As Yang Qing spoke to Wood, he stood firmly, his breathing fairly steady.
Although his clothes had been burned to charcoal and he had suffered some flesh wounds, seeing him like this put Wood considerably more at ease.
"If Mo Yang returns safely, the two of us will come find you in Western Chu."
At Wood's words, Yang Qing's eyes crinkled with a smile. "If that day comes, perhaps we can return here and gather again."
If he was still alive by then.
Of course, there was no need to say anything so sorrowful to Wood.
It would only add to his grief.
Jiangli, however, cast Yang Qing a sidelong glance. "Didn't you say you needed to get going?"
If they did not leave soon, perhaps...
The smile on Yang Qing's face faded a little. He nodded to Wood. "Then we'll leave it at that. Until we meet again."
When they had endured Heavenly Punishment earlier, Yang Qing and the others had been halfway up the mountain. Leaving for Western Chu from here was simple enough.
Before ascending the mountain, they had already prepared themselves for certain death, so they had brought none of their clothes or other belongings with them.
"Let's go."
How could the distance between here and Western Chu be measured in a mere ten thousand rivers and mountains?
But Yang Qing had made up his mind. Even if he died, he would die on his native soil.
Jiangli sighed again.
"You intend to walk there just like this? Even in a carriage, getting back to Western Chu would mean a thousand trials and ten thousand hardships."
Jiangli spoke calmly, but Yang Qing and the others knew there was not a shred of exaggeration in those words.
Seeing everyone looking over, Jiangli coughed, then slowly raised a