The supply lines and the troops' morale have been stretched to the limit.
Shuo
We cannot afford to be reckless when fighting demons. To push forward would be very risky.
Zuo Xuanliao
We're so close...!
Shuo
It's already a remarkable victory, General.
Shuo
The demons of the north feed on the fear in men's hearts... this is the first time I've seen a general press on without fear, even with the entire army's fate upon your shoulders.
Zuo Xuanliao
There is nothing to fear!
Zuo Xuanliao
These things have harmed our people, ruined cities and farms... I only wish we could have wiped them out in this battle!
Zuo Xuanliao
Give me twenty years, I swear, I will see all the demons wiped out!
And we have received no instructions from Baizao in the past three days.
Zuo Xuanliao
The Sui Regulator should be communicating with Yumen, regardless of what is happening in the Tomb of Sui...
Zuo Xuanliao
Send out messengers—
Yumen Sentry
Sir! They're forcing their way in!
Zuo Xuanliao
What is the meaning of this?
Military Supervisory Censor
General Zuo.
Zuo Xuanliao
It is most irregular to invade my tent like this, even for the military supervisory censor.
Zuo Xuanliao
On whose orders are you operating?
Military Supervisory Censor
The Grand Commandant has sent me to question you on the unnecessary delay.
Zuo Xuanliao
Ridiculous!
Zuo Xuanliao
Yumen has been on full alert since it received the order to mobilize. There has been no delay!
Military Supervisory Censor
Have you forgotten that Yumen received orders to arrive at Baizao by the last day of July at the beginning of the year, but arrived three days late? What is this, if not a delay?
Yumen Sentry
Yumen was struck by a Catastrophe at the beginning of the year, and the repairs took two months! The imperial court must have known—
Zuo Xuanliao
Silence!
Zuo Xuanliao
Hmph... I take responsibility for Yumen's delay.
Zuo Xuanliao
Did you come to strip me of command, then?
Military Supervisory Censor
You know the Grand Commandant thinks highly of you.
Military Supervisory Censor
But it seems, now, that you do not trust the Grand Commandant.
Zuo Xuanliao
Such words are inappropriate for a solemn place like this.
Military Supervisory Censor
Kindly instruct Yumen to travel twenty li in the direction of the Tomb of Sui.
Zuo Xuanliao
Yumen is already as close as it is allowed to be under standby. Why should we approach any closer?
Zuo Xuanliao
The situation in the Tomb of Sui is yet unclear. Are you saying that Yumen should attack?
Military Supervisory Censor
Your duty is to obey. There is no need to question.
Zuo Xuanliao
What is His Imperial Majesty's will?
Military Supervisory Censor
Are you questioning your orders, General Zuo?
Zuo Xuanliao
I cannot abide such questionable orders!
Military Supervisory Censor
If you will not accept your orders, then I must ask you to leave this tent.
Yumen Sentry
How dare you!
Zuo Xuanliao
Stop!
Military Supervisory Censor
My presence here represents the will of the Grand Commandant.
Military Supervisory Censor
All you need to do is obey. Even if His Imperial Majesty questions, he can find no fault in your actions.
Military Supervisory Censor
The bestial Sui is awakening. War is inevitable. Do you still intend to defy orders and paralyze Yumen with inaction?
Military Supervisory Censor
We are at a crisis. The lives of millions hinge on your decision—including your wife and son, who are still in the Baizao city.
Zuo Xuanliao
How dare you?!
Military Supervisory Censor
Not us. You, General.
Military Supervisory Censor
According to the estimates of the Ministry of War, Baizao will be doomed as long as you continue to defy orders, and Yumen remains unmoving.
Military Supervisory Censor
There is no time. We will wait here until you have come to a decision.
It has changed, but it is still recognizable as the court that judges all matters under Heaven.
Chen Che
Why have you come back at this time, when you have not done so for so many years?
Jun
I have an appointment I cannot miss.
Chen Che
But you took the time to come to the Judicial Review Office. Did you want to see if your successors have disappointed you?
Jun
My views are insignificant. The Judicial Review Office should only think about not disappointing the people of Yan.
Chen Che
One of the deputy ministers resigned recently. It's a shame—you would have liked her.
Jun
I hope she didn't resign because she was disappointed.
Chen Che
Hard to say...
Chen Che
Do you still play the guqin?
Jun
'Never forget the five sounds, for that they ensure proper virtue.' I have also been trying out new instruments recently.
Chen Che
I see... more pleasant than studying the Laws of Yan, I expect.
Jun
It is an interesting discipline.
Chen Che
I read the Basic Principles of the Laws of Yan that you left behind many times, but I could never understand the last third.
Chen Che
I spent so much time studying it that I almost failed my Ministry of Justice entrance exam. Maybe I would have become a Candleholder.
Chen Che
It took many years for me to understand... the justice that you wrote about lay beyond the mortal realm.
Jun
Just as one cannot draw what one has never seen, one cannot write about conscience that does not exist in their hearts.
Jun
If justice is nowhere to be seen in the mortal realm, then one must consider—has someone blinded our eyes?
Chen Che
You still bear a grudge for what happened back then.
Jun
Should I not?
Chen Che
What about the people who died in the turmoil? The innocent souls who were dragged into the game? Should they bear a grudge against him?
Jun
Yes, they should.
Chen Che
Then how do you seek a fair judgment for it?
Jun
You forget.
Jun
Not one law of Yan was written for the sole purpose of resolving hatred.
Jun
It is someone else who should be judged.
Chen Che
Looks like you're not worried about what will happen to your brother in the Tomb of Sui. You're more worried about the judgment he'll receive.
Jun
Justice has never been concerned with life and death. He and I seek different things.
Chen Che
You're right, but at a time like this... I can't help but feel...
Chen Che
Law and regulations were written by humans, but the supreme law in your heart that transcends the strife of the mortal realm... may never be found there.
Chen Che
But just this once... if the time comes that we put the sinner on trial, I will put you in the judge's chair.
Jun
You're correct.
Jun
And it's been a long time since I judged anyone.
Jun
I take my leave.
Chen Che
There's no rush, is there? Join me in a cup of mortal tea before you leave.
Jun
Oh?
Chen Che
It takes mortal hands to make and serve the best mortal tea, after all.
<p=2>One day before the day of the full moon, Hour of Yu</>One day before the day of the full moon, Hour of Yu
Mo Yi
The Sky Mirror Pavilion is bigger than I thought... that's the sealed room on the top floor, right?
Mo Yi
How about someone knocks on the door and figures out how to open it?
Ch'en
There's no one here. I think we're the first.
Ch'en
There is one thing that I don't quite understand, Zuo Le.
Ch'en
If the Grand Commandant is after the proxy's relic, I take it that he knows how to use it to neutralize the bestial Sui?
Zuo Le
He is one of the three Grand Ministers. If he made plans to obtain it, then he has certainly made plans to use it.
Zuo Le
I even find myself wondering... if someone takes the opportunity to erase another proxy's name with the writing knife while Wang is fighting Sui...
Ch'en
But what does all this have to do with Wei Yenwu?
Mo Yi
The Grand Commandant wouldn't have needed the writing knife if he was that powerful. He could have gone into the Tomb of Sui and killed Sui with his own bare hands.
Zuo Le
What ideas do YOU have, then?
Mo Yi
I didn't really care about you and your official stuff, but I have a pretty good idea what's going on after listening to you guys talk.
Mo Yi
Basically, the crown prince who went missing forty years ago after being suspected of staging a coup is back. Am I right?
Ch'en Chao-ch'ien
Do not speak of it so casually!
Mo Yi
Gah, I'm not wasting my time arguing with you.
Mo Yi
Basically, there's another direct descendant of the True Lung here in Baizao. That explains everything.
Ch'en
What are you getting at?
Mo Yi
Have you never heard of the special Originium under Baizao used to suppress Sui?
Mo Yi
Miss Ch'en here is from Lungmen, so it's understandable that she doesn't know. But you two should... unless it's above your rank?
Ch'en Chao-ch'ien
Do you mean...?
Ch'en Chao-ch'ien
'The Earth's blessings have granted this stone to its people; the Heaven's blessings shall bring an end to Sui.'
Ch'en Chao-ch'ien
A legend associated with the Great Hunt. I thought it was a myth, maybe some kind of allegory...
Zuo Le
All I know is that the Tomb of Sui was built around a special facility...
Mo Yi
Alright, I guess you don't know.
Zuo Le
Why do YOU know?
Mo Yi
I guess the Sui Regulator left no record of who gave Yan this Originium either.
Mo Yi
It was our grandmaster, Ju's first friend, and the first Shanhaizhong.
Zuo Le
?!
Mo Yi
To be precise, it was a personal gift to the True Lung. Meaning—
Ch'en Chao-ch'ien
What happened?
Zuo Le
Looks like the evacuation of the civilians is complete, and the plates are beginning to separate.
Zuo Le
Time is short. We should retrieve—
???
So you really made it here.
Ch'en
Who's—
A figure approaches them from the other side of the corridor.
