He Peiyan never pretended to be a good person. To climb higher, he was willing to use himself as a bargaining chip. Everyone who had hated him, loved him, or been entangled with him asked the same question: Did He Peiyan even have a heart?
How could he not? When he killed his senior brother, the one whose every thought had been of him, who would gladly have given his life for him and, when they were both insignificant, stood up to the powerful clans of the upper realm and the mighty demons on his behalf, He Peiyan's hand had trembled.
He Peiyan never expected the two of them to meet again.
He knew he was about to die.
But his senior brother still loved him, protected him, and treated him with respect, just as he had before.
He Peiyan refused to accept it. He took every precaution and dared not entrust his heart to him. In the end, though, guilt and gratitude eroded his defenses.
As he finally collapsed, covered in blood, on the snow, He Peiyan thought: If he could do it all over again, he wouldn't kill Ji Xun that day. He would choose to kill himself instead.
