"Ying-Er, is that a letter?"

"Yes, Mama."

"Xiaolian?"

"Yes, Mama..."

"Ying-Er?" Cangse Sanren scooted closer to her son. "Anything the matter? You sound... distant...?"

"Mama................"

"A-Ying!" Lan Zhan walked in through the wide open doors of Cangse Sanren's house.

"A-Zhan!" Wei Wuxian dumped the letter on the table and ran to the door, giving his husband a big hug. "Where were you? You weren't here when I woke up!"

"I told A-Ying."

"Last night? Ah, you went to Nie-xiong's conference. Sorry, sorry, I forgot and I was worrying... I missed you, darling," he nuzzled his nose on Lan Zhan's chest.

Lan Zhan chuckled softly.

"Ey? Is that a laugh I heard?" He looked up at the Jade's face.

"It's noon. You probably just woke up?"

"Yeah, yeah," Wei Wuxian grinned, eyes squeezing shut under the smile of his cheeks. "But even if it's just three hours since I woke up, I missed you, you dummy! Hmph!"

"Mn," Lan Wangji nodded. "Three seconds would have been enough for me."

"To miss me? Had I gone?"

"Mn."

Wei Wuxian melted into his arms.

Lan Zhan bent down and kissed his forehead. "Why's Mama so........... worried?" He nodded towards their mother, seated beside the table, frowning as she read the letter Wei Wuxian had tossed away.

"Oh......... that................. Come on, come sit with us," Wei Wuxian held him by the arm and made him sit beside him at the table. "On second thoughts..." he grinned and sat on Lan Zhan's lap, arms propped up on the table. "There, you aren't going anywhere else for the day."

"Mn."

"Mama? You read it?"

"Yes, I was waiting for you two to finish," she laughed.

"MAMA!" Wei Wuxian pouted, blushing furiously. Indeed, he had absolutely forgotten she was there.

"Haha! Zhan-Er, there you are, this silly idiot's been whining about you for the past three hours to me, Sizhui, Jingyi, Lan Hao, Jin Xiyi, Lan Qiang, Wen Qionglin, everyone he could find. Even Yuanhua!"

"Mama! Hush!"

"What hush, I'm telling it all, hahahaha! And you know what he said to Xiyi?"

"AAAAARGH!" Wei Wuxian screamed above her voice. "LA LA LA LAAAA! CAN'T HEAR YOUUUUU!"

Lan Zhan nodded to Cangse Sanren and silently put the silencing charm on Wei Wuxian.

"CAN'T HEAR– MMMM! Mhmmmm!"

"What is it, Mama?" Lan Zhan grinned.

"He said..." she winked to a pouting Wei Wuxian. "That he wished he was a girl like Xiyi, so that he could bear child like Xiyi, and then you'd have to stay put in Cloud Recesses without going around for work, like Jingyi."

Wei Wuxian growled.

Another soft chuckle escaped Lan Wangji's smiling lips. "A-Ying, really?"

Wei Ying growled again.

"You sound more like a Kun Peng than a human right now."

"Mmmm!"

Lan Zhan smiled and removed the charm.

"You're becoming too good at cracking jokes!"

"Thanks to you," Lan Zhan smiled. "Now, what's the matter, Mama? Letter?" He asked, pointing to the paper in her hands, wrapping his arms around Wei Ying's waist and pulling him closer onto his lap to shut him up.

"Yes, Zhan-Er. Xiaolian sends a letter every two weeks to Ying-Er... This one......... Tell me, Zhan-Er, what happened at the conference?"

So Lan Wangji related the details of everything that had passed. All the plans that were made, the distribution of tasks and the tackling of the problem.

"Beasts under control by the Qiong Qi, eh?" Cangse nodded slowly. "Deadly... only three beasts so far... And judging from Xiaolian's letter.............." She sighed. "She seems to be able to help you all."

"Ah?"

"Yes, I thought the same, Mama," Wei Wuxian nodded. "A-Zhan, Xiaolian's come across another beast. It had been some... ox or something?"

"Yes, an animal with..." Cangse Sanren referred to the letter. "Ox head, with horns and all. Body of a rhinoceros. An ox-rhino combo should be screaming 'strength' on its own. But this thing had nearly killed her!"

"Did she kill it?"

"No, she hadn't been able to, the thing was just beyond strong! She's actually compared it to Nie Mingjue," Cangse Sanren laughed.

"Injured?"

"No, Zhan-Er. I mean yes, a bruise or two, but no severe injuries, she had gotten out of it quick."

"Has she treated herself?"

"She has. I'm glad to see you're... improving relations with her?"

"Mn?"

"You care for her now."

"A-Ying will be worried if she's hurt."

Cangse Sanren smiled and nodded.

Wei Ying sighed. "A-Zhan... Stubborn Lan. Well? What are you thinking about?" He asked, pinching Lan Zhan's cheek because his eyes seemed far away.

"Where is Xiaolian now?" Lan Zhan frowned.

"Baipaozixiang. Why?"

"Two things. One, A-Ying and I will go now. Kill that beast. Or else the nearby villages will face trouble."

"Baipaozixiang is closest to Bailing so it's under the Ouyang sect?" Wei Wuxian asked. "Maybe we could just let Zizhen know?"

"It'll take too long. Zizhen travelling from Bailing to Baipaozixiang will take long."

"True, who knows what will happen by then?" Cangse Sanren nodded her agreement.

"If as strong as said, it can harm Zizhen. Can't leave Xiuying alone at his sect."

"Oh man, so many side-troubles," Wei Wuxian sighed. "My darling thinks very very far, doesn't he? Fine then, I'm up for a fight!"

Hearing that, Lan Wangji went off into a reverie, staring at his hands clasped at his husband's navel.

"A-Zhan? A-Zhan?"

"Zhan-Er? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Mama," Lan Zhan shook his head. "I just realised... A-Ying?"

"Yes, love?"

"Are you going on a night hunt?"

"Tonight? Hm... Ah, yes. We're going two nights in a row. Tonight, and tomorrow night. Sizhui and Jingyi said they missed going on night hunts recently because of work. Xiyi will be left in Mama's and Qiang-Er's care. And Sizhui said something about Little Rulan coming to leave Mingxia in his hands the day after, third night," Wei Wuxian explained.

"Then fine. A little suggestion, A-Ying. I'll need Mama's help," Lan Zhan spoke aloud.

"What is it?"

"I want A-Ying to stay back. Today, I'm leaving now to Baipaozixiang. I'll handle the beast. The beast majors in strength, I can handle that, A-Ying can't. And... I want A-Ying to stay behind and stay on guard here."

"Here? You're not thinking we'll be attacked, right?"

"Can't tell. Just in case."

"Okay then, I'll stay here. And about the night-hunting?"

"A-Ying come with us tonight. But tomorrow night, A-Ying stay with Mama."

"HUH?"

"This is where I need your help, Mama, to hold him back," Lan Zhan pleaded.

Cangse Sanren chuckled. "Will do, son!"

"But whyyyyyy! They're my sons too, you know!"

"A-Ying... I think I know what the beast manipulators are planning for. Do you mind?"

"Why don't you tell me your ideas? You're leaving me in the dark, A-Zhan!"

"I won't tell until I've confirmed things. I need proof. A-Ying," he gripped his waist tighter. "Believe in me."

"Hm... the way you put it it's like tomorrow night, they'll attack or send a new beast, and I won't be there, it'll just be you three, what am I to do? Do you expect me to sit back and wait for you to come? What if something happens to you? What if they send some really awful thing this time? What if it's more than a normal lion or wolf, some beast like the Kun Peng or close to the Qiong Qi itself? And this trip to Baipaozixiang. What if something happens to you? WHAT am I to do?"

"That's a lot of 'what if's, Ying-Er," Cangse Sanren shook her head. "You're worrying too much! Jingyi's Head Elder Lan. Zhan-Er's Hanguang-Jun. Sizhui's Shuijing-Jun! You really think they'll find it hard to tackle a useless beast?"

"Hmph," Wei Wuxian pouted.

"Stop being childish," Cangse chided. "Zhan-Er, leave him to me. Are you leaving now?"

"Mn," he gently slid Wei Wuxian off his lap onto the ground and stood, Bichen in his hand. "I might come home late tonight. We'll leave on the night hunt right after."

"Whatever," Wei Wuxian sulked.

"Qiang-Er, you and Lan Hao will be left to take care of the sect on the next night, that should be enough, right? Mama's here too."

"Hm."

Lan Zhan sighed. "A-Ying, I'm sorry..."

"Nah, I understand. BUT you better take care! Come back home tonight with a single cut and I'm declaring war with you for a week!"

Lan Zhan smiled, interpreting the 'declaring war with you' as 'not talking to you'. "Understood, Second Madam Lan."

"Cheeky brat," Wei Wuxian smirked, not even looking at him. He turned his back to Lan Zhan who watched him from the door. Ignoring the glare his mother was giving, he held up his hand. "Take this! Fly on your sword, and you'll be tired to fight. Long journey. It's already enchanted to take you straight to a wine store in the nearby town, couple miles from there is the forest."

Lan Wangji smiled when he saw the blue teleportation talisman he held up. Nodding his gratitude, he took it. When he turned around to walk out again, Wei Wuxian stopped him.

"Anything you forgot?"

"Mm... no."

Wei Ying rolled his eyes angrily. He didn't turn to wave goodbye, just shouted "Take care!"

"Mn," Lan Wangji nodded and vanished.

"Ying-Er..." Cangse Sanren wagged her finger. "You're being naughty. Where're your manners? What's with the sulking and grumpiness? Don't you know to be nice to your husband?"

"Mama..." Wei Wuxian pulled a long face.

"What is it?"

"I missed him for THREE HOURS! And he's gone AGAIN!"

"You know he's only worried for the people. Come on, you should understand him better than anyone! My Ying-Er won't be angry because Zhan-Er paid more attention to the people than to you! Tell me the truth."

"I... can't tell you..." Wei Wuxian blushed and looked down at his twiddling thumbs.

"There's nothing you can't tell me. Plus," she grinned, flipping her hair. "I've passed your age!" She winked. "Is it because you woke up to find him not in bed with you?"

"No, I panicked at first but... he did tell me he's leaving in the morning..."

"Then what is it?"

"HE FORGOT!"

"Forgot what?"

"My morning ritual!"

Cangse Sanren burst into giggles. "Seriously? I wonder what it is."

"A 'good morning' kiss! He gives it everyday, without fail! But he didn't give it today! I waited for him to give it when he came back but no! You heard him! He said he didn't forget anything! Lousy bastard, he actually forgot it!"

"Aish, Ying-Er, he did give you a peck here!" Cangse laughed, tapping his forehead.

"That's the forehead! It's not the same! Doesn't count," he humphed.

Cangse doubled up laughing. "I thought it was something serious. Ying-Er... I really don't know how he puts up with you! My pouting baby XianXian," she chuckled.

Wei Ying gulped. "X–... Xian............... Xian?"

"Why? That's what you are! Oh? What's with the confused look? Ah, that's what I used to call you."

"But... you said you called me Ying-Er..."

"That's all the time. But your father and I called you our 'baby XianXian' whenever you were pouting because you wanted a toy or a piggyback ride on his shoulders," she laughed at the sweet memory. "Ying-Er? What's wrong? Ying-Er!" She cried, seeing her sons's eyes willing up.

Sniff! "Nothing, Mama," he buried his face in her chest, bending down and scooting into her arms. "I've told you about my Shijie, yes?"

"You have," she smiled, patting his back.

"Shijie used to call me that, too. I... She..." Sniff! "She said I was her three-year-old baby XianXian... I didn't know why but when she first called me that, I was so happy and smiling that she decided to call me that more often. I loved the name... now I know why................"

"Aww, sweet angel," she hugged him closer. "Your Shijie is a darling. Some hidden part of your brain might have remembered the sound of 'XianXian', that's why... Come now, don't cry! Ying-Er's a strong boy!"

"Hmph, you should see the way the strong and muscular Hanguang-Jun cries," he laughed through his tears.

"If he ever has cried... it's your fault that he cries whenever he does, so don't laugh at it," she scolded.

"He'll never shed a single tear again, I swear on Mama," Wuxian smiled and rubbed his face on her shoulders, wiping away the dampness.

"Good boy. Sweet angel's a good boy," she cooed, rubbing his back, stroking his hair as the shaking shoulders slowly stilled. 

**********

Crash! Thud! Boom! The beast appeared to be crashing through the woods at top speed, with full force. 

"Good thing A-Ying's not here," Lan Zhan sighed, relieved, as he unsheathe Bichen and pulled out Wangji. 

The ox-rhino hybrid dashed out of the thicket in his direction, enraged by the scent of the talismans on his Lan clothes. It kept trying to zoom towards him to attack, but the talismans repelled it. Somewhere into the chase, Lan Zhan saw clear green eyes flaring for a bare second, and the beast appeared to have gained a booster. 

Lan Wangji's own strength and speed having been multiplied by immortality, he dodged swiftly and lunged ruthlessly, Bichen slashing at the rhino feet, occasionally strumming the strings on Wangji to momentarily confuse the fiend. 

On and on, for what felt like an hour, but was really twelve minutes, Lan Wangji parried and struck. So far, the rhino's body was injured in quite a few places. The ox head, however, remained unharmed thanks to the sharp horns that adorned it.

All at once, probably gaining a second boost because it needed it badly, the ox-rhino rammed its head towards Lan Wangji. Lan Zhan ducked and spiralled away extremely fast — but just not fast enough.

The tip of the horn grazed across his arm, cutting right through the skin, leaving a big gash as he groaned and clutched at it, stumbling to the ground several feet away from it in pain.

The beast slowed down and turned its head to see its target lying on the ground and immediately thundered at him.

Lan Zhan raised Bichen readily with the other hand, cutting its front limb as he rolled away. He could sense the presence of someone else. Something or someone... he couldn't tell which. But his spiritual energy alerted him, recognising the presence as another possible threat. But he could hardly think clearly. His head had hit the ground when he toppled over and now the concussion was slowly kicking in. He clutched his head, slamming Bichen's handle into the side of his forehead to summon what consciousness remained. 

He couldn't lose to some rhinoceros, what nonsense! 

Rising to his feet, he slashed again, this time, fierce and forceful out of plain frustration, cutting into its stomach dreadfully deep. And yet, through the agony and the bleeding, the ox-rhino crashed towards him again.

Flinching at the onslaught, Lan Zhan gripped Bichen tighter, ready to chop the head off this time. But just then, he felt as though a light blew out in his head. Losing consciousness at the speed of dropping down a cliff, he felt himself helplessly falling onto the forest floor.

Just then, something else rushed in, shooting through the forest into the fight.

Tsk, that presence... another demon! He moaned and tried to stand, but at some incomprehensible point in the battle, the ox had managed to injure his leg as well. As the world faded into black, he heard the vague sound of something slitting apart. The wound in his leg seemed to crack open, so he clutched at it tight, and fell back, body going lax.

On something soft...