“I was thinking of going on a walk this afternoon. You wanna come?” Shi Qingxuan looks at him as he finishes off his latest cup of tea, eyebrows furrowed in a mixture of contemplation and irritation at the interruption to his reading time. He sets the cup down before answering. “Why do you need my company for this exercise that you call a walk? And why today, specifically? It is not even midday yet, so you should have had enough time to make it to town and back.” The other man gives him a wry smile, looking a little sheepish and apologetic. “I really am sorry! But I couldn’t very well go alone, right? After all… you were the one who asked me to visit with you in the first place…” The last part was said more to himself than anything else. Qingxuan doesn't answer immediately. He' s brow still furrows, deep and thoughtful. “If I may ask, what exactly is it that you're planning to accomplish by accompanying me today?” It's not an unreasonable question. There are many things about this world that require a cultivator to deal with on their own. It has been many years since he first arrived here; some time ago, during what could be called the first year of his cultivation. But, as he told Shi Qingxuan earlier, there are also many times where one might need a strong hand to steady them, if they' ve let themselves get carried away by their own thoughts. And, in truth, it would only be logical for him to request for help if he were to face something like this. A lot has changed in the ten years since they parted ways, when they met again in a small village. He can' t forget how, for several weeks after their parting, Shi Qingxuan had made every effort to try to talk to him, despite how he always seemed so far away. He had tried everything to reach him, but even now it seems difficult for Qingxuan to open up to him – even though, now, that he thinks about it, he shouldn' t have expected Shi Qingxuan to be as easygoing or willing as him. And so… well... “Oh, nothing specific. Just wanted to walk around town a bit, maybe take in some fresh air…” A nervous chuckle escapes from between Shi Qingxuan' s lips. “I see…” He says, giving the other man another look before turning back to his book. He does not reply, nor does he show any sign of changing his mind. “Well, anyway! If you'll excuse me, I'd better get going. My friends are already waiting for me, and I haven't eaten yet.” There's a slight hint of guilt hidden within the last words. “See you later, Qingxuan.” Before Qingxuan can say anything, Shi Qingxuan quickly leaves, leaving a stunned Qingxuan sitting on the couch. ‘Friends…? Wait..!’ His eyes widen in shock. What if Shi Qingxuan means he has friends in this world? He hasn' t seen any other cultivators besides himself, aside from his former teacher and some of the residents of the village, ever since Shi Qingxuan went missing ten years ago. But now, somehow, he knows of several other people in this world who seem to be able to summon and use spiritual energy. Perhaps his cultivation techniques were wrong about those two things. Perhaps it wasn't him who possessed this power. He stands and puts on his boots, then makes sure to check if all of his belongings are in order. Finally, he leaves their apartment through the window. After closing the latch behind him, he takes a step forward onto the roof, and proceeds to fly towards the nearest temple. He is greeted by a guard stationed at the gates, but soon enough, they let him inside without much trouble. On the main floor of the temple, he finds one of his old teachers sitting under a tree, sipping tea while reading some scrolls. When he hears a footstep approach him, he puts the scrolls away and gets to his feet. “Ah, good morning. Did you sleep well?” “Yes, thanks. And yourself?” Zheng Chen answers with an affirmative hum, leading Qingxuan into one of the hallways. They walk together until they reach their destination. As he waits for Zheng Chen to set the table, he wonders about what kind of things his friend did during this last twenty years. It is not unusual for Qingxuan to spend most of his time in seclusion, either because he prefers to spend his time alone rather than trying to find someone or just because no one bothers him here. But now that he's aware of the fact that others have other lives and experiences and that his friend has not been idle these past few years, he can't help but feel curious as to what he did during that time. He is eager to meet his friend and ask him about everything he has done over the last decade. As it turns out, Zheng Chen enjoys a leisurely breakfast – the same breakfast that Qingxuan enjoyed ten years ago. They sit together quietly while they consume their meal; Zheng Chen seems to enjoy his food just fine,