"Lan Zhan" Wei Ying murmurs against my neck "Can I take the young disciples to the nearby town today?" my fingers that were tracing his milky back stills and I raise my  eyebrows "why?" at that his eyes twinkle "I wanted to spend time with Sizhui, Jingyi and others".

Hmmm I know he's upto some mischief but it's perfect if he isn't around for what I have planned.

"Hm" I agree and he grins. His beautiful silky hair teases my chin and I am mesmerised by his lotus shaped eyes.

"What are you looking at Lan Zhan?" He enquires and I truthfully answer "You". He blushes and averts his gaze "Well that's one way to put it so bluntly".

"You did ask me to share what's in my heart" I clasp his chin and kiss his lips "and you're the one in my heart" my nails travel south and he gasps when I stroke him leisurely "Wei Ying" I bite his earlobe "do you want me?" he opens his eyes and the adoration in there is too much for me to bear as he moans "Everyday". Covering his body with mine, I abide by my promise.

Yunmeng.

It seems like a lifetime ago since I walked the paths of these streets. My feet takes me to the same spot where I once found him. My Wei Ying. I often wondered if I had offered him my hand and taken him back to Gusu with me, would we have been through all this pain? Would he have still retained his charm, his innocence, his heart?

My eyes sweep through the ground and I smile.

'What are you searching for Lan Zhan? After all these years still trying to find some remnants? It's time to bid this place a farewell. You finally found that boy and he's yours. Leave the sad memories behind and move on. I walk away. Away from the dust laden path and maybe one day I'll be back but this time not alone. I'll bring him too and reveal the fact that I did meet him. Not when he was 15 but when he was 5 years old.'

Making my way through the market I meet various vendors and even though I enquire, I am not satisfied with either the quality nor the answers. Frustrated I turn to leave when I hear my name being called "Hanguang-Jun?".

The man before me bows down immediately. He is the first commander in chief of the Yunmeng Sect. "We weren't aware that you would be gracing us with your presence. Had we known we would have prepared a better reception for you".

"Don't bother I was just passing by" I comment to ease his guilt but he insists on going back to Lotus Pier and in the end I had to agree.

Walking through the oppulance of The Yunmeng Sect main hall, the meeting which was going on comes to an abrupt halt when a dozen pair of eyes watch me enter.

"Wangji?" Jiang Cheng smiles as he welcomes me "this is a pleasant surprise" he turns to his ministers and dismisses the meeting. Gesturing me to take a walk with him he enquires "So what brings Hanguang-Jun to Yunmeng?" he raises his eyebrows and there is a glint of mischief that I once had observed in the young Jiang Cheng back when he had arrived in Gusu.

As we passed through the Lotus Pond, the subtle fragrance reminded me of my Wei Ying and his unique scent. When I kissed him back in the Phoenix Mountain, he had the same fragrance.

"Wei Ying often reminisced about Lotus Pier and the pods in here. Care to tell me where he spent most of his youth?" I probe and Jiang Cheng shakes his head "Wangji, to be frank I refuse to belive that you came here all the way just to know where Wei Wuxian spent his youth!" he smiles "nevertheless I will take you there myself".

The wind that blew past us carried the fresh smell of water. Joy and happiness were present here. Warmth was something that could be felt. People were genuinely smiling. I could find a lot of traits of Wei Ying here. They say a persons personality often reflects their place of residence and that was true in our case. He was brought up with warmth. I was brought up in such a stoic climate that it took a warm person to thaw my heart and make it warm.

"There" Jiang Cheng points me to a beautiful pond filled with varied hues of lotuses, some were pink some were deep purple. They were mesmerizing "it was here that you would find Wei Wuxian during his adolescent years often stealing pods or swimming around" he smiles fondly at the memories "Wei Wuxian was the heart of this place. Mother often punished him for his mischievous nature but that had no deterrent effect on him. He loved his life. For him rules meant no rules, maybe that was one reason we all thought he provoked you. Who knew it wasn't the rules but he was just following his heart" Jiang Cheng chuckles softly "Now Wangji, care to tell me the reason for your visit?".

I knew there was no way out. I needed help and right now the only one who could help me was Jiang Cheng and so I reveal my plan and he approves.

"Wangji" Jiang Cheng whispers my name softly "JieJie, if she were here she would approve your relationship with Wei Wuxian. You ground him. You have given him a family that maybe we couldn't give. When he was here, he was always in search of something. He had a beautiful life yet it was incomplete. I am glad you both found your way back to eachother" he bows and I reciprocate the respect.

Mounting Bichen, I leave Yunmeng.

"Lan Zhan!" I hear Wei call my name as he enters Jingshi "Where are you?"

"I am here" my gaze travells from the four jars of Emperor's Smile in his hand to his lotus shaped eyes as his widens when he takes in my attire.

"Were you in some kind of battle? Why do you look so unkempt and covered in mud?" He swipes the dirt off my cheeks and I catch hold of his wrist "Come with me". Entwining our fingers together, we walk the trail behind Jingshi. As we near the place, my heart skips a beat.

Will he like it?

I hope he does?

"Here" I gesture him to take a look and he gasps. His grip against the jar loosens and before it could hit the ground, I quickly clasps it's rein tied around its neck and carefully place them down.

Each of his steps are careful as his gaze is fixed on the Lotus Pond in front of him. Kneeling in front of the pond, the tips of his fingers causes delicate ripples. Some of the lotuses are planted whilst many are still seedlings underneath the water.

Does he like it?

"Wei Ying?" Unable to take the silence I call his name and his entire body stills.

Maybe he didn't like them? Too many painful memories?

I was to apologise when instantly he stands up and the next moment he jumps into my arms. The shock and under weight of the situation, I take a step back while my arms securely band him into my embrace.

"Wei Ying?"

His eyes seek mine and that's when my heart flutters. He has tears in them. The emotions swirling were that of love and happiness. Immense happiness. Gently he kisses my lips "Thank You for giving me back my childhood" another kiss "thank you for being so considerate of my feelings".

Wiping away his tears, I kiss his forehead "Thank You for coming to Gusu with me" at that he blushes "Stay here and enjoy. I'll freshen up and be back".

I watch him caress the petals of the lotus  with such affection reflecting in his eyes, I was glad I could bring a piece of his youth back to him. Wei Ying, I would love to bring back such thousand memories that would make you smile for infinity.

Sitting on my lap and leaning on my chest, his eyes glisten under the moonlight that reflects against the pond. Playing with the end of my tresses, he looks so precious, I kiss his head and hold him in my arms.

"When did you plan this Lan Zhan?" His voice is uber soft and I smile "You've always asked me to have some Lotus Pods with you and I have always denied your request. I no longer wish to deny any of your request. This is our home now and I wanted a part of you with me here" I look back at the purple lotus that stood proudly in middle of the pond "I went back to Yunmeng" he is surprised "What?" He enquires.

"Hm. I knew the best lotus pods are in Yunmeng. There I was taken to Lotus Pier and I asked Jiang Cheng where you spent your youth!" I smile when he gasps "Lan Zhan! You met Jiang Cheng?"

"Hm. That purple lotus in middle of the pond, that's the last bunch your Shijie had planted in Lotus Pier. When I informed Jiang Cheng about my plan, he gave them to me."

"What?" His voice is chocked with emotions "that's... Shijie's Lotus?".

"Hm"

The comforting calmness surrounds us as we together listen to the crickets chirping in the background.

"Lan Zhan" Wei takes a deep breath "back in Burial Mountain, I too had built a Lotus Pond but the pods growing there were poisonous due to the toxicity of the soil. I used those pods to make a talisman for Jin Ling to gift him when he was born. They were extremely powerful. It was to protect him. In the end, I couldn't" he tucks his face into my neck "thank you". It held a deep meaning.

No other words were needed. He was happy and that made me peaceful.

"Shall we sleep?" I ask and he nods. Carefully picking him up, we enter Jingshi. That night every touch of his was the warmth that this heart had lacked when I was young. He made me feel alive.

"Lan Zhan, I love you" his kiss is a promise.

"Wei Ying, I love you too" mine was his forever.