The scene was silent as a grave. The soldiers looked at Li Qinglin, every one of their lips trembling, yet all were struck dumb, unable to think of what to say. Li Qinglin had kept his back to them and never turned around. His body had become thin and stooped; Qin Yi knew that if he turned, he might see a face full of wrinkles, no longer the handsome and spirited Li Qinglin he had been.
He took a deep breath and suddenly said, "Fellow Daoist Minghe, have you watched enough of the show?"
The air fell quiet for a moment. A fragrant breeze brushed across their faces, and Minghe abruptly appeared to one side.
"Demons are wreaking havoc in the Crown Prince Residence. Why will you not act?"
"Since I will not kill Ye Ling, naturally I will not kill the other side either. If I am to watch from the sidelines, I should do so thoroughly." Minghe gazed somewhat distractedly at Li Qinglin's white hair as she answered Qin Yi casually.
Qin Yi said, "Has the show ended now, then?"
"..." Minghe fell silent. No observer could have anticipated this outcome. Liusu and Minghe alike had not expected it.
A moment ago, she had also thought that Southern Li's shifting winds and clouds were nothing more than this. Whatever background was draped over it, in the end it could not escape the essence of a struggle for power. Liusu had once found it dull as well, unable to add any lingering flavor to her "long life."
Yet she had not expected an ending like this—one moving enough to touch even transcendents such as them. Even now, Liusu remained silent, and no one knew what she was thinking.
Minghe was the same, her thoughts exceptionally complicated.
Qin Yi bowed