Author Notes: Hello, everyone! Enjoy this next chapter :)

Beta: JeanGirl

- Chapter Start -

Twelve hours later at the Burial Mounds...

The sun was just rising in the east, but the Wen survivors had been up and about for the past two hours. They were all gathered in a large clearing halfway down the mountain, their meagre valuables tied up in cloth and slung over their shoulders. They chatted among themselves, torn between excitement and trepidation.

A large bundle lay at Wen Ning's feet, comprising of talismans, notes and gadgets in various states of completion, all collected from the Demon Subduing Cave and packed rather haphazardly. Wen Qing knew they hadn't packed everything. Hopefully, Wei WuXian could seal up the cave and return at a later date to collect the rest.

An excited A-Yuan was holding onto Wen Ning's hand, chattering about Rich-gege and Xian-gege. Fourth Uncle mourned the jars of fruit wine he had made while Sixth Uncle fretted about the radishes that were almost ready to harvest. Wen Qing knew they were trying to make themselves feel better in case no one turned up.

Then Fourth Uncle gave a shout and pointed at the sky where a group of cultivators, mostly dressed in white, were flying towards them on their swords. One of the two cultivators in front carried a passenger who had a black clad arm around his waist while waving the other so enthusiastically it was a miracle the sword still held steady.

"Is that young Master Wei?"

"It is! It's young Master Wei!"

"Xian-gege!"

A loud cheer rose when the Gusu Lan cultivators came in to land. The Yiling Patriarch hopped down from HanGuang Jun's sword, beaming.

"Wei WuXian!" Wen Qing stood her ground, head held high and hands on hips. "You'll be the death of me! What do you mean by coming back on the fifth day?"

The Yiling Patriarch had the grace to look abashed.

"Ahaha, Wei Ying offers his deepest apologies. It's good to see you again, Wen Qing, Wen Ning. And everyone too!"

"Xian-gege! Rich-gege!"

"A-Yuan!" Laughing, Wei WuXian swept him up in his arms. "Did you miss Xian-gege? Tell me you missed me."

"I miss Xian-gege," A-Yuan replied solemnly.

"Good boy! I knew-"

"I miss Rich-gege too."

With a dramatic sigh, Wei WuXian turned to HanGuang Jun.

"I told you he misses you, didn't I? I wasn't lying."

"Wei Ying never lies," HanGuang Jun replied as solemnly as A-Yuan.

"Exactly."

"Wei Ying only omits to tell the truth."

"Hey!"

With a loud sigh, Lan QiRen brushed past them and approached Wen Qing who placed her hands together and bowed, Wen Ning and the others following suit.

"Master Lan, HanGuang Jun, we accept Gusu Lan's kind and generous offer with our deepest gratitude. We take the Lan family name as our own and we swear to honour and respect it."

"Very well." Lan QiRen took a moment to preen before clapping his hands. "Alright, let us not waste time."

He looked over his shoulder at Wei WuXian who was now squatting on the ground and rooting through a large bundle. HanGuang Jun looked on with faint curiosity while carrying the child in his arms. Frowning, Master Lan started to say something and then he shook his head.

Wen Ning tugged on Wen Qing's sleeve.

"Jiejie, there are only twelve Lan cultivators and twenty of us. HanGuang Jun is strong enough to carry two persons, but I don't think the others-"

"Look over there!"

Another group of cultivators were flying towards them, dressed in blue robes except for their leader who wore purple.

"It's Jiang Cheng!" Wei WuXian yelled in a voice loud enough to raise the dead. Probably not a good idea seeing as where they were. He jumped to his feet and waved his arms. "Jiang Cheng!"

Hopping off his sword, Sect Leader Jiang flicked it back into its sheath and scowled at him, a vein pulsing in his temple.

"Wei WuXian! What do you have to say for yourself?!"

Wei WuXian's smile faltered, chased away by a guilty look as he placed his hands together and bowed.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here when you brought shijie to show me her wedding dress."

Sect Leader Jiang blinked, the wind taken out of his sails.

"You should be," he scolded. "She went to all the trouble of getting dressed up!"

"I know. How did she look?" Wei WuXian's voice caught. "I bet she looked gorgeous."

Sect Leader Jiang nodded, looking a bit mollified.

"Yes, she did."

"Of course." Wei WuXian huffed out a soft laugh. "That lucky peacock. He'd better worship the ground she walks on or I'm going to beat him up!"

"We both will."

That brought startled smiles to their faces, but only for a moment or two.

"She also cooked a pot of soup for you."

"I know. I missed that."

Sect Leader Jiang cleared his throat, his eyes going to the two silent Lans behind Wei WuXian.

I guess you won't be coming back to Yunmeng anymore."

Wei WuXian stared at him.

"I... I can?" He sounded incredulous.

It was Sect Leader Jiang's turn to look uneasy, his gaze flicking to Wen Qing and her family. She tipped her chin higher. She didn't need his help or his protection. Not anymore.

"I can visit," Wei WuXian offered quickly. "I'm sorry, Jiang Cheng. I know I promised to stay by your side to help you run Lotus Pier."

For some reason, that only made the two Lans glower even more at Sect Leader Jiang.

"I always knew you'd make Cloud Recesses your home one day," he muttered, "despite the thousands of rules you said would kill you."

"No, I never - that is, I didn't..." Wei WuXian trailed off, self conscious now and trying not to look at the silent HanGuang Jun beside him. His hand twitched as if wanting to reach out. In the end, it was HanGuang Jun who reached for his hand and grasped it tightly after putting A-Yuan down. Wei WuXian beamed at him.

"I knew it!" Sect Leader Jiang's mouth twisted as if he had eaten something sour. "Jiejie will be at Koi Tower and you at Cloud Recesses." The words 'I'll be alone' were left unsaid.

"Jiang Cheng." Wei WuXian looked even more guilty. "I - Lan Zhan and I will visit often, I promise. Shijie and the peacock will too, I'm sure. And so will-"

"Wei WuXian!" Wen Qing snapped when those bright eyes dared - dared! - to glance her way. Three needles appeared between her fingers like magic.

"Right," Wei WuXian mumbled and stared at his shidi. "But if Yunmeng Jiang ever calls for aid..."

"Then Gusu Lan will answer," Lan QiRen promised.

"Yes!" Tugging his hand free, Wei WuXian rushed forward and threw his arms around Sect Leader Jiang who staggered back, arms windmilling. The other Jiang disciples immediately started cheering and chorusing 'Wei-xiong!', 'Young Master Wei!' and 'We missed you!'

"What're you - let go of me this instant!" Sect Leader Jiang roared.

"Not until you hug me back," Wei WuXian had the cheek to inform him. "Shijie said you promised to."

"I did not! And your HanGuang Jun looks like he's going to kill me!"

The shameless Yiling Patriarch let go of him so fast, the two of them almost lost their balance.

"Enough," Master Lan ground out. "We should leave as soon as possible."

"Agreed," Sect Leader Jiang said, tugging his robes straight and looking over at the Wen survivors, his eyes skating over Wen Qing and her brother. "We have enough people to transport everyone now."

The others cheered, but Wen Qing pressed her lips together and tipped her chin higher. Wei WuXian forgave too easily, but she didn't.

- o -

It didn't take long to pair everyone up. Wei WuXian and A-Yuan would ride with HanGuang Jun, Granny with Master Lan, Wen Qing with Sect Leader Jiang (she could happily kill Wei WuXian for this alone) and so on. Even Wen Ning had a ride from a young Jiang disciple who stared at him in awe.

In the end, there were two Lan cultivators without passengers.

"Master Lan," Sect Leader Jiang said, "what if there's an ambush?"

"Already taken care off." Master Lan looked smug as he stroked his goatee.

"How?"

"Wait and see."

The spiritual weapon on Sect Leader Jiang's right wrist gave off purple sparks as he scowled.

In less than a minute, another shout went up. More cultivators were flying towards them from yet another direction. They were all clad in grey, except for one of the two cultivators in front who wore blue robes.

"Is that ZeWu Jun with Sect Leader Nie?" Sect Leader Jiang asked in disbelief before exchanging alarmed looks with Wei WuXian. HanGuang Jun had already moved to stand in front of Wei WuXian as the newcomers landed.

After bows of greetings between the different sects, HanGuang Jun turned to ZeWu Jun.

"Xiongzhang."

ZeWu Jun smiled.

"It's alright, WangJi," he said and turned to Wei WuXian. "I took the liberty of disclosing a few facts to my da-ge, WuXian. I apologise for not informing you beforehand."

Wei WuXian gave a wary nod and stood his ground as Sect Leader Nie approached him.

"Your action is not something I condone, young Master Wei," he said, his strict gaze going over the Wen survivors. "However, I appreciate the fact that you had no choice."

"Thank you for your understanding, Sect Leader Nie." Wei WuXian bowed, HanGuang Jun following him.

With a curt nod, Sect Leader Nie turned to Master Lan.

"Master Lan, are we ready to leave?"

"Yes, we are."

In a matter of minutes, groups of cultivators were rising from the ground. The two Lan disciples who didn't have passengers were tasked with carrying the large bundle of the Yiling Patriarch's belongings between them. The Nie Sect disciples surrounded everyone and kept a strict lookout for any signs of attack.

With one hand on Sect Leader Jiang's shoulder, Wen Qing looked back and nodded when Wen Ning waved at her. Her family members were craning their necks for a last glimpse at the dark place that been their home for the past two years. She didn't give it more than a passing glance. Looking to the front, she saw Wei WuXian standing behind HanGuang Jun with both arms around his waist while a giggling A-Yuan was being carried by HanGuang Jun.

As if feeling her gaze on him, Wei WuXian turned to look at her, his happy smile giving way to a smaller, sadder one. The two of them had shared a bigger burden than the others. She forced a smile which Wei WuXian returned before A-Yuan tugged on his hair and he turned back.

She shouldn't feel sad, Wen Qing told herself. They were going to a much better place now. Not only would they be under the protection of one of the four great sects, they also had the support of two others, the Jiang Sect and the Nie Sect.

It was more than she could ever ask for.

- Chapter End -

A/N: Thank you for reading! Please leave a review if you enjoyed it :)