He had died for this great case, but could they now count it as a complete victory?
Of course not.
He had merely kept the enemy from succeeding, but they had still taken the [Heart of the Western Court], Miss Ming was still gravely wounded, so many people in Shaolong and Xilong had died because of it, and the murderer who had ended Sect Leader Li's life and severed Piao Qing's arm was now roaming free beyond the law.
Leaving behind only everything he had destroyed.
Pei Ye lowered his eyes and gently stroked the strangely beautiful sword in his hand, remembering with extraordinary clarity how the gray-eyed old man had looked as he spoke his last words to him.
"The crane died on Kunlun." He murmured it softly, his voice rough, then tightened his grip on the sword and rose from the wall.
Of course, things were already very good now.
Pei Ye closed his eyes briefly.
After all, many people were still alive, and relief now filled the air. Everyone rejoiced at having uprooted great swathes of the Joy-in-Death Tower, relieved that Yunlang's successor had not truly died beneath its hidden claws. Someone not yet captured was, after all, also someone on the run.
Pei Ye did not want to dampen everyone's spirits too much. Despite the carnage, this was a victory, after all-there would be plenty of time ahead.
He pressed those feelings deep into his heart and pulled a smile onto his lips.
He had risen and was about to leave when the young man beside him, named Hong Liang, suddenly called him back.
"Oh? Since you're here, Young Hero Pei, could you help us take a look?" Hong Liang said. "I remember you seemed quite versed in fire techniques. Following the Sima lead, we found