A Rift

Though the snow had stopped, the city walls remained a field of silver-white.

"Little Mister Xie."

The long night was about to break, and a sliver of fish-belly white surfaced on the distant horizon. Chu Guo pressed both hands into the snow atop the wall and said nervously, "After you sent me back to Great Chu, you never showed yourself again... Was it because of the old Moonveil Realm case?"

"..."

Xie Xuanyi fell silent.

Chu Guo was very clever. He had guessed the reason at once.

After they had parted in Li, Xie Xuanyi had never met this young man again.

He had given the Spring Breeze Wild Grass he carried with him to the boy. To a certain extent, that umbrella-sword symbolized the bond between them.

The days of cultivation in Peach Blossom Spring had been brief.

But the bond between master and disciple, the grace of his teachings, had been real.

Back then, Xie Xuanyi still bore the charge of being a traitor to his country, and the Moonveil Realm mystery had yet to be cleared up. Parting ways then had been the best choice for them both.

Now, all the dust had settled.

"Yes."

Xie Xuanyi said softly, "Your father and I... were once very good friends. Before the truth behind Moonveil Realm came to light, I should not have met with you too often."

"There is no longer any need for such concerns."

Chu Guo said sincerely, "Mister taught me swordsmanship. I have engraved this great kindness upon my heart and will never forget it for the rest of my life."

Xie Xuanyi shook his head, a gratified smile appearing on his face.

He extended a hand and gently patted the young man on the head.

"Where is your sister?" Xie Xuanyi asked.

After the