The walk back to the village was quiet. They held hands, both lost in their thoughts. Wei Ying hoped Lan Zhan would feel better soon, that they could finish this mission and get back home.

He seemed calmer now; maybe the crying was a release of emotions that he desperately needed.

Lan Zhan did feel better now. He squeezed the hand in his, wanting to speak.

"I am sorry for worrying Wei Ying."

Wei Ying stopped walking then and drew him into his arms.

"You shouldn't be sorry about that, my love. I want to worry about you. I want to know what you're thinking...even if it's painful. I think I'm finally getting what it means to be married...and even if we weren't, I'd still want to know. Do you understand?" He whispered.

Lan Zhan held him tightly, drawing strength from Wei Ying, for once.

"All those times when I...I didn't tell you what was going on with me, because I was scared for the same reasons, I didn't want to worry you...I ended up hurting you instead. It's the same for me. You're beautiful to me...not just this." He kissed those lovely pink lips. "But inside too. Everything about you is precious to me, everything  is important. I want to know, my love."

"Mn. Will try."

Wei Ying searched his face, happier that Lan Zhan was sincere in his promise.

"Alright. Do you feel better?"

"Mn. Always feel better with Wei Ying."

"It's the same for me, my love." Wei Ying reached up to kiss his nose.

They continued to walk then, and Wei Ying linked their arms together.

This time, they were both more relaxed, and he realised that while travelling with others was fine, they both missed their own company with each other. This time was special; healing, reinforcing their bonds and as such, he would make sure it happened regularly.

They found the village easily.

And the barn that the village elder had described was right where he had said, so they went inside. Everyone was asleep, even Dunshi and Xiao Zei who had joined them, all except Hongse.

Her blue eyes flashed momentarily but she calmed down once she recognised them.

"How was it?"

"Easy." They sat down next to her.

"I'm...glad." She sighed.

"Why don't you rest?" Wei Ying told her.

By the light of the moon through the high slots that served as windows, he could see she looked tired, and it was not just physical exertion.

"Can't sleep. Don't worry about me." She said. And then, "how did you two know you were soulmates?"

The question was raw, out of nowhere and exposing her hurt.

"We went through too much and..." Wei Ying sighed. What was it about this night, that everyone wanted to rehash his past?

"I always knew." Lan Zhan said, unexpectedly.

Wei Ying reached for his hands. Maybe this would be good for Lan Zhan, to try and put it into words...for someone else.

"I didn't know...not at first." He admitted.

"So how did you find out?" Hongse leaned forward.

"XiChen-Ge told me. I think he was fed up with me, personally. I...I just kept hurting Lan Zhan...and he couldn't take it any more." He stopped speaking, the lump in his throat too big to swallow.

Lan Zhan pulled him closer, kissing his temple lovingly.

"It does not matter."

But it did.

Wei Ying hardly let himself think about it, and he knew all his memories weren't intact from his previous life...but still...the guilt was no less. And even knowing about the holes in his memory didn't make it any better.

"What about you? How did you know? Was it difficult?" Hongse didn't know why she was asking all these questions, but she was suddenly filled with a burning need to find out. In her heart of hearts, she wanted to know if falling in love with Raina was a mistake...and she felt guilty even thinking it.

"Xiongzhang told me. He always knew how I felt. But he cleared up the confusion. After that, I tried to meet Wei Ying whenever I could...but it was hard." Lan Zhan admitted.

Wei Ying tried to think about it from his perspective. On the one hand, there was his uncle proclaiming that Wei Ying was evil, and performing dark arts, evil deeds by raising corpse armies, and on the other side, there was Lan Zhan's utter faith in him. No wonder his uncle had tried to beat it out of him...he choked back a sob.

Both Lan Zhan and Hongse looked at him then.

Lan Zhan covered his hand with both of these. He knew what Wei Ying was thinking.

"I would do it again."

That was too much for Wei Ying. He threw his arms around Lan Zhan's neck, holding on even when Lan Zhan stood up.

Wei Ying couldn't hold it in, his sobs would wake the others up, so Lan Zhan took him outside. 

There was a bale of hay, sadly looking meagre, but it was enough to sit on. Lan Zhan held him closer, tightening his arms. It was his turn to be strong now.

"I will never regret loving Wei Ying." He said softly.

His lips rested against Wei Ying's warm forehead.

Wei Ying couldn't say anything back; since the same was true for him, and he understood what Lan Zhan was trying to say...but it didn't make it any less difficult to bear.

They had both suffered for their love, and it wasn't fair, it wasn't right.

The Universe was filled with love and it was progression to aim all wants towards this goal...but human beings were so cruel.

Gradually, he calmed down, listening to the even beats of Lan Zhan's heart under his ear. Lan Zhan took his face in his palms and smiled at him. He leaned forward and kissed his hot eyelids, his too warm cheeks that in the morning's first rays of daylight were pink and glistening with the traces of his tears, and then finally, Lan Zhan kissed his lips.

Wei Ying kissed him back, slow and sweet. A honeyed balm upon their wounds of the past.

Slowly, the sun rose past the horizon and the sky became a painting of glorious colours, divine and godly. Pinks turning into reds, fiery orange light filled the sky before the yellow orb glowed brightly, signifying the start of day.

If Wei Ying was tired before, he was exhausted now. His mind no longer able to suffer the torture of those thoughts and he closed his eyes finally.

Lan Zhan had been rubbing circles soft and soothing on his back, lulling him into sleep. He wished Wei Ying had never found out about those scars on his back. To him, they were a mark of his love for this beautiful man, and even if he had to suffer through it all again, he had no doubt he would do it again.

Like Wei Ying had said, perhaps there was a reason things had happened just as they did...and they could not change that.