Wei Ying exited the bamboo hut, looking for his husband, who was nowhere to be seen.

Jiang Cheng came to him first.

"Why did Lan WangJi go off in a huff?"

"He's upset." Wei Ying wasn't sure how he felt, but the headache had gotten worse.

"What's wrong with you?" He clutched his arm as Wei Ying felt the world spin a little bit.

"My head hurts." He closed his eyes. The lack of light made him feel slightly better.

"Let's go back to the inn. Lan WangJi will come back in his own time." Jiang Cheng supported his weight and they walked back, Wen Ning following.

The rest of the Dragon Guard came behind them.

Chang Chao saw Wei Ying's state and asked Jiang Cheng about him.

"Just a headache. No need to worry, a nap will sort it out."

The moment he saw a bed, Wei Ying lay down in relief. He really only wanted Lan Zhan, but since he wasn't there, he hugged a pillow instead and closed his eyes.

Jiang Cheng left him alone after closing the blinds and making sure minimum light could pass.

Wei Ying's arm was starting to burn like it did every night, and coupled with his headache, he couldn't help but cry. He was also hungry but he didn't want to eat without Lan Zhan.

Where had he gone? Was he that upset? With him, or what the soothsayer had told them?

Plus there was so much to digest with everything they had found out. So much new information.

Wei Ying pulled out the knife and looked at it. At least the talismans were working.

"Can you hear me?" He whispered to it.

It vibrated slightly.

"I may have some good news for you. But I think we need to investigate more."

It moved again.

This time, Wei Ying put it in his sleeve so it touched his skin. Perhaps it was the coolness of the blade, or even what people had told him, but he felt a bit better.

*****

He woke up with the strangest sensation, as if he was being watched. Wei Ying sat up, disorientated. Lan Zhan wasn't back yet. He started to get out of bed when he was yanked up, a knife placed at his throat.

*****

Jiang Cheng was waiting outside the inn. Lan WangJi was in big trouble. Who did he think he was, leaving Wei Ying looking like that, obviously in pain? He was going to give him a piece of his mind when he saw him.

******

Lan Zhan felt untethered. How was it possible that after all they had been through, his Wei Ying was still in danger? It wasn't fair. And what about this curse? When had it happened? How?

He had made sure Wei Ying was safe, had looked after him properly, hadn't he? Who could have done this? And what kind of curse was it, that it was undetectable by normal people?

He thought back. Shen Ling had noticed something, his grandmother, Baoshen Sanren had too, and this Demon. Was it a celestial curse? If so, when had it been activated? What would happen to Wei Ying?

He looked around and realized that he had walked too far, and turned around. The more he thought about Wei Ying, the more worried he felt, until suddenly, his ring, silent and cold on his finger, lit up with a blue light.

His heart dropped. How long had he been gone? Where was Wei Ying now? And why was he in danger? He jumped on Bichen and flew towards the inn.

Jiang Cheng was pacing outside. When he saw Lan WangJi, he scowled.

"Where have you been? My brother needs you!"

Lan Zhan rushed past him, showing his ring. "Something's wrong!"

They ran up the stairs to the second floor, not waiting to knock. Lan Zhan shoved the door open. He nearly collapsed himself.

Wei Ying had a knife to his throat by a stranger. They were facing the door. Wei Ying looked too pale. But relieved to see him.

"Lan Zhan!"

"Quiet!" The man snarled, nicking his skin.

"Wait!" Jiang Cheng shouted. "And you better have a good plan for leaving here!" He whipped out Zidian.

"Now, now, let's not be hasty." The stranger said, edging towards the window. "I only came to get my knife back. Where is it?"

Suddenly, they all knew who he was: Min Qi Xue. The dragon killer.