I called out the name of Xi Le along the road, my heart burning with anxiety. I've had Xi Le by my side since I was very young, and I always felt that she was a part of me. In fact, I'm actually quite skilled in martial arts, but I've always thought my skills were average because Xi Le has already become a part of me, so naturally they're just average when divided between us. Over the years, Xi Le and I have never had the feeling that we would lose each other, but now for the first time I have this feeling, and my feet are walking even more quickly.

  The sky has darkened. The wind and sand are rising in the Central Plains. A few miles outside the city, it is extremely desolate, with only a large tree visible in the distance where the last ray of red light remains. I think Xi Le should be waiting for me under the tree, if she can rein in her horse.

  I kept sprinting, running for who knows how long, but that tree seemed to never get any bigger, which really made me furious. I always hoped that joy would suddenly jump out and say: "You're so stupid, how didn't you notice me, blind man."

  I ran for a whole hour, fortunately tonight there is moonlight, so I can see where the trees are. Suddenly an idea flashed through my mind, if there was no one under that tree, wouldn't it be very desperate? Thinking of this, I couldn't help but look around and feel that my heart was as empty as the surrounding scenery. Everything like Chang'an, Shifu, Xianzhi, Wudang, Shaolin, other factions, Youling, Ling, Shikong, were all too far away, like many things were separated, mixed with too much controversy. The most real thing in everything before was actually that painting in the pawnshop. Originally I could have had a good portrait of Xile and me, unfortunately Xile paid too much money, so it became two immortals, completely unlike each other, what a pity.

  Everything is fine, Xi Le is under the tree. Xiao Bian is eating a few meters away. Xi Le saw me and burst into loud tears. I pretended to be calm and said: Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?

  Xi Le cried even more violently, and even Xiao Bian looked up at her.

  I said: You didn't come out to greet me, I knew you were under the tree.

  Overjoyed to the point of being speechless with tears.

  I said: Alright alright, I'm still alive, aren't I? Found you again, we can go to Chang'an together now. I didn't even lift a finger, guess what happened to those fools...

  I walked closer to Xile and found her clothes covered in bloodstains on her hands and feet. I hastily asked: What happened?

  Xile was speechless, or crying. I unbuttoned her sleeve and found that they were all abrasions and bruises. I said: Xile, did you fall off the horse?

  He said in a low voice: No, I jumped down myself.

  Why did I jump down myself?

  Xile said: I told the horse to stop, but it wouldn't stop and ran a long way. I was worried that something might happen to you and I couldn't see you, so I jumped off.

  I hugged Xing Yue and said: "Don't worry, look, we've arrived in Chang'an. Let's find a pharmacy, buy some good medicine, apply it to the wound, and no one will notice anything." Come on, get on the horse, let's find a place to sleep, we can't keep sleeping outdoors.

  Xǐlè said: I don't want it anymore.

  I said: After all, it's a beast. My foot might have kicked too hard, I was wrong, didn't mean to kick it that far away. As long as you're fine, that's what matters. Little Flattie at least took you running that far, I'll punish it and give it another kick.

  Xile said: You can't kick it again, if you kick it again, it will go to Chang'an first.

  I said: Alright, this shows that the horse can still run, let me take a look, you walk around.

  I helped Xile stand up, and Xile took two steps forward, saying: "It's nothing, just the place where I bumped into the clothes hurts."

  I took a closer look at the wound and said: It's like this, we need to rinse it with water.

  Xi Le said: It's okay.

  I said: You must flush it out, take out that bottle of water you stole from Wan Yong - no, I mean, took from him, and I'll wash your wound with it, it should be very effective.

  Holding onto his luggage, he said: No way.

  I said: At this time, you are still obsessed with wealth.

  Xile said: No way, this medicine is worth a lot of money. If you accidentally get poisoned, we can use it to detoxify and then sell the rest for silver coins. With that silver, we can redeem our spirits and still have plenty left over. We can buy a piece of land in Luocheng or Chang'an or somewhere else and build a house. That way, we won't have to sleep under trees and risk getting struck by lightning.

  Then what about your wound?

  Xile said: It doesn't matter, it wasn't a sharp weapon that hurt me. Let's talk about it when we get to Chang'an.

  I said: Alright, you get on the small sedan chair, we'll leave now.

  After finishing speaking, I only heard the sound of horseshoes in disarray not far away. I said: damn it, they might have seen through our weakness after all. I thought a few words would settle it, but you got hurt like that, I'll take care of them.

  Xǐlè said: What's wrong?

  As soon as the words were spoken, the horsemen arrived before their eyes. The leader dismounted and bowed, saying: "Two heroes, I just said some offending words to our emperor, it was unintentional, I was really drunk, please don't spread it around."

  I said: Don't worry, I know you didn't mean it, and I'm not that kind of person who likes to stir up trouble.

  He said: Alright, I can tell you're a man of stature. From now on, whenever you come to the city, just look for me. If any of your brothers or whatever get caught, just let me know and I'll have them all released.

  I said: Alright, it's none of your business.

  The leader bid farewell and left in a hurry with his men. After the horses' hooves faded away, the earth returned to its silence. I helped Xile onto her horse and walked slowly with Xiao Bian.

  Xǐlè said: What does that person's words mean?

  I said: I'll tell you slowly.