Wei Ying walked towards the gates of Cloud Recesses with a spring in his step. He missed this, the anticipation of going on a night hunt, and especially with the juniors. Some were already waiting there when he approached with Wen Ning.

A disciple came walking fast towards them and whispered something to Wen Ning. He looked alarmed for a second and then turned to Wei Ying.

"Master Lan wants to meet me."

"Really?" Wei Ying laughed. "Of course you may go. We'll get going and you can join us when you can."

Wen Ning bowed and returned, while Wei Ying and the young ones carried on down the mountain. A short distance away, they met Chang Chao.

"What are you doing here?" Wei Ying greeted him with a friendly smile.

"I was coming to see you. I missed you." He admitted softly. "If you're going somewhere, I can wait, or come back later."

Wei Ying felt sorry for him. "Why don't you come with us? It's only a night hunt, and there are others of your age. It will be fun."

"Can I?" He looked so happy, Wei Ying put an arm around him and laughed.

"Of course you can."

They chatted whilst walking.

"Have you made any progress?" Chang Chao asked him. He knew a little of what was going on.

"No. That's why we're going out tonight. Hopefully, this will take my mind off the other things, and then I can tackle it anew tomorrow."

"I'm sure you'll do a great job."

"Thank you for your confidence in me! Tell me, did you have any luck finding JunJie Kang?"

The boy looked troubled, and Wei Ying was sorry for bringing it up. He patted his back comfortingly.

"Don't worry, I'm confident you will find him soon. Now let's not talk about any of that and just enjoy ourselves!"

*******

Lan Zhan was just getting ready to join his husband and the children, when he was stopped by a disciple.

"Urgent message, Hanguang-Jun. Wen Ning has asked for you to meet him."

Lan Zhan was confused. "Didn't he go with Master Wei?"

"I-I don't know." The disciple hurried away.

Lan Zhan changed his direction and walked to the back of the mountain, checking his ring.

*******

Wen Ning arrived at the place Lan Zhan had asked him to meet, but he was late. Wen Ning didn't really want to wait, instead he wanted to return to Master Wei as soon as possible.

When he thought Master Lan wasn't coming, he turned and just making his way back, when he saw him.

"Wen Ning, why did you want to see me?" He asked, as soon as he saw him.

"I wanted to see you?" Wen Ning was confused. "But you asked to meet me here!"

"I did not."

They both realised at the same time.

"Where's Wei Ying?" Lan Zhan asked as he started running towards the gates.

******

The forest was ripe with the sounds of night creatures, hooting owls occasionally interrupting the cicadas. They made their way carefully forward, Chang Chao hanging behind Wei Ying. He had never been on a night hunt like this before, and it was exciting.

Master Wei did not look scared at all, in fact, he strode confidently forwards. He looked a picture of magnificence, black robes fluttering as he walked, Chenqing in hand, surveying the ground before them. He was looking for signs of what they were hunting.

They had decided to split up so the juniors were behind but fanning out. Master Wei had a unique way of teaching, Chang Chao thought, admiringly. His life could have been so different had he grown up in Cloud Recesses, he mused sadly.

Shouts behind alerted them to the beast they were hunting. The ground shook, trees swayed as the huge form came into sight.

Chang Chao shrank back, terrified as it attacked Master Wei. He jumped high up into the trees and began playing a haunting melody. The music, note for note sang it's way into his heart and then it was all he could hear. He closed his eyes. He fell into the song until there was nothing else, just the harmony.

The beast screamed, unable to take it. Banging and crashing, it ran through the forest, but Master Wei was persistent. He jumped from branch to branch with an amazing nimbleness, never a note wrongly played.

Chang Chao was in awe.

He followed behind, watching as the beast succumbed to his playing. Finally, it lay down in defeat. The juniors arrived then and using spiritual nets, they captured it.

"That was fun!" Wei Ying jumped down from high up where he had been watching.

"You were amazing!" Chang Chao praised.

Wei Ying blushed happily.

But then, they were attacked out of nowhere. This second beast looked at the one caught already and howled aggressively. She zeroed in on Wei Ying and came at him with force.

Wei Ying grabbed Chang Chao and ran, hoping to get to higher ground or at least put enough distance between them to allow him to play. They found themselves at the mouth of a cave. Wei Ying led Chang Chao inside so they could catch their breath.

"Why did it do that?" Chang Chao asked, panting.

"I think they were mates." Wei Ying replied. He looked out of the cave, checking where it was.

"I'm sorry."

"Huh? What?" He turned back, just in time to see Chang Chao hit him with the side of his palm, knocking him out.

He leaned down and whispered in his ear. "My name is Min Chang Chao."