The woman beckoned to them, and she quickly walked away.

Wei Ying looked at Lan Zhan.

"What do you want to do? We can either go back the way we came, or we follow her...and she's saying to leave."

"Let's follow for now." Hongse came to stand by them. "There are enough of us to protect the kids, don't worry. But if we can help these people, then we should."

"Mn."

"Alright." Wei Ying crouched down so he was at eye level with both Rumi and Li XiWang. "Let's not take any chances, okay? Hold our hands, and don't wander away. If you feel like something strange is happening, call out to us immediately. Alright?"

"WingAnLaZhan?" Rumi held out his arms so Wei Ying picked him up, and Li XiWang held Lan Zhan's hand.

The woman had retreated further into the village now, and they could only see where she was by the strength of the candle. They hurried after her.

Hongse called out to her sisters, "Keep an eye out, we need to be alert."

They were flanked by Hongbaoshi, Chihong and Xinghong. Two servants carrying Dashi were in between and Dunshi was behind them.

They were coming closer to where the candle appeared stationary. The woman was standing in front of nearly a hundred tablets.

"Look at these. Each tablet represents a little girl or a little boy. This village was full of children once upon a time. So when I tell you to leave, you should heed my words." She looked frightening, not only because the light of the candle was casting shadows on her face, but because of her tone and what she said, too.

Li XiWang hid behind Lan Zhan's body, Rumi had started growling ever since she began to speak, and Wei Ying tried to calm him by putting his palm on Rumi's back.

"What happened to the children?" He asked.

"Wupo Chi Haizimen. It is said she lives deep in the forest, but the smell of fresh, young meat draws her out. I have given you fair warning." She bowed, and left.

They were left alone with the macabre stone reminders of lives once lived.

"Let's get out of here." Wei Ying said, turning around.

"Oh no!" Hongse exclaimed, pointing towards the East.

They all looked and were horrified to see a gradual lightening of the sky...the sun was about to rise, and Dunshi was still out in the open.

"Maybe we can find shelter in the forest!" Wei Ying said urgently, because nowhere else could accommodate their giant.

The thickly dense trees were packed together so tightly, they had to make Dunshi go in before them. They ran after him until he finally stopped next to a cave. This was not as big or wide as the previous one, but at least Dunshi would be safe. He ran inside as soon as they caught up with him.

Wei Ying sighed with relief.

"We are going to have to get better at predicting the time, that's for sure."

"I don't think it's us. There appears to be a hex on that village, and it's stretched to include parts of the forest too." Hongse replied.

"How do you know?" Wei Ying asked her, curiously.

"I told you before, our kind are gifted. Like Yin and Yang, if you imagine us as the light, the Yang side of our powers...and whoever has created this hex, she specialises in the Yin side. So if you look at what we do, my sisters and I, we try to help people. Our gifts are used in a benevolent way, as opposed to this witch who is giving every one of us a bad name." A hard look came into her blue eyes.

"I thought you didn't like that term." Wei Ying smirked.

"I don't, but in this case, that term suits just fine." Hongse began preparing a fire.

"Lan Zhan...do you think, while we are here, should we you know, help them with their problems? The whole thing seems to be rather sad. Imagine if there were no children...at all?" Wei Ying said, softly.

Lan Zhan helped him to sit down next to him.

"We also have our own mission." He said, after a while. "But if Wei Ying wants to help, then we shall help."

Wei Ying threw his arms around his neck.

"You're so wonderful, Lan Zhan. I love you so much!"

"Wei Ying is wonderfuller." He replied with a stubborn pout.

"Now, I'm pretty sure that isn't a word." Wei Ying kissed him quickly, mindful of the children.

"Tis." He managed to add, before bowls of congee were handed out.

Once breakfast was sorted, they relaxed.

They had been walking the whole night and the children were also tired. Wei Ying stretched and then laid down. Rumi and Li XiWang were lying down in between himself and Lan Zhan.

"Goodnight, children, goodnight my love." Wei Ying yawned once more before finally closing his eyes.

"Do not worry, I shall stay awake to guard our campsite." Hongse had said.

Dashi was showing signs of waking up now, and she did not wish to sedate him any longer.

Their Master had suffered enough, and it was time to put all those wrongs to right.

Lan Zhan lay awake for a while, watching his family sleep. Rumi and Li XiWang had their arms around each other, and Wei Ying's was draped casually across their bodies. Lan Zhan let his arm with his wide sleeve cover all three in his care, and then he let himself drift away.

The forest came alive with the rays of the sun, warming the leaves still green but not for long. Hongse De listened to larks and songbirds as they greeted the day. Nearby, a nest of squirrels chirped and played, squeaking at the newcomers, while other small mammals scurried to and fro in the undergrowth.

Dunshi was safe in his cave and their mission was on point.