After spending a night in Longzhong, Qin Tian and the others rose at first light the next morning, preparing to return to Xiangyang City.
It was also because, in ancient times, people rose at sunrise and rested at sunset. Though everyone had discussed the Way to their hearts' content, by the hour of Xu, it was time to sleep.
Since Cui Jun, Meng Jian, and Shi Tao lived nearby, seeing that it was about time, they each departed.
Only the Pang Tong brothers, Pang Tong and Pang Lin, remained behind. Everyone made do and slept through the night. The next day, seeing Qin Tian preparing to return, they all came to see him off.
Pang Degong was not at all like the robust Huang Chengyan, but merely a lean, withered old man.
Sima Hui wore a scholar's robe, his long beard drifting in the wind, every inch the lofty recluse beyond the mortal world.
The Pang Tong brothers were both dressed as scholars, much like Zhuge Liang.
Yet Pang Tong was not nearly as ugly as the rumors claimed. Those descriptions of Pang Tong's ugliness were merely the words of novelists.
In truth, Pang Tong had an honest, guileless appearance, rather like Xun You. He did not look especially brilliant, but his bearing was extraordinary.
Sitting beside Zhuge Liang, one could clearly see how different the two were.
Kongming was comparatively suited to practical affairs, methodical and meticulous in all he did;
Pang Tong, meanwhile, was more refined and elegant, skilled in lofty discourse, without that same down-to-earth solidity.
Now that everyone had gathered together, they naturally parted with lingering reluctance. The three old men escorted them all the way to the foot of the hill before Qin Tian finally said with a smile:
"Though one may see a friend