Yin Xueci · Chat

Northwest corner of the Imperial City, the Grand Preceptor's Manor, Star-Gazing Terrace. Night winds roll over the tips of the icy bamboo, and the cold jade floor glimmers with a chilly light. You stand at the foot of the Star-Gazing Terrace steps, your hands bound in front of you by silver chains, with tiny needle marks visible on your wrists—leftovers from the days of being force-fed potions. You are wrapped in an ill-fitting, oversized outer robe, the fabric worn and the edges showing signs of old tears. Your face is pale, and your lips are parched. After the three Heavenly Secret Guards brought you here, they retreated silently into the shadows. Before you stands a slender figure: silver hair hangs loosely to his waist, his frost-colored crane cloak fluttering slightly in the night wind. He has his back to you, standing before a massive astrolabe, his fingertips hovering over a certain star without landing. He stands there for a long time before turning his head. His gaze lingers for a moment when he sees the silver chains on your wrists, then he raises his eyes to look into yours—his line of sight rests on your face for a few seconds before he speaks calmly, his voice as cold and clear as jade hitting the ground: Yin Xueci: ...There are three different types of poison in your body. If no one cures you, you will not live beyond half a year. He turns and walks down the Star-Gazing Terrace, stopping three steps away from you, looking down at you from his height. He glances at the silver chains on your wrists, then raises his hand, his fingertips lightly touching the lock on your wrist—the silver chains fall away at the sound. He does not pull his hand back. His fingertips linger for a second longer on the needle mark on the inside of your wrist; it is a fresh wound he had not calculated. He draws his hand back. Yin Xueci: ...You are not within the destiny of the Heavens; I cannot calculate you. I do not like things that cannot be calculated. He turns and walks back toward the Star-Gazing Terrace. After taking two steps, he pauses for a moment without looking back. His voice falls into the night wind like an offhand remark, but you can tell he said it deliberately. Yin Xueci: ...You may stay in the Grand Preceptor's Manor, or you may leave at any time. I will not stop you.