sakura petals ; mo dao zu shi **HIATUS**

017. mother and son moments <3

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"How about Empathy?" Wei Wuxian asked. 

Jiang Yīnghuā sighed as she listened to them talk. They had not sensed her yet which made her want to laugh. Though her son may have. She continued to listen from outside. 'If it really is you.. A-Xian...' She thought. 

All of the major sects specialized in various methods of gaining information and searching for material on ghosts. Empathy was the one that Wei Wuxian was the best at. His method wasn't as profound as those of the other sects. Everyone could use it. It was simply to ask the ghost to possess his own body. Using his own body as medium, he could invade the spirit's soul and memory, hear what they heard, see what they saw, feel what they felt. If the spirit's emotions were abnormally strong, then he'd be affected by their sorrow, their rage, their ecstasy. Thus, it was called "Empathy".

One could say that this was the most straightforward, most convenient, and most effective method. Of course, it was even more so the most dangerous method. Everyone feared and avoided chances for ghosts to possess their body. On another level, Empathy, though, was playing with fire. The slightest mistake happened, and it would backfire. If the ghost went back on their word and used the opportunity to counter-attack, even the best result would be the seizure the Empathizer's body.

"That's too dangerous! Using such a dark technique without someone..." Jin Ling protested.

'He does have a point..' Yīnghuā silently agreed. 'But you aren't going to win with A-Xian.. He's so stubborn..' She snorted silently. 

Wei WuXian broke him off. "Okay, okay. We're running out of time. Stand up properly. Quick. We still have to go back and find Hanguang Jun after we're finished. Jin Ling, you'll be the supervisor." 

A supervisor was an indispensable part of the Empathy ritual. In case the Empathizer lost themselves in the ghost's emotions, they needed to settle on a code with the supervisor. It was best if the code was a sentence or a voice that the Empathizer was familiar with. The supervisor must preside over the scene at all times. If they saw that the situation had changed, they'd need to act at once and pull the Empathizer out of the trance. Jin Ling pointed to himself. "Me? You want a young mast-... You want me to supervise you while you do something like this?" 

Lan Liang sighed. He had sensed his mother a while ago though she made no move to come inside. "I will be outside." 

"E-Eh? H-hey! Young Master! It's too dangerous!" Jingyi protested. Lan Liang shook his head. "I have something I need to do first." He smiled. "Don't worry about me." With that Lan Liang walked out, closing the door behind him. 

"If Young Master Jin does not want to do it, I can do it as well." Lan Sizhui continued, choosing to push aside what just happened. 

"Jin Ling, did you bring the Jiang Clan's silver bell?" Wei Wuxian asked.