Who Sighs in the Flow of Time...

"Look at your hair, it has turned white." Bai Ling covered her mouth and giggled, the brightness in her eyes making that strange feeling in Su Ming's heart grow even more intense.

"Don't talk about me, hasn't your hair turned white too? You've become an old hag." Su Ming pointed at Bai Ling and laughed.

As the two chatted and laughed, they seemed to grow more familiar with each other. In this snowy night, Su Ming felt a wonderful sensation rising in his body and mind. He felt time passing quickly, and before he knew it, the distant sky began to turn white.

That was not snow, but the first light of dawn.

The night passed just like that. When the light in the sky enveloped the earth and snowflakes were still drifting down, Su Ming and Bai Ling climbed down from the tree trunk. After washing up, the two shared a smile.

Su Ming did not say anything more; instead, he crouched down. Bai Ling's large eyes flickered, and she walked over with light steps, continuing to lie on that lean back. A feeling of warmth began to sprout faintly in the depths of her heart.

This time, the closer Su Ming got to the Black Dragon Tribe, the more strange thoughts he felt in his heart. It was as if he were reluctant to part. Gradually, he fell silent, but his footsteps slowed down involuntarily, and he couldn't help but walk in circles.

Bai Ling lay on Su Ming's back. Although she saw many of the same scenes repeating just like the day before and knew that Su Ming was circling around again, she did not speak this time. Instead, she rested her head on Su Ming's back, listening to his heartbeat.

All songs must come to an end... When the sun hung high and the day turned to dusk once more, the snow was still falling from the sky, but the outline of the Black Dragon Tribe appeared in Su Ming's sight.

Looking at the tribe, Su Ming set Bai Ling down and a smile appeared on his face.

"You're home."

Bai Ling glanced at the tribe, then back at Su Ming. Her beautiful face betrayed no thoughts. She nodded silently, walked in front of Su Ming, and used her fair hands to gently brush the snow off his body.

"Thank you... Go back to your tribe early..." Bai Ling opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something more, but she didn't. Instead, she revealed a beautiful smile, took a few steps back, and walked toward her own tribe.

Su Ming stood there, watching Bai Ling's figure gradually drift away, watching that graceful silhouette that turned back to wave at him from time to time. His mind was a blank slate.

As the distance between the two grew, the snow falling from the sky seemed to become an invisible barrier, shattering his gaze into pieces. Slowly, it covered that departing figure. It was like walking across an ice field; if one does not return, one will never see the ice melt. It was like walking through the years; if one does not reminisce, one will never hear who is sighing in the passage of time.

After a long while, Su Ming shook his head, took one last look at the Black Dragon Tribe, and turned to leave. When he came, he had the snow for company; when he left, it was the same.

The snowflakes landed on his body and hair, yet they made Su Ming feel as if something were missing.

Is this liking someone... Su Ming ran through the mountain forest, speeding toward the Wu Mountain Tribe. He frowned the entire way, and the image of Bai Ling kept appearing in his mind.

It feels different from how it felt with Chen Xin... Su Ming took a deep breath and shook his head vigorously, as if trying to shake away this strange feeling he had never experienced before. After steadying his heart, his eyes flashed, and his speed increased once more.

When the sky turned pitch black and the stars shone brightly, accompanied by the moonlight and the snow that had been falling for a day and a night, Su Ming returned to his home, the Wu Mountain Tribe.

He had looked at the tribe from afar yesterday and roughly confirmed that it was unharmed. Now that he was back, he saw the clansmen on night watch outside the gate made of giant logs.

The tribe was very quiet. The bonfire in the center was still burning, making crackling sounds. Su Ming walked through the tribe, looking at his surroundings, and finally arrived outside Grandpa's hut.

There was still firelight spilling out from Grandpa's hut; clearly, he had not yet rested.

"Is that Su Ming? Come in." Grandpa's voice came from within, tinged with a hint of fatigue.

Su Ming gently lifted the leather flap and walked in, seeing Grandpa sitting cross-legged, his gray hair slightly disheveled.

"Grandpa." Su Ming said in a low voice, sitting to one side.

"The tribe is fine, don't worry." Grandpa looked at Su Ming with a smile on his face. After signaling for Su Ming to sit beside him, he raised his withered right hand and patted Su Ming's head a few times, his smile deepening.

"You've actually reached the third level, not bad!"

Su Ming looked at Grandpa and slowly recounted everything he had seen in the cavern, one by one. Especially when he mentioned the skeleton, he clearly saw Grandpa's expression tighten.

"'Oh vast Heaven, why do you alone weep...' Grandpa, what does this sentence mean?" Su Ming frowned.

"The legend is true after all..." Grandpa gazed at the leather flap, his eyes seeming to pierce through it to see the Wu Mountain beyond.

"This sentence should be a self-questioning. Compared to the vast heaven, what sorrow do I still have... or perhaps, there are other hidden meanings within it..." Grandpa sighed softly. Not knowing what he was thinking of, his words carried a sense of vicissitudes as he spoke slowly.

"As for the words about fire worship, Grandpa doesn't quite understand either. That you were able to see it is perhaps your own destiny." Grandpa withdrew his gaze and looked at Su Ming kindly.

"In a month, Grandpa is going to the Fengzhen Tribe. If you are out and about then, remember to come back."

"Also, Grandpa, in the Moon Wing's nest, I saved a clansman from the Black Dragon Tribe. Her name is Bai Ling, and she is the granddaughter of the Black Dragon Tribe's Barbarian Duke." Su Ming nodded, and as if remembering something, he spoke up again.

"Bai Ling?" Grandpa was startled. He pondered for a long while before telling Su Ming to go back and rest first. After Su Ming left, a look of reminiscence appeared in Grandpa's eyes.

"Lesu... your granddaughter was saved unintentionally by my tribe's Lasu... Perhaps this matter can reduce some of the hatred you hold for me..." Grandpa sighed softly, and the reminiscence in his eyes grew even deeper.

"The Blood Moon is coming early... and that powerful blood energy that suddenly erupted from the Black Mountain Tribe that night... disaster is brewing..." Grandpa closed his eyes, muttering to himself, his face filled with worry.

Su Ming left Grandpa's hut and walked through the tribe. Instead of returning to his own leather tent, he went to Lei Chen's home. Seeing that Lei Chen only had a few scratches and was still full of vigor, he personally applied some medicine for him before finally setting his mind at ease.

Lei Chen was quite happy to see Su Ming. He patted his chest and boasted about the scenes of his battle with the Moon Wing, saliva flying everywhere. It wasn't until he had talked for a long time that Su Ming smiled and took his leave.

It was already late at night, but when Su Ming's gaze fell on a leather tent not far away that was still glowing with firelight, a look of hesitation appeared on his face.

That was the home of the Scout Leader, and also the home of Bei Ling.