She had saved his life, and the lives of his people.
His conscience wouldn't allow him to take her help for nothing.
He would remember this debt for the rest of his life.
The group quickly packed their bags, taking dried rations and animal hides, and set off, their feet treading on the damp, muddy ground.
...
Just as they returned home, a deep BOOM of thunder cracked across the sky. A torrential downpour suddenly began, with raindrops the size of beans hammering against the stone roof like someone was beating on sheet metal with a stone hammer.
Chu Jing shouted, "Get in the cave! Don't get wet!"
"Sister Ayuan, is that you?"
It was Lian You's voice.
But he was clearly in the adjacent cave, separated by a thick rock wall.
The rain was too loud. Chu Jing raised her voice and yelled back, "It's me!"
But the voice repeated the question, word for word, in the exact same tone: "Sister Ayuan, is that you?"
