Hmm. Please.

[Even if...walking around more will probably make him sober up more by the time they back to the palace. And then he'll be of more sound mind when he collapses into his bed. And...

No matter. Maybe he'll be so tired he'll just pass out. That would be more preferable.]

Can you see the stars?

[Did Xie Lian mention that already? Xingchen can't remember.]

I always liked watching them at night, even if they made me feel small. Kind of insinf -

[This again.]

Kind of...kind of...unimportant. It's humbling. Even on the mountain when, when they felt a little closer, it was still...

[He exhales a little harshly, though not out of frustration, just...a lack of words, probably.]

I wonder if non-cultivators ever look at them and feel like that. Maybe their worries are more pressing. They have to run their households, pray their crops don't fail, ask people like us for help when things get out of hand. Do they have time to look up and wonder? Do they -

[His breathing quickens and he frowns, getting worked up over this pointless question. Xie Lian is still close, he can feel that, and he reaches out to find his arm again.]

I want them to have that wonder, to find joy in the world. To not worry.