✥; Golden Little Bird.

' If only fate had been more kind to you, child. '

[forgottengoldfeathers-a]

[ I’m moving jinyu to a main blog. Same url. @forgottengoldfeathers ]

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[ late night iconing will resume later but I will finally have my own icons instead of relying on my friend’s icons only-- ]

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sesshosekis‌: 

Tamamo was too furious - and too heavily sealed - to talk. Even if he could he most certainly didn’t want to. Gold eyes widen as the human draws close and he bares his fangs further in warning.

He didn’t want anyone with that cultivational energy near him! He’d tear that core from their being and eat it right up if he could!

I won’t let you take me without a fight! The fox snarls to himself as both his tail and hackles bristle and he snaps at Jinyu’s outstretched hand. Even if this human looked curious who knew if he’d simply see fit to put the wounded fox out of his misery?

With a heavy growl he snaps a second time, this time catching part of Jinyu’s sleeve in his teeth.

Kill me and I’ll curse you for generations!! 

He paused his movement once he noticed how agitated the fox was, an eyebrow slowly raising. Ah, did he startle it? He didn’t mean to but he believed that it was best if he didn’t try to move too hastily. Keeping his hand extended out, he waited, watching the animal for the moment- that is until it caught part of his sleeve in its jaws.

“I just want to help.” He spoke slowly- and softly, hoping that it would help soothe the other, but Wen Jinyu was well aware that there was high chances that it wouldn’t work at all. “I’ll leave as soon as you’re all patched up, too.”

If someone else saw him, they would call him out on being too soft- for that he would be willing to get injured if it meant helping someone or something out. A tiny gentle smile was still upon his lips as he stayed still.

[forgottengoldfeathers-a]

rcvivalfan‌: 

In the midst of Lan Xichen’s recognition of them Lia Ruan had taken to once more hiding behind his fan, much more comfortable with his eyes peering over the unassuming weapon. Although he noticed Jinyu slumping next to him the presence of Nie Mingjue’s fierce corpse kept him from moving in to help hold the older man up.

“Mm…” From how Zewu-jun spoke it was easy to make the connection that Jinyu had not simply stumbled upon this corpse, he’d stolen it. He wasn’t one to judge on the morals of grave robbing when it came to loved ones, but he’d never seen the man as… well, that desperate

Quickly wetting his lips with his tongue he shifts his gaze between Jinyu and Lan Xichen before deciding he should actually answer. The awkward silence wasn’t doing anyone any good and Lan Xichen seemed willing to hear them out. 

“I’m… well, you could say I was his student many years back. We just happened to meet up now by sheer coincidence.” A deep breath taken and Lia Ruan folds his fan, pressing two fingers to the end of it for comfort and to have a ready source of blood nearby should things turn sour. It was always best to be ready to defend or flee, being caught off guard could be fatal.

“We must have met coming and going from the same place. What a busy temple… though I only wanted to see the seal for myself, not break it. I’m not in the business of disturbing people best left dead, I swear it.” A nervous glance was thrown in the corpse’s direction, followed by a sigh. “Jinyu can explain. I’m only along for the futility of the exercise and to dispose of Sect Leader Nie’s fierce corpse if necessary.”

More like run the fuck away. If rumors were true and the seal was put in place by that person, there was nothing Lia Ruan could do to stop the corpse should it go fully mad again. Running would be the best bet in that case…

“Anyhow, that’s my side of it. Just passing through, met someone I knew when younger, you know… coincidences.”

Oh. So Lia Ruan wasn’t going to present himself properly?

Jinyu’s eye narrowed as he stood back properly- or, as properly as he could while not losing his balance. His only hand gripping at the fierce corpse’s side for stability, his gaze fell upon his companion, it was clear that there was a hint of hostility in the ex-medic’s gaze- as if he was going to let him get away with just that.

“Seeing that Lia Ruan so rudely forgot his own name while presenting himself..” He started, trailing off before shaking his head. A small sneer was upon his lips for a short moment before he gazed back over to Lan Xichen, his expression returning to a more.. calm one. At least, as calm as he could manage at the very moment.

“He.. barely can be called my student at this point.” He paused once more. It seemed that Jinyu was trying to weight his words or trying to choose them carefully. “As for ah.. this..” He gave Nie Mingjue’s body a light pat. “I.. I don’t want him to go.” 

His other reason being that he simply refused to let go while well aware that he should. 

However, it didn’t seem like his legs would be agreeing to be standing anymore- knees giving up from under him, it didn’t take long that the ex-medic fell to the ground, barely managing to catch himself with one hand before his face could hit the ground. A low hiss left his throat and he noticed the fierce corpse taking a step to the side- it had sensed that. Hah.

How miserable was he now, he wondered.

“I’m fine..! I’m fine, I just have been standing for too long..” He muttered, pressing his elbow against dirt. “I.. I don’t need help. I don’t want it.”

[forgottengoldfeathers-a]

rcvivalfan‌: 

There’s a few things Lia Ruan can be grateful for, though on the surface he’s not sure if it’s a good or bad thing that the wandering Lan Xichen had found them first – and that he seemed to completely miss Ruan’s presence among all this.

Despite him leading the way like a sleep-deprived peacock.

Casually he steps between the white-robed man and his shaken senior, once more hiding his expression behind his fan. Swallowing his nerves he chooses to speak first, wanting to see if he could clarify the situation before things got weird.

In amusement, he turns to Jinyu first.

“Glad to know I’m as invisible as ever. No wonder I’ve never been caught. So… now that we’ve found your Zewu-jun, mind explaining your grand idea? Or do I have to sit through a sappy reunion first?”

If there was something he did not expect, it was for Lan Xichen to actually show up here. Not only did it startled him but Jinyu soon took a few steps back, fully hiding behind the fierce corpse standing nearby. Head lowering, bangs getting in the way of his face being seen, Jinyu bit his lower lip, fingers gripping at his sleeve. This.. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go, but he would have to throw the idea he had out, seeing that he wouldn’t need it anymore.

“..Hush.” He muttered as a warning to Lia Ruan, jade green eye staring toward the now-standing-but-a-few-feet-away jade of GusuLan. “I did not expect this to happen so quickly.” He added after a moment, voice barely above a whisper- simply loud enough for his companion to hear it and not the intruder-- not that he was intruding anything, compared to the other two..

Standing back up properly, Jinyu shook his head before gazing away. What could he even say, now? He wasn’t even sure- and not only that, he sure expected the worst at this moment. His main fear, however, would be that if he ended up startled, he might lose his calm composure and that alone would perhaps end up enough to alert the fierce corpse to strike.

(And he did not want that to happen.)

“Ah.. Fancy seeing you here.. Zewu-jun.” He spoke out a bit louder after a moment, finally finding the courage to direct his speech toward the cultivator. However, it seemed that by stopping here, his fatigue had crawled back up and Jinyu found himself stumbling forward, soon leaning against the fierce corpse for support. He had almost forgotten that he had pushed himself to get him out of there and didn’t take a break to rest.

He was going to rest once they were out of this damned place but that wasn’t going to be something he could look forward to.

[forgottengoldfeathers-a]

[ 1am doodle that I’m just now getting around posting.. lol ]

[forgottengoldfeathers-a]

[ good bye im going back to my dumpster now bc i need to be stopped somehow ]

[forgottengoldfeathers-a]

[ you don’t need context, just to know that im garbage and that I would die for them

I need to draw nie papa more h ]

[forgottengoldfeathers-a]

rcvivalfan‌:

“I don’t mind working in the dark, but it is more suspicious.” And the amount of spirits - or worse, cultivators chasing them - could become problematic. With a swift nod, Ruan steps past Jinyu and begins to lead the way.

Showing his back to that person is nerve-wracking but he casually reminds himself once more the man is dead and he has ways of defending himself now. Fierce corpse or not, Nie Mingjue had an intimidating presence…

“I’m amazed you have such powerful connections. If you don’t mind my asking, what is it that made you leave the Wen sect? Not that I feel it’s any mystery… they went down hard for a reason.” Neglecting young cultivators, wiping out small sects and oppressing others… they had quite the history. It had made Ruan feel grateful he was no one of any note. His daydreaming and lack of focus had meant he scored terribly as a student, and his golden core hadn’t developed to be particularly powerful.

Maybe if he’d been born into a better family but he was lucky to receive any instruction, let alone the opportunity to study with his sworn sister…

Oh, how he missed how simple those days had been.

“Nevermind that, actually. If you know Lan Xichen, did you ever meet someone by the name Lan Xianhua? She would be about my age.”

Once Lia Ruan had raised a question about the Wen sect, Jinyu’s eyebrows furrowed down. His reasoning behind that wasn’t anyone’s business, and for someone to so suddenly ask that, it made the ex-medic frown, jade eye giving him a glance before looking elsewhere, to the side. No, he was not going to grace the other with an answer, instead remaining silent, hoping that it would tell him enough that it was getting a bit too personal.

(After all, he preferred to not remember those times.)

At the sudden change of subject, he found himself relieved about it. Though, he raised an eyebrow, looking back over. Just because he knew them, it didn’t mean much. Or so, Jinyu believed. A huff left him before he shook his head.

“I have never stepped in the cloud recesses, if that is what you want to know.” He paused, tilting his head back while he went back to look at their surroundings, keeping an ear out. “Most of the times I’ve been able to talk with Zewu-jun were during times he visited Sect leader Nie.” He would end his sentence there- mostly for his own sake. 

However, it didn’t take long before he stopped for a moment, having noticed that the fierce corpse had been acting rather.. oddly. He reached out to pull at Lia Ruan’s sleeve to stop him as well.

“...Who’s there.” He dared calling out, glancing around. He might have lost an ear, but he swore he had just heard steps nearby that weren’t theirs..

[ @jadesofgusu​​ ]

[forgottengoldfeathers-a]

rcvivalfan‌: 

“I…”

Returning to the Cloud Recesses… that was a thought that was (almost) terrifying to him. Although he’d never been a particularly disruptive person in his time there, he’d been making a point of avoiding a certain person and the corpse he’d left with her. It had been much better to not get them caught up in more of his… well, everything.

“I… know someone who might let us in, if Zewu-jun is still there.” Truthfully, Lia Ruan had been so self-absorbed as of late he hadn’t paid too much attention to who was supposedly where or what had been happening in the world around him. Normally he just carried about his days in a daze of sorts, one hour at a time.

“But I still don’t think it will help. If you really must go, tell your friend there to hide in the forests while we’re gone. If he won’t listen, I’ll command him instead.” Which would be… well, to say the least he didn’t want to be the one commanding the fierce corpse of Chifeng-zun. There was no way in this realm or the next that would look even remotely okay. (And with as riled up as the man could be, there was a high chance he would retaliate and attack. Also a big no!)

“He’ll probably listen to you though.”

Eyebrow slowly raised once Lia Ruan spoke. 

Jinyu then glanced over to Nie Mingjue’s corpse for a moment, only to notice that now it had been looking over to him- despite not having much of a conscience, it seemed like it knew things. Odd. He wasn’t going to question it for that it wasn’t harmful. A sigh left him, he was well aware he couldn’t drag him around, but he wasn’t even sure where he could hide him.

“Let him tag along for now- I’ll send him off once we get close to the cloud recesses.” He replied, taking a glance over his shoulders, over at the other. “We might as well get going, though, before it ends up night.” He added after a moment before starting to walk away, soon followed closely by the fierce corpse.

(It wasn’t that he didn’t want to send him off now, it was more about needing something to defend himself.)

While he had agreed for the most part, it didn’t mean that he would lower his guard so easily. A hand went to hold onto his other sleeve without Jinyu really realizing it, far too used to the habit of doing so.

[forgottengoldfeathers-a]

rcvivalfan‌:

Arms crossed, Lia Ruan frowns deeply at Jinyu’s determination. No matter what he tries it’s likely to be a failure… but if it makes him feel better, perhaps it’s best to go along with it.

He’s never known Jinyu to be  anything but an honest person, but as time passed Lia Ruan learned it didn’t matter how honest you thought someone was if you’ve never seen them when they were cornered. He had no idea what to think about this quite yet.

“Alright…”

Letting Nie Mingjue’s corpse out of his sight would be a bad idea, especially with Jinyu in this state. It wasn’t that he cared too much about the population… but he did still care a bit. Depending on the day he waned from being properly compassionate to just plain apathetic. Either way, he had to see what Jinyu was hoping to try.

“I still think it’s foolish, and if it turns out you’re going to get us in trouble I’m gone. I won’t stick around to save you, understood?”

He watched the other, waiting. A sigh left his lips at Lia Ruan’s words. All of this and he was going to turn tail the moment it wasn’t going to be going how he wanted, huh? He gazed toward the fierce corpse for a moment, fully knowing that if he went to seek someone out, he could not be seen with it. Where would he even put him..?

Jinyu gave a light shrug. He’d figure something out.

“I will try my best to not get us in trouble. My only issue is..” He paused, closing his eye. “...we’ll need to find a way to enter the Cloud recesses.” He added after a moment, turning on his heels, almost as he was going to leave to head there already but he did not walk forward. 

“I do believe you are familiar with the two jades of Gusu Lan, yes? The man that I am looking for is Zewu-jun.” There was a hint of a smile upon his lips as he spoke- just like the old days, he would always smile when talking about Lan Xichen. Hopefully, Lia Ruan wouldn’t be too.. alarmed by the fact that he wanted to talk to no one else but him.

After all, Lan Xichen had been one of the only few people that had taken the time to get to know him, and he feared that the man probably thought that he, too, was dead all along..

[forgottengoldfeathers-a]

rcvivalfan‌:

The suggestion of getting someone else involved sends a sudden shiver down Lia Ruan’s spine and he shifts back a half-step, the reaction as involuntary as the widening of his eyes.

“No!” He exclaims sharply.

Regaining his composure after the outburst takes the demonic cultivator another hot minute, the younger man tugging at his sleeves as if consumed by an overwhelming urge to straighten them out. 

“I… uhm… it…. it would really be best to not get other people involved!” It’s far too suspicious to do so! If someone else is let on to what’s going on here it could be the end of both of them. Never anyone mind the cultivational world seemed to come to terms with one certain individual, people like them were still outcasts and considered dangerous.

“It’s not like there’s any other method. Do you know how many conscious fierce corpses exist in this world? Aside from the Ghost General, there’s one other. Such a feat isn’t easy, and not just anyone can help with it. Even if my method is most certainly better, it’s not something to be taken lightly, you know. And if you let other people in on it, who knows what could happen. They might just kill him again right away and exorcise his soul entirely. Then what…!?”

Please let Jinyu realize this is a dangerous idea, he begs silently. Though he stops and covers his mouth with his fan again after such fearful rambling, it can’t be hidden how the cultivator shivers slightly.

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea…”

Lia Ruan’s reaction was expected.

But it did not seem to faze Jinyu. Instead, he seemed more calm about it than the other. A light chuckle left his throat before he shook his head, clearly a little amused by the other’s reaction. Ah, he knew. He was well aware it wasn’t wise if he brought someone else in this but it wasn’t anyone- it was the other person that he had trusted the most.

“You are quick to offer but also quick to deny.” He had raised his hand, covering his mouth with the tips of his fingers. “I’m well aware of the possibilities of all of this failing, of me losing this only chance I have, but it is not anyone that I want to ask- I want to ask a dear friend of mine.. if he still remembers me.”

(Oh the shock he would cause once he would show up.)

“I have no means to call out to Mingjue’s soul but I know.. someone who has the means to try.” He paused, hand slightly lowering, index finger tapping against his chin as he tilted his head to the side, looking thoughtful. 

“Just give me one chance at this, it’s all I ask. If it doesn’t work, then so be it.” If he thought that was a bad idea, it already had been one since the day he dug up the corpse.

[forgottengoldfeathers-a]

rcvivalfan‌:

“Simply…? No.” It was never simple if he intended to make real, lasting progress. In fact, he swore he’d never do it again after the toll bringing back Jin Yang had taken on him. The process was far from simple and in order to create a result that wouldn’t crumble in half a moon’s cycle Jinyu would need to be willing to give up a lot as well.

Lia Ruan had a feeling that, with the way Jinyu was now, he’d probably jump to it far too quickly.

“He’s in there, just sleeping. You cannot awaken a fierce corpse without its soul, that’s one of the key requirements. No soul, no movement.” He makes no move to approach, lest he startle Jinyu again. A man so desperate, so broken would be jumpy at the very least. Dangerous, at the most.

But he knew Jinyu wasn’t the fighting type. It was the corpse next to him that was the problem. The corpse that stood silently, as if it understood the person it was with. Carefully regarding the corpse from behind his fan, Lia Ruan nods again.

“I feel your connection is enough that I can at least try. You’ll have to accept the risks and cost, though…” How to explain…

“I’ll need a few things from you, and there is a very real chance it will wear on your own soul. Your lifespan will probably shorten in exchange as well… If you really want him back for good it’ll be impossible if I don’t have these things. Otherwise he’ll become worse than he is now in only a couple of weeks.

If you can accept that… I can try. As payment for your teaching me when I was just a dumb kid.”

He had fallen silent, his fingers gripping at the end of his sleeve. However, he seemed to pay attention to Lia Ruan’s words, eyebrow raising. All of this, it sounded as if he had followed a similar path to Wei Wuxian- not that he was going to judge, of course. While he knew how vile it could be, if one wanted to go that way, they could, he just simply wasn’t going to go try to save them from it.

(After all, he was already dumb enough to go out and dig up this damned corpse..)

Head lowering, hand raising to take a hold of his chin, the ex-medic pondered for a bit over the other’s words. It felt like he was forgetting something, but he wasn’t sure what. While he knew that without a soul, this body would just be as good as nothing, he wouldn’t mind paying the price- but only if it was the last option.

“I.. do not mind that price. It might be the last thing I have left, but at the point I am at, is there even something left to lose?” He spoke out, a question at the end but his tone was enough to show that he was not going to take an answer to it. His hand dropping down, a jade green eye gazed back over to Lia Ruan.

“I will only accept it if it is my last resort.” He paused, giving the fierce corpse a quick glance. His pause was longer than one would think- for that it suddenly came to his mind, a little something that he remembered from back then. 

(Yet a wave of dread washed over him.)

Jinyu had kept his profile low, not showing a single soul that he had been alive and as well as he could be all those years.. Would now be the right time to finally show his face, after people believed him to be dead? He frowned.

“..Ah, would you be willing to try something, first? I may.. know someone that would be able to help. Though, I am unsure of if he’d be alright with.. this.” His last word was emphasized with a vague wave of his arm- mostly gesturing at this whole situation.

[forgottengoldfeathers-a]

rcvivalfan‌:

Lia Ruan found himself unable to move for a moment. Regardless of his hate for Nie Mingjue the pain in Jinyu’s voice was too clear, too real. It… his voice, the way he stood, everything about his former ‘teacher’ (as brief as their time together had been), all of it reminded Lia Ruan too much of how he had been. How he could still be , some nights.

(and he hadn’t even lost a romantic love, though brotherly love was stronger, right?)

So even considering the situation he couldn’t find the strength in him to be angry. Lia Ruan was indeed a selfish individual but when it came to a pain so alike his own, what could he feel but sympathy? It made him wonder briefly how many people the sect leader’s death had affected, how many people hurt. How many more than Jin Yang, who was forgotten so soon.

“Jinyu…” He starts, barely above a whisper.

“I… Jinyu…”

How does one approach this? An eye for an eye, was it? A life for a life. Balance had been restored and all that was left was the suffering of those remaining.

“I won’t pretend I like him, I can’t. But… uhm… I like you. I owe you a lot, you know. If you hadn’t helped me learn back then, I wouldn’t have been able to help my brother when it mattered most.” Fan opened once more, he resumes hiding his expression behind it. 

Had Jinyu at all heard the rumors about him? Maybe, it was hard to say. He was hardly as infamous as the Yiling Patriarch and there was that other kid, Xue Yang, who wiped out entire clans. A wandering ‘medic’ who left a few deaths in his wake was hardly as noticeable in this world.

“…and I can help you too, if you’ll let me.”

The sudden silence from the other told him enough. But Jinyu, being the person he was, would wait until he’d get some kind of answer- he knew. He just knew that it wouldn’t be left without another word being said. A soft sigh leaving him, his only visible eye would light up at the mention of his name, soon returning its gaze toward Lia Ruan. 

Pretend to like him?

That wasn’t something Jinyu would even accept from anyone- he’d rather have them express their true feelings over simply faking it. He had been well aware of Nie Mingjue’s reputation and had dealt with a few in the past showing their distaste toward how the sect leader held himself, stern and with an iron fist.

(It wasn’t something made for everyone- so he did not blame them for hating it.)

Not a lot of people had succeeded in piercing that cold exterior, thus never truly saw how the man thought. However, at the mention of being able to help, Jinyu found himself frowning. What did he mean by that? 

“..Help me?” He echoed those words, tilting his head back slightly before he took a step forward. “With what? He can’t be brought back, he’s just an empty shell.” He murmured, the denial in his voice rather clear. 

(He did not want to believe that.)

He was a fool and well aware of it, but he was stubborn, too. While his mind accepted everything, his heart refused, believing that all of this was but a nightmare and that he would eventually wake up from it.

“You.. can’t simply bring him back, can you?”

[forgottengoldfeathers-a]

jadesofgusu‌: 

{ ❧ }  “Ah, here–” Lan Xichen withdrew his own handkerchief from his sleeve and offered it to JinYu. 

“Though, don’t mind me; I did not intend to interrupt your research. If it is of such great importance, by all means please continue it. I am highly curious, however, seeing how engrossed in it you were.” 

He glanced down at the myriad papers, some seemingly outlines of qi fluctuations, arrays, even diagrams of sabre design. His hand came to rest on his chin, head tilting a little for a better look.

Jinyu blinked once when he noticed the handkerchief Lan Xichen was handing him. Blackened fingertips gingerly took the piece of cloth from the other, eyebrows furrowing for a bit. This much kindness, what did he do to even earn it? It was something that the medic found himself wondering quite often- be it due to Lan Xichen, or Nie Mingjue.

“Ah.. Thank you.” He gave a light nod along with his words, soon cleaning his hands. While it wouldn’t take all of it off, it would take off the majority of it. “I wouldn’t want to end up talking too much, though..! I tend to get too passionate if I can speak about my research..” He trailed off, shaking his head before looking back up toward the younger man.

“Especially since Sect leader Nie tells me that I always make him quickly bored of it.” He added after a moment, a sheepish smile flashing upon his lips. “I wouldn’t want to do the same to you, too.”

[forgottengoldfeathers-a]

rcvivalfan‌:

Despite his inner emotions being a storm of confusion, Lia Ruan is quick to realize just how afraid Jinyu is at this moment. When he hides behind the much larger body, Ruan stops his advance and crosses his arms, idly tapping his folded fan against himself impatiently.

“I’m not going to hurt you… My problem was with someone who is already dead, apparently.” How is he even supposed to deal with this? With his self-sworn ‘enemy’ dead, what was he supposed to do now!? He’d spent so long contemplating his revenge and now…

Now…

…Gods, Jinyu looked just like he did back then, didn’t he?

“I swear it. I just… why don’t you explain? You’re not the person I’m mad at…”

“..Say that however many times you want, it isn’t going to change that I am unable to trust anyone this easily anymore.” After all, it cost him dearly to have been so trusting in the past, he did not want to risk it once again- or ever again. Perhaps, his current appearance would emphasis on what he meant with his words for now. Taking a step aside, he would now stand next to the fierce corpse, his hand raising to gently lean against its arm- causing it to stand back properly.

“My reason... behind this, is because Mingjue wasn’t just my sect leader or the man that gave me a second chance to what I had wanted to accomplish, but..” He trailed off for a moment, closing his eye as he shook his head. Eyelid slipping open, he found himself gazing at his feet. 

No one else knew. Would he be able to trust Lia Ruan with this?

He wasn’t even sure about it.

“...He was more than just that, to me.” He finally spoke out after hesitating for a while, gazing back up, a frown on his face. “He meant the world to me, and to be robbed of this.. I simply can’t allow it, not after losing everything twice.” He could feel himself trembling slightly, simply from those feelings that he had kept bottled up for so long. Biting his lower lip, he shook his head again before gazing away once more.

“I don’t care if he’s dead, I just want him back. I don’t want to be alone, anymore..” 

[forgottengoldfeathers-a]

rcvivalfan‌:

Did he get what he wanted…?

No.

But… yes?

Lia Ruan frowns as he walks closer, not at all fazed by the fierce corpse standing next to Jinyu. He had no reason to be afraid when he was relatively certain he could calm him enough to prevent an attack. Maybe. 

“Why are you with him?” The question leaves his mouth before he realizes it. “Why are you… a Wen… with him?” Even if Jinyu said he’d left the clan behind that didn’t change anything. It just didn’t make any sense.

“What reason do you have to be with this fierce corpse? Why does it… look like he means to protect you? Why were you singing to him!?”

With Lia Ruan getting closer, Jinyu took a step back.

He was afraid, but not enough to send him running. He would stand his ground- at least, as much as he could in this state he was in. His eye narrowed, eyebrow lowering.

“Stay back and I will explain. Else you will get nothing from me.” He warned, raising his arm as he took another step back, soon hiding behind the fierce corpse. If the other got too close, the ex-medic was well aware he didn’t have the same strength he used to have before- nor any weapon on him, too. With how suddenly he left the corpse’s sight, it caused it to growl lowly, head turning and white eyes gazing over to the cultivator.

“If you let your feelings cloud your judgment and actions, then I want none of it.” he added after a moment, fingers curling into a fist- nails digging into the palm of his hand.