[ This nie huaisang nods, and doesn’t smile: the expression is more determined than anything else, maybe a little sad. at the end he is here, his brother no less dead (though safely buried). the world continues to turn, even though it long should have stopped when nie mingjue passed away.

the temple was only a few weeks ago. it feels like centuries and minutes at the same time. nie huaisang looks from his strange beast to his near copy, and feels the same thing he must have then—a sense of small relief. ] You’re still young: I shouldn’t tell you a tale and spoil the ending. [ though not childish. he knows the distinction between the truth and a lie. ] I’ve told no one, though a few have learned since on their own.

[ wei wuxian, naturally, and lan wangji. He’s sure the other him could figure it out. ]