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Song Lan was used to not feeling anything, whether it was the warmth of the sun or the coolness of the water. But if it was hot enough or maybe cold enough he could. Looking up, he could see the sun was high in the sky, so it was about noon.
"We should be arriving soon, if what we were told in the village was true."
Song Lan nodded, as he pulled out the map that had been given to them. Wen Ning looked over at it, studying it. The other fierce corpse's hair brushed over Song Lan's hand a bit, but he didn't feel it. But he could smell the scent of various herbs that he couldn't name. While he had lost his sense of touch, his sense of smell had heightened greatly. He of course couldn't taste at all, considering he had no tongue, but he had learned to adapt to that just as he had to everything else.
Since being around Wen Ning, the other had shown him how to adapt more to the loss of various senses, as he had been a corpse a lot longer than Song Lan had been.
"If we keep heading straight we should arrive by nightfall."
Song Lan nodded, knowing they didn't need to rest, so they could trek on. Song Lan turned to look at Wen Ning, who seemed to be examining various types of plants and roots.
"Some of these can't be grown in our climate, so I thought I would gather some as we walked."
Song Lan nodded and continued to lead the way. He looked up towards the sky and watched as the clouds slowly passed over them. Song Lan thought back to the days he used to travel and night hunt with Xiao Xingchen, back when both were alive and had all their senses. But that was a decade ago, and this is now.
"Song Lan? I know you are quiet but you seem off. Are you okay?" Song Lan looked over at his new traveling companion and nodded. Wen Ning stared at him for a moment, as if trying to reach in and read what was left of his soul. Wen Ning seemed to find the answer he was looking for and nodded.
"Alright then. Let's keep going then."
They had taken out the spirits that were in the area, and now they had to fix themselves up. They had gotten pretty used to it now, always losing a body part or something when they fought. Wen Ning had become very good at reconnecting body parts.
"My sister was a doctor, I learned by watching her sometimes."
From then on, Song Lan let Wen Ning be their medic. Song Lan watched Wen Ning's careful hands sew his arm back onto his shoulder. Song Lan had gotten into a fight with a rather nasty fierce corpse, and it ripped off his arm. Thankfully, they managed to find it and Wen Ning was able to sew it back on.
"I don't have the supplies to fix your sleeve, so we will mend that when we get home." Song Lan nodded and then turned to look towards the fire that they had started. They didn't need it of course, but it was more comforting than anything. Song Lan watched Wen Ning's hand brushing over his bicep over and over again as he finished Song Lan's arm.
Once he was done, the two of them sat in silence.
"She would have liked you, you know. My A-jie." Song Lan was a little shocked, as Wen Ning didn't talk a lot about his life. Song Lan didn't even know how the other died, but he supposed they weren't ready for that conversation yet.
"As a doctor, she had to deal with a lot of people, but I think she would have really liked you." Wen Ning poked at the fire with a stick, watching it crackle. His eyes looked like they were glazed over. Song Lan did not know how Wen Ning died, but he had heard of how Wen Qing had died. Burned alive at the stake. It was said Wen Ning had been burned too, but that clearly was not the case.
Song Lan reached for a stick near them and scratched in the dirt.
I wish I could have met her.
Wen Ning smiled and continued to poke at the fire. Song Lan wrote in the dirt again.
I wish you could have met him.
Wen Ning's eyes widened, and then he nodded.
"I have heard a lot of things about Xiao Xingchen. All good things mind you. Master Wei has a lot of admiration for him."
It was silent between the two of them for a moment, before Song Lan felt a bit of weight on his shoulder.
"Forgive me...but just for a moment please."
Song Lan nodded, understanding. He reached out and grabbed Wen Ning's hand with his own. He couldn't see, but he knew Wen Ning was smiling at the gesture. They continued to sit in silence as they remembered their lost loved ones.