winepouring | Overflow Post

[ Seeing the figure outside flicker one more time and solidify, settling into one person, a single impression, her grip on her fan relaxes a little. She shouldn't need to use it; they can keep having a nice tea time! As Shen Qingqiu speaks, she casually looks over his shoulder at the person of his memories, dignified and handsome, shining, truly the picture of a bright, top disciple with boundless potential.

For a moment, she wonders if he looks this beautiful because that's how Shen Qingqiu personally sees him, but that thought is quickly forgotten as an earlier bit of information clicks into place.

Luo Binghe.

Luo Binghe, like the name on that sword mound he's standing by?

When Shi Qingxuan first saw the sword mound, she didn't immediately think it necessary to dwell on. Now that the name was said, though, and the deceased is standing by it, she feels her chest tighten. While she doesn't know him, she now knows he is very, very important to the person sitting across from her. It's no wonder Shen Qingqiu looked like a ghost when she asked about his disciple. To have his shining, top disciple pass away without even a body to bury... This whole situation now is just cruel.

As if Luo Binghe finally felt her staring at him, they managed to lock eyes.

And she tears her gaze away and stands up! ]

Lord Shen, we should leave. As comfortable as things are now, it's impossible to say if it's truly safe here.

[ The abrupt motion has him on alert, and he doesn't waste time asking why. His IQ is not that low, thank you! When a self-confident individual of some apparent skill is stating something in no uncertain terms, the benefit in arguing at that moment is low.

He doesn't see Luo Binghe, but he stands, blocking the view of his disciple standing by his sword mound. He reaches for the transmitter on his ear, fingers brushing over the smooth surface. ]

As Lady Shi requests, so shall this humble one obey.

[ He presses down on the transmitter...

...

... Nothing happens. The virtual world retains its shape, and the device on his ear blinks like an LED attached earring. The wind blows by in the bamboo trees outside the small bamboo house. Thin strains of practice on the qin wind through, Three Variations on Plum Blossoms.

Unseen to him, Luo Binghe takes steps toward the small bamboo house, shadows seeming to cling to him as he moves.

Shen Qingqiu frowns, only the smallest downturning of the corner of his lips, and takes the transmitter off entirely. Nothing seems to change, which has him cursing inwardly just as soundly: what the fuck, technology, if there's no respect for deactivating the program, this can only be called a bug! Too big a bug for beta! ]

We may need to make ourselves heard to the ones overseeing these constructs.

[ Shi Qingxuan may see that Luo Binghe is coming inevitably closer, wind tugging at his long, dark hair, robes shifting with each movement, silver glinting in the light. There's something dripping from one hand: a closer look will showcase that whatever it is, it's purple. Bleeding purple? ]

Is it not working?

[ Really? Really?? She takes a breath and flicks her fan closed and opened again. Part of her really wants use it, but this is still a part of Shen Qingqiu's fond memories. She can't just desecrate them after he's only been truly kind and hospitable towards her. ]

I'm sorry, but I don't believe trying to reach out to them would help. This is their creation; surely they must already be aware of our situation?

[ In the end, this is still probably demonic!!

At the moment, all Shi Qingxuan is happy for is the fact Shen Qingqiu is not looking towards this illusion of his deceased disciple who, for whatever reason, is dripping purple from his hands. Is it...meant to be blood? Right now, although he's still quite handsome, he has something of a foreboding aura around him, looking every bit the resurrected soul that he somewhat is. And that is more reason for her to absolutely not let him see this version of Luo Binghe! Forget damaging his house; having this image of his disciple is much worse!

So she will stay right where she is and keep an eye on both of them. If she needs to, she can always try to blow something in front of the window to hide the view. If he tries to come in through the window.. She'll figure that out. ]

We came in here through a door, and we might still be in the same room. Even if taking off the earring won't stop the spell, a distance-shortening array should still let us out. If they won't end this themselves, then we'll just leave!

[ What sort of connection points there are here is extremely questionable, but it's the best idea she has. ]

[ So casually talking about a distance-shortening array... he lights a candle in his heart, because yes, he knows them, yes, he can technically make one, and no, he is not able to save qi in doing so! This is the problem with theoretical and not practical knowledge! Like hell he knew he'd need it here!

Remaining ignorant to what's approaching from behind, which may sometimes be a life metaphor with Shen Qingqiu, he steps to the side, away from the window, heading for the door. He's planning on calling out first, because they'd been told they were under observation, so it stands to reason deliberate call-outs will be noticed against the backdrop of the simulation. ]

We're in the same room. It may be as simple as allowing ourselves to feel only that, and not everything else interfering with our senses.

[ He's almost at the door. Meanwhile, Luo Binghe is definitely at the window, staring in at Shi Qingxuan, then dragging his gaze to Shen Qingqiu. He opens his mouth to speak. ]

Shizun—

[ Truly a shame; distance-shortening arrays are the quickest way to get around. ]

That may work as well, but...

[ Her words are cut off by Luo Binghe's. She was not expecting the memory of his disciple to call out to him! Enter, yes, but not to actually speak!

Without hesitation, she flicks her fan forward, making Shen Qingqiu's hair and outer robes flutter back and forcing a gust to knock Luo Binghe - no, definitely not the actual Luo Binghe - off balance.

(She still says a silent "sorry" to that memory, though.)

Even though she did it without thinking, she knows there's no way he could have missed being called out to like that. Right? Ah- This has really gone poorly...! ]

[ He hears that word, Shizun, and it sends a shiver shooting down his spine, so quickly followed by a flick of wind from Shi Qingxuan's fan. Truly a technique to admire, much like how he enjoys using his fan: that's irrelevant but noted.

Luo Binghe holds steady in the onslaught of wind, his robes flying around him, hair whipping into a glorious, flowing mass. He looks quite heroic in that moment, and Shen Qingqiu pointedly does not turn to see him, does not answer that call.

He concentrates his qi in his dantian and projects his voice, calling out the door at remarkable, but not deafening, volume. ]

To those scientists running this room, cease the simulation immediately!

[ In that moment, Luo Binghe's expression can be compared favourably to that of a kicked puppy wondering why he's being so cruelly abandoned after having his tail stepped on. (He's long remembered that look on Luo Binghe's face when he was falling into the Endless Abyss, bleeding from his chest, staring up at Shen Qingqiu, betrayed, heart breaking. So said the System.)

The simulation seems to go fuzzy, like everything's blurred in a misting rain, and the surroundings start breaking down into polygons and pixels, fading into darkness before flashing just as abruptly a blinding, unforgiving white. ]

[ He looks even sadder with his hair and robes whipping around him, leaves fluttering before him and his long hair flowing out. With that pained look on his face, she imagines this must be the look souls give when they're dispersed before the one they care about. Like a soul lost on the battlefield.

Her eyes are locked on Luo Binghe as the world around them grows blurry and fragmented, not unlike when Luo Binghe did when he first materialized, and for a moment, her heart stops wondering if they managed to make things even worse.

And then, they're just standing in a vacant, featureless room. Just like they were originally. ]

I can't believe that worked!

[ His shouting actually worked! They listened to him!

Now that they're free, she turns towards him and bows her head sincerely. She needs to say something. Shi Qingxuan has no doubt he heard Luo Binghe call out to him, but he remained calm and steady without a hint of desire to turn around and look for that voice. Maybe he was aware of him the entire time... ]

Lord Shen, I'm so sorry! I wasn't thinking things through; I didn't know it would turn out this way.

[ When she exclaims over it working, he has to admit:

He can't believe it did either! Good work, good scientists! Way to avoid certain science fiction tropes and fears! Praise to them!

Now, less praise for the bugs in the system, but he chooses his battles, and in this case, they weren't stuck in a place formed out of his own memory. Something more trustworthy than demon dreamrealms, if he did face a portion of his own heart's demon here: and promptly ignored him!

When she bows her head, he wants to protest, but he holds it in. It's more gracious to accept what she says than to argue it isn't necessary. ]

Lady Shi, there's no reason to believe in the ill will of those running these rooms. What disturbs the mind causes ripples through the whole, and for that, I apologise.

[ Luo Binghe had been here as a phantom and ghost of Shen Qingqiu's heart, summoned by her words and his own fondness mixed with the sadness and fear that permeated his last week alive.

Really, he'd like a do over! A heads up! System, if there's a next time, warn him about these plot twists!

(In the quiet of his mind, no System speaks, and he feels both relief and an odd sense of surreality. He'd wanted that absence, and without Luo Binghe the System had originally gone into hybernation, but here? Here he was entirely free. So far.) ]

It was nice seeing Qing Jing Peak again.

[ She's forgiven! Totally forgiven! And his words, while polite, are also sincere, as is the contemplative look on his face. What other things could be recreated in these rooms...

... Once they were out of freaking beta! No bugs! A user requires no great and mighty bugs!

He heads for the door, visible against the structured white panels, seeing it open as the scientists standing in the area beyond hurry to apologise and invite them out again, each of them being asked what it is that went wrong, met by expressions of mild concern and much more focused thirst for understanding. ]

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... is the comment reply style new this code push, text why are you so small

It's...better on mobile but it still confused me fjdjdnd

i was so glad when it evened out the next day LASDLKJ now i like the update