Several days later.
Outside Tonghua Gate, Chang'an City.
The autumn wind swept fallen leaves across the main road. The sky was gray, looking ready to rain, yet the rain never fell. Lu Changfeng stood beside the road, facing two routes-one leading southeast toward Jiangnan, the other northeast toward the Eastern Sea.
Luo Qingge stood before him. Today, she wore a pale blue-green martial outfit, her long hair tied back and a short sword hanging at her waist, looking like a woman of the Jianghu about to set out on a long journey.
Her expression was calm, and there was even a trace of a smile at her lips, though it never reached her eyes.
"This is far enough."
Lu Changfeng looked at her. "Any farther, and you'll be seeing me all the way to the Eastern Sea."
Luo Qingge smiled. "I'd like to, but unfortunately, I wouldn't be of any help."
She took a palm-sized brocade pouch from her sleeve and handed it to him. "Take this. There's one of Azure Luan's feathers inside. I've already attached the Demon-Sealing Talisman you gave me, so none of its aura is leaking out. If you run into trouble in the Eastern Sea, take out this feather once you're out of the water. All the birds under heaven will help you."
Lu Changfeng accepted the pouch, tucked it into his Heaven-Earth Bag, and nodded.
Luo Qingge looked at him, her lips moving slightly as though she wanted to say something. In the end, she merely reached out and straightened his wind-tousled collar. "Be careful. Dragon-Slaying City isn't Chang'an. Whatever you do, don't push yourself too far."
"I know."
"And one more thing."
Her fingers lingered on his collar for a moment, and her voice softened. "When you come back, don't forget what you