ic inbox, ryslig.

[daozhangs]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, XIAO.XINGCHEN. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 018.07.154.55 *** XIAO.XINGCHEN has joined 018.07.154.55 <XIAO.XINGCHEN> You have reached Xiao Xingchen. <XIAO.XINGCHEN> I am often away from my laptop, but I will do my best to answer as soon as I'm able.

Comments

[daozhangs]

( the one who upholds the law cares nothing for it, how terribly familiar that is. one more echo from their world which seems to have followed them here - or perhaps such a thing is just the way of any given world, no matter what else may be different.

he processes all of this for a minute, half-forms a few replies but ultimately xingchen recognizes that he has far too little perspective just yet to properly weigh in on any of what he's hearing.

instead, )

You mentioned you were afraid of the Fog God's real purpose.

( is such a thing known? does jiang wanyin have a theory? he leaves the probing statement without a proper question, a clear request for whichever elaboration feels most pertinent. )

[legbreakings]

[ He hadn't expected much insight of his own yet, honestly, a lot of this is simply Jiang Cheng being grateful to ramble at someone and share his thoughts, especially someone from his own world. ]

I don't think it's as easy as sadistic amusement. Her power already extends to other worlds enough to snatch people from there, what if it grows further? This could become our problem at home if we don't find a way to solve it here.

[daozhangs]

( and xingchen, of all the people he might have encountered, is likely one of the better cultivators to ramble at. how fortunate. )

Perhaps this is a silly question, but have we disconfirmed any ties between the Fog God and the Yin Iron?

[legbreakings]

We have not. And it's not a silly question. It's just one I have tried not to think about.

I have no answer. But we should investigate it.

[daozhangs]

I agree. By my understanding, we have no true knowledge of the Yin Iron's origin. Evidence of such a thing in this world would speak of a deeper influence of the Fog God on our own world than we previously understood.

[legbreakings]

It would. There are some similiarities but I can't even begin to guess whether these are coincidences or not.

I hear it is possible to speak to the gods. Maybe I will try to meet the Fog God.

[daozhangs]

Is that not dangerous?

( what with jiang wanyin's open dissatisfaction with the fog god and the situation. )

[legbreakings]

It may provide us with some answers.

[daozhangs]

I'd like to come.

[legbreakings]

Of course. Together, we may be able to get some answers.

I don't know when, or if it's possible at all. But if it is, I feel this way to get answers can't be ignored.

[ Not that he expects the Fog God to answer any of his questions. But maybe they will be able to feel out some answers anyway. ]

[daozhangs]

( xingchen's not sure why he anticipated resistance, but he receives precisely none of it and that's inexplicably heartening, more so than he might easily admit. )

It seems to be the best plan we have, at the moment. Once you're done with your traveling and rocks have seen fit to stop falling from our skies.

[legbreakings]

Of course. I will try to learn as much as I can about the Fog God during my travels, too. I keep hoping the locals would have answers the monsters are missing, even if they are reluctant to share their knowledge with outsiders.

[ Which, fair enough, he can respect that. It's just terribly inconvenient right now. ]

[daozhangs]

Perhaps I might make my own attempt, down the line. Assuming I'm still capable of appearing benign once this month is through.

( he hasn't the foggiest guess what manner of beast he'll become, after all. some of them seem quite gruesome, while others seem... at least somewhat less so. )

[legbreakings]

I hope so for you. Appearing human makes it not only easier to interact with humans but also safer. The people here have good reason to hate and fear us.

[daozhangs]

( after a bit of deliberation, )

Do you still appear human?

( it's no more than anyone with eyes might know at a passing glance, which is perhaps the only reason he presumes to ask. he could also argue, if pressed, that it's only practical that he know - if only to be able to know how they might be received, should they ever travel together. )

[legbreakings]

[ Oh.

Oh.

It hits him that Xiao Xingchen wouldn't have seen, he wouldn't have experienced it that first day as he did... ]

Yes. For now. Well. As long as I'm
fully clothed.

[daozhangs]

( it's true - xingchen has experienced precisely none of the monstrosity so far. he has literally just been taking jiang wanyin (and various others) on their word that such a thing is occurring around him.

now that he has his answer, he's not sure whether to say 'how fortunate, then' or something more apologetic. he settles on, )

I see.

Thank you, my friend, for indulging the question. If there's anything you'd care to ask in return, it's only fair that I allow it.

( because there have been times, he thinks - pauses, both in their initial meeting and in these conversations since - in which various questions have gone unasked. some of those questions were xingchen's, but not all. )

[legbreakings]

I have many questions. But they are either not my place to ask or this is not the right time.

[ More like, he isn't sure Xiao Xingchen is ready to handle them on top of everything else. ]

[daozhangs]

It wasn't my place to ask what I did. I won't force you to ask what's on your mind, but please know that you won't offend me if you do.

[legbreakings]

My nephew told me about what happened in Yi City.

[daozhangs]

Of course.

What is it that you'd like to ask me?

[legbreakings]

I don't even know where to begin.

What I need to know most is, did you turn away from the righteous path? I heard the rumors.

[daozhangs]

I've not heard the rumors you speak of, so I can't confirm or deny their truth.

But I did part from the righteous path.

( he wouldn't call it turning away. it wasn't as if he turned and walked the other way, off down some winding road to hell. he simply (stupidly, naively, irresponsibly) lapsed in the most basic of vigilance, and in doing so he cut short far too many undeserving lives. )

[legbreakings]

You have killed.

[ And not in the way all cultivators kill when they go to war or dispense justice. ]

[daozhangs]

I have.