That doesn't mean you stop thinking about it.

[Some of the what ifs hurt. Some of them are impossible. And some of them aren't. Yuan wouldn't have made it this far if he didn't wonder; he can still, some days, feel that moment, balanced on his blade's edge, seeing his reflection in the new-made weapon and wanting and wondering so much it ached.]

[Nettled, Yuan goes on.]

You're fortunate the situation required a surrender. Like this, you'd never have managed to defeat me.