But Aang was clearly not very satisfied with Kahn's answer. He said, speechless:
"Could you stop brushing me off? I'm being serious!"
"My answer was serious too... all right, all right. If you really insist on some advice, I suppose I'll offer one suggestion."
Unable to hold out against Aang, Kahn said with a smile:
"I don't know what you're thinking, but you'd better think through the possible consequences of each decision before you make it."
"In short, think three times before you act."
Aang gave him a dead-fish stare and quipped:
"Wow, well said. You might as well have said nothing."
Kahn laughed.
"That's how these principles are. Everyone knows them, but not everyone can put them into practice."
Zuko's lips also curled into a smile at that.
"That sounds like something Uncle Iroh would say."
"Haha, exactly. It'd be even closer if I had a cup of tea in my hand and took a little sip!"
"Haha!"
A vivid picture surfaced in both Kahn's and Zuko's minds. They exchanged a smile, leaving everything unspoken.
Aang said helplessly:
"Could we stay on topic, guys? I get the grand principles, but do you have any more specific advice?"
"More specific advice..."
Kahn pondered for a while before saying:
"How about this? For your proposed scenario of 'not killing Ozai,' let me suggest something that might happen."
"For example-"
"'You defeat Ozai, but only lock him in prison rather than killing him. As a result, a considerable number of people in the Fire Nation still regard Ozai as the true Fire Lord and want to rescue him and restore the Fire Nation's glory."
"They lurk in the shadows, quietly awaiting their chance. Finally, one day, they find an opening, successfully assassinate the new Fire Lord, Zuko, rescue Ozai, and unleash another