- Chapter Start –

The next morning…

After breakfast, Li LianHua announces his intention to pay Baichuan Academy a visit.

"I thought you and A-Fei would spend the afternoon at Lotus Tower," Madam He says in surprise.

Li LianHua shakes his head, ignoring Di FeiSheng's less than pleased look.

"If I don't show my face to HanFo, JingChuan and Shi Shui, they will keep coming here to pester you all."

"XiangYi, you're still recovering," Madam Qin reminds him.

"It's fine, shiniang. I can handle a short visit," Li LianHua tells her. It looks like she's taking her promise to continue to nag him seriously.

"I'll bring you there," Fang DuoBing offers. "Tianji Hall's carriages are so comfortable you can sleep in them!"

- o –

The sight of the trio walking in the gates of Baichuan Academy catches the attention of the disciples milling about in the courtyard. Someone rushes off to spread the word and in seconds, Ji HanFo, Bai JingChuan and Shi Shui are hurrying down the steps towards them.

Li LianHua sighs when the trio drop to their knees and clasp their swords in both hands, which of course causes all the disciples to do the same.

"Greetings, Li-menzhu!" The rousing shout makes Li LianHua wince a bit.

"I'm no longer sect leader, remember? Please stand up."

He raises an eyebrow at Jin HanFo who stands up reluctantly and motions for the rest to follow suit.

"Li-menzhu, why didn't you send word? We would've prepared a better welcome for you," Bai JingChuan chides, complete with reproachful look.

"No welcome needed, JingChuan. My apologies for not meeting you all yesterday," Li LianHua replies and gives no further excuse. At least none of them so much as bats an eyelid at Di FeiSheng's presence.

"You've just recovered. You shouldn't travel around," Jin HanFo adds.

"That's right. It's no trouble for us to visit you at Tianji Hall," Shi Shui adds.

"Well, I'm here now," Li LianHua says with a smile.

"Let's go inside and have a cup of tea." Bai JingChuan ushers them up the steps and inside the main hall just as Qiao WanMian and Xiao ZiJin hurry up to them.

"XiangYi!" Qiao WanMian holds out both hands with a beaming smile. "I didn't expect you to come here so soon! How are you? I'm glad to see you again."

Li LianHua gives her hands a quick squeeze before letting go.

"I'm glad to see you too, A-Mian, ZiJin."

"Li-menzhu, I am glad you are cured." Xiao ZiJin gives a sharp bow. He looks rather uncomfortable under everyone's gazes, but there's no trace of the suspicious jealousy that used to shadow his face each time they met.

"Thank you." Li LianHua nods back.

"Come, come, let's all sit down." Bai JingChuan ushers them inside the same room where they held formal talks and meals except that instead of Shan GuDao sitting at Li LianHua's right, he's flanked by Di FeiSheng and Fang DuoBing.

Two disciples bring in trays of hot tea and assorted pastries. As soon as they leave, Xiao ZiJin jumps to his feet. He looks like someone who wants to get something unpleasant over with.

"Li-menzhu, I humbly apologise for my past behaviour. It had taken me ten years to win A-Mian's hand in marriage so when you turned up…" He swallows. "When you turned up, I feared I would lose her to you again. You were right. It was my insecurity and my jealousy that drove her away. I hope you will forgive me."

He bows again, very pink in the face. Qiao WanMian is equally flushed, but looks pleased. Li LianHua feels his lips quirking at the sight of Di FeiSheng with both eyebrows raised and Fang DuoBing with his mouth hanging open. He nods gravely at Xiao ZiJin.

"Apology accepted, ZiJin. I'm no longer set leader so please address me by name. Thank you for bringing back the shards of my Shaoshi sword."

"Ah, that reminds me," Jin HanFo says. "BiQiu took them to Tianji Hall. Li-men… ah, Li-shenyi, Baichuan Academy would be happy to repair-"

"Iwill take care of the Shaoshi sword," Di FeiSheng interrupts him, the first few words he had spoken since arriving here.

Li LianHua nudges him in the arm and smiles at Jin HanFo.

"I appreciate the offer," he says and leaves it at that.

As the others look between Di FeiSheng and Li LianHua, Qiao WanMian clears her throat.

"ZiJin and I plan to hold our wedding ceremony next month. I hope you three will attend. I will send a formal invitation to Fang DuoBing's family, of course."

Xiao ZiJin beams at her and reaches for her hand.

"That's great news," Li LianHua says and he means it. "I will give you another box of wedding candies, A-Mian."

"I hope BiQiu will attend," Bai JingChuan says. "He told us yesterday that he's taking some time off."

"Well, he deserves to have a break after all that's happened," Li LianHua says in an agreeable tone.

"Maybe he'll find someone who will make him happy," Xiao ZiJin adds with a besotted smile at Qiao WanMian.

Li LianHua eyes him in amusement and doesn't say anything.

"He already – ahem," Fang DuoBing clears his throat when a sharp elbow digs into his side. "Shi-jiejie, what about you? There's a certain superintendent of the Investigation Bureau who admires you greatly!"

Shi Shui frowns at him at once, looking discomfited.

"You're mistaken. Yang-daren and I are just friends."

"But-

"And speaking of friends," Li LianHua cuts in smoothly, "there's someone else I want to visit. There's a shortcut through the gardens to Pudu Temple."

"An excellent idea. I didn't get to admire the flowers the last time I was here," Di FeiSheng says, deadpan, earning himself several incredulous looks.

"That's because you were busy fighting us!" Fang DuoBing exclaims in indignation.

Li LianHua just shakes his head, smiling.

- o –

Bhante Wuliau is meditating in his room, but he opens his eyes when the trio enter.

"Heshang." Li LianHua greets him with a deep bow. Both Di FeiSheng and Fang DuoBing follow suit.

"Li LianHua, Di-mengzhu, Fang DuoBing." Bhante Wuliau gets to his feet and bows in return. "Come and sit down."

He gestures to the larger table which has a tray of tea and snacks on it. It's obvious that he's expecting their visit. Li LianHua is just thankful not to have disappointed him. They gather around the table and Fang DuoBing pours out the tea.

"Li LianHua, are you recovered enough to travel?" Bhante Wuliau asks.

"Enough to meet a good friend as I should," Li LianHua assures him, smiling.

Bhante Wuliau is pleased to hear about the impending wedding and the Royal Decree. Di FeiSheng thanks him for letting him know, even if inadvertently, that Li LianHua was poisoned before the East Sea battle.

"You are an honourable man, Di-mengzhu. I can see you and Li LianHua will be good for each other." Bhante Wuliau strokes his beard in satisfaction. "Don't forget, I would be happy to enjoy some candy at your wedding."

"Heshang," Li LianHua says with a sigh.

"I will keep some for you," Di FeiSheng says firmly and reaches for Li LianHua's hand.

"Heshang, my mother will arrange a wedding ceremony for them so I will personally deliver your invitation," Fang DuoBing promises and tops up everyone's tea.

- o –

When the trio return to Tianji Hall, He XiaoFeng is waiting for them, looking rather worried.

"I'm glad you three are back. We have two visitors who claim they know you three." She leads them to the terrace where two men are sitting and sipping tea. Zhan YunFei is there, keeping an eye on them.

Upon seeing them, Lu JianChi jumps to his feet at once. He looks tired and travel worn, and even his smile is strained.

"Li LianHua, A-Fei, Fang DuoBing!" He salutes them in turn. "I'm thankful to find you three here, not just Fang DuoBing."

"Lu-xiong, what brings you here?" Li LianHua asks, returning the salute. He looks past Lu JianChi's shoulder. "How is Jin-xiong?"

"He's getting worse," Lu JianChi says in a low voice. "As you know, we've been traveling, looking for cures and elixirs, but nothing has worked. I've used up all my money and frankly, I'm at my wits end."

Jin YouDao turns to look at them with no hint of recognition on his white face. His wrists are bound with rope.

"He acts violently at times so I've had to restrain him." Lu JianChi looks anguished. "I'm lucky that he allows this since… well, sometimes, he doesn't even recognise me. We were passing by this area and I heard that this is Fang DuoBing's home so-"

"Lu-xiong, you two are welcome to stay as long as you like," Fang DuoBing says firmly, reaching out to grasp his shoulder. Over at the table, Jin YouDao's eyes narrow.

"Thank you, but we don't want to be a bother," Lu JianChi says. "Perhaps we could stay in your woodshed?"

"Woodshed?!"Madam He exclaims as she steps out onto the terrace with He XiaoFeng. "Fang XiaoBao, is this how I brought you up? Letting your guests stay in the woodshed?"

Fang DuoBing just raises his eyebrows at her and tips his head at Di FeiSheng who starts looking around as if admiring the scenery.

"You brat." Madam He tosses her head in mock annoyance, lips twitching. "I didn't know A-Fei well enough then."

"XiaoBao put me in the woodshed too," Li LianHua mutters, nudging Di FeiSheng's arm.

"Like mother, like son," Di FeiSheng mutters back.

After a quick round of introductions and explanations, Madam He bestows a gracious smile on Lu JianChi.

"Any friend of these three is welcome here. Now, how can we help Jin-gongzi?"

"He-tangzhu, the Nanyin Head Bane is a poison," Di FeiSheng says. "It's best for a poisons expert to come up with the antidote, but the person I have in mind lives in Yucheng."

"Yao Mo?" Li LianHua asks and gets a nod in return.

"Well, Yucheng is too far to walk with Jin-gongzi so… indisposed," Madam He says. "I will get YunFei to send you there in a carriage."

She holds up a hand when Lu JianChi starts to protest.

"You came to their aid in Shishou village so I insist!"

"I'll get a carriage and some food prepared," He XiaoFeng turns around, but turns back again at a loud gurgle from Lu JianChi's stomach.

"Excuse me," he mumbles.

"I'll also get someone to prepare a hot meal for you two first." He XiaoFeng smiles at them and hurries off.

"He-tangzhu, no need to trouble Zhan-huwei. Wu Yan will send them there and bring Yao Mo a message from me," Di FeiSheng tells Madam He.

"Whatever you say, A-Fei. What about A-Ming?"

"Who's A-Ming?"

"King XunMing of Yama is quite a mouthful, don't you think?" Madam He says with a conspiratorial wink at Li LianHua who has to bite the inside his cheek to keep from laughing.

"Ah. He will remain here on account of his injuries," Di FeiSheng says, still looking a little nonplussed.

- o –

After the two of them enjoy a hearty meal, Lu JianChi thanks his hosts profusely and helps Jin YouDao into the carriage. Fang DuoBing passes Wu Yan one of the Tianji Hall's messenger birds before Madam He pulls him aside.

"Tell me, XiaoBao, are they good friends?"

"Bestfriends," Fang DuoBing assures her. "In fact, I'm pretty sure they're soulmates too."

"I knew it!" Paying no mind to her son rolling his eyes, she beckons Li LianHua over. "Li-shenyi, please sleep here for the next few days. Heavy rains are forecast and XiaoBao tells me you haven't had a chance to make repairs to Lotus Tower."

She smiles and leans in closer.

"Don't worry, I've told the servants to leave breakfast outside your room, but not to knock so you two can sleep in for as long as you wish!"

- o -

The next morning, they receive a message from Wu Yan. The Drug Demon is confident of curing Jin YouDao, but complains that Liu RuJing refuses to leave, is a useless freeloader and has somehow charmed all the poisonous snakes and centipedes into following him around instead.

"Wait, Liu RuJing went to his cave?" Fang DuoBing asks in disbelief.

"And Yao Mo allowed him to stay?" Di FeiSheng sounds equally disbelieving.

"I'm starting to think there's something in Tianji Hall's drinking water," Li LianHua says with a laugh.

- Chapter End –

Thank you for reading! LJC and JYD's backstory is in Episode 26 of the drama :)

daren = respecful title for superior
gongzi = young master / mister
hesang = respectful title for monk
mengzhu = alliance leader
menzhu = sect leader
shenyi = doctor
shiniang = wife of martial teacher
tangzhu = hall director
xiong = older brother (formal)