Arc 2
Six hours had passed since Xi Ming and Li Fei left for the capital. The carriage rocked gently as it moved along the uneven road, in contrast to the stillness and silence between Li Fei and Xi Ming in the carriage.
Li Fei, gazing out the window at the lush trees, finally spoke, breaking the silence.
"Did you tell Ye Jin what you did?"
Xi Ming, who had been lost in thought, turned to face Li Fei, his emotions unreadable. "Jin-er does not need to know such things," he replied quietly.
Li Fei sighed, leaning back in his seat. "I may not be a sword master, but I have been with many, and I do know that an attribute a true sword master must possess is empathy for the weak."
Xi Ming's jaw tightened. "Sometimes," he said slowly, "innocent people need to be sacrificed for the greater good."
Li Fei frowned, clearly in disagreement with what Xi Ming had said. His lips parted, wanting to argue when suddenly the carriage jolted to a stop.