act49side

...Heaven's Plaint.

Heaven's Plaint. Doesn't that sound a little old-timey?

Surely you don't have to remind me of my age every five minutes.

Even so, there are some things that I must do myself.

Such as?

This time, I will do something that won't leave me with regrets.

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The mastermind who turned Yumen upside down, and an actual Feranmut.

Zuo Le grips his blade and swallows hard.

But the other party does not seem to pay him any mind, instead looking towards Mo Yi.

And where is the thing you promised me?

I... didn't find it...

Then there is no meaning in leaving you alive—

With no hesitation, a long, narrow blade manifests in Ya's hand, dazzling the other two with its silver glint.

W-Wait!

Kill me, and you'll never know where Bu Fan is!

What?!

Mo Yi, what exactly—

Faced with Zuo Le's angry stare, Mo Yi can only turn her head away.

Let me ask you first... what are you planning to do with Bu Fan once you have it?

Just kill Sui, or do you want the whole city, or even all Yan to also die alongside your grudge?

That is of no concern to you.

I only promised to help you exact revenge against the bestial Sui... but before I give it to you, I need you to promise me something.

Your rage can only be directed at Sui... and once you're done with your vengeance, you'll leave Yan.

Absurd.

Why should I promise you anything?

No particular reason... but I'm not giving it to you unless you agree.

You've exhausted my patience with your life.

Zuo Le steps in almost instinctively, and takes the blow. He realizes once more just how much power a Feranmut holds.

All he feels is his insides churning as blood spurts from his mouth.

Zuo Le—

The Sui Regulator will not allow you to harm anyone, even if she is a Shanhaizhong—

Ridiculous.

It is this very human game that I hate—

A light flick of Her longsword, and the Candleholder's own blade flies from his hand, as his throat meets the edge of Her blade.

The whereabouts of Bu Fan, or his life.

No way... You can't...

I...

...Don't hurt him! I'll tell you!

The Shanhaizhong takes out an elaborate box from her pocket, and opens it to reveal an ancient map within.

That's from the Sky Mirror Pavilion, when did you—

...Sorry...

Lord Zuo... I admit to the crime of deceiving you over and over again...

Dare I ask you to trust me... and if a chance comes, to let me be the good one and make amends?

You mustn't——!

Ignoring the Candleholder's futile attempt, Mo Yi hands the map over to Ya, the latter merely sweeping a glance at it before the parchment turns into ashes.

Enough. I did what you wanted... you should leave.

You tricked me once, and still hope for me to trust you?

You shall come with me, until I find Bu Fan.

Ya raises Her longsword, but does not point it at the two, instead slicing a rift into the air...

Don't just stand there, run—

Mo Yi is swallowed by the rift, leaving only withered autumn leaves all around Zuo Le.

What... did you do...?

...Stop.

Where are you going...?

I think it beneath me to make another move on someone I have no business with.

If you cherish your life, then leave.

Zuo Le silently picks up his blade from the floor and steps forward into a fighting stance.

Countless times he has done this, against formidable foes he thought he could never defeat.

So you have a death wish.

As if merely following the proxy's murderous intent, a chilling autumnal breeze blows by, and sharp withered leaves cut tiny wounds on Zuo Le.

But right after, he sees something he can hardly believe—the dead leaves turn into flowers and green, and the piercing autumn wind is gradually replaced by a gentle spring breeze.

Who dares?!

Why do we always run into each other when a fight's about to start?

This encounter is no different from the one a thousand years ago.

Our former foes are gone, as are our dear friends...

To draw your blade for vengeance now—how is it not a futile grasp at the past?

You two...?!

The proxy is loath to address Her kin by the names humans gave Them, yet She realizes—how else are They to call one another?

Ya detests these names.

Hou.

Ju.

So you were both alive all along?!

As you can see, we are no illusions or walking corpses, so yes.

But this is no place for chit-chat... Can your hidden realm welcome us as guests?

I thought It and I were the last of our kind on this land.

How have you survived these last thousand years... and why have you come here today?

Do you want to stop me as well?!

We don't intend to make things difficult for you... but are you aware just how much trouble you've added to our plates with your awakening and return to Yan?

Since that day, I've been followed by hundreds of eyes, even when I'm just casually angling for some silverfin on the Dusk River.

Staring at your decrepit shell. Hah, those ants sure are experts at wasting time.

Ruined mounts and streams, bodies weak and sick. That's all we are now, and you're no exception.

Weak and sick...

Yet enough strength to leave another wound on It that will never heal!

...Is that the only thing you've gained from your long journey?

After this millennium-long journey, all that remains in your head is wanting to settle the score between you two?

Seriously, your smarts are not up to par...

Anger, humiliation, discontent, confusion. You came back on account of these, and you use them as excuses to level your blade against your own kind.

Humanity gave a name to this obsession born of anger—they call it 'vengeance'.

You proudly claim to be a Feranmut and look upon 'human emotions' with contempt...

Yet you've changed. When did you become so obsessed with the boards and games humans play?

And when did you primordial beings pick up the rhetoric used by those crass pests?

Fooling humans, hunting our own kind... when have we ever suffered such humiliation?

When have we suffered... such a betrayal?

Vengeance? Boards? Games?

This is a war between It and me that has yet to end!

Lands shorn of life, mountains split asunder, rivers choked with crimson... The war at the dawn of time is not worth my remembrance.

Eons ago before you granted these insects your cunning, they had long embarked on the wrong path.

Now look at you, taking on a form similar to theirs—comical, ugly, broken, unbearable... you make me laugh!

And you, Hou. The ancient bestial Hou, the 'nature' of antiquity—you who once floated between heaven and earth have too learned how to live like an ant.