[*]
His eyes, dark as lacquer, flickered with firelight, deep and grim.
The young man's eyes were normally crystal clear, but now they seemed veiled by a black mist.
After a long moment, he said in a low voice, "So it was a dead end after all."
A silence fell, leaving only the CRACKLE of embers.
"Little General," Amy clapped her hands lightly and smiled at him. "Weren't you just talking about being loyal to the country and vowing to die for it? Why so fearful now?"
"If I had been born in a time of chaos, with no family to speak of, my death would mean nothing. But now, with the nation in turmoil, I fear that even if I'm willing to die for it, I alone cannot save this crumbling dynasty."
Dongfei said glumly, "The Chi Mansion has a long line of loyal patriots. But in your generation, Little General, you're the only heir left. If something were to happen to you, the Chi family's bloodline... would be extinguished! I can't imagine how heartbroken the old madam would be..."
