That room meant so much to Cheng-more than he probably should give it, if he were being honest. And in some fashion, it still meant something to him even if he vowed never to look at it or take anything from it again. Too many things were burned or buried or lost to time or broken memories. And while that room had become a cage, towards the end, it was still a part of Lotus Pier. Cheng couldn't dream of having it torn down.

He was quiet for a long moment after Huaisang's offer of distance. It was a devil's offer, he was certain of it, but not that Huaisang was the devil: his own mind could be. He looked up, feeling vulnerable, and choosing not to scowl. "I would still like to be friends. As much as there are several of us here, the fact remains that those who were dead outnumber us living and...You might find as I have that with the passage of time, you might have changed and grown in ways that the others might not understand. And it can be very lonely coming to that realization."