Temporary Truce (after battle)
With them defending the bridge, we managed to reach Tiekan Temple's entrance...
... only to find the last people we ever wanted to see waiting at its gates.
<N Corp.... And their troops, all of them wearing E.G.O Gear...>
It almost looks like they came here ready for a war.
It has happened exactly as the Director said so herself, Gubo.
… Goodness.
What brings you such distress, my wilted and fallen, old fellow?
It would have been no trouble for someone of your intelligence to surmise that we would be waiting where your journey ends.
Or... has your love for the company of these new fellows slowed your mind?
The path I walk is a busy one.
... And I have no words or sentiments to impart to someone such as yourself, when a dear fellow of mine requires my support and haste.
... Huh.
Gubo opened his mouth to say something in response, but Yi Sang swiftly brushed past him without hesitation.
And...
You certainly took your time, little brother.
What's he...?
Just waiting out here to greet you and your friends.
Do not glare at me so - you need only accept our offer, and we shan't have to fight.
A... temporary truce, if you will.
... Seriously, a truce? Here and now?
It so happens that we have business to see to in there.
... And Jia Baoyu... you're our only key.
You must've come here in search of the Golden Bough, as you always are.
But that is not what we've come here for.
We intend to leave here as soon as we earn the 'sample', something far more important to us than the Golden Bough itself.
Let us not engage in a skirmish that, after all, shall be in vain.
And you just expect us to believe -
Think about it for a second. Would we have forfeited with so little hesitation, had our purpose been to claim the Golden Bough?
We thought coming in third would be more than enough to procure what we came for.
I see... So you weren't acting on behalf of the Jia family at all... but for N Corp. all along.
... Are you all really that stupid? You must be.
I don't recall ever hiding my allegiance to N Corp. the last time we met... or did all of you collectively choose to forget that?
Besides... I wouldn't lower myself to participate in this messy little game of Family Hierarch war for something so worthless as the honor of the Jia family.
I have not once lived for this family since the day I changed my name.
…….
... The Shi family hired us, the N Corp. New League of Nine Littérateurs.
Our job was to void the results of the Evaluation if a Shi family candidate fails to win the contest.
They never change, do they? Mediocre qualifications, yet... always coveting something far beyond their reach.
And as you might expect, N Corp. does not give up so easily.
If you would not accept my truce, we can simply... sit here and wait for you to do something in this standoff. We're not the ones pressed for time.
... I hope we're not taking his words at face value.
We're not, but... do we have any alternatives? He's already stalled us enough.
He's right, we're the ones running out of time...
Jia Qiu is strong, really strong, but... not even he can stop all those soldiers on his own forever.
I'm growing anxious.
He says he's willing to leave us alone once he gets what he wants, but... there's no way for us to be sure of that.
But it's hardly a good idea to fight them now or remain locked in this standoff for who knows how long.
<If this fight is inevitable... it's better to enter a truce with them for now, find Xichun, and then fight them if we must.>
Besides, Hong Lu said Xichun might be in danger. I had to prioritize that, no matter what.
<... It can't be helped. Let's head inside.>
So I made the call.
Okay, let's try your idea.
So you've decided to open the door? Hmph, at least your leader has some semblance of intelligence.
Here's to our fruitful yet brief cooperation.
Lead the way, we'll be right behind you.
And we...
... finally made it to the great gates of Tiekan Temple.
<Hong Lu...?>
Hong Lu approached the gate handles.
Then, with one hand over his other eye, he brings his jade eye close to an engraved hole in the gates.
My eye is the only key... to opening these gates from the outside.
It's so that I can visit the elders whenever they want me there.