"You are mistaken, Young Master."
Pei Buji bowed to Yang Qing. "I am merely a wandering swordsman of the martial world, with no fixed home and nothing to occupy my heart."
"Only through the fate that brought me along on your journey have I been able to witness such wonders in this world."
"Besides, life and death are decreed by fate, wealth and honor lie with Heaven. We have faced life and death together several times now. You should have long since understood my intentions, Young Master."
Mo Beixing said, "When I came down from the mountain, I was already setting out to deliver a warning."
"I would have had to travel far and wide anyway. Having you all for company naturally gladdens my heart."
Mo Beixing continued, "But I know no martial arts. I truly will be a burden..."
Yang Qing cut her off. "Why would you say that, Holy Maiden? It was I who thought wrongly."
I should not have spoken so rashly.
"Though Ouyang has yet to wake, if he were asked to choose, he certainly would not leave either."
Both Pei Buji and the Holy Maiden understood that, though they had never said it outright, they could no longer part ways as strangers with Yang Qing and his two companions.
"Then I thank you all for standing by us."
As Yang Qing finished speaking, he saw Ouyang Lin, who had been lying motionless, slowly open his eyes.
"You sound so lively. Have I missed something good?"
Ouyang Lin's voice was quiet, and its weakness was plain to hear.
"Ouyang, you have finally woken up."
Bu Er and Jiang Zhizhou naturally saw that Ouyang Lin was awake too, and both gathered around him.
"Where are we now?"
Ouyang Lin looked around and saw not a single tree.