"Strange."
"Why aren't you dead yet?"
Inside the Path of Return, Liu Di stared at the Eight-armed Mole, while Bulin stared at the giant rat with uneven claws.
Judging by the time that had passed during Liu Di's repeated trips in and out, nearly ten thousand years had elapsed within the Path of Return.
The Eight-armed Mole was somewhat speechless. "Is that any way to speak to someone?"
Liu Di tilted his head and suddenly noticed something interesting. A white ribbon had been tied around the back of the Eight-armed Mole's head, forming a tiny braid. It was rather adorable.
This was not Bulin's handiwork. Bulin had remained by Liu Di's side the entire time.
The Eight-armed Mole touched the back of its head and said proudly, "A young lady came in before. Her name was Gu Fan—beautiful, lovely, gentle, a woman you'll never have. She tied this little braid for me. Later, I helped her find the exit."
Liu Di narrowed his eyes. "You little thing, you knew where the exit was all along. You deliberately misled me before."
The Eight-armed Mole covered its mouth. "Oh no, I let it slip."
Then it said pitifully, "I only know where you humans' exit is. But as for my hometown... boohoohoo, a child far from home, destined to die in a foreign land—I already have it hard enough. Anyone who kicks me while I'm down is worse than a beast."
Liu Di sighed softly.
Gu Fan had been trapped here for a long time. A moment outside was hundreds of years in here, yet she had never mentioned it to me.
Most precious of all was that, through endless time, her feelings for me had not faded in the slightest.
Others would not understand.
Liu Di reached out, startling the Eight-armed