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There’s this incredibly beautiful, wordless moment in Fatal Journey in flashback, when a young Nie Mingjue looks at the choice laid before the two of them – 修刀 xiudao / cultivate the saber or 修心 xiuxin / cultivate the heart. A young Nie Huaisang scratches his head, looks up at his brother with a face scrunched up in confusion; Nie Mingjue unhesitatingly picks up 修心 xiuxin and hands it to his little brother, then blinks rapidly, betraying his own apprehension, as he chooses the path of early, violent death for himself.

But then Nie Huaisang looks up at his brother adoringly, and Nie Mingjue offers a smile back, and cannot bring himself to regret the decision.