Leaving behind all the chaos, I pull the reign of Lil'Apple as Wei looks contended whilst breathing the fresh air.

"Lan Zhan" his eyes are closed as he welcomes the first rays of sun that lovingly caresses his face "the last few days seems like a dream, doesn't it?" a smile teases his lips "I am so happy right now" he sighs and opens his eyes. "You're quiet. Is everything alright?" He enquires and and I smile "Hm".

"Lan Zhan, you're now the Chief Cultivator! You cannot give monosyllabic answers. You need to go beyond 'Hm'!" He grins and I smile again. "Also, I don't ever think I would be exhausted seeing you smile" he pulls my hand to him and kisses my knuckles "but that said, those are mine and mine only. Save it for me" he winks.

"Wei Ying?" His face looks so radiant right now, I wish I could keep him by my side for eternity to come "there is something I need to tell you" but before that he needs to know one truth. The utmost truth.

"What?" He questions and before I could answer we hear hurried footsteps behind us and soon a pair of Black and White appear in front of us.

"Hey, why were you two leaving without saying goodbye?" Sizhui's eyes are full of apprehension "we were worried and I" he pauses and looks at me and then back at Wei Ying "I wanted to ask you something Senior Wei". I look at Wen Ning and he nods. So Sizhui remembers everything.

"Sure kid! What is it that you wanted to ask?" Wei smiles kindly and Sizhui, taking a deep breath continues "There was a man, back in a mountain. Dressed in rags and hated radishes. There was a child with him who always clung to his legs" Sizhui implores Wei to understand, who looks perplexed "He planted that child on the ground and very confidently stated that many children like him will grow too!"

"Wha..?" Before Wei could contemplate, Sizhui continues "He promised Hanguang-Jun for a meal, but... In the end he never even paid for it" fresh tears were streaming from Sizhui's eyes and Wei was dumbfounded "Wait how do... You're that kid?" He looks at me "Lan Zhan, Siz... Wait, Lan Sizhui... Lan Yuan... A Yuan? You're A Yuan?" Wei questions and Sizhui breaks down, pulling Wei Ying into a tight hug.

"I thought no one from the Wen Clan survived. How? Lan Zhan it was you who save him didn't you?" His eyes glaze with pain that I was too familiar with and I nod "Hm".
Not the one to leave a moment alone, the very next second an emotional Sizhui pulls me into a hug too. A breath away from Wei, we look into eachothers eyes and a familiar longingness within me seeps out. Standing in between us, his arms around both of us, I slowly pat his back to calm him down.

I remember a time when he was a child and he was crying for a reason he wasn't aware but I knew, his heart missed his family. He crawled onto my lap and slept. He said I was his comforter.  That same child today has finally gotten back his only family.

"How did you remember?" Wei enquires as he wipes away Sizhui's tears and he smiles "Oh it was because of your flute. I got back all my memories."

"No wonder you did, I remember you loved munching on Chenqing." Wei grins and Sizhui's ears turn pink. "Hanguang-Jun, you taught him well" Wei praises and I smile "Well he was your student first".

"Yes yes, I taught him well too" Wei boasts while Sizhui looks at him "Nope. You didn't teach me anything. Hanguang-Jun is my teacher!"

"What? Ofcourse I taught to so many things" Wei retorts and Sizhui nods "Yes yes, you did. You taught me how to cover up adult rated books and make it look like a normal book"

Baffled Wei shouts "What? No! Why would I teach a child about that! Lan Zhan don't believe him!" at that I patiently look at Wei while Sizhui tries to defend himself. Really Wei Ying, why am I not surprised that you could teach a child about such shameless act?  Yes, I believe Sizhui cause you were the one to introduce my pure self to such indecent books.

When he knew I won't be supporting him, Wei looks at Sizhui teasingly and comments "By the way, when you were young you clung to Lan Zhan's feet and refused to let him go and also" looking at me he winks "you called him Dad in front of the crowd. Poor Lan Zhan, such a young lad and already a Dad!" He laughs and Sizhui starts apologising "Sorry Hanguang-Jun, please I didn't mean that!!!" He starts crying and Wei Ying laughs.

As we walk out of the clearing Wen Ning stops and we look at him "Master Wei, Hanguang-Jun, this is where I part" he bows down "You have always asked me to follow my heart and that is what I wish to achieve. I want to find more about my sect and my people and in due course, I want to build a memorial for my sister".

I could see the understanding in Wei's eyes yet his sadness to part with his sole friend was also evident.

"Senior Wei, Hanguang-Jun, I would like to help Senior Wen in his quest! Permission?" He looks at me and I nod.

"Take care of yourself Wen Ning and know that I am always there for you. If you need anything, just call for me. Alright? Sizhui take care of yourself and Wen Ning for me!" Wei bows and they reciprocate. Watching them leave was melancholy. "They'll be safe, don't worry. You'll see Wen Ning and Sizhui again. I'll even talk to brother to let Wen Ning stay in quarter close to Cloud Recess" with humble gratitude in his eyes, he smiles and nods.

Taking Lil'Apple's reigns in my hand, we walk upto the edge of the cliff. The dawn that was greeting us back then is now beautiful and full of hope. The tranquility between us is bliss at best and no words were much needed but the departure was inevitable. Our time was nearing and he knew it.

"Lan Zhan" was all he whispered and I knew he wanted me to say those words. Unable to look at him, I close my eyes and feel the warmth of the sun on me or maybe it was his love that made me feel warm.

"I need to leave" I say those painful words and even though they were of the utmost truth, it didn't lessen the agony "I once told brother that nothing could ever come inbetween Wei Ying and me. No one" I pause and I seek the courage from within me "but I did promise him that when he needs me, I'll always be there for him". When I look at Wei, the warmth in his eyes skips my heart beat.

"Lan Zhan, I understand. ZewuJun told me everything. Things that happened all those years ago. He was there for you emotionally. It's your time now to support him too. Words won't suffice but your mere presence will be enough for him" Wei smiles sadly.

"Do you want.." he stops me before I could continue "Years ago you asked me to come back to Gusu with you. I didn't want to. Today nothing would make me more happy but I can't. There are so many unfinished works that needs our attention. You're now the Chief Cultivator. The realm needs you more. Your clan needs you and above all Elder Lan needs to come to terms of accepting me as your partner. I don't wish to disrupt any of that" he cups my face "This Yiling Patriarch may not be 'by" your side but will always be with you. You solve the chaos over there and I shall roam this realm and help you out here".

"Hm" was all I could say at this moment and I cup his neck to bring his forehead to mine.

"Lan Zhan, I hope this is not a goodbye... forever?" He whispers and I look into his eyes.

"This is not a goodbye, my Wei Ying. This is just the beginning. I waited for you, to be united with you for three decades. I can wait a little longer to be with you once again" I kiss his forehead and he grins.

"If that's the case Lan Zhan, then I'll be here for you. Once you're done being Hanguang-Jun, come and find me. I'll be waiting" he kisses my cheeks "I have crossed the bridge for you Lan Zhan and I am waiting for you in the middle. I'll wait for an eternity if you want, but love the day you come into my arms, I am not letting you go" he winks and I smile.

Remembering that I have a gift I have been carrying with me for so long, I take out the box and hand it over to him.
(A/n: this is the same gift from the 'Innocence Chapter' when Lan Zhan was buying a gift for Wei Ying when he was buying the rouge)

"Lan Zhan" he gasps "this is so beautiful like you" he winks "but a hairpin?"he enquires softly and I tenderly cup his cheeks and set my heart out.

"All those years ago after the Siege, when I was finally in a position to visit the Burial Mountain, it was traumatic for me to witness every single thing that once belonged to you charred to the ground. As I roamed aimlessly, my eyes sought your red ribbon and for a moment I was ecstatic. Happy that I finally had something of yours. Suibian and Chenqing were already conquered by then. When I picked your tattered Red Ribbon, no matter how careful I was, a light wind blew past by and all that remained were the leftover ashes that scattered freely around me never to be seen again. That day I lost you again, Wei Ying. This pin..." I pause as I try to accept that memory "if anything were to happen to you again and when I try to find you..." I pause and he continues "you know this would still be a part of this world" he whispers my thoughts out loud and I nod.

"Lan Zhan, until the day we meet again, I'll wear this. This is my promise and" he pulls my chin up and locks his eyes with mine "nothing will happen to me" he smiles lovingly and I close my eyes to safe keep the memory.

Our time was nearing and I look at him "Wei Ying, before I leave, I once want to play our music together. Will you oblige me?" and he grins "Yes".

Together that day we play the music I once composed for him. The one that he played when I found him again.

Our song.

As he mounts Lil'Apple he looks at me and with the exuberance I knew is always a part of him, he says "Lan Zhan, I have always asked you what's the name of the song and you never told me" he shakes his head "don't tell me today. Tell me when we meet again."

"Hm"

"Promise?"

"I promise" I smile for him and he chuckles "alright Lan Zhan, I know you always keep up your promises" he sobers up and the longingness is evident.

Time stops for us as I grab his nape and pull him down for a kiss "I love you, Wei Ying".

"I love you, Lan Zhan. Forever and Always".

I hear him play our song and my steps falter as I wait for the music to fade away. Once I could no longer hear him or the Chenqing I make a vow, a vow to meet soon... Until we meet again, my Wei Ying.

(Tomorrow sung by Jai Waetford. Please listen to this music...this is exactly how I feel right now)

And their story continues...