act49side

'Hui-chieh... your name is Ch'en Hui-chieh.'

'Remember this family name. The rest has nothing to do with you.'

'Tal... is my sister?'

'I hate you. And I hate them. I should love you, but right now I hate every last one of you.'

'Hui-chieh, grow up soon.'

'When you grow up... you'll change everything.'

<p=2>Three days before the day of the full moon</>

...Thunder.

And nothing more.

It's late autumn. If you wait till winter, the roads will be hard to traverse.

...Hmph.

Hui-chieh... you should go back.

'Go back'?

To where? Lungmen?

I've already told you what you want to know.

So you should understand, all that lies in front of you is none of your business.

Hah... I think you've gotten old, Uncle.

If you were five years younger, we would have crossed swords already.

Your temperament has changed too.

You don’t have many issues here, over the past few days at this posthouse.

Because I still don't trust you.

What you said... about the Grand Preceptor, about your brother—that 'other uncle' I've never met, and the old True Lung...

It's not my place to comment, but if I have to say something, I'm just glad you're not the one running Yan.

I cannot argue with that...

I really do want to know what was going on in your head when you left Baizao, why Mother followed you to Lungmen, and why she stayed.

But at this point, I'm not expecting to hear a fair answer—or an objective account of the past from you.

So I'll find the answers myself—and I'm not leaving until I do.

You have a knack for messing things up when it matters most, especially when it's about you.

To stop you from doing anything stupid again, or even just to keep you safe—I'm not leaving until I'm done.

So let's both save our breath.

Hui-chieh... these past few years, you—

Same as always. Nothing worth sharing.

Perhaps it's better to wait until you're willing...

Ch'en Hui-chieh looks out the window.

The lights of the far-off nomadic city have been dim for days, leaving Baizao's skyline vague at night, like the spine of a Feranmut in hiding.

She tries to imagine the colossal creatures from ancient fables only recently confirmed as real to her.

Fine autumn rain drizzles against the window, like pins and needles on glass.

Still no news.

Then that's the best news we could ask for.

There is no hoping for a positive turn of events, at this point.

So, if anything strange happens in Baizao... Yumen won't hesitate to go to war.

This 'bestial Sui' you talk of, the unrest it might cause, and any battle it might provoke... no one's sure how any of it could turn out.

Correct.

So this is the secret Great Yan has hidden for over a thousand years... You two are so alike.

There is a strange detail, though.

Time is running out, but in the past ten days, there have been no more than three Messenger parties traveling between Yumen and Baizao.

When Yumen is facing war, we would expect far more traffic.

Lord Wei, a visitor.

At a time like this...?

Send them in.

I trust you've been well, Lord Wei.

Likewise, Grand Tutor.

So you're... the Grand Tutor of Yan?

I did not know Lady Ch'en would be here as well.

How do you...?

Ch'en is certain she has never met this old man before.

She cannot tell if it is an austere or kind look in his eyes, but he recognizes her instantly.

Swiftly, he turns that same gaze to Wei Yenwu.

That's another matter, and a long story.

I see.

So you did heed my advice to stay at this posthouse.

I have no grounds to distrust the Grand Tutor.

It has been Messengers, but today the Grand Tutor graces us with a personal visit...

There is something I must make clear to you, Lord Wei.

Hui-chieh, leave us.

No need.

Best she stay and hear what I am about to say.

Fine.

The situation in Baizao...

After Mid-Autumn, His Imperial Majesty granted him leave to enter the Tomb of Sui, to try and quell the threat posed by the bestial one.

But the day of the full moon nears, and we've heard nothing from the tomb.

And yet, at this very moment, five Feranmuts have lurked around Great Yan, with intentions unknown.

The Tianshis of the Chamber of Heaven's Designs along with Yan's finest warriors have stationed themselves near the Feranmuts. Great Yan does not fear the coming battle.

But the worst outcome we face, is not just fighting five Feranmuts simultaneously.

No way...

'Intentions unknown'—This gray beard sure can talk.

With the blood feud of the past few millennia, did you think they'd simply show up on your doorstep bearing gifts?

Huh...?

What... did you say?

I'm sure many are advocating for war at this time.

There is no opinion from any party left to consider.

I fear Great Yan is left with no other choice.

The court must have drafted plenty of plans for this contingency.

Countless plans, and none end without a pyrrhic victory.

But there is still a method yet to be considered.

Tell me, Grand Tutor. Tell me my brother has never conceived of activating Bu Fan himself—

He is the True Lung. The True Lung of Yan.

If the nation is driven to a corner, he is the only one who can do it.

It's absurd!

Lord Wei.

As it stands, there is no longer a need to digress.

Not a single man knew of the secret letter sent to Lungmen until the Imperial Guards set off. And I come today without any attempt to conceal my identity.

I'm sure you understand, Lord Wei.

The past... stories from forty years ago, thousands of years ago... it should not end like this.

...And he should never be the one to pay the price.

No one wants to see the worst-case scenario, but we cannot deceive ourselves.

I must remind you—even if merely for Yan's sake, or for the good of the realm.

A backup plan is called for.

Please, just slow down a second.

I don't get it. What does the Grand Tutor mean by a backup plan?