Wei Ying sat up, holding Li XiWang's spent body. Whatever they had done made him feel better now, but because it had induced another episode, he couldn't help except worry.

He noticed that Li XiWang could bring Bai Hua to the forefront of her mind with greater ease now, the transition smoother than before. But because she had passed out again, she probably wouldn't remember what had happened to her.

Their prisoner watched them, taking note of the way he kept glancing down to look at her face, concern and worry upon his.

While her captors were busy, their attention diverted momentarily, she took that opportunity to wrench free, grabbing the knife still hidden up her sleeve to run towards Wei Ying, screams of warning alerting him of impending danger, and he saw Hui Gai disappear.

The assassin suddenly clenched her eyes, dropped the knife and grabbed her head instead, screaming once before falling to the ground, unconscious.

Hui Gai appeared again, right next to Wei Ying.

"What did you do?" He asked, holding his daughter closer.

"Who, me?" Hui Gai pointed to his own chest, but unable to hide his jubilant smirk.

"Nevermind." Wei Ying relaxed again against something hard but warm.

Lan Zhan had arranged himself to sit behind him so he wouldn't be uncomfortable. Wei Ying reached for his hand, intertwining their fingers so their palms rested against each other's.

The scream from the assassin had woken up Li XiWang and she looked around, dazed. When she saw she was half lying on Wei Ying's body, she sat up, rubbing her eyes.

"Did I...did I have another visit?" She asked, seriously.

"Mn." Lan Zhan handed her a cup of water.

She looked too serious.

Hui Gai pulled out a little pouch, shaking it so it made a clinking noise. She turned to him.

"Wanna play? Best of three? Winner gets a hug?"

"I'm in!" She turned and sat cross-legged, to face him.

Wei Ying sat up fully to watch with interest what they were going to play.

"This game is called Jacks. Hui Gai invented it." Li XiWang told him proudly.

If the demon could blush...

There were six metal hunks crudely shaped into knobbly bits. Li XiWang tossed one into the air and caught a single piece off the ground using the same hand, before catching the tossed one again. So it went on, until all the pieces were in her palm.

"Your turn!" She told him excitedly.

The demon complied.

"Is Wei Ying feeling better?"

Wei Ying shivered at the deep voice next to his ear, warm breath flowing past into his neck.

"Yes, I am." He turned to look into golden eyes that were...troubled with worry.

"Lan Zhan? What is it?" He whispered, the game forgotten.

"Can you walk?" Lan Zhan hauled him up.

To his surprise, Wei Ying found he could. He nodded.

Lan Zhan hadn't let go of his hand; now he was pulling him along, fast. As they approached the edge of their camp, Hongse was about to follow, when Lan Zhan spoke to her.

"Do. Not. Follow. Us." He paused to look at her coldly. "Am I clear?"

She meekly sat down again, nodding and not daring to speak.

Wei Ying had never seen him like this, burning up with...something. They walked so fast, Wei Ying was stumbling over loose earth and stones, as he tried to keep up with longer legs. And Lan Zhan seemed so stressed, his back straight and rigid, no change on his face, but Wei Ying had learned all of his expressions ages ago.

Lan Zhan was scared. And angry.

A formidable combination.

Wei Ying tried to keep quiet, not knowing the reason for his strange behaviour until finally, he couldn't stand it anymore.

"Lan Zh-"

Lan Zhan whirled so fast, the momentum carrying him straight into his arms, where he was caught inside a vice-like grip, the wind knocked from his chest.

"Lan Zhan?" His words stumbled out, uncertain.

"Don't do that again!" His voice was low, but full of pain.

Wei Ying tried to lean back to look at him, but a huge hand cupped the back of his head, holding him in place.

"Don't."

Wei Ying tried to relax but Lan Zhan's agitation was contagious. And he could feel the Jade shaking. His own arms reached out to go around his waist. Lan Zhan didn't say anything, just stood like that for a while, holding him like that.

Wei Ying tugged a lock of his hair, when it became apparent that he wasn't going to move anytime soon.

"Lan Zhan? What's wrong?"

"Why did you do it?"

The words were muffled, so Wei Ying wasn't sure he heard correctly.

"Huh?"

"You took that dart for me! Why did you do it?" His face was full of accusations, voice with unshed tears.

So that was it.

Wei Ying reached up to hold his face. Golden eyes brimmed over, the moisture falling in tiny rivulets between his fingers.

"My love. How can you ask me that? I would do it again and again, a thousand times, if it meant you were safe. I cannot let anything happen to you-"

"What about me?"

"What about you?" Wei Ying was confused.

Lan Zhan reached up to hold the hands that rested against his cheeks.

"Do you think that it's any easier watching you get hurt? How many times? Why?" Lan Zhan closed his eyes. More tears fell.

"Then, my love, I can ask you the same question. What about me?" Wei Ying told him, as gently as he could.

Golden eyes opened in confusion.

"Do you think I could bear watching anything hurt you? When I could stop it?"

Lan Zhan cried.

He held him close, letting the Jade bury his face against his neck, and let it all out. Wei Ying rubbed his back, trying to ease his pain.

"I won't say I'm sorry." There was a lump in his throat, preventing the words from coming out easily. "Because I'm not, if it means you are safe. Lan Zhan, I...I cannot live without you. N-not again." His own voice shook, and he let go of the tears he had been holding onto all along.

This time, Lan Zhan comforted him back, holding him tight and kissing his hair.

"I love you so much. More than myself, more than anything else. If by saving you, I'm being selfish, then let me be. I won't live without you, Lan Zhan. Please understand."

"Mn." The sound was accompanied with a deep sigh.

Wei Ying wiped his face unsuccessfully with his palms before Lan Zhan smiled sadly at him, and took over.

"Love Wei Ying."

"I know you do. That's why you can understand me. Understand my actions." Wei Ying stared into deep golden pools. "Please, don't try and stop me. I can't..." his voice choked.

Lan Zhan tipped his face up and kissed him softly. Nothing else could heal them...except for this. The physical reassurance that they were both alive, and here.

He cherished the softness of pink plump lips, tasted the saltiness of both their tears, the fragrance of lotus flowers and something that was uniquely Wei Ying. His every thought centered around this beautiful man, selfless to a fault. This kiss was an apothecary's cure, a balm upon their souls.

Wei Ying reached up to get closer, his arms winding around Lan Zhan's neck, jumping up so he was held closer, his ankles crossing behind the super strong back. Lan Zhan hummed in approval, biting his lips before soothing him with his tongue.

Wei Ying moaned.

His robes had loosened, revealing his collar bones, and Lan Zhan took full advantage, biting and kissing, sucking until red patches appeared. Still, it wasn't enough, not when his husband was writhing in his arms, aching for relief.

"Please...Lan Zhan...I...I need you." Wei Ying gasped out, his breath stuttering.

Lan Zhan stopped completely, as understanding washed over him.

Wei Ying whined in disappointment. "Don't stop, plea-"

"Tree?" Lan Zhan didn't wait for an answer, instead marched towards a bent trunk, suddenly inspired.

"I don't care. I need you now!"

Lan Zhan showed him how much he felt the same way.

*******

Much later, after Lan Zhan had restored their appearance to somewhat near when they'd left, he took Wei Ying's hand and led them back. Perhaps it would be obvious to others, because there was no way they could hide Wei Ying's flushed face, shining eyes and total lack of tension in his body, or Lan Zhan's peaceful smile.

Neither cared.

It had been so long since they'd been together that a hidden stress had built up between them, now totally dissipated, leaving them both glowing.

Li XiWang ran towards them when she saw them coming back.

"Fathers! See? Zhitiao came back!"