The old man fell silent.
Thought flickered in his eyes, and finally he nodded gently. "Yes."
"Good!"
Sun Wen glanced toward the distance, where people were gradually approaching. "In that case, senior, does deciding someone's life or death on your word alone accord with the beliefs of the Human Race?"
The old man slowly shook his head. "No."
"You've cultivated to the Sixth Awakening, senior. Among our Human Race, you stand among the powerful, protecting the common people."
"Does speaking so lightly of life and death honor the fallen pioneers of the Human Race?"
Sun Wen asked again.
The old man sighed softly, and the sword suspended in the air slowly dispersed into points of light.
"I have walked the path of the pioneers."
"None of us has the right to speak of forgiving our grievances with the Demon Clan."
"But A Tai... was born human, and none of what he experienced was his own wish. What is being tested now is merely A Tai's heart and character."
"To cut off someone's path before there is any outcome..."
"That is not the Human Race I believe in."
Sun Wen's expression was solemn. He faced the old man without servility or arrogance, standing firmly in front of A Tai.
"I believe we should go to Ink City."
"This matter must ultimately have an answer."
"An answer proclaimed to the world."
"Reason must be debated."
"What do you think, senior?"
The old man remained silent for a long time before shaking his head gently. "But Ink City is, after all, the resting place of our Human Race's ancient sages. A Demon..."
"Oh, give it a rest."
"All this hemming and hawing. Anyone can see this is between Ink Pavilion and the Demon Domain."
"At the very least, it's that child's own business."