Dyed Seven

She longed to see him one last time, but he faced away from her. He only turned around after she fell and closed her eyes.

He looked at her clear, limpid eyes. How could they look so much like hers? But how could he dare hope she was the same person?

He should have guessed long ago that she was her. He had hoped so desperately back then, but what did it matter now that he knew for sure? How could he face her and become her master once more?

"From now on, I'll call you 'Ran Qi.'" "Ran Qi? Why? Am I not just 'Qi'?" He said nothing.

"I should have guessed that you called me Ran Qi because you saw me as a substitute. But I foolishly came to love that name. I'm such a fool. I can't bring myself to kill you for the murder of my family, but tell me, tell me who 'Ran' is! Say it!"

"'Ran' is you, and 'Qi' is you, too. You are the one I've always longed for. I wronged you a thousand years ago. Now you can repay me with this sword, and then we'll be even. We can start over, as master and disciple." He gripped the blade in her hand and slowly drove it into himself, until its tip emerged from his back... New and old grudges, all erased with a single stroke. It was worth it.