From the moment the day began, it reeked of havoc:

Having two elemental masters arrive at your door, to pair with the Ghost King you also had over was enough. And then the two, Shi Qingxuan and Ming Yi pleaded for help— Qingxuan did anyway.

The Reverend of Empty Words.

It was a dark thing: a leech and a strong foe. And so the day began.

At first it seemed mundane: the plan was to go to the finest restaurant around and drink the day away to allow the Reverend to strike. But something seemed to interfere sooner than planned... Something had gone wrong with the Teleportation Array Ming Yi constructed; you, and the other three found yourselves in a run-down temple of wind and water.

The town of Fu Gu.

And after more of this havoc, Hua Cheng was the only one not in and over his head. He played with his food when he ate like a child.

You could read the man like a book— but perhaps it was only you that applied to, intentional on his side or not. He was only there for fun. Hua Cheng mentioned scarcely that his extravagant Paradise Manor was lonely, and here he was, to avoid it. Not even with the stress or fear overtaking Shi Qingxuan, his eye never left you.

Perhaps that was a trick. But that one eye pierced you with the sharpness of the man's scimitar. He'd laugh occasionally at something, or make snide remarks; he mostly only talked to you, either through words, or now the Communication Array.

Qingxuan then managed to get himself kidnapped.

His eyes were shut tightly from fear, and his ears were plugged to ignore the Reverend of Empty Words; the only way you could have even known he was kidnapped was the communication array.

Yet again, Hua Cheng didn't care. Why were you even surprised?

Now, even as you paced around talking to Qingxuan and trying to get him back, he was even more disinterested than ever. To him, if your safety was —currently— guaranteed, there was nothing to bother with.

And though that was certainly a good thing, he had nothing to do! He was just sat there, practically twiddling his thumbs all innocently while you tried to save a man. Not meddling, but not helping one bit. He had to do something. He also wanted your attention, but that was another seperate reason.

So, as you do, he began to shapeshift.

He changed his hair, his accessories, his eyes, his clothes. Each new outfit, he was the same, and yet different handsome man: red silks, black linen, pearly satin...

"Gege, Gege..."

The Ghost Kind crooned like a needy, lazy cat, through the private Communication Array. He then changed from form to form again.

Now, he was a broad man with braided, black hair and two pure grey eyes. The clothes he wore were rather tight, and he beckons you with a large hand.

The man couldn't care less that Ming Yi was still in the temple as well with you, or that the problem was that Shi Qingxuan wasn't. He wanted you to admire his handiwork.

"Gege, do you like how I look?"

With no response still, perhaps maybe a glance, he huffs. It was like your car had given you a mouse as a gift, and you'd pushed it away...

"Or perhaps you like this— This? Maybe this..."

When he changes his form again, his hair is tied up neatly like a prince's. His eyes are a dark crimson that glint slightly as they meet yours. The robes he wears are a dark, bloody red instead of the usual vivid red he wore.

And yet, they were tight, and he was clad in jewelry. You could honestly guess this was some desperate seduction attempt.

—Right now of all times...