"For the record, I never said I was going to give up. I just didn't understand your reasons for this. Now I do."

He splashed water on his face.

"And what it all means is that I have a lot of work ahead of me."

Wiping the water from his eyes, he turned to face Zuko, still kneeling. He clasped his fist in his hand and bowed like Zuko had taught him.

"Thank you, Sifu, for giving me a chance."

And he meant that with all the respect he was capable of mustering, which was a surprising amount of respect from one so often completely sarcastic.