Changing Point

Although Feng Guang didn't say a single word the entire way to the back door of the forge, the pressure on Jing Hai was slowly but surely building up to an unbearable degree.

So, when they finally reached the forge, Jing Hai hurried to stop the horses and jump off the coachseat, just to get away from Feng Guang's intense inquiring gaze.

He still wasn't quite sure how to tell the other yet.

After all, they had stuck together for nearly 60 years now, going through thick and thin, just how would he explain to Feng Guang that they decided to leave Dark Spirit Town from one day to the next?

...

Well, it wasn't like this had been an entirely impulsive decision, Jing Hai was actually quite glad that Jing Jiang finally chose to abandon this place that just made him miserable, no good father liked watching his child suffer, even if it meant leaving behind the house he and his wife had built from scratch.

Or his best friend of 60 years for that matter.

Jing Hai wanted to see his son happy and he was sure his wife would have felt the same.

So the only problem that remained was Feng Guang.

A Feng Guang who was too stubborn to let go of the dead and would rather waste away in this backwater town than move. This had led to the other being isolated from almost all his friends still left in this world and Jing Hai knew that the other would never reach out to them first.

He wasn't even in contact with his Wo Youdu anymore.

All this weighed heavily on Jing Hai's heart as Feng Guang's last social contact he regularly if ever interacted with.

Just thinking about what would happen to his friend after he left as well made Jing Hai sigh with sorrow.

Would he keep on creating shoe after shoe, in silence, in his narrow, dark store? Trying to atone for things that weren't his fault? Until his final breath?

...In a way, his son and Feng Guang were pretty similar.

Obviously, Jing Jiang had also planned to live a life of suffering because of something he felt was his fault. And no matter how often Jing Hai assured him that he was fine and showed Jing Jiang that he could still enjoy life even without cultivating and forging, Jing Jiang never got over his guilt.

Of course, when he tried the same thing with Feng Guang, persuading him that it wasn't his fault his daughter went missing and that he had to continue his life even after experiencing loss, the other remained stubborn in his choice just like his son.

It was almost funny, hadn't he experienced the death of a loved one as well? If anything his words should be the most trustworthy and genuine but he still failed to convince the other two.

That was, until a certain young couple stepped into Jing Jiang and Jing Hai's lives, which, in just the span of a few weeks, managed to re-ignite Jing Jiang's spirit and rejuvenate the barely holding-on forge, something Jing Hai didn't achieve in two entire decades.

Who would have known that a coincidental meeting between four people down on their luck could have this much of an impact?

Much more than whatever words of forgiveness Jing Hai told his son.

And it was precisely that which Jing Hai had wished Feng Guang to experience as well.

That's why he had been telling his old friend about Jing Jiang's genius apprentice every day, so it would hopefully rouse his interest enough for him to finally meet her and maybe get invested in their present troubles through frequent exposure rather than some imaginary debt Feng Guang forced himself to repay every day.

And to some extent, his plan had succeeded, Feng Guang agreed to see Lei Mingxing and maybe even meet her later.

Unfortunately, now it was much too late and they were preparing to leave Dark Spirit Town and never come back for probably the rest of their lives.

Still, from the moment they decided to move, Jing Hai had been trying his best to come up with a plan to get Feng Guang to join them in the past few hours, despite knowing that there was pretty much nothing he could do to persuade the other.

This didn't get better even after meeting Feng Guang. Actually, now that he was facing the other head-on, all the things he had come up with began to sound laughable, leaving him in an exceptionally difficult position as his mind raced.

But in the end, all it took was a simple, slight shoulder pat, to turn his erratic mind completely still.

Turning his head, he was directly met with the light-brown eyes of his friend which left no more room for any excuses or games.

Jing Hai halted his movements, standing quietly for a moment before sighing and calling out to Chang Liuyun.

"Chang Liuyun, can you start loading the carriage without me? I have to talk with my friend for a little bit."

Chang Liuyun just silently nodded in response, he had noticed the heavy atmosphere earlier as well and he would rather Jing Hai deal with it fast than drag it out unnecessarily, in case it might lead to him feeling doubtful of their plans.

Having received Chang Liuyun's approval, Jing Hai gestured with his head for Feng Guang to walk with him.

Feng Guang didn't answer but silently followed, waiting for Jing Hai to finally start explaining himself.

When they ultimately reached the crowd still standing in the plaza, Jing Hai opened his mouth.

"I'm sorry for not telling you," Jing Hai began, but he didn't turn around, facing straight ahead, focusing on squeezing through the crowd, "Jiang'er and I decided to leave Dark Spirit Town. Today, directly after the competition, but if you want, we can still make a stop at your shop and pick you up! We have enough space and supplies..."

A few seconds passed, but the person behind didn't say anything, remaining silent even though Jing Hai was certain that the other had heard his words, so Jing Hai also didn't talk any further, only somberly squeezing his way through.

While being shifted around by the excited audience, Jing Hai and Feng Guang gradually made their way to the front. Unspoken words, apologies and accusations alike, hung in the air, until finally, Feng Guang whispered an almost indiscernible 'Alright.' that was neither angry nor sad.

It felt entirely devoid of anything, emotion, spirit, hope.

Immediately, Jing Hai felt guilty, as if he had abandoned and forsaken the other, but this day was destined to come and both of them knew it.

Even if it had arrived quicker and more suddenly than both of them had hoped.

Their hearts were heavy and there were no words left to say as they dispiritedly reached the front of the crowd and raised their heads, directing their gaze onto the stage, hoping to distract themselves with what was in their eyes still rather unskilled forging, when they suddenly froze.