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After an hour of walking, the people at the front noticed that the cave led to a dead end in the form of a pond filled with tiny stony islands. Wei Ying sent a talisman to illuminate the space and everyone saw that there was no other exit. Wen Chao and his group caught up with the ones that had reached the pond first and looked around, frustrated.

"You should tell us what we are hunting, at least, so we know what we are facing." Jin Zixuan spoke, his voice full of authority. "We haven't been informed about anything."

"I've told you numerous times. I give the order. You carry it out. You are nothing but my dogs!" Wen Chao replied, having the audacity to push his bonny finger on the Jin heir's shoulder. "Keep searching. There must be more to this cave!" He ordered his men. "You," he pointed towards a soldier, "grab someone, tie them upside down and bleed them to lure the monster out."

His words were met by dozens of gasps and glares. Wasn't it enough that they were constantly used as bait, now he wanted to sacrifice one of them to the monster?

His mistress found the perfect opportunity to eliminate someone she clearly thought was a competitor. Lan Zhan guessed that she had become aware of the commotion outside the cave between the female cultivator and Wen Chao and had chosen that moment to get her revenge.

"What about that one?" She pointed toward the girl that Wen Chao had harassed as if the idea had just come to her.

Wen Chao seemed to hesitate. "Her? Umm, why don't you pick another?" That sparkled jealousy in Wang Lingjiao's eyes that was quickly hidden behind a fake shy smile and a touch to Wen Chao's shoulder that accidentally revealed more of the woman's skin than was acceptable.

Lan Zhan had often called Wei Ying's flirting shameful but now he could clearly see he should have never spoken those words to a creature as graceful and playful as Wei Ying. The fake and appalling behavior of the woman in front of him was enough to disgust him. But Wen Chao was delighted as he eyed the woman's chest, giving up on the girl. After all, he could easily find another.

"Tie her up!"

The girl started running, trying to find somewhere to hide. Wei Ying let his talisman crumble into dust allowing the shadows to once again occupy the space. Quickly, the girl hid behind a small group of disciples of different clans. One of them was of the Lan Clan and Lan Zhan frowned seeing the boy pulling away, exposing the girl's position. As everyone in that group took a step further away, the girl tried to find somewhere else to hide. Lan Zhan was almost sure he heard Wei Ying struggling to free himself from his brother's grip but his attention was on the girl so he couldn't turn to check. As if Jin Zixuan and he were synchronized they moved together to create a wall between the girl and everyone else. The steps they took were so silent and graceful that no one noticed they weren't standing there from the very beginning.

"Are you trying to rebel against me?" Wen Chao accused them, walking towards them with fast steps. "You'd better tie her up yourselves or no one from your two clans will return home."

Lan Zhan knew that was quite an empty threat. Wen Chao wanted to play the role of the ruler and he could definitely inflict pain on them. But the Lan and Jin Clans were two of the biggest ones. If Wen Chao killed all of them in that cave, the clans wouldn't let it go. Jin Guangshan was a scheming coward but he loved his son. If anything happened to him, he'd take revenge for his death. Lan Zhan was pretty sure his own clan wouldn't hide the death of their disciples and his under the rug either. So, Wen Chao's words were more bark than bite at that point. Standing still and protecting the girl was the right move since it allowed for a stalemate.

That was until the same Lan boy who had given away the girl's position in the first place tried to grab her from behind Lan Zhan's and Jin Zixuan's backs. The girl's shouts alerted them of the situation and immediately Lan Zhan pushed the disciple away sending a bit of his spiritual power his way. People thought he always looked at them with disapproval but that wasn't true. The boy must have instantly understood that since Lan Zhan's eyes showed him how much of a disgrace he thought he was.
Not able to look him in the eye anymore the boy that Lan Zhan recognized as Lan She, courtesy name Minshan, lowered his eyes. The damage was done, though. The stalemate was broken. Wen Chao couldn't hold it any longer. He couldn't handle the fact his authority was questioned. He didn't care about the consequences. His whole life he had learned to have whatever he wanted. Why would that change now?

"How dare you! Kill them!"

At once, the Wen soldiers came after them. Lan Zhan used the torch in his hand to defend himself. Using just enough spiritual energy to strengthen the torch, he hit two men and grabbed one of their swords. By his side, Jin Zixuan did the same. The swords were cheap things that couldn't handle their power so after a few swings they had to grab another pair but that wasn't hard since those soldiers were nothing to them. Soon, the Jin and Lan disciples joined the fight wanting to protect their leaders. Lan Zhan knew that even with his injured leg, he would have no problem fighting those soldiers as long as the Core-Melting Hand stayed out of the fight.

"You dare to defy me?! Who do you think you are? Kill them! Kill them all!" Possessed by fury, Wen Chao was screaming his words that echoed in the cave.

Suddenly, laughter was heard through the clutter of the battle and the screams of the tantrum thrown by the Wen leader.

"Exactly. Bullies who abuse the power of their clans to do evil should be killed." A voice that Lan Zhan would have been able to recognize anywhere was heard above all the noise.

"What did you say?" Wen Chao asked, genuinely surprised by Wei Ying's interruption.

"I said," Wei Ying smiled, and everyone stopped to see the exchange, "bullies who abuse the power of their clans to do evil should be killed. Not only killed but also beheaded and reviled to warn future generations. Do you understand?"

It was at that moment that Lan Zhan understood what the other boy had found so amusing about the book they had been given weeks ago. Deviously, he had kept that to himself to use it at just the right time. Wen Chao had no idea what to answer to that accusation or whom Wei Ying was even accusing in the first place. Was he on his side or the rebels'?

When he finally understood, he stomped his foot on the ground. "Wei Wuxian! How dare you speak so impudently?! You're an unruly disgrace!"

Lan Zhan knew that it was stupid to get this angry about such a fallacious allegation but he found his fist clenching the sword he held tight enough to hurt. How dare he speak that way about Wei Ying?

The black-clothed boy seemed to find the whole thing quite amusing, though. "An unruly disgrace? I think you are!" He turned the words back to Wen Chao with an almost cold chuckle. Taking out of his robes the book they were given, he continued. "Wen Chao, those words are from your clan's founder, the legendary Wen Mao. You dare call his words impudent?" Without any care, he threw the book in front of the other's legs. Wei Ying laughed more and more, provoking the young man. Wen Chao was clearly at his limit. "What's the punishment for insulting the big names of Wen?" Wei Ying pretended he couldn't remember as he leaned on his brother's shoulder. "Kill without mercy?" Wei Ying's silver-colored eyes shone with an emotion that made Lan Zhan feel dizzy for a second. "Very well. You can die." Wei Ying's voice lowered to almost a seductive whisper.

"You are dead meat!" Wen Chao screamed, and, stupidly leaving his protector's side, he attacked the other boy.

Lan Zhan knew from the start that Wei Ying's carefully orchestrated show had as a target to lure Wen Chao out of Wen Zhuliu's protection. During the fight, Wen Zhuliu had done nothing but stand in front of his master, not willing to attack a bunch of disciples. His role there was to keep Wen Chao safe. But now the boy had left him behind on his own and that wouldn't fare well for either of them. If the boy was injured or killed, Wen Ruohan would severely punish him.

Lan Zhan had fought Wei Ying before. They had danced around each other, crossing swords in a chase that lasted almost an hour. There was nothing Wen Chao could do to win against Wei Ying even as the boy fought with nothing but his body as a weapon. Seeing Wen Zhuliu approach, Wei Ying immobilized the Wen heir, stole his sword, and placed it on his neck, close enough to be a threat but not enough to draw blood. To make them less accessible, he pulled both of them backward, towards one of the little islands in the pond.

"Stop right this moment, or your master will bleed." He called over the noise of the fight that had never truly stopped.

Trembling like a fish, Wen Chao ordered them to stop fighting. It was so obvious that he had never been in such a dangerous position before and the fear in his eyes made some disciples snicker.

Once again they were in a stalemate. No one would dare to attack as long as Wen Chao was in Wei Ying's hands and the boy knew it. Some of the people there thought that meant they had won but Lan Zhan knew better. Wei Ying had once again made himself a target. Holding Wen Chao hostage, he would be able to get all of them outside. He would secure their position. Then, he would have to flee. There was no way Wen Chao would forgive such blatant disrespect towards his face or the humiliation he had experienced. The Wen Clan would hunt Wei Ying like a dog and when they would catch him, his death would be a torturous one. Yet, even though the boy must have clearly known what was waiting for him, he kept smiling.

Lan Zhan was trying to decide what he should do when the ground beneath Wei Ying's and Wen Chao's legs started shaking. Soon, they all realized that wasn't a solid surface but the back of the monster they had come to hunt. A long neck leading to an ugly head came close to Wei Ying's body; a big red eye was revealed. The creature seemed to be half blind or at least unable to fully see the bodies that stood on top of it until Wen Chao stupidly moved; attracting its attention. Quickly, Wei Ying grabbed him and jumped towards the shore at the same moment that the monster attacked. Wen Chao found the chance to escape, leaving Wei Ying behind.

Everyone attacked the monster. Bows were pulled and arrows were released. However, the shell and skin of the monster that resembled an enormous tortoise were sturdier than steel. The arrows they shot were wasted and whenever the monster came closer, their swords did nothing to it. In the chaos of the attacks, the cries of a girl were barely heard. Lan Zhan had hardly turned towards the noise when a howl froze him on the spot. Somehow, Wei Ying had noticed that Wang Lingjiao had crept towards the female cultivator they knew as Mianmian. She had two Wen disciples hold the girl down while she was about to use her hot iron to mark the poor girl's face. Lan Zhan had heard about those branding irons that left a scar for life on one's skin and could even ruin their meridians if pushed too hard. Terrified, he noticed that Wei Ying had thrown his own body in front of the girl and had received the full force of the iron on his chest.

Quickly, both he and Jiang Wanyin moved toward him. The boy was breathing heavily but he still managed to sit up and give them a tight smile. By his side, the girl was trembling while the Wen soldiers were dead, probably by Wei Ying's hand. Wen Chao and Wang Lingjiao had found the opportunity to escape with Wen Zhuliu protecting their backs.

"Go after them!" Wei Ying shouted. "We must retreat! They'll block the exit!"

Hearing what he said, everyone started running towards the exit but it was too late. The Wens had cut the roots that had helped them climb down and had sealed the hole. They were trapped.

Lan Zhan stood by Wei Ying's side. The boy was standing, even though he was badly injured. He had a troubled look on his face. Lan Zhan tried not to openly stare at the bleeding wound, even though he wanted to.

Everyone started talking about how someone's parents would find out about what had happened and come to save them. Another argued that they wouldn't know since they were all supposed to be in the indoctrination camp and the Wens would probably lie about them having died in some kind of accident. Someone started crying.

By his side, Wei Ying stumbled but Jiang Wanyin steadied him and carefully helped his brother move towards a place he could sit.

"Don't tire yourself, A-Cheng. It's not like I broke a leg." Wei Ying smiled, his breath coming out labouredly as he ran his hand over his brother's arm, reassuringly.

Lan Zhan wasn't surprised to hear the gentle and informal address. Wei Ying seemed to be a person who openly showed his affection, leaving behind the formal titles when he could.

"I'm sorry." A soft voice was heard, as the girl known as Mianmian approached them, shakily. She looked away, tears still visible in the corners of her eyes. "You got hurt because of me."

For a second, Wei Ying averted his eyes and his cheeks got a pink tint. Lan Zhan would have found it endearing if he didn't have to fight the ugly beast waking inside him every time the girl and Wei Ying interacted.

"Unreasonable." He chastised himself.

"Don't cry." Wei Ying asked her, his voice almost timid. "I'm the one who got burnt, not you. Yet you need me to comfort you? How about you comfort me instead?"

Coming from anyone else those words could almost be perceived as cruel but Wei Ying's tone was soft and teasing. The girl gave a soft nod and offered one of her sachets to him. She claimed that there were some herbs inside that might help him.

"Don't waste them on me." Wei Ying protested when his brother tried to check the wound. "Thank you." He turned his eyes towards the girl once again and Lan Zhan had enough.

He turned away from them and started walking towards the pond once again. His movement caught everyone's attention and they started asking him where he was going. Nie Huaisang whined that there was no way out.

"There is one. There are fresh maple trees in the pond but no maple tree in the cave. We saw some on the cliff as we came." Lan Zhan explained, feeling tired but sure of his assessment.

"The pool's bottom must have a hole that is connected to the waters outside." Jiang Wanyin quickly provided the rest of the explanation saving Lan Zhan from using more words. "But the monster is guarding the pond…"

All that time, Wei Ying's big luminous eyes were on Lan Zhan, only blinking when necessary. There was a softness there that seemed to be directed only at him and Lan Zhan felt seen all of the sudden. It was as if Wei Ying was sharing a little secret with him. He must have noticed the maple leaves too and he seemed proud of the fact Lan Zhan had understood what they meant. Or maybe there was more there. Lan Zhan was pretty sure those eyes would drive him crazy one day.

"It hasn't budged for so long. It's probably asleep." Wei Ying commented, turning his eyes towards his brother. Instantly, Lan Zhan felt that the place became darker. "Let's grab this chance." Even hurt, Wei Ying was never one to back away from a challenge. "You'll move to the back and I'll scout the front."

"Can you handle it?" His brother asked him, voicing the concern that Lan Zhan also felt.

Wei Ying chuckled. "I was injured so many times in Lotus Pier. Which time didn't I swim the fastest?"

Lan Zhan had heard that Wei Ying was often punished for misbehaving back in Lotus Pier. At first, he thought that he deserved it. After all, he always broke the rules in Cloud Recesses where he was supposed to be a guest. So, he probably ran wild in his own place. But, days after Wei Ying had been sent home after punching Jin Zixuan, Lan Zhan had heard his brother and his uncle talking about Wei Ying. He heard that Lady Yu really didn't favor Wei Ying and often found excuses to punish him. But Lan Zhan had been sure that Lady Yu couldn't have been exceptionally cruel with the Head Disciple of her clan. It wouldn't be right. Now…he wasn't so sure.

Wei Ying and Jiang Wanyin went underwater. Their disappearance didn't even create any ripples in the water. Everyone was quite anxious as a minute passed and then a second. Lan Zhan's fisted his robes turning his knuckles white. He knew the boys were from Yunmeng and they had spent most of their lives swimming but still, he was worried. Time was passing and everyone started wondering how long one could hold their breath when there was a small disturbance on the surface of the water.

"They're coming up." Lan Zhan whispered, warning the others to be ready to intervene if needed.

Wei Ying broke the surface, taking a deep breath and pushing his long hair out of his face. Lan Zhan briefly wondered if that was how the mythical sirens looked. Quickly, that thought was erased from his mind as the monster in the lake woke up and started chasing the boy in the water. Wei Ying was fast but his clothes were soaked and he was still gasping for breath. Lan Zhan sent an arrow close to the eye of the monster, distracting it long enough for Wei Ying to return to them. Exhausted, he saw the brunette fall by Nie Huaisang's side and shake his head when he was asked if he found anything. It was all up to the Jiang heir now.

Seconds later, Jiang Wanyin immerged from the other side, climbed the shore, and started running as the monster came after him. Wei Ying was up on his feet once again and before anyone could stop him, something the boy called Flame Formation was on the floor blinding the monster and giving time to Jiang Wanyin to escape. The array kept swirling in front of Wei Ying, keeping the monster's attention on him, as the brunette asked if his brother had found anything.

Wei Ying was a born leader and everyone could see it as he got the needed information from his brother and then ordered them to follow Jiang Wanyin and escape the place. "The ones that can swim help the ones that can't. The ones that are uninjured help the ones that are injured. Don't push yourselves. I'll keep the monster here."

One by one, they started moving to the opposite side of the lake from where Wei Ying was, still distracting the monster with a look of great concentration. The first group left with Jiang Wanyin who soon came back for the second one. Lan Zhan had his eyes on Wei Ying the whole time; noticing the sweat gathering on his brows and the trembling of his body. Maybe if he had been looking at the disciples, he would have noticed Lan She grabbing one of the abandoned bows and an arrow and trying to shoot the monster. It was an utterly preposterous movement that would have brought no results even if it had been successful. However, trembling hands and probably inadequate training sent the arrow straight to Wei Ying's arm.

Lan Zhan saw the moment the silver tip was swallowed by flesh and Wei Ying fell to his knees. "You!" Lan Zhan's voice was low but if his brother had been there he'd have recognized the fury behind that one word.

The boy kept making excuses for what he did, but Lan Zhan's amber golden eyes turned once again at Wei Ying. The wound was bleeding badly, painting the ground red and reaching like a small stream all the way to the lake. The scent of blood drove the monster crazy.

Removing the arrow from his arm, Wei Ying screamed. "Leave! Don't get in my way!" His breathing was erratic as he dodged an attack.

"Wei Wuxian!" Jiang Wanyin screamed, concerned and horrified. The last group of people was still there.

The look Wei Ying gave them was one of someone who had accepted their ending and was ready to fight till the end as if that was expected by them. There was a kind of calmness and a soft smile that was reassuring and composed at the same time. "Get them out of here." An order. "I'll join you soon." A lie. Jiang Wanyin hesitated. "Trust me." A plea from Wei Ying's lips, as he stood up again, a bloodied hand touching the wall. "Now, leave!"

Jiang Wanyin took the last group underwater. The tension on his shoulders proved that he didn't want to leave his brother behind, worried he'd never see him again, and yet he knew he couldn't stay when so many people relied on him. He was so focused on his group, that he didn't notice Lan Zhan hadn't followed him. How could he when he saw the way Wei Ying held on to the wall, shaky breaths and legs supporting an already exhausted body? When he saw fear making an appearance but then quickly being replaced by determination? Wei Ying had stayed behind to save them all and Lan Zhan would be a coward that could never live with himself if he left with the others.

As the monster located its target, Lan Zhan walked in front of Wei Ying taking the bite. The monster's teeth closed around his injured leg that he tried to infuse with spiritual energy. Pain, as he'd never felt before, made his whole body tremble and it was only the years of discipline and endurance that kept him from screaming. Behind him, he faintly heard Wei Ying's pained calling of his name. The monster started pulling Lan Zhan around, tightening its hold on his injured leg but not breaking it. Probably it preferred its meals whole instead of in pieces. Then, it threw him in the air as if he weighed nothing and opened its huge jaws ready to swallow him. It was at that moment that Lan Zhan knew it was over. He'd die in that cave, as one of that infernal monster's meals.

A body collided with him and he felt strong wavering arms wrapping around his waist as he was pushed to the side. Long brown hair came into his view. "You…" He said in astonishment, feeling the way Wei Ying held him as they landed, ungracefully, on the ground.

"Let's find a place to hide you." He heard and then Wei Ying threw him on his back and started running.

The motion and the positions were painful. Even though he was barely taller than Wei Ying, he had been thrown on the boy's back at a bad angle and the brunette's hands held him clumsily. He tried to resist but that only seemed to cause the other troubles so he stopped, instead hiding his face in one of his long sleeves. Beneath him, he could feel Wei Ying's body shaking and his breaths coming out with great difficulty. His body was warm and muscular but there was also softness and Lan Zhan tried not to think too much of that.

"Here, we'll be safe." He heard Wei Ying whisper as he was gently placed down by a wall.

The brunette looked around, making sure the monster couldn't reach them there and then his silver eyes focused on Lan Zhan's injured leg that was bleeding terribly from those fang wounds. His face instantly became a mask of guilt and lost all its color. Shakily, he stood up and started ripping his outer robe creating bandages that he skillfully and gently placed around the injured leg together with a couple of arrow shafts. Lan Zhan tried to bite his lip and keep quiet as the boy worked on him. Cold sweat was running down his forehead and he had a hard time focusing on what Wei Ying was saying until he felt long fingers pulling his forehead ribbon.

"What are you…?" He wanted to be cross but he was in so much pain and those silver eyes held him still.

"Is this more important than your leg?" Wei Ying asked and Lan Zhan wanted to say yes but he found that the idea of Wei Ying holding the ribbon didn't bother him as much as when he had pulled it during the archery competition. Even back then, it was more of the shock and the blatant public embarrassment than the person that had sent me into such a state of rage.

A small satchel was placed in his hands. "Please, check this. I'm not that well-versed in the use of herbs but I am sure you are. Maybe there's something useful there." The silver eyes weren't looking at him as he said those words in a polite way that seemed out of place.

As Lan Zhan looked through the herbs finding some that could be useful, Wei Ying was searching for something in his clothes, growing more desperate as he couldn't find it. "Back there." He muttered to himself and instantly his eyes lit up. "These ones?" He pointed at the ones that the Lan boy had separated from the others.

"They can stop the bleeding and clean the toxins." The black-haired man explained in a pained voice.

Instantly, Wei Ying's mood seemed to get better. "I never thought it'd hold anything useful. When we get back, I should thank her."

On the other hand, Lan Zhan's mood worsened. "You mean harass her some more?"

What was about that girl that made Wei Ying so interested in her? Definitely, she was good looking and she looked kind, but was that what Wei Ying wanted in a partner? Once, in the library, he had said that his partner should be able to challenge him and hold her own against him.

Softly rubbing the herbs on the wound, Wei Ying's fingers caressed his calf sending shivers down his spine that weren't of pain. Looking at him with a gentle playful smile and throwing his hair back, the boy continued talking. "What are you talking about? It's not harassment if I do it. Do you think I am like Wen Chao? Do you think I don't know what no means?"

The smile was now dangerous and Lan Zhan couldn't understand if it was a real question or not. Wei Ying didn't seem to accept any refusal. He didn't seem to understand what personal boundaries meant. And yet, there was care underneath all the pushing. He had saved the girl twice. He had flirted with her but he hadn't tried to touch or force her. For all his talk, Lan Zhan had never seen Wei Ying push more than someone could take. If he wanted to be honest with himself, Lan Zhan had never truly pushed Wei Ying away. He had fought back, he had reprimanded him, and he had given him the cold shoulder. But he also kept coming back for more. He had never clearly told him that he hated him or never wanted to see him again. He had come close to it but how could he tell such a lie?

Through his silence, Wei Ying seemed to assess him. Suddenly, his eyes turned hard and dimmed. "Ah," he came to an understanding that Lan Zhan didn't like, "you probably do."

Finishing his work, he turned around and started gathering branches from some beaten-up bushes. Cutting his finger, he started a fire. He seemed to have mastered all forms of arrays, talismans, and spells that could produce heat and explosions. It was quite impressive but he didn't need more wounds on his person so the Lan boy was disapproving. It didn't seem to bother the Jiang head disciple though. Removing his outer robe and leaving it to dry, he gathered his hair up and looked around.

Meanwhile, Lan Zhan's eyes hungrily were taking in the other boy. He knew it was inappropriate. He knew he shouldn't feel that way. But Wei Ying was only in his inner robe and trousers that were red like blood and he looked so beautiful. The robe was slightly opened where Jiang Wanyin had pulled it apart to check on the mark and Wei Ying hadn't thought of rearranging it. Lan Zhan could make out the lithe form of the other and he just couldn't look away. He was so deep in his thoughts of how beautiful the boy was that it took him a moment to notice Wei Ying was removing his red robe, too.

"What are you doing?" Lan Zhan's voice was high and there was no way the other didn't pick up his panic.

"I know it must be hard being stuck with someone like me in this place. Just by breathing here with you, I've probably broken at least three rules of your clan, so I'll find us a way out." Wei Ying's voice was almost playful but there was an undertone there that made Lan Zhan feel awful. "I'll go check if there's still a way out. It's better if I don't get all my clothes wet and you need the warmth."

The red robe fell softly on him even as the golden-eyed boy tried to move away. His reluctance seemed to confirm whatever Wei Ying believed so with a sigh he let it fall on the floor. Then, he just turned and started walking toward the small opening that led back to the lake.

"Try to sleep for a bit." Wei Ying whispered and his tone was almost sweet. "It must be around nine."

Lan Zhan couldn't understand what he was doing. He kept rejecting the boy's tries to help him, he kept confirming whatever idea Wei Ying had of him but as soon as those eyes weren't looking at him, he devoured the boy with his eyes. Now that Wei Ying was walking away, Lan Zhan's eyes were once again on the strong exposed back-were those marks?- and the hips that he could clearly see through his other's pants. It took all his willpower to close his eyes and try to relax. Soon, he was asleep. The last thought he had was that Wei Ying was probably right about the time.

When he woke up, there was something warm wrapped around him. Blurry eyes took in the red cloth, recognizing it as the robe Wei Ying had discarded. The fire was still strong and more branches had been fed to it. He couldn't see Wei Ying but he knew the boy had come back at some time because who else could have placed the robe on him or have attended to the fire? Lan Zhan pulled the robe closer to his face, trying to get some comfort from the scent of its owner. Then, understanding what he did, he folded it carefully and placed it by his side.

He tried to assess his situation. His leg was still hurting terribly much even though there was numbness too. Probably that and exhaustion had helped him sleep so peacefully. His clothes weren't wet since he hadn't been in the water but they were dirty and bloodied. Touching his forehead he noticed that his ribbon was back in its rightful place.

"I tied it back. I was worried you'd wake up in a panic without it." Wei Ying said, coming through the opening that led back to the lake. He was dressed in his ripped black robes that hung loosely around him. His silver eyes took in the folded red robe. "I apologize but I had to use my robe's fastenings as a replacement."

That explained why his robe was so loose on him. It was only held by his belt. "Thank you."

Surprise made its appearance in the head disciple's eyes before some tension seemed to relax from his shoulders. He knelt by Lan Zhan and gave him a small bottle. "Drink this. It'll help you."

The bottle was small and light blue. Lan Zhan opened the stopper and smelled it. It smelled like herbs. Maybe a tonic? But where had Wei Ying found it?

"I hope you trust me enough to know I wouldn't try to poison you. I've been searching all night for this. You have no idea how dark the cave is now that all the torches are burnt out and I couldn't risk starting a fire even though the monster is asleep. I believe this will help more than the herbs in the satchel. It was made by a real healer, the best of our generation. I trust her."

The boy was mumbling, nervously. He was revealing things to make him take the medicine but didn't give away names so it was up to him to come to conclusions that could mean anything and nothing at all. But Lan Zhan didn't care about Wen Qing's involvement as much as the fact that Wei Ying had gone back again to find the medicine for him. And since he was dressed and not wet anymore, it meant he had done the trip at least twice and had spent most of the night searching for it.

"Unnecessary." Wei Ying's shoulders slugged at the word. "Nothing to win from poisoning me."

Wei Ying started laughing and the sound was so relaxing. "You are right. Probably, you'd gain more from poisoning me."

The words didn't sit well with Lan Zhan but he didn't say anything to refute them. He looked at the tonic once again and gulped it down. A soft smile found its way to Wei Ying's lips and that was enough of a reward for him, even if the medicine tasted awful. Then, Wei Ying started stripping again to wear his red robe, and this time Lan Zhan looked away, giving him some privacy. Once the boy was dressed again, he turned to face him.

His chest was still exposed and the mark the Wens had left behind could clearly be seen. It was actually worse than the previous day, probably because of its exposure to water. When Wei Ying sat by his side, checking his leg, Lan Zhan noticed that his bandages had been replaced with new ones; courtesy of Wei Ying's even more ragged robes. Wei Ying took out a flask and a small clothed bundle and placed them in his hands.

"The flask is full of water. I filled it on the spring we found before we got here. There's a bun, too. I kept it just in case." He said nonchalantly, and then he started taking care of the fire.

The portions of food they had gotten before they left the indoctrination camp were really small. They all expected they'd be given more when they'd reach the place they were to find the monster. They had all finished their food on the way there. Lan Zhan had also filled his flask before they entered the cave but the flask had been lost during the fight with the monster.

"I don't eat that much when I am out for a night hunt." Wei Ying explained, seeing the way Lan Zhan was looking at him.

It was a lie. Lan Zhan had seen the boy enjoying different dishes and desserts back in Caiyi before and after the water ghouls' hunt. Most probably he had saved his food once again for someone who needed it more than him. Lan Zhan wasn't happy about it. Wei Ying wasn't underfed by any means but his build wasn't as muscular as his either. His body was beautiful but Lan Zhan wouldn't disagree if the boy put a bit more weight on.

He split the bun in two and offered one half to Wei Ying that eyed the half as if it wasn't his bread. Then, gentle hands closed around Lan Zhan's hand and softly pushed it back, bringing it to rest on the white robes. Silver eyes looked at him full of an emotion Lan Zhan couldn't name.

"Ah, Lan Zhan." He sighed the name as if he was exhausted, and he must have been worn out if he was up all night. But the tiredness in his voice was so much more than that. "Your injury is really bad. You're in here because of me. You're hurt because of me. Indulge me for once."

There were so many more things there left unspoken. Lan Zhan for once could read more between the lines. Wei Ying felt guilty for their situation. He felt that it was because of him that Lan Zhan was also trapped there. He had been prepared to die in that cave but not to die with someone else. He wanted Lan Zhan to survive. If help was to come, he wanted them to find Lan Zhan alive. The amber-eyed boy couldn't accept it.

Once again, he pushed the half toward the boy. He ignored the fact he instantly missed the warmth of those fingers around his hand. "Wei Ying."

It took one soft whisper of his name for the other to crumble by his side. Long brown hair was thrown in front of pale cheeks to hide a reaction Lan Zhan wanted to drink in. "Alright." The word was shaky as Wei Ying accepted the half bun and kept it in his arms.

They ate in silence but Lan Zhan had his eyes on Wei Ying all the time to make sure the bun was eaten and not kept for later. Wei Ying knew he was being watched so he didn't put up a fight. He chewed carefully and slowly, his eyes focused on the wall across them as if something was interesting there. By that time, Lan Zhan could recognize the look as one that showed Wei Ying was deep in his head, thinking of a plan. Lan Zhan didn't mind. It meant that he could look at Wei Ying without any embarrassment. His eyes stayed on the plump lips for a bit and then moved to the exposed collarbone and the Wen mark. A frown crossed his lips.

He found the herbs that were in the pouch the girl had given Wei Ying and, crushing them in his hands, he pushed them on the open wound. A wince of pain escaped the unsuspecting boy's lips as silver eyes traveled down to the extended hand.

"Don't waste them on me. It's just a small wound."

Lan Zhan started coughing. "It hurts you." Wei Ying shrugged. "If you know how much it hurts, don't throw yourself into danger so easily next time."

The laughter that followed those words was so free of any care. "What else could I do? Mianmian is a girl. If her face was seared, she could have lost an eye or gotten a scar that would last for a lifetime." Scratching the herbs from his wound, he slowly applied them to a smaller wound on Lan Zhan's leg. "Wouldn't that be awful?" There was sadness in his voice as he tenderly took care of the wound.

Slender fingers kept him from pulling his leg away. "Your scar will last for life, too."

The way Wei Ying touched him made him want to melt. Lan Zhan wanted to let Wei Ying take care of him. He wanted to pull him closer and take care of him, too. Instead, he allowed his anger to be wrapped around him like a protective bubble. He wanted to understand what drove Wei Ying to throw himself so carelessly into danger's and death's way.

"The scar is nothing for a man. A man may get plenty of scars in his life." Was Wei Ying talking about the scars on his back? They were faded and under the lightning of the fire Lan Zhan hadn't managed to see them well but he was almost sure they were whipping marks. "This scar will remind me that one day I saved a girl from her really bad fate."

Lan Zhan pulled the angry feeling even closer. "She will also remember you. Is that what you wanted? You shouldn't play with people's feelings this way."

There was clearly hurt in Wei Ying's eyes as he heard those words but then his next remark was almost vicious in its playfulness. "Do you like Mianmian, Lan Zhan?" And then the boy started laughing and pulled himself away, tending the fire once again.

They stayed in silence for quite some time. At some point, Wei Ying's eyes started closing. He fought sleep for a while but it was a lost battle and soon he was asleep. His back hit the wall behind him and his head fell to the side. Lan Zhan spent the next hours looking at him as if he was the most fascinating thing he had ever seen. He took in the way the boy's chest rose and fell the small noises he made, and the way he curled his fingers around his robes as if he needed something to hold. Once in a while, words would escape his lips but they were spoken too low for the Lan boy to understand them.

Lan Zhan wanted to pull him closer and let the beautiful boy rest his head on his shoulder but he was afraid any movement would wake up the boy. Indeed, when Lan Zhan stood up to relieve some of the tension in his muscles, Wei Ying also moved, and soon he was awake. His eyes were blurry with sleep and his movements sluggish but when Lan Zhan moved closer to him, he instantly jumped to his feet.

After drinking a bit of water and changing the bandages on Lan Zhan's legs once again, they started talking about the monster. Lan Zhan explained the origins of the monster and what he had read about it. It was called the Tortoise of Carnage and it was an abomination formed after a mythical creature. Even though Lan Zhan had spotted a soft spot they could attack, the monster was well above their powers.

"So, our only hope is Jiang Cheng and the others," Wei Ying commented. "I am sure Cheng will bring help soon. Gusu is the nearest place. Their swords were confiscated so we'll probably have to wait three or four days more." His faith in his brother was unwavering.

"Help won't come." The problems of the outside world had never left Lan Zhan's mind but in that cave, with Wei Ying by his side and his leg injured, he could pretend for a while that he didn't carry such a heavy burden in his chest. "Cloud Recesses was burnt completely."

There was a soft gasp by his side but he didn't turn to look at the boy. "Is everyone alright?"
Maybe it was the soft voice full of concern or the fact he had been so close to death, but tears started rolling down Lan Zhan's cheeks. He couldn't remember when the last time he had cried was. Now he was crying in front of the boy that infuriated him more than anyone in the world; the one that made his heart race with love and frustration.

"My father is dying. My brother is missing." The words were shaky. His breathing was barely controlled.

It was clear Wei Ying didn't know how to respond to his tears. He felt him move uneasily and remember how he had joked when Mianmian was crying because he didn't know what to do.

"Ah, Lan Zhan."

"Be quiet!" He commanded. He knew he wouldn't handle any joke coming from the boy. "Wei Ying…" He meant to say thank you for your concern; thank you for taking care of me. "You are really annoying." Instead, the words that escaped his lips were hurtful and untrue. Wei Ying was a menace but he wasn't annoying and his presence wasn't unwelcomed.
Wei Ying didn't try to defend himself or ask him why he said that. There was a rustling of robes as the boy moved to the other side of the space they occupied, staying away from him. When Lan Zhan wiped his tears and looked at the dark-clothed youth, he noticed Wei Ying had his head down; his eyes staring at the rocky floor.

"Wei Ying." He called his name after a while but the boy didn't look up.

"Lans don't lie." Wei Ying said, his voice flat. "Don't apologize. You don't need to be polite in here. It's not like you are the first person who finds me annoying." When he finally looked at Lan Zhan, those silver-colored eyes were guarded in a way that Lan Zhan had rarely seen. "Still, I am sorry. I'll do the best I can to help you escape this place and have you return to your family."

There were so many things Lan Zhan could have responded to that but that would untangle all the emotions inside him that he couldn't put into words. "Three days. We'll rest for three days. If no one comes to save us…"

That seemed to do the trick. The fire in those beautiful eyes seemed to light up immediately. "…we kill that bastard!"

That brought them back on equal ground. No emotions needed to be involved as they discussed their ideas of how to bring down the monster. Wei Ying listened carefully as Lan Zhan talked about his clan's famed Cord Assassination Technique, his silver eyes sharp and attentive; clearly thinking of how they could make it work to their advantage.

Lan Zhan's body continued following the Lan schedule and so they had some way to know the time. There were moments the brunette would be there when he woke up. Others he would be away, gathering arrows and bows from the battlefield. He had even managed to find some half-empty flasks of water so at least they had water. The Lan boy was displeased Wei Ying kept tiring himself that way, never asking him to join him but then Wei Ying would laugh carelessly and let him tie the arrows into bundles and turn the bowstrings into a cord long enough to work for their imminent encounter and the frustration would dissipate. Wei Ying was restless and having him around was a distraction so maybe it was better that they had some distance. Lan Zhan would use it to meditate and when Wei Ying was back and asleep to look at the boy's sleeping form that was as relaxing as meditation for some reason.

But it wasn't like they were completely silent when they were together, either. The brunette couldn't stay silent to save his life. He'd often talk about Yunmeng and his adoptive siblings and ask Lan Zhan things about himself. Lan Zhan's replies were always curt and brief but he didn't mind listening to Wei Ying's stories as much as he showed.

"I know Jiang Cheng will come for us. He may seem grumpy and disagreeable but he is brave and stubborn! He won't leave us here!"
There was so much passion and conviction in his voice when he spoke about his brother that Lan Zhan believed him. He knew his own brother would do anything to save him in a similar situation. Thinking of Lan Xichen hurt but Lan Zhan wasn't ready to give up on the hope his brother was alive and on the run. Lan Xichen was strong and smart. He also had friends in the other clans because unlike Lan Zhan he wasn't antisocial or kept people at a distance.

"You should visit me in Lotus Pier after we are free, Lan Zhan. My sister will make us the best soup ever. After eating it you won't ever want to eat anything else."

Wei Ying adored his sister as if she was some kind of goddess. Lan Zhan had only met Jiang Yanli briefly and he remembered her as a kind meek girl that hadn't made much of an impression on him. But Wei Ying spoke of her with such high praise that made Lan Zhan think if they ever met again, he'd make sure to pay her more attention and show her the respect that was proper to the girl that made Wei Ying smile that widely.

"I promise I'll be on my best behavior while you visit, but shijie will keep you company when I am not available. I'll do my best to be available, though. It's just sometimes it doesn't matter…"

A cough followed those words and then there was a change of topic. Wei Ying was talking about lotuses and lotus seeds but Lan Zhan could no longer hear him. His mind was occupied with different questions like why did Wei Ying always call Jiang Yanli shijie instead of jiejie and what did he mean by it doesn't matter? It was like Wei Ying knew he would be punished even if he was on his best behavior.

"You'll need lighter robes because yours are so heavy. You wear too many layers for Yunmeng." Wei Ying kept going, undeterred by the other's silence.

"Or you wear too few." Lan Zhan heard himself saying before he could stop.

Wei Ying's eyes went wide for a moment and then he came closer. "Did you just make a joke? Was that a joke, Lan Zhan?" He seemed delighted by the discovery, having instantly forgotten how the Lan boy kept him in such a distance all those days. "You are so funny."

No one had ever called him funny in his whole life. It was endearing, especially since Wei Ying seemed to believe it true. Silver eyes looked at him as if they expected more jokes but Lan Zhan was bewildered. His eyes traveled down Wei Ying's neck and collarbone, looking at the two layers on him. Too few, he had said. Now, he was thinking way too many for my liking and that was a path his thoughts shouldn't take.

"When you visit, you'll see what I mean. It'll take you forever to take everything off and join us in the water, and by then everyone will be looking at you. Not that there is anything wrong with looking at you. You are…you." Wei Ying's cheeks suddenly turned red and he pulled away moving his hands in front of him. "But it's always embarrassing being the last one stripping and Chengcheng always complains when he is the last one doing it because his robes have layers and…"

Lan Zhan's mind had stopped somewhere along the lines of taking everything off and stripping. "What about you?" He asked, even though he should keep his mouth close; preferably with a silence spell.

Wei Ying blinked for a moment trying to understand what he was asking about. "Me? I'm usually the first to remove everything and jump into the lake." There was a shy smile on his face. "But now that I think about it, I guess that's the kind of behavior that makes you call me shameless." He lowered his eyelashes, half hiding his eyes, and pulled further away.
"Swimming is freeing. There's so much joy in stretching sore muscles, looking at the world behind a screen of blue and green; distorted and yet so beautiful. If I could, I would stay underwater forever." There was a burst of awkward laughter, then. "But then, I'd miss out on so many things, and that would be sad. Sometimes I wish the world would forget about me and some others I can't help but want to know everything that happens around me. I want to know everything. I want to be part of everything."

Wei Ying moved his hands as if he wanted to pull the whole world in them and hold it; break it into pieces and pull it back together. He seemed like he wanted to discover what made it tick and how he could fix it so it did other things, too. And at the same time, he looked like someone who would love nothing more than to disappear forever in a flare of fire and smoke; never to be seen.

"But if I were to die, I wouldn't mind it being here. Trying to slay a mythical monster that no one has managed to…by your side."

The last words were spoken so softly that Lan Zhan was almost sure they weren't meant to be heard by him so he decided to pretend he didn't hear anything. It was the ending of the three days he had proposed and on the next one, they would face the monster. It was up to their skills and fate if they would die or not. Hence, he could have said something nice. He could have used those softly spoken words to talk about his ever-growing feelings. But he didn't. He didn't even comment on the fear that grew inside him hearing Wei Ying talk about death in such a calm manner.

The next morning, Lan Zhan found Wei Ying sleeping on the floor, using a rock as his pillow. He was way too close to the fire as if he was cold and he held on to his robes tightly. Lan Zhan could move better now. His leg still hurt and it'd take quite some time to heal properly but the herbs and the medicine Wei Ying had given him greatly helped so he could move around easier. He approached the boy noiselessly and carefully pulled him away from the fire. He was considering giving him a layer of his robes when silver eyes looked up at him. They were unguarded for a bit and in them, Lan Zhan saw the moon and the stars and a future full of kindness and warmth. Then, they blinked and recognition came to their owner.

"Good morning, Lan Zhan."

"Good morning, Wei Ying."

The boy seemed to find amusing their simple exchange as he jumped to his feet and pulled his hair up to a high and tight ponytail. "Are you ready? Today, we'll either free ourselves or die trying."

"Mn."

There was nothing else to discuss. So, after checking the cord and the arrow bundles were ready, they made their way toward the lake. As they agreed, Lan Zhan sent the cord around the ceiling of the cave to create a Cord Formation and then nodded to Wei Ying. He didn't really like that part but since he was injured and he needed to be outside to make the Cord Formation work, Wei Ying had to be the one distracting the giant tortoise. The brunette had decided that the best way was by walking inside the shell and hurting it from inside. That way, it'd be significantly weakened and blinded by rage and Lan Zhan would be able to finish it from outside. The plan was dangerous but Wei Ying kept telling him it was their only plan and without trying they'd die anyway.

"I'm going to lure it out." Wei Ying said cheerfully, his eyes sparkling full of the joy of battle.

"Be careful."

Lan Zhan was worried. He didn't want Wei Ying to be away from him. He wanted them to work together even if their chances would be less. He knew that if Wei Ying had turned at that moment, he would have seen all the fondness he carried for him. But Wei Ying didn't turn and Lan Zhan was grateful for that. There was just a soft chuckle and then the boy was underwater.

He couldn't have been gone for more than a minute when a red light blinded Lan Zhan and energy that was clearly not spiritual filled the cave, pushing him from his original position. The whole cave shook.

"Wei Ying!"

Beneath the water, something was stirring and suddenly the long neck and the head of the monster appeared. "It came out." He whispered to no one in particular.

The monster kept trashing as if something was in his mouth and when those long jaws opened, red light exploded. "Could it be…"

Wei Ying couldn't have been in there, right? It wasn't part of their plan. He was supposed to stay in the shell after stabbing the tortoise. He was supposed to stab it from the inside of the shell! Not the inside of the monster! Hurriedly, Lan Zhan used the cord to move around the cave and land on the monster's thick neck. He was sure that in its rage and with how bulky the scales were, the monster hadn't noticed him more than it'd have noticed a fly landing on it. Muffling a groan of pain, he called the other boy's name.

"Wei Ying! Can you hear me?"

There was no response for a bit and Lan Zhan's heart beat wildly. Then, the wound at the tortoise's neck exploded in blood as a sword went all the way through. The monster started thrashing around and Lan Zhan knew that was his signal to activate the formation. Channeling spiritual energy into the cord that had also been infused with Wei Ying's energy, he made sure every part of the cord was sharp and then pulled with all his strength. The monster kept trying to escape but the cord had been tightly wrapped around his neck, sinking deeper and deeper inside the scaly flesh. The red light was still visible, doing damage from inside, and as the cord was caught in the previous wound making the slicing easier, Lan Zhan kept pulling and channeling his energy.

His leg hurt. His fingers were bloodied. And still, he refused to let go. It must have been hours later when finally the scales gave way to flesh everywhere and the cord cut through with a sickening sound. The head of the monster was severed from its body and fell into the lake creating a great blast of water. Blood and debris filled the lake but Wei Ying didn't come out of the water.

Lan Zhan jumped into the lake, refusing to focus on his injured leg, and searched for Wei Ying. The boy was floating underwater as if suspended by some stranger energy that gave way when the boy dressed in white and blue started pulling him toward the surface. Lan Zhan laid the boy on the ground, pushing some hair away from his face. Wei Ying started coughing, water leaving his mouth, and then took a deep breath.

"Is it dead?"

With a sigh of relief, Lan answered. "Yes."

"Is it really dead?" Wei Ying asked again, his eyes unfocused.

"Yes, it is." Lan Zhan was more worried now because Wei Ying was trembling.

"Lan Zhan, I didn't think I'd survive this." The boy admitted looking at him with such a trusting look that broke the other's heart.

There was something totally wrong with that. Lan Zhan placed his hand on the brunette's forehead and hissed. Wei Ying had a fever. Immediately, the black-haired boy grabbed the other's wrist and started sending small streams of spiritual energy. Wei Ying was coughing and shaking but he tried to pull his hand away, whispering something about Lan Zhan needing the energy. It didn't faze Lan Zhan even a bit. He kept channeling energy into Wei Ying. He should have been more careful. He should have been more considerate. The wound on Wei Ying's chest had festered after all those days. Wei Ying kept pushing himself and he had been in the water so many times. He had refused to use any of the medicine or herbs on him, and Lan Zhan had allowed it.

"Don't fall asleep." He begged Wei Ying, seeing those silver eyes he loved closing.

"Then, play a tune and keep me awake." Wei Ying's voice was hoarse and small but there was a smile on his lips.

He could refuse. He could pretend that was absurd and tell Wei Ying that he wasn't there to sing him a lullaby. But the boy was half conscious and he was so vulnerable, so open. They had almost died and they still didn't know if any help would come for them. And quite honestly, Lan Zhan was tired of holding on to his anger when Wei Ying was so openly asking for his attention. They could have died and he had done nothing nice for the boy who kept trying to save him.

Turning around, he started playing on the cords that were so similar to a guqin's, a song that he had composed a few days after Wei Ying had left Cloud Recesses. He had played it again and again in the privacy of the Jingshi, never expecting anyone, and especially Wei Ying, to hear it. He could never put his feelings into words. He couldn't find the right words or the bravery to admit to even himself how he felt for the loud brilliant boy that had come to his home to melt the frost around his heart. But he could use music to express what he felt. The song was the product of all his musings. It was the disappointment he felt when the silence back in Cloud Recesses was too suffocating all of the sudden instead of relaxing. It was the hope he'd receive an official invitation to Lotus Pier. It was the anxiety about someone's health that wasn't his uncle or brother. It was the longing to see silver eyes and a smile that was warmer than the sun. It was despair and desire and something so pure that he couldn't name.

As he played, he heard Wei Ying humming to the rhythm. The voice was pleasant and briefly, he wondered if the boy could sing. He turned around and faced a soft unwary smile that seemed more real than all the smiles he had ever seen on those lips he had come to always look for.

The humming stopped long before the song did. Lan Zhan thought Wei Ying had fallen asleep but the boy was awake, even though his eyes were closed. "So soothing. Beautiful." He said each word with great difficulty. "What's the name of the song?

Lan Zhan contemplated so long if he should answer or not that by the time he did, Wei Ying was already asleep, his breathing a bit erratic but his face calm. "Wangxian."