New Continent.
Chen Fan stood on the gritty gravel along the coast, both hands resting on the Jadeite Staff, silently gazing into the distance.
Waves rose and fell across the sea.
The damp, salty sea breeze brushed his face.
Crippled Monkey stood behind Chen Fan, staring blankly at the hem of his young master's clothes fluttering in the wind. After following him for so long, he thought he understood him fairly well. But as the Mortal Domain grew, he increasingly found himself unable to tell what his young master was thinking.
Now, for instance.
He had no idea what was on his young master's mind.
"Young Master..."
He called softly.
He wanted to say something, but he did not know what to say. All he could do was call out to his young master, as though telling him that whatever the Mortal Domain faced in the future, he would be there.
He, Crippled Monkey, would always be there.
Just as he had been when they were young.
Chen Fan heard him, but did not turn around. He simply stayed there, quietly watching the distance. Only after an unknown stretch of time did he turn and walk along the beach. "How is cultural development progressing on the Eternal Night Continent?"
"Pretty well."
Hearing his young master speak, Crippled Monkey breathed a sigh of relief and hurried after him, reporting on recent developments. "The best performer is still that man called True Person Qi. He's written several Storybooks that have circulated quite widely. There are also some newcomers who've risen lately, such as..."
"Music?"
"Uh..."
"Has there been no cultural birth in Music?"
"Well... apparently not yet."
"Give it a push."
Chen Fan looked straight ahead, letting the waves wash ashore and soak his trouser cuffs. He did not turn back, keeping