All Alone

Summer sunlight filtered through the Poplar Tree's lush branches and leaves, falling across Xu Changqing's face.

At that moment, he leaned against the Poplar Tree, eyes half-closed, a bitter blade of grass clenched between his lips.

A gentle cool breeze drifted over, tousling his hair and lifting his sleeves.

Now, Xu Changqing was living alone once more.

Senior Sister Yu had already moved away, returning to the Earthfire Zone.

Lin An was constantly running about outside and hardly ever came back.

Amid the pleasant atmosphere lingered a faint trace of loneliness.

Xu Changqing grinned. "Good thing I'm used to it!"

During the day, he liked leaning against the Poplar Tree and watching the spirit plants sway with the wind.

Whenever a cool breeze blew by, his whole body felt especially comfortable.

At night, he would lie atop the roof and gaze at the glittering stars filling the sky.

Whenever a shooting star suddenly streaked past, his heart would instantly grow still.

As for his daily routine, he was still serving as an assessor, though he no longer needed to go to the outer perimeter every day.

There had been a large number of outer sect disciples left over from the previous season.

Now they were all familiar faces, with nothing much left for him to teach.

Wangwang no longer had its wintertime quietness. It frolicked wildly every day, burning off its overflowing strength and energy.

The Pearl Chickens often wandered around, but never went too far. At the slightest rustle of wind or grass, they would run back.

The five Fire Crows patrolled the spirit fields every day, with little change from before.

As for Fortress, it suited the Poplar Tree perfectly.

Whenever it had nothing to do, it would stand motionlessly beneath the tree.

Xu Changqing opened his eyes