They reached Hui Wu a few days later.

"How is it possible it's even darker than before?" JingYi said, looking around the empty village.

Dark clouds gathered in the charcoal skies above them. Wei Ying hurried forward, reminded of their previous visit and his subsequent illness.

They made it to the blacksmith's workshop just in time, before the heavens opened. He was bent over his work station, beating a piece of metal. Nobody in their group wanted to disturb him.

"My brother's dead, isn't he?" He suddenly rasped out, staring at Wei Ying.

The juniors stepped back quickly. Wei Ying went forwards, but Lan Zhan took his hand and went with him.

"We thought you might want these." Wei Ying pulled out a pouch and emptied it onto his table.

His eye travelled over the knife handles. He put his hammer down and picked up each piece, one at a time. His thumb traced the markings, his face thoughtful.

"Why didn't you tell us he was your brother?" Wei Ying asked, cautiously.

"You didn't ask. And I explained. My customers like their privacy."

"I'd like to say I'm sorry for your loss." Wei Ying wasn't sure why they had come, now.

"But you can't." He looked up at Wei Ying then. "My brother...was a difficult man."

JingYi snorted, shuffling to stand behind SiZhui.

"Thank you for bringing these back to me." He eyed their group. "Did you want to stay the night?"

"No, we just came to deliver these. We'll get going now." Wei Ying pulled Lan Zhan out of there, the juniors were already outside.

"That's it?" JingYi asked. "That's why we came all the way here?"

"Sort of. We're actually going to visit Grandmother."

The youngsters were happier with that news. The rain had stopped so they were able to travel further away from that village, something the young ones were even happier with.

******

Two days later, they walked past the oak trees into the mountain, and past the cherry grove.

His grandmother was waiting for them. Li Xiwang stood next to her.

Wei Ying could tell there was something wrong with her. Instead of running towards him like she normally would, she looked down and refused to talk.

Baoshen Sanren took them to the residential house next to the crop fields.

Wei Ying was looking around when he felt a small hand out itself in his. He knelt down and looked at her.

"What's wrong, Li Xiwang? Why aren't you happy?"

"I'm happy," she said miserably. She put her arms around his neck and burst into tears.

Wei Ying held her close, and rubbed circles on her back like Lan Zhan did for him when he was upset.

"Her parents are coming." His grandmother said, rolling her eyes.

"But how are they alive? Why didn't they try to find her earlier?" He said, wiping her tiny cute face.

"She doesn't want to leave." The Grandmaster added.

"Then why can't she stay?" Wei Ying stood up, still cradling the child.

"They're her parents. I can't stop them." She sighed. "Recently, a lot of parents have remembered their children and come here to collect them. Who am I to stop them?" She threw her hands up in the air and stomped off.

Wei Ying would have laughed had the situation not been so serious.

He could see she was upset, even though she couldn't voice her true feelings.

Li XiWang had stopped crying now, just leaning her cheek on his shoulder. Wei Ying felt incredibly sad for the innocent little girl.

"Gramps says I have to go with them." She said, quietly.

"And you don't want to."

"Gramps says I can't say that. But, Wei-gege, what if they're not nice?"

"Li XiWang, you're worrying too much! What if they're good people, who miss you so much?" Wei Ying felt worse and worse for her.

"Will you come and say bye... before I go?" She wouldn't look at him.

"Yes, of course. When are they coming?"

"Gramps knows." She kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Wei-gege. I knew I could count on you. You can put me down now." She gave him a small smile and left.

"She really wants to stay." Wei Ying told Lan Zhan.

They spent the day chatting with the other kids and youngsters, helping them out here and there. Wei Ying noticed a good many of them had left already.

His grandmother came later and escorted them back to her cave. She silently provided a meal and their sleeping requirements, even for the juniors and left, not eating with them as before.

When they were lying down together, away from JingYi and SiZhui, who were on the other side, Wei Ying voiced his thoughts.

"Do you think there's something fishy about her children suddenly finding their parents?" He whispered to his husband.

"Mn."

"I thought so too, but Grandmother is right. We can't do anything if their parents come to claim their children. But Lan Zhan, I'm going to really miss Li Xiwang."

Lan Zhan kissed his forehead. "Sleep now."

******

In the morning, his grandmother came to see them off.

"Her parents are coming next week." She told them as they passed through the oak trees.

"Can we come back then?" Wei Ying asked. "We promised her we would come to say goodbye."

They saw her nod as the trees resumed their barrier. Wei Ying could not help feeling uneasy, all the way home to Cloud Recesses.

*******

A/N

So this is it for the second book. I feel sad just writing this, because every ending is a painful one. However, I'm definitely doing a part 3 ( WangXian Forever 3) and hopefully the first part will be ready and published tomorrow.

My dear readers, I would like you to know that you have changed my life. When I say thank you, those words cannot possibly convey how I feel, even if you multiplied them by a thousand.

When you read this, I would love it if you could look at a beautiful flower, take a deep breath and appreciate your life in this moment. Eat some chocolate and know that I'm thinking of you.

You already have my love.

See you in the next book!