Hua Cheng usually didn’t like surprises, but he’s never been surprised by something like this before.

He and Xie Lian were answering a desperate prayer to disperse a troublesome ghost that terrorized a small village, setting flame to homes and buildings alike. It was a small village tucked in the crook of a valley. It did not happen to be too far away from Ghost City, so the trip was short and easy. Upon arriving, dispersing the ghost proved to be just the same. However, as one might be when being dispersed, the ghost was upset. In a final act of anger and revenge, unleashed a minor curse. It was meant for Hua Cheng, but Xie Lian intercepted it and got hit with it instead. At first Hua Cheng was alarmed and distraught, calling out to Xie Lian in a panicked cry only to stop mid-gēgē.

Xie Lian was not hurt in the slightest. Instead, he was also bewildered. As he looked into the eyes himself, he felt the familiar sensation of not knowing whether to laugh or to cry.

Hua Cheng, with his single, wide eye flicking between his beloved and his beloved’s clone, was malfunctioning. Two dianxias? This could only be something from a dream. A wonderful, pleasant dream.