His vision gradually cleared through the blur.
Ju Kui saw the person who had walked up before him... intent gleamed in clear eyes, brows emerged as the mist dispersed—a bright young man with a smile on his face.
Chen Yanxun!
He seemed to hear a sigh from the depths of his heart. Utterly youthful, utterly distant.
"Sir! That man humiliated the people and violated the law in broad daylight. Why was he not punished? Why did you drag me back?"
"That is the son of the regional king..."
"Didn't you say, 'Dharma Has No Second Gate'? If a prince breaks the law, he should share the commoner's punishment. If he does not yield before the law, must the law yield before him—Sir! Where are you going?"
"What I taught you was true learning. The law is not false; the law endures forever. One who is a teacher must constantly set words into books, raise a sword as proof—Ju Kui, do you know why you are called Ju Kui?"
"You said that when you found me, my home had been robbed, and I was hiding in a cabinet..."
"No. I regard you as a treasure; how could I name you carelessly? Kui means deficiency. I gave you this name to tell you—everything has its flaws, and people must ever fill them. You survived because someone gave everything to protect you. Now you are willing to protect others and redress their grievances. That is very good. Go to the Three Punishments Palace. There, you can realize your ideals."
His teacher's back disappeared into the raging flames.
Just as the Ming State Son of Heaven, reeking of decay, vanished beneath the iron hooves of Qi.
So the bright and the dark departed this world in the same way.
Later, he climbed Heavenly Punishment