At dusk, the rosy glow faded and the stars were about to emerge. The sky and earth took on the gray haze of approaching rain, while layers of green mist filled the forest, as though the breaths of countless trees had mingled together, filling the air with the scent of soil and tender shoots.
Beneath the gates of Black Ink City, Yetos and the other two saw off Zeng Mu as he sat on horseback.
"Nameless, go without worry. You've never disappointed me, lad. When you come back, I can make an exception and have a few drinks with you," Yetos said, patting his knee.
"Nameless, be careful out there. With you handling this, I have complete confidence," Aikimu encouraged him.
After the two finished speaking, Kanni stepped forward and gestured. Zeng Mu leaned sideways to bring his ear closer, and heard him whisper, "Don't push yourself too hard. If anything feels wrong, flee at once. Understand?"
Zeng Mu patted his shoulder, seemingly addressing all three at once. "Don't worry. I understand."
"Goodbye!"
"Goodbye!" They waved farewell. His retreating figure sped away, soon vanishing into the forest's layers of green mist.
"It feels as though we only just met, and now we're saying goodbye again," Kanni remarked wistfully. Even he was surprised that someone like him would feel such sentiment.
"Yes, time passes far too quickly. Three more years have gone by in the blink of an eye. Who could have imagined that, when we first met Nameless over three years ago, he seemed a little muddled? Now he's grown to the point where even I can't fathom him. Calling him a genius almost seems to sell him short."
After hearing their reflections, Yetos concluded, "Actually, the first time I saw Nameless's face, I had a vague feeling that this