"Interesting." Qian Chou seemed thoughtful. "In your view, is death the only equality?"
"Death isn't equal either, especially not in my line of work." Yin Guan's hands never stopped moving, his tone casual. "Different people have different prices here. The equality I mean comes after death. Hero or treacherous villain, noble or lowly commoner—everyone shares the same yellow earth, everyone is feasted on by the same white maggots."
"Kill everyone, and only then can there be true equality?" Qian Chou asked from the mouth of the cave.
"I was just saying—" Yin Guan lifted his eyes with some alarm, looking at his back. "Your ideals aren't that extreme, are they?"
Qian Chou did not turn around. He stood bathed in the daylight beyond the cave. "How could they be? The equality we pursue is equality between people. If people no longer exist, what meaning does equality have?"
Yin Guan nodded and continued stitching.
Qian Chou added, "Aren't you going to ask how we intend to achieve that?"
"Better not." Yin Guan said meaningfully, "I'm afraid you'll persuade me."
"You don't hope for a better world?" Qian Chou asked.
"I'm not someone who takes responsibility upon myself. I only hope to have a better life myself." At last, Yin Guan finished stitching himself up and began to dress at an unhurried pace, as though he were refined rather than in agony. "Of course, the prerequisite for a better life is killing those who won't let me live properly."
"Is that so?" Qian Chou did not seem inclined to press the matter, his tone mild. "In a certain sense, we can walk the same path."
"From this day on, you are Hell's Gate's most honored client." Yin Guan finally draped on a black robe, tied the Yama Mask at his waist, and