The sounds of her tears falling and the reflection of her crystal like tears caught his attention, a tremendous guilt welling up from his gut.
Shou Xin walked forward swiftly taking her hand into his own.
"Don't worry, I won't die." His gaze was firm, "I have no intention of dying."
She 'looked' up at him, her eyes seemingly searching for something within his, but she could not see.
"Why? Why do you want to be strong? What do you seek so badly you would die for it! You only live once, you know?!" Feng Wuqing let her feeling bare out uncontrollably, "I don't want to lose you too…"
Like a punch in the gut, Shou Xin was faced with such a question.
'Why do you want to be strong?' Shou Xin repeated in his mind.
Shou Xin's gaze turned cloudy and his tone strange.
"It was first to escape, escape my family, that life and what end it would inevitably bring. Then, it was to prove myself and earn a way out from the slavery of being an executioner. Then, it became to protect but ultimately…" Shou Xin's tone softened yet like a molten blade in it's cast it was still a blade, his resolution sharp, "...I just want to live."
Feng Wuqing's eyes seemed to search for something she could not see.
"You're greedy." She said in an inexplicable tone, almost shocked, "So greedy."
Shou Xin paused for a moment, a wry smile lighting his face.
"I am greedy, and cruel, and all the bad things in the world, yet, despite it all," Shou Xin muttered, "I simply want to live well."
"...Never regret," Feng Wuqing replied softly, "That is my creed."
She took two steps back, "I believe I have fallen for you."
Now, it was Shou Xin's turn to be shocked.
A long silence ensued.
"I cannot accept your feelings." Shou Xin slowly replied, "As a killer, son of a killer and descendant of killers, I am not worthy and you would only be a hindrance."
Feng Wuqing was not stupid. She naturally understood that he was drawing a clear line.
Yet.
"If that is all, then we are perfect," The air about Feng Wuqing slowly began to change as she made her resolve, revealing a terrifying sword scar, "I am Feng Wuqing, Daughter of the Feng Clan of Fengzhou. My eyes were blinded when I slaughtered a village during my loss of control at a breakthrough."
The strength which had been present, albeit subtly, until now had burst out.
The pressure created by the flexing of her body caused the earth beneath her to quake slightly.
She 'looked' to Shou Xin.
Though she could not see, her other senses were acute such that she could tell expressions easily.
The reason she could not find him when they first met was because he was so near to death's door that his body had almost stopped making any noise at all.
"I know." Shou Xin calmly replied, "...I noticed a long time ago that you were different."
"Then why?" Feng Wuqing stepped forward, clearly getting upset, "Why am I not enough?!"
Shou Xin's gaze fell over her and he calmly spoke, "You are far more than I could dream of. It is me, I am not worthy."
"I decide that." She punched him straight in the chest the entire air suddenly turning fearsome.
Shou Xin reacted on instinct swinging the Sea Spring Sword even as he was flying off, the sword just as it was about to reach her face, he let it go causing the sword to fly off veering way off course, only a single hair-thin cut on Feng Wuqing's cheek could he seen.
Shou Xin slammed into a tree, his body aching like a terrible madness.
"Didn't feel a thing…" Shou Xin calmly stood back up with a dead-pan face, "Again. If you win… I will accept it."
Feng Wuqing's gaze turned icy, the fog within her blank gaze swirled and vanished from her pupils revealing a fearsome blaze, yet, just as she was about to attack, it all vanished, she sighed with a troubled expression.
"I don't want to force you…" Feng Wuqing lowered her head in conflict, "...I-, let's pretend none of this-!"
"No." Shou Xin appeared before her calmly, "Words said can't be undone. I cannot accept your feelings now."
"Never?" Feng Wuqing looked up at him with her empty gaze, searching.
Shou Xin didn't reply.
'I am cruel.' Shou Xin thought self-deprecatingly, 'I cannot even give a clear answer.'
Left alone in the forest, Feng Wuqing could only 'watch' as Shou Xin became smaller and smaller into the distance, her sadness reaching a boiling point.
"...my little disciple said he could not accept it 'now', which means he is undecided, you simply need to make sure he has no other choices than you." Vienna's soft voice lingered in the air as he vanished from the branches.
Feng Wuqing's sadness began to fade, and in its place something else arose.
----
Within Sea Spring an uproar had rocked the town to it's core, shaking it's very foundation.
Just weeks after the Underbosses of the various top families were killed alongside a large bulk of their forces, the Sea Spring Merchant Guild lost all of their associate Merchant Groups save for the Guo Merchant Armada which had founded it, just barely surviving the calamity.
Rumor's spread of an expert who wished for a little food, but was denied and went on a rampage only allowing Guo Long his life because he'd seen his kindness to the people!
Immediately, Guo Long's name rose to prominence among the people of Sea Spring who had fallen into a hopeless state and no one cared about the dead merchants, they were swiftly forgotten.
Within that prominent merchant's home, within a soundproof barrier there sat two people.
"You work fast and efficiently." Guo Long calmly spoke, a smile lighting his face.
"You aren't slow either. In less than seven days the entire city is now under the influence of this newfound reputation." Shou Xin leaned back in his chair expressionlessly, "So… what is this?"
On the table was his wanted poster and surrounding him were several Peak Practitioner's.
His foundation was robust, sharp and hardly going to crumble, but even for him fighting against so many Peak Practitioner's was a problem.
"Them? They are here as witness!" Guo Long snapped his fingers and Li Tiyan appeared carrying a scroll which Guo Long spread out.
Shou Xin's eyes widened.
"By decree of the Minister of External Affairs, Shou Xin of Sea Spring has been found guiltless of the previous crimes levied against him," Yet, there was more, "By order of the Branch Officer of Sea Spring, Shou Xin has been given the title of low nobility and awarded land within Sea Spring."
A map was placed before him and two spots lit up. His face twitched as his expression threatened to crumble.
One spot, the smaller one, was within the town, it was the area he had carved out for himself which caused him some slight satisfaction however, it was crushed instantly.
Within Sea Spring Province outside of the city, a forest a ways away was also given to him, a familiar place marked upon the very center.
'Carrot and the stick. They are trying to let me know to not get cocky, they know everything.' Shou Xin slightly frowned, 'When? I never let anyone live… Ah.'
Shou Xin watched Guo Long for a moment who was smiling like a cunning old fox.
Shou Xin then turned his look over to Li Tiyan focusing on her for a moment, he realized she was half wolf beast.
It all fell together.
"I've been dancing on your palm the entire time," Shou Xin said bitterly, "Within a soundproof room where only we three were inside, who could know of our deal? You leaked the information yourself and with Li Tiyan to track me through the forest you found my place and leaked that too."
"It is a merchant's job to be thorough in everything they do," Guo Long patted Li Tiyan, "At the very least, that land is now restricted to only you, so you may be more open and do whatever you wish with it."
"It is also now my job to protect it, right?" Shou Xin's regret reached higher as he looked at the forests positioning to the city.
Anything that wished to arrive by land to Sea Spring from the South would need to pass through his newfound territory which made it his responsibility to deal with it.
Also, there were no villages pre-existing in that forest only vast woodlands.
"...it's too late to change?"
"Far too late."
"Haa…" Shou Xin shook his head slightly, "The food, take some portions to my residence within the forest and leave it far away from the cottage. That is all I ask."
Guo Long nodded.
"Naturally, we will not treat your lover unfairly."
"She is not my lover, but a benefactor." Shou Xin stood up, ready to end this conversation.
"Ah?" Guo Long's eyes narrowed but he could not see deceit in Shou Xin's eyes, "Well, I see. If I may suggest, fix problems at home before seeking to set the world to your gaze lest the ground beneath you give out, youngster."
He left.
---
A large area within Sea Spring was not cleared save for a single Pavilion which had grown in size considerably, becoming something closer to a pagoda temple.
The insides did not have cracks anymore as they had been filled in and covered up, a large area in the center of the Pagoda Temple had become a hall and the upper floors a dining area, the third and highest floor however was forbidden.
Shou Xin quietly sat on a cushion looking over at the one who had risen to prominence within the Shou Group during his time coming and going.
Yui Luo, the first woman to step forward and his first follower who had quickly taken control of food distribution and labor tasks rising quickly.
Liu Gang, a young man who had quickly risen up the ranks by his martial prowess.
Essentially, one leads the fighters, whilst the other leads the economics.