...
「The next morning.」
Winter had officially arrived. In the small courtyard, two plum blossoms had bloomed this morning on a wintersweet branch, where just yesterday only buds could be seen.
A faint floral scent wafted through the air.
Xu Zilan had already made breakfast for Gao Neng early in the morning.
Meanwhile, Hua Quanquan had been waiting outside the courtyard since dawn, because today was the day Gao Neng would enter the Underground City.
Gao Neng looked up at the sky.
The winter morning sun wasn't hot. It offered only a little warmth, barely perceptible against the cold wind that howled in gusts.
"Go on," Xu Zilan said, standing in the courtyard to see Gao Neng off.
"Okay, Mom. I'm leaving." Gao Neng nodded, shouldered his luggage, and followed Hua Quanquan's lead away from the Celestial King Group's grounds.
Just as Gao Neng disappeared from view, a figure appeared at the courtyard gate.
It was Guan San.
