I was leaving.
Daoist Xiang was reportedly in a city in the Northeast.
Before leaving, I held Xiuzhu for a while.
If I could come back a year later, Xiuzhu would already be walking by then.
"Seventh Master, take care of yourself."
Goodbyes were always sad, and when it came to Seventh Master, I could never quite keep my emotions in check.
Seeing my eyes redden, Seventh Master chuckled. "I'm in excellent health. I'll still be alive when you're seventy or eighty and in a wheelchair."
"When you get there, study hard under Daoist Xiang. Don't be afraid of hardship or exhaustion."
"You can't learn real skills if you're afraid of hard work and getting tired."
I nodded, listening to Seventh Master's advice.
Yi Yang also came to say goodbye before I left. He gave me a compass.
"A friend of my master's made this himself. Stop using that glitchy nine-ninety-nine compass of yours."
Yi Yang patted my shoulder. "We haven't known each other long, but you're a pretty good guy. See you in a year."
I thanked Yi Yang. "Once I'm gone, sorry for leaving Boss Meng's business in your hands, senior brother."
Yi Yang grinned. "Don't worry. With you gone, I get to earn all the money. Heh heh."
Seventh Master stood at the door without seeing me off.
He had long since grown used to partings in life and death.
The closer a farewell came, the easier it was to feel sad, and the sadder you felt, the harder it was to leave.
After all, I was leaving everyone behind, and he hoped I could take it in stride.
Besides, a year wasn't all that long.
Meng Yifan and Song Xiaotian carried all my luggage out to the car.
Neither of them seemed in high spirits either.