act49side

It was midwinter, when the snow swirled through the air. The then True Lung was still far from being addled, happy to sit about the fireplace with the newly-promoted mandarin and discuss all great things happening under Heaven.

Contact between Laterano and Iberia, the war between Columbia and Victoria, Ursus's desire for conquest, the turmoil in Higashi, the mysterious weapons of Kazdel...

And Sui. As It was not excised the first time, the True Lung was resolute in having the second attempt come with no mistakes.

Yan would obtain the bones of Sui, and with near-double the amount of energy, and It eliminated, the Age of Yan will have arrived.

Their talks became so fervent that the emperor stood up and struck out barefoot into the snow, using his finger to brandish Chi Xiao as he spoke of what grand ambitions he had for Yan's future...

We both are exalted to distant thought, aspiring to the sky and the bright moon!

And then...

And then, he could no longer wait for the day that True Lung would blow the horn to call for Sui's eradication. He could only wait for that True Lung's mind to deteriorate until all had abandoned him.

And then, you also could not wait for the current True Lung's return.

You could not prove to him that all you have done was not for your own selfish reasons, but for the future of Yan.

Through his murky eyes, the old man believes the one standing before him can only be the emperor he has awaited for so long, but the voice his ringing ears catch says otherwise.

The entire court knows your cold is merely a pretext. The lingering illness that has plagued you for years could hardly be passed off as a simple chill, just as how we all know that your ironclad desire to eliminate Sui was not an idea you had on your own.

You once held great esteem and approval, but now the dust has settled. Those who followed you...

The old man can no longer hear.

His throat shudders. All he wants to do is to speak those words pent-up in his heart:

'Look here! The doddering old fool who started this chaos stands here, awaiting Your Majesty's judgment!'

Your words will not be heard by anyone.

Before he can shout these words at his liege like an unfortunate, misunderstood hero, life itself no longer wishes to remain within him.

He is dead.

Wow... This place sure has changed a lot.

Finally tearing down this eyesore of a tomb. Had the same idea five centuries ago.

Can't believe you're in the mood to talk like that... We still don't know what it's like inside.

Well it's obvious, isn't it? We're alive, which means he's not dead.

Wang, he... he definitely succeeded.

I heard upon the wind that brother eldest already entered. T'would not be long afore he drags him out.

If you have aught to ask him, ask him then.

He kept many things hidden from us. He cannot escape from his sentence.

Damn, Jun... Still as strict as ever.

Speaking of, I can't be the only one who's thinking...

We've never had a family gathering this big before... Feels a bit strange, having so many of us in one place.

...Agreed.

If you're going to eat together, then I'll be heading back.

Nuh-uh! We all agreed to a reunion dinner! Nian, Dusk, don't even think about running away!

Alright, alright. Can't exactly say no to my baby brother's cooking.

Say my name with respect first.

(Pulls a face)

How happy I am to see you all hale and hearty.

Hot damn, you two are covered in dirt—Hah, well, as long as you're alive.

Which reminds me, last time a certain someone was acting all cool and determined, and look, he's doing perfectly fine—

Ow! Why're you pinching me, Shu?!

Sister...

...You've returned.

My apologies for worrying you.

Hmph.

Those two inside should've been out by now, right?

Look, over there—

You finally emerge, <i>Dage!</i>

Wang, is he...?

What the—

Chongyue looks towards his siblings. They see the mirthless look upon his face, and they know it to be an ill omen.

He restrains himself from letting out a sigh, a sigh that would be tantamount to a declaration.