In ZW and EK's room, that night

ZW: "EK, you're worried."

EK nodded: "Yes."

ZW: "Is it about what HAM said?"

EK: "I can't help but worry. HS wants to clear up XJ's past. What will happen when he finds out that he is XJ's enemy?"

ZW: "I can see why you're worried. But then I'd think HAM would be impressed that XJ chose not to take the path of revenge. I think we should be happy for him and Qing-er right now."

EK: "I am happy for them, it's just that his past is so complicated, it will affect so much."

ZW wrapped her arms around EK: "I worry too. What will XYZ do? And Qing-er? Even if HAM accepts XJ, LFY might not. And where Qing-er's concerned, it is LFY's opinions that matter. HAM is broad-minded, but LFY's much more traditional. She might like the improvements in XYZ now, but I don't know if she will be as forgiving if she knows. Still, I believe it will all come out alright. EK, don't wory."

EK: "ZW, you have spoken aloud my exact thoughts. Alright, I'll try not to worry. HS and LFY seems to trust XJ. This trip shows it. HS isn't even providing any extra guards. I'm so glad you understand me."

ZW: "If I don't understand you, then I don't deserve to be your ZW. Let's just enjoy this trip. I'm looking forward to seeing Da Li. I wonder if it's just as beautiful as Xiao Jian described."

EK nodded and held her close.

Next day, Jin Yang Gong

"Xiao Jian da ye dao!"

XYZ: "Ge! I see EK and ET got my message to you!"

XJ: "What is it? Are you alright? Is Qing-er ok?"

XYZ: "Of course. Guess what? HAM told us we could go on a trip to Da Li!"

XJ: "Really? What does 'we' mean?"

XYZ: "ZW, EK, me, YQ, SY, ET, Qing-er, and you of course! LQ, LH, and JS can come too, but ZW said JS shouldn't travel and LQ can't leave her. And LH can't leave the inn with JS resting"

XJ: "I'm included?"

XYZ: "Yes! HAM said with you, EK, YQ, and ET, he won't worry about our safety. Oh yeah, he also said he and LFY approves of you and Qing-er. And that as soon as they clear up your past, there'll be a wedding."

XJ was dumbstruck: "Clear up my past?"

XYZ nodded: "Ge, is something wrong?"

XJ: "No…"

XYZ: "Good. Now since you're here, let's have another wu gond lesson! I've already got a fight planned."

XJ abandoned his worries and laughed: "Already? Anyone I know?"

XYZ: "Sai Ya."

SJ: "I see ZW was right. With you two coming along, this is going to be quite a fun trip!"

XYZ: "Hey! Hmmp…let me go change!"

Just as XYZ left, calling her maids to bring her appropriate clothing,

"Qing Ge Ge dao!"

XJ: "Qing-er!"

QE: "XJ! Where's XYZ?"

XJ: "Oh, she's changing."

QE: "For what?"

XJ: "For her wu gong lesson."

QE laughed: "Good luck. If her wu gong is anything like her book knowledge, you'll need it."

XJ laughed with her: "Qing-er, XYZ told me what HS said…"

QE blushed: 'Oh…"

XJ suddenly grew serious: "There's something I need to tell you. My past, it's complicated. There are parts of it that can hurt me, can hurt us. Qing-er, I can't be with you. It would hurt you. I need to keep you safe. I've been selfish but I can't do that anymore."

As he talked, Qing-er was getting more and more worried. When XJ said he couldn't be with her, she felt the words pierce her heart.

QE: "What's in your past that can do that? Xiao Jian, I told you once, I'm not giving up. Whatever it is, it can't hurt me more than you have right now." Unbidden, two tears fell from her eyes.

At the sight of her tears, XJ's heart cracked. But she didn't trust himself to comfort her.

XJ: "QE, I'm sorry, but…this past winter has been the happiest of my life…but I can't bear you knowing…"

QE: "Stop, please."

XJ: "I can't. I need you to understand. I love you. I don't want this all to be a memory, but there's not other way."

QE: "It doesn't have to be just a memory. Whatever your past is, I don't care. It's you I care about. You, XJ, please…"

XJ could only look at her sadly. Seeing his look, QE stifled a sob and left swiftly, tears running down her face. XJ watched her leave, resisting the urge to run after her. His mind and heart were in turmoil. Just then, XYZ came in, "Ge, was Qing-er jus there? I thought I heard her voice."

XJ replied sadly: "Yes."

XYZ: "Ge, what's wrong?"

XJ: "Nothing. It's just that…XYZ, I'm sorry, I need to leave." Without waiting for a reply, he left.

XYZ stood there, bewildered and concerned.

Hui Bin Lo

XJ sat at a table, a jug of wine in his hand, draining it dry.

LQ: "XJ! What happened to you?"

XJ just reached for another jug on the table.

LQ: "XJ! Don't do this again! Did you and Qing-er have a fight? XJ! Answer me!"

XJ drained his jug and reached for a third: "LQ, please leave me, I need to think by myself."

LQ looked worriedly at his friend and then sadly left him.

Ci Ning Gong

Qing-er sat in her room, looking at nothing and seeing nothing. Xiao Jian's words played over and over in her mind.

"Huan Zhu Ge Ge dao!"

XYZ burst into Qing-er room: "Qing-er, what's wrong? Did ge and you have an argument?"

Tears fell from Qing-er's eyes.

XYZ: "Qing-er, please. Tell me, what's wrong?"

Qing-er: "XYZ, thank you for coming. But, please, I need to be alone for a while."

XYZ looked at her friend but followed her wishes. She walked dejectedly out of Ci Ning Gong, not knowing what to do. As she walked, she thought: "Too bad ZW's not here. She always knows what to do. Wait, that's it! ZW!"

She hurried back to JYG and ordered one of the servants to send a quick note to ZW.

Qing-er was just wiping her eyes, when she heard: "Zi Wei Ge Ge dao!"

ZW: "Qing-er! XYZ sent for me, something's wrong. Tell me." She sat next to Qing-er on her bed and immediately hugged her friend.

At the feel of ZW's arms, Qing-er broke into sobs: "ZW, he…"

ZW gently stroked Qing-er's hair: "Oh Qing-er, did you have a fight with Xiao Jian?"

QE sobbed: "No..he…"

ZW patted her back: "There there, cry, don't try to talk."

When QE finally calmed down, she said broken-heartedly: "ZW, he said he couldn't be with me. He said his past would hurt me. Oh, ZW, I don't care if he was a murderer in the past, I don't want him to leave."

ZW: "His past? He said that?"

QE: "Yes. ZW, you know what it is, don't you? Please tell me."

ZW bit her lip: "QE, I can't. But I know who can. Qing-er, don't cry again, please."

QE: "Who? Tell me!"

ZW: "The one person who can tell you is Xiao Jian himself."

QE: "But he said…"

ZW: "I know what he said, but I think he owe you the truth."

QE: "But…"

ZW: "Come, wash your face. Come with me to Jin Yang Gong, XYZ's worried sick. At a time like this, you need your friends."

Jin Yang Gong

XYZ: "Qing-er! Do you feel better? What did my rotten egg of a brother do? Do you need my help getting revenge? He might be my brother, but no one hurts my friend like this and gets away with it."

QE gave a tiny smile: "Thank you two."

ZW: "XYZ, she needs to talk to XJ."

XYZ said incredulously: "That's it?'

ZW nodded.

XYZ: "Then go get him!"

ZW: "No, I think they both need to cool down a bit."

QE: "I don't know if I want to see him again…"

ZW: "Please, Qing-er. Three days from now is XYZ' day out. We'll meet at Hui Bin Lo. You two definitely need to talk."

Just then: "Wu A Ge dao! E Fu dao!"

YQ and EK entered and saw QE's tear-stained face.

YQ: "QE, is something wrong?"

EK: "LQ sent a note to me. Did you and XJ have a fight? LQ says XJ's been drinking nonstop ever since he got back."

ZW: "EK, come, I was just leaving."

EK: "But…"

ZW insisted: "Please."

EK had no choice but to nod in assent.

ZW (to QE): "Qing-er, take care of yourself. I'll come see you tomorrow, alright?"

Qing-er nodded sadly.

After EK and ZW left, YQ turned to XYZ in concern: "XYZ, QE, what in the world is going on?"

QE told him the events of the day in an emotionless voice.

XYZ: "Ah! He what? Qing-er, let's go now! I need to beat up a certain brother of mine…"

YQ: "Wait! XYZ, ZW's right, they need time to think. Qing-er, you stay here with XYZ."

QE shook her head: "Thank you, but LFY needs me. XYZ, I'll return tomorrow for your lesson." Her voice betrayed none of her hearbreak.

After she left, YQ and XYZ traded concerned looks.

In carriage

EK: "ZW…"

ZW quickly told him what Qing-er told her earlier.

She added: "I think he needs to tell her."

EK sighed: "I see now. Yes, she deserves to know. I never thought XJ would see it this way."

ZW sighed as well: "I just hope he won't continue to push QE away. I don't think she could stand it. She cares about him so much. In her, I see some of the heartbreak you must have gone through when I disappeared."

EK nodded: "But I found you and we're ok now. We'll just have to wait and see."

ZW leaned her head on his shoulder: "Easier said than done."