“Is everything alright?” Xiao Kun asked.
“Very good.” Chaosheng wrote prescriptions for the patients and had Xiao Kun administer acupuncture and grab the herbs. They couldn’t communicate with the locals, so they rarely spoke. But with Chaosheng’s immortal power, a mere touch on the pulse revealed the illness.
“You’ve seemed out of sorts lately,” Xiao Kun said. “Missing home?”
Chaosheng hesitated to speak. Xiao Kun turned around, gestured for the patient to wait, and looked Chaosheng in the eye.
Chaosheng was very important to Xiao Kun because Pi Changge had personally entrusted him to his care. Xiao Kun absolutely couldn’t let him suffer any grievances. In fact, he still felt deeply guilty about the earlier incident where Chaosheng had nearly been captured by Mr. Qin. Fortunately, Xiang Xian had repeatedly counseled him, reminding him that Chaosheng was a person, not a pet, and that they all needed to face the dangers together.
“I just feel like Old Wu is a bit unwilling to accompany me,” Chaosheng said.
“How could that be?!” Xiao Kun could hardly believe it. No matter what Chaosheng complained about, Xiao Kun would never have thought of Wu Yingzong. “Did he say that?”
“No… no, it’s just my guess.” Chaosheng beckoned to the next patient and continued treating them.
Xiao Kun was full of questions but comforted him after a moment: “Don’t overthink it. In Old Wu’s eyes, there’s only you. He’s from the Yao Clan and doesn’t understand the subtleties of human emotions…”
Chaosheng didn’t respond. Xiao Kun suddenly realized something—a flash of insight. Could it be that Chaosheng had fallen for Wu Yingzong without reciprocation?
“Look, ever since he started following you,” Xiao Kun said, “he’s always watching you, staying by your side every moment, treating you even closer than he did Xiang Xian before.”
That was true. Back when he followed Xiang Xian, Wu Yingzong had been at his beck and call, but he kept his presence minimal, staying at a distance most of the time to avoid disturbing him. But after accompanying Chaosheng, even when they went to the Abyss Divine Palace to rescue someone, he never left Chaosheng’s side for a second.
“Mm.” Chaosheng had many thoughts on his mind—complex feelings he’d never experienced in the White Jade Palace. One moment he compared how Wu Yingzong treated him versus Xiang Xian, the next he thought about that “sending back” matter.
When it came to feelings deeper than friendship—like “liking” someone—Xiao Kun was at a loss. After pondering, he could only say: “He really likes you. Don’t overthink it, Chaosheng.”
Chaosheng: “If you like someone, do you want to be with them all the time, and even miss them after being apart for just a little while?”
Xiao Kun: “Yes… yes.” At the same time, he thought of Xiang Xian and suddenly felt a twinge of guilt. Just then, Wu Yingzong returned with the herbs, so Xiao Kun said: “I’m off to sleep, or else Master won’t be able to do without me and will come looking.”
It was as if he were proving something to himself—Xiao Kun’s ears even turned red. After rounding the tent, he suddenly discovered Xiang Xian standing there in shock, eavesdropping.
Xiao Kun: “…”
Xiao Kun mouthed: When did you get here?
Xiang Xian immediately made a “shh” gesture. The two moved silently away for nearly ten steps before Xiao Kun whispered: “What kind of behavior is this?”
Xiang Xian: “Chaosheng really has fallen for Old Wu!”
Xiao Kun rubbed his forehead and said: “How am I supposed to explain this to the White Jade Palace? What if Senior Chang Ge finds out and flies into a rage?”
“He won’t,” Xiang Xian said, though he didn’t know the Pixiu. “Don’t always treat Chaosheng like a child.”
“He is a child.” Xiao Kun hadn’t expected Chaosheng to taste the flavors of romance after just one trip into the mortal world, becoming fretful and insecure. Xiang Xian reached out to drape an arm over Xiao Kun’s shoulder. Xiao Kun resisted symbolically a few times before being forcibly pulled into an embrace. Xiang Xian leaned in and said: “Old Wu definitely likes Chaosheng too. Look at his eyes—from the first moment they met, it was love at first sight. They just haven’t realized it.”
“What I’m worried about isn’t that,” Xiao Kun said. “Tell me, how do I explain this to the seniors?”
Xiang Xian: “Chaosheng can explain it himself. Don’t worry.”
Xiao Kun thought to himself that Xiang Xian’s words were as good as nothing. Xiang Xian half-draped himself over Xiao Kun, who dragged him back to the tent to sleep.
That night, the moon hid away, the myriad stars vanished without a trace, and only dark clouds blanketed the sky. On the pitch-black earth, faint cries echoed from afar.
The next morning, the Colored Egret flew in from the west and landed in front of their camp. A Huang woke up too and looked toward it. The Colored Egret let out a few sharp, urgent calls before spreading its wings and flying off again.
“What did it say?” Xiao Kun had seen the Colored Egret and come out as well.
“The Ba Army has started marching again,” A Huang said. “They’re about a day and a night away from us.”
It then yawned and tucked its head back under its wing to continue sleeping.
Another day passed. They traversed the canyon and finally saw Gaochang City in the distance. Everyone was utterly exhausted, pushed to their limits. After four days and three nights of hurried travel, Xiao Kun had barely closed his eyes. Behind them trailed nearly 160,000 people from Gumo, Luntai, Kucha, and Korla—families dragging along, forming a vast migration procession.
Many hadn’t even laid eyes on the so-called “Ba Army,” but the people of Gumo had spread the news throughout the group. In the latter half of the flight, under the spur of flying rumors, the masses had quickened their pace in unison.
The final stretch into the Tupan Basin left everyone grimy and filthy, without a proper wash for days. Even Hulü Guang’s snow-white trousers had turned a dull grayish-yellow.
