[ now that makes hua cheng's eyebrows lift. an exorcist? there are other cultivators here, and powerful ones at that, but none who have so openly made reference to banishing ghosts from the mortal world. hua cheng is glad that he's so adept at suppressing his own energy—he wonders what this man would do if he knew he were talking to one of the four great calamities. exorcise him too, maybe. or try.

exorcist or not, though, the man comes bearing good information. that those partygoers not designated wildcard read to him as ghosts, and that there's something happening inside the statues to give them an aura of sadness. all of these things become pieces in the puzzle, although it's far too early for hua cheng to be able to see the bigger picture. ]

I'll avoid them as best I can. [ he makes a polite bow, hands clasped, at once both glad for the masks and annoyed by them. would that he could see the other man's face so he'd know what to tell black water to look for. ] Thank you—this conversation has been illuminating.

[ he pauses, then starts, every inch a fresh-faced youth just now remembering his etiquette. ]

I forget my manners. Please, call me San Lang. [ san lang, third son, not a proper name by any means but a common enough moniker for the wayward third child of a larger family. ]