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

[softheartedshizun]

Damaged meridians is an issue....

[ A grave one and suddenly he felt super self conscious about his own meridians and qi flow. ]

This master is not one of medicine, and can only offer rudimentary knowledge. It is not impossible to repair damaged meridians through cultuvation, but it will take someone with a lot of cultivation and time to assist in that.

[ For a small moment he thought of the fact this body should not have functioning meridians and that Luo Binghe must have gone through quite a lot of effort to repair them....

Better not to dwell on that though! ]

[fated_dance]

Aah. [ Agreement.

He hates talking about it too.

Not of medicine. Zishu doesn't allow himself the freedom to feel disappointed. Instead, he focuses on what is offered. Or seems to be offered. ]

Even rudimentary knowledge would be of help.

[softheartedshizun]

Then at least a basic examination will be needed.

[ He paused a moment. ]

And someone with a lot of qi, preferably one who has a golden core, or is near to one.

[fated_dance]

[ His expression remains frozen, but there's a rather telling look to the side, to where Kexing is. ]

If that is what is required, then I will allow it.

[ For Kexing...he'll do anything. He looks back to Shizun. ]

I'm not worried about that. [ He figures Kexing has enough qi for this. ]

[softheartedshizun]

You're not...?

[ He was! He most definitely was! In fact, hadn't it been a little too long already? Were his organs already starting to rot!? Had he ever quite gone this long without fixing the problem?

Now that he thought about he... he definitely should have been trying to find a solution sooner than this....

He didn't want to ask for help from strangers though! ]

Then this master would like to meet them....

[fated_dance]

[ Zishu raises a bit of a brow. ]

...Wen Kexing. He is stronger than one might think.

[ Plus he trusts his soulmate, which he feels is just as important as having a large well of qi. ]

[softheartedshizun]

[ Shen Qingqiu would argue that trusting someone does not make them more capable than they are physically able to. ]

This one doubts... but perhaps looking into the others of our merry band will find a qualified candidate....

[ Perhaps he should have explained that this was for him to be able to preform the examination. ]

[fated_dance]

[ His eyes narrow a little before he drops his gaze as he thinks, holding his silence as he wrestles with himself.

But in the end, this is for Kexing. And if this immortal master doesn't feel Kexing has enough qi... ]

Ah. So be it. Bring who you feel is needed.

[softheartedshizun]

The person best fit for this job isn't here. A substitute will be difficult.

Probably should have looked into it sooner....

It should be fine though, as they have enough qi to push.

[fated_dance]

I have time, unless this place decides otherwise. [ And he and Wen Kexing's skills aren't enough, of course. ]

I leave it to your expertise.

[softheartedshizun]

It is good that you have time.

...

This master may not have as much....

...........

[fated_dance]

[ Stunned silence meets that, lingering for a long moment. ]

Is the method to heal me perhaps the same as it would be to heal you?

[softheartedshizun]

No. This master is simply suffering a chronic condition that requires a little persuasion now and again. Though perhaps similar on the surface, most likely different.

[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.

[softheartedshizun]

Yes, yes, this master is not without urgency.