The forests glistened a silvery green in the rising sunlight. Wei Wuxian, riding atop his Lil' Apple, didn't need to shield his eyes: he was used to Lan Wangji's glowing brightness every day, this light of some random Sun was nothing. Wei Wuxian twirled Chenqing between his fingers as he sat there, bent forward to lean on Lil' Apple, his head propped up on one hand, smiling impishly as he watched the glorious beauty walking beside him.

Lan Wangji walked along, his left hand holding Lil' Apple's rein, while his right hand held Bichen. The hefty white bag hanging from his shoulder. Long, silk, jet-black hair swished behind him as he strolled on. Curiously, his lips were constantly turned up at the tips, ever since they'd entered the woods of Gusu, beyond which the villages they were to visit were.

"A-Zhan?"

"Mn?"

"What are you smiling for?"

Lan Zhan shook his head. "Memory."

"Oh? Mind sharing?"

"Just remembered the way we travelled like this before marrying. No difference at all."

Wei Ying grinned. "True. Even then we went like this, husband holding the reins and– um... er..."

Now, Lan Zhan's smiled widened. "Wife sitting atop."

"Lan Zhan! Who says I'm your wife?" Wei Ying pouted, cheeks red as cherry. 

"I do."

"Why you–! Mmm!"

Lan Zhan had leant in to shut his mouth. Somehow, Lan Zhan still kept walking through the kiss, and so did Lil' Apple, albeit raspberry-blowing his mouth in frustration. 

Within the first morning and afternoon they had surveyed at least ninety percent of the villages of outer Gusu. Why were they that fast? The people just didn't have problems at all! Either of their Jades, be it Hanguang-Jun or Zewu-Jun, solved all problems the instant any appeared. Zewu-Jun's lookouts had taken care of the villagers for quite a long time, ridding their lives of all supernatural disturbances.

Occasionally, at those few villages with no guards, there were a couple of demons for the two to handle. Lan Zhan spent the morning exorcising and finishing off the water and mountain demons, while Wei Ying tried his best to call off Lan Zhan in order to save the less harmful ones and send them back to their Ghost Realm. The daytime passed thus, until the Sun decided it was time to go to bed. 

The two partners looked up at the sky while walking, mesmerised by the beautiful shading. Maroon, magenta, amber, vermillion and flaxen took over the skies as evening arrived.

"A-Zhaaaaan..."

"Mn?"

"Can we stop for today? Find a place to rest?"

"Why?"

"WHY?!?! YOU ASK ME WHY? We've been exorcising since MORNING!"

"Is Wei Ying tired?"

"TIRED? My legs are exhausted, head's aching, eyes are drooping, chest's paining–"

Lan Zhan immediately stopped walking and turned to him. "Ah, no-no, I meant paining out of tiredness."

Lan Zhan eyed him. Then he looked up to check the position of the Sun. "Six. A-Ying should take the medicine."

"But let's find an inn to stay first, so I can have wine after the potion, it's too bitter. The taste's still there from morning."

"Oh?" Lan Zhan leant in again and kissed him, sucking on lips and tongue alike, before pulling away again. "Mn, still there."

Wei Ying ogled at him, red-faced. "LAN ZHAN!"

"No need of an inn. I brought A-Ying's wine. We'll rest here."

"Here? In the wild?"

"Mn."

"A-Zhan, you're too rich to be saving up!"

Lan Zhan shook his head. "Wild's good. Next village is far away." With that, Lan Zhan held out his hand for Wei Ying to step down. Once Wei Ying was on the ground, Lan Zhan took Lil' Apple and tied his rein to a sturdy tree nearby. They were in a cleared path that snaked through the woods, and had plenty of space to be in.

Lan Zhan dug into the bag and brought out the bottle of medicine, pouring it into the lid. The instant Wei Ying had drunk it, he replaced the lid at his mouth with a jar of Emperor's Smile. Wei Ying happily gulped down the whole jar out of thirst, before handing it back to Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan kept the bottle in a corner of the clearing.

Wei Ying flopped down on the clearing, moaning out of exhaustion. Lan Zhan placed the bag aside and looked around. Absolutely perfect solitude. His eyes twinkled as he spotted Wei Ying almost dozing off, before kneeling down on top of him.

"A– A-Zhan?"

Lan Zhan smiled. Something in the wistful smile triggered Wei Ying's playfulness, making him laugh and toss his hands around the other's neck. "A-Zhan, what's the rush, we've got so much time!"

"Three hours."

"Nope! You aren't sleeping at nine today, we're not in the Cloud Recesses! You," Wei Ying poked his chest with a sheepish grin. "You are staying up till midnight with me today," he arched his back to lift himself to Lan Zhan before whispering in the latter's ear his one most arousing name, "Lan-Er-Gege."

In seconds, Wei Ying had been firmly pinned down, robes undone and his lips kissed sore, while he shouted through it all breathlessly, "Goodness, A-Zhan, don't tell me you had Auntie Jing's aphro–"

Lan Zhan smirked and bit down on his lower lip.

"Is that a yes?!"

It certainly was. While the two rolled around on the grass sparkling with dew and the fallen autumn leaves, Wei Ying's moans of exhaustion were swiftly replaced with moans of unreserved ecstasy. 

**********

"A-Zhan. A-Zhan, wake up."

"Mn?" Lan Zhan opened dizzy eyes, still befuddled from last night's philtre. When he saw the surroundings, he smiled. "Wei Ying brought us here?"

"Yes! See, I can do it at will now!" Wei Ying was skipping on the grass of Guanyin's garden like a toddler with a rattle drum. Rattle drum. Lan Zhan stood up to look around to find their bag.

"A-Ying where's the bag?"

"Oh? I didn't bring it here... Oh look, there it is!" Wei Ying pointed to a patch of gentians nearby. Lan Zhan walked over and rummaged in it to find what he wanted, before walking back to where Wei Ying was dancing amidst the cherry trees. He walked up to his back and slithered his hands from the back around his waist, pulling him close. Lan Zhan slightly shook his hand. 

Bong! Bang! Rattle!

At the sounds, Wei Ying's face lit up and he took the rattle drum from his husband, shaking it to and fro merrily.

"A-Zhan, like it here?"

"Mn."

"How often do you want to come here?"

"Every night."

"Alright! Then we shall. Though we better hope the goddess won't hear us," Wei Ying chuckled cheekily, placing his hands on Lan Zhan's which were clasped around his waist. He turned his head sideways to see Lan Zhan laying his head on Wei Ying's shoulder.

"Mn. I'll set a silencing charm around the place next night."

"Okay!"

The two stood there in the Heavenly Realm's garden, letting the cherry blossom petals get entangled in their floating hair, breathing in the aroma of the multiple flowers and allowing the breeze to cool their heated skin. Neither moved for a long time, Lan Zhan hugging Wei Ying, four hands locked at the waist around a rattle drum, head on his shoulder, Wei Ying standing there his hands holding Lan Zhan's.

"A-Zhan?"

"Mn?"

"If I'd become immortal but you hadn't, what would you do?"

Lan Zhan thought for a few seconds. "I'd cultivate day and night to catch up, so I can be with A-Ying."

Wei Ying nodded happily. "But what if I couldn't become immortal, maybe because of my demonic core, but you did?" 

This time, there was no thinking. "I'd live with A-Ying. When A-Ying's time is up, I'll leave too."

The grip on Lan Zhan's hands tightened as he felt a droplet of water fall on their interlaced hands.

"A-Ying!" Lan Zhan quickly turned his husband around to find him looking down, silently sobbing. "A-Ying!"

"Nothing, A-Zhan, it's nothing, really. Just..." Wei Ying wiped his face. "You... Brat," he cried through another sob, flinging his fists at Lan Zhan's chest. "You talk about suicide so casually, don't you know it hurts?"

Lan Zhan blinked. "But I wasn't lying."

"A-Zhan! Apologise now!"

"Sorry for upsetting A-Ying, but I never lie to A-Ying."

Wei Ying's sobs multiplied. "A-Zhan! So if anything happens to me, you'll follow immediately?"

"I'm core-bound to A-Ying."

"If not?"

"I still will."

Wei Ying's fist slammed his chest again. "You won't even wait like last time?"

"There won't always be a Mo Xuanyu. Or Nie Huaisang. I'll find A-Ying in the Other Realm and follow A-Ying."

"A-Zhan..." Wei Ying whispered through the silent tears.

Lan Zhan equally silently pulled him into a hug, drawing circles on his back to calm him down. Slowly, the whimpers reduced.

"A-Zhan," Wei Ying sniffed, "that reminds me. Back then, you didn't burn paper money for me, did you?"

He felt the slight shake of Lan Zhan's head.

"Why?"

Lan Zhan was silent. Wei Ying pushed his head back to look into the distant golden eyes. "A-Zhan?"

"A-Ying never left." 

"What do you mean?"

"I tried Inquiry. No answer. So A-Ying never left. So I didn't burn paper money," Lan Zhan mumbled under his breath, looking down sadly.

"A-Zhan," Wei Ying cupped his face. "You mean you didn't believe I was gone? So you didn't?"

Lan Zhan let out a barely audible "Mn," avoiding his husband's eyes.

"A-Zhan. A-Zhan, look at me," Wei Ying demanded.

Lan Zhan looked up at Wei Ying, whose heart was pierced by the gleam of piteous guilt in Lan Zhan's eyes.

"A-Zhan, look here. Not one person seems to have sent me paper money or anything at all, and after returning, I used to wonder if nobody really cared for me. Then I was sad thinking even you didn't burn paper money for me. But then gege told me how you were punished and A-Yuan told me of you being sent to the caves for years. But even after you returned, you still didn't. This is the reason you didn't? Then what are you looking so sad for?"

"Sorry for making A-Ying sad."

"But you don't need to apologise! You believed I was still there somewhere, because you loved me. That's all I need to know!" Still, Lan Zhan's face didn't change.

Wei Ying smiled. Lan Zhan's heart could be smaller than a child's when sad. He planted a kiss on his forehead. "There, see? I forgave you."

That sure did light up Lan Zhan's expression. Wei Ying chuckled softly and hugged Lan Zhan, stroking his back. "A-Zhan should never look so sad again, understood? I can't take it."

"Mn."

"I love you."

"I love you too." 

**********

By the time they reached the next unguarded village, which was deep in the mountainside, next morning, Wei Ying had had enough of hills for the rest of his immortal lifetime. They strode into the village, keeping Lil' Apple outside. As they walked past, they sensed people staring and pointing at them: but instead of hostility, as Lan Wangji had expected, they were full of welcoming talk. Some bowed not only to Hanguang-Jun but also to the surprised man in black beside him.

"Hey, A-Zhan, what's going on?"

Lan Zhan shrugged, equally clueless.

"Look, there's a tavern. We'll go there and find out about the place," Wei Ying pointed to an inn to the right of the street. Lan Zhan nodded and the two set off towards the inn, but as they crossed the street something knocked on Wei Ying, making him topple to the ground — almost. Lan Zhan caught him by the arm and lifted him up. Wei Ying nodded to him and looked down.

"Yingxiong Laozu! Yingxiong Laozu!"

A massive crowd of children huddled together by his feet, crying out his new title. A hundred eyes glinted with awe at their star.

"Hello! What are you little ones doing here?"

"We came to see Yingxiong Laozu!"

Wei Ying smiled and kneeled on the path, letting the children surround him. "See me?"

"Yes!"

"Why?"

"Yingxiong Laozu is amazing!" a little girl cried.

"Yingxiong Laozu unveiled Jin Guangyao's plot!" A taller boy exclaimed.

"Yingxiong Laozu broke the Seal!" A little child, barely a five-year-old, shouted.

"Oh? And how do you know all that?" Wei Wuxian patted them, chuckling. "And you little one, how do you know?"

"Mummy and Daddy told me!" The smallest boy shouted.

"I see," Wei Wuxian nodded and looked up at Lan Zhan.

"The announcement must have reached them."

"Right, but how did they recognise me?" Wei Ying wondered, turning back to the children. "You guys know me?"

"Yes!"

"How did you recognise I'm Yingxiong Laozu?"

A girl of about age twelve shouted from the back of the crowd, "You came with Hanguang-Jun!"

Wei Wuxian crimsoned. That's how they recognised me? Jeez, how much do they know? Wei Wuxian laughed nervously. "Why don't you greet your Hanguang-Jun also?"

"Hanguang-Jun!" They waved to the tall man beside them, who nodded with a light smile. They immediately spun their focus back to Wei Wuxian, playing with his ribbon and hair.

Wei Wuxian chuckled. "Not as excited to see him?"

"Hanguang-Jun came here often before, Yingxiong Laozu came for the first time!"

"Oh? A-Zhan, you've been here?"

But the children shouted back the answer. "Hanguang-Jun came when he was Chief Cultivator!"

"Ah, right! Well, here I am now!"

The children squealed in delight at the friendliness of the Yingxiong Laozu. The smallest boy walked up to him and tapped on his nose.

Wei Wuxian giggled before asking what he wanted.

"Yingxiong Laozu carry me!"

"AH?"

The little one pouted. Clearly, this man in black was already his idol. Wei Wuxian chuckled and said, "Well, that's not right. I'd love to, but where are your parents?"

"There!" The boy pointed to the right of the street.

Some distance from the inn, several parents had gathered to watch the two heroes paying their children so much attention. Two parents waved at Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian gasped. They were smiling! They were actually smiling at him! Had they accepted him at last? Wei Wuxian nodded questioningly to the mother there. The lady smiled at him and nodded eagerly, giving her permission. Wei Wuxian picked up the toddler and threw him up and caught him, making him burst into giggles and shrieks of glee. After fooling around with the children for some time, Wei Wuxian finally stood up, wiping his brow.

"Don't you want your wine?" The voice sent shivers down Wei Ying's spine because it was a fond, tantalising whisper against his neck.

"A-Zhan," he whispered back. "We're out here, behave."

Lan Zhan smirked and stepped away towards the inn, nodding to the parents as he walked by.

Wei Ying stared at his undaunted husband before chasing him to the inn, merrily shouting 'Hello!' and waving to the onlookers.

Inside the inn, they settled at a table and Wei Ying ordered two bowls of soup and some wine. Seeing Lan Zhan paying straightaway in blocks of silver, and recognising the two cultivators, the waiter sprinted to the kitchen and back in seconds, bringing the best soup they had with the strongest wine. 

"Waiter, have there been any incidents in this place recently?"

"Well, no, not really. A couple of men deeper in the mountains have died in succession, we ignored it for a plague. But, thank goodness, you cultivators are here," the waiter rambled on. "We had a woman come wailing to our village, she lives in the hillside nearby. She claimed her husband had died suddenly, and that it was some demon that did it. Dirty tricks," the waiter huffed.

"Oh? Demon?" Wei Wuxian asked, swallowing the amazingly strong villagers' wine. Lan Zhan had to lean in to wipe the trickling wine from his mouth.

"Where is she?"

"Hanguang-Jun, she'll probably come here any minute now, once she hears you are here."

As if on cue, a middle-aged lady stumbled into the room, wailing loudly. "Hanguang-Jun, where's Hanguang-Jun?"