Gathering Ferns

"Uncle-Master, are you really leaving?"

On the Barren Island in the sea, Qing Cha tugged at Qin Yi's sleeve, sniffling. "This time we met, and I didn't even get to play with Uncle-Master."

Qin Yi crouched and stroked her cowlick, saying gently, "Uncle-Master wants to play with Qing Cha too... but Uncle-Master has many things to do."

It truly looked like a parent about to leave for work, being held back by a child at home who could not bear to part. Yet Qing Cha was no longer a child. She had always looked like a girl of thirteen or fourteen.

But her heart was pure, just like a child's.

Qing Cha sniffled. "Master said the same thing. She said that if Uncle-Master had a choice, he would probably wish he could lie around on Winged Human Island, singing and feasting every night for the rest of his life without ever coming out."

"..." Qin Yi caught the scent of jealousy drifting through the air from afar.

Why mention Winged Human Island instead of Jian Mu Summit?

The sourness had overwhelmed even the sea breeze.

Qin Yi turned to look back. In the distance, he could vaguely see Jian Mu Summit, where fluttering robes stood still beneath a quiet gaze.

Their eyes met across a thousand miles, yet it was as though they stood before one another. The thoughts of Qian Yuan were already exceedingly mysterious.

Senior Sister was not unwilling to see him off. She was simply afraid of parting.

She had parted too many times, and had come to hate the feeling of farewell more and more.

"Those who are darkly soul-stricken—there is nothing like parting." Qin Yi could fully understand what thoughts a hopeless literary youth like Senior Sister would be having at this moment.

This time,