He thought a lot about what happened and decides to go to TiShan to see how he is. He thinks he is probably feeling terrible because of what happened and if so, he intends to comfort him.
He knows where he is staying, as he asked around, and visits Luo manor. He is holding WuMei on his shoulders, who is half asleep.
He knocks at the door and waits.

In the middle of the night, WuXin receives an urgent request for reinforcements in the southern village. He responds as quickly as possible, going there even himself. Together, they manage to kill the attackers, undead desert monsters, and burn their remains, but the village is partially destroyed and many people, even women and children, died during the attack.
The knights gather back together and WuXin informs the southern government while they do what they can to help the survivors. Some knights go on patrol, others look for possible survivors under the destroyed homes and the last start to put together the corpses...

Qi is among the menders but looks around often, even as they lie the corpses nearby. There is no sign of LanJi anywhere and anxiety is killing him. WuXin hasn't even the time to worry as soon the southern guards, the White Spears with their captain appear. "What happened here? Explain yourselves!"
WuXin approaches, feeling absolutely terrible. "There was an attack. We did everything we could to protect these people, I..."
Two knights on patrol return, carrying a man. He is badly injuried but does everything he can to speak. "Knights...knights! They brought it upon us! They...allied with the cursed tribes...I saw it, they ran away together...the monsters came from them!" Elodie points WuXin, sounding desperate. "I tried to stop them..."
The two knights holding him lower their gaze. "We found him in the sands...there were also black and pink substances and this..." One of them extends his hand towards WuXin, holding something.
He takes it and his eyes widen, immediately thinking - LanJi's bracelet...
"Leave here, you have already caused enough damages, now we will take over for investigations." The White Spears Captain says.
"I would like to help. If my knights have something to do with it, then I intend to find out and dearly punish who caused this." WuXin says, tightening his grip around LanJi's bracelet. "I beg you not to jump into the wrong conclusions. We were called here because the village was infested by Hori's minions, I still have the letter with me if you want to see it." He shows the Captain, which can't deny, as it has an official signature. "Now, you will want the names of the team who was sent here, I'll provide you...with everything else you might need..." He says with a bit more struggle. "I plan to prepare a team to find my lost knight, who seems to have followed a tribeman. I find it hard to believe he'd join someone creating so many creatures of Hori and I don't think the clans have the capabilities to use even a fragment of what's needed for it. Captain, allow me to solve this misunderstanding. I'll find the real culprit because I won't leave unpunished whoever caused the death of so many innocents."

As usual, WuXin can be very convincing but he is also extremely open. He knows they have nothing to hide and proves it to the Captain, also because they are already providing the possible for the hurt people of the village, medicines and food.
When done with Elodie, WuXin goes to meet the team of knights that was taken aside by the White Spears. They are all the people who were defending the village and he intends to ask them. There is also the Captain present. "YinPo, tell me everything. What happened here?"
YinPo, the lead of the mission, looks broken and shaken, still overwhelmed by the tough battle. "Wu..WuXin...where is LanJi? Did you find him?"
"No...it looks like he left with a tribeman in mysterious circumstances. It still needs to be investigated."
"We were preparing for the night patrol but he didn't go to his place, QingLin was alone. She was the closest to the border and got suddenly attacked..." She didn't make it. "She couldn't warn us, we all noticed when we saw those minions breaking through the gate. We did what we could to keep them out but all the defences of the village were to fix so they broke inside in no time. It is as if they ignored us first, they jumped right on the houses and the people...I swear I heard music before the attack."
"The defences were broken in previous attacks from the same creatures?"
"We don't know. They only mentioned the creatures but the damages caused seemed all auriold-made."
WuXin shuts his eyes and takes the Captain by arm. "Sir, I am starting to figure out what happened, I beg you to spare them from further questioning. It was a harsh night for them, they need rest. I would move to the head of the village, he is the one who contacted us."
The Captain agrees and head to the tent they made to use as hospital. WuXin and the Captain approach Elodie who was mended but there is still fear and shock in his eyes, not fully in his right mind.
"Sir. I hope you are doing better, we need to make some question to you."
"That brat, that brat!! He released the tribeman from his cell!" Elodie says, shaking. "He...he released him so that the tribeman could send his beasts to attack us..."
"LanJi." WuXin can tell he doesn't lie when he mentions LanJi freeing the prisoner. "We will go to look for the tribe in question. Meanwhile...could you tell us what was this doing near you where we found you? Does it belong to the tribeman?" He shows the southern flute and to that, Elodie freezes and sweats.
"It does, yes."
"Captain, will you have him escorted to a cell? This doesn't belong to LanJi and it is an instrument that cannot be found among tribe people. The only person left is him, so I'd rather not let him get away. If he is innocent, he won't have anything to fear."
"Lies! It doesn't belong to me. Don't try! Typical of knights, Captain! They are playing against me, they want to blame me...mark my words, they will have me killed and put all the blame on me for their wrong doings! Southern people deserve to know who the Knights of Shii actually are!"
"CAPTAIN!" WuXin raises his tone, angry to be accused of such a tremendous act. "What would we earn bringing this village to its knees? Nothing. We were called for minions of Hori to kill and we did it but clearly those monsters were controlled by someone who had under target all the weakest. Put him in jail for now, to be sure. I'll go to organize the team for the desert expedition. I intend to find LanJi and know exactly what happened!"

Elodie is put in jail. WuXin instead joins his knights. "Whoever intends to find LanJi...join me back in Shiinden in one hour."

Part 1.

Early in the morning, LanJi wakes up and finishes to get ready to leave. He takes just a few important things and also wears his chain silver bracelet. He cannot wait to have everything done.
He walks out of the room, carrying a large black backpack. He meets Lani and WuXin for the final greeting.
"Remember, don't take risks, don't hesitate to call reinforcements, keep in touch with us!" WuXin says, hugging him tightly.
"Alright, appa, don't worry. I'll be back soon." LanJi says, smiling slightly. He hugs Lani too and finally heads out, joining all the others by the portal. To lead the mission, a silver knight, the oldest there, with Justice and Life powers, very defensive.
They take the portal for the southern village.

When they arrive, they can clearly see some destruction all around. "We have to meet the head of the village first...watch your back." The captain says.
LanJi follows but looks around very carefully, to detect any illusion but there aren't.
They find the main building and present themselves. Right away, a man approaches them eagerly and in hurry. "Finally you are here! I contacted you days ago! Do you see what they caused, again? You have to act quickly to stop this, we live in terror by now!"
"Calm down, sir. We arrived as soon as possible. If you could explain us better the matter..." The captain says.
"Yes, yes, whatever. We started getting attacked about a month ago by this creature coming from the sands...the creature looks undead! Like a giant scorpion...it has a black aura." He continues to give more explainations pointing towards an Hori's artefact.
The group of knights leave to discuss. "There might be a fragment lost in the nearby sands or it is stuck on the creature itself. He first spoke of it like 'they' then as one. We have to investigate it on our own. I will monitor the situation here, you split and ask around if they confirm his version. We need more clues and tonight we will take position on different spots and be prepared for possible attacks."

As they ask around, most people just want to avoid them at any cost, like scared. Only one tries to warn LanJi but is roughly interrupted.
When they group up again, they tell each other what they found, which is not much. They decide to go to the rooms they were offered and rest till evening. LanJi though cannot help himself and sneaks away to look for the man who tried to tell him something. He can't find him anywhere, not even in the prison of the village, under the main building where they spoke with the head of the village, Elodie.
In the prison though, he finds a tribeman. The other tries to communicate with LanJi but he realizes he hasn't his amulet. "Slow down, I can't understand you." He whispers. He hasn't the permission to be there, he did everything secretly using illusions.
The tribeman continues to try but causes too much noise, attracting there the guards. LanJi is forced to leave but the matter doesn't abandon his mind.
He returns to his room to take some rest.

In the evening, he joins the others and they make small teams of two to take place on different roofs near the border to monitor the movements from the desert. Nothing in the first night.
The day after repeats pretty much the same way. LanJi tries to communicate with the tribeman again but when he arrives in front of the building, he finds the guards about to execute him. He decides to act through an illusion, causing the guards to get distracted by the voice of Elodie, calling them desperately and giving the chance to escape to the tribeman. The other breaks free from the only guard holding him and flees.
He tries to reach him then and he does, continuing to help him till the way out. When at some distance in the desert, the other shows signs of gratitude to LanJi. This time, he has his language amulet. "What were you trying to tell me? It might be important, to save lives here."
The tribeman grabs LanJi by shoulders, holding tight. "He caused it. He sent that monster to attack our tribe...he managed to kidnap me so they would come to attack before time to free me! Don't trust..."
LanJi remains a bit thoughtful at his words, figuring out who. "The damages were caused by tribemen? Why would he cause it to his own village? And why call us? If he controls that creature...must be nothing good. I have to report it. It is getting late already, I should be in my spot!"
"Imperial. Wa-.."
A voice from behind them. "Very well. Look who is not doing his job...don't you know my mobs are already attacking? No one of you was ready, night didn't fall....what a shame. It is going to be a massacre." The head of the village stands there, holding a southern flute in hands.
LanJi quickly moves his gaze towards the village nearby, seeing scorpions and other huge desertic animals coming out of the sand and rushing against the houses.
"You know part of it, now I have to kill you. Don't run too fast, you won't escape." The man begins to play a horrible melody and the sand near them starts to shake and soon a massive snake comes out. Much bigger than those attacking the village. It immediately aims to go after LanJi and the tribeman.
LanJi struggles but forces himself to act regardless his fear of snakes. He makes eye contact with the undead snake. What the tribeman sees is another LanJi appearing exactly in the position of the sect of Hori's man. Real LanJi apparently disappears. Overall it is confusing seen from outside, Amiir can't properly follow the fight, he just sees the snake rushing against a LanJi then a sudden cut that kills the snake in one go. Things return normal, with the Elodie on the ground, shaking, and LanJi now standing in front of him with his blade against his neck, covered in sand and a disgusting black blood. "Call them back! Stop the attack or I'll kill you right here!"
Elodie doesn't cooperate even if he looks scared. He seems to eye something behind them. Suddenly Amiir shouts. "CREATURE!"
LanJi turns his head, seeing the snake starting to return together and move. He has to fight it again and this time, he makes sure to destroy it. A pale pink flame starts to burn the remains.
When he last expects, Elodie jumps on him, making him fall. They fight and the other does his best to stab LanJi's eyes. He stabs his left eye, but the other soon reacts against LanJi's will, changing into the hypnotic Sharyngan. The effect is not the usual but it hurts Elodie badly. Amiir tries to help LanJi, which is holding and covering his right eye regardless it is the other to be bleeding and hurting.

Without looking back, Amiir takes LanJi, bringing him away before Elodie can have the time to recover.

Part 2.

Elodie is put in jail but the man is already aware it will be over for him if they find Amiir and LanJi. He needs to do something that won't make him risk to look more suspicious. He has to act but by staying there.
He finds a small spider in his cell and kills it, using it to sneak outside the cell. He manages to kill the person guarding him but making him a minion under his control. He whistles, forcing him to go to find him an instrument. Elodie returns to his cell, remaining there without complaints and never changing his version: LanJi freed the tribeman and they ran away together after releasing the creatures on the village, Elodie tried to stop them but they nearly killed him.
When the minion finally returns with what he asked, he plays a short melody, then hides the wooden flute. He sends against LanJi and Amiir all his minions left. On the way to exterminate them and the whole tribe.

He returns home after the training and quickly goes to take a shower, to get ready before they arrive.
He washes then to his bedroom where he dresses up nicely - the usual lame stuff but new - , total black. He puts on perfume and fixes his hairstyle a little.

Meanwhile Qi is already in the kitchen, preparing the ingredients they need in the exact amounts. He didn't bother to wear something particular, as he imagines it will be a chill evening.

His elements are Fear and Time. His power mainly comes from his eyes:
- He spawns illusions;
- He spawns clones;
- He fight with a slight time manipulation;
- He can one shot kill through his eyes, showing the greatest fears that slowly kill the opponent in a time loop; very hard to break free but LanJi can now interrupt it, even if it is difficult;

He can draw well anime and kibi stuff.

He is afraid of spiders, cats, deep water, snakes, darkness, injections, broken bones, falls.

He has a back injury.