level_act49side_04_beg

Pointless obsession, pointless struggle, pointless sacrifice... you have been fearful for centuries.

You divided my awakening into hundreds of cycles, each of which is subdivided by twelve, then subdivided by thirty, and then...

You live in constant fear every minute, every second, fearing the time limit, though you do not know when it will come...

Have 'I' become so foolish and shortsighted in the span of just a few dreams?

Without a will, without a self, without someone to measure and define it, time is no more than a cycle without meaning...

As the time you spent in the tomb was.

How do you define this time, if you neither think nor feel?

How does a dream then?

A dream hysterical for its inevitable end?

<p=1>Year 759</>

The mounts, seas, and all in between shall be our master's!

Heresy!

*pant*... *pant*...

Drop your weapon and live!

Drop my weapon?

We will teach the House of Yan that Ju has awakened, and their reign is no more than a fleeting dream compared to the infinity of heaven and earth!

The mounts, seas, and all in between shall be—

Come, drink!

Sir, I'm just a humble soldier—

Don't sell yourself short!

After centuries, we've finally eliminated the last remnant from that hunt! The lands of Yan are safe now!

A toast to all of you!

Thank you, sir!

And to the two of you, of course.

Mr. Shuo inspired the troops by always being the first to charge into the fray, while Mr. Wang's tactics were utterly flawless.

The bulk of the credit for taking down Ju must go to the two of you.

A toast to you.

...<i>Duoxie.</i>

This is a rare opportunity, Mr. Wang, and there is something I must say to you.

I know of the slanders against your name in the imperial court, casting suspicions upon you because you are not one of our kind.

But you have endured such slanders and made a historic contribution to Yan. Your noble heart is admirable.

To interfere even in family reunions... the Sui Regulator's restrictions on you are unreasonable.

I will petition to His Majesty to permit your family gathering...

It's a joyful day. I consider myself a strong drinker, but it appears wine has gotten the best of me...

To tell the truth, my orders were to... keep an eye on you and make sure nothing goes wrong.

But the two of you have proven yourself... utterly loyal... most respectable!

This is as far as I go... take care!

The drunken official manages a farewell and departs, helped by his bodyguards.

A good man, but a poor spy.

Did you think about what will happen to all of us if he finds out what you did?

You are drunk.

I wish I were drunk, and all this was naught but a dream.

Why did you let the beastial Ju go?

Best to have a card up one's sleeve.

Who is your opponent this time?

You must feel it. We all do... It is awakening, much sooner than the one thousand years that we expected.

We need help.

Did Ju promise to help you defeat Sui?

It is too weak to even protect the Shanhaizhong, and we have not gotten to that point. It is not time yet.

I told you. There are other ways to escape Its influence—

I know what you're going to say. You finally cleaned up the ties between you and It. You wanted 'Me' to no longer be 'Us', and 'We' no longer be 'It'...

And you, you sealed 'Yourself' away in the sword...

What then? Did the Sui Regulator return your sword?

We still live in shackles...

True shackles do not come from outside—

Do you really believe that everyone can be like you?

You remember everything and care about everything. People, events, and things from centuries past have all flowed away like the great river, but Shuo remains Shuo, always.

Not everyone can be like you...

How long would it take for Dusk to become like you? What about Yu? Do you really want Yu to be like you?

A thousand years is not enough, and we don't even have a thousand years.

We don't have time.

I'm hardly your equal in weiqi, but I know that when there is no clear path to victory in sight, it is better to play in a straightforward manner, than to attempt radical tricks without a plan.

Do you think there is no victory in this game? That you would be content with doing all the right things in an honorable defeat?

I never said that...

Your plan will have no other outcome.

What do you think we should do, then?

If you truly found a path, tell me, and I will come with you—our chances would be better that way.

Just tell me what the chances are. You can use me however you want. I would be happy to give my life.

But do you really know what you're doing?

Or has your obsession with victory blinded you to risks and consequences?

Tell me.

Say something.

Did you consider it?!

The proxy slams his palm on the stone table—or so he intended to.

But he has yet to adapt to his mortal vessel, and he misjudged both the strength and position.

A deep crack appears on the weiqi board that Wang always carries with him.

Wang, I—

Impressive, brother. This human body you created for yourself can still split boulders.

Listen to me!

No, thank you.

None of us could reach your heights, brother. You need not trouble yourself with our fates.

Wang!

What are you doing here?

Had a fight with our eldest brother? Such is written all over your face.

I get drunk by the roadside for a couple of hours, and the two of you are already making trouble.

If you have anything to say to him, you can say it to him directly.

Come now, there is no need for that.

I know what you were fighting over. Sui.

This is not the first time you have fought over this. Can you not accept your differences?

This is a matter of life and death. It's not something that can be glossed over so easily.

Would you keep fighting, even when the end comes?

Run not from the words that need to be said. The longer you delay this, the greater the problem grows.

Not today.

Wang... now, now, come back—

Weiqi failure! Can you not act your age? Playing the brat in front of your younger sister?

Ling leads the way while Wang slowly follows behind.

They see the eldest proxy still sitting by the pavilion.

<i>Dage.</i> Our biggest brother.

Little Ling...

I have told you, calling me 'Little Ling' makes me feel like a child.

Sorry. Old habits die hard.

So it would seem.

Hmph, smashing things in your rage? Are you the child here?

I'll fetch some good wood and make a new one for you.

Or would you prefer to keep this one? I can ask Nian or Yi to fix it, when they're here...

No need.

Oh... I recall the days when I had freshly awoken, watching you two fight amongst yourselves, time after time.

I remember the Candleholder asking me anxiously...

'How bad will it get when all your younger siblings are born? Please, give me an estimation so that I can report to the court and get a disaster response plan set up!'

Ahem.

An idea, <i>Dage:</i> Let me speak to Wang, alone.

I will serve as your messenger this time, in order that you need not break anything else.

...Very well.

So, about the weiqi board...

Just leave it, brother. I'll repair it myself. No need to trouble yourself.

Alright.

You are still angry.

I'm not.

You only address him as 'brother' when you are angry.

What were you arguing about? Tell me.

It is just as I thought.

His way is the proper way, but it is slow. If It were to suddenly awaken one day, it would all be too late.

As for you... *sigh*

If you want to argue with him, should you not at least come up with a plan of your own?

He gave up his sword to prove our innocence, the sword that means so very much to him. Do you feel no gratitude?

Are you perhaps... seriously furious that he smashed your board?

No...

I'm just frustrated by his lack of urgency.

We all seek a way. Dusk has even fewer ideas. Does she anger you too?

...No.

Its awakening is accelerating. We are all anxious, and it is understandable that we might provoke the occasional quarrel with inadvertent words.

But it will take centuries for It to awaken. Maintaining a cordial relationship with Yan is the more pressing matter.

Or are you saying that I, too, lack urgency?

No... that's not what I mean.

You said we're all looking for a way.

What are <i>you</i> looking for?

Your ears have merit.

It and I, we are all nothing but a dream.

This is just the seed of an idea, and I know not how far I can go.

But I hope to leave behind a dream.

A dream that It cannot disturb, even if It has fully awakened.