The immortal sect demanded that she kill her disciple to prove her righteousness. She thought, her beloved disciple had become a fiend who could destroy heaven and earth. Times had changed, and now he was the only one who could kill her.
So, in front of everyone, she said three words: “I can't kill him.”
The sect then demanded that she take her own life to atone. She refused, but was overwhelmed by guilt, and willingly knelt before the sect's gates for a hundred years. The sect still wouldn't let it go. Instead, they set up the Immortal-Locking Array, intending to trap and kill her.
Bitter wind and snow cut like blades. Chains stretched in every direction, forming a cage.
The following month, an unwelcome visitor hacked apart the Immortal-Locking Array and set the sect ablaze for thirty days.
The unwelcome visitor said, “I heard Master refused to kill me, and would rather kneel without getting up to plead for me. With such profound devotion, how could I, your disciple, possibly stand by and do nothing?”
Not long after, she lost her memory.
He played the part of a well-behaved disciple. He was obedient in his fear, obedient in his anger, obedient in his jealousy, even obedient as hatred took root. Year after year, month after month, day after day, moment after moment, he gazed up at his Master, longing for her to look back at him. Only once in a while would he wonder: Wouldn't it be wonderful if I were the only one in Master's eyes? If she belonged to just one person, with no one else, no one at all?
Never mind. Even if Master only spared him a glance now and then, that would be enough.
…
Dreaming. He woke from the dream and dragged his blood-soaked body back to his lightless refuge, with only the word “hatred” circling in his heart.
…
Later, later still, he finally saw Master again, just as he'd wished. But when she turned around, she remembered nothing.
Was he dreaming again...?
“Who are you?”
“I am your Master.”
In a moment of lost control, their roles turned upside down, and he began to play the part of a gentle Master.
Theme: Cause and effect come full circle; only love can break the cycle
