[ some of the tension fades when he says no, more or less - xie lian looks quietly relieved, and then, scolds himself inwardly. foolish. what a thing to panic about. there's not a chance. ]

...It just sounds very familiar. [ he's heard tales, anyway - whispers in the heavens, and now the sort of thing qi rong said at the beginning of their time here. but... it couldn't be.

it can't be. he shakes his head. ] A ghost helped you through, you say? Something similar happened to us in the catacombs.