Concession

"Repay with death?"

"A Grandmaster for a Grandmaster, a Great Grandmaster for a Great Grandmaster—higher is acceptable, lower is not. One life for one life, thereby exempting oneself from the death penalty. Once the death penalty is waived, the lesser punishment becomes easier to handle."

Liang Qu's tongue tied itself in knots. For a moment, he did not know what to say.

After a long while.

"Why is there such a rule?"

"Concession."

"Concession?"

The Old Monk chuckled. "If a prince breaks the law, is he truly punished the same as a commoner?"

Liang Qu fell silent.

"Human strength has limits, thus there are families, clans, villages, and nations. Husband and wife may part ways; branches of a lineage may split from their roots. Hearts are not one, greed knows no fullness, and unity must entail compromise.

"When one side is powerful, the other must concede. Thus came the saying of exchanging death for life, lest people be driven to a dead end and turn traitor completely. Without such a measure, what do you think would become of Prefect Jian?"

After a brief thought, the answer immediately surfaced in Liang Qu's mind.

"Conceal it forever. If it were exposed—death, or joining the Ghost Mother Sect or Great Snow Mountain."

"And with this measure?"

"An old Grandmaster of the Jian Family in Qingzhou dies, Jian Zhongyi returns to Qingzhou, then waits for the right time?"

"Precisely."

So that was how it was...

"Would the Jian Family's old Grandmaster be willing?"

"At this point, he has most likely already laid out his escape route. The Jian Family originally had three True Images. Whether he is willing or not, I fear that old elder no longer has the choice."

"Master, you..."

Liang Qu knew the Old Monk had come to hunt the Heretical