act49side

My grandfather said that once one has passed the walls of the palace, one must not trust in others easily, and certainly not expect to be trusted easily.

I listened... but it seems that I forgot about it when I met you in Shangshu.

I simply believed that I found a kindred spirit.

You... you flatter me.

You've always been like this.

I admire your honesty and your sense of responsibility, but I hate how you make decisions by yourself and keep other people at a distance.

But then I realized... you would not be Liang Xun, if everything you did was to my liking.

I could no more reproach you than I could reproach my grandfather.

I once thought that all I needed to do was to be fair, honest, diligent, and persevering.

But the years have taught me how powerless I am.

Your grandfather was right, but even more frightening is the thought that I could not even trust myself to keep my aspirations and ideals.

I would not claim that everything I did was honest and upright... but you should not have been involved in the ones that were not.

Is it my turn to comfort you with the words 'clear conscience'?

You and I have done all we could, following the path of justice that we believed in.

Perhaps we are ultimately powerless to change anything. Perhaps this entire city will be no more when the sun rises tomorrow...

Then... here and now, at least... my conscience is clear.

The night is deep.

The ancient library has kept some old rules. All is quiet, except the passage of time.

They hold each other's hands tightly in their own.

The desolate pond lies wrinkled by the wind; beneath the crumbling eaves, no voices remain. One can still recall those days of green sashes and red plumes in their splendor...

<p=2>One day before the day of the full moon, Hour of Tzu</>

The scriptgeists seem to be appearing less frequently.

Could it be that you were right, and these geists are the breathing of the bestial Sui...?

I told you so. You just won't believe me.

Whatever the reason, this is our opportunity to head for the top—

Hm... so this is the Sky Mirror Pavilion's restricted area.

What are you planning?

These geists turn back into words when they're defeated.

Say, if they were transformed from the secret tomes of the Sky Mirror Pavilion, would defeating them reveal the secrets of Yan that are usually kept hidden?

You dare—?

No sudden moves!

Let me see what secrets the words form!

<i>'Sang' 'Tu' 'Cui' 'Shou'...</i> what is this? It makes no sense.

The top three floors of the Sky Mirror Pavilion are off-limits. We only enter because we have an important mission.

Refrain from doing anything unnecessary.

Hah. You still won't admit that you're already in on this.

Your deceptive words mean nothing. I know what I'm doing...

There's a lot that you don't know.

This building began as a public library, one of the first buildings to be completed after Baizao became a nomadic city. But there was no such thing as a restricted area at the time.

Then, one hundred and twenty years ago, the death of the proxy affected tons of history books, causing their text to become unreadable.

The Sui Regulator wanted to dig deep, but the number of books was enormous, so the Sky Mirror Pavilion set aside space up top for the Sui Regulator's research.

Decades passed. When the discussion of the turmoil had almost settled, the place became a warehouse for dusty old books.

Some restricted zone. Why would it be sealed off from public view, if it held any actual knowledge?

You do know a lot...

Just a little bit more than you.

The things you speak of should not be secrets to the Sui Regulator. But I have not heard them before.

My studies have been inadequate.

You—this is what I hate about you. Always stiff, always by the book.

Was that white-haired Perro we met in Mangshan Town a friend of yours?

You mean... Yun Qingping?

Yeah, that's the name, I think.

He couldn't fight his way out of a wet paper bag, and it looked like a stiff wind could blow him over, but he was a quick thinker. Talking to him was kind of interesting.

Why don't you learn a thing or two from him?

I know Yun's smart! I don't need you to lecture me!

Hahaha! Now you start to drop the official tone and sound like a human being.

...Why did you join the Shanhaizhong, Mo Yi?

What answer do you want to hear?

You want me to tell you that I had a difficult childhood, drifted into the Shanhaizhong, and I'm looking for a chance to repent and mend my ways?

Doesn't that sound a little cliche?

I wasn't—

Say whatever you want.

Of course, the Shanhaizhong who murder and pillage are villains. They deserve to die.

But I hate hypocrites even more, those people who look like they'll die if they stopped flaunting their high and mighty morals for a single moment.

They think they're better than everyone else the moment they come out of their mama's tummy. Frauds!

What I really want to know is... why are you so sure that this thing from the Garden of Grotesqueries will stop a war between Yan and Sui?

You've been with the Sui Regulator for a while. Have you never wondered about their most closely-guarded secret...?

Why did that proxy die?

Looks like it's not that you're not curious, it's that curiosity has yielded no answers.

That's the problem, isn't it? Why would this have become a secret, if the Sui Regulator was really so just and upright?

What's the matter?

No, it's nothing...

Did you not hear any of that?

You're so weird. You've been staring into blank space for a while now.

Did those geists give you a concussion? Don't suppose there's anything I can do about that.

Thanks. I'm not quite—

I just feel like...

I've been here before...

You said you've dreamt about this place before. Were you dreaming just now?

Perhaps.

I thought I heard two people arguing... something about 'justice', but I'm not sure...

You must be hearing things. It's mostly ancient history books here. Maybe there's a clue as to what's going on here, but justice? That's one thing you won't find.

They seemed to be saying that justice doesn't exist, tangibly...

That's true enough.

Never mind that. Let's get searching. Maybe you'll find your father's books here.

His books, here?

Talk about forgetting one's roots.

But I suppose it's not your fault. You didn't grow up in Baizao, and these things didn't really have anything to do with you.

I thought you would be angrier at me.

I am angry, but I realize I shouldn't take it out on you.

I just... never mind.

<i>Miscellaneous Morsels from Baizao Suiyang</i>... yes, this one dates back several generations.

'The people rejoiced as the new emperor took the throne. They put up white banners like clouds and held rites in remembrance of the previous emperor's virtue. But their hearts were hopeful, confident that an era of greatness was upon us, and the nation's peace secure...'

This is from a century ago, when the last True Lung took the throne.

That's a long time ago. Does it have anything to do with what we're investigating?

The last True Lung's accomplishments were innumerable. The transformation of Baizao into a nomadic city, as well as the Sky Mirror Pavilion, were completed under his decree.

Not that either of us were around back then... although I suppose he would be your grandfather.

Look at this foreword... talk about sucking up to the powerful.

The county records from around Baizao and the demographic records of Baizao itself all paint a picture that is far less rosy.

In the end, only one person's accomplishments remain.

Same old story no matter where you are, I guess.