After the four-party talk, An Ning and Zhao Pandi were checked into an absurdly luxurious hotel. They were given a massive top-floor suite—the kind of place so big you could get lost just walking around in it, where you'd better not drink too much water before bed.
The first thing An Ning did after getting to the room was seal Tao Quan back into his gourd.
"Thank you for today."
"You're thanking me? I thought you hated me."
"You're not wrong, but that doesn't stop me from thanking you. Even bad guys can do a good deed every now and then."
An Ning casually swiped her palm over the mouth of the gourd and aimed it at Tao Quan.
Tao Quan floated up and drifted inside without any resistance.
"You're right. Good and evil can never be defined by a single line."
An Ning didn't agree. Just before he was fully drawn in, he heard her say, "The law is the bottom line."
"Mm."
After that single sound of assent, the room fell silent.
