The blade.
Danced lightly.
Sheng pipes and flutes sounded across Floating Island. The breeze was gentle, the bright moon hanging high.
Amid the magnificent music, the blade settled against the man's neck.
"Wait!"
The man could not move a muscle, yet he showed no panic. He merely said calmly:
"Why be so hasty? Patricide and assassinating the family head violate the rules and would do immense harm to your reputation."
"Child, wait a little longer-once I pass the position of family head to you, I will kill myself!"
"This is my truest 'love,' a father's final request to his children."
Song Qingyun's expression had been calm, her gaze untroubled, but at these words, she suddenly burst into uncontrollable, shrill laughter.
"Hahahaha! How ridiculous you sound."
She held the blade, her expression composed, her eyes losing focus as she sank into memories.
A long while passed.
Her tone turned cold:
"You think you're fit to speak of 'love'?"
"Not just you. The entire human race is unfit to serve as a vessel for 'love.'"
"-Human hearts are too fickle. Human feelings come and go without any fixed time. They are the cheapest, most insubstantial things in the world."
She stepped forward and stood before the man.
The long blade.
-Slowly rose again.
"Why are you crying, Father? You're the head of the Song Family, commanding the Thirty-Six Aristocratic Families, a truly important man. Are those tears of remorse?"
"Wonderful," the man said.
The blade stopped.
"What do you mean?" Song Qingyun asked.
"You're wonderful. The Song Family... really should be handed over to you."
The man murmured, then abruptly raised his head, his words suddenly swift and decisive-
"Qingyun, you are a true head of an aristocratic family, ruthless and decisive, unshackled by family ties."
"-Unlike a fool like me, who