lαn sízhuí (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
deferences) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
houseofsushi2020-05-22 10:34 pm
deferences) wrote in houseofsushi2020-05-22 10:34 pm
Entry tags:
- lan sizhui,
- open,
- rp
Sizhui cries and cries, so overcome that it's difficult for him to even stay standing, yet he manages. He wipes his face with his sleeves, but no matter how much he tries, more tears replace what he clears away, which only furthers his confusion in the long run. Still, he doesn't stop, nor does he let himself get distracted, not until he hears that noise.
Finally, he yanks his head up, breathing heavy and watery, his eyes wide as he watches Koro crawl toward him, his heartbeat thrumming faster than a hummingbird's wings, the butterflies in his stomach fluttering so much, it's maddening.
For what it's worth, Sizhui's standing in place rather than turning to flee, even if he's also trembling the whole time Koro's bridging the distance between them. The exhale he lets out shakes too, conveying his raw emotion, both the apprehensiveness and his grief-stricken state.
He wants to tell him to stop, to stay away, except his voice won't work and, try as he might to ignore it, the fact still stands: Koro had protected him. It's the least he can do to see what it is he plans on doing next.
Finally, he yanks his head up, breathing heavy and watery, his eyes wide as he watches Koro crawl toward him, his heartbeat thrumming faster than a hummingbird's wings, the butterflies in his stomach fluttering so much, it's maddening.
For what it's worth, Sizhui's standing in place rather than turning to flee, even if he's also trembling the whole time Koro's bridging the distance between them. The exhale he lets out shakes too, conveying his raw emotion, both the apprehensiveness and his grief-stricken state.
He wants to tell him to stop, to stay away, except his voice won't work and, try as he might to ignore it, the fact still stands: Koro had protected him. It's the least he can do to see what it is he plans on doing next.
The fear in the man's eyes, the tears he bares, it all hurts Koro. He's seen this too many times heard it too many times. It hurts.
It hurts.
But Koro powers through the pain. He's dealt with so much worse from fearful humans. All kinds of unspeakable torture that could rival the tortured he's performed in hell himself.
Once he's close, he stops, looking the man right in the eyes. And then...he lies down on his stomach and places his chin to the ground.
Is it working...? Uncertain, Koro then rolls onto his back, his hands and legs sticking up like paws, and he looks up at the man with his upside down face.
While his tail wags.
It hurts.
But Koro powers through the pain. He's dealt with so much worse from fearful humans. All kinds of unspeakable torture that could rival the tortured he's performed in hell himself.
Once he's close, he stops, looking the man right in the eyes. And then...he lies down on his stomach and places his chin to the ground.
Is it working...? Uncertain, Koro then rolls onto his back, his hands and legs sticking up like paws, and he looks up at the man with his upside down face.
While his tail wags.
Edited (adding some details) 2024-01-29 07:52 (UTC)
At first, he isn't quite sure how to respond, watching intently as Koro continues coming closer, closer, to the point they're only a few feet from each other when the demon suddenly stops and lies on his belly. His eyebrows lift in half-interest, half-bafflement, clearly conveying something that's no longer sadness or anxiety.
He faintly tilts his head, contemplating, wondering exactly what it is Koro's planning with this show of submissiveness.
Sizhui blinks once, twice, straightens again then lets out a soft laugh at the tail-wagging, a sleeve-covered hand moving to rest in front of his face, to partially muffle the noise and hide the small smile that quirks his mouth at the edges.
Although he doesn't understand what's happening, it does sort of put him at ease after everything that's happened. So much so, he even dares to crouch, knees against his chest, his hands resting atop them while he otherwise silently appreciates Koro's body language.
He faintly tilts his head, contemplating, wondering exactly what it is Koro's planning with this show of submissiveness.
Sizhui blinks once, twice, straightens again then lets out a soft laugh at the tail-wagging, a sleeve-covered hand moving to rest in front of his face, to partially muffle the noise and hide the small smile that quirks his mouth at the edges.
Although he doesn't understand what's happening, it does sort of put him at ease after everything that's happened. So much so, he even dares to crouch, knees against his chest, his hands resting atop them while he otherwise silently appreciates Koro's body language.
Finally. A smile. Yes, Koro noticed that. He lets out a demonic groan that is likely a sigh of relief, and turns back onto his stomach, then gets onto his knees.
Finally, the darkness that he had absorbed from the jiangshi pulses through his body, replenishing his power that he had lost in the net. The human must unfortunately bear witness to one more scene of horror, as Koro's body slowly shifts, the bones of crackling bones filling the silence. He shrinks, and his skin smooths and lightens, his body becoming full and growing muscle. The scraggly hairs on his head grow, and soon his bald head grows soft, shirt black locks. The ridges on his back flatten into his skin, his spine straightens, and his wings and tail shrink into his body, his horns into his head. Eyes grow from the empty sockets in his head, lips grow on his shrinking and shortening grin, and his ears shrink and become rounder.
Cloth somehow forms out of thin air, growing from Koro's skin and forming clothes on his body.
The entire transformation looks excruciating, and yet Koro doesn't seem bothered one bit. Soon before the human kneels a tall, built man in farmer's clothing, far easier on the eyes than his previous form.
"Better?"
Finally, the darkness that he had absorbed from the jiangshi pulses through his body, replenishing his power that he had lost in the net. The human must unfortunately bear witness to one more scene of horror, as Koro's body slowly shifts, the bones of crackling bones filling the silence. He shrinks, and his skin smooths and lightens, his body becoming full and growing muscle. The scraggly hairs on his head grow, and soon his bald head grows soft, shirt black locks. The ridges on his back flatten into his skin, his spine straightens, and his wings and tail shrink into his body, his horns into his head. Eyes grow from the empty sockets in his head, lips grow on his shrinking and shortening grin, and his ears shrink and become rounder.
Cloth somehow forms out of thin air, growing from Koro's skin and forming clothes on his body.
The entire transformation looks excruciating, and yet Koro doesn't seem bothered one bit. Soon before the human kneels a tall, built man in farmer's clothing, far easier on the eyes than his previous form.
"Better?"
It's completely fine that it's noticeable, he doesn't mind, but it's a habit to keep such expression under wraps whenever he's taught to not act or smile foolishly. This, however, isn't such a moment, he thinks.
After Koro is slightly more upright, Sizhui tips sideways, gaze unwavering, his throat still working with some effort from the overwhelming emotions he'd been experiencing only a few minutes ago. What comes next is, well, more than a little surprising; it's a transformation, something like he's never seen before, and it's both remarkable and somewhat terrifying at the same time. Mostly the sounds, given the noises are a bit sickening and painful-sounding, but Koro doesn't seem fazed at all. (Probably because he's used to it, Sizhui imagines.)
The cultivator stays put, nonetheless, staring in a mixture of engrossment and aversion. He dislikes the noise, is even tempted to cover his ears, except it's over almost as quickly as it'd happened and there sits a human-looking man before him.
Another blink, then he scooches closer, his mouth popping open in a soft ah as he reaches out toward the demon(?) He rests his hands on Koro's face, looking stunned at his new shape, the short hair, the broadness of him, his height. Even like this, he's large, but he's far less intimidating in a human shape, his voice oddly calming in comparison.
After Koro is slightly more upright, Sizhui tips sideways, gaze unwavering, his throat still working with some effort from the overwhelming emotions he'd been experiencing only a few minutes ago. What comes next is, well, more than a little surprising; it's a transformation, something like he's never seen before, and it's both remarkable and somewhat terrifying at the same time. Mostly the sounds, given the noises are a bit sickening and painful-sounding, but Koro doesn't seem fazed at all. (Probably because he's used to it, Sizhui imagines.)
The cultivator stays put, nonetheless, staring in a mixture of engrossment and aversion. He dislikes the noise, is even tempted to cover his ears, except it's over almost as quickly as it'd happened and there sits a human-looking man before him.
Another blink, then he scooches closer, his mouth popping open in a soft ah as he reaches out toward the demon(?) He rests his hands on Koro's face, looking stunned at his new shape, the short hair, the broadness of him, his height. Even like this, he's large, but he's far less intimidating in a human shape, his voice oddly calming in comparison.
Cold.
Koro expected warmth when he anticipates the hands to reach his face, but they feel cold. Perhaps it's because of the cool air and day becoming night, or perhaps from the fear that the human felt...however that works. Human are odd creatures.
Koro reaches up and grabs the human's wrists, finally, like he wanted to since he laid eyes on him. They felt just as tiny as he imagined. So slender and frail, they could easily snap if Koro were to squeeze them just a bit too hard. Of course Koro wouldn't do such a thing, on the contrary, choosing to be much more gentle.
Those hands slide down the human's arms. He could feel the tone of muscle in his otherwise slender arm, which explained the sword. A swordsman, is he? The tone and knots in his shoulder confirmed just as much. And with boths hands on the other's shoulders...
Koro pulls the young man into an embrace.
"Please. Don't look at me like that anymore. I'm so tired of being feared like this."
Koro expected warmth when he anticipates the hands to reach his face, but they feel cold. Perhaps it's because of the cool air and day becoming night, or perhaps from the fear that the human felt...however that works. Human are odd creatures.
Koro reaches up and grabs the human's wrists, finally, like he wanted to since he laid eyes on him. They felt just as tiny as he imagined. So slender and frail, they could easily snap if Koro were to squeeze them just a bit too hard. Of course Koro wouldn't do such a thing, on the contrary, choosing to be much more gentle.
Those hands slide down the human's arms. He could feel the tone of muscle in his otherwise slender arm, which explained the sword. A swordsman, is he? The tone and knots in his shoulder confirmed just as much. And with boths hands on the other's shoulders...
Koro pulls the young man into an embrace.
"Please. Don't look at me like that anymore. I'm so tired of being feared like this."
Living where he does, it's not unexpected for him to run a little cooler than other cultivators and it never occurred to him how he might feel to someone like Koro. Everyone else he knows is used to it but . . .
Sizhui's eyes widen again as Koro's hands take hold of his wrists, which makes him think he should withdraw, except another part of him says otherwise. He stays like he is, watching, following Koro's hands when they start moving up his arms, a motion that has goosebumps rising along his skin, and that in turn has him feeling relieved that he's covered in layers. Being seen, as it were, would truly be mortifying after everything that's happened.
Though it's strange to simply sit and let himself be felt up, he holds steady anyway, eventually allowing his hands to drift down to rest on Koro's chest, his attention still held by the man.
This, of course, means that when Koro pulls him into an embrace, his arms are trapped between them, firmly holding him in place. Initially, Sizhui's unsure how to respond, his heartrate kicking up again, something wild and untamed. For a long moment, he stays that way, his eyes finally flicking away, then he submits, relaxing in Koro's arms and leaning until he can rest his forehead against his shoulder.
Oh-so-softly, he responds, “I'm sorry,” and breathes a sigh, unable to keep the light amusement out of his voice when he continues, “but you surely didn't think people wouldn't be afraid of you like... that, did you?”
Sizhui's eyes widen again as Koro's hands take hold of his wrists, which makes him think he should withdraw, except another part of him says otherwise. He stays like he is, watching, following Koro's hands when they start moving up his arms, a motion that has goosebumps rising along his skin, and that in turn has him feeling relieved that he's covered in layers. Being seen, as it were, would truly be mortifying after everything that's happened.
Though it's strange to simply sit and let himself be felt up, he holds steady anyway, eventually allowing his hands to drift down to rest on Koro's chest, his attention still held by the man.
This, of course, means that when Koro pulls him into an embrace, his arms are trapped between them, firmly holding him in place. Initially, Sizhui's unsure how to respond, his heartrate kicking up again, something wild and untamed. For a long moment, he stays that way, his eyes finally flicking away, then he submits, relaxing in Koro's arms and leaning until he can rest his forehead against his shoulder.
Oh-so-softly, he responds, “I'm sorry,” and breathes a sigh, unable to keep the light amusement out of his voice when he continues, “but you surely didn't think people wouldn't be afraid of you like... that, did you?”
[ Gently looks at these overtures of concern in passing without knowing what to do with them... ??? Is this column a: mannerly, or column b: friendly.
But whole hearts are so annoying, that would never work on him, people like certain redheads who shall not be named only wish he had a weak spot to exploit for such emotional manipulation. Likewise, it would be inaccurate to say his response is from an abundance of ??? and being thrown for a loop. This is just reexamining his level of investment in the charade, is all.
> Revisionist history in effect. ]
Well, if you insist on being so mannerly, I guess I can let you off the hook this time. But I won't stop you if you're that eager to lift spirits and get in some practice. I'm not convinced you wouldn't inspire a whiff of vigor.
The food vendors are a fine second place prize.
[ You know what else is there besides impromptu musical numbers? Meaty things on sticks and strange colored ice treats—what also falls under holistic healing methods in service of well-being.
And Mat himself, he supposes, a few minutes behind. He has to concede there was a middling to fair chance he wasn't just going to stand Sizhui up, but letting him project about Aes Sedai to infinity and beyond cranks the rusty level up to a strong likelihood. ]
I'll be there soon. Don't get started without me.
But whole hearts are so annoying, that would never work on him, people like certain redheads who shall not be named only wish he had a weak spot to exploit for such emotional manipulation. Likewise, it would be inaccurate to say his response is from an abundance of ??? and being thrown for a loop. This is just reexamining his level of investment in the charade, is all.
> Revisionist history in effect. ]
Well, if you insist on being so mannerly, I guess I can let you off the hook this time. But I won't stop you if you're that eager to lift spirits and get in some practice. I'm not convinced you wouldn't inspire a whiff of vigor.
The food vendors are a fine second place prize.
[ You know what else is there besides impromptu musical numbers? Meaty things on sticks and strange colored ice treats—what also falls under holistic healing methods in service of well-being.
And Mat himself, he supposes, a few minutes behind. He has to concede there was a middling to fair chance he wasn't just going to stand Sizhui up, but letting him project about Aes Sedai to infinity and beyond cranks the rusty level up to a strong likelihood. ]
I'll be there soon. Don't get started without me.
[a little of a, a little of b, but it's mostly somehow a mix of both; mat hasn't given him a reason to act impolitely, after all, and sizhui always hopes to be friendly with people, no matter how hard they push back...
if he remains kind and pleasant, maybe one day he'll win over even the worst of villains with friendliness. (unlikely, but come on, let him at least dream!) it may take him a long time, he will eventually find a way to worm his way into mat's heart. keeping in mind that not offering him healing and other such things could strengthen his chances—
let him off the hook? oh... well, that is tempting, particularly after he had put in such a small fuss during it all, and yet there's something that drives him, emboldens him to follow through on it. mat's continued reassurance is, of course, helping in that sense.]
The practice would do me good, and if I happen to invigorate a person or two, I'll take that as I'm doing something right. Maybe good, even.
[oh, and strangely-colored ice treats sound up his alley? he would, however, taste the meat if offered, never one to turn down common courtesy. while he will never know exactly what it was that encouraged mat, he's glad it happened either way.]
Okay, I'll wait for you. This will give me time to warm up a little.
if he remains kind and pleasant, maybe one day he'll win over even the worst of villains with friendliness. (unlikely, but come on, let him at least dream!) it may take him a long time, he will eventually find a way to worm his way into mat's heart. keeping in mind that not offering him healing and other such things could strengthen his chances—
let him off the hook? oh... well, that is tempting, particularly after he had put in such a small fuss during it all, and yet there's something that drives him, emboldens him to follow through on it. mat's continued reassurance is, of course, helping in that sense.]
The practice would do me good, and if I happen to invigorate a person or two, I'll take that as I'm doing something right. Maybe good, even.
[oh, and strangely-colored ice treats sound up his alley? he would, however, taste the meat if offered, never one to turn down common courtesy. while he will never know exactly what it was that encouraged mat, he's glad it happened either way.]
Okay, I'll wait for you. This will give me time to warm up a little.
So small. So thin. Koro felt like if he hugged him any tighter he could snap him in half. He holds him for just a moment longer, before pulling back to look into his eyes.
"Well I could have changed into a less terrifying form sooner if I wasn't caught in someone's net." Koro looks serious, and yet there's a playful tone in his voice.
"Well I could have changed into a less terrifying form sooner if I wasn't caught in someone's net." Koro looks serious, and yet there's a playful tone in his voice.
It's highly likely that Koro could snap him in half. Sizhui's small, lean and lithe-muscled, able to handle himself in many situations, but if this were to suddenly go sideways? There's no chance he could get away fast enough. Thankfully, Koro seems like he doesn't want to harm him, and when he withdraws, Sizhui does the same, wide eyes blinking up at him.
Then he laughs, an actual, wholehearted sound and he shakes his head. “I suppose that is my fault, yes.” He pulls away further, enough so he can bow his head. “Forgive me, ah... I don't think you said your name?”
Then he laughs, an actual, wholehearted sound and he shakes his head. “I suppose that is my fault, yes.” He pulls away further, enough so he can bow his head. “Forgive me, ah... I don't think you said your name?”
[ Lifting an eyebrow at this sudden change in tune. As in stupid, taunting double doggy dares as in raising stakes at the card table, there comes a time he can usually expect the other party to back down and reasonably disengage from his bullshit (whether it be losing the patience to humor him, or the wherewithal to keep bluffing him). ]
Cured yourself of performance anxiety that fast?
[ No shot he's going to take him up on serenading, right? ... And in front of people?
On that note, do not perceive him and his capacity to be guilt tripped. Sizhui already has power beyond that of the average man. ]
Cured yourself of performance anxiety that fast?
[ No shot he's going to take him up on serenading, right? ... And in front of people?
On that note, do not perceive him and his capacity to be guilt tripped. Sizhui already has power beyond that of the average man. ]
Edited 2024-03-08 04:47 (UTC)
oh my GOSH you have no idea how pleased that makes me 🥹 you finally see the boy...
deferences
2024-03-08 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
[this isn't sizhui's first go-around with being teased; he has other friends who have coerced him into things before and, for the most part, they haven't gone horrifically sideways! what's wrong with singing in front of people, besides not sounding the greatest? he's not even drunk, so he won't stumble over himself, get sick or anything extra silly like that.
any actual serenading will take a bit more coaxing, though.]
Not necessarily. More like I'm pushing through it for the sake of getting out there! Of trying something I wouldn't normally do!
[and no worries there, he may have perceived but he won't be outright, especially not when he has to concentrate on making sure he doesn't lose his cool. it wouldn't do for him to abandon where he's posted up now, not when some people are already watching him.]
any actual serenading will take a bit more coaxing, though.]
Not necessarily. More like I'm pushing through it for the sake of getting out there! Of trying something I wouldn't normally do!
[and no worries there, he may have perceived but he won't be outright, especially not when he has to concentrate on making sure he doesn't lose his cool. it wouldn't do for him to abandon where he's posted up now, not when some people are already watching him.]
"Ah." Koro slowly stands to his feet, and tugs at the younger man to get him to his as well.
"I'm sorry. It's Korollan. You can call me Koro." Koro takes the other's hand in both of his, giving it a calming squeeze.
"I don't think you said yours."
"I'm sorry. It's Korollan. You can call me Koro." Koro takes the other's hand in both of his, giving it a calming squeeze.
"I don't think you said yours."
Sizhui eases upright too, still smiling, perhaps even a bit wider than he'd been before. This way, he can sort of properly bow, with his head lowered further and his arms circled in front of himself.
“You needn't apologize. It's nice to meet you, Koro.” He lets his hand be taken, glancing down at the difference between it and Koro's, especially with it being clasped between both of his. He really is quite a large man, isn't he?
“My name is Lan Sizhui, but you may call me ‘Sizhui.’”
“You needn't apologize. It's nice to meet you, Koro.” He lets his hand be taken, glancing down at the difference between it and Koro's, especially with it being clasped between both of his. He really is quite a large man, isn't he?
“My name is Lan Sizhui, but you may call me ‘Sizhui.’”
[ By the Light, more exclamation points. Sizhui is either fantastically talented at pretending to fall prey to coercion for the long play, or this is... not going quite the way he thought. ]
Oh, now you want to switch careers to performer? I thought your signed your life away to do whatever it is your clan does. Oaths and all that.
[ Or is that just Aes Sedai? ]
Is this some kind of commentary about trying new healing arts when in a new place?
Oh, now you want to switch careers to performer? I thought your signed your life away to do whatever it is your clan does. Oaths and all that.
[ Or is that just Aes Sedai? ]
Is this some kind of commentary about trying new healing arts when in a new place?
[can it be a little of both? because it might be a little of both; sizhui's easily coerced, particularly when it comes to handsome men who want him to sing, apparently.]
The nice thing about my clan is I can do just about whatever I want, as long as it doesn't break the rules. [of which there are four thousand but hey, when you've studied them for so long, you find the loopholes.]
Maybe! I'm always up for learning new things and healing arts are important, after all. My aunt knew all sorts of ways to heal people; she would be proud of me for branching out, especially when learning things like healing and medicine.
The nice thing about my clan is I can do just about whatever I want, as long as it doesn't break the rules. [of which there are four thousand but hey, when you've studied them for so long, you find the loopholes.]
Maybe! I'm always up for learning new things and healing arts are important, after all. My aunt knew all sorts of ways to heal people; she would be proud of me for branching out, especially when learning things like healing and medicine.
[whenever sizhui first heard about the ‘calamity’ that had beset a nearby village, he didn't quite believe the rumors at first; surely they were tall tales and whatever it was is something that could be easily handled if time had been put into doing so. unfortunately, hanguang-jun had been attending to other things and with zewu-jun otherwise indisposed, that meant it was up to lan sizhui to do something to help the people that had come calling for their help.
he arrives at the inn early, before anyone else besides the innkeeper has awoken, finds his room and unpacks his things, taking inventory of everything while also going over the information he'd been given moments ago. again, sizhui doesn't think much of it at first, mostly because it seems like said fiend hasn't caused nearly as much trouble as other creatures have in the past.
this, however, means nothing in the grand scheme of things. it could mean the creature is waiting, biding its time, waiting for the right moment to strike and really cause damage rather than do a bunch of petty little things.
if that's the case, he'll have to make sure he's plenty prepared, warning signals to call for help included, which he's thankfully got plenty of for once. (whenever jingyi packs, they always seem to run out . . . ) there must be something to that, but it's not something he focuses on for long. no, he pours most of his focus into going out into the village and talking to people who are meandering about, setting up stalls for selling things or preparing to head out to go fishing. like before, he's told the same thing: a calamity has befallen them and terrible things have been happening, except when sizhui asks for specifics, he doesn't get even half as much info as he'd gotten from the innkeeper.
eventually, he does come across an elderly fellow who offers him some loquats alongside more solid information; something has been terrorizing people at night-time, which sounds about right for a night-hunting trip, but it's what someone saw fighting with the demon that has people up in arms, and that's where sizhui's come back around to the thing everyone keeps calling a calamity.
he thanks the man for everything, heads back to his room and waits it out until nightfall when lan jingyi and a couple of other disciples join him. once they're all together and set up, he leads them out into the village as prepared as they can be, ready to face whatever it is head-on.]
he arrives at the inn early, before anyone else besides the innkeeper has awoken, finds his room and unpacks his things, taking inventory of everything while also going over the information he'd been given moments ago. again, sizhui doesn't think much of it at first, mostly because it seems like said fiend hasn't caused nearly as much trouble as other creatures have in the past.
this, however, means nothing in the grand scheme of things. it could mean the creature is waiting, biding its time, waiting for the right moment to strike and really cause damage rather than do a bunch of petty little things.
if that's the case, he'll have to make sure he's plenty prepared, warning signals to call for help included, which he's thankfully got plenty of for once. (whenever jingyi packs, they always seem to run out . . . ) there must be something to that, but it's not something he focuses on for long. no, he pours most of his focus into going out into the village and talking to people who are meandering about, setting up stalls for selling things or preparing to head out to go fishing. like before, he's told the same thing: a calamity has befallen them and terrible things have been happening, except when sizhui asks for specifics, he doesn't get even half as much info as he'd gotten from the innkeeper.
eventually, he does come across an elderly fellow who offers him some loquats alongside more solid information; something has been terrorizing people at night-time, which sounds about right for a night-hunting trip, but it's what someone saw fighting with the demon that has people up in arms, and that's where sizhui's come back around to the thing everyone keeps calling a calamity.
he thanks the man for everything, heads back to his room and waits it out until nightfall when lan jingyi and a couple of other disciples join him. once they're all together and set up, he leads them out into the village as prepared as they can be, ready to face whatever it is head-on.]
[ immediately upon his arrival to this place, hua cheng understands that this is not his home.
it looks similar, true. the landscapes, the buildings, even the people bear striking resemblance to those who populate the nation of xianle, of yong'an, the territories that surround them. but there is no communication array here, no heavenly capital that hua cheng can reach, and, perhaps most importantly, no land of the dead to which he can return and find himself at home in paradise manor. he is a ghost king without a kingdom, a calamity stranded in a world different than the one that birthed him.
so he wanders a bit. he takes the main roads at first, until he realizes that there are far more cultivators in this world than there were in his, and that to those cultivators hua cheng's overpowering yin and resentful energy are causes for alarm; then he keeps to back roads, dipping into the forest when someone comes down the path and being mindful only to interact with those who have no golden core.
in the forests, sometimes, hua cheng finds monsters. monsters other than himself, that is: dead things, evil things, things that were once living but have been so warped by their own resentment that they've transformed into something else entirely. he does what he can to relieve their resentment, and kills them when that relief doesn't come. many of them are weak. some of them are strong, at least strong enough to make hua cheng have to work for the victory. all of them meet their end at his hands, one way or another.
it's no surprise when the night hunt comes. from what hua cheng has gathered over the past several weeks, night-hunts are common occurrences, hosted by cultivation clans when a particular threat grows too large to ignore. and in this case, the threat is hua cheng—not the demons he had fought, but hua cheng himself. (he hears whispers about demonic cultivation, something something—some trauma that this world bears scars from, although it's difficult to get the full story.)
in a way it's flattering that hua cheng might be considered so dangerous, although he has no intentions of hurting anyone. he watches from his own room at the inn as the clan members gather at the entrance to the village, then follows at a distance as they depart into the forest—stifling his qi as best he can, of course, so as not to give the game away immediately. eventually, he slips into the forest too, intending to give the cultivators at least a little run for their money. ]
it looks similar, true. the landscapes, the buildings, even the people bear striking resemblance to those who populate the nation of xianle, of yong'an, the territories that surround them. but there is no communication array here, no heavenly capital that hua cheng can reach, and, perhaps most importantly, no land of the dead to which he can return and find himself at home in paradise manor. he is a ghost king without a kingdom, a calamity stranded in a world different than the one that birthed him.
so he wanders a bit. he takes the main roads at first, until he realizes that there are far more cultivators in this world than there were in his, and that to those cultivators hua cheng's overpowering yin and resentful energy are causes for alarm; then he keeps to back roads, dipping into the forest when someone comes down the path and being mindful only to interact with those who have no golden core.
in the forests, sometimes, hua cheng finds monsters. monsters other than himself, that is: dead things, evil things, things that were once living but have been so warped by their own resentment that they've transformed into something else entirely. he does what he can to relieve their resentment, and kills them when that relief doesn't come. many of them are weak. some of them are strong, at least strong enough to make hua cheng have to work for the victory. all of them meet their end at his hands, one way or another.
it's no surprise when the night hunt comes. from what hua cheng has gathered over the past several weeks, night-hunts are common occurrences, hosted by cultivation clans when a particular threat grows too large to ignore. and in this case, the threat is hua cheng—not the demons he had fought, but hua cheng himself. (he hears whispers about demonic cultivation, something something—some trauma that this world bears scars from, although it's difficult to get the full story.)
in a way it's flattering that hua cheng might be considered so dangerous, although he has no intentions of hurting anyone. he watches from his own room at the inn as the clan members gather at the entrance to the village, then follows at a distance as they depart into the forest—stifling his qi as best he can, of course, so as not to give the game away immediately. eventually, he slips into the forest too, intending to give the cultivators at least a little run for their money. ]
[into the forest they go, the group of four initially sticking close together before sizhui suggests that perhaps they should fan out.]
Remember your signal flares, just in case. We'll meet back here.
[the other two split off rather quickly but it's lan jingyi who lingers longer than he needs to, mumbling about how they should stick together in case they can't handle whatever it is alone, but with sizhui's reassurance, he finally departs, leaving him standing alone in a thicket of trees. he glances around first, examining his surroundings, taking everything in before he decides to start moving, that way he can know where he has to return to once they figure out what it is that's haunting the place.
with sword in hand, he makes his way along the small path, pushing out his qi in an attempt to sense if anything is nearby, but to also perhaps entice whatever it is that's been skulking about into coming to him. demonic cultivation or no, he's as prepared as he can be, with the knowledge that he knows how to handle things himself, though if necessary, he can call upon his fellow clan members for help as needed.
after a while, sizhui does stop to take a break, placing himself atop a bent tree that's perfect for sitting. he heaves a sigh, slightly disappointed that whoever (or whatever) it is hasn't shown themself just yet, but he's determined to not give up so easily. they've only just begun, after all, and who knows what might happen when they're all split up like this.]
Remember your signal flares, just in case. We'll meet back here.
[the other two split off rather quickly but it's lan jingyi who lingers longer than he needs to, mumbling about how they should stick together in case they can't handle whatever it is alone, but with sizhui's reassurance, he finally departs, leaving him standing alone in a thicket of trees. he glances around first, examining his surroundings, taking everything in before he decides to start moving, that way he can know where he has to return to once they figure out what it is that's haunting the place.
with sword in hand, he makes his way along the small path, pushing out his qi in an attempt to sense if anything is nearby, but to also perhaps entice whatever it is that's been skulking about into coming to him. demonic cultivation or no, he's as prepared as he can be, with the knowledge that he knows how to handle things himself, though if necessary, he can call upon his fellow clan members for help as needed.
after a while, sizhui does stop to take a break, placing himself atop a bent tree that's perfect for sitting. he heaves a sigh, slightly disappointed that whoever (or whatever) it is hasn't shown themself just yet, but he's determined to not give up so easily. they've only just begun, after all, and who knows what might happen when they're all split up like this.]
[ it doesn't take long before hua cheng realizes that at least one member of the night-hunting party has a spiritual pressure that feels... familiar. at first he thinks he must be imagining it—it seems utterly impossible that there could be anyone in this world who is familiar to hua cheng, as completely removed as he is from his own world of origin. and yet, the longer he follows the party, the more convinced he becomes that it isn't a figment of his imagination, but someone who he knows, and someone he knows well at that...
when he catches a glimpse of lan sizhui's face for the first time, it's the final piece of evidence he needs to reassure himself that he's not crazy. he'd almost begun to think that his brief adventure in that strange resort had been a figment of his imagination entirely, a hallucination produced by his fractured consciousness as his soul worked to piece itself back together. seeing sizhui is like a bucket of cold water to the face, a reassurance that all that happened there had been real, for all that it had also been strange.
moving silently, hua cheng makes his way through the forest several meters behind sizhui, still obscuring his qi signature as best he can. will sizhui remember him? there's no guarantee of that. the only way for hua cheng to find out is to ask outright, although for several very sharp-edged and powerful reasons he imagines that might be a risky endeavor.
it's still the only choice, though. when sizhui takes a seat atop the low-hanging branch of a tree, hua cheng smiles a little to himself and circles around a different tree, putting himself out of immediate striking range. then he leans against the trunk, crosses his arms over his chest, and says, ]
Is this the right time for a rest, young master? I've heard a night hunt is afoot.
when he catches a glimpse of lan sizhui's face for the first time, it's the final piece of evidence he needs to reassure himself that he's not crazy. he'd almost begun to think that his brief adventure in that strange resort had been a figment of his imagination entirely, a hallucination produced by his fractured consciousness as his soul worked to piece itself back together. seeing sizhui is like a bucket of cold water to the face, a reassurance that all that happened there had been real, for all that it had also been strange.
moving silently, hua cheng makes his way through the forest several meters behind sizhui, still obscuring his qi signature as best he can. will sizhui remember him? there's no guarantee of that. the only way for hua cheng to find out is to ask outright, although for several very sharp-edged and powerful reasons he imagines that might be a risky endeavor.
it's still the only choice, though. when sizhui takes a seat atop the low-hanging branch of a tree, hua cheng smiles a little to himself and circles around a different tree, putting himself out of immediate striking range. then he leans against the trunk, crosses his arms over his chest, and says, ]
Is this the right time for a rest, young master? I've heard a night hunt is afoot.
[it isn't often that sizhui stops and thinks about his time at the golden peacock, mostly because he cannot talk to anyone about it without them thinking he's insane. any of the worlds he visited, they were all so different from his homeworld, they would make him sound crazy no matter how much he insisted that they were really real, so he keeps quiet about it and stews in silence whenever he's alone— much like he's doing now during this night-hunt when he's supposed to be busy hunting down whoever (or whatever) it is that's been supposedly terrorizing the people.
little does he know, he's being watched, and no matter how much he feels like maybe he is, it doesn't dawn on sizhui that maybe – just maybe – it's someone he knows. mainly, he thinks it's just a strange feeling from letting himself wallow in the unfairness of not being able to talk to the people he's closest to about something that constantly bothers him. maybe he should just forget it? if only it were that easy, but the selfish part of him doesn't want to forget, not when he'd learned so much and met so many wonderful people . . .
he exhales a huff, shifts slightly and brings both his arms around, propping his knees up on his legs and resting his face in his hands. did this happen to anyone else who eventually went home from world-hopping? did they remember everything and have to suffer the same fate? he doesn't know because nobody he knows here was at the golden peacock, even though he did meet alternate universe versions of some of them. that doesn't mean they are the same and it makes sense that the people here wouldn't know what he's talking about.
both of his hands move back, gripping at the loose hair falling over his shoulders, his fingers twining through the strands and tugging slightly. he'd always been so ready to go home but now that he is back, he feels completely out of place, and it feels like nothing can fix that.
nothing, until he hears a voice.
immediately, sizhui leaps to his feet, preparing to brandish his sword, but as he turns toward the sound, it dawns on him that hey, that voice is. familiar? he pivots until he's facing the other man, eyebrows lifting and his eyes wide with surprise. it can't be... can it? is it really, truly hua cheng? a noise escapes him, something that sounds like a mixture of strangled laughter and crying, and before he can stop himself, he's moving toward hua cheng, all thought of attacking abandoned the moment he's realized, but he still has to know—]
Hua Cheng... are you really here or am I just imagining things?
little does he know, he's being watched, and no matter how much he feels like maybe he is, it doesn't dawn on sizhui that maybe – just maybe – it's someone he knows. mainly, he thinks it's just a strange feeling from letting himself wallow in the unfairness of not being able to talk to the people he's closest to about something that constantly bothers him. maybe he should just forget it? if only it were that easy, but the selfish part of him doesn't want to forget, not when he'd learned so much and met so many wonderful people . . .
he exhales a huff, shifts slightly and brings both his arms around, propping his knees up on his legs and resting his face in his hands. did this happen to anyone else who eventually went home from world-hopping? did they remember everything and have to suffer the same fate? he doesn't know because nobody he knows here was at the golden peacock, even though he did meet alternate universe versions of some of them. that doesn't mean they are the same and it makes sense that the people here wouldn't know what he's talking about.
both of his hands move back, gripping at the loose hair falling over his shoulders, his fingers twining through the strands and tugging slightly. he'd always been so ready to go home but now that he is back, he feels completely out of place, and it feels like nothing can fix that.
nothing, until he hears a voice.
immediately, sizhui leaps to his feet, preparing to brandish his sword, but as he turns toward the sound, it dawns on him that hey, that voice is. familiar? he pivots until he's facing the other man, eyebrows lifting and his eyes wide with surprise. it can't be... can it? is it really, truly hua cheng? a noise escapes him, something that sounds like a mixture of strangled laughter and crying, and before he can stop himself, he's moving toward hua cheng, all thought of attacking abandoned the moment he's realized, but he still has to know—]
Hua Cheng... are you really here or am I just imagining things?
Page 29 of 29