I walked away from them without another word, moving toward the window on the far side of the room where the view of the front gate was clearest.
Behind me, I could hear Zhenlan's voice settling into that steady, organizing tone he used when he'd already made a decision and was simply moving through the logistics of implementing it.
Chenghai responded with something tactical while Jian Yuche was already heading toward the medical supplies, and Wei Lingyun was making his way to the door, ready to open it.
They were committed to playing hero now.
The decision had been made, the vote taken, and I'd been outnumbered four to one.
There was nothing left to say, no argument left to make that would change their minds. I'd used more words in that single conversation than I'd used in weeks, stuck my neck out further than I'd intended, and it hadn't mattered at all.
