The three conversed throughout the journey, each busy with their own matters. Xie Jue parted ways with them in Yang City and returned to Ningzhou.
Xie Xun was heading to Jiaozhou, while Fengyu was returning to West Continent.
After seeing Xie Jue off, Xie Xun and Fengyu were about to part as well. Xie Xun loathed farewells; the last time they separated in Jinzhou, months passed without seeing each other, and his longing swelled like the tides. Now, they had to part again. Yet he also didn't wish for Fengyu to follow the army—it would be too exhausting. The Third Miss had grown accustomed to luxury, and traveling alongside him meant braving the elements and enduring poorly cooked meals. It pained him to see her like this. From Jiaozhou to Zhongzhou this time, she hadn't had a proper night's sleep or a decent meal; though he did all he could to care for her, the harsh conditions made her visibly thinner, her chin sharper.
