Lan Zhan was looking at the note in distaste.

Just coming back. Won't be gone for long, my love, and please don't worry. Also, please don't tell anyone I'm not in Cloud Recesses, especially not XiChen-Ge or Jiang Cheng because- and then, because Wei Ying had run out of space on the poorly chosen parchment, he had left written kisses.

There was so much wrong with this.

Firstly, Lan Zhan hated it when Wei Ying left home.

Without telling him.

Secondly, Wei Ying was alone.

Thirdly, he didn't know where Wei Ying was going.

Fourthly, he wasn't allowed to search for him.

Fifthly, he would have preferred those kisses to be given in person.

Sixthly, it was a stupid note.

So he put Bichen down on the table and sat down himself, because right now, only meditation would help.

Maybe.

*******

Wei Ying had flown out of Cloud Recesses, his heart split in two. There were many reasons, but the first, and foremost one in his head, was that Lan Zhan wasn't going to like it.

Actually, that was such an understatement, he couldn't help giggling with the nervous tension coiled in his belly.

Lan Zhan would be angry, no scratch that, livid.

Ordinarily, Wei Ying preferred to tell his husband everything, especially if he was thinking about going somewhere, and multiply that by a hundred if he was going somewhere without him.

It just caused less problems, and given that Lan Zhan suffered from anxiety every time Wei Ying breathed wrong, it was a good way to avoid undue stress.

Plus, he wouldn't have done it if it wasn't absolutely necessary.

He had gone through every possible scenario before deciding that this was the best plan. The less people knew, the better this would work out for everyone.

At the same time, his heart was filled with joy, excitement humming in his veins. It reminded him of the anxiousness he felt waiting behind a door, ready to scare the life out of an unsuspecting Jiang Cheng. Of course, he had terribly misjudged the situation and ended up accidentally scaring Madam Yu, but that was a whole other story.

He wasn't good with waiting, and this meeting would hopefully resolve an important mystery.

People would thank him in the end, right?

He spotted a tiny clearing in the woods just before their end, and swooped down elegantly, marvelling at how much better his flying was now, and how much his landing had improved.

Contrary to popular opinion, namely Jiang Cheng's, which was, "don't you just do this" *mimicking a bird by flapping his arms, flying was actually quite difficult.

Birds had their parents to copy by watching, and he was sure, a secret language to tell their children exactly how to do it, but he had no one. In those early days, Shen Ling had helped him immensely, but he'd found it hard to concentrate after his wings burst out of his back then, the pain too intense to concentrate on anything else much.

After that happy first meeting with Suanni, the mystical being had cured his discomfort and allowed the painful transition to be so natural now, he hardly felt anything.

Except when Lan Zhan touched them.

He shuddered, just thinking about it.

He was so lucky to have an adventurous partner, willing to explore everything....

Wei Ying quickly slipped the hooded robes over himself, making sure to hide his face completely, and walked into Caiyi town, hoping his guest had already arrived.

It was no fun waiting.

He spotted his friend, hiding in the corner, with a table already filled with alcohol.

"You should put your fan away," he said, grinning as he sat down opposite him. "It's a dead giveaway."

Nie Huaisang clutched his the place where his heart was, stifling a scream. He hit Wei Ying with it lightly in annoyance.

And then looked around to see if he'd come alone.

When he was satisfied, he also grinned. "Impressive."

"I know, right?" Wei Ying got busy pouring out their drinks.

"So how did you manage it?" Nie Huaisang asked, far too interested.

Wei Ying tapped his nose, conspiratorial.

"None of your business. Suffice to say, no one knows I'm here. Now let's get to it, because I've got to get back before someone notices."

"Look, don't get me wrong, I'm the best, so I get why you rely on me for information." Huaisang started fanning himself out of habit.

"But?" Wei Ying prompted.

"But why do you keep asking me?" He sighed, taking his first sip, and then sighed again at the familiar taste.

"Good, isn't it?" Wei Ying smiled at the innocent rapture on his friend's face.

"The best. No other place has quite managed to perfect this like Emperor's smile."

They clicked cups and drank heartily, for once in agreement.

"To answer your question, and this might sound strange, because it's you, but I trust you." Wei Ying answered truthfully. "Despite what you did, because nobody goes around with a soul sacrificing spell randomly in their pocket, just waiting for an innocent soul to come by, who just happened to have a grudge against the same people. Am I right?"

Huaisang wisely remained silent.

"So, given that we know each other well, or did, I think you still feel a little guilty, every time you see me. And you should, because at the time, coming back was the last thing I would have wanted." Wei Ying refilled his cup.

"But are you happy now?" There was no joking tone here, just a raw question.

A need to know.

Wei Ying smiled, with the knowledge that he was talking to the human equivalent of a snake.

That thin line of uncertainty, where neither quite trusted the other, yet maintained a high level of respect, because the friendship could turn in the blink of an eye.

"I am. I suppose I should thank you for that, at least."

The tension dissipated, leaving a cautiously smiling Huaisang.

"No need."

"So what have you found out for me?" Wei Ying lowered his voice and leaned in closer.

"About Jiang Cheng?" Huaisang also whispered.

Wei Ying nodded.

"After what you told me about his wrists, and you said he felt something cold there, I can tell you that it's a poison administered through direct skin contact. That's why his symptoms worsened suddenly." He was about to start fanning himself again, the action so natural for his hand, that he did not notice now when he was doing it.

Wei Ying grabbed it and closed it, putting it next to him.

Huaisang looked wounded, but left it there.

"Before that, you'd told me that he had been poisoned in small increments, right?" To Wei Ying's nod, he continued, "I think it's something he uses every day, like an ointment or a cream. Something he would use without thinking, like second nature. You should ask him about it, just in case, but don't be obvious."

He smiled at sardonic grin he was given.

"Me? Obvious?" Wei Ying pointed at himself, grinning.

"You're not as subtle as you think." Huaisang scoffed. "Anyway, that's the 'how',  now we come to the 'who'. The thing is, Lotus Pier has a few enemies."

"Like who?"

"I should clarify, Lotus Pier has less enemies now, than before." This time, it was Huaisang who poured more alcohol for both of them.

"Still Jiang Cheng or Madam Yu?"

"I'm still making inquires." Huaisang appreciated that he didn't have to spell everything out.

He'd always admired the sharpness of the man sitting in front of him. Wei Ying was clever in a good way, open about it. In this, he sometimes envied his friend, because he didn't have to hide it. In fact, Wei Ying was known for being sharp witted.

While the opposite was true for himself, and he preferred that people underestimated him, sometimes it was just tiring having to pretend to be something else all the time.

These moments with his childhood friend were like drops of water for the parched, and welcome relief. Here, he could just be himself, no pretence. He could relax, because Wei Ying knew him, and accepted him.

Wei Ying was nodding now. "I trust you'll get back to me when you have something solid?"

"Indeed. And if that's all..." Huaisang was going to stand up, but Wei Ying stopped him with a look.

"What?"

"I need you to found out as much as you can about this." Wei Ying pushed a piece of paper towards him with four characters written on it.

Huaisang went white. Not just paler, his face was completely devoid of blood, making the bags under his eyes stand out.

"No."

"No?" Wei Ying was surprised. "But you never say no."

"I'm saying it now. Get someone else, or better yet, do not." He did stand up then, and collected his things, snatched up his fan.

"You won't even tell me why?"

"Not here, and not now." Huaisang glared at him.

Wei Ying was shocked. Huaisang never glared. Huaisang never got angry with him.

"Just drop it for now." Huaisang pulled his own hood over his head, leaving quickly.

Wei Ying stared after him, wondering why those four characters caused such an extreme reaction from his normally passive friend. It was odd, to say the least.

Oh well, he thought, his glance returning to the unopened jars of his favourite drink. It would be a shame to waste these...

******

Wei Ying landed outside the Jingshi.

He had just enough time to furl his wings when a furious Jade opened the door, glanced at his bare chest, and hauled him inside.

"Lan Zh-!"

Hot, hard lips over his prevented any further noise. This kiss was brutal, bruising and dominant, filled with worry.

Wei Ying dared not touch him, he could feel the anger coming off Lan Zhan in waves, pummelling him.

And then Lan Zhan bit his lip.

There was no slide of warm lips or tongue to soothe, he just dropped Wei Ying from the tight hold he had of his arms.

Wei Ying stumbled, just catching himself in time. He braced himself against the wall, his body vibrating in a mix of panic, desire and fear, fear that he might have pushed Lan Zhan to his limits.

Lan Zhan stared back at him, chest heaving.

His face was blank, not even Wei Ying could tell now, what he was thinking.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, licking his aching lips.

Lan Zhan's attention shifted momentarily down, following his action. But said nothing.

"I didn't want you to worry, so I left you a note."

Lan Zhan glared at the tiny pieces of parchment on the table, shredded beyond recognition.

Wei Ying looked at it, and then swallowed hard.

Lan Zhan watched his Adam's apple trying to move.

Desire flared within deep golden pools. But he extinguished the flames.

Oh no, Wei Ying panicked.

Lan Zhan was more than angry.

"I had to meet Huaisang. And I couldn't do it here because everyone would know, and you couldn't come with me, because," Wei Ying gestured up and down his body, "there's no hiding that."

"So you wrote a note."

There was so much loathing in that one word.

"So you wouldn't worry. I'm sorry!" Wei Ying covered his face and burst into tears.

He really wasn't good at this type of stress. Give him a night beast to hunt any day, over this.

Warm arms gathered him close, and Wei Ying cried with relief now. He breathed in the much missed sandalwood scent, feeling miserable.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I'll never do it again." He sobbed. "I didn't mean to upset you."

Lan Zhan kissed his forehead. "I am sorry too. I might have overreacted."

They sank to the floor, Lan Zhan still holding him close, but it wasn't enough for Wei Ying, who wrapped around him like a bear. Even the warm soothing circles on his back failed to calm him for a while. He listened to the gradually steadying heartbeats for a few moments, until his heavy breathing turned into tiny snuffles.

"Wei Ying is forgiven."

Puffy silvery eyes leaned back to check his sincerity.

"Really?" He asked, ever so hopefully.

"Mn. But don't do it again. Come and tell me."

"Okay Lan Zhan, I will. No more notes."

"Mn."

But then Wei Ying pushed himself up, having remembered something.

"What is it?"

"I have to tell Jiang Cheng something."

He would have raced out but Lan Zhan pulled him back. Draping his robes over a half naked husband, he said, "we can go and tell him. Together."

Wei Ying smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Together."