The one who had saved the people on this island was He Qiong.
The Verdant Green Maiden's eyes were deep. She saw the clear light of virtue around He Qiong and caught a faint scent of medicine on her. She knew He Qiong had spent these past centuries treating the sick, helping ordinary people, and gathering no small amount of merit.
He Qiong gathered her things. Though she tried to keep her composure, there was still a touch of haste in her movements.
"Martial Aunt!"
"It's been years. Have you been well?"
The Verdant Green Maiden nodded. "I have."
The two walked along an island path in the evening sun.
"I only came to this island a little over half a month ago."
"By then, most of the people here were at death's door. Even I couldn't save some of them..."
There was still a note of self-reproach in He Qiong's voice.
The Verdant Green Maiden said, "Even saving one person is a good thing."
There was no need to blame herself.
He Qiong nodded gently.
She turned to the Verdant Green Maiden and asked, "What brought you here, Martial Aunt? Was it the epidemic too?"
The Verdant Green Maiden answered and told her about Guihua.
After hearing what Guihua had been through, He Qiong fell silent.
Over more than three hundred years, she had seen suffering of every kind.
But...
Every time she heard of it, her heart still ached.
"Ah..."
He Qiong sighed.
The Verdant Green Maiden waved a hand and said to He Qiong, "Enough of that. We've finally met again—we ought to talk about something happy, shouldn't we? You must have been through plenty these past few centuries. Any good stories? Tell me."
He Qiong nodded. "All right."
Even three days and nights would not be