resemblance to a spider...or anything else that Lan Zhan had ever seen before. Its long and spiked tail was attacking the trees with gusto, the sound of splintering trees and wood echoing into the quiet, while it snarled and spat.

And then, Lan Zhan heard a melody the likes of which had never met his ears before. At once, powerful and imbued with spiritual energy, it cut through the dense foliage to attack the beast, who roared defiantly, turning to attack....Wei Ying!

Wei Ying!

Wei Ying was here!

Lan Zhan couldn't believe it, couldn't believe his eyes and what he was seeing.

Wei Ying in all his splendid glory, his beauty unhindered by the clouds of resentment energy swirling around him, gearing up to attack the beast. His long ebony hair was tied up in a dishevelled ponytail, his red ribbon fluttering with his black and red robes, his sharp silver eyes watching the beast who was currently watching both of them at the same time.

A cornered animal was unpredictable and ten times more ferocious and this proved to be the case. It decided that Lan Zhan was easier as a target and jumped thirty feet into the air to attack, its claws ready to shred him to pieces, but it did not know the prowess of its intended prey yet, nor the vicious abilities of Bichen, who attacked it  from behind, blinding several of its eyes with one stroke.

The creature shrieked and wailed, even as Wei Ying rose up to shroud it in black whispering whirls funnelling his powers and while those smoky tendrils attacked, Wei Ying sent his sword flying into the thick of it.

One deafening scream later, it launched itself clear and shot towards him.

Lan Zhan looked on, his fingers strumming relentlessly as they both attacked, trying to subdue this strange creature.

Wei Ying deftly and nimbly scooted out of the way, his sword scoring a long and wide gash on the creature's back, but it turned in mid air, in control of its body mass like no other beast Lan Zhan had ever seen.

But now, Wei Ying was too close and in danger! Lan Zhan pushed him out of the way just in time but couldn't prevent his own back from receiving those claws as they slashed through his robes, sharper than any blade.

Wei Ying's eyes had widened in first shock at being physically removed from the attack, but then surprise as Lan Zhan saw recognition in his eyes, followed by pain.

The fact that Lan Zhan was hurt fuelled his ire, and Wei Ying attacked with a matching ferocity, keeping an eye on Lan Zhan at the same time.

The melody became sharper, a condensed scream of notes designed to attack from within as the creature succumbed to madness, but it launched one final attack.

Lan Zhan was having difficulty staying upright, and the beast saw. It slashed with its tail, the spikes having slashed the front of his chest, and Lan Zhan fell, unable to keep his balance. But while the creature was distracted, Wei Ying delivered the killing blow, his sword piercing through its thick hide to thrust straight into its heart.

One last eardrum shattering howl as it plummeted to the ground, falling in a heap of fur and broken bones.

Wei Ying had seen Lan Zhan fall, too far away to save him, and now fear struck his heart as he shot through the trees to find him.

Lan Zhan...this was his Lan Zhan...the little boy who had stood so fiercely in front of the Lord and Master of The Universe, just to defend Wei Ying.

He wanted to cry at the sight that greeted him; Lan Zhan was on the ground, in a pool of blood, the same of which was dripping from his mouth as he struggled to breath.

"No! NO! IT CANNOT BE!" Wei Ying shouted, landing next to him.

He cradled Lan Zhan's head in his lap, tears falling on his face.

"I was coming to meet you...I promised..." He couldn't speak any more, holding him tight.

Lan Zhan was torn between two extremes; his body was on fire and he knew he wouldn't last much longer, but he was overjoyed as seeing Wei Ying, finally seeing him here.

His arm rose, as his fingers touched that soft cheek.

"Wei Ying!" He whispered with difficulty, his yellow eyes blazing with some emotion. "You came back...I...I.. knew you would. You always...k-keep...your promises."

"Hush now, you stupid boy!" Wei Ying cried, his voice merely a whisper. "Why did you put yourself in danger?"

He began transferring spiritual energy to him, trying to keep him alive, and calling upon the Lord and Master of The Universe - only He could help now.

"Didi?!!" The anguish-filled cry echoed in the air as several cultivators landed.

XiChen could not believe what he was seeing, his beautiful baby brother, drenched in scarlet blood, more pooling around his body.

No! This wasn't possible! He rushed to kneel at his side.

"What happened?" He cried, blinded by his own tears.

"He saved me." Wei Ying told him, sadly.

"It's alright, Xiongzhang." Lan Zhan struggled to breathe and talk, both becoming ever more difficult.

There was a sudden flash of brilliant white light, causing everyone to gasp and shield their eyes from the glare. Standing in a halo of brightness, was the Lord and Master of The Universe.

"Please, please, save him!" Wei Ying cried. "I'll do anything, anything you want. Please..." His voice faded away, filled with grief.

"Anything, you say?" His deep voice echoed around them.

Wei Ying looked up to see a twinkle in his eyes, and for the first time, he had hope.

The Lord and Master of The Universe stretched out his arms so his palms were facing Lan Zhan and he began chanting. The entire clearing was filled with a pulsating white light, only suffered by closing their eyes.

When the brightness faded, and they were able to open them, all present were in a daze, unbelieving of what their eyes showed them.

Lan Zhan, perfect and whole, stood in a white halo encompassing all of his body. He checked himself, his arms and legs, making sure he was alright.

"What have you done?" He asked, baffled and relieved.

He let out an "oof!" as he was engulfed in steel hug, his brother weeping in his arms.

"The price for dealing with that creature was freedom, but since you both dealt with it equally, and because you were on the cusp of gaining immortality, you only needed a nudge." L&M replied, wryly. "And you..." He turned to Wei Ying who was still crying silently, quietly amazed. "You are free from all service. You may do as you wish."

They all bowed and he vanished.