"All right..."
Wu Tiejiang went out.
Zuo Changlu stood before Blind Hong's corpse, his hands clasped behind his back, and said softly, "Blind man, Old Hong, perhaps anyone else who saw me talking would find it strange, but I know you wouldn't. You can hear me."
"In truth, in this life, I was only Zuo Changlu, and you were only Blind Hong. Perhaps I knew a little more than you did, and harbored a few calculations. But after so many years of friendship, I believe you knew, and could feel it all the more. Our friendship was no illusion."
"I wanted to stop you, to let you live a few more years. Granted, there was some calculation in that, but more than anything, I hoped my friend in this life could remain in this world a few days longer. But man's calculations cannot outmatch Heaven's. In the end, you still went first... Do you know? Your letting go of this mortal world has made me even lonelier."
"Now, even if I want someone to talk to, there's no one left..."
"If I want an opponent, there's even less hope of finding one."
"Even if I want someone to scheme against and match wits with, there's no one left for that either."
"Blind man, you left too early, too soon!"
"My original intention in coming down was to stop you, but not only did I fail, you ended up pinning me here, unable to move. Old Hong... you have something to be proud of."
"This final step... I had Xiao Duo acknowledge you as his godfather. Call it another scheme of mine against you, or call it fulfilling your final wish... adding this layer of karma to you... Old Hong, perhaps one day you'll be the one thanking me!"
"Brother,