Wuli endured the crushing pressure. The cold seemed to freeze his thoughts, and the words slipped out before he could stop them. "I know Z is Black Arm Zephyr, a former Marine Admiral. He devoted so much of his life to the Marines. I respect him, and I want him to live."
Kuzan said nothing. The air seemed to grow colder still.
Was Kuzan unhappy with Wuli's answer? Were they going to die here? Shangyang grew uneasy. Why do we keep running into monsters like this? And does the Sword Master have a hole in his head? How is Kuzan supposed to understand if he doesn't say more?
"That was a terrible answer. You didn't tell me your name or clear up my doubts. But whatever you know, I can't be bothered to dig any deeper." Kuzan met Wuli's steady gaze and scratched his head.
Wuli's answer had been terrible, but it was sincere. Kuzan had learned a great deal from it, too.
Sensing the tension, Kuzan said evenly, "I'm not a Marine anymore, but I'm not going to do anything to you just because you showed up out of nowhere and raised a few questions. I'm waiting for someone. You can go."
With that, Kuzan turned to get back into the hot spring. He clearly had no interest in pursuing the matter.
The chill faded. The ice sealing the hot spring melted, steam rose from the water, and the air gradually warmed.
Shangyang relaxed, only for Wuli's next words to make his heart leap into his throat again. He looked at Wuli.
"Are you really not going to bring back your former teacher Zephyr, now that he's lost his way?"
Kuzan stopped in his tracks. Of course he wanted that, but he had no idea how to do it—or