Time passed like the water of a slowly flowing river. The delicate branches of the trees swayed in the breeze, and with every gust of wind, golden yellow leaves fell to the ground. The only sound in the air was the rustling of the leaves, the wind, and the singing of wonderful birds.

  A few yellow leaves fell from a tree, and Wuang Shi passed by them with a quiet rhythm, his gait as calm as a lazy cloud, his eyes looking only forward, but occasionally, his eyes would glance back as if a feeling was pushing him back.

  Just then, walking past those fallen leaves, a few more steps, mischievous and like the gusts of a storm, belonged to none other than Gu Zong, who, as always, was clutching a tender blade of grass in his teeth, glancing around. And right in front of him was walking Wuang Shi, who was looking askance at Gu Zong's absurd actions.

  But Gu Zong was lost in his own thoughts, mesmerized by the surroundings. Just then, Gu Zong saw Wuang Shi walking ahead. Suddenly, his eyes began to reveal an unspoken emotion. Then, his steps slowed to a halt, and his eyes were filled with peace. Gu Zong looked back, where he could see cotton-like clouds in the distance, carried by the winds blowing high above. But then, his ears stopped hearing the noise of the leaves being crushed. Suddenly, the atmosphere was plunged into silence. Wuang Shi, who had been frozen in place like a sword in a sheath, glanced back slightly, his eyes still as calm as a deep lake. Then Wuang Shi turned back and took a few steps forward, but then Gu Zong's soft yet heavy voice rang out.

  "Wuang, do you remember when Grand Master Wu Zang Shi used to tell us about the lotus harvest?"

  He said casually, turning his back to Wuang Shi, as if speaking into a void.

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  And Wuang Shi froze there, like a stone altar, hearing the name that the Han clan had forgotten but Wuang Shi couldn't. Hearing that one name, Wuang Shi's downcast eyes involuntarily filled with tears, his eyelids welling up. Then Gu Zong turned to him and said:

  "I still remember one thing he said, Wuang: 'A worm never realizes it can become a butterfly, that it can fly high in the sky.' But the day it spins a cocoon, and the day it emerges from it, that day it forgets it was ever a crawling worm.' Wuang, your father was truly a great teacher."

  He smiled a little, a helpless smile as he said this. Then Wuang Shi looked at him, at his smile, a smile that was merely a twitch of the lips, devoid of any emotion.

  "He would sometimes say, 'Nature is so amazing! What people called an ugly, slimy insect becomes a beautiful butterfly, and it is he who captivates the world with his beauty. And the world forgets who he was before.' Wuang, you are just like him, but there is one thing you don't match."

  Gu Zong said this and looked towards Wuang Shi, who was looking at him with wide eyes. His eyes were so filled with tears that they flowed like raindrops. Still, not a single word came out of Wuang Shi's lips, but his eyes kept asking many questions for which he had no words.

  Just then, Gu Zong stood before him, his eyes calmly gazing into Wuang Shi's eyes, or rather, into the eyes of his soul. Then Gu Zong's voice came:

  "The great master Wu Zang Shi was never afraid of change, he never blamed himself for anything. In fact, he used to say that change comes from outside, which brings a dry, withered plant to life."

  Gu Zong looked into Wuang Shi's eyes and said, "Then why do you blame yourself, Wuang? The Han clan may be to blame for what happened to my parents, but not you, Wuang. You have to let go. How long will you water a dead plant?"

  His eyes filled with tears as he said this. He turned away from Wuang Shi, and a few tears rolled down his cheeks. Although the stone in Gu Zong's heart had lightened a little, Wuang Shi's silence held an even heavier burden, as if a flower had been crushed under a rock. Gu Zong turned to walk forward and passed Wuang Shi, but suddenly he stopped, his breathing quickened. His eyes widened as he felt a light grip on his wrist. When he looked at his wrist, Wuang Shi's hand was still there. Then Wuang Shi turned to look into his eyes.