With that said.
A strange sense of mission filled Shen Jicheng's heart.
He cupped his hands to Xu Feng and, recalling the words of chivalrous heroes, declared, "Where duty calls, I shall not fail!"
Xu Feng found it oddly melodramatic.
Yet strange as it was, that very melodrama bound two men of different ages and vastly different stations closely together.
They were fighting for the same cause.
In this endeavor, Xu Feng took the lead, despite having less experience and lower standing than Shen Jicheng.
"Good. Of course I trust you, Uncle Shen.
"But forgive me for repeating myself. This matters, and fortune is on our side right now!
"Fate comes first, fortune second. Fortune is a passing wind.
"As the saying goes, with a fair wind beneath me, I can soar into the clouds.
"If you and I miss this wind, we may never find another."
Shen Jicheng smiled, then gestured for Xu Feng to help him onto his horse. The medicine had eased his aches, but his whole body still hurt.
He was an old man, after all.
Even with the temporary relief, his limbs were growing stiff again.
Rather than answer Xu Feng directly, he said, "Your uncle Shen may be old, but age has made him cunning. I'm practically an old fox now.
"Get me home first. When it comes to dealing with people, I'm better at it than you are.
"But walking at night? That's beyond me. Take me back first, so I can stay in one piece and make myself useful!"
He punctuated his words with a couple of groans. The pain was plainly real.
Xu Feng helped him onto the horse, then put away Knife and suppressed the aura of the Ritual Robe. He waited respectfully for the Incense Stick to burn down