(no subject)

[emperorssmile]

It’s finished.

Comments

[shangba]

...wholly?

[emperorssmile]

I think so.

There were so many, Lan Zhan. I knew he tortured some people, but I didn’t think there would be so many.

[shangba]

You should not have been alone.

[emperorssmile]

Maybe. I’m a little tired, but nothing I can’t recover from.

[shangba]

Cleanse your energies.

[emperorssmile]

I will when I get back to my room.

You’ll be here tonight?

[shangba]

I shall, whatever the cost.

[emperorssmile]

I could use your presence. Let me know when you get close so I can guide you to our room.

I think I’ll take some time alone before I take Lan Liang home. I need to decompress.

[shangba]

You faced Jiang Wanyin?

[emperorssmile]

I saw him earlier, but not since I finished the work.

He was with me at first but had to leave after a while because of some political emergency or another. I wasn’t close enough to overhear when he was summoned.

[shangba]

You have yet to confront him.

[emperorssmile]

Not entirely. I confronted him some, but that was before the ghosts kept coming and coming.

I’m glad it’s finished. I’ll talk to Jiang Cheng more later.

[shangba]

Can you bear to?

[emperorssmile]

I might wait until tomorrow, but it needs to be done.

No, it would be better to get it over with. I’ll stop by the main hall to see if he’s there.

[shangba]

...Wei Ying. How are you?

[emperorssmile]

I don’t know.

I mean, I knew what I was getting myself involved with, but actually facing it is different.

All those people whose only crime was teaching themselves my methods. And Jiang Cheng hated me so much that he took that hatred and anger out on otherwise innocent ghost cultivators.

It’s a lot to take in.

[shangba]

He had his cruelty.

[emperorssmile]

If they deserved it, that would be one thing. But their only crime was following my lead.

[shangba]

They made their choices.

[emperorssmile]

And Jiang Cheng made his.

I’m not usually at a loss for words, but I don’t know what to say to him.

[shangba]

There are things unforgivable.

[emperorssmile]

If it weren’t for me, he wouldn’t have done those things.

I can’t blame him for hating me so much, but you’re right. I can’t just accept what he did, either.

[shangba]

Eat, my love. Replenish yourself.

[emperorssmile]

I’m not hungry.

Jiang Cheng’s not at the main hall and the servants don’t know where he went.

You win. I’ll try to eat something before I look for him.

[shangba]

You needn't, if you do not wish to.