Beyond the long pavilion, beside the ancient road, scattered travelers passed by beneath sparse willows at dusk—a scene as poetic as a painting.
Xiang Yang and Ning Ke stood facing each other in silence, neither speaking, the sorrow of parting filling the space between them.
This was the fifth day after the Divine Constable battle had been postponed, the third day since Yi Guoxin had awakened from his feigned coma and left First Line of Heaven's headquarters on an external assignment, and also the day Ning Ke was to leave Divine Land and return home.
Over the past few days, Xiang Yang and Ning Ke had spent every day together, talking of heaven and earth, sparring in martial arts, and exchanging insights. Their feelings had rapidly warmed; compared to their previous ambiguity and distance, there was now a little more closeness between them.
Yet the layer of window paper between them had never been pierced. Thus, their relationship remained that of friends, with neither needing to make promises to the other.
Today, Ning Ke carried a pure white bundle on her back. Her glossy black hair was tied into a knot and draped before her left shoulder, while her petite body was wrapped in a long embroidered robe. She looked very much like that beauty in the moon palace, paired with her own reflection.
"After you return to Xiangzhou, spend more time with your mother. Mm, it would be best if you told her about what the two of us discussed and listened more to her advice...
"When carrying out missions within the sect, you must be careful. Ever since the demon sect was bestowed recognition by Emperor Shengwu, something about it has felt strange. You must not let your guard down, and you must not act impulsively when trouble