"I wouldn't say walking the entire road of my cultivation alone," I replied, "But I'm as done with merely using others as I am with being used. Life is more than an exchange of benefits, living that way won't fill the void in my heart that I came to the Heavens to escape. But just maybe, if I treat people with real kindness, I can finally let myself be real friends with the people I've found for it already...finally let them in."
I had to marvel a little at my own words. I'd started out simply trying to build my argument enough to convince them without bringing up the concerns I was keeping secret, but as soon as I'd said it, I knew it really was what I needed to do. It was an epiphany I suspected I'd been subconsciously working towards from the moment I'd ordered the death of the fanatic. Honestly, I felt as though there was less weight on my shoulders just for having said it.
