A few moments later came the sound of jade knocking against each other. It sounded as if somebody had put something onto the table and pushed it over.

The first to speak was Lan XiChen, “What does this mean?”

Somebody spoke, “To return to you, Brother.”

It was Jin GuangYao.

"Told you it was him." said Wei Wuxian with proud face.

"No one argues." said Jin Zixuan.

"But, what did he wants to return?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Is that even important?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Every detail is important, Wanyin." said Lan Xichen.

Lan XiChen, “I have already given this to you.”

Jin GuangYao, “The token of passage has never failed before. Now that it has failed, it’s time for it to be returned to its rightful owner.”

"Why would you give a token to someone who isn't a Lan?" asked Lan Qiren.

"I don't know, shufu." said Lan Xichen.

Wei WuXian understood now. Since ZeWu-Jun and LianFang-Zun had quite a good relationship, Lan XiChen had given Jin GuangYao a token of passage as well so that he could visit freely. However, it was likely that within the past few days he had either edited the prohibitions of the Cloud Recesses’ barrier or retracted the permission of Jin GuangYao’s token of passage. When Jin GuangYao came to visit, he was refused permission to enter, and thus he voluntarily returned the token.

"Don't do that again." said Lan Qiren.

"A token of passage is very important to the sect. No matter how close you are to that person, you don't have to give him a token of passage." he added.

"They must use it for a bad purpose." he continued.

"Don't worry, shufu. I won't do such thing again." said Lan Xichen.

Like Lan WangJi, Lan XiChen didn’t know how to feign compliance either. Jin GuangYao backed off his advance, while Lan XiChen said nothing. A moment later, he spoke, “What did you come for?”

Jin GuangYao, “We still don’t have any news on HanGuang-Jun and the YiLing Patriarch. I didn’t let anyone search the Cloud Recesses, and many sects are already in doubt with many objections. Brother, whenever it works for you, it’d still be best for you to open the doors for two hours. Then I’ll be able to take people over and deal with the situation.”

"Maybe, Jin GuangYao already knew that the two of them are hidden in Cloud Recesses." said Nie Huaisang.

"That's possible. But, why didn't he search it way more earlier?" asked MianMian.

"He might be planning something." said Jin Zixuan.

"Looks like he have a lot of plans." said Nie Mingjue.

Wei WuXian had thought that he was here to demand a search. He didn’t expect at all that Jin GuangYao would say such a thing, as though not at all interested in searching where the YiLing Patriarch had gone. He couldn’t help but feel somewhat surprised. On the other side of the screen, Jin GuangYao continued, “Brother, what’s wrong?”

Lan XiChen, “Nothing.”

Jin GuangYao, “If you’re worried about WangJi, then please relax. HanGuang-Jun’s character is upright and honest. All of the sects have seen this throughout the years. He must be only doing this because he’s been lied to in some way. Besides, he hasn’t done anything unforgivable yet. It’ll be fine as long as he explains when the time comes. I won’t let anyone take the chance to spread rumors.”

"Excuse me! What?!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed.

"I never lied to Lan Zhan especially in that kind of situation." he added.

"He's wrong. A-die will do everything for a-niang even if it's a lie." said Sizhui.

"Lan Wangji's reputation will be ruined in a matter of time." said Jiang Cheng.

"But, lets see how he will do that. A great Hanguang-jun ruining his reputation for his beloved." he added.

Lan XiChen, “When the time comes? When would that be?”

Jin GuangYao, “After we clean out Burial Mound.”

"Eh?" a lot of people asked.

"Can they even clean it?" asked a random a cultivator.

"We'll see." said Wei Wuxian.

Wei WuXian paused in surprise. Lan XiChen, “Burial Mound?”

Jin GuangYao, “Ever since the day of the fight at Koi Tower, strange things have been happening around the areas Moling, Lanling, and Yunmeng. Graves have been destroyed and the corpses have disappeared. Certain signs are showing that large groups of corpses are travelling toward the direction of Yiling. They’ve probably gone to Burial Mound.”

Lan XiChen, “Just what could this be for?”

Jin GuangYao, “I don’t know. The speculation is that Wei WuXian initiated some dark array or used the Tiger Seal.”

"Really?" Wei Wuxian asked with a laugh.

"I was wounded. Besides, why would I do that?" he added.

"Maybe for your evil plans. You're a demonic cultivator after all." said Sect Leader Yao.

"You're really such an idiot." said Jiang Yanli with a glare.

"Didn't we watched it together and saw that a-xian has no plans on doing that?" she asked..

"What do you have in that brain of yours? It seems empty just by hearing you speak." she added.

"Shijie/a-jie had it too much." Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng muttered.

"She's looking cool." Jin Zixuan whispered with blush visible on his cheeks.

"Such a pity, you'll never have her." said Wei Wuxian and Jin Zixuan frowned.

"That's impossible, Wei-daijiu." said Jin Ling.

"I can make it possible." said Wei Wuxian with a grin.

Lan XiChen, “Back in Koi Tower, he had been wounded by Jin Ling. Can he still initiate such things?”

Jin GuangYao, “Brother, during the fight with Sect Leader Jiang, when Wei WuXian betrayed the YunmengJiang Sect, how badly wounded was he? Didn’t he still return to command the corpses? Would anything in this world prove to be difficult to the YiLing Patriarch?”

Wei WuXian stroked his chin, You think too highly of me…

"Yeah, he really think so highly of me." said Wei Wuxian.

"But, you can really do it." said Zizhen.

"See, he has evil plans." said Sect Leader Yao.

"Oh shut the f*ck up." Jiang Cheng and Jingyi said at the same time.

"Do you know who have evil plans? It's me. It's me since I'm panning to cut your throat if you insists such thing again." said Jiang Cheng.

"Dumb old man." he added.

Jin GuangYao, “So, sooner or later, there might be the second siege of Burial Mound. I’ve already notified a few other sects to discuss the matter at Koi Tower. Brother, are you coming?”

A few moments later, Lan XiChen finally replied, “I am. Wait for me in the Yashi. I will go with you soon afterwards.”

After Jin GuangYao left, Lan XiChen walked behind the screen and looked at Lan WangJi, “I will go to Koi Tower, and you two go to Burial Mound. Let us move separately.”

Lan WangJi nodded slowly, “Yes.”

Lan XiChen, “If he really holds other intentions, I will definitely not tolerate it.”

Lan WangJi, “I know.”

"Am I the only one who have no good feeling about the meeting in Koi Tower?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"You say that because your husband is going there and you don't trust Jin GuangYao." said Wei Wuxian.

"But, it seems that something will really happen there." said Jin Zixuan.

"Lets not think about that for now." said Jiang Cheng.

The two went down the Cloud Recesses on a small path. On their way, the grass beside the white pebbles rustled before parting suddenly, revealing a small, snowball-like head and a pair of long ears.

The rabbit’s pink nose sniffled. As it saw Lan WangJi, its dangling ears suddenly perked up. With a kick of its leg, it sprang toward them. They came to the patch of green grass. Lil’ Apple was lying under a tree while dozens of round white rabbits circled around it, most of their eyes shut, sleeping tightly. A few of them were still snuggling.

"Wow! Those rabbits are so cute!" exclaimed a female disciple.

"What about.... we roast them." said Wei Wuxian teasing juniors who immediately turned pale.

"A-niang/Wei-jiujiu/Wei-daijiu/Wei-qianbe!" the four exclaimed together.

Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng, Nie Huaisang, and Jin Zixuan laughed loudly.

"It's not funny!" the four exclaimed.

"You know, when we were young, we used to roast rabbits for food especially when we are out on night hunt. It tastes really great." said Jiang Cheng.

"It is easy to cook them especially when they're fat. Ah so delicious." said Nie Huaisang.

"And, rabbits are so easy to hunt." said Jin Zixuan.

"Shut up!" the four exclaimed but the four just laughed at them.

"You four are traumatizing them." said Jiang Yanli with a chuckle.

"They deserve it." said Jiang Cheng.

"What did we do to deserve that?" asked Jingyi.

"A lot." said Jiang Cheng.

"I am innocent." said Zizhen.

"They're just keep on dragging me." he added.

"Liar!" exclaimed Jin Ling and Jingyi.

Wei WuXian walked to the tree and scratched Lil’ Apple’s head. With a shiver, Lil’ Apple woke up at once, air coming out of its nostrils. As it saw Wei WuXian, just as it was about to bellow, the pile of rabbits were startled awake as well. Long ears trembling, all of them hopped toward Lan WangJi. Fluffs of white at his snowy boots, they ran around him again and again, whatever they were excited about.

Holding Lil’ Apple’s rein, Wei WuXian pulled and threatened for it to move. The rabbits stood on the ground on their hind legs and clung to Lan WangJi’s leg one by one. All of them wanted to climb up. Lan WangJi was as still as a mountain. As the two began to walk, the rabbits stumbled as they followed the pair of white boots. They refused to leave no matter how many times Wei WuXian tried to shoo them away.

"Ah Lan Zhan, they love you so much." said Wei Wuxian.

"You're saying that because any small or large animals doesn't love you." said Jiang Cheng.

"Hey! That's not true." said Wei Wuxian.

"Really?" asked Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian pouted.

Bending down, Lan WangJi picked one up and held it within his arms. Although his face was still cold, the stroke of his hands were gentle. His slender fingers scratched the chin of one of the rabbits. The rabbit shook its long ears. It turned around and shut its ruby eyes into just two slits, as though enjoying the scratching very much.

Wei WuXian wanted scratch it, but it turned its head away. Wei WuXian, “It detests me. It loves you and you only. It really knows who its master is, doesn’t it?”

Lan WangJi glanced at him before passing the rabbit into his arms. Wei WuXian took it over with a grin on his face. The rabbit twisted and turned in his arms, struggling as hard as it could. Wei WuXian tugged its ears, “You don’t like me? You hate me? Then run away. You can’t run away no matter how much you want to. Why don’t you just be obedient and like me instead?”

Pinching the rabbit, Wei WuXian played with it for a while. When they were almost outside of the gates of the Cloud Recesses, he finally let go of the rabbit whose white fur had already been tangled by him. Now that the rabbits couldn’t follow them any longer, their ears drooped low and sat where they were, watching as their master left.

"How come they don't like me?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"I'm cute and I know how to pet them." he added.

"Animal instincts." said Jiang Cheng.

"What does that mean?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"You know what it means." said Jiang Cheng.

"If I am a rabbit, I would die than being petted by you." he added.

"Why so mean, ChengCheng." Wei Wuxian said dramatically.

Wei WuXian looked back, “They don’t want to let you go at all. HanGuang-Jun, I can’t believe that you’re liked do much by these little things. You must’ve been very gentle with them when you brought them up. I’d never be able to do that.”

Lan WangJi, “No?”

Wei WuXian gloated, “Yeah! Those that fly, those that walk, those that swim—every single one of them turns around and flees as soon as it sees me.”

Lan WangJi shook his head. What he meant was more than obvious: it must’ve been Wei WuXian teasing them first that he had never been liked by them.

"See, even Lan Wangji has the same thoughts as me." said Jiang Cheng.

"Lan Zhan." Wei Wuxian whined.

"It's true though." said Jin Ling.

"Only if you just simply pet them without teasing them or scaring them then maybe they will be fond of you." said Jin Ling.

"You guys are so mean to me." Wei Wuxian whined.

"Don't be mean to Wei Ying." said Lan Wangji.

"He just have to stop such behavior towards any animals next time." he added and Wei Wuxian looked at him.

"Lan Zhan, you also think of me like that?" he asked.

Lan Wangji avoided his glare.

"I'll help you get close to them." he said.

Wei Wuxian just pouted.

Down the mountain path, they left the Cloud Recesses through a discreet shortcut. They walked farther and farther, until they had finally left the the GusuLan Sect’s disciples’ usual area of activity. Wei WuXian suddenly exclaimed, “Ow, my stomach hurts.”

Lan WangJi stopped immediately, “Rest. Apply new ointment.”

Wei WuXian, “It’s fine. I’ll just go sit over there.”

Lan WangJi, “Sit.”

"Wei Ying should rest." said Lan Wangji.

"Impossible. His wound had been healed already." said Jiang Cheng.

"He's just being shameless." he added.

"So heartless, my beloved brother." said Wei Wuxian.

"A-xian just wanted to be taken care of by his Lan Zhan." said Jiang Yanli.

"Shijie, you're a tease." Wei Wuxian said with a blush.

Wei WuXian’s expression seemed miserable, “But the movement of getting on the donkey is too big. I’m scared that it’ll affect the wound.”

His wound had healed long ago. This was clearly being shameless. Lan WangJi stopped, turned around, and looked at him. He suddenly reached out. Making sure not to touch where he had been injured, he picked him up by his waist, lifted him gently, and placed him onto the back of Lil’ Apple.

Of the two, one sat on the donkey while the other pulled the rein. On the back of Lil’ Apple, Wei WuXian grinned with curving eyes.

"See." said Jiang Yanli.

"That's so sweet. My didi knows how to be gentle and sweet." Lan Xichen teased.

"Shameless." Lan Qiren and Jiang Cheng said at the same time.

"You're two are just jealous." said Wei Wuxian.

"And why would I?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"I will never." said Lan Qiren.

"Such a liar." said Wei Wuxian with a grin.

Lan WangJi asked, “What?”

Wei WuXian, “Nothing.”

Like he had played a trick on someone, he felt somewhat pleased with himself.

"Let's do that next time, Lan Zhan." said Wei Wuxian.

"Mn." said Lan Wangji.

"First, we need to have Lil Apple with us." said Wei Wuxian.

"And also, we have to get Mo Xuanyu out of that place." he added.

"He's just a kid, right?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Yes, we will get him out of there and let him stay at the Jin Sect. Treat him like a family." said Jin Zixuan as he looked at his mother.

"Don't worry, I'll be kind to him." said Madam Jin.

Although he didn’t remember much of the things that had happened when he was young, there was one scene that had always been blurrily imprinted within his mind.

A narrow path, a little donkey, and three people. A man in black gently lifted a woman in white. He picked her up and placed her onto the donkey’s back. Then, he raised a small, small child way up high and put him on his shoulders.

He was the child, not yet the height of a person’s legs. Sitting on the shoulders of the man, he was suddenly very tall, very majestic. Sometimes he pulled the man’s hair, sometimes he rubbed his cheeks. He shouted things, swinging his legs about. The woman in white sat on the donkey’s back, her back swaying. Watching them, she seemed to smile. The man had always been quiet. He didn’t talk much. He only pushed him a bit higher, for him to be taller, steadier. One of his hands picked up the donkey’s rein. The three of them were squeezed onto the same narrow path, walking slowly forward.

It was one of the rare pieces of memory that he had.

Those were his dad and his mom.

"A-die, a-niang." Wei Wuxian mumbled.

"They look like a sweet couple." said MianMian.

"They are." Wei Wuxian said with a bright smile.

"It's a beautiful memory." he added.

"How I wish they were still alive." he mumbled.

"Don't be sad. You have Lan Wangji to spoil you like your parents did." said Jiang Cheng.

"I know. I just miss them." said Wei Wuxian.

"Lucky you, I never have such memory in my life." Jiang Cheng mumbled.

"Only from a-jie." he added.

Wei WuXian, “Lan Zhan, pick up the rein, won’t you?”

Lan WangJi, “Why?”

Lil’ Apple was quite clever. It wasn’t that it didn’t know to follow a person. Wei WuXian said again, “Give me some face and pick it up, won’t you?”

Although he still didn’t understand why Wei WuXian’s grin was so bright, Lan WangJi listened and picked up Lil’ Apple’s rein anyway, holding it in his hand.

"You're so great, Lan Zhan. I am like mother and you're like my father." said Wei Wuxian.

"But we are missing something." he added.

"What is it?" Lan Wangji asked.

Wei WuXian spoke to himself, “Hm. Now all that’s left is a little one.”

Lan WangJi, “What?”

Wei WuXian chuckled, “Nothing. Lan Zhan, you really are a good person.”

"That's it, we are missing a little one." said Wei Wuxian.

"Well, your son isn't little anymore." said Jiang Cheng.

"But, we can still do that." said Wei Wuxian.

"We can, a-niang." said Sizhui.

"Besides, when a-die and a-niang travels with me, we always bring Lil Apple with us and did the same." he added.

"So great. I can imagine it already." said Wei Wuxian.

With this journey to Yiling, it was clear that their future was still unclear, even somewhat dangerous. Wei WuXian couldn’t get himself to feel nervous at all. Sitting on a donkey with Lan WangJi holding the rein, leading them down the path, his entire heart was fluttering, feeling as though he was walking on air. Even if a bunch of sects suddenly attacked from beside the road, aside from destroying the scene and spoiling his mood, he thought that he wouldn’t find it too bad. He even had the spirit to enjoy the fields under the moonlight, pulling out the bamboo flute at his waist. As natural as ever, he played a tune.

The flute had a limpid timbre. Lan WangJi’s footsteps hesitated slightly as Wei WuXian felt something inside of him suddenly light up.

"You're really comfortable with you husband, huh?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"I do. Besides, I am safe with him." said Wei Wuxian.

"Looks like you're not going somewhere dangerous but rather enjoying the scenery while traveling." said MianMian.

"Why think about the danger when you can enjoy first?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"The future ahead is unknown, enjoy your life first before its too late." he added.

He spoke, “Lan Zhan! Let me ask you, back then, under the Xuanwu cave in Dusk-Creek Mountain, the song that you sang me, what was its name?”

Lan WangJi looked at him, “Why do you suddenly remember to ask about this?”

Wei WuXian, “Just say it. What was its name? I think I might’ve guessed how you recognized me.”

"We already know its name." said Nie Huaisang.

"How?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Your son said it." said Nie Huaisang.

"When?" Wei Wuxian asked again.

"In Dafan Mountain." said Jiang Cheng.

"What? Why do I don't know about that?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"We don't know either." said Jin Zixuan.

"Your memory is really bad when it comes to Lan Wangji." he added.

"You're not helping, peacock." said Wei Wuxian.

"Because I will never help you." said Jin Zixuan.

On the night at Dafan Mountain, the tune that he somehow played was precisely the one, when he had been fevered under the Xuanwu cave in Dusk-Creek Mountain, Lan WangJi had hummed beside him!

Lan WangJi refused to say anything. Wei WuXian hurried him, “Say it, what song is it? Who composed it?”

Lan WangJi, “I did.”

Wei WuXian, “You composed it?!”

Lan WangJi, “Mn.”

"Wow! Lan Zhan, you're so talented." said Wei Wuxian.

"Can you compose more songs?" he asked.

"Mn. I can." said Lan Wangji.

"That's great. You'll compose a song and we'll play it together." said Wei Wuxian.

"But, what is the name of that song first?" he asked.

"Let him find it out on his own, Lan Wangji." said Jiang Cheng.

"Jiang Cheng." Wei Wuxian whined.

"So that you'll learn to remember everything related to him." said Jiang Cheng.

"Oh." said Wei Wuxian and grinned.

Wei WuXian had thought that it was a secret song of the GusuLan Sect. Now that he knew, he was both surprised and overjoyed. What he was surprised about was quite obvious. What he was overjoyed about, though, he couldn’t really tell. He guessed, “If you really did recognize from just this, it must’ve meant that—this song, you’ve never let anyone else hear it?”

Lan WangJi, “Never.”

"It's only for you, a-niang." said Sizhui.

"Really?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Mn. A-die's ode of love for you." said Sizhui and his parents blushed.

"So sweet." said Jiang Yanli with a tease.

"Yeah, my Lan Zhan is sweet." said Wei Wuxian while blushing so hard.

"So sweet that your thick face can't take it?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Shut up!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed.

Wei WuXian was so happy that he kicked Lil’ Apple. Lil’ Apple shouted in anger, kicking its hind legs as though to shake him off its back. Just in time, Lan WangJi pulled the rein tight. Wei WuXian hugged Lil’ Apple’s neck, “It’s fine, it’s fine. That’s just how it is. It only kicks a few times. Let’s continue. Then, really, what is it called?”

Lan WangJi, “What do you think?”

Wei WuXian, “What do you mean what do I think? Just does it have a name or not?” In his heart he muttered. Would Lan WangJi’s style of naming things be the same as Jiang Cheng’s? That’d be impossible! He asked, “Are you asking me for my opinion? I think that why don’t you call it…”

After the more than eighty names he had come up with were all refused by Lan WangJi, Wei WuXian’s spirit finally began to dwindle.

"It already have a name." said Nie Huaisang.

"Just tell me." said Wei Wuxian.

"It's related to the both of you." said Jin Zixuan.

"I know that." said Wei Wuxian.

"Just give up." said Jiang Cheng.

"You three aren't helping me." Wei Wuxian whined.

"Want a clue?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Yes, yes, yes." said Wei Wuxian.

"Fine. It starts with a Wang and ends in Xian." said Jiang Cheng.

Wei Wuxian looked at him dumbly.

"What is that?" he asked.

"See, he's intelligent in everything but not in this." said Jiang Cheng.

"I can't believe it." said Jin Zixuan.

"There's no name that started with that and end with that." said Wei Wuxian.

"You're so dense!" the three exclaimed.