Sensing that it was unlikely to pry any more news about the Sword Pavilion from Zhai Muzhi, let alone dare to ask him directly about Yue Hongling.
There was nothing more to say... Zhao Changhe did not linger in his dealings with Zhai Muzhi, excusing himself on the grounds that it was getting late and he needed to make haste to find lodging, eating only a little before taking his leave.
The caravan slowly departed, Zhai Muzhi smiling as warmly as if bathed in the spring breeze, seeing them off with the utmost respect as if for Langya Wang, maintaining his smile even after they were out of sight.
Only the local populace huddling and shivering nearby somehow made the whole scene strangely eerie.
