[Video; UN: gentlebreeze]

[gentledawn]

[Xingchen presents himself as neatly as he is able, his appearance immaculate right down to his horsetail whisk. Said whisk rests on his lap, his hands toying with it nervously.]

Greetings, fellow travelers. I am Xiao Xingchen. [He gives a small bow at the waist before straightening with a soft smile.] I am a Cultivator who is unaffiliated with any sect. For those who do not recognize the title, a Cultivator is one who can combat, silence or exorcise ghosts, demons or other monstrosities.

[Here, he pauses.]

I have heard that demons are present in our number. I mean you no harm as long as you remain peaceful.

Comments

Video

[gentledawn]

[Does he belong to a criminal?]

Only the one I call home. [He's...known?] Did we meet somewhere else?

[itsmypower]

[It's not the criminal he's met.]

I only know I've recalled your name, somehow. "Xiao Xingchen", but just that. Someone important for a friend of mine.

[Because he'd searched for him.] His name's Xue Yang.

[gentledawn]

[...oh? Xingchen doesn't know Xue Yang any other way. Yet.]

What is the name of your friend?

[His world lurches and he tenses immediately.]

Is he present?

[itsmypower]

Xue Yang? ...No. I'm not even sure I've found the right you.

[But the least he could do was look!]

[gentledawn]

[He is obviously relieved.]

I'm not sure what you mean. I have only recently captured him.

[itsmypower]

[But why?]

What do you mean you "captured him"? What did he do?

[gentledawn]

Many horrible deeds. I suspect the other sects will see to his execution.

[Killing a whole sect is a problem.]

[MHA Spoilers]

[itsmypower]

[Many horrible deeds. He can't be right.]

He didn't- I mean, can't they reconsider? The man I met wasn't anything like that. He only talked about finding you the last time. Like you were friends, or something like that.

[Xue Yang—at his worst—seemed odd.]

Does he really have to die?

[Pure bias, when one has a murderer in the family.]

[gentledawn]

He slaughtered an entire sect. [Xingchen has no idea why, but the why hardly matters.] If he isn't stopped, more will die. My partner and I have been chasing him for weeks.

[itsmypower]

[He really was like Toya, after all.]

You weren't wrong to do what you did, then. I never knew, but I didn't ask either, since nothing's mattered beyond the future.

[But how could this happen twice?]

I don't blame you for turning him in, in this case. But I can't say I don't want him to live. I think the man I met is different, somehow.

[gentledawn]

[For someone to care about Xue Yang - and for the man to be so open with them - that... Something big happened. Xingchen just isn't sure what.]

Then I look forward to see how he changes. I don't hate him; I wish he chose peace instead of violence.