People said farewells ought to be properly spoken, yet they did not know that partings always came when people were unprepared.
Just as with Chang Ding's departure, everyone was waiting for his return.
Yet they also knew he could hardly return again...
The man who grew a little shy when he spoke seemed to have lost his way too.
No one spoke. They only gazed at the ethereal, boundless Long River, at the Floating Life Lamps in the distance, indistinct as the lights of countless homes.
It seemed everyone was prepared.
They had always been preparing for someone to lose their way while lighting a lamp.
Perhaps the next to lose their way would be themselves...
But once everyone had lost their way, who would light the lamps?
The wind blew from the Other Shore of the Long River, stirring the robes of the six people beside the river and sweeping through Su Mo's long hair.
Everyone remained silent, then returned to the hut's door.
As though nothing had happened...
Su Mo turned to look at their retreating backs and murmured, "Are we... not going to look for him?"
Everyone trembled slightly and turned to look at Su Mo.
They saw what seemed to be a sorrow on Su Mo's face, a sorrow like that of someone experiencing a friend's departure for the first time, and still more like a furious rebuke of his own helplessness.
Long Robe's face was exceptionally calm. She simply looked at Su Mo.
"Someone who has lost their way is dead. How can we search for him?"
Su Mo shook his head and asked with difficulty, "How could he be dead? He's only forgotten everything and lost his way in the Long River."
"Let's bring him back before we talk about anything else..."
Long Robe