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Greetings sleepers!

[A soft warm voice belonging to a youthful face with a gentle smile appears on the network. With two fingers lightly placed on his temple, sitting on a tree stump looking just off center. His long white robes flow off camera, hiding the dirty bottom edges from sight. ] My name is Xie Lian. I've been here for the greater part of the winter season, and it's been quite [tilting his head and raising a single brow] the experience. [Managing a small wry smile at the loaded statement. ] But I'm afraid I'm still at a loss about a few things, and could use some clarification on two matters.

[With his free hand, he raises one finger up.] First off, how does one know who their patron is exactly? And what purpose do these patrons serve, or rather what purpose do we serve the patrons? [Quiet for a moment, mulling the thought over in his own mind before continuing. Another finger pops up. ]

And the second question is more general. [Honey brown eyes flash directly forward with an inquisitive gleam.] What do you all make of the pthumerians? Honestly I'm still trying to figure out my own thoughts, but getting different perspectives seems like a good place to start.

[OOC: I can adjust to prose or brackets!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ A lot has happened to He Xuan these last couple of months, but this is the first time he's been downright astonished. Xie Lian? No shit, this place really did let in anyone.

He genuinely considers using the "Anonymous" feature that he was taught about in his last post, or even just changing his face to answer the questions seriously. He's been feeling a little vulnerable since a confrontation a week ago didn't go his way. But instead he just takes the time to make sure he looks decent, hair up and robes clean, though in his dark cave even his pale skin is hard to see clearly on the camera piloted by his skeletal Arowana. His affect is flat, as always. ]

Mariana is powerful. After all, she can even bring forth a god to this place.

[ Trust He Xuan to have respect for the ocean - and nobody else, though he doesn't directly say so. ]

[Considering Qi Rong washed up about a month ago, he'd almost agree with that statement, except for the fact that the encounter was brief. Thank the heavens for small blessings because his own mental well being was at serious risk. It seems even the Trench has a return policy.

The dark feed has Xie Lian very curious, leaning forward with a fist pressed against his lips with narrowed eyes, trying to get a better look at who or what is answering him. This only lasts for a second before everything becomes chillingly clear. That username and familiar spiritless voice. When did he get here? Having just learned the ropes of some of the marvels of modern technology, he hadn't bothered to engage with the network and missed out on the age post. But after finding out how similar it is to the communication array, he decided it was time to give it a go.

Conflicting feelings and images fill Xie Lian's mind upon hearing He Xuan's voice. Taking a moment to compartmentalize and focus on the subject at hand, particularly on the public platform, would serve him best.]

It would seem she has no lack of talent for bringing ghosts of the past back. [One good turn deserves another, right? Stated very bluntly before his tone shifts just ever so slightly back towards his curiosity.] But I often wonder is it she who actually has the ability to do such feats, or is it the pull of something even stronger?

She is the ocean that reincarnated us and guided us to shore, Highness.

[ Of course the reincarnation itself, or transmigration as Shen Yuan called it, feels like a natural force, but so is the ocean. For all Shi Wudu's power, He Xuan had known better than most that simple gods can affect the tides and the waves but those forces will continue with or without them. Mariana is the ocean, a greater and baser power.

The other Pthumerians are irrelevant to him; just because they style themselves as patrons, doesn't make them more than powerful beings similar to Michael, Paimon, or even Xie Lian here. But he has deep and pious respect for Trench's black waves. ]

When'd you show up, anyway.

[ ...
Reincarnate, that can't be right- gods were not suppose to be able to enter back into the cycle. While believing nothing is impossible, he decides to take this new information and pack it away for another time. Denial runs deep with this one. ]

The beginning of winter [ tilting his hand side to side ] about 3 months give or take. How long have you been here?

[ This whole time? He's been here this whole time?? He Xuan lets out a long, tired exhale. ]

Eight weeks. Feels longer.

[ Probably because he's been more social in those eight weeks than in the past few centuries - puppeting didn't count. And he's weakened, had to work for shit.

And then a black dread strikes a low toll deep in his soul, though he tries to keep himself sounding neutral as usual: ]

That other guy, Crimson Rain, he here too?

[ Please, he had enough trouble with the casino last week, he doesn't want to be in debt again. ]

[ There it is. Savage as ever. The mention of his name is enough to tie his stomach into knots and send his heart sinking into his stomach. Swallowing and choosing his next words carefully so as to not show any signs of inward distress outwardly: ]

No one else seems to be here. But I did see Qi-Night Touring Green Lantern about a month ago. [ Yeah change the subject, that'll do it. ] Though, I'm almost positive he's not here anymore.

[ This gets an unexpected laugh: ]

Yeah, he got fucked up by some plants.

[ Delightful. Hope that green loudmouth never comes back. (He Xuan has not forgiven him for the imitation via cannibalism.) Though also the absence of Hua Cheng makes his heart a little lighter. Though... he'll still have to look out for his Highness in case the guy ever does show up. ]

There's mortal cultivators here, too. But nobody I knew.

[His head quirks to the side but it's unclear if this reaction is from hearing He Xuan's laugh or the incredulous news.]

Plants? [His tone falling as flat as a flounder. Shaking his head back and forth with a hand placed on his temple.] It doesn't really surprise me it's just... [embarrassing.] There's really no teaching that one common sense. [Talking about Qi Rong always left him with a bit of a headache but the mention of more cultivators in the Trench drowns out those thoughts and piques his interest.]

I believe I ran into one when I first got here, but I haven't had the chance to have a proper conversation since then. It makes me wonder what other paths of cultivation they choose to follow, and just how many of them are here.

Four mortal daoists, though one's a bit of a unique situation.

[ But it's embarrassing to talk about Shen Yuan so he doesn't, just moves right along. ]

Couple of Japanese exorcists, too. A martial arts dojo for kids. Handful of other immortals from other places.

[ The demons and ghosts of different cultures fascinate him - but mostly this tally is indicative of his spymaster tendency for information gathering and threat maintenance. ]

[His brows raise, impressed by the breakdown.] It appears you've been busy at work. I didn't take you for the social type. [A small jest but he's sincerely curious ~~and downright nosey. ]~~ And you said one was an exception? You either are a daoist or you're not, so how can thay be?

[ Turns out if you puppet half a dozen officials of the Heavenly Court you have to be pretty good at socializing even when you don't want to. Still, he doesn't acknowledge the backhanded compliment with more than a low neutral noise.

Instead he tries to describe Shen Yuan's situation without letting a single emotion show on his face: ]

Ah, that guy. He's a transmigrator. Born into a futuristic society like most of the people here, died and reincarnated into the body of a cultivator from his past. But he remembers his first life. So he's a sect leader who doesn't really care about cultivation or purity. The world really is home to all sorts.

[ Despite everything, some fondness starts to creep in at the end there - he could easily talk about Yuan-di for hours. ]

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