Why had Shadow Face seen through everything in Bowang; why had Qu Zhu never obstructed his investigation during his first stretch of time in Kongtong; why had he been able to unravel [Mirror Dragon Sword Sea]; why... had Lord Wuhui concealed his death from him...
Pei Ye watched himself press his sword against this friend's throat. This dying traitor was no longer unfeeling, nor was he pretending anymore. He tilted his head and looked at him sorrowfully. "Qu Zhu... the lay of the land made it so; it did not come about in a single day."
The blade paused, then swept fiercely sideways. The faceless head rolled to the ground.
Only one person had ever survived the Great Heavenly Tides twenty years ago.
Qu Zhu leaned quietly beneath the wall of snow. He could barely move, and no longer wanted to. He let the wind and snow quietly bury him, raising his sword to reflect his face before his eyes. Only then did Pei Ye realize that this face alone had never blurred.
So clear and familiar, with both the pride of his years before thirty and the cold severity of his years after thirty appearing on it at once.
Only about a quarter of an hour passed before more black-robed figures descended on this place. The leader wore purple and gold as his face, and a silent shadow pressed toward him.
"Joy-in-Death Tower..." the gravely wounded man rasped, raising his eyes to these unfamiliar enemies. "Do you want a planted agent in the Prefectural Office?"
"You already have the Heart of the Western Court! We were helping you obtain [Great Liang]!!" Sima roared hoarsely. This Lord of the Mask, who seemed eternally composed, was now almost hysterical. "Do you have any idea what you're doing?!"
Qu Zhu slowly straightened