Changqing looked at Li Ping'an.
Li Ping'an lowered his head and coughed softly.
"Ahem~"
"Well, um..."
"It's been so long. How have you been?~"
Between breaking off their friendship and forgiving him, Changqing...
Ultimately chose the latter.
"Benefactor Li, when did you return to the Great Sui?"
"More than half a year ago. I visited all the old friends I ought to visit and passed through Nantong.
"I happened to hear you were coming to this temple to hold an Unrestricted Assembly, so I took a detour to see you."
"That was thoughtful of you, Benefactor Li," Changqing said.
Over the years, Changqing had also been traveling while spreading the Buddhist teachings.
His route, however, had been the exact opposite of Li Ping'an's.
Li Ping'an had headed south, while he had gone north.
He had followed the ancient Buddha's pilgrimage route.
Changqing not only enjoyed unusual scenery, but enjoyed asking about unusual things even more.
Back when he was in the Anbei Four Garrisons, all it took was a handful of sunflower seeds.
He could chat with the old men and women sitting under the trees all day.
And so, on just such a warm, sunny afternoon...
At a time like this, when there was no hurry to do anything...
Li Ping'an and Changqing chatted about their experiences and travels over the years.
Li Ping'an had already told his story to Jing Yu, Aliya, Zhao Ling'er, Yan Shisan, Qingfeng...
Having repeated it so many times, he now knew it as thoroughly as a melon ripened to bursting.
But to Changqing, it was all new.
Of everything he had encountered along his journey, the barbarians living in the Eastern Snowfield had left the deepest impression on Changqing.
Li Ping'an poured him a pot of tea and asked him to tell him