The two looked closely and saw Yi, clad in armor with a bow and arrows on his back, looking up and arguing heatedly with Xiaohei.
The two walked over.
Just then, Yi of the Ancient People raised his hand and thumped his chest hard, declaring passionately:
"Lord Hound God, I! Yi! Am nothing but a broken body. Even if I perish this time, I can still let the descendants of my Yi Clan know that the Great Sun overhead is not beyond our reach!"
Xiaohei spoke just as heatedly:
"And what of it? Will that Great Sun's light cease to be so vicious simply because you try to shoot it down today?"
It sighed, then continued in a gentler tone:
"Yi, you are old now. Why not take off your armor and spend your remaining years in peace with me?"
Yi shook his head.
"Lord Hound God, I am all alone in this world. Shooting down the sun is as good a way as any to end what remains of my life."
Xiaohei slowly lowered its body until its head was level with Yi's, its gaze gentle.
"Yi, you say you are all alone, but what about me? We have known each other since we were young and supported each other all this way. Does that not even make us friends?"
Yi froze where he stood. Only after a long while did he speak:
"Lord Hound God, we are far more than friends."
He embraced Xiaohei's head and said gently:
"In my heart, you have long been family."
But immediately afterward, Yi released his hold on Xiaohei and said with utter resolve:
"But Lord Hound God, this time, I cannot back down."
He turned toward the sky outside the hall, his eyes filled with fury.
"These years of warfare among