In the morning after breakfast, Baoshen Sanren brought the little girl they had met the day before, with her to say goodbye. Her name was Li Xiwang. The moment she saw Wei Ying, she ran up to him and shyly took his hand.

"Will you come back again?" She whispered, blushing.

Wei Ying looked at his grandmother.

"You both are welcome to return. I think it's time for a change."

"But Grandmother, are you sure? It would be great to be able to come back, though. I'm going to miss you." Wei Ying added.

"I am sure. The only reason I didn't let people return before was because I wanted the least to do with the world away from this place. I certainly don't want other Cultivators sniffing around." She pulled out a jade token from her red sleeves and handed it to Lan Zhan, who hid his surprise.

Wei Ying leaned over his arm to take a look. Honeysuckle blossom with a sheaf of wheat flowers were carved with such detail, it brought tears to his eyes.

"It's so beautiful," he whispered.

"It will allow you passage through the wards."

"Um, what about me?" Wei Ying asked, more than a bit hurt, feeling left out.

"Silly boy. The wards can't stop you." She laughed.

He looked baffled at both of them.

"Your soul connection is recognized. This mountain will always welcome you."

He smiled brightly then.

"It is treasured." Lan Zhan said, putting it away safely.

"Then Li XiWang, we shall definitely come to see you." Wei Ying bent to her level and hugged her. "In the meantime, you will do your best to look after my grandmother, yes?"

She beamed at him and nodded.

"Where will you go from here?"

"Jiang Cheng has invited us to Lotus Pier."

"Very well. Take care of each other and safe travels." She looked at Lan Zhan. "Don't forget what I told you. Make it happen."

He nodded and they left, waving.

As they walked to the cherry grove, Wei Ying kept tugging on Lan Zhan's sleeve.

"What was all that? What did you promise?"

Lan Zhan refused to answer but his ears blushed a familiar pink, and this made Wei Ying even more determined to find out.

"Lan Zhan? Lan Zhaaan!" He whined. "Please tell me." Followed by lots of sulky pouting.

But Lan Zhan remained famously tight-lipped.

*****

They collected everyone from the cherry grove and made their way out of the mountain, through the oak trees.

"That will never get old." JingYi said, watching the trunks move back.

SiZhui agreed.

This was a truly magical place and a part of him would always miss it. There was an ancient quality to the mountain itself, unreplicable anywhere else.

*****

The first town they came to, Wei Ying dragged them all to a noodle place and ate his full. He patted his belly and looked around the table.

Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling were noticably quieter than normal, eating quietly. Wei Ying wanted to draw him out of his thoughts.

"Why are we going to Lotus Pier?" He asked Lan Zhan. "Other than that we've been invited."

Lan Zhan looked at Jiang Cheng, blushed, looked at Wei Ying and then sighed.

"My brother is an idiot." Jiang Cheng supplied, earning a scowl.

"What? What am I missing here?" Wei Ying was confused.

"Don't worry about it, Uncle Wei." Jin Ling patted his hand. "It will all make sense when we get there."

*****

Lotus Pier was in some ways the same, but in more ways different to his memories. The lakes beautifully supplied the same vast quantities of lotus flowers and pods. The pier itself was different, with unfamiliar stalls and vendors, but seeing what had been his home for so long, changed, was what brought more tears to Wei Ying.

He hastily wiped his eyes, hoping no one would notice, but Lan Zhan stopped him.

"What is wrong, Wei Ying?"

"Memories." He swallowed, his throat suddenly blocked.

"Do you want to leave?"

Jiang Cheng scowled and marched over at that.

"Are you being stupid again?"

Lan Zhan stood with his back to him, facing Wei Ying.

"Stop that!" He shouted. "I'm talking to my brother!"

"It is not required. Give us a moment." Lan Zhan replied with a side glance, not moving.

Wei Ying took a deep breath and tried to smile. "It's okay. I'm okay."

Lan Zhan pulled him into a hug. "If Wei Ying is uncomfortable, we can go."

He shook his head against the warm shoulder. "I should man up. What's the worst that can happen, right?"

"I am here."

Wei Ying kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

Jiang Cheng showed them to their room, muttering words like 'drama queen' and 'idiot'.

"So when are you leaving?" Jiang Cheng asked, unable to wait, after watching them settle in.

"What do you mean? We just got here." Wei Ying said, uncertainly.

"Not you! Him! He can't stay." He jerked his head at Lan Zhan.

"Where he goes, I go!" Wei Ying shouted back, defiantly.

"You can't go with him, this time. Honestly, I don't even know why I bother!"

"W-what? What do you mean?" Wei Ying looked at them both.

Lan Zhan pushed a protesting Jiang Cheng out of the door and locked it.

Then he came and took Wei Ying's hands, kissing them.

"I have to go back to Cloud Recesses and return with a wedding party." He let that sink in.

"Oh." Wei Ying blushed then. "Oh! That's what you guys meant!?" He started pacing. "All this time, that's what you were talking about."

"We should visit with the Ancestors. Together." Lan Zhan smiled at him softly. "Will Wei Ying be okay?"

"How long?"

"Mn?"

"How long before I see you again?" His voice was quieter now, realization sinking in.

"Three or four days. Not more than a week."

"A week??"

"Five days." Lan Zhan knew it was tight. "But I don't want to wait any more."

"Neither do I!" Wei Ying bounced back to him, suddenly excited. "I can't wait, actually!"

"Good." Lan Zhan cupped his face and kissed him deeply.

They were both startled at the loud knock on the door.

"What do you want, Jiang Cheng?" Wei Ying yelled. "We're busy!"

"Well, stop it. He has to ask permission, first." Came back the reply. "And no one's served tea yet, either."

"I will ask." Lan Zhan sighed, not looking forward to it. "Wei Ying can stay." He grabbed Bichen and left.