act49side

Of course.

One more request, if I may.

Jun turns around and picks up the geist from the ground.

She has turned back into the small, quiet doll, perhaps exhausted from the action she just performed.

You know that this geist was formed by the last speck of Jie's life force.

Wang drew you into the game and had you retrieve this object so that you could deliver it here and allow it to recuperate, in preparation for her return.

But... consider it a burst of sentimentality from a reunion with someone long thought lost.

Please deliver it to the Tomb of Sui. The future is yet unsettled. Our family will gather outside the tomb.

I do not know if the day will come when Jie returns. But if Wang sees it as Jie's foundation, she should be there for this meeting.

Wang is in the tomb, and I must help him. There will be a battle. Carrying this object would be unsafe, and perhaps cause a delay...

Leave it to me!

The Shanhaizhong snatches the token from the woman's hands before the Candleholder can react.

I will see it done, in the name of Zushi!

The dignified woman bows deeply to the two youngsters.

Thank you.

Lady Jun...

You blocked the attack against me at the gate, and protected Jie's legacy.

Has chivalry become a habit of yours?

I do what I do for the sake of justice.

What is justice?

Justice is making sure that Wei Yenwu does not die an unjust death, and giving the old case a proper trial.

Justice is bringing closure to all that has happened between mother and father, between the imperial family and the House of Ch'en.

Justice is making sure that the proxy who did so much for Great Yan did not die in vain, and giving Great Yan a chance at peace.

What about justice for you as an Infected?

I have seen so much suffering in my journeys... this land has been too kind to me. I wield my justice for the sake of others.

Very well.

I can't help you with the justice you seek. But perhaps her relic can.

Do you mean... the writing knife?!

Take it.

The justice you seek is closely linked to the incident forty years ago.

You are the only one to whom I can entrust this knife, who can right the wrongs for your family, for your country.

There should be closure to the matters of the Ch'en family, Lord Wei's decision, and the thousand years of records for the land on which she once lived and breathed.

These were the hopes that she placed upon the writing knife.

The history of Great Yan should be written by the Yanese people.

Come with me.

They walk into the room.

Like revisiting a scene from an old play, Jun slowly walks through the room that has not changed one bit in the past century.

Everything is familiar. No one has touched it for a hundred years.

It's been a while.

The writing knife has resurfaced, but it is no longer in your hands. If I have entrusted it to the wrong person...

I will shoulder the responsibility for any consequences on your behalf.

Ch'en's palm closes around the knife. Her fingertip trembles, as if the weight of a thousand books is upon her heart.

She has given her all wholeheartedly, and sacrificed herself selflessly. Now, everything has come together as appointed.

She clutches the writing knife. In her eyes, something sinks, and something else burns bright.

—It is the weight of an era, and a reunion that the knife has long awaited.

I hope... you will not disappoint.

...I will not disappoint.

What's going on?!

These geists just appeared out of nowhere!

The annals of Mangshan Town record that similar scenes of rampaging geists were spotted during the turmoil caused by Sui a hundred and twenty years ago.

Is the bestial Sui awakening?

What a headache... guess it's happened after all.

Number Two, you fool, why are you dilly-dallying? How many times do I have to bail you out?

Lin Qingyan!

What are your instructions?

This is where the geists are most rampant. They must not be allowed to enter Baizao!

You and I will guard this pass. Do not let a single geist through!

Yes, master!

I can't hear you, girl!

Look lively! Treat this as your entrance exam. Pass the test, and I'll take you as my student. Then you can make your old teacher call you 'master'!

I wouldn't dare!

Is there anything that I can help with?

Help? What could you do...

Watch my moves and record them. Then you can show them to your teacher and see who's better.

The fire rises—

Wait... *pant* wait for me... *pant*

You run too fast!

What's the matter? You were the one who was in a hurry.

If you're out of breath, give it to me and I'll deliver it.

In your dreams!

You blockhead! Did you think about how we're supposed to enter the Tomb of Sui when we arrive?

We'll explain to the soldiers guarding the tomb and ask them to let us through...

<i>Riiiiggghhht.</i> And how do you plan to explain where you got the thing you're holding?

Or... maybe find a way to sneak in...

Your brain really is made entirely of wood, isn't it?

Do you have an idea, then?

If we can't get inside the Tomb of Sui, we'll find someone who can.

Do you mean...

Who's there—

Show yourself!

Zuo Le senses a hostile presence and instinctively draws his sword.

The thing you promised me.

Hand it over.

The Forbidden City is just ahead...

It should be heavily guarded, if the Grand Commandant really intends to sacrifice Wei Yenwu's life.

There are guards stationed at all the important intersections in the city. It should not be hard to detect unusual movements by a large force.

Wait, is that...

Ch'en stops in her tracks.

She sees a figure.

A very familiar one.

Hui-chieh.

You should not have come.