They left quickly, setting a steady pace towards Yueling.

According to the old texts, the goddess's palace was located on an island a little way from the coast.

Yingyue made sure to check on Wangji once in a while to make sure he wasn't struggling.

They journeyed through the dense forest, the trees providing shade from the harsh sun.

Yingyue's skin was soaked from sweat, dropping down her body in rivulets.

Her a-niang though, looked completely unfazed at the heat.

But she could see he was struggling as well, panting slightly.

So she pushed him down gently against a tree, and pushed a gourd into his hands.

He protested at first, but Yingyue gave him a glare identical to his.

In the silence, a small rustle was heard.

Yingyue placed her hand on her daggers, and listened sharply.

'WHOOSH' an arrow zipped by her head and embedded itself right beside Lan Wangji's head.

She ducked instinctively as a sword cut the air above her head.

She quickly retaliated, her daggers skimming across the offender's legs.

The opponent howled in shock.

"A-Niang!!" She cried. "Hide now!!"

Wangji just ignored her and fought the approaching bandits coming from all sides of the forest.

They were a sight, parent and child fighting side by side in tandem.

Their blades moved in unison, creating a deadly dance.

Bandits fell around them, their blood soaking into the soil.

The last bandit, seeing they had lost, managed to slice Wangji's arm.

Yingyue quickly was upon him, but he fled.

She quickly gave chase, leaving Wangji to staunch his wound.

She darted through the trees, her eyes set intently on the retreating bandit.

The bandit was clearly nimble, she was sent flying up and down around fallen tree trunks.

She was led to a small clearing, with a camp set up clearly for the bandits.

The bandit stood his ground and turned to her, gripping his sword tightly.

Yingyue just gave him a bloodthirsty grin and twirled her daggers.

"No one,I repeat, NO one hurts my a-niang!" She hissed protectively.

She lunged forward, her daggers slicing through skin.

The bandit tried to retaliate, but she dodged the blade gracefully.

Her dagger hit home in his throat, and he spluttered up blood. He twisted to the ground as she wrenched her dagger out.

She breathed heavily, her eyes scanning the clearing.

There was a campfire and a camp set up.

She spotted a shadow tied to a tree, slumped over with many wounds.

She slowly inched forward, and prodded the figure to see if they were conscious.

The figure just groaned and rolled its head, revealing its face.

She gasped astonished. If her eyes didn't deceive her and her memory was correct, this was the notorious Xue Yang.

But what puzzled her, was the way his hair lay on his head.

She reached out and gently tugged.

To her surprise, the hair came off?!

But she looked once again and his hair was revealed to be a bright startling white.

She unceremoniously grabbed his head and looked it over.

At the side, right above his ear was a hole?!

What the hell?!

She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

Using her power she focused on the hole and sensed a object there.

She tugged at it, and nail out!

She analysed it carefully, making sure not to prick herself.

She puffed angrily.

This nail was only discovered to be used by the Wens after her a-die was alive.

After they tested it,(only on her though) it was found it would make the person who placed it in the head, in complete control of them!

She sighed, 'best to ask him once he wakes up' she thought.

She cut the ropes holding him and caught him before he hit the ground.

She slung him over her shoulder and quickly made her way back to her a-niang.

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜