Tang Daiyu looked away. "I made a plan to take care of myself while also getting revenge on Rong."

"Dummy," Pei Xinhui muttered. "You didn't think it through at all. Emperor Rong doesn't know martial arts. How could you switch your qi with his? Yours's too strong, while his isn't strong enough. And do you really want his qi flowing inside of you?"

"Well, what else am I supposed to do? If I don't switch with Rong or Prince Yelang... then I'd rather suffer the consequences of Hei Siwang. I will not ask Zhou-ge to do it. He's already mastered One Hundred Dancing Lightning Strike. Wouldn't all the toil and practice towards achieving it be in vain?"

After a pause, she added, "I wouldn't dare to ask Bei Qing or Cao Meixin either. They have their sects to serve and protect."

"So, I'm left with no choice. It's either, I destroy Rong or his father with my impure qi or... I keep it to myself."

Liang Yingzhou returned at that point, halting the conversation from continuing any further. He sat down on her left and faced her.

"I booked the Cherry Blossom suite for the night, Ah Daiyu."

She went still. Pei Xinhui leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and watched her carefully.

Confused, Liang Yingzhou asked, "What is it?"

Tang Daiyu answered ruefully, "That's the room Baobao and I were kept in."

"Let me see if I can change it then."

As he started to get up, her hand shot out and grabbed onto his sleeve. Without turning her head, she said in a monotone, "Don't bother. It's fine."

He looked down at her, concern evident all over his features. "Are you sure, Ah Daiyu? I don't want you to have to deal with any unpleasant memories."

Liang Yingzhou's gaze slid over to Pei Xinhui before returning to Tang Daiyu.

She let go of his sleeve, shook her head, and waved it off. "I'll be fine. We were just on house arrest. Things weren't actual that bad. Plus, that's where Shifu taught me Hei Siwang."

Either jealousy or fury blazed in his eyes. Pei Xinhui coughed modestly.

He chastised her, "Xiao Tang, don't make your Zhou-ge too upset."

"Master Pei," Liang Yingzhou grounded out. "Do you mind giving me and Ah Daiyu a moment to speak alone."

"Of course," he said courteously as he stood from his seat. "I'll go check with the server about possibly bringing over some wine. I think it's going to be a long night."

After he had walked away, Liang Yingzhou could finally focus completely on her.

"Zhou-ge, really, it's fine. Don't bother with trying to switch rooms."

He seemed to have completely forgotten about the room and instead asked, "Did Master Pei really tell you there's no hope for being free of Hei Siwang?"

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Realising that that was what he was upset about, Tang Daiyu winced.

"It's not like what you think. Please, don't blame everything on him."

"Of course you'd defend him," Liang Yingzhou scoffed. "He's your beloved Shifu."

"It's not like that!"

"Oh really?"

"Zhou-ge, have you eaten vinegar recently?" she accused.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Where did you get that absurd idea?"

"You-!"

"Me?"

She huffed and sat back in her seat, frustrated. He sat back down, and reaching out, took both of her small, dainty hands in his warm, bigger ones.

"Ah Daiyu, please... tell me honestly. Is there really nothing that can be done?"

What will he do if I tell him the truth? Will he really offer to switch qi's with me? No, I can't let him do it. He'll be giving up too much. I don't deserve his sacrifice.

She shook her head. Liang Yingzhou let go of her hands and leaned back, defeated. Her heart ached. She hated to see the pained look on his face, but she knew it was for the best.

But suddenly, they heard, "Don't listen to her. This dummy's trying to stop you from helping her."

Tang Daiyu's head whipped around. "Shifu!"

Pei Xinhui peered down at her, his expression unreadable. "I've been wandering this earth longer than you have, Xiao Tang. When I see things, I know."

"Know what?" Liang Yingzhou challenged.

Pei Xinhui exasperatedly glanced at him before saying, "You two."

Both Tang Daiyu and Liang Yingzhou froze.

He continued on, "One of you will do anything, say learning impossibly difficult martial art skills, just to protect the other. While the other will lie and make up false truths just to keep the former from risking harm."

After scoffing, Pei Xinhui muttered, "You two really deserve each other."

"What is he talking about, Ah Daiyu?"

She shrugged.

Rolling his eyes, Pei Xinhui sat down across from Tang Daiyu. He turned to face Liang Yingzhou. "There is only one way to save Xiao Tang from the horrors of Hei Siwang."

Shocked, Liang Yingzhou stared at him. He asked hurriedly, "How?"

Tang Daiyu closed her eyes. I knew it. He'll give up everything to save me. This is what I didn't want to happen.

"Someone must be willing to exchange their qi with her's and take her price to pay as their own. Only then, will she be free of any and all side-effects."

A strange, isolated silence fell over their table. All around them, the busy bustle of the inn and restaurant continued on. But within their own little bubble, no one moved. No one said a word. Finally, Tang Daiyu broke the frozen moment when she stood up.

"No." She took a deep, slow breath. "I won't have anyone give up everything for me. I'd rather live with the consequences of my own choices, whatever they may be, than have someone else suffer them in my place. "

Then, she was gone. Out the door and into the packed streets of Chang'an. She soon became adjusted to where she was and knowing a place she could hide, started for a side alley. Tang Daiyu came upon a familiar-looking, worn door. Shivering once from fear, she opened the door and stepped inside. The dark storage room looked almost exactly the same as when she had been brought there before. The only thing missing was the people. Looking around, she saw a tall jar and walked over to it. She sat down and pulled her knees up to her chest.

"Shifu, why did you tell him?" she moaned quietly to herself. "It's bad enough he'll have to watch me descend into madness, but I chose to go down this path. I can't sit by and watch as he gets worse and worse, knowing that it should've been me and not him."

It's too dear of a sacrifice. One I'm definitely not worthy of. If I hadn't done the things I have, maybe I'd have eventually accepted Zhou-ge's help. But I've killed four people out of anger and revenge. Hell is awaiting me. How can I bear to send Zhou-ge to the afterlife early and not go myself?