Just as a flower waits for the first drop of rain, Gu Zong's eyes and ears were waiting for Wuang Shi's voice. Though Wuang Shi's eyes were communicating everything to Gu Zong in their own language, sometimes words are needed, just as water is needed to quench thirst.

  Just then, Wuang Shi's eyes slightly lowered and he turned to Gu Zong, standing right in front of him.

  "Yun, I'm not watering the dead plants. I'm just watering the last leaf that still holds onto the plant, hoping that one day it will be green again,"

  Wuang Shi said in a soft yet heavy voice, his voice reaching only Gu Zong's ears and nowhere else. But these words brought some emotion to Gu Zong that his eyes filled with tears, he kept looking into Wuang Shi's eyes, as if he had found the answer but was still trying to figure out what the question was. Just then, Wuang Shi stepped forward, taking a few steps on the same path he was walking before. As Wuang Shi passed by Gu Zong to leave, the whisper of his silken robes caressed Gu Zong's hand and gently caressed Gu Zong, and Gu Zong felt as if a soft feather had touched his skin, but then Gu Zong grabbed onto Wuang Shi's robes, causing Wuang Shi to feel a tug, making him stop. But the moment Wuang Shi looked at him, Gu Zong let go of his robes and said,

  "There are some snakes roaming around here, so…… be careful."

  Gu Zong spoke without looking at Wuang Shi, but in a steady voice. After hearing this, Wuang Shi silently moved forward.

  A while later...

  The sound of dry leaves being crushed underfoot echoed in the air.

  Wuang Shi's calm footsteps continued, unstopped, but with a smooth ease. Gu Zong's mischievous steps followed behind. But Gu Zong's mischievous eyes, after glancing around, would eventually land on Wuang Shi's hair, because in the Han clan, only Wuang Shi had the most beautiful hair, long and black, with curls at the end. Gu Zong's eyes repeatedly lingered on them. Yet his face hung low, like a sulking child whose toy had been snatched away and placed in front of him, telling him not to touch it.

  Gu Zong too walked like a sulking child, with a sloppy gait and irritated steps. Sometimes, Gu Zong would deliberately step on dry leaves, making a loud noise, and sometimes, he would kick stones lying on the road, causing even more noise. After doing all this, his eyes would fall on Wuang Shi, who was walking like a puppet that had been breathed into life.

  Then Gu Zong's face became even more relaxed and droopy. Suddenly, Gu Zong's steps stopped, as if stopped by some unknown attraction. He looked up at the sky through the trees, where he saw white clouds through the leaves. Then, with calm eyes, he looked at the spell seal hanging from his waist, which was like a swirling wave of water, carved with a white gem and hanging from his waistband. Gu Zong let out a deep breath and stared at the same spell seal for a few moments, as if he was seeking answers to his questions from it. Seeing the spell seal, Gu Zong's face relaxed even further, his eyes growing calmer. But when Gu Zong looked around and then forward, the calmness in his eyes vanished in an instant, his throat drying up. Wuang Shi had been standing silently, his back to Gu Zong, as if he were walking along with Gu Zong's steps. When Gu Zong's steps stopped, his own stopped as well. Just then, Gu Zong, looking at Wuang, took a bitter sip, took a deep breath, closed his eyes, exhaled slowly, and started walking towards Wuang Shi.

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  Wuang Shi heard footsteps again and started walking forward, but as he took a step, a voice came from behind, heavy and soft.

  "Wuang Shi, You still walk like a spectral shadow"

  Gu Zong said with a soft laugh. His mischievous voice reached Wuang Shi's ears. Just then, Gu Zong ran past him and stood in front of him, his usual mischievous smile. Seeing him, Wuang Shi stopped. Gu Zong took a book from his robes, opened it, found a page, folded it, and closed it again. He slammed the book down on Wuang Shi's chest, forcing Wuang Shi to grab it unwillingly. However, Wuang Shi's mouth opened slightly in surprise, which Gu Zong noticed. Before Wuang Shi could continue his questioning, Gu Zong spoke.

  "This is the Moyu legend. Reading the folded page reveals the exact location of a temple called Qasiong. You just have to go there."

  Gu Zong said in a warm voice and walked on. Wuang Shi followed behind, but the wheels of his understanding were still turning. He looked at the book, then opened it, and looked at the folded page. Then Gu Zong's voice was heard.

  "My teacher said, 'A destination is just a place; the true destination is the path to it. Like the sea and the river, the sea is just still, but ask the beautiful paths, the beautiful forests, the mountains that the river takes to reach it, how beautiful the paths are more beautiful than the destination itself."

  Gu Zong spoke with a smile, his voice filled with warmth.

  Wuang Shi continued walking, listening to his words like a chant, but this time, a slight smile adorned his face, a hint of peace. He placed the book in his robes and continued walking behind Gu Zong in the same calm, yet peaceful tone.

  They didn't realize how time passed as they walked.

  As they walked forward, Gu Zong glanced back, where Wuang Shi trailed behind them like a calm breeze. But when Gu Zong turned his face forward again, his eyes widened, his steps halted, and his heart pounded. Seeing the ancient Titmotri tree before him was the one he had heard stories about from his mother and seen pictures of in books. It was exactly the same, its leaves coiled, its fruits pale sky blue and white. And its flowers were as if the rainbow itself had taken the form of flowers, and its expanse was so vast, as if it had been blooming there for centuries. The Titmotri's trunk was also covered in flowers and blossoms, and even its roots, which were above the ground, were also covered in flowers and blossoms. Seeing this amazing sight, his soul seemed to be satisfied, as if tears of joy started appearing in his eyes.

  Gu Zong gazed intently at the Titmotri with his wide and shining eyes, as if his soul was painting its picture. His jaw dropped because everything from the Titmotri's flowers to its leaves was so beautiful. And the butterflies and fireflies hovering over the flowers gave it an even more divine appearance. Just then, a firefly flew towards Gu Zong and sat on his shoulder. But because he was standing next to Wuang Shi, the firefly flew away.