◎I Fear Living Under Cui Heng’s Wings◎

Hearing Zhang Yiran speak, Luo Wanqing was momentarily speechless. Ignoring him, she pushed open the door and saw that this was a huge room filled with bookshelves containing various documents.

Seeing so many documents, Luo Wanqing frowned. How could she find Zhang Yiran’s identity proof among all these? And information about Jiang Fengwan?

“Split up and search.”

Luo Wanqing glanced back at Zhang Yiran. Not wanting to waste time, she gritted her teeth: “You look for identity documents related to Zhang Jiuran, I’ll look for what I need.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yiran’s eyes widened. Luo Wanqing ignored him and began searching through the documents on the shelves.

Though there were many documents on the shelves, they were all categorized. After flipping through several books, Luo Wanqing roughly found the pattern.

She stood at the shelf specifically for death warrior records, seeing that they were organized by time. She calculated Jiang Fengwan’s age – he was similar to her father’s age, around forty. Death warriors were mostly trained from before age ten, so the entry time would be forty to thirty years ago.

She quickly flipped through the volumes from that period one by one, finally finding Jiang Fengwan’s name in a volume from thirty-five years ago.

It recorded his life history and martial world identity.

He was the Fengyu Pavilion master before Xiang Sizi, famous in the martial world as a sword saint. Twenty-two years ago, he was summoned back to the Eastern Capital…

Twenty-two years ago.

Luo Wanqing vaguely felt this timing was familiar, but couldn’t recall immediately. She turned the page and saw a familiar yet strange face.

Luo Wanqing was stunned.

That face had accompanied her for many years. When she was young, he was still a youth. When she last saw him, he was already middle-aged.

In the portrait, he held a bow, high-spirited, clearly still in his youth, but she was so familiar with him that she could recognize his features at a glance.

Luo Wanqing looked at the name beside the portrait.

Luo Shuangye, alias Luo Qushu. In the fourth year of Qiandong, ordered to infiltrate the Cui family as a family retainer, highly trusted. Close friends with Jiang Fengwan, like brothers.

Luo Wanqing stared blankly at these words, her brain buzzing, unable to process them.

Luo Qushu…

Her father was a death warrior from the Wang family, ordered to spy on the Cui family?!

Did her mother know?

And Li Guiyu…

Did he know?

What had happened in the Northern Territory? What role had her father played? Why had Li Guiyu framed her family?

Luo Wanqing looked at the book, her hands trembling slightly.

Just then, a long silk ribbon suddenly attacked, accompanied by a cold female voice: “How dare you!”

Luo Wanqing saw the attacker – it was the veiled woman who had brought them here. She spun in the air and rushed toward the door.

The woman pursued urgently, shouting: “Don’t run!”

Luo Wanqing didn’t plan to run – there were their people everywhere outside, so running would be useless.

She rushed to the door. The woman’s white silk chased swiftly. Luo Wanqing flipped in the air, and the long silk crashed into the mechanism controlling the stone door with a “boom.” The stone door crashed down. Luo Wanqing didn’t hesitate and charged at the woman, throwing a vicious punch while shouting at Zhang Yiran: “Keep looking!”

Zhang Yiran was so frightened that his hands shook, but he didn’t dare slack off and began frantically searching for his identity documents.

The woman noticed there was someone else and quickly looked toward Zhang Yiran.

Luo Wanqing gave her no chance, her fists falling like rain as she madly hammered at the woman!

The two were very close, and the short distance made her punches extremely fast.

The woman didn’t dare be distracted, responding very quickly to Luo Wanqing’s punches. After a moment, she realized this was disadvantageous and touched her toe to leap away, sending two white silk ribbons toward Luo Wanqing.

Her white silk was sharp as blades in her hands. Luo Wanqing rolled toward the nearby bookshelf, and the white silk instantly sliced through a row of bookshelves.

Seeing her fall to the ground, the woman continuously manipulated the white silk to pursue, angrily demanding: “What exactly are you here to do?”

“Don’t you know what we’re here for?”

Luo Wanqing observed her fighting style, using the bookshelves to constantly evade her attacks.

This woman’s martial arts were on par with Zhao Yuyan’s. Last time, she had beaten Zhao Yuyan by poisoning her, which was lucky. This time, she wasn’t confident about fighting this person head-on and could only dodge while observing.

The woman pursued her all the way, saying coldly, “Who sent you? The Supervision Department or Li Guiyu?”

“What do you think?”

Luo Wanqing rolled while holding the book scroll. The woman saw the book in her hands and her expression turned cold: “Have the Supervision Department and Li Guiyu joined forces?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak. The white silk came like snakes from two directions. Luo Wanqing’s expression hardened. She pulled her Qianji and instantly entangled the two white silks together, yanking the woman toward her!

The woman came at her for a moment. Luo Wanqing flicked her Qianji, and the blade instantly shot out hundreds of poisoned pear blossom needles.

The woman was startled and released the white silk to retreat quickly. Luo Wanqing took the opportunity to slash horizontally with her blade! The woman hastily drew her sword. The two blades crashed together violently. Luo Wanqing felt a “boom” impact, her palm stinging, but—

She hadn’t lost.

Her internal energy circulated throughout her body, much better than initially.

The woman looked up in surprise. Luo Wanqing gripped her Qianji, sensing her improvement and feeling pleased.

Since she began martial arts half a year ago, she hadn’t rested for a single day, meditating and practicing daily, starting from the basics, never stopping even when injured.

Now, with each slash, she felt the power flowing from her hand, controlled freely, completely under her command. She couldn’t help but feel wild with confidence, each strike falling like a mountain, domineering and surging.

She was fierce, and her opponent was equally strong. The two blades clashed wildly, and the entire library was littered with books from their battle.

As their blades crossed, Zhang Yiran suddenly shouted: “I found it!”

The moment he spoke, a tremendous “boom” suddenly came from outside.

Everyone instinctively looked over. Moments later, a second thunderous sound roared.

This sound was completely different from the first.

The first seemed like a door being forcibly broken open – the Supervision Department people must have stormed in.

But the second sound…

“It’s explosives!”

Zhang Yiran shouted.

Luo Wanqing instantly realized that this Dark Pavilion must have some self-destruct mechanism that would begin self-destructing the moment the Supervision Department forced their way in.

At that moment, “boom” sounds came one after another, everything spinning around them. The woman didn’t hesitate and rushed madly toward one location.

Luo Wanqing knew this must be a safe passage and immediately followed closely. Zhang Yiran also hurried to rush over.

The woman pressed a brick, and a door immediately opened. Luo Wanqing grabbed the woman’s collar and flung her out, then kicked Zhang Yiran, who had just reached the door, inside!

As soon as Zhang Yiran entered, the mechanism door instantly closed, and Zhang Yiran completely disappeared.

The woman was flung away by Luo Wanqing, barely landing, then immediately looked up and cursed through gritted teeth: “You’re seeking death!”

But after speaking, the ground exploded with a “boom.”

Both had no time for more words and rolled on the ground to avoid the collapsing roof.

Seeing the situation, the woman had no time to curse and urgently said, “Let’s break down the door together!”

Luo Wanqing understood this must be the way out. She couldn’t worry about positions and rushed toward the door with the woman. Both held their swords and put all their strength into slashing at the door!

Under their combined full-force strike, the stone door shattered, revealing a young man standing at the entrance.

Li Guiyu wore blue robes, standing calmly outside the door.

Rocks fell like rain around them, everyone frantically escaping, but he alone seemed unaffected by it all. Only when the door burst open did he calmly look up, then—

Drew his sword.

That sword went toward the woman, unstoppable. Luo Wanqing took the opportunity to rush out urgently.

Li Guiyu glanced back and instantly returned his sword, flinging it toward Luo Wanqing!

But the sword wind still sliced across the woman’s neck, creating a bloody mark. The woman gritted her teeth and looked up. Seeing the flying sword chasing Luo Wanqing, she flung her long blade, just as the flying sword was about to catch Luo Wanqing, heavily striking down the sword’s body and rushing out together with Luo Wanqing.

“We’re even.”

The woman stepped ahead of her, saying coldly: “Next time we meet, I’ll kill you!”

“What’s your name?”

Luo Wanqing kicked away a falling rock and dodged Li Guiyu’s attack from behind.

The woman threw a stone at Li Guiyu and leaped away.

“Wang Yunzhi.”

The woman’s voice hadn’t faded when she had already disappeared.

Her last stone blocked Li Guiyu momentarily. In that brief pause, Luo Wanqing rushed straight out. Li Guiyu’s expression turned cold as he chased after Luo Wanqing, speeding outward.

Explosions were everywhere around them. Luo Wanqing dodged falling rocks while hearing Li Guiyu call from behind: “Liu Xiniang!”

The moment he spoke, sword intent surged from behind like a tide. Luo Wanqing was struck by the sword intent with a “boom” and was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground.

She didn’t dare stop, swallowing the bloody taste in her mouth and rolling forward to continue rushing ahead.

Li Guiyu pursued urgently. She rushed out the door, and the sound of rushing water filled her ears. Looking up, she discovered that Fengyu Pavilion’s Dark Pavilion was built on a mountainside above a river channel. Ahead was only a long bridge connecting to the opposite shore.

It was early morning, with fine rain falling. Mist hadn’t dispersed in the forest, and birds were silent.

The great river below the bridge roared deafeningly, interweaving with the explosion sounds behind like mountains collapsing and earth splitting, heaven and earth shaking.

Luo Wanqing ran wildly across the long bridge, fleeing between life and death.

At this moment, a young man approached with an umbrella, black cloak, and white robes, hair like a waterfall, pale hands with Qianji pearl bracelets, walking steadily between heaven and earth.

Seeing that young man, Luo Wanqing’s eyes immediately brightened.

The second wave of sword intent surged from behind. Luo Wanqing ran wildly toward the young man, crying out: “Young Master!”

The moment she spoke, the young man wrapped his arm around her waist, following her momentum to lean back, his rain umbrella spinning toward Li Guiyu.

Raindrops on the umbrella spun, each drop carrying deadly intent, tinkling as they struck Li Guiyu’s sword.

Luo Wanqing heard the sound of raindrops hitting the sword and looked up.

Raindrops fell on the young man’s brow like a tear from Guanyin, flowing down his features, sliding past his cold eyes, and falling into his collar.

He was extremely handsome, every stroke exquisite as a painting, intense black and pure white. His entire being seemed to blend with the landscape. When he looked up, all colors of heaven and earth seemed to fade.

Luo Wanqing stared blankly at Xie Heng, looking up, as if seeing mountains and rivers like a scroll.

It wasn’t until the umbrella crashed heavily to the ground that Luo Wanqing suddenly awakened. She instinctively turned back, but Xie Heng pressed her head firmly, forcing her to turn back.

Luo Wanqing looked up in surprise, seeing Xie Heng’s eyes restraining his emotions, asking coldly: “Still looking? Don’t you want to live?”

Xie Heng was very close to her, with a cold fragrance similar to Cui Heng’s around her nose. When Luo Wanqing reacted, she was startled and quickly retreated, then hurriedly knelt, saying urgently: “Greetings to the Young Master.”

Seeing her panicked appearance, Xie Heng’s movement to help her paused.

He pressed his lips together and couldn’t help saying: “What are you afraid of?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t dare look up. She didn’t know either.

She looked down at the ground, only lowering her head to plead guilty: “This subordinate took Zhang Sir to risk danger without informing the Young Master. This subordinate is guilty.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng became angry, but knew this wasn’t the time to argue with Luo Wanqing.

He glanced at Li Guiyu, who had already run toward the forest, then looked at the chiefs continuously escaping from Dark Pavilion ahead.

These chiefs were the people Luo Wanqing had called, arriving before him.

They had followed far behind Li Guiyu. Li Guiyu had killed the guards first and entered, and then they followed with the assault.

Unexpectedly, after forcing their way to the second level and using gunpowder to blast open the stone door, Dark Pavilion initiated self-destruction. Fortunately, Fang Zhi, Fang Yuan, and others clearly understood the purpose of coming to Dark Pavilion and hurried inside to find the location of the library, frantically moving Dark Pavilion’s documents.

These chiefs all came out carrying documents. Everything around was chaotic. Luo Wanqing secretly glanced behind her, then heard Xie Heng press his lips and say: “Get up, let’s go arrange things first.”

“Yes.”

Luo Wanqing stood up, walked around Xie Heng, wanting to retreat to the opposite mountain.

After walking just a few steps, she saw with her peripheral vision Zhang Yiran stumbling out of a cave at the foot of the mountain.

Now there were rolling stones everywhere. Zhang Yiran, a scholar with no strength to truss a chicken, though he had learned some martial arts and was in decent physical condition, found it still extremely difficult in such an environment.

Seeing this, Luo Wanqing immediately flipped and leaped down. Xie Heng heard the sound behind him and turned to see her leap from the high bridge. Xie Heng rushed forward two steps urgently. Seeing the direction she was going below the bridge, he finally became angry and couldn’t help shouting sternly: “Liu Xiniang!”

Luo Wanqing landed on the ground and grabbed Zhang Yiran just as he was about to fall. Hearing Xie Heng’s angry shout, she looked back in surprise.

She had never seen Xie Heng have such obvious emotional fluctuations. He must be very angry, but she couldn’t immediately understand what she had done to make Xie Heng so furious.

She had no time to think more, supporting Zhang Yiran and touching her toe to the ground, climbing the mountain path, and grabbing him to speed toward the safe mountain ahead.

Seeing that Luo Wanqing was safe, Xie Heng closed his eyes and calmed his emotions.

Fang Yuan approached from the side, respectfully saying: “Director, Dark Pavilion will probably collapse completely. What should we do now?”

“Evacuate everyone inside. No need to die for a few papers. Seal the mountain,” Xie Heng looked at the Dark Pavilion people escaping around them and said coldly, “Search for people.”

“Yes.”

Fang Yuan responded.

Xie Heng flicked his sleeves and turned to walk back toward the injured personnel arrangement area.

Luo Wanqing carried Zhang Yiran, running all the way. Zhang Yiran was poked in the stomach by the hairpin on her head and couldn’t help calling: “Miss… Miss Qingqing… slower…”

“We’re here.”

Luo Wanqing touched her toe and leaped onto the platform for injured personnel, throwing Zhang Yiran to the ground and immediately directing nearby doctors: “Check him first.”

With that, Luo Wanqing sat cross-legged on the ground, closed her eyes, and began meditating to heal her injuries.

Li Guiyu’s sword intent earlier had been too strong, shocking her internal organs, which still hurt.

A nearby doctor came to check Luo Wanqing and Zhang Yiran, confirmed they had no serious injuries, and then went to see the other wounded.

Zhang Yiran was simply bandaged. Seeing Luo Wanqing meditating, he didn’t dare disturb her and sat under a tree to the side with the box he had taken from Dark Pavilion.

People around were busy coming and going, but he alone was very quiet. He lowered his head and opened the box, looking at the contents.

Those were things from before he and his mother, Zhao Sufen, came to the Eastern Capital.

Inside were their past identity documents, gold and silver locks from his childhood, and documents from when he changed his name at the government office.

That was many years ago, done by someone called Xiang Sizi.

At that time, he was still called Zhang Jiuran. His father had just died, his sister was seriously ill, and he and his mother begged on the streets daily.

Later, one day, when he and his mother went begging and returned, they found his sister was gone.

Then came that person called Xiang Sizi, who told them Zhang Jiuran had exceptional bones and intelligence and had been accepted into a famous sect with unlimited prospects.

But entering such a great sect required abandoning worldly attachments. He asked if they were willing to let Zhang Jiuran go up the mountain, then change names and not affect Zhang Jiuran’s future.

How could they not be willing?

They could give Zhang Jiuran nothing, not even money to save her life and buy medicine. They could only let Zhang Jiuran leave.

When leaving, his mother comforted him, saying that from then on, his sister could live a good life.

At that time, he didn’t understand. In confusion, he followed Xiang Sizi to the Eastern Capital and found a poor scholar. That scholar’s mother was seriously ill. For money, he accepted him as an adopted son. He and his mother both changed names, and the scholar claimed to the world that he had a wife and child.

After that, the scholar’s mother quickly died from illness. Within a few years, the scholar also died from depression.

Only his mother and he, now called Zhang Yiran, remained.

The scholar had taught him well during those years, reading and writing. He was very talented, entered an academy, became a disciple of the great scholar Wen Huairu, then passed the imperial examinations and entered service, recommended by Wen Huairu to become a student under the Imperial Censor.

He was upright by nature, but not stupid. He gradually realized the flaws in Xiang Sizi’s words back then.

What famous sect would require them to change names?

How were they not affecting Zhang Jiuran’s prospects? They were…

Not wanting to become Zhang Jiuran’s burden.

He had thought about becoming a high official, thought about finding Zhang Jiuran, but he couldn’t find her.

Later, his mother said his sister would occasionally come see them, buying things at the shop, and she looked like she was doing well.

Zhang Jiuran never revealed her identity, but Zhao Sufen recognized her every time and would try to give her extra items, afraid she would know.

Hearing Zhang Jiuran was doing well, he was also relieved.

But who would have thought that later, that death row prisoner came to find him, using Zhang Jiuran to threaten him to help.

Thinking of that death row prisoner, Zhang Yiran lowered his head, looking at the documents in his hand. He curled his fingers, forcing himself to calm down, knowing Zhang Jiuran must be in trouble.

He took a deep breath and looked up to see Xie Heng standing beside Luo Wanqing.

Zhang Yiran recognized the Supervision Department Director and tried to stand up. Xie Heng seemed to have already noticed his movement and raised his hand in a “stop” gesture.

Zhang Yiran paused, knowing Xie Heng was telling him not to disturb, and sat back down.

After a while, Luo Wanqing finished her meditation. She opened her eyes and felt someone standing beside her. Turning to look, she immediately stood up and bowed: “Young Master.”

“Get up.”

Xie Heng’s expression was cold. Seeing she was unharmed, he didn’t pay attention to her and turned to walk away, leading Luo Wanqing to Zhang Yiran.

Seeing the two approach, Zhang Yiran stood up and bowed, respectfully saying: “Director Xie.”

After hesitating, Zhang Yiran pressed his lips and said to Luo Wanqing, “Chief Qingqing.”

“I…” Luo Wanqing hesitated and said softly, “I’m called Liu Xiniang.”

Zhang Yiran was stunned, then widened his eyes and said in surprise: “You’re that death row prisoner?!”

“Not anymore now.”

Xie Heng explained coldly and turned: “Let’s go. Let’s go to court first and talk on the way.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yiran couldn’t worry about Luo Wanqing and quickly followed Xie Heng. Xie Heng walked two steps and saw that Luo Wanqing hadn’t moved, stopping to look at her: “Chief Liu?”

Luo Wanqing looked up. Xie Heng glanced at Zhang Yiran: “Your mission – see it through to the end.”

Every Supervision Department chief independently followed a case from beginning to end.

She was responsible for Zhang Yiran’s safety, so naturally she had to see it through.

Luo Wanqing understood this was Xie Heng telling her to follow and immediately said: “Yes.”

With that, Luo Wanqing followed Zhang Yiran and walked with Xie Heng to the main road, then got into Xie Heng’s carriage.

The three squeezed into the carriage. Xie Heng saw Zhang Yiran had been enduring and poured himself tea, saying lightly: “What does Sir Zhang want to ask?”

“Who were the people who kidnapped me today?” Zhang Yiran immediately looked up at Xie Heng upon hearing this. “Why did the Supervision Department send people to follow me? How did you know my identity?”

“Xiniang.”

Xie Heng called Luo Wanqing’s name. Luo Wanqing knew this meant he wanted her to explain and immediately said: “Let me explain this to Sir Zhang.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yiran looked up at her.

Luo Wanqing said calmly, “I am Liu Xiniang, a chief in the Supervision Department. When I first entered the Supervision Department, I had one encounter with Sir Zhang.”

“I know.”

“Your sister Zhang Jiuran is a Fengyu Pavilion assassin. She was ordered by Fengyu Pavilion to frame the Qin family for treason. Now the Supervision Department has evidence, and your sister is willing to be a witness. Today, there will be a public trial in the morning court.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yiran’s eyes widened.

The Qin family treason case had been discussed many times in court recently. Though he was only in the Ministry of Works, which was somewhat removed from such matters, he had heard colleagues mention that this matter might involve the Crown Prince.

But he had never imagined that Zhang Jiuran would be the key witness.

His sister hadn’t gone to a famous sect but had become an assassin, doing unconscionable things like framing others.

Zhang Yiran clenched his fists and said hoarsely: “And then?”

“Yours and your mother’s identities were arranged entirely by Fengyu Pavilion back then. We were afraid Fengyu Pavilion would kidnap you as hostages to threaten Zhang Jiuran, so we provided close protection.”

“Why did you have me look for my identity documents?”

Zhang Yiran asked keenly. Luo Wanqing paused, then told the truth: “To destroy the relationship between you and Zhang Jiuran, so Zhang Jiuran would no longer be constrained.”

“She and I are siblings,” Zhang Yiran stared at Luo Wanqing, “why would I be her constraint?”

Luo Wanqing sensed Zhang Yiran’s anger and remained silent.

But Zhang Yiran understood the meaning. His eyes reddened: “Because you’re afraid it would affect my future? She thinks that because she’s an assassin, it would affect my reputation, my official career couldn’t continue, so my being her brother is a constraint for her?”

“She…” Luo Wanqing hesitated, remembering the letter Liu Xiniang had given her under Huguo Temple.

The last sentence in the letter was all about this brother, hoping she could take care of him in the future.

Luo Wanqing lowered her eyes and told the truth, comforting Zhang Yiran: “She hopes you live well.”

“Using lies in exchange?!”

Zhang Yiran shouted angrily: “First deceiving us about the famous sect, now deceiving the world that she and I are unrelated. Why should I, Zhang Yiran, need this?! I tell you,” Zhang Yiran picked up the documents in his hand and said seriously, “She is my sister and will always be my sister. I don’t think she’s a stain and doesn’t need to hide it. I’ll bear the things she’s done together with her. I’ll carry the sins she must bear with her. At worst, I won’t be this official! If I see her today, I will acknowledge her.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s movement paused slightly. She said with difficulty: “What’s wrong with acknowledging her privately?”

“Miss, have you lived this kind of life?” Zhang Yiran asked coldly, his face angry.

Without waiting for Luo Wanqing to answer, Zhang Yiran said: “Changing names and living like a thief, have you experienced such days? I can acknowledge her privately, but for my sister, this is denying her existence. For me, if I need to live so secretively, I’d rather die openly. In the past, I was afraid of implicating her, but if now it only implicates me, what’s wrong with that?”

Everyone present fell silent. Luo Wanqing suddenly didn’t know how to respond.

She felt her heart was sour and heavy, but also carried some hidden envy.

She suddenly envied Zhang Jiuran for having such a person who could openly acknowledge her identity and accept her past without reservation.

Hearing these words, Xie Heng looked up at her. He saw Luo Wanqing lowering her eyes. He couldn’t see any emotion, but somehow, in that moment, he sensed a suppressed sadness spreading.

He hesitated for a moment and said, “Good.”

Both didn’t know what he was responding to and looked up to see Xie Heng lower his eyes, open the case files, and say lightly: “If you want to acknowledge her, then acknowledge her. We won’t stop you.”

“Then you…” Zhang Yiran wasn’t stupid and naturally knew that one reason the Supervision Department had deployed so many people here today was to take away documents that could prove his identity. He couldn’t help saying: “Didn’t you make this trip for nothing…”

“Don’t flatter yourself.” Xie Heng pulled the case files and said lightly, “Old grievances with Fengyu Pavilion have nothing to do with you.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yiran’s expression relaxed somewhat, and he said respectfully: “I didn’t cause trouble for you two…”

“Trouble.”

Xie Heng interrupted him. Zhang Yiran’s face stiffened slightly. Xie Heng looked up and said seriously, “You are very troublesome.”

“Young Master…” Luo Wanqing couldn’t listen anymore. Since this was all her idea, she steeled herself to explain: “Actually, this time…”

“Be quiet.”

Xie Heng spoke directly, glancing at her: “Your matter – we’ll discuss it after morning court when we return.”

With these words, Luo Wanqing’s movement froze.

Xie Heng thought for a moment and finally said, “Why didn’t you discuss this with Cui Heng beforehand?”

Luo Wanqing hadn’t expected Xie Heng to ask this. She hesitated and finally said: “I was afraid the Young Master wouldn’t see my capabilities.”

Xie Heng paused. He looked up at the somewhat anxious woman in front of him.

She said seriously, “I fear living under Cui Heng’s wings.”

Xie Heng didn’t speak, seeming somewhat stifled.

After a long time, he turned his head away and said coldly: “I understand.”