The sun's bright rays, partially hidden by the clouds that adorn the horizon, illuminate the immaculate layer of snow crystals that rest on the ground in the Yang clan district. The light enters Yang Lian's room through the open window decorated with an indigo curtain.

The general is sitting beside his bed, waiting for Zhu Yin to wake up. In the early hours of the morning, he had taken him to a doctor, but it was nothing serious. The light is growing and wakes up his friend. Zhu Yin moves a little away from the dusty curtains and, before realising Yang Lian's presence, he hears his voice.

— Feeling better?

— Yes — he sits down on the bed.

— Do you remember what happened at dawn?

— I remember until shortly after the fire started. But why did you save me? I don't understand. And what happened afterwards?

— I ran away with you, I took you to the doctor and now I'm your nanny because I'm going to keep an eye on you so you don't get into any more trouble.

— Why didn't you kill me

— What reason do we have? It's not as if, in this state, you're capable of getting into trouble again — pause — And why did you do all this?

— I wanted to end the war.

— But what about the duel at dawn? It had already ended and everyone knew it because it was announced.

— I know... I don't know, they were the ones who led the armies to fight... they sustained it for years and they were going to get away with it?

— Do you know that my master was one of the three most important men to end the war?

— No. You seem to know well what happened, are you also part of that?

— Yes, would you like me to explain everything?

Yang Lian explains what happened and, while listening, Zhu Yin endeavours not to show her emotions, remaining neutral.

— So everything I did was in vain?

— We shouldn't waste our time thinking about the past, what matters is the present and the future.

— You say that because their blood isn't on your hands — he tries to control himself, taking a deeper breath.

— I have blood on my hands too, but is it going to change anything to care about the past?

— It won't — he sighs and a tear runs down his cheek without his permission — That's the worst.

— No, that means you can leave him.

— Your logic is strange.

— But it works. I know what it's like to lose everything. I was born and raised in the Zhu clan, my parents were spies for the Yang clan and lived an ordinary life there. However, one day the military broke into our house and killed them. I survived because a doctor who accompanied the military took mercy on me and hid me. Later, he managed to hand me over to the Yang clan and I met my master, who adopted me. I've never forgotten it and it still hurts to remember, yet my life goes on. I can't let my past steal my future. I too have done wrong things, many of them, but if I give up, I'm abandoning the opportunity to do the right thing in the future. Everything that has happened and will happen will pass, there is nothing eternal in this world.

Zhu Yin goes under the white blankets, but when she hears two voices, he quickly dries his tears and comes out from under them.

— Hi, brother's friend! — says Yang Ji almost shouting, before Yang Ming catches up with her at the window

— Hi, Lian's friend! — Yang Feng joins her at the thought.

— Sorry about them — Yang Ming tries to hold his little brothers back.

Zhu Yin smiles at the children who, happy with his friendly attitude, jump out of the window and climb onto Yang Lian's bed. Yang Ming runs into the house — through the door, like a normal person, unlike his brothers.

— You shouldn't be here — says Yang Lian.

— Are they your brothers?

— Yes, they are.

The two little pests get up and jump on the bed, and Yang Lian lets them.

— Why is your hair white if you're not old? — asks Yang Ji.

— I don't know, it's been like this since I was born.

— Are you a warrior? — asks Yang Feng.

— Yes.

— Strong?

— The people I've fought would answer better than me.

— Very strong — says Yang Lian.

— Teach me to be strong, teach me.

— I want to too. Wait, have you two ever fought?

Yang Ming opens the door with force and enters panting, almost laughing, but leaves at the same moment, determined to leave the chaos of the children to the adults because he has seen that the two of them are already looking after them.