The candle flame flickered.
Li Taiming sat in his chair, frowning without a word.
Li Xuanxian did not press him. He simply stood before him, waiting quietly.
A long while passed.
Li Taiming slowly raised his head.
"Xuanxian."
"Father."
"Have you thought this through?"
Li Taiming's voice was low, yet every word weighed a thousand tons.
"Once you take this step, there will be no turning back."
At those words, Li Xuanxian paused.
He hesitated briefly.
Then he said, "Father, we never had a choice to begin with, did we?"
"We have no choice?"
Li Taiming repeated the words under his breath.
"Yes, we have no choice."
The hesitation in his eyes vanished completely at that moment.
In its place was unwavering resolve.
He slowly rose.
He lifted his withered hand.
Then he patted Li Xuanxian heavily on the shoulder.
His expression solemn, he said, "Xuanxian, I leave this matter to you."
With that, he took a Jade Talisman from his sleeve.
"Take my Jade Talisman and go to Yang Province yourself. Pay that person a visit on behalf of our branch. But remember, you must conceal your movements. Do not let anyone from the palace discover you."
Li Xuanxian solemnly accepted the Jade Talisman and tucked it into his sleeve.
He bent at the waist.
And bowed deeply to Li Taiming.
"Your son takes his leave."
He turned and walked out of the study.
His footsteps receded along the corridor.
Soon, they could no longer be heard.
Li Taiming was alone in the study.
He stood where he was for a long time.
Then he blew out the candle on the desk.
Deep within the Duke of Zhenguo Residence.
A stone staircase led downward.
Li Taiming descended alone.
The staircase was extremely long, without a single lamp on