Another month passed before Bibi Dong could finally lift her right arm on her own. Hu Liena accompanied her on a walk outside the Papal Hall, and only after seeing that she no longer needed a physician's support did she hand the old case files from all those years to the newly appointed case review officer. Bibi Dong did not relinquish every duty at once. She checked each item on the handover list first, even ensuring that enough patrol staff remained at the former Yellow Springs Dew site.
When Yuan Yu came to pick her up, Hu Liena was stamping the final document. As they walked out through the city gates, she said her divine officer assessment had reached its final stage as well: only after sealing the old site for three years without a breach and settling those who wished to leave the old killing grounds would the Divine Realm approve her appointment to the post governing illusions and thoughts. She had not asked Yuan Yu to put in a good word for her with anyone. She submitted three years of receipts to the examiner, and only when she saw her own name on the Divine Realm travel permit did she bring out the luggage she had packed long ago.
"Did you bring the wine?" she asked.
"Ling Yuan searched it once, so I hid it somewhere else." Yuan Yu winked at her.
Hu Liena knew he would not keep it hidden for long, but she took his luggage anyway. She stopped outside the city gates and glanced back at Spirit City. "I'll come back. I can't rest easy with Mother sitting there all alone."
After a few steps, she caught Yuan Yu's sleeve again. "Do you want me to come because that little boy from back then can't