Coming to this little shack to watch the northern lights had been a mistake. Accepting Jin Guangyao's offer had been an even bigger mistake. What had he been thinking? That he and his enemy could coexist peacefully? After sitting through the man's desperate performance to save his own skin, he should've expected it.

"If that's the choice he makes, I'll accept it. I won't run or hide from it."

Despite his words, there's still a hint of a fearful edge to his voice before Huaisang suppresses it once more.

"But I doubt that will happen. All it would take is a reminder of how you held him hostage with a guqin string pressed against his throat. Or was that filial loyalty, too? Using your young nephew as a shield like that is an interesting way of showing it."

A beat.

"I don't think Sect Leader Jin's confusion over that will be clearing any time soon."