Sleep came easily to both cultivators, tired from their travels, finally able to rest in their own bed. They were wrapped around each other, sinking into heavenly oblivion.

The dream began as all the others, a mist pervading his vision. Wei Ying fully expected the Queen mother to show up, so he was much surprised when two other individuals walked slowly towards him.

The female was dressed in golden robes, the silk fluttering elegantly as she paused, no sign of impatience as she waited for her companion to catch up. She held a single white lotus in her long fingers, holding it up to take in it's scent now and again.

The man walking slowly next to her had an obvious limp, which he aided with an iron crutch. A gourd swung from his waist, resting on turquoise robes.

They made a handsome couple, even though Wei Ying got the impression that they were just friends. He bowed as they came closer.

"Young Master, it is good to see you again," she said, smiling mischievously.

Again? Wei Ying thought hard. When had he met these people...ah! It came to him all of a sudden. The Queen mother had introduced them when she had shown him to the Eight Immortals.

"You know who I am, but-" he paused, wondering how to ask without offending them.

Luckily, she understood.

"My name is He Xiang Gu. I represent kindness and compassion. His name," she pointed at the man now taking a swig from his gourd and noisily wiping his mouth on his sleeve, "is Li Tie Guai. He's basically a glorified doctor." And then discreetly so her companion didn't see, she pointed her index finger to the side of her head and turned fast circles. Then she winked.

Wei Ying couldn't help but smile at her.

"We have a mutual friend," she went on. "Who has a problem which we believe you can help her with."

"Are you here to help me with the Yangsui?" Wei Ying asked, hopefully.

Li Tie Guai laughed suddenly, loud and boisterously. "There's no fixing some problems!" He exclaimed, excitedly. "You're wasting your time."

"Ignore him. He doesn't know what he's talking about half the time." He Xiang Gu quickly covered.

"Yes, I do. But if you try to do anything, what do you think the Jade Emperor will say? Are you willing to cross him?" Li Tie Guai shuffled forward. "Are you ready, Young Master?"

"Ready for what?" Wei Ying was confused. They obviously wanted him to do something, and it was probably going to be a bad idea, and it was going to get him in trouble with a very important person.

"I think you already know what has to be done. But you don't want to face it." He Xiang Gu replied, knowingly. "I think you're afraid."

Is that what he was feeling? Wei Ying wasn't sure. There was definitely apprehension...

"I don't know exactly," he hedged. "But even if we're on the same page, what do I do when I meet them?" He started pacing, agitated. "I mean, they're immortal, right? And we want to...to untrap them?" It came out like a question.

"Young Master, in this world, well, practically anywhere, kindness is an uncommon virtue. You are already on the right track, but whether you have the courage to do whatever is necessary, is another matter." She came closer. "I think you know that it involves a sacrifice of sorts."

"Can you help?" Wei Ying felt a little hopeless.

She smiled at him then. From her billowing sleeves, she pulled out a pouch and handed it to him.

"When the time comes, you will know what to do."

Wei Ying was uncomfortable with the amount of confidence she placed on him.

"Just don't panic!" The mad one shouted back as he was led away.

The lady raised her arm up in a backward wave, not turning around as she escorted her companion away.

Wei Ying felt awful, the moment he woke up. There was no panic, no heart beating out of his chest, no shortness of breath. Instead, he felt as if the walls of the Jingshi were closing in on him.

Nimbly, careful not to wake his sleeping husband, he crawled over him and escaped outside. There was only one place that could comfort him now.

*****

Lan Zhan woke to an unusually empty bed, disturbed out of slumber by the immediate feeling that something was wrong. It was confirmed by the absence of his precious husband. He threw on his outer robes in a panic, noticing Wei Ying had forgotten to wear his, and grabbing them as he left hastily.

Wei Ying was not sitting outside the door like he normally would, if woken by a bad dream. He ran to his brother's room and knocked, forgetting that it was still early in the morning.

A still half asleep XiChen answered, yawning. He became alert as soon as he saw the rising panic in Lan Zhan's eyes.

"He's not here, is he?" Worry laced his words.

"He's not with you?" XiChen quickly grabbed an extra layer and came out with him.

They walked quickly to the great hall but found it empty.

"What about the cold pond?" XiChen suggested.

"Please Brother, can you check? I will go to the bunnies." Lan Zhan ignored the rule of no running, taking off like an arrow.

To his immense relief, he found a trembling Wei Ying surrounded by fluff balls, their noses twitching at the welcome intruder.

But something was wrong.

*****

A/N

Wow, I can't believe we're already at chapter 40. When I started, I only had a basic idea of where this was going, and I certainly had no idea you, my lovely, amazing, precious readers would take the time to read this. Thank you from the depths of my soul!

Please let me know what you think! I love reading your comments.