Huff, huff.
Xu Zhiqiu ran back to Kaede's Village. The somewhat familiar village felt welcoming, and as she drew closer, she knew she would soon be able to go home.
She entered the village and made her way to Granny Kaede's house.
"Oh? Miss Qiu, you've appeared again." Granny Kaede came out carrying a wooden basin and spotted Xu Zhiqiu.
"Mm-hmm. Have Kagome and the others come back yet?" Xu Zhiqiu asked hopefully.
"No. But Kagome left something with me. She said to give it to you if I saw you return," Granny Kaede said.
Xu Zhiqiu followed Granny Kaede inside.
Granny Kaede set down the wooden basin and searched for the item Kagome had entrusted to her.
Xu Zhiqiu took the bag. Inside was her Jade, just as she had hoped. With the Jade back in her hands, she felt much more at ease. "I'll be going, then."
"Goodbye."
Xu Zhiqiu smiled. She would absolutely never come back here again.
Now that she had found the Jade, Xu Zhiqiu hurried toward the Bone-Eater's Well.
When she reached the Bone-Eater's Well, Xu Zhiqiu remembered that she still hadn't left behind the Hengdao in her hand. Leaving it by the Bone-Eater's Well should be fine. Whoever wanted it could take it.
Xu Zhiqiu tossed down the Hengdao, then leaped into the Bone-Eater's Well.
Enveloped in blue-green light, she disappeared from this place once more.
Not far away, a bee perched on a tree trunk silently took in the scene.
Thump.
Xu Zhiqiu landed firmly on both feet. She climbed out of the unfinished sewer and tilted her head toward the sky. At the sight of the familiar buildings, her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled.
She walked back to her rented room. The landlord's shop occupied the ground