Shen Qingqiu (not Xiao Jiu, never again would he be that weak helpless worthless little slave no matter how sadly Yu-ge stared at him) forced himself to breathe evenly, readying to sink into meditation again. He had to prove that he could do this himself, that he wasn't dependent on anyone else for his advancements, that he deserved to be respected as a Peak Lord even if there was nothing in him to be respected as a person or nothing would change -

His qi flared out of his control, again, and he would have fought to bring it back if he weren't so tired of everything, and he barely noticed his life slipping away when it brought the promise of peace - peace would be a welcome change...