"Quiet, all of you."

At that mild reminder, Qingfeng and Tang Yuan — both plainly restless — fell silent at once.

Only because it had come from Nie Jun.

Senior Brother Nie, who had always hated constraint most of all, had behaved entirely against type these ten days and more.

Not only had he stayed shut inside the courtyard himself; he had called in the rest of the disciples and forbidden anyone else to leave.

Li Qingfeng had not seen the wine gourd that never left his hand for many days now either. All he could manage was, "Senior Brother… this business is all settled. I'd like to go back to Wutong Mountain and take a look."

"……"

Nie Jun sat cross-legged, eyes half-closed, and gave no answer.

He was doing the very thing he had once hated most.

And doing it because his mind was in disorder.

Once he knew his master had given these disciples up entirely, he had somehow become the only one left to look after his juniors.

The old freedom from all restraint, the pleasure of repaying kindness and cruelty as they came, had suddenly been chained up by something he could not see.

Now he did not dare make a single move that might provoke that old dog.

"Ah."

Tong Xinchuan sighed quietly. Judging by his senior brother's behaviour, this business was nowhere near finished.

If anything, the pressure was greater than before.

If Shen Yi and their master could reach an understanding, things might be a great deal better.

But the two of them seemed born unable to trust one another. The one considered their master no fellow-traveller of his, and would never put what he wanted to protect into her hands.

The other likewise did not trust Shen Yi to do things her way; a young man that independent, and that deaf to direction, would certainly never be written into her plans.

"We're all of one sect. There's no need to hide anything now. What did she say to you?"

With that, Tong Xinchuan rose slowly to his feet.

Nie Jun finally…