[Video; UN: heavenly four seasons]

[eternallywandering]

Is anyone missing home? I didn't think I would. Oh I miss parts, of course, but on the whole, I wasn't happy there.

[Or so he tells himself. He had almost been content before his silly soulmate "died". That had soured everything.]

I take it those of us who are weak will be about as welcome on land as we were on water. If you would feel safer, I can give you a disguise. I just need a few materials.

[He is seriously considering just going for that...beggar...look. Standing out is a problem for many reasons. He would rather pretend he is drunk than chronically dying.]

Comments

voice; un: owl lady

[traaaaaash]

I have people to get back to, so yeah, I miss it. [ She laughs curtly. ] Never thought I'd miss that creepy place this much, but what do you know.

And hey, if anyone tries stuff, hit me up and I'll give 'em a whack.

voice

[eternallywandering]

I hope you get back to them, Lady. [Feeling helpless is getting old.] Tell me about it. I thought this place would be...better. Somehow. I guess in some ways, it has been. I wouldn't have met everyone otherwise.

[He chuckles weakly.] Thank you.

[traaaaaash]

Geez, what's your homeworld like?

[eternallywandering]

I made a lot of poor decisions. My fate was deserved.

[traaaaaash]

Okay, you know what, I'm not even gonna ask.

[eternallywandering]

You are better off that way. I promise I'm not completely depressing.

[traaaaaash]

Yeah? What's your non-depressing side then?

[eternallywandering]

You seem like the sort that would use it against me.

[traaaaaash]

Me? Never!

... yeah, I totally would.

[eternallywandering]

I can't blame you. I might do the same depending on the situation.

[traaaaaash]

See, you get me!

[eternallywandering]

What's life without a bit of fun?

un: daozhang | audio;

[binghua]

I miss certain people more than the world itself.

audio;

[eternallywandering]

Can you tell me about them?

[binghua]

[Almost immediately there is a fondness in his voice.]

There is a girl in my care, A-Qing. She is clever and fierce and lively. If she had been born into a family of any affluence, and if she were not also blind, I have no doubt she could grow up to be anything she wished.

[eternallywandering]

[He hears that note and smiles; he had hoped this would help his friend.]

Under your guidance, she can be anything she wishes. I have no doubt about that! And blindness can be a strength if you train your other senses.

[binghua]

I'm afraid it would depend more on her own dedication than my guidance. Blind people like us, among other factors, are hardly given a second glance, let alone taken seriously. If anyone can do it, though, it's her. I believe that.

[eternallywandering]

Beggars are ignored too. I spent a fair bit of time roaming the streets with only a jug of wine to my name. People talked around me as if I wasn't there.

[binghua]

Unless you offer some service to society, you aren't regarded as human.

[Said matter-of-factly, no real bitterness or sadness in his voice. While he's never begged, he still understands.]

Did you turn to begging by choice or out of necessity, if I may ask?

[eternallywandering]

I left my sect and I knew I wouldn't live long. So I disguised myself and spent my days out in the open, going where I wished. I never had that freedom before.

[And then Kexing had found him.]

[binghua]

Despite everything, there really is a freedom to wandering, isn't there.

[A little quieter.]

I miss that, too.

[eternallywandering]

You like to wander, Daozhang?

[Zishu has places he loves, but traveling is freeing. He isn't a caged bird on the road.]

Let's go somewhere nice the moment we can.

[binghua]

It's what I did as a rogue cultivator. Traveling the world, helping solve problems the big sects ignored or in areas out of anyone's jurisdictions. I loved it.

[He loved traveling with someone else, too, but...]

Let's. We can create our own cripple adventures together.

[eternallywandering]

It does sound nice. I would have spoiled you at the Four Seasons Manor. You might have found it difficult to leave.

[Who can resist taking in a cute cultivator with a heart of gold?]

I'm ready.

[binghua]

Hmm, that depends. How would you have spoiled me?

[Truthfully, Xingchen probably would have liked to visit that sect, if only because of Zhou Zishu's presence. Just because he was a wanderer doesn't mean he didn't need to take a break sometimes.]

I put our adventuring into your capable hands.

[eternallywandering]

Good food, good company, comfortable quarters, lots of flowers and a waterfall. Does any of that appeal to you?

[He can't hold back a smile. The Four Seasons is a beautiful place - even for the blind.]

Let me investigate this new land. I won't put you in danger because of ignorance.

[binghua]

Good company and good nature would be more than enough. I suppose I really would have a hard time leaving. Are all the seasons there as beautiful as the name suggests?

[He makes a little noise out of concern.]

And who will keep you out of trouble?

[eternallywandering]

Yes. Each season is perfect and there are always flowers in bloom. The Four Seasons is never colorless.

[They build snowmen in the Winter and burn merry fires.]

I must do that myself. Somehow.

[binghua]

[It is fruitless for Xingchen to encourage more of this fantasy. He'll never be able to go to Zhou Zishu's home, the same that Zhou Zishu will never be able to see Xingchen's. But it really does sound wonderful. He can't help but let himself fall deeper into the image his mind paints.]

A waterfall, flowers...there must be quite a number of birds and animals, too. I can almost hear them. I can almost smell it all.

[And then he clucks his tongue.]

Nonsense. I will go with you. I need to get a feel of this city, anyway.

[eternallywandering]

[Who knows? The magic of this land is strange and powerful. Xingchen might be able to visit his world even if he can never stay there. And if that happens, Zishu will happily accompany him. He is the last of his sect besides his young disciple.]

There are. The fish and the birds are bright as jewels. We have foxes, rabbits and deer too. They don't know any fear since we choose not to hunt them.

[He chuckles, pleased.]

I couldn't ask for better company.

[binghua]

Oh...I always did like foxes in particular.

[Memories of a younger Xingchen sneaking out of bed early to catch a shock of red against the green treeline come back strongly. Some of the memories he holds dearest, despite them not meaning much in the grand scheme of life. He wonders now if the foxes at Four Seasons Manor would approach the disciples, if one could reach out and pet them, if they'd feel just as soft as Wei Wuxian had when he had been a fox back in Ke-Waihu.

It's almost too much and if he thinks more on this, he's afraid he'll burst into a very undignified shriek of delight at just the thought.]

We will have an adventure before our adventure.

[eternallywandering]

Foxes, hm? I like them too. [How sweet! For Xingchen, he would find a friendly fox and lure them into the manor with treats. Or maybe he could build a den and hope a mother fox finds it suitable for her and her kits? Then he could spend a season gaining their trust, teaching the babies that touch from a human isn't dangerous. Then he could place more than one fox in Xingchen's lap!]

I'm afraid that's very likely. It is nice to be alive again. [Sort of.]