I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

Watching the swaying figure descend, the painter curled the tip of his tail and put the painting away.

"They lied to me for so long."

When we get back, we must give him a good talking to.

Aren't you going to go see them?

Watching the painter leave, Miaobi called out to her.

"No need."

Too much time has already been wasted. If we get back too late and he doesn't see us, the kid will worry.

"It's raining... Uncle. I want to go back... Uncle..."

After descending from the Heavenly Punishment Platform, the True Dragon no longer stood on the platform, but fell directly into the Red Dragon's arms.

He was in excruciating physical pain and his mind was in a state of confusion, but he still remembered that someone was waiting for him.

"…Okay…okay…Ah Xi, hold on, hold on, say a few more words. Doctor! Doctor!"

Red Dragon carried him and quickly left the place.

"Imperial Guards! Go and fetch the physicians! Go and bring all those guys here!"

"Second uncle..."

The red dragon's roar echoed in his ears, and the only thing he could remember was that azure figure.

"gentlemen……"

Returning to the forty-ninth parting, thoughts

"..."

Xi sat in the teahouse, leisurely sipping her tea.

"Gah?"

"Gah!"

The radishes and cabbages lying on the ground had shrunk considerably and were huddled together playing a head-butting game.

"Gah!"

As if he had caught a whiff of someone's scent, Radish, who was about to lose, jumped up and ran towards the stairs.

"Haha, stop licking, stop licking, radish."

A familiar voice came from behind her, and Xi paused, put down her teacup, and looked towards the stairwell.

"gentlemen……"

The boy, dressed in a short brown robe, hugged his beloved Mo Liang and smiled at the painter.

"I am back."

"Hmph, at least you know how to come back."

Xi tilted her head slightly, tapped the table, picked up the teapot, and poured herself another cup of tea.

"Come here and sit down."

"Oh, thank you, sir."

Bai Zhou patted the head of the slow-moving green vegetable, sat opposite Xi, and took the cup of tea.

"Have you seen your second uncle?"

Xi stared at him, her gaze sweeping over his neck, but ignoring the lightning mark.

"I've seen him, my second uncle is in very good health."

After taking a sip of tea, Bai Zhou stuck out his tongue.

"The tea is so bitter, sir."

"Bitterness precedes sweetness, that's what makes this tea flavorful. You little brat... what could you possibly know?"

Xi pushed the almond shortbread next to her to him.

"If it's bitter, eat some of this."

"Ah."

During the day, he took out a piece of almond shortbread, took a bite, and then looked around but didn't see anyone.

"Sir...where is Mr. Magic Pen?"

He drank the tea in his cup at dusk and stared at the daylight.

"That guy... left a long time ago."

"But what are you doing back here? Aren't you going home with your second uncle?"

"Ugh?"

Day looked at Evening with a puzzled expression.

"Sir, aren't we going to Wuyue to eat perch... um, to take pictures?"

"Eat perch scales..."

Xi lowered her head and turned the teacup in her hand.

Is that all?

"Hmm... I haven't been able to repay your kindness yet. Of course I'll follow you."

"..."

Xi chuckled softly.

"You may leave."

"Ugh?"

Bai Zhou paused, seemingly not listening to Qing Xi's words.

"You've followed me for so long, I've already repaid your kindness long ago."

Xi looked at him, her voice as calm as still water.

"Now that you have found your family, our connection ends here, and it is time to part ways."

"Oh? Sir..."

Bai Zhou looked at her, her little face full of confusion.

"You'll be living a life of hardship and deprivation with me. It's better to go home and live a peaceful life."

"But……"

"No buts."

Xi held the cup and slowly stood up.

"Now, go back as soon as possible, so your second uncle won't worry too much."

Having said that, Xi ignored Bai Zhou's shouts and turned to walk downstairs.

"gentlemen!"

"Sir! Wait for me!"

Bai Zhou stood up, grabbed the jar of almond cookies, and ran towards Xi.

"Well!"

She heard a thud behind her, and Xi gripped her hand tightly, but her steps didn't falter at all.

"quack!"

Radish glanced back at the boy who had fallen to the ground, then turned back to bite its master's clothes, only to be sent back into the painting by a sword.

"Gah..."

Before the greens could even sprout, they followed in the footsteps of the radish.

"Sir... um..."

Bai Zhou gritted his teeth, trying to get up, but his severely damaged body couldn't support him doing so.

"gentlemen……"

Exhaustion overwhelmed him, and his vision went completely black.

"..."

Leaving the teahouse, Xi snorted coldly as she saw the red dragon approaching, then walked around him and continued forward.

I'm all alone again.

It's still raining around us. This rain seems determined to make up for everything this land has lost these past few days.

Xi is an immortal, unafraid of wind and rain.

But... looking around, she felt like something was missing.

It's raining.

It's probably because they're missing an umbrella.

It's getting dark, I need to find a place to rest.

Draw an umbrella, open it up, and the sunset slowly disappears into the rain.

■

"..."

Sitting in a guesthouse, Xi chewed on her paintbrush with some frustration.

In the past, she never had to do these things herself, but now that she's suddenly back to being alone, everything is difficult for her.

Especially when it comes to accommodation, putting aside the issue of communicating with others, the money she spent on this guesthouse was found in a box left behind by the little devil.