On Cyan Mountain Peak, Su Chen was pulling weeds from before the graves of two old friends. It had been a long time since he last came.
Nine years, perhaps.
He couldn't quite recall.
In the distance, a black-canopied boat swayed as it approached the shore. A stooped, elderly figure disembarked onto the small island.
He walked and walked until he reached the peak of Cyan Mountain, standing before Jie's new grave.
He had long anticipated Jie's death, yet it still felt sudden.
"Jie was a good kid."
The old voice spoke.
"Yes."
"He was a good kid."
"He really did... He almost fooled even me."
Su Chen pulled a dry weed from the grave and glanced at Jie's tomb, but quickly looked away.
Within the coffin, Jie's body wore a smile. A jet-black Nine-leaf Lotus grew from it.
"That's why I only ended this one life of his."
"One life is gone, and all debts are cleared."
"Perhaps we'll meet again in the next life. Or perhaps there won't be a next life."
Su Chen rose to his feet.
