He hears a gasp and then...someone dropping down to the floor beside him. Wiping at his tears with his sleeve, he frowns at the intruder. Either they have nothing to do with his lost spirit pouch or they are the ones that took it! He is ready to lash out at them in either scenario, opening his mouth to rebuke them for being a dumb-ass.

That is, until he sees Xiao Xingchen. His perfect face covered in bloody tears. Xiao...Xingchen. Not in the pouch. Not in a coffin. Beside him. Xue Yang takes one breath, short and sharp, and lurches to the side, dragging the other man into his arms.

"D-Daozhang! Daozhang, is it really you?" he doesn't hide how he sobs, his body, thinner and more fragile, shaking.