As his words fell, Sand Camel's soul completely dispersed, turning into a wisp of green smoke that vanished into the wind blowing from the desert, disappearing without a trace.
Yellow sand flowed, and even the footprints it had left behind were gradually filled in.
It was as though the desert had slowly closed its eyes over it—a final farewell.
Once the footprints were buried, the wind swept through, and not a single trace of Sand Camel remained in this world, as though it had never come at all.
Qin He could not help but let out a breath of stale air.
The years truly were... too merciless.
Even if one could stow away along the River of Time for a while, after dreaming for countless ages and waking from a single sleep, everything in the world had changed beyond recognition. Old friends, companions, even enemies—all had vanished, leaving behind only traces that they had once existed, along with descendants and mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas that had changed beyond shape yet could still vaguely be recognized.
After another sleep, even the traces left by those old friends were completely gone, and the mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas were nearly unrecognizable.
After yet another sleep, seas had become mulberry fields, and no familiar place remained in the world. It was like arriving in a strange land, where everything was so unfamiliar.
In the end, even the one seeing you off would be a stranger.
Perhaps there would be no one at all, only a few insects in the grass.
Or perhaps not even insects—only a breeze across the wilderness.
When it disappeared, it would be just like those old friends buried in the River of Time, as though it had never existed.
The world was vast, and all living beings were