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In our own conscience we trust...

What if my conscience tells me that I have never been wrong?

Then you would not have summoned me today.

I would simply remind you that the people of Yan can see you, even if they do not know you.

But it will take more effort if you wish, from within the Forbidden City, to see the people clearly, and thus see the good and ill of your own actions.

...I will remember that.

I will remember it for the twenty years to come... if I have them.

The Grand Preceptor's assessment of his own student is well justified... report to the Ministry of Rites tomorrow.

Your Imperial Majesty honors me.

The tired True Lung walks back to the throne. There is a letter of indictment on his desk.

It was sent by the Sui Regulator.

In worldly turmoil we tread, in our own conscience we trust...

A life measured in years, yet the stress... feels ancient.

Let future generations judge my deeds as they will... but the bane of Yan must not be left to the future.

Come.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Ready the troops.

We shall open the Tomb of Sui.

Another long, tiring day.

The proxy returns to the familiar temple, and casts his gaze at the weiqi board in a corner as is his habit. One glance is all it takes to notice that something is not right.

Someone has been here.

The weiqi board is empty, except for a single object in the middle, though it is dark in the room and he cannot see what it is.

As he approaches, he sees that placed at the center is a ripe, white ginkgo seed.

That ginkgo sapling was planted in the spring of this year.

The Ministry of Works swore an oath in this hall several days ago that the rebuilding of Baizao into a nomadic city will be complete before the tree bears fruit.

Twenty years. That is the time you have.

Immortality has made you arrogant. Perhaps you have forgotten that mortals do not have many 'twenty years'.

Yan cannot wait, and neither can I.

You need not press.

I have long intended the same.

If you truly found a path, tell me, and I will come with you—our chances would be better that way.

Just tell me what the chances are. You can use me however you want. I would be happy to give my life.

But do you really know what you're doing?

This game should have been doomed.

How can the part defeat the whole? How can one kill 'oneself' and survive?

But he saw the only way out, for all of them.

He will supplant It.

Perhaps there will come a day when our strength exceeds Its. Then, we can truly break free of Its influence, and live as 'ourselves'.

As long as we don't forget who we are, of course.

The strategist is ready.

He has no equal in the land when it comes to weiqi and scheming. This is the 'self' that anchors him, and the strength that he has built for a thousand years.

All he faces are the broken remains of a slumbering mind.

He must not lose this game—

It's been a long time.

The arrogant... the unmovable... 'I'.

Returning to this dark tomb for the first time in a thousand years brings back countless emotions.

Anger, frustration, shame...

As he steps inside, he feels himself chilled to the bone.

No... no!

This is impossible! How?

How could you have already awakened?