Jing Yi nodded, not thinking that Shao Hai’s reaction was strange at all. Shao Hai and Xiao Dong had gotten along well, even though there had sometimes been some tension. In fact, with how he had vanished so often, it could likely be said that Shao Hai’s best friend hadn’t been him but Xiao Dong. Of course, he’d be happy to see him. “Yes, he definitely will be. He’s been helping out over at the Hei Dian Sect but somebody went to get him and the other two disciples I invited.”

He thought for a moment and then figured that he should probably tell Shao Hai a bit more to fill the silence. “Other than him and those two, the Grandmaster of the Hei Dian Sect somehow invited himself and his wife since I wanted to ask his sister-in-law to come. So … that might be a bit awkward. Other than that, the other people are from our Yun Zou Sect: Wu Min Huan, Ma Zhi Wu, and Nian Hong Fan.”

Shao Hai nodded. “Well, you did have to do with them a little more.”

“Yeah, I have to admit there aren’t many people I was really close to. So, they were the only ones I could invite. But I guess if there had been more people, the gathering might have gotten too big anyway. Coming together with just a handful of friends sounds like something I’d enjoy a lot more.”

Shao Hai nodded again. “I can imagine. Anyway, it will take some time to return to the sect and then also travel to the capital city. Especially since we don’t know what the others are doing right now. How about going back already? Anyway, we can talk on the way.”

Not that he thought that there was a lot else left to talk about. Since he had told Jing Yi that there wasn’t much to apologize for and that he himself had made just as many mistakes, he had kind of cut off whatever else he had wanted to say. So now, things were even more awkward.

Jing Yi also felt like leaving earlier would be for the better. He motioned to the counter of the inn though. “What about your room? You probably already paid to stay here?”

Shao Hai looked over there and sighed. “Yes, I did. I arrived two days ago, actually. Most of my time nowadays is spent on missions outside. At the sect, I just feel …” He shook his head, not sure how to explain it. He was simply constantly annoyed at that place. It was probably because nothing ever changed and yet, this wasn’t the same place he had originally come to. The feeling was weird and not one he liked at all.

In the end, Shao Hai just shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. I guess being outside just suits me better. I like traveling, doing missions for the sect, and helping the common people while I’m at. There is always something to do. It’s a nice change of pace.”

Jing Yi chuckled. “That’s exactly what I went to the Yun Zou Sect for originally. Seems like at least one of us made true on that.”

Shao Hai also laughed. “I guess I stole your dream.” After all, he hadn’t really gone to the sect for that. He had simply wanted to follow Jing Yi and Xiao Dong had followed him for whatever reason. But in the end, he was the only one who ended up an actual practitioner that traveled the world and helped people like the heroes they talked about back in the day.

Jing Yi smiled but there was a hint of regret mixed in it. “It’s good you can do it. I … I guess my life simply panned out differently.” To be honest, being reminded of this, he did wish that it was different. He would have liked to try it for a few years at least. But then, when traveling with Qiu Ling, it would never be the same as what he originally imagined.

“It happens.” Shao Hai got up and motioned to the counter. “I’ll take care of things. You just wait here for a moment or … well, I guess you can go and get your fiance already.”

Jing Yi nodded and got up as well, leaving the inn. He looked down the street in both directions and then lightly called for Qiu Ling.

It only took his fiance a moment to appear in front of him again. “Already done?” To be honest, he had gotten ready to spend a few hours out there. To see Jing Yi back so soon … “Was it not like you expected?”

Jing Yi sighed but shook his head. He didn’t want to start talking about it only for Shao Hai to suddenly open the door and appear behind him, hearing something he maybe shouldn’t.

Qiu Ling watched his expression and could guess a point or two. “It’s been a long time.”

Jing Yi nodded and reached out to take his hand. “That’s about it.”

Qiu Ling didn’t say anything further and simply squeezed his hand, quietly reassuring him. To be honest, this wasn’t unexpected. Just like how the capital city of the Long kingdom had changed, the people Jing Yi had known would have changed as well.

In fact, the people might have changed even more than the places he knew because they would experience more in their day-to-day life. Just one experience could completely subvert their outlook on life. So expecting them to be the same after such a long time would be foolish. But then, Jing Yi likely hadn’t even thought about that problem before and had simply wanted to get closure.

Had he managed to do that? It was hard to say, looking from the outside. But Qiu Ling felt that the chance for that was pretty good. After all, he had seen the changes in the mortal realm and had visited again where he had stayed before. He had also seen the people he cared about again or at least those who were left over. Yes, after that gathering tomorrow, Jing Yi might indeed be ready to say goodbye.

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