They set up camp for the night, sleeping around the camp fire. Lan Zhan was awake, watching Wei Ying sleeping. There were times when he just could not believe that they were together again.

If he thought about it, their actual time spent together would have barely made up a full year, and those sixteen years of anguish and pain seemed like a bad dream. But Wei Ying was alive. He was real, and here. Moments that he had thought he would never be able to experience, such as waking up next to the beautiful man next to him, his sweet puffs of air tingling at his throat while he slept, watching him eat, brushing those silky locks.

All of it made Lan Zhan beyond happy, but at the same time, he felt like a child whose favourite toy could be taken away at any moment. The joy in which he could not fully participate because the fear that something would happen was all too present. So he was immediately alert when Wei Ying suddenly sat up.

"Wen Ning is here," he said, looking around, searching.

Sure enough, the bushes parted to reveal him. He walked towards them, smiling in his own way.

Wei Ying got up slowly and went to hug him.

"I'm sorry, we were separated."

"It's okay, I was waiting for you to leave Cloud Recesses, but then I found some fierce corpses, otherwise I would have come sooner."

Lan Zhan watched them together and tried to sort out how he felt about Wei Ying's friend. He knew that he was exactly that, only a friend, but somehow that term was not enough. There was nothing romantic about their relationship, and yet they were closer than brothers, and judging by Wei Ying's reaction to Wen Ning, there might even be a deeper connection that allowed them to sense each other.

And another benefit about having him around Wei Ying was that there would be another person to look after him too. Wei Ying was far too good at attracting trouble, therefore any extra help was reassuring.

****

Some time later, just before dawn, a group of disciples wearing the purple robes of Lotus Pier came upon them hurriedly. Jiang Cheng got up and spoke with them, becoming agitated as they continued to talk, his Zidian giving off sparks.

Then just as suddenly, he started packing his things, muttering to himself.

"What's wrong, Jiang Cheng?" Wei Ying asked.

"That stupid nephew of ours has gone missing! I swear, I'm definitely going to break his legs this time!"

He marched up to Wei Ying and pulled him gently into a hug, mindful of his back. "I'll be back as soon as I can. And if ANYTHING happens, send word!"

"Okay," Wei Ying couldn't help the mischievous glint in his eyes at this frankly, unusual behavior.

"I mean it! Promise?" Jiang Cheng scowled.

Wei Ying held up both his hands in a placating manner. "Promise."

Jiang Cheng marched off with his people, still complaining into the distance.

****

Not long after that, a familiar dog barking plunged the campsite into chaos. Wei Ying jumped up and hid behind Lan Zhan, using impossible energy because before that, he had lain on his side, just chatting.

The youngsters who had been sleeping, woke up, while the carriage driver was having a hard time calming the horses.

Jin Ling and Fairy appeared, and this time, it was Lan Zhan who scowled, glaring at the dog. Jin Ling noticed and immediately whispered in her ear, and she disappeared into the trees.

"Uncle Wei," he said cautiously, coming closer.

At the absence of the dog, Wei Ying had recovered enough to stand up and pull him into a hug.

"You naughty boy! Your other uncle is looking for you."

"I know, but it's not fair that he's been with you all this time. What about me?" He held tighter and Wei Ying gasped.

Lan Zhan immediately pulled him off. Jin Ling looked confused.

"His back." Lan Zhan explained. He was already worried about Wei Ying, the travel time had taken more from him than he would've liked, and since their sleeping had been interrupted, Wei Ying was too pale.

Once breakfast was finished, he encouraged Wei Ying to sleep again and spoke to the young ones.
"Go into Yilling and find a healer."

They set off immediately.

****

Hours later, they returned with a lady covered in a shroud. She walked slowly, her gnarly hands in front of her, while SiZhui held one of her arms to guide.

"This is Madam Fu. She's the local healer." SiZhui said and then came closer to Lan Zhan and whispered, "she's blind, sort of."

She took off her shroud and revealed a face that had seen many years, wrinkled with age. She came to sit next to the sleeping Wei Ying. Holding his hands, she closed her eyes in concentration.

"He is very sick. What happened?"

They explained briefly and she nodded.

"The stinger is still inside him. It's making it's way to his heart. Five days."

She stood up.

"Is there anything you can do?" Lan Zhan asked, now more worried.

She shook her head. "He's in a lot of pain, I can only help with that. But as for the real problem, my skills are lacking."

Lan SiZhui and Lan JingYi escorted her back to her home with the promise to return with the pain relief.

Lan Zhan sat next to Wei Ying, holding his hand and trying to keep away the panic. Years of practicing meditation were coming in useful now, but he refused to give up.

*****

The young ones returned later towards the evening with several packets of medicine. They woke Wei Ying up then to give him the first dose.

"Lan Zhan, I've been thinking..." He said, playing with a stick doodling on the ground. "What if we try Inquiry?"

"To find your parents?"

Wei Ying nodded. "I don't know why it didn't occur to me before, but there's a chance they're still around. Or even if it's not them, but some other spirit who can guide us?"

"Good idea." He whipped out Wangji and placed it on the ground in front of him.

"We are looking for Wei Changze and Cangze Sanren?" He played the notes and waited.

"Go to the Burial Grounds. They are trapped near the foot of the hills." The answer came back.