Both Lan Zhan and Wei Ying gathered SiZhui into their arms upon seeing him.

"It's so good to see you, my boy!" Wei Ying smiled at him through teary eyes.

"Mn. Miss you." Lan Zhan held him for a little longer.

Wei Ying pulled Li XiWang into the hug, not letting himself think anything more, stemming the tidal wave of desperate thoughts haunting his mind.

During the short time Hui Gai had disappeared with their daughter, he had held onto Lan Zhan's hand like a lifeline, praying for the unconscious people to have compassionate hearts. Of course they would want their daughter back, but Li XiWang was her own person, and had the cognition of a celestial Immortal.

Everything aside, would they let her choose? Even if she said she wanted to stay, would they invoke their parental rights?

Wei Ying was thankful when Hui Gai returned with both of his children. SiZhui was such a welcome sight and a comfort to both himself and Lan Zhan. He would always be their little boy.

"Let me go in and take a look first." Hui Gai said, holding his arms open for his mandatory payment.

Wei Ying hugged him for a few seconds longer than normal, wanting him to know how grateful he was.

"Now that it's come to this, I know we've made the right decision. It doesn't matter what happens afterwards, the fact remains that we helped them escape their terrible situation...now we need to take the next step." Wei Ying made his voice sound stronger.

"If you want, I can take Li XiWang away from them. At any point, just say the word."

Hui Gai was joking...

Wasn't he?

Wei Ying couldn't always tell.

But before he could answer either way, Hui Gai winked and disappeared.

Unconsciously, the four people left behind, reached for each other's hands, holding on tight.

************

Hui Gai returned fast.

Too fast, and he looked confused.

"What's wrong?" Wei Ying asked him.

"Er...that's just it...I'm not sure what I just found. Is there a way I can show you? Through our mental connection?" He replied, serious for once.

"Why? What did you see?" Wei Ying glanced at Lan Zhan, but as usual, the Jade showed nothing of what he was thinking.

"It's better if I show you...but maybe I should give you some context...so you understand?" Hui Gai raised a brow.

To Wei Ying, he looked confident...and that was encouraging.

"Okay, go ahead."

Lan Zhan gave his hand a squeeze.

"So...every time I delve inside the mind of a person, it's different, as unique as each individual can be. Mostly there are rooms or compartments, divisions separating their emotions and cognitive ability. Usually, it's a walk in the park, so to speak."

"I take it that that's not the case here?" Wei Ying asked, interest evident on his face.

"Exactly. Maybe it's because they're soul bonded, but there's definitely something keeping me out. That's why I want to show you."

"Is it alright for Li XiWang to see as well?" Wei Ying asked, hesitantly. "We have our mental connection, and there must be a way to activate it while you're inside their minds. Lan Zhan and I are connected anyway, and since you're also connected with Li XiWang, it should be easy, right?"

"Okay, yes it's fine for Li XiWang to see, might be able to help too. Let's close our eyes and concentrate. I will contact you from in there." Hui Gai looked towards the gently sleeping blue dragon in his human form.

They did as he asked, SiZhui stepping away from them to stand nearby.

Can you hear me? Hui Gai called out.

Yes! Both Wei Ying and Li XiWang replied.

A few minutes passed and then suddenly, their minds were filled with a brilliant light. As their eyes adjusted to brightness, they saw that it was a clear wall made from some shimmery substance. All around, in a circular pattern were gems of silver and gold, different sizes and different shapes, all facing towards an empty space in the middle, like the sun's rays cast without an actual sun in the centre.

Touch it? See what happens. Wei Ying called out.

Tried that already. Look! Hui Gai pressed his hand against the gem stones, and there was a slight ripple travelling through each stone, like the wings in a bee hive colony.

But other than that, nothing happened.

I can't use force because I may inadvertently damage something important.

Wei Ying was glad Hui Gai was responsible when doing sensitive tasks like this. But there was something about the pattern...

Thanks, hehe. I try to be. And I agree, doesn't it look like there's something missing? Could it be the key to unlocking this mystery?

"Hui Gai, come back out! I know what it is!" Li XiWang shouted it out excitedly.

In a flash, he was out and by her side. Li XiWang was busy digging through her sleeves, clearly looking for something and ignoring everything else. Triumphantly, she yanked out the shimmery pouch that her mother had left tied around her waist when she was a baby.

"Be careful." Wei Ying told her. "You know what happened the last time you touched things in there."

"Yes, father." She agreed, sticking her hand in as if they had not just been talking about caution. "But nothing seemed to happen whenever I touched this!"

In the centre of her tiny palm, rested the abalone shell, white and pretty with the shine of iridescent colours.

Wei Ying couldn’t help grabbing her and planting the biggest kiss on her cheek.

"Little rabbit, you genius!"

He looked around at the others; Hui Gai was already smiling, understanding on his face.

"Does that fit the missing shape?" Lan Zhan asked, also a small proud smile playing on his lips.

"Yes! I think it will." Li XiWang handed it over to Hui Gai.

He examined it carefully, before saying, "let's find out."