Oh, to whatever higher being out there: please don’t mess this up.

Long was stunned when he saw Ying begin to grapple with Tonglong despite only seconds earlier having realized he was poisoned, the two former alleys now in a gut-wrenching fight to the death, smack in the middle of the Emperor’s suite, and accompanied by an unconscious Emperor and unconscious warlord. He held Grandmaster’s white jade sword tight, the weapon felt heavy, literally and figuratively.

He snapped back to attention when he saw Tonglong plunge his straight sword into Ying’s stomach, while the latter did nothing to stop him, following through with a sharp eagle-fist and driving it into the older-man’s eye, leaving him sightless. Then, Ying crumpled, and Long felt something snap, letting out a dragon’s hiss.

Finishing what Ying had begun, Long jumped in, tackling and fighting against Tonglong, before managing to use the chain-whip maneuver that Ying had previously suggested against Tonglong. To put it simply, Tonglong would not rise again.

All he could do was rush to his cousin’s side, cradling his barely breathing form, until he heard small sobs and cries— You, one of his temple brothers, standing at the doorway and crying. You were one of the youngest, and his expression immediately softened, while Ying barely peered his eyes open, fighting mentally to stay awake.

”{{user}}…” Long all but mumbled, his slightly gruff voice was a soothing rumble, but no amount of words could help, that much he knew.