Late at night.
Four Seas Pavilion.
Within a secret hall, the Accountant was going over the books.
He was lean, with a goatee and deep, clear eyes. His long, fair fingers flicked deftly over the abacus, making its beads ring with crisp, pleasant chimes.
As the hidden proprietor of Four Seas Pavilion, the Accountant's greatest pleasure was sitting alone late at night, calculating the various accounts piled atop his desk.
Only at such times could he completely relax and savor a tranquility that belonged to him alone.
Yet tonight, he seemed somewhat absent-minded. From time to time, he stopped and stared blankly into space.
"Old Accountant, I've come to see you."
A warm, mellow voice suddenly sounded outside the hall.
As the speaker spoke, the tightly shut doors of the grand hall were pushed open.
An elderly man with grizzled hair and beard walked in.
It was none other than the old servant named Qu He beneath the Tailor's command.
The Accountant narrowed his eyes, his gaze complicated. "I never expected the Master to send you here in person."
Qu He said in surprise, "You already anticipated that the Master would send someone to find you?"
The Accountant did not answer. Instead, he picked up a writing brush and wrote a vermilion annotation at the bottom of the final page of the ledger:
All debts of gratitude and grievance are settled.
The calligraphy was vigorous and ancient, crimson as blood.
Then, the Accountant set down the brush. As though he had been completely unburdened, he gently rubbed the abacus with his fingers. "What I've done best in my life is settle accounts. Not merely accounts of money, but debts of gratitude, grudges, right and wrong."
His voice was calm. As if murmuring to himself, he continued, "Throughout those long years