Dong Zhi sipped from the edge of his bowl, slurping the paste.0

The military ration—millet paste—had an utterly mediocre taste. It was not as good as rice porridge, nor even millet porridge. However, Dong Zhi hadn’t eaten a proper hot meal in a long time. To his surprise, the paste included shredded rabbit meat, wild vegetables from the forest, and even salt. As he ate, he couldn't help but feel touched, as if he had just tasted some kind of top-tier delicacy.0

And again, he began to suspect it might all be an illusion.0

“Sir... Since you are from Yizhou, what brings you here?” Dong Zhi cautiously glanced at Song You.0

“I descended the mountain to wander and explore, traveling wherever my feet take me, with no fixed abode,” Song You replied with a gentle smile. “As for why I came here... it’s much the same as you. I sought to witness the majesty of the famed Yuezhou divine bird.”0

“And when do you plan to leave, sir?”0

“IWe’ll rest for the night, and we’ll leave at dawn,” Song You said to him. “From here, it’s only a matter of a few dozen li to exit this Qingtong Forest. By late morning, you’ll be out.”1

“A few dozen li…” Dong Zhi couldn’t help but feel dazed.0

Dozens of li might not seem far, yet he almost died here.0

“Since you came through Guangzhou, I presume you’ll head back the same way. Once you’re out of here, you should go south. As for us, we’ll...0