They All Say I'm as Good as Dead

Throughout his long life, many people told him, "You know you're about to die, right?"

His fellow disciple, now his sworn enemy, looked down at him with a cold sneer. "You'll never beat me."

The autocratic former emperor kicked him to the ground. "If you dare keep trying to clear your master's name in secret, you'll go join him!"

The empress held a cup of wine, her eyes full of scorn. "So what if you're a powerful minister? You're still just one of the late emperor's dogs."

The new emperor, who had always treated his subordinates with kindness, stared at him in silence. "The empress wants to assassinate the emperor? Everyone knows the emperor and empress were childhood sweethearts. Spread a rumor like that, and are you asking to die?"

Whenever he heard those words, he knew he was safe this time.

Meeting their many different gazes, he simply smiled. "I'm not afraid."

And added in his heart:

"I don't care what you think. I'll decide for myself."

"I think I can still be saved..."

Theme: Don't tell me I'm about to die. I'll decide for myself: I think I can still be saved.