Tragic Blessings

They went to Puju Town. It was hidden among the rolling valleys and the people there were rather calm in demeanor. The economy was strained and resources were a bit more scarce than usual; business did not boom with lively fervor.

But that didn't stop them from stringing up festive fliers and filling the streets with song.

They could hear the merry mood even as they approached the town and Liu Sumeng was getting concerned at Yuan Xuelan's unusual silence.

"Xuelan?" His voice raised just slightly above the clanking hooves but Yuan Xuelan was looking on ahead and did not respond to him. 

Yuan Xuelan had been weird since the nightmare, a bit distant and haunted. More than ever Liu Sumeng wished that he would be more open to him, but this time it felt particularly hard to breach the subject.

"Xuelan!" he called louder, and finally summoned the man from his daze.

"Yes?" Yuan Xuelan blinked at him, his smile radiant.