Video | un: a jug of wine amidst the flowers

[wenderer]

[ A man with long dark hair, dressed in green silk robes, is lazily fanning himself and smiling, as he lounges by a campfire. He’s singing along with a group of children seated next to him:

Stitch by stitch,
The love of a witch
Will unravel

Dusk to dawn
Each morning to mourn
With blood and gravel

He lifts his hand, stopping them. ]

I think I’ve learned it now, I’ll teach you all a verse also, come listen.

[ He clears his throat, and in a formal style, speaks as if he were reciting before a large audience. As he does so, the man’s eyes drift away to something just out of view. ]

When mountain peaks wear away, when all the rivers run dry
When thunderstorms rumble in winter, and snow falls from the summer sky
When heaven and earth seal back together, only then will I dare to—

[ A hand abruptly darts out from off camera, obscuring the scene for a moment. When it draws away, the stone has been forcibly moved, revealing the face of another man. ]

That’s not why we’re here. We’ve found out a few things about Lord Arha. If the song these children have been singing is true, this ghost army isn’t trying to rescue anyone, it’s out for revenge.

[ The first man scoots back into the scene, sitting right next to and parking his chin on the second man’s shoulder. ]

Ah-Xu, the man was betrayed!

[ He clicks his tongue, shaking his head sadly.]

He went to rescue his lady, but she joined hands with her enemies instead. The whole army was slaughtered!

[ "Ah-Xu," with a slightly frozen smile, says through his teeth: ]

Keep it down.

[ The undead army is clearly changing its guard in the background. More softly, the first man says, leaning towards the stone: ]

I’ve met some people who say they know how to deal with ghosts. Kindly share your knowledge, I have a feeling we’re all going to need it.

[ Meanwhile, the children have started softly singing again:

Love, her love
Hatisse’s sweet dove
Arha fell last

Vowed to return
His lady to scorn
And spit on their past

With strike of sword
The love of a lord
Will unravel

Dawn to dusk
His memory a husk
Each year he will travel.


ooc: replies from Wen Kexing wenderer and/or Zhou Zishu fated_dance ]

Comments

[wenderer]

What exam, what does it entail?

[ It better not be too ridiculous! ]

[softheartedshizun]

Selflessness! To suffer for the greater good of all!

[ Or something! Shut up brat! ]

To not think of personal gain. Who says this one only knows suffering?

[softheartedshizun]

Checking the qi flow and internal medicine.

[wenderer]

That selflessness, is it truly for the greater good? Is that suffering truly because you only think of others? The people who depend on you, do you think it makes them happy to see you suffer?

Or is this so-called selflessness mainly just for vanity?

[wenderer]

Oh.

[ Well, that seems reasonable enough. ]

Zhou Zishu.

[ Since the man wants names, he'll oblige. ]

That's the one you'll be testing.

[fated_dance]

[ Time and again he'd walked away. Tried so hard to push this man away. The fact he'd tried so hard so dying wouldn't upset this precious man further.

The fact he regrets it now doesn't matter. The fact he has a reason to live, to seek healing, doesn't matter.

All he can do now is what he should have before - so when Kexing stands before he can answer, explaining he's going to get them some food...

Zishu pushes himself to his feet and follows silently after him. ]

[scrapgege]

Hmmm, I arrived on the ship, so not right at the beginning, there were other people who arrived before, but pretty close to it?

I haven't see anyone I know so far, no.

[softheartedshizun]

[ He noded. Good to have names.

Did he offer anything else? No. Was it because he forgot to speak further? Perhaps. Hard to say, either way, he didn't give much away as to what he was thinking of now. ]

[softheartedshizun]

Who said they see me suffer? They're fine! What matters is they are safe, and this master has things under control.

What vanity? Only a lone wanderer would think like that.

[wenderer]

I see.

[ All alone in this place... he doesn't want to think about it. If he were here on his own without Ah Xu, how long could he cling to his own sanity. ]

You should come drink with us!

[wenderer]

[ The man's lack of a response is annoying, to be honest. But this Shen Qingqiu can do what he claims... he'll hold his tongue and suffer this fool. ]

Well, if there's nothing else, I'll tell you goodbye for now.

[wenderer]

[ ... ]

Pfff! An idiot through and through.

[ The "lone wanderer" bit stings, but he honestly can't argue with it. ]

[softheartedshizun]

I will give word when we can proceed then.

[softheartedshizun]

Hmph.

[ He would rather be a righteous 'idiot' than a genius monster. ]

[scrapgege]

Ah, thank you, but I don't usually drink a whole lot. Plus, if we need to fight later, I should have a clear mind.

[thesuspense]

What else would I use to measure others?

[That proverb misses the point of actually teaching its lesson. Sounds like a good approach to him, in all honesty.]

I do good by myself. [Or so he thinks.] What's the point of what you do?

[fated_dance]

Shouldn't those who do good do so?

[fated_dance]

[ One could argue the same is true for him, except he has a time limit attached to his. But he chooses not to bring that up. ]

Then more haste seems the answer.

[fated_dance]

[ He's listening to Kexing speaking with others, as well as this man, while he thinks. ]

Lao Wen can be hasty. We should have the distraction in place as you suggest.

[ Another pause, this one shorter. ]

I might be able to help with one of the ghost armies, they seem to like me.

[softheartedshizun]

Yes, yes, this master is not without urgency.

[weifinder]

Oh?

( curious, he's so curious hearing this. )

Then please, do make use of your help in turning their attentions. Of the two, which is the one that seems enamoured of you?

[wenderer]

Of what I do? Of course, it's enduring that justice is done.

[ There's a delicate emphasis on the word "justice," and a hard smile. ]

Only then can one be at peace with oneself.

[wenderer]

Well... you can drink water. The important thing is being in good company!

so late, sorry, feel free to drop, unexpected hiatus and all

[thesuspense]

Justice, as if anything in this world is just.

[The eyeroll, in a way, is audible in his voice.]

Why would you care so much about being at peace with yourself? Move on, let go, find something new to worry about. You probably worry about what others think. Or someone thinks.