When the people of Stone Village woke and saw Little Nonpoint had suddenly returned, they were delighted. The village erupted into celebration once more.
Little Nonpoint was just as happy to see everyone after a year away. He hugged one person, then another.
Older brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, grandpas and grandmas.
At last, Little Nonpoint threw himself into Shi Yunfeng's arms and held the old man tight.
"Grandpa Chief."
Little Nonpoint's voice was soft and coaxing.
"You're back. That's what matters." Shi Yunfeng kept patting Little Nonpoint's back. The worry in his heart finally fell away.
How could Shi Yunfeng not worry when a child barely seven years old had traveled a million li alone?
Once Little Nonpoint let go of Shi Yunfeng, the children who had been unable to leave the village came rushing over.
They surrounded him and began their own kind of welcome.
They tossed him high into the air, then piled on top of him one after another.
They were all Little Nonpoint's old playmates. When he had been much younger, he used to trail after them wherever they went.
Their bond ran deep, innocent and beautiful.
"Why didn't Pi Hou and the others come back with you?" one child asked, missing those playmates.
"Pi Hou, Breeze, and the others are still at the Heaven Mending Pavilion. They didn't come back with me," Little Nonpoint said with a grin.
"The Heaven Mending Pavilion is holding a martial tournament. They all entered, so they can't come back until it's over."
"Look how far they've come! They can even compete in a tournament at an ancient Pure Land like the Heaven Mending Pavilion."
The village adults beamed. Their hopes of seeing their children soar like dragons and phoenixes seemed to be coming true.
"That's amazing!" the