Zhen Lixin walked down the paths that were paved with white stones, lined with tall trees, their delicate branches swaying elegantly in the soft breeze. Zhen Lixin was clad in white robes, accented in blue, his long hair put up in a half ponytail and swinging with each of his calm, measured steps. He was walking randomly with Shu Ming on his side, giving nods and polite smiles to whoever he met while walking, although he didn't know any of them. He would ask the voice in his head about them and it would give him a brief explanation of their characters. By now, he had almost gotten used to the voice, though his doubts remained. "So, Lixin-xiong," Shu Ming spoke up after passing another Xian, turning to face Zhen Lixin. "You don't remember anything at all?"
Zhen Lixin's head lowered as he immersed himself in thought. "I fear so," he said, lifting his head and glancing at Shu Ming.
"Sad," Shu Ming commented, turning away from him. Zhen Lixin remained mute, and after a few second's silence, he spoke up.
"Shu Ming, what was I like?" he asked, his gaze firmly set on Shu Ming, who turned to face him with a slightly surprised expression.Shu Ming studied Zhen Lixin's expression, a brief chuckle escaping him as his gaze moved ahead. "Not much different than you are now, I'd say," he said."What do you mean by that?" Zhen Lixin asked, leaning in slightly closer to Shu Ming.
"Well," Shu Ming began. "You were always a composed and quiet person."Zhen Lixin's curious expression dropped and he averted his gaze from Shu Ming as he muttered, "Sounds rather dull.""I've always found you interesting, though!" Shu Ming said with a grin, his sparkly eyes staring into Zhen Lixin as they walked.Zhen Lixin blinked twice. He forced a grin, his gaze darting away as he said, "It's apparent."However, Shu Ming seemed to be delighted by his response as his lips curved up in a smile. Zhen Lixin focused back on the path ahead, when he noticed a male Xian approaching him. He wasn't just casually walking towards him and Shu Ming. His eyebrows were furrowed in concern, his long, black hair tied into a ponytail and swaying as he rushed. Zhen Lixin and Shu Ming stopped in their step, and before they could react, he had already reached them."My Lord!" He exclaimed, panting, his eyes locked onto Zhen Lixin's. "My Lord, are you alright? I came as soon as I heard you woke up."Zhen Lixin ran his gaze over the stranger before averting it to Shu Ming, who explained his condition to the stranger as if cued by Zhen Lixin's glance. Zhen Lixin took the moment to seek the voice's assistance."Who is he?" He asked, his lips not moving as he held a faint smile directed towards the stranger, who was listening to Shu Ming with concern."Qian Fen, the young Xian who happened to attack you," The voice replied, and Zhen Lixin's expression subconsciously changed to show his realization.Out of nowhere, Qian Fen suddenly fell to his knees in front of Zhen Lixin, making both him and Shu Ming surprised. Zhen Lixin jumped and stumbled a step back, and Qian Fen began to thumping his head against the stone-paved ground."Please, forgive me," he pleaded. "I've caused you so much trouble and now my lord is ill because of me."Zhen Lixin looked around hastily and caught the sight of those near them staring. "Goodness, what is he doing!" He thought and swiftly knelt, grasping Qian Fen's elbows, and gently tried to help him stand."Please," he spoke softly as Qian Fen stood up. "Don't blame yourself." Qian Fen lifted his head to look at Zhen Lixin, and a tear streamed down his cheeks."He's crying?!""But," Qian Fen began. "If I had been a little more careful, this wouldn't have happened."Lost between the options of what he was supposed to do, Zhen Lixin cleared his throat and patted Qian Fen's shoulder, saying, "It's alright, believe me. Uh, what might your name be?"Qian Fen bit his lower lip as if trying to hide in his sobs, panicking Zhen Lixin. "Qian Fen, my lord..." Qian Fen finally muttered in a low voice as he lowered his head. Zhen Lixin nodded before asking, "I don't think I got it clearly. What exactly happened to me?"Qian Fen stole a brief glance at Shu Ming and said, "Just down this cliff," he turned around and pointed at far ahead of the path. "I was practicing and... my lord fell from above. I got panicked and attacked you, thinking you were a threat..." he said, turning back to face Zhen Lixin, his gaze running away."I fell from above?" Zhen Lixin asked with raised eyebrows. Though the words actually left his lips, it was more like monologue.Qian Fen nodded, and Shu Ming spoke for the first time since Qian Fen's approach. "Maybe Lixin-xiong was descending the mountains," he said as he turned to Zhen Lixin.Zhen Lixin's hand subconsciously reached his chin as he gave it a thought and asked, "Do you know who I was with the last time?""With the Emperor, Zhou Li," Shu Ming responded with a nod, and Zhen Lixin's eyebrows raised up high."The Emperor?" he asked, lowering his hand, just to clarify he had heard right, and Shu Ming nodded. "I wonder why..." he muttered."Maybe," Qian Fen spoke, "you can ask his majesty himself. He has descended the realm for the moment, but he is said to come back soon.""Is his majesty aware of my... illness?" Zhen Lixin asked, and Shu Ming answered him."Most probably, yes. Lixin-xiong, you'll have to visit him once he's back," he said."Yes, I figured as much," Zhen Lixin said, turning away from them, and swiftly turned back to them again. "Shu Ming," he said. "I wish to have some alone time, if that's fine with you.""Of course, Lixin-xiong," Shu Ming hastily replied, taking a step back from him.Zhen Lixin offered him a dry smile and bowed slightly, then turned to Qian Fen and nodded. Shu Ming returned the gesture with a warm smile, though Qian Fen literally fell back on his knees before Zhen Lixin.Stumbling back, Zhen Lixin's gaze ran away in embarrassment as he muttered, "Please, stand up..."Qian Fen began to mumble more apologies and whatnot as Zhen Lixin turned away from them without a further moment's waste. He walked away from them aimlessly down a path made of smooth white stones. The gentle breeze caressed his hair, his eyes set on the far away sea of clouds that surrounded the landscape."Are you still there?" Zhen Lixin asked himself, his lips not moving."I am," surely enough, as he'd expected, the voice confirmed.Zhen Lixin sighed and stared at the path ahead, thinking, "Who exactly are you?""I've already explained myself to the limit I wish to."Zhen Lixin subconsciously clicked his tongue. "Do you at least have a name?""No," the voice replied shortly."Fine, then, I'll give you one," he thought, and the voice remained mute. "Ling Hun," he said again, his lips curved up into a smile."Flat taste," the voice-- no, Ling Hun-- commented."Shut it, will you?" Zhen Lixin snapped in his mind. "Be grateful I even gave you a name, not to mention a space in my mind."Ling Hun remained silent for a while, and Zhen Lixin suddenly began to feel-- what? Did he miss the company? However, Ling Hun spoke after a few seconds. "Why didn't you complain about me to the healer?" She asked."Hmm..." Zhen Lixin's hand went to his chin again. "So far you haven't done me any harm. Having you in my head has its perks.""And disadvantages, as well," Ling Hun added.Zhen Lixin's thin lips curved up into a smile as he tucked his hands behind his back. "I have bigger things to worry about right now," he said to Ling Hun."Bigger concerns than the voice in your head?" Ling Hun asked, and for the first time, Zhen Lixin noticed a tone other than emotionlessness in her voice-- even though that tone was sarcasm, he felt somewhat delighted."Yes? I don't even know anything about this place, these people, or even myself.""I would've gotten rid of the voice in my head first.""Not if the voice is helping you," Zhen Lixin thought, unable to hide the playful smirk in his face. "Now, for the sake of living in my head, tell me about this world."Ling Hun remained silent for a while before saying, "You might want to have a seat for this.""Oh?" Zhen Lixin stopped in his step. "It's going to be long?""A little," Ling Hun replied. Zhen Lixin turned his head to look around and left the paved path for a grassy area. He walked over to a huge tree and sat beneath its shade after glancing around. Crossing his legs and closing his eyes, he muttered out loud, "Alright."Ling Hun stood silent for a while before beginning her story as Zhen Lixin waited patiently.