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Zuo Le has never in his life imagined he would manage to challenge a Feranmut.

But now, it seems to be his reality.

The bestial Sui leaves the summit where they were, rolling and twisting in the sky.

He remembers how ancient texts he read spoke of how when 'gods' die, heaven and earth distort, flooding the realm with calamity as the land mourns.

But now, the Feranmut—

Is turning into a scroll?

His eyes open wide.

The bestial Sui's fins turn into scraps of paper as they fall, exposing flesh and blood, like a thick tome opened.

Pages helplessly cling onto the beast until the words written upon are flung into the air, vanishing into the wind.

A fatal wound now devoid of cover now stands starkly for all to see.

That is Its heart.

It turns out the bestial Sui has a beating heart just like we do.

The heart glows like the sun, emanating warmth.

It beats slowly, calmly, compared to the bestial body struggling about.

Like a woman deep in slumber, silently waiting for her end.

...Wait!

Zuo Le rubs his eyes, and looks carefully at the 'heart'.

He is sure of what he sees—

A young lady curled up within, horns above and tail below, her hands patterned in brown.

Her mouth is moving. What is she saying? What does she want to tell us?

Characters, words that were forgotten? The truth from a century ago? Or the original end of this bestial Sui?

No, that's not it. This is not 'Sui'!

Those eyes, horns, and tail!

This... this is!

Are you alright, Lord Zuo?

Ugh... huh? We're out?

The rite has concluded nicely this year, without any issues. Please take this token rule before you return for your report.

Many thanks...

If I may ask, what did we just see inside the memorial hall...?

What did you see?

I think I saw... strange... I can't put it into words...

Zuo Le is stuck in a daze. The scene from earlier seemed like a dream: fleeting fragments impossible to piece together into a complete memory.

Should I escort you down the mountain?

No need. Please excuse us.

Zuo Le turns around to look at the memorial hall with its open doors.

He looks past the Sui proxy fiddling with a jade rule from his sleeve, and seems to spot the inkstick received from the visitors, now placed on an altar.

Above the altar appears to be a indistinct portrait.

'Who knew... they'd actually find her.'

After the guests are far gone, Yi lets out an almost inaudible sigh, tapping a jade rule on his palm.

They were the first in a century to walk past those doors.

A remarkable and rare event...

The inkstick has been found, but if we don't find a way to write it down, all will have been for naught.

Liang, shut the doors.