Xia Changming had thought Hu Xiaotian would leave Western Sichuan directly and return to Eastern Liang Commandery, but Hu Xiaotian wanted to visit Azure Cloud first. Nostalgia certainly played a part in this. Azure Cloud had been the first stop on his travels through the world, and the first place where he had held office after arriving in this era. It had left him with countless memories. Xia Changming agreed to meet him in Azure Cloud a day later, after which they would return together.
Flying Owl delivered Hu Xiaotian and Long Xiyue outside Azure Cloud City, then left with Xia Changming.
At dawn, Hu Xiaotian and Long Xiyue walked side by side toward Azure Cloud County's walled town. Azure Cloud Bridge over the Tongji River had been repaired. Walking across the bridge built of carved bluestone, he suddenly remembered his first arrival in Azure Cloud. The bridge had been broken then, and Zhang Ziqian had ferried them across in a small boat. Now, however, life and death separated them. Resting a hand on the bridge's stone railing, Hu Xiaotian gazed at the gently flowing river and murmured, "At South Bridgehead, two ferries dart like shuttles, weaving river brocade."
Long Xiyue looked at him in surprise, unsure why poetic inspiration had suddenly struck him and prompted him to compose a couplet. She was just about to consider a matching line when Hu Xiaotian continued, "At West Bank End, one tower stands like a brush, writing verses across the sky." His voice brimmed with sorrow.
Long Xiyue did not understand why he was so saddened. Only after asking did she learn of his history with Zhang Ziqian. She sighed softly and said, "Everyone in this world has their own destined encounters and their own fortunes. You needn't force things. If Master