""
"What's wrong?"
In the neat, dim passageway, Six-Eared noticed that Li Jianyi's pace had slowed slightly.
"How should I put it..." Li Jianyi thought for a moment, then smiled. "It's probably like carefully tending and raising a little cabbage for a long time, only for someone else to pick it and eat it."
Six-Eared froze for a moment, but reacted quickly. "You mean... the fortress?"
Li Jianyi merely shrugged without answering directly.
Six-Eared did not press him. His relationship with Li Jianyi was rather complicated... It could not be considered any particularly deep entanglement. They had simply met.
He understood Li Jianyi's madness, while Li Jianyi did not care how far he himself would go.
Instructor Song, who was walking ahead, stopped as well. Six-Eared glanced over casually—and saw a figure farther ahead, standing in the shadows.
Waiting.
Waiting for the three of them to arrive.
Soon, Six-Eared could make out the newcomer's appearance... He was a young man whose complexion was slightly pale, with an indistinct scholarly air about him.
Li Jianyi adjusted his glasses and said in surprise, "I didn't expect it to be you. What a surprise."
"Is it that you didn't expect it, or that you never thought of it?" the young man said calmly—but from beginning to end, his gaze remained fixed on Instructor Song. "It's been a while, Instructor Song."
"You look well." Instructor Song nodded. "I truly never expected to entrust this matter to you."
The young man smiled faintly. "The other two disciples of the teacher are, after all, watched rather closely. As for me... I still haven't been made public, have I?"
Instructor Song said, "Enough with the reminiscing."
The young man smiled helplessly. "Then please follow me... everyone."
Watching the young man turn and lead the way, Six-Eared could