Lu Yin walked down step by step. The murals were like a living history, and he wanted to know what had become of that young man.
Another mural.
An indescribable loneliness and helplessness filled his heart. Even Lu Yin wanted to stop and look no further.
The way everyone looked at the young man had changed. Even his senior brother, who used to play with him, now looked at him with disgust and jealousy, as if his very existence were a mistake.
"Senior Sister."
"Don't call me that, You Che. I'm not worthy of being your senior sister."
"Senior Brother?"
"You Che, I'm going into seclusion. Please leave."
The young man was even more bewildered. What had he done wrong?
"Senior Brother You Che, I finally found you. Could you explain this line for me? 'The heart's sea is an island, yet it can also capsize a boat.'"
"I haven't learned that yet."
"Senior Brother You Che, we're all fellow disciples. There's no need to keep secrets. Tell me, and I'll follow your lead from now on."
"But I really don't know."
"Hmph. No wonder the senior brothers and sisters all say those things about you. Our fellow disciples are helping one another prepare for the Nine Fortresses Grand Competition, yet you're hoarding what you know. Senior Uncle was right: 'Those who are not of our kind must have different hearts.'"
You Che was bewildered. Those who were not of their kind?
Those who were not of their kind.
That was right. He wasn't human. He was different from them. He'd forgotten that he wasn't human.
He was green algae. Right, back when he was green algae, his senior brothers and sisters had liked him. What did it matter whether he was human?
He seemed to see the skies clearing.