"Anyone want to go to the Cold Pond?" Wei Ying asked, as he walked with Xie Lian, Shen Qingqiu, and Luo Binghe.
"I don't know what that is but sure," Shen Qingqiu shrugged and fanned himself.
"I'll go as well," Xie Lian added with a smile.
"I'm with Shizun," Luo Binghe mumbled, hugging Shen Qingqiu from behind and resting his chin on the man's shoulder.
"Let's go!" Wei Ying rushed away with Xie Lian following close behind. Shen Qingqiu followed them with Luo Binghe holding onto the him tightly.
They soon arrived at a pond where Wei Ying began stripping to his inner robes. Xie Lian followed his lead and they both waddled into the shimmering water, "It's cold," Xie Lian commented.
"Yeah," Wei Ying giggled.
"Shizun, what are you doing?" Luo Binghe asked. Shen Qingqiu was taking off his clothes as well and Luo Binghe didn't seem happy.
"I can't let my clothes get all wet," Shen Qingqiu said, "take your's off too. Come on, don't be shy."
"But Shizun-"
"It's fine," Shen Qingqiu assured, "I won't let anyone do anything. This is a time to relax and have fun with Shizun."
"Alright," Luo Binghe mumbled and began taking off his clothes as well. They both got into the cold water and Wei Ying began splashing them.
Xie Lian yelped, "Stop!"
Shen Qingqiu laughed and splashed back a bit before being enfolded into a tight embrace, "Shizun..."
"Binghe, it's fine," he chuckled, "we're just playing."
Luo Binghe sighed, "Alright." He let go and splashed Wei Ying back, who giggled.
They were all splashing each other until they heard rustling in the trees and bushes. "Who's there?" Shen Qingqiu called out, "Come out now."
Everything was silent, only the wind and trees could be heard. "He said come out!" Wei Ying yelled.
They stayed still for a little while before seeing a few people come out. Wei Ying frowned, "Who are you?"
"Tianlang Jun?" Shen Qingqiu asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Master Shen," the man drawled, "what a coincidence. I was just passing by."
"You can't have been passing by, there are guards," Luo Binghe snapped. He got out if the water and stood in front of his father, "What are you really doing here?"
Tianlang Jun sighed, "Alright, you got me. What I want is simple, give me the stone and I'll leave."
"What stone?" Xie Lian asked.
"Oh you know, the Forest Stone," Tianlang Jun said, "hand it over."
"Oh! You mean that thing that's hidden in the Grand Forest in Lanling?" Wei Ying tilted his head.
"In Lanling?" Tianlang Jun asked.
"Yeah! I remember now," Wei Ying put his hand on his hips, "but it's in Lanling, why are you here in Gusu?"
Tianlang Jun stayed silent before speaking, "Liar," he laughed, "I remember perfectly that you and that Hanguang Jun had the stone on the way back from Lanling."
Wei Ying sighed, "Well I tried." He walked out of the water and towards Tianlang Jun, "Now what are you going to do? You're outnumbered."
"Who says I'm outnumbered?" Tianlang Jun asked. He looked behind him and a wall of puppets and demons came walking out of the forest.
"Shit," Shen Qingqiu whispered, he looked around and saw that they were surrounded.
"You're well prepared," Wei Ying praised, "I'm afraid we will have to fight our way out of this guys."
"Fine by me," Luo Binghe growled. He summoned his sword and spun it around, before attacking his father.
Wei Ying looked on the ground for his flute but found nothing.
"Looking for this?" A deep voice asked.
Wei Ying looked up and saw a man with white hair holding his flute, "Give it back."
"This is a high quality flute, why should I give it back?" The man asked.
"Jun Wu!" Xie Lian yelled, "You're with them?"
"Why of course," Jun Wu said.
Wei Ying scoffed, "Alright, I don't need it to fight anyways." He struck with his palm.
Jun Wu dodged, "Mobei Jun, care to help me a bit?"
"You're lame if you need my help," another voice scowled.
"Oh come on, just this once," Jun Wu said, dodging some more.
"Fine," Mobei Jun walked out of the shadows and attacked Wei Ying back.
"You asshole!" Wei Ying roared. He fought back harder, knowing he couldn't handle the two of them for long.
Shen Qingqiu and Xie Lian stayed in the water fighting the puppets and demons that went close to the water.
Xie Lian would use Ruoye to hit the puppets and lead them away from the water.
While Shen Qingqiu threw talismans towards the demons to drive them away.
Xie Lian was back to back with Shen Qingqiu, "Shen-xiong, say the words 'Spirit Pact'."
Shen Qingqiu knew this would help so he said it softly, "Spirit Pact."
"Now focus on the voices," Xie Lian softly said. Shen Qingqiu nodded and heard a few whispered, "Do you hear me now, Shen-xiong?"
"Yes," Shen Qingqiu nodded.
"Good, Wei Wuxian do you hear me?" Xie Lian asked.
"Yes," Wei Ying replied in a whisper. "If you swim under there should be a cave, I need you to go into that cave and block any entrance. I'll get Luo-xiong and myself inside in a few minutes. We just need to distract them."
"Alright," Shen Qingqiu nodded once and held his breath before ducking beneath the surface.
He swam down to the side and went lower before finding an entrance.
He smirked and swam towards it. He hit open air and gasped for breath as he tumbled down the rocks.
Shen Qingqiu landed in shallow water. He stood up and looked around, only to be hit by a strong force.
He was thrown back into the wall and fell down. He groaned before hearing someone else fall down to the cave.
Xie Lian landed in the water with a splash, "Why does it have to be so rocky?"
Shen Qingqiu shrugged, "I don't know, but be careful because there's something that can hit you."
Just as he said those words a groan and a splash came from behind them, the two turned around and saw Luo Binghe.
"Binghe!" Shen Qingqiu rushed over and helped Luo Binghe stand up, "Are you alright? Does it hurt anywhere?"
Luo Binghe winced, "This disciple is fine, just a bit winded."
"Alright, where's Wei Wuxian?" Shen Qingqiu asked.
"Ahh!" A yell and splash echoed in the cave. They all turned and saw Wei Ying standing up, "Argh, I can never get used to that."
"Wei Wuxian, how are you?" Shen Qingqiu questioned.
"Me? I'm fine," Wei Ying drawled.
"What is this pla-" Xie Lian was cut off by a strong force of energy hitting him.
Shen Qingqiu ducked and pulled Luo Binghe down with him, while Wei Ying jumped over the force.
Xie Lian was the only one who was hit this time.
"Yeah I forgot to tell you, you can't be in here without getting hit unless you're a disciple of the Lan Clan of Gusu."
