When a homebody set off on a long journey, he could spend three months without getting two miles from home.
Yang Ge had long been planning to head south and make trouble for the Long Wind Gang.
But first, there had been the construction of the Upper Right Office headquarters. He could not put his mind at ease without going over to check on it regularly.
Then came the Upper Right Office's staffing arrangements. He refused to take in just any trash, and had to write letters arguing things out with Shen Fa over every single candidate.
After that came the Snowfall Formula. He had reached the bottleneck of its fourth stage, "Yin-Yang Six Harmonies," which called for stillness rather than movement...
In short, he could always find a reason to put it off...
Until early September, when everything finally settled into place, one matter after another.
Even the most difficult task, mastering the Snowfall Formula, was complete. Yang Ge had successfully attained its final stage, "Different Paths, Same Destination." His mighty inner qi achieved yin-yang harmony, with water and fire tempered together!
At this point, he truly stood only one final shudder away from refining essence into qi and returning to simplicity.
Only now, with absolutely no excuse left to delay any further, did he stammer his way over to Shopkeeper Liu to ask for leave.
Before he spoke, he still harbored a faint hope that Shopkeeper Liu would refuse, allowing him to agree readily and put the whole thing off a little longer.
Instead, he had barely said he needed to take a long trip-before he could even give the excuse he had prepared-when Shopkeeper Liu cheerfully agreed.
"No problem. Go take care of your own important business, however long it takes. I'll keep an eye on things