Chu Xingchen gently pinched Chen Baiqing's cheek, then rubbed it to soothe her before turning his gaze back to the old monk, whose wound was slowly healing.
Without saying anything more, he simply took out the token of Guangming Buddha that Wukong had brought him from his Spatial Ring.
Chu Xingchen raised his hand and tossed the token over.
The old monk lifted his hand slightly to catch it. The instant his fingers brushed it, his eyes visibly changed.
Chu Xingchen had no time for that just now. He turned to Li Junzi and cupped his hands slightly, a faint smile appearing on his face as he said:
"Sorry you had to see all that."
Only then did Li Junzi rise somewhat dazedly to return the greeting, though she also came back to her senses:
"Not at all. It's been a long time, Sect Leader Chu."
Chu Xingchen nodded gently and chuckled. "It has. But seeing you today, I imagine your journey through the Western Ox-He Continent hasn't been easy, Mister Li."
Lin Luoyu glanced at the old monk, who held the token with a pensive expression. Longing stirred in her heart, and she put away her sword, rose, and walked toward Li Junzi.
"It's been tiring, but meaningful too," Li Junzi replied. Then she looked at the approaching Lin Luoyu, a pure smile on her face, and reached out to gently take her hand.
The moment Li Junzi took it, she suddenly felt that the slightly cold little hand that had once gripped hers so tightly had now become so large, so warm.
"Teacher," Lin Luoyu said softly.
"It's been so long. You really haven't changed at all, just as Sect Leader Chu said." Li Junzi nodded gently and smiled. "Unlike your teacher. I've grown so old."
Lin Luoyu