"Do you have any water?"
The girl spoke softly.
An older student left and returned a short while later with a basin of water, setting it before her.
"Thank you..."
She took out a handkerchief, wet it, and gently wiped the blood from the boy's body. Before long... the water in the basin was bright red.
Everyone watched in silence.
Not a word was spoken.
Even Zhao Zicheng lay on the ground with his head turned, staring fixedly at Tail-Ender, his teeth clenched.
It was as though they were performing a silent play.
"You liked things clean..."
"You should at least leave with some dignity."
Once she had finished, the girl stood and looked at the students behind her. "My juniors, I'm very sorry. For personal reasons, I can't stay away from the inner courtyard for too long."
"Wenxuan's funeral arrangements..."
"I'll have to leave them to you."
"Thank you, everyone."
As quiet and gentle as ever, she bowed deeply to them.
Everyone stepped aside in unspoken accord.
"Chu Yu, you don't need to be so formal."
Bai Haitang spoke softly.
"I should thank you." The girl managed a faint smile, took one last, long look at the boy he had once been, and walked deeper into the academy.
Gradually, she disappeared from everyone's sight.
Standing beside the rockery in front of the archway, she raised her head.
The rockery remained, and the sunlight was unchanged...
Only the boy was missing.
Unable to control her emotions any longer, Chu Yu crouched down, wrapped her arms around her knees, and sobbed softly.
A long while passed...
In the distance, the bearded drunkard was still bleary-eyed, his body still bearing wounds. Yet as though he felt no pain at all, he returned to his usual spot and sat down.
He picked up