Wang Jian watched Lianhua as she lay in the dim light of the cave, her gaze fixed on the rocky ceiling, her face a mask of hollow, empty despair. He had let her stew in that hopelessness for a long, quiet moment. He needed her at her absolute lowest.
"Just... just kill me," she whispered again, her voice a dry, broken rasp. "Please, boy. It is the only mercy you can show me now."
Wang Jian shook his head, his expression a perfect picture of sad, respectful refusal.
"I did not save you just to become your executioner, Sect Mistress," he said, his voice gentle. "I couldn't face Junior Sister Ruyan. I saved you for her, not to become the one who takes her Teacher's life. She would never, ever forgive me."
Lianhua let out a bitter, broken chuckle that turned into a raw, painful cough. "Then... then you are a fool, boy. A sentimental fool. You saved a... a walking corpse."
