Read Chapter 15: — WHAT WEAKNESS MEANS

Tang advanced empty-handed.

Yagyu pressed the blade to Xiaoxi’s throat.

“Stop.”

Tang stopped.

“You are not a soldier,” Yagyu said. “Not Jinyiwei. Not even a swordsman worth naming.”

“All true.”

“Then why are you here?”

Tang looked at Xiaoxi.

“Because she is.”

Xiaoxi’s eyes filled.

From the darkness to Yagyu’s right, Lin moved into position.

Tang saw him.

Yagyu did not.

Tang kept talking.

“My father had a saying on his sword. I used to think it meant he was special. Better than everyone. A hero.”

He smiled without humour.

“I spent half my life making a cheap copy because I wanted the part of him that looked impressive.”

Yagyu’s grip tightened.

“Your father died.”

“Yes.”

“And achieved nothing. I escaped.”

Tang’s face changed.

“No. He saved two children.”

Xiaoxi stared at him.

Tang had finally understood what Lin had not needed to explain.

Peerless service was not victory.

It was choosing what kind of man to be when victory was uncertain.

Lin threw his sabre.

Not at Yagyu.

At Tang.

Tang caught the hilt badly, almost dropped it, then swung with both hands as Yagyu turned.

Steel crashed.

Xiaoxi twisted free.

Lin closed from the other side.

Yagyu found himself between master’s student and master’s son.

For the first time, fear entered his face.