696. Inevitability

When Lu Ban saw Trist, he felt as though he had crossed into another lifetime.

After all, he had only just heard of Trist's death. The Mysterious Lord suppressing the Old Ones in the cavern on Jiangcheng Mountain was none other than his familiar old friend, Trist. With the closed loop of fate already complete, seeing Trist again truly stirred a great many emotions.

Lu Ban climbed into the carriage, and the procession continued on its way.

He glanced at Xiya, then at Stone, as though seeking their answer.

"I already know."

Trist suddenly spoke.

He did not explain what he knew, but judging from his expression and gaze, it seemed to be everything.

"When I saw Stone, I already had a hunch. After all, there couldn't be a second pipe like this one."

Trist pulled the briar pipe from inside his coat. Even its patterns were exactly the same as those on the one in Stone's hand.

"So, that means I'm going to take part in a mission to your world's past and suppress an Old One?"

He confirmed it once more.

Lu Ban nodded.

"Because I saved your world, you were able to be born there and eventually meet me. So, when we first met, the ending had already been decided, and fate had already completed its loop. Is that right?"

Inside the swaying carriage, Trist asked this as gloomy sunlight filtered through the gaps between the trees, entered through the carriage door, and illuminated the drifting dust, revealing the path of the light.

"Yes."

Xiya answered.

She knew very well that the Trist sitting before them now was the Trist from after Glass Flower and before Soul Summoning Night. This must have been a mission Trist took part in during that period. After this, he would undertake