In response to Su Junyu's question, Wang Qi said nothing. Seeing that he did not wish to speak, Su Junyu did not press him further and merely told the four of them to rest well that night.
In the middle of the night, Wang Qi quietly opened his eyes.
With no one tending the campfire, it had dwindled to a faint glow. Wang Qi casually poked at it a couple of times and tossed on several dry branches. Then, light on his feet, he headed toward the lakeshore.
To avoid waking the others, he walked on tiptoe with utmost care. The day was close to the new moon, and only the faintest sliver of moon remained. The night was very dark, so avoiding dry branches and the like was somewhat difficult. To that end, Wang Qi deliberately focused his spiritual sense beneath his feet.
After he had gone more than thirty zhang, Zhen Chanzi suddenly spoke. "Stop here. If you want to vent by yourself, do not go any farther. This place is still within Su Junyu's spiritual-sense alert range. Take a few more steps, and Su Junyu will wake up."
Wang Qi let out a long breath. "You actually saw through what I wanted to do?"
"After all, this old man has taught you for several years. Even if you have never acknowledged this old man as your master, this old man has always regarded you as one of his juniors."
Wang Qi found a relatively flat rock and sat down. "My mind's a little chaotic."
This was a sparse forest, with few trees blocking the view, and the field of vision was fairly open. In the distance, Jiachen Lake reflected the stars filling the sky, its surface rippling with faint light. Wang Qi simply stared at the lake