It seemed the Elder was right about the surrounding areas of the village after they left.

All around them was the flat landscape of patchy grasslands on the verge of the desert as if hanging on to meagre life. Lone trees were scattered far and wide, but they were the only things to see on an otherwise plain and empty land.

"Do you think I should fly up and check out ahead? Maybe we can get a better idea of which direction we need to travel in from higher up." Wei Ying asked Lan Zhan.

The Jade was suspiciously quiet.

"I promise, as soon as we find a nice place to eat, we'll get the kids back, alright?" Wei Ying thought that was the reason he was quiet.

"Mn."

Okay, so not that then.

"Lan Zhan? My love?" Wei Ying slowed them down so they wouldn't be overheard. "What's wrong?"

Lan Zhan didn't know how to say what he felt. He did not want Wei Ying to fly anywhere without him...and maybe he was being overprotective, but he couldn't help it.

Ever since he had met Wei Ying, other than the times when Wei Ying was being punished, Lan Zhan hated restrictions placed on him, for whatever reason. Especially after their long absence from each other, Lan Zhan could not bear Wei Ying to not be able to do as he wished.

However much he didn't like it.

But Wei Ying was persistent.

"Tell me?" Those silver eyes were probing his golden ones, searching for what was troubling him.

Only the truth would do.

"Does not like Wei Ying flying alone." He felt immediately relieved but now he was worried that he had upset Wei Ying.

Wei Ying rubbed his arm affectionately. They continued to walk now, hanging back from the others.

"I know why, my love." He said softly. "But we really are going in blind here. We might spend ages going in the wrong direction and then spend the same amount of time backtracking."

"Mn. Also don't like saying no."

"But you know it makes sense, right?" His silver eyes reflected back worry. "The faster we complete our main missions, which is to get Dunshi back to his home, and hopefully find the memory plant, the faster we can go home."

"Mn." He knew it, but he didn't have to like it. And now his conflicting emotions were confusing him.

"Okay, how about we do this, we walk ahead for a while, the elder said after the flatlands and farms, there might be a town or a city. We can ask around there, they might even have better maps of the surrounding places, or we can ask at a tea house if anyone has heard of our mountains."

Lan Zhan felt happier and Wei Ying was too, as a result. He could see the worry leave Lan Zhan's face.

He reached up to kiss his cheek.

"You know, you can tell me anything, right?"

"Mn. But it is unfair to Wei Ying." He understood that, really he did. But it was, what was inside his heart.

"It doesn't matter, my love. I want to know what you're thinking, especially if it's about me. And why is it unfair?"

"Wei Ying should do as he pleases." Lan Zhan said, but the smallest of pouts was playing on his lips.

"You know...a long time ago, your brother, XiChen-Ge, said something to me, and somehow, I've never been able to forget it." Wei Ying looked thoughtful.

"Xiongzhang?"

"Yes. It was around the time just after we had won the sunshot campaign...he came to see me. Whether by accident or intention, I got the feeling he was looking for me on your behalf." He sighed. He didn't want to tell Lan Zhan, not really, because Lan Zhan would be upset for him and Wei Ying didn't want anything to come between the brothers.

"Mn?" Lan Zhan was extremely interested. What had his brother said to Wei Ying? And why did he get the feeling it was going to be something painful?

"Yes, he was trying to get me to return to sword cultivation...but...you know." He cleared his throat roughly. "Of course he didn't know I couldn't. But he said, it would be wonderful if everyone could do as they pleased, but if their actions hurt others, then it was extremely selfish. I know he was angry at me...I know why he said it." Wei Ying took a deep breath.

No matter how much XiChen-Ge thought he was doing the right thing by talking to Wei Ying this way, it had still hurt. Even to this day.

Even talking about it now.

"But back then, I didn't have a choice. And he didn't know, so it's not his fault." Wei Ying blinked back tears. "What I mean is, now I do have a choice. Just because I can do whatever I want to, doesn't mean I should... because I have to consider how it will affect you. I don't have to, but I want to, and therein lies the difference. I am still free, my love. You don't have to worry. That's why it's okay to tell me what you prefer, because I would rather you be happy. That's the reason I ask you everything. It's not because I can't decide for myself, but I don't want to."

Hongse was hanging back too, and now she spoke.

"If you both don't mind, I couldn't help overhearing, and I might have a solution for your dilemma." She said, smiling.

"Really? What do you have in mind?" Wei Ying asked her after a moment.

Lan Zhan squeezed his hand.

"We don't have to ask just people, we can ask other...things." she replied enigmatically.

"What things?"

"Watch this." She said.