Hongse formulated her array.

"Where do you want to go?" She asked Wei Ying.

"You said you have to have seen the place before, right?" He considered her question. "Where is the southern most place you've been? In your travels?"

"Actually, to be honest with you, we haven't travelled south in a long time. Since our Master was born and raised in the North, we have tried to help the people there. It was never an active choice though, we are busy on a daily basis in the surrounding areas. Just like you cultivators look after civilians from time to time, our work is the same." She replied, thinking hard.

"I guess that makes sense. I've never really thought about that. You said yours is a nomadic group...it stands to reason that you would come across more of the gifted that way."

"Yes, Master Dashi was very considerate. He used to say, we have come from the Earth, our bodies are made from the five elements, so we should use our gifts to give back to the world." She sighed, looking at their Master, who was mumbling in his sleep. "I only hope our journey into the unknown will be fruitful."

"I hope so." Wei Ying agreed. "We should start off our journey with positive thoughts.  If we all think the same thing, I am sure that the Universe will listen."

"Very well. And I would like to ask you more about that later, but for now, how about we channel our thoughts into successfully finding Dunshi's home and a cure for Master Dashi?" Hongse sounded pleased.

"Will you be alright transporting all of us?" Wei Ying asked her. "I would imagine that you will need more energy because of Dunshi."

"The truth is, I have not ever moved someone of his stature before. It shall be a test of my strength as well. Let us begin."

Hongse concentrated on a large array, the biggest one Wei Ying had seen up till now. Again, as she chanted, the symbols began to glow faintly before bursting into a rich vibrant red glow, shining with vitality.

The space between her palms crackled with blue electricity as she focused. Everyone held hands and the ones closest to Dunshi had tied ropes around his legs. There was one final lifting of the wind and then whoosh!

Off they went.

Wei Ying had remembered to close his eyes, and he shouted it out just as everything began to blur. Lan Zhan squeezed his hand, for they two were connected, and each held the hand of one of their children.

When they opened their eyes, they were right in the middle of a busy thoroughfare. On either side of them, sprawling villages were laid out like a midday meal. The sounds of the night invaded their senses as they caught their breath. The moon goddess shone brightly, casting an ethereal glow upon the houses and other buildings.

Dawn was not too far away, and the cicadas were singing their songs. Frogs chorused greetings, calling for their mates, shrews and weasels added their voices to this nighttime symphony.

"We need to find shelter for Dunshi, and soon." Wei Ying said, looking around.

"This was an open field, once upon a time." Hongse said. "We are about five hundred miles away from your home now."

"That's truly impressive." Wei Ying told her truthfully.

"Look over there!" She pointed into the distance. "Do you think those mountains will provide shelter for Dunshi?"

"Sister, let us go and check. We will return as soon as possible." Chihong and Xinghong said, looking towards where she pointed.

"Yes, that's a better idea." She gave them her permission and they drew their own arrays, vanishing seconds later.

Wei Ying was studying the sky.

"Lan Zhan...you know all the stars and their formations in the sky around Gusu...but can you see the dog star from here? Would you know it, if you were to see it now?"

"Mn." Lan Zhan replied confidently. "Studied all stars. Not just Gusu."

"Really? Why?" Wei Ying turned to look at him.

"Wei Ying could have been anywhere." He looked down.

Wei Ying hugged him.

Lan Zhan's dedication to himself was something that never failed to floor him. This single-minded devotion was staggering.

"Tianlang Xing." Hongse was pointing far, far away. "It is the brightest star in the south, but I fear we have many miles to go before we can reach. And who knows what we will find when we get there?"

"True...we have no evidence that the mountains we're looking for are there exactly...but we know they're close by." Wei Ying pulled away from Lan Zhan, promising himself that he would make it up to him somehow.

Chihong and Xinghong returned, out of breath and very excited.

"You were right, Sister. The Mountain has a one huge cave and several others leading away from the main one. And yes, it's big enough." Chihong announced.

"Then let's go." Hongse drew her array once more.

They landed in a place where boulders big and small littered the outside of the cavern. Its huge, gaping mouth opened, yawning into the darkness, its roof higher than Dunshi. Up here, it was cooler too.

"Fetch what you can find to make a fire." Hongse ordered, leading the other's into the cave.

Their footsteps echoed in the empty space, bouncing off the wet walls. Lichen grew in thick clumps, clinging to the damp stone, and the steady drip-drip noise of water falling somewhere was oddly comforting.

"Maybe Dunshi can find a place further inside to rest." Wei Ying suggested. "Let's go with him."

Dunshi looked out towards the gradually lightening horizon.

"Fire ball coming." He said, sadly.

"Yes, let's get you inside, shall we?" Wei Ying tried to push him, even using his considerable new strength, but he could have been blowing bubbles at Dunshi for all the good it did.

Sighing, he unfurled his wings and flew up to Dunshi's eye level.

"Let's go in there!" He pointed behind him.

Dunshi leaned past him to look and then looked at Wei Ying again.

"Scared." He whispered.

Wei Ying felt so sorry for him. Even if there probably was nothing bigger than him inside, his fear was real.

"We'll come with you." He encouraged, as Lan Zhan flew up behind him.

They waved at Li XiWang and Rumi, with Wei Ying shouting down to them that they would return shortly.

Li XiWang had smiled and waved with Hongse standing right behind them. Rumi was watching them with worry on his face, but he relaxed seeing Li XiWang being alright with their departure.

The darkness gathered in front of them and behind them, almost as if it was a solid thing, parting just for their bodies. Wei Ying could hear Dunshi walking behind them, his soft footfalls echoing with a dull thud-thud.

There was something odd about this place though. Everything appeared normal on the surface but there was just a feeling and Wei Ying was someone who trusted his instincts.

"Do you think this is far enough, Lan Zhan?" He called out.

But there was no answer.