- Chapter Start –

"Guan-shengyi, what're you doing!" Yun BiQiu tries to free himself, limbs flailing. An elbow almost catches Guan HeMeng on the nose.

"Hold still!" He tightens his arms around Yun BiQiu.

"But this - you shouldn't…"

Guan HeMeng knows he shouldn't. In fact, a part of him is still in shock at what he's doing, but he's not about to back down.

"Yun BiQiu, allow me in this one small thing."

For a long moment, Yun BiQiu doesn't move, breaths coming out in shallow pants and then he slumps against Guan HeMeng. Bracing himself to take the other man's weight, Guan HeMeng rests his chin on that messy head and closes his eyes.

- o –

An hour later…

When Yun BiQiu's death grip on the back of his robes finally loosens, Guan HeMeng suppresses a groan of relief. Skinny as Yun BiQiu is, he's still a grown man. Supporting his weight like this, without leaning against anything, is taking its toll on Guan HeMeng's back.

"Enough sitting on the floor," he says.

Yun BiQiu scrambles back at once, glancing at the closed door as if intending to escape.

"I wouldn't recommend it. Your subordinates are likely still outside." Guan HeMeng straightens his back with a crack and a wince. He looks down at the wet patch on his chest and sighs. Spotting the small table in the corner with teapot and cups in a tray, he stands up, pulls Yun BiQiu up and leads him over to the table.

"Thank you." Yun BiQiu's voice sounds raw as he accepts a cup of tea. He gulps it down, pours another cupful himself and downs that as well. He's still keeping his head lowered.

Guan HeMeng can understand why, but truly, he doesn't mind the view. Even with swollen eyes and tear-stained cheeks, Yun BiQiu is attractive.

"My apologies," Yun BiQiu says at last. "I seem to be saying little else to you today. I'm sure you have better things to do than-"

"I don't mind so neither should you." Guan HeMeng doesn't want to think about the why though. "Would you tell me what happened ten years ago?"

When Yun BiQiu looks up in surprise, Guan HeMeng's fingers itch to push the wayward strands of silver away from his face.

"You must've heard it from the others. It's… not a pretty tale."

"Tell me," Guan HeMeng urges.

- o –

"Bai JiangChun stabbed you?!" Guan HeMeng repeats in shock.

"Why do you look surprised?" Yun BiQiu asks. "Bai-ge found out I'd betrayed our sect leader."

"You were tricked!"

"They didn't know that."

"He's from Baichuan Academy, same as you! And you still call him ge?!" Guan HeMeng is incensed. He curls his hands into fists, barely feeling the bite of his nails against his palms.

Yun BiQiu squares his shoulders, resolve filling his thin face.

"No matter our personal relationships with one another, Baichuan Academy has always been known for practicing justice and fairness. I… was ready to die for what I'd done."

Guan HeMeng shakes his head, unsure if he wants to shake this man to within an inch of his life… or hug him again. Looking away, he takes a calming breath. And another.

"So he stabbed you in the chest. How did you survive?"

"Ji-ge discovered I was bewitched by Jiao LiQiao so they spared my life."

Guan HeMeng feels his right eye twitch. Another 'ge'. He would never understand cultivators. Better that Su XiaoYong steer clear of these sects and their "righteous" ways!

"And after you recovered, you imprisoned yourself."

Yun BiQiu nods and pours himself more tea.

"Is that when you got… these?" Guan HeMeng nods at the locks of silvery hair.

Yun BiQiu nods again.

"Some of my hair turned white while I was searching for Li XianyYi. I cut them short while I was recovering, but they never grew back to the same length."

Guan HeMeng feels his traitorous heart squeeze again and presses his lips together before he says something he might regret. Something not at all complimentary about those two 'older brothers'.

"What about Shi Shui?"

Yun BiQiu's lips twist in a humourless smile.

"She never forgave me all these years. But Li Xiang – Li LianHua cleared my name at my trial so it's fine."

He glances at the wet patch on Guan HeMeng's robes, cheeks turning pink.

"My apologies for taking up so much of your time."

"And mine for making you bring up the past." Guan HeMeng is still wrestling with what he's learned about Yun BiQiu on top of what's happening with Li LianHua.

Yun BiQiu waves a hand, like he doesn't care about that anymore.

Guan HeMeng worries at his lower lip. He doesn't want to leave, but he remembers he needs to get some herbs from the apothecary. Setting down his cup, he stands up with reluctance.

"I have to go."

Yun BiQiu just nods, again not meeting his gaze. Feeling somewhat dismissed, Guan HeMeng strides to the door and pulls it open. The same two men tumble in at his feet.

"Yun-yuanzhu, please excuse us!"

"Yun-yuanzhu, are you alright? We didn't hear anything!"

Rolling his eyes, Guan HeMeng steps neatly over them and goes off.

- o –

After assuring his two subordinates that he's fine, Yun BiQiu closes the door firmly on their apologies and turns around.

Who'd have guessed that the Divine Healer would catch him in tears not once but twice and in the same day? And comfort him for that second time?

Yun BiQiu shakes his head, face prickling with heat once more. Guan HeMeng smelled nice, like he'd been going through his medicine stock. Yun BiQiu has always found the smell of dried herbs and leaves sooth-

No. Focus! Giving himself a mental slap, he turns and flinches at the sight of his treasured guzhin, now broken in half with the strings lying loose. He suffers another pang at his precious books – amassed over fifteen years - strewn on the floor, some with covers and pages bent.

Still, no matter how much he treasures them, no matter how much he'd spent hunting them down and buying them, he knows he'd trade them all in a heartbeat for Li LianHua's life.

Bending down, he picks up the nearest book – edged gilded in gold – and turns it over.

Treasures of the Imperial Palace Volume 1.

Yun BiQiu smooths out the bent pages and, out of habit, starts leafing through it. This book was written eight years ago, but most of the treasures should still be in the palace.

Like the White Pearl of Eternal Youth, said to be a gift from a mermaid.

Or the Wine of Longetivity, said to be made from the flesh of the oldest turtle in existence.

Or the Golden Peach of Immortality, said to be stolen from the garden of XiWangMu, and many more.

Maybe some of these treasures are just rumours, but maybe… just maybe, one of them could help Li LianHua. Pushing aside the fact that they belonged to the Emperor, Yun BiQiu goes through the rest of the book, his heart beating faster than before.

Baichuan Academy has a few spies in the Imperial Palace – guards, eunuchs, maids. It wouldn't hurt to make a few discreet enquiries.

- o -

Li LianHua braces himself, feet planted apart, hands gripping Shaoshi's hilt. He's drenched from head to toe. Seawater drips off his bangs, stinging his eyes and the one or two cuts from Di FeiSheng. The moon is bright overhead, torrential rains and howling winds buffeting the ship they're on. Shaoshi rings in his ears, clashing with Di FeiSheng's dao again and again, neither of them giving an inch.

It's exhilarating with the blood singing in his veins and the light of battle in Di FeiSheng's eyes. Or would be if they weren't so desperate – one to get answers, the other to stand at the peak.

Li LianHua sees a tiny opening and takes it, sword thrusting forward, not hearing the startled "Oof!" and heavy thump. His ears are filled with the sounds of battle. A familiar fire floods his limbs, but the teeth-grinding pain, like insects crawling through his flesh and bones, is strangely absent.

"… LianHua. Li LianHua!" Di FeiSheng grabs his shoulder and shakes it, face urgent.

Why isn't he holding his dao?

Eyes narrowed, Li LianHua strikes again, fast as a snake. His fist hits solid flesh.

And where's Shaoshi?

There's a pained grunt and he's shaken again, a hand urgently patting his cheek.

"Li LianHua, wake up!"

Li LianHua's eyes snap open, chest heaving as he gasps for breath. He's still on that rainswept ship, on that horrible night when everything went wrong.

"It's a nightmare." Di FeiSheng's face is dry. So is his hair. His eyes are dark with worry, not lit with the fire of battle. He's still gripping Li LianHua's shoulders. Fang DuoBing's worried face hovers behind him.

"I… I was back on that…" Li LianHua swallows, looking from one to the other and then around them. They're in Lotus Tower and the afternoon sunshine is streaming in from the windows. He grabs Di FeiSheng's robe, fingers twisting in it. "A dream?"

"Yes. A bad dream." Di FeiSheng brushes Li LianHua's bangs back with gentle fingers, paying no mind to the sweat beading his forehead.

Fang DuoBing steps around Di FeiSheng and pulls Li LianHua upright, helping him to swing his legs to the floor so that they're sitting side by side. "You were napping so soundly and then you started thrash – ah, never mind. You're awake now. How do you feel?"

His tone is so motherly that Li LianHua can't stop his lips from twitching even with the fading echoes of clashing swords ringing in his mind

"I'll get some water." Di FeiSheng slides off the bed and returns with a filled cup.

Li LianHua gulps it down and passes it back with a nod of thanks. If his hand shakes, none of them mention it. He hasn't dreamed of that night for years now, not even when he saw Di FeiSheng again, not even when he kept insisting on a rematch.

Sowhy?

"Li LianHua? How do you feel?"

"I'm fine, XiaoBao." Li LianHua drags up another smile for him and sees him absently rubbing his hip. "Ah. Did I hit you earlier?"

"It's nothing."

"You punched him so hard he fell out of bed." Di FeiSheng sits back down on Li LianHua's other side.

"I said it's nothing!" Fang DuoBing glares at him.

"I'm sorry," Li LianHua says at once.

"You punched me too," Di FeiSheng continues, patting his middle.

"I did? Aiya, sorry, sorry." Li LianHua pats the two knees nearest to him. Fang DuoBing looks mollified. Di FeiSheng does not.

"You were dreaming of our battle on the East Sea," the latter states.

Li LianHua wants to lighten the mood with a quip that it shouldn't be surprising with how often Di FeiSheng brings it up. He doesn't.

"So long ago. But why tonight?" Fang DuoBing wants to know.

Li LianHua shrugs. He removes his left hand from Fang DuoBing's right knee, but leaves his right hand where it is, resting lightly on Di FeiSheng's left one.

Fang DuoBing notices and pouts. Di FeiSheng pretends he doesn't notice and presses the hem of his sleeve to Li LianHua's forehead. When Fang DuoBing does the same, Di FeiSheng wraps his arm around Li LianHua's shoulders and tugs him close.

"A-Fei, don't hog him-" Fang DuoBing begins and then his gaze falls on Li LianHua's neck. "The bicha poison is triggered!"

He pulls down the robe and peers at Li LianHua's neck.

"Stop that. Such an ill-mannered disciple!" Li LianHua brushes his hand away.

Di FeiSheng withdraws his arm and, quick as a snake, pulls Li LianHua's sash loose and tugs open his robes, exposing him from neck to navel.

Li LianHua squawks in outrage.

"A-Fei, you… animal!" He tries to bat his hands away. It's about as effective as a kitten trying to bat away a tiger. He looks down at himself, seeing the familiar dull red flush and dark veins.

"The lines on your neck have reached your jaw!" Fang DuoBing's eyes are round with worry. "Are you in pain?"

Li LianHua shakes his head and then he freezes, heart thumping wildly in his chest. Whenever he used his Yangzhouman, the Bicha poison would be temporarily freed and flare up, manifesting in those raised black veins until he suppressed it again. Meanwhile, his body would suffer blurred vision, coughing of blood and debilitating pain.

He's not in pain now. In fact, he-

"I feel nothing." He sounds as confused as he feels. "I can feel the heat of it traveling through my bones, but there's no pain. It used to hurt – quite a lot - but I dont feel anything now."

Silence.

Li LianHua tries to smile at Fang DuoBing's tear filled eyes.

"Well," he says softly, "no pain is good, right? You two have no idea how inconvenient it was for me to get those nightly attacks. Poor Hulijing couldn't sleep either."

In fact, Hulijing would be pressed against his knees now were he not at Tianji Hall, at He XiaoFeng's insistence.

"XiaoBao." Li LianHua sighs when tears start escaping Fang DuoBing's eyes. He turns to see Di FeiSheng sporting a pair of equally reddened eyes. "Aiya, since when did my two most favourite people become such crybabies, hm?"

Fang DuoBing makes an admirable effort to snort but it comes out like a sob. Jumping up, he pulls Li LianHua to his feet and throws his arms around him, pressing his face into his neck, uncaring of the dull red flush.

"Wha-" Taken by surprise, Li LianHua rocks back and comes up against a hard chest. Two more arms close around him and Fang DuoBing, holding tight.

"We'll find something," Fang DuoBing vows, voice thick. "Won't we, A-Fei?"

"We will." Di FeiSheng 's voice is muffled against Li LianHua's hair.

Sinking his teeth into his lower lip, Li LianHua wraps his arms around Fang DuoBing's back. When one of his hands brushes over Di FeiSheng's, their fingers intertwine.

If Fang DuoBing feels it, he doesn't say anything.

- Chapter End –