The Endless Promise

93. In An Instant...

.

"My Lady! What are you doing?!" Tong was aghast.

It started a few hours ago...

After overhearing Luoyin's plan to leave, Weiyan had disappeared as quickly as she had appeared, forgetting the breakfast she had planned.

In a matter of minutes, she had dressed and led Tong into the City.

"My Lady, what are we doing here?" They were before an inn.

"Nothing. I just want to spend the night drinking..."

And so several jars of different wines were bought.

After that, Weiyan disappeared on her own, instructing Tong to oversee the kitchens to prepare a large dinner.

And so a slew of dishes were prepared.

It was evening by the time Weiyan returned...

"My Lady, will you eat and drink all this?!" Tong asked, but Weiyan simply smiled, helping Tong lay down the wine and dishes.

.

In that time, Luoyin hurried through the classes with Xu Wen, the Sect Elders, and the Sect Warriors learning from him, making sure he left a decent number of drawings for his more complex formation flags, and he had written down the basic rules and pillars behind drawing talismans for different purposes.

"Such an outstanding young man!" One praised.

"A rare talent indeed!"

"Ehehe, Seniors, you flatter me!" Luoyin scratched the back of his head, looking like a carefree youth.

But then he pulled Xu Wen aside.

"Xiaowen, don't forget everything I've taught you! Remember, there's almost nothing under the sun a talisman or formation can't achieve... You've just not drawn the right pattern, or cast the right seals!"

"Umh!" Xu Wen replied with a nod. But he felt even more uneasy. "Shixiong, are you really not planning to leave...?"

Luoyin lifted an eyebrow. "Oh? Not pretending you don't know anything anymore, Umm?"

Xu Wen's expression turned anxious. "Sh- Shixiong, I don't know what might have happened, but isn't this something we can solve?! Unlike the past, you have friends who long to help! We won't let anything harm you!"

Luoyin had never seen Xu Wen like this, and he wasn't sure how to tell him that these same 'friends' were one of the biggest reasons he had to leave this place...

More accurately, if he dared mention it, he might actually cry, and even now, he was recalling every occasion that had drawn him closer to his circle of friends, from the Eye-eater incident, to their numerous visits afterwards, to each tournament stage, and all his outings with Xu Min in particular...

He recalled their light-hearted banter, their laughter, overcoming the challenges with them, and how quick they were to jump to his defence in time of trouble.

But he steeled his heart...

If he could survive losing two friendships spanning over thousands of years, then he could survive leaving for the good of these ones, couldn't he?

So he shook his head and merely placed a comforting hand on Xu Wen's head. "I didn't belong here from the start. Almost every meeting under the skies heralds a parting."

Xu Wen had just opened his mouth to protest, but with a mild gust of wind, Luoyin had vanished...

.

Luoyin reappeared in the Pill Pavillion a little later, where he handed several recipes to a rather happy Head Alchemist who barely stopped himself from dancing about in glee!