The passage of time

The landscape changed with time and Yuan Xuelan grew tired of watching the madness in his other self stew.

And instead of overseeing the passage of time like he probably should have, Yuan Xuelan found peace and tranquility elsewhere, not far but out of sight of whatever madness that unraveled due to his alternate self's mental instability. 

They were holed up in Wangyung Peak concocting whatever plan that Xuelan had no interest in. He was sick of seeing his other self fall into inevitable despair, with the only reprieve being a yearning desire for something that he didn't and couldn't have.

Whatever. He thought with a scowl.