The brief statement fell, and the cave fell into a serene stillness.
So quiet it seemed one could hear the sound of ancient dust settling on a bell. After speaking, Chen Yi did not lift his gaze to Min Ning, but instead allowed it to drop to the ground.
His journey to Shantong City had been increasingly muddy, his thoughts increasingly unclear. He recalled his late-night conversation with Yin Weiyin, who had spoken of Guo Jie from the Han dynasty—a man who rose from theft and murder to become a renowned hero commanding respect in his region. Yin Weiyin had long pointed out the hypocrisy of chivalry to him, though at the time she intended to persuade Chen Yi to pursue the Dao, a suggestion he resisted.
But now, upon reflection, her words seemed to carry some truth.
Looking across ancient and modern ages, the essence of chivalry seems to boil down to the two words: "honor" and "shame."
