From the moment Wei Ying fell, he had set himself a task; one that would take longer than he ever knew. He started his journey in the obvious place, scaling down the rocks to find where his beloved had been dashed to pieces. But there was no body. So he widened his search, traveling miles and miles, knowing that if he hadn't found a speck of Wei Ying yet, he probably never would. However the faint hope of finding something kept him on his feet.

Until one day, he came across a strange land. It felt like the world of the living and the realm of the dead were colliding and, in his foolishness, he allowed himself to think he might find Wei Ying at long last. If he couldn't find his body, maybe he could contact his spirit?

And so he combed the dark countryside, never expecting that said countryside would open its maw and swallow him whole. The ground cracked beneath his feet and Lan Zhan could not cry out in time before he was plunged into darkness. He awoke, an unknown amount of time later, surrounded by beings - no humans - that gave off so much resentful energy that he immediately tried to draw his sword.

Something strange happened then. Not only did his hand meet thin air - his sword was not with him - but he forgot why he must be wary of the dark energy. What harm could it do him? The party of demons took advantage of his confusion, marching him to a palace that, for some reason, made his heart lurch.

Inside, the feeling intensified. Especially when he caught sight of their lord. He couldn't explain it - he didn't understand it - but he wanted desperately to cry.

Not that he would let himself show such weakness.

"I was..." the answer seems like it should be obvious. What had he been doing? He feels like he has been doing the same thing for a long time. A task with no hope, no happiness.

"Where am I?" he asks instead, "The demon realm means I am...dead?"

If he is dead, his mind screams, there is someone he must see. But who? Where? Why? Lan Zhan closes his eyes, pained.