South of Sunset Forest, wilderness.
A man, a woman, and a beast moved forward slowly.
Dugu Yan stumbled onward like a walking corpse, her eyes vacant, with no idea where she was going.
She only knew that she had to leave—go far away from Heaven Dou City and Sunset Forest—if she wanted to survive.
Qian Ni lay on Jinshi's back, watching the clouds overhead and humming a nonsensical tune.
Jinshi stayed beside Dugu Yan. However fast she walked, Jinshi matched her pace, always making sure Qian Ni could see Dugu Yan whenever he turned his head.
The two people and one beast crossed through woods and plains, heading south the entire way. None of them spoke.
Dugu Yan's tears had already run dry. Expressionless, she only knew how to keep walking.
The sun rose and the moon set, day after day.
Finally, on the morning of the fourth day, Dugu Yan tripped over a stone beneath her feet. Her vision went black, and she passed out.
When she opened her eyes again, two days and nights had passed.
Somewhere in Nameless Forest, beside a lake, a campfire illuminated this corner of darkness.
The warm firelight fell across Dugu Yan's cheek as she slowly opened her eyes.
The clouds were black and thick. There were no stars tonight.
"Awake?"
Qian Ni's large head entered her field of vision. Firelight reflected in his azure eyes, bringing a trace of color into Dugu Yan's world.
She said nothing, merely staring blankly at the night sky.
Qian Ni stretched out a hand and waved it in front of her face.
"Want to see the stars? If you beg me, you can."
Dugu Yan said nothing. Qian Ni did all the talking.
"Oh, right. There's something I want to tell you.
"About Dugu Bo."
At