When the sun burns a deep crimson, it is time for it to set.
Man Huai Zhi departed without a single word. There was no longer any reason for him to remain. He had already discerned Ke Yiyi’s true feelings, convinced they stemmed not from careful deliberation but from a surge of momentary indignation. Ke Yiyi, he knew, had always been this way, prone to irrational actions driven solely by impulse.
He found himself unbothered by Ke Yiyi’s harsh rebuke and resolute stance, for she simply failed to grasp the true implications of a war that had been dormant for two decades. It was not peace, but merely a twenty-year armistice. This armistice had not been earned by Vega’s bulwarks of flesh and blood, but was a boon bestowed upon them by Xuanji Star, a testament to Xuanji Star’s compassion and magnanimity.
Yet, he could not fault Ke Yiyi for her shortsightedness and impetuosity; Man Huai Zhi understood implicitly that she had been ensnared by the propaganda of the Western agents. Newspapers, broadcasts, and various media—all originating from the West—were skillfully manipulated by these agents, who excelled at using distorted and redacted information to incite others to sacrifice themselves for their cause.
Having resided on Vega for many years, Ke Yiyi found it exceedingly difficult to process information that diverged sharply from her established worldview, particularly when it originated beyond her informational echo chamber. Man Huai Zhi had initially intended to draw her in, gradually enlighten her, and broaden her understanding that the truths she perceived beneath her small sky were not the only realities in the world. For now, however, it seemed this endeavor was destined to remain unfulfilled.
Prolonged immersion among these foreign barbarians had clouded her judgment, rendering her incapable of discerning right from wrong. She had come to implicitly trust their feigned benevolence, mistaking their pretense for genuine goodness and beauty, allowing herself to be utterly deluded and exploited. Their utterances had become sagacious pronouncements in her eyes, their deeds, exemplary benchmarks. Seduced by their honeyed words and meager handouts, she had allowed herself to be driven like cattle, horses, falcons, and hounds by these foreign devils, tirelessly toiling and braving all perils on their behalf.
To fundamentally transform Ke Yiyi, she needed to witness firsthand the utter collapse of every cherished expectation she held for Vega. Only by realizing that all she believed was a mere figment of her imagination, a baseless, ephemeral illusion, would she truly grasp what was genuine and what was righteous.
What constituted a thousand-year legacy, enduring and ever-fresh.
What embodied the profound and awe-inspiring righteousness that illuminated the world.
What represented the unwavering, righteous path of humanity.
These profound truths could never be superseded by the paltry concessions offered by these insignificant barbarians. Once the Blaze Clan once again stood proud between heaven and earth, all deceptive pretenses and malevolent forces would be utterly shattered. Only then would Ke Yiyi truly perceive the authentic nature of these foreign barbarians and Western agents, and come to comprehend her noble, unblemished bloodline as a member of the Blaze Clan and her exalted historical mission.
Man Huai Zhi was convinced that day was not distant. Once Xuanji Star once more graced the lands of Vega, Ke Yiyi would be compelled to accept the stark reality: that her beloved Vega was nothing more than a provincial barbarian state, isolated in a corner. She would then embrace the meticulous enlightenment and nurturing guidance emanating from the Celestial Empire, and, alongside countless other Fire Descendants of the Blaze Clan, merge into the eternal, unyielding Sacred Flame!
And this time, Xuanji Star would not merely halt at Cloud Mountain Peninsula; it would reign supreme over the Oceanwind Four Islands, the vast Eastern Continent, and ultimately, across all Eight Lands and Eight Oceans, encompassing the very stars and the cosmos! It would sweep across the six directions, engulf the eight wildernesses, unite myriad nations, and cleanse the cosmos! It would become the singular sovereign of this world, forevermore!
The mere thought of such a sacred and monumental undertaking ignited a fervent passion within Man Huai Zhi. He strode forward with purposeful steps, utterly dismissive of Ke Yiyi’s impassioned words.
****
“Officer Ke, please endeavor to calm yourself. You should spare yourself such distress.”
From behind a roadside tree, Li Yuyi sprang forth, covering the distance to Ke Yiyi in a single, swift stride before extending a tissue to her.
The instant Man Huai Zhi caught the sound, he glanced back. Lei Ji, following his line of sight, observed him staring intently at Li Yuyi’s face, lost in thought.
“Is something amiss?”
“The ‘False Step’…
“Is that not a rather commonplace martial art?”
Man Huai Zhi scrutinized him for a brief moment, then subtly shook his head.
‘I have a distinct feeling I’ve encountered him somewhere before…’
“You’re being overly sensitive! Ever since you set foot on Cloud Mountain Peninsula, you’ve been remarkably animated, taking an interest in everything.”
Lei Ji chuckled, casting a glance back at the assembled Vega citizens whose expressions suggested they longed to tear the duo limb from limb. He then turned and began walking into the distance.
“Cease your gawking. You failed to charm the little rabbit; instead, you received a kick to the face. Ah, Xiao Zhi! Such behavior will surely grieve that young lady.”
A faint smile played upon Man Huai Zhi’s lips as he heard Lei Ji’s words. He cast a sidelong glance at Ke Yiyi’s expression, which was so fervent and uplifted it seemed poised to erupt in flames—like a triumphant warrior, formidable, unyielding, and utterly indomitable.
What a pity that, being among a host of barbarians, her expression now appeared utterly hysterical and beyond redemption. Her face bore the unmistakable mark of one who had been thoroughly duped. Those foreign devils, upon witnessing her countenance, would undoubtedly erupt in laughter, convinced they had yet another ignorant member of the Blaze Clan to exploit at their leisure.
Xuanji Star was neither a murderer nor an aggressor; rather, it was a benevolent and righteous force, tasked with restoring the glory of the Blaze Clan, reclaiming its ancestral lands, and liberating all Blaze Clan members across the world who suffered oppression and deception at the hands of foreign races.
‘She will comprehend, sooner or later… It is merely a matter of time…’
With a soft sigh, Man Huai Zhi turned and, accompanied by Lei Ji, embarked upon the distant path, gradually vanishing from the sight of the Vega citizens.
From beginning to end, Ke Yiyi’s gaze remained fixed on Man Huai Zhi, no longer faltering or evading. From the very instant she had unleashed her hoarse, impassioned shouts at him, certain things had irrevocably shifted, never to revert to their former state.
As Man Huai Zhi retreated into the distance, she felt utterly drained, gasping for breath, a helpless tremor running through her. Her vision swam, and she couldn’t discern if this was due to the resurgence of a previous emotional upheaval or merely the consequence of her frantic sprint and prolonged shouting, which had left her brain starved of oxygen.
She did not accept Li Yuyi’s proffered tissue; instead, she inexplicably turned her head away, unwilling to meet his gaze.
“What brings you to this place?”
“Was it not emphasized during our previous meeting? We operate in pairs; I would never depart. I have been here the entire time.”
Li Yuyi gently took Ke Yiyi’s wrist, then pressed the tissue into her damp palm, which was still slick with tears. He had deliberately chosen to grasp her by the cuff of her sleeve, and when offering the tissue, he used only two fingers to place it in her hand, carefully avoiding any direct physical contact.
He understood why Ke Yiyi wished to conceal her expression. Officer Ke of Vega, despite being lauded as the ‘Light of Shell City,’ was not some unfeeling automaton of steel and bone. She was a woman of ordinary flesh and blood, possessing a heart, spirit, and emotions. Beneath that mortal coil beat a heart akin to that of the common populace, coursing with blood no different from that of all living beings. In the grand scheme, no one was inherently nobler, nor any one individual truly greater.
‘Her face must be streaked with tears at this very moment…’
‘Crying for not having distanced herself from Man Huai Zhi sooner…’
‘Crying for failing to uphold Vega’s principles when confronted with the atrocities of war…’
‘And crying for herself… for the beautiful memories now irrevocably lost…’
Though he didn’t fully comprehend the intricacies, Li Yuyi could, to some extent, discern the nature of her relationship with Man Huai Zhi. He found nothing inherently amiss with the situation.
‘People are ever-changing… they might evolve for the better, or devolve for the worse… none can truly foresee the future.’
‘Ke Yiyi was merely struggling to reconcile with a truth she had just witnessed…’
‘He himself had once endured a similar ordeal… witnessing everything he had held in profound conviction crumble into dust, all beauty dissipating like a fleeting, illusory bubble. No one could instantly compose their emotions in such a moment.’
‘She simply required time… and time was, after all, the one commodity players possessed in abundance.’
Ke Yiyi turned her head, looking at the ground beneath her feet, overwhelmed by self-reproach. She had once again strayed from her duties as an observer, shouting at another observer and using insulting language. If this continued, she would surely become utterly uncontrollable, completely disregarding the observer group system. She had run here without a second thought, bringing so many police officers with her, and Ke Yiyi felt profoundly remorseful. Her previous state had also burdened Li Yuyi, forcing him to remain nearby. ‘I truly am useless…’
“My apologies… for causing everyone concern… for being such a trouble…”
She bowed to the police officers and then to Li Yuyi.
“I was undisciplined… I… I acted like an utter fool…”
She kept her head down, afraid to lift it, not wanting to see the expressions of the police officers. They must be filled with dissatisfaction, disdain, and anger toward her. Dissatisfaction with her impulsive behavior. Disdain for her association with Xuanji Star. Anger that she had failed to uphold justice for Yagami Saichi.
“How could that be?”
Ke Yiyi paused, startled. Slowly, she lifted her head and met Li Yuyi’s gaze. Though he wore a mask, she sensed that Li Yuyi harbored none of the thoughts she had expected. She couldn’t understand why, when she herself…
She glanced sideways at the assembled Vega police officers. Each one was gazing at her, devoid of dissatisfaction, disdain, or even a hint of anger. Countless eyes penetrated the tear streaks on Ke Yiyi’s face, converging in her pupils, conveying affirmation and approval.
“Officer Ke, you stood bravely against Xuanji Star, directly confronting them for the crimes committed against innocent Vega citizens. Your words were impactful and thought-provoking. You voiced what everyone wished to say but couldn’t, constrained by their status as observers. How could you possibly be an utter fool?”
Li Yuyi gave Ke Yiyi a thumbs-up, while the assembled Vega police officers behind him nodded in salute.
“You are a hero; we admire you!”
“I…”
Ke Yiyi was rendered speechless by Li Yuyi’s words. She could have found many arguments to refute him, yet no words would surface. Her cheeks burned fiercely, and she longed only to flee, to escape the surrounding gazes.
“I… I need to go see Saichi…”
She blurted out the words hastily, then turned and ran, the police officers following close behind. Li Yuyi stood rooted to the spot, watching Ke Yiyi’s retreating figure, a flicker of affirmation and… relief in his eyes. He glanced sideways at the setting sun, its light still radiant, though a deep crimson, it was now heavy with the weariness of evening, hanging precariously in the sky, destined to dip below the horizon with the passage of time. He looked at Man Huai Zhi’s retreating form beneath the sunset, now a blurred speck, like a particle of dust on an egg, easily brushed away. He sighed softly, then retreated once more to hide behind the tree.
When the sun turns a deep crimson, it is about to set.