Time flashed by, and soon it was the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
On the straight official road in northern Liangzhou, Ye Jingtang rode his big black horse at the head of the group, gazing over the barren yellow earth around him. Returning home inevitably stirred a sense of familiarity in his heart, along with a wistful sense that the land remained while its people had changed.
Niao Niao, their little source of joy, had no such complicated thoughts. Back where it had grown up, it was particularly excited, flying into trees to inspect nests one moment and darting into fields to peer into mouse holes the next. Whenever it spotted a familiar village dog, it spread its great wings and swooped over to chase it, frightening the dog into frantic yelps and displaying all the swagger of a village bully.
Inside the carriage behind him, Dongfang Liren lifted the window curtain and watched Niao Niao romping through the fields, somewhat amused.
"Was it this mischievous at home before?"
Ye Jingtang found that rather difficult to answer. Back in Red River Town, there had been nothing interesting around, and he had been bored out of his mind. Apart from practicing martial arts, he had spent his days catching fish, raiding birds' nests, and chasing village dogs. Niao Niao had followed him since it was little, so it had undoubtedly learned its roguish ways from him.
Naturally, Ye Jingtang could not tell Silly about these episodes that would damage his cool, stern image. He merely said:
"It's just excited to finally be back after so long away. It used to be very well-behaved at home."
"Really...?"
As they chatted, Ye Jingtang led the convoy toward the entrance to town.
Since encountering the Black Banner Gang at the Desolate Bone Shoals,