Yun Qiang silently moved away from the Lifen River. His eyes occasionally looking back, remembering his team, remembering Sun's promise.
It pained him to leave them; however, he had Sun's assurance. His team would leave the military after a few missions, while Sun could resist for one year.
If Liang Wei doesn't plot against him again...
His eyes started wetting again. Who could say what that man had planned for Sun? He was about to cry again when he forced down his tears. He had to believe him. Sun was a competent and strong fighter.
He had to believe he would make it.
"I will meet you at Dayucheng... Don't be late..." He let out one last whisper before leaving.
As he moved away from the border, his pace slowly accelerated, while his steps became heavier, more decisive.
When he reached the Lifen River, he was contemplating his decision; when he entered the swamp, he had suppressed his doubts; when he passed the Rainy Fort and moved away from River City, he couldn't turn back anymore and continued onwards, moving at a constant speed.
By the time he had reached the "Promenade," one of the main roads of the Rose Kingdom, every sense of indecision had disappeared from him.
Only a hint of nostalgia could be seen in his eyes as his eyes admired the ornamental trees that dotted the Promenade, making it feel more like a garden walk than a true road.
"Beautiful...." A murmur of admiration escaped his lips.
While still admiring the scenery, he approached a cart in the distance.
A caravan had decided to stop at a small crossroad, moving their animals to the side while setting up a small food shop for any traveler that wished to stop and buy something to eat on the road.
"Hello, sir. Which road should I take to reach Black City?"
The merchant studied him for a second. Right now, Yun Qiang wore a clean white robe a few sizes bigger than him, giving him a scholarly vibe; only his clear and visible muscles betrayed this look, making him seem more akin to an eccentric traveler.
"You have to take that road there and turn south at the next crossroad." He did a small bow.
"However, may I ask why a strong cultivator like you wants to go there? To my knowledge, that area is poor in Qi and is usually avoided by esteemed cultivators."
Yun Qiang ordered a bowl of noodles. The merchant was a mortal; however, he was an experienced man and had recognized him as a cultivator.
"Actually, I'm just going there to meet my parents. When I was younger, a wandering cultivator took me in and taught me cultivation, and now that my master gave me permission and I'm free to wander, I want to go back to my hometown."
The merchant smiled while giving a large bowl to Yun Qiang. To others, this story may sound strange or absurd, but as a mortal that frequently dealt with low-level cultivators, he had heard similar stories many times before.
"I see. Then I wish you a happy reunion. It is good that you remembered your family after becoming a strong man. Too many people forget their mortal families and friends after becoming cultivators."
Yun Qiang smiled, giving the man a few coins to pay for the meal.
"You got someone particular in mind?"
The merchant laughed.
"Yes. A few years ago, my son left with a cultivator. Since then, the scoundrel became a strong cultivator and sent us some letters, but he still hasn't come back to say hi."
"Sir, if you meet Fugui Cai, tell him that his mother and I are still waiting for him."
Yun Qiang let out a low laugh.
"Don't worry. I will do it."
Then he saluted the man and went back to traveling. A smile was etched on his face. The merchant had reminded him of his family. He wondered how his mum and dad were doing and if Nian remembered to check on them.
I'm similar to that Cai, right?
A bitter smile appeared on his face. Three years had passed since he had left the village with his brother. He had spent one year at the Skyward Pavilion and two years at the border guard, yet he had never sent a letter back home.
His mind moved back to that time. His family happily eating together, his mother scolding his brother for his lack of manners while Mei scolded him for being late for breakfast.
I wonder how tall did you become?
His mind moved to his sister Mei. He wondered how tall she had become while he left her. She was fourteen now, the age where kids tended to grow and change more.
He wondered how much of her life he had lost....
His eyes became slightly wet.
"It doesn't matter anymore...." His gaze moved towards the crossroads in the distance.
"I'm coming home now."
However, it seemed he had underestimated the length of his travel, and after spending three full weeks walking south, he still hadn't reached his home.
The world truly is a vast place...
Wandering around, leisurely traveling the kingdom's main road was an eye-opening experience. During his travels, he saw many things, mortal caravans, wandering cultivators, street performers, and even a few golden squadrons from the capital.
Everything he saw felt new and exciting, tempting him to stop a little more before going home. But he never stopped. He constantly walked south, merely spectating the world around him, only interacting with it when he needed food or to ask for directions.
His efforts paid off, and after a month of travel, he had finally arrived. He could see the gate of Black City.
Smiling, his walk broke into a light jog, before transforming into a complete run. Excitement shined in his eyes. As a mortal, he had spent a week to reach Black City from his village, however, he wasn't a mortal anymore, and he could cover that kind of distance in only four or five days. He could feel it, his village was nearby. His smile widened as he pushed his body to run faster.
In three days, he reached his destination.