When a person finally recognizes reality and bows their head before love and responsibility, is that called maturity?
Or is it childish to remain arrogant, never knowing the height of heaven or depth of earth, forever burning oneself away, forever battling heaven and fighting earth?
Dou Zhao did not know.
Since preparations for the Yellow River Assembly began, Jiang Wang had worn countless smiling faces and bowed his head countless times. At last, he drew his sword and challenged everyone without restriction.
After True Insight, Dou Zhao had repeatedly faced opponents far too powerful, repeatedly been left battered and humiliated. Yet even Dou Zhao, who had considered his clan and worried over affairs of state, opened his eyes still flamboyant and unruly.
He had indeed sheathed his edge and seriously considered that Great Chu's affairs should come first.
But with him, Dou Zhao, in Great Chu, what could be more important?
Thinking not without conceit, if he no longer possessed his edge, that would be the Dou Clan's choice least mindful of national affairs.
He believed in himself with just such arrogance, and raised his blade with just such pride.
If one feared nothing under heaven, how could one become the Sky Brave?
Blade and sword shone together upon the stage, the young men fierce and blazing.
Below the stage, Zhong Xuanyin of the Historians used his finger as a knife, swiftly carving the years and inscribing bamboo slips.
The words read—
"Jiang Wang resolved to slay the Human Demon, but was obstructed by the Li Emperor. Thus, with Longing, he cleaved open an unrestricted challenge... Dou Zhao answered."
The crucial point was that he was not writing this in secret. Every word hung suspended in the air, reflected across the sky, heard throughout the Present World.
Hong Junyan's expression