act23side

But look at us, we've gotten to the point where we can't even talk freely?

Huai Tianpei picks up his cup, drinks it dry, and leaves the room.

Did you get the answer you were looking for, Mr. Liang?

I guess so.

As Huai Tianpei's oath-brother, or as the advisor of Yumen?

I should be used to you seeing through things by now.

Maybe you should change your habit of bringing trouble on yourself. At least don't get to the point where you don't even have someone to talk to.

There's a job he just might be the right man for...

Like how you had me handle that goblet?

Nothing that complicated.

Even when he's Huai Tianpei, he's still Waai Tinpui.

He's the hardest to change.

What about you and I?

The same flowers, the same wine, but the spirit of youth is no more.

It's precious enough that we can still sit around the same table and chat a little over a drink. It's a fool's errand to try to go back to the past.

You're trying to stop me too?

A lot has happened over the past couple of days. There's a lot happening that I'm not sure about.

If you mean no harm, I suggest you stay and help explain what's happening.

I don't have time.

Hand it over.

No!

Did they follow you?

I don't know them.

Are you the ones who been causing trouble around town?

Stupid girl—

(Was she holding back when she fought me in the ring?)

These crooks sure can bark, even if they can't bite.

(They work well together... how many of them are there?)

(Growls)

Hey, why did they stop?

Why are they looking for you?

What's your name?

I'm Waai Fu. Even if they read my name like Huai Hu around here.

Waai Fu, Huai Hu... I'll remember.

I'm Jieyun.

I'll come back and find you.

Wait—

Strange girl...

Let's catch some bad people first.

The old man gazes over the map, drawing a course.

His gaze moves slowly. He knows how vast a distance every inch on the paper represents.

The tea on the table has long grown cold.

I didn't think you would enjoy our provincial Yumen tea, Grand Tutor.

Everyone here drinks the same tea. So can I.

This tea is Yin in nature. It's not ideal while the weather is cold.

Your knowledge is vast, but you don't pay enough attention to your health.

The others would be anxious if you fell ill.

Someone better will take my place, if I fall ill. Each generation is better than the one that came before. There is no single person whom Yan cannot do without.

What is important is not one person, one generation, but the legacy.

Such has always been the way.

Legacy.

A difficult concept for us to understand.

You've taught countless people who've contributed to Great Yan.

The army still uses the martial records left behind by the Record Keepers for training. I myself have received military instruction from you.

At the end of the day, I, we, our expertise, it was all learned from others.

Chongyue dumps the cold tea and pours a new cup of hot tea.

Thank you.

Since when have we become strangers?

I've never forgotten the times when we discussed matters of state over candlelight, and drew swords alongside one another.

But where we stand has changed.

Excuse my impudence.

You didn't come just to talk about old times, did you?

You're right.

I came to say goodbye.

Here I am.

Hello, Envoy Lin.

Wasn't it two days ago that we last saw each other?

More has happened in two days than in the twenty years prior.

Now that I think about it, you did what you did that day not to help me, but to stop me from investigating.

I still helped you.

I had heard that the L.G.D. sent an acting inspector to oversee matters of public security when the two cities were docked.

I could not associate the commotion you caused at the market and the Sword Forge with the young girl who stands before me now.

Did you set your sights on me from the beginning?

No, only just now.

I wasn't sure that all this was your doing, until you showed up.

You only suspected?

That was enough.

Your style is... unique.

I've always been like this. Did you want to say 'unscrupulous?'

Could you really call all that you have done scrupulous?

Fair enough. But what specifically did you mean by 'all that?'

Working with the Shanhaizhong, faking the bandit attack on the Messenger, then setting up an attack on me, making the fake Catastrophe data 'real.'

Then you had someone else steal the Grandmaster's sword to muddy the waters.

The theft of the sword was unexpected. Otherwise, last night would never have happened...

But it is impressive that you've deduced the switching of the data.

Good thing you had enough decency to not actually kill the Messenger.

I have a question myself. Why?

I'm sure you already know the answer.

You wanted to cause a Catastrophe and destroy Yumen just because you had a grudge against the Lord Exorcist?

Zuo Xuanliao and us have been through more than hell and high water together. The word 'grudge' is far too light.

And Zuo Xuanliao has taken us too lightly.

You are from Lungmen.

I am.

I've heard it's a good place. A prosperous one. I never had a chance to visit.

You've seen how things are at Yumen. Traveling through the desert all year long, risking Catastrophe to deliver important reports, trekking through nothing but sand for days in search of water... you've never experienced that.

Someone has to protect the borders, protect the nation.

Soldier or civilian, most Yumenites are not local. We left our homes to settle here, without a word of complaint.

Zuo Xuanliao should not forget that there are others who had a hand in Yumen becoming Yan's bulwark! Who does he think he is? Driving away those who have bled for Yumen?!

You misunderstood the Lord Exorcist.

Then why is the Grandmaster leaving Yumen?