However, when Yun Yang was preparing Reddie's feed for it to consume early in the morning, Reddie munched on them persistently in a seemingly jolly manner. Nothing seemed out of place.

Yet, Yun Yang was quick to notice that two drops of tears had begun to form in Reddie's eyes.

Eventually, they fell and landed onto the gra.s.s feed, albeit slowly. The dampness was then quickly swallowed by Reddie, gone within the seconds if one did not pay close attention.

Yun Yang felt a violent tremor in his heart. Suddenly, he was overwhelmed gradually by a strange, painful feeling of loss — a feeling that he could barely contain and suppress.

Yun Yang straightened his body abruptly. As he directed his gaze towards Tianxuan Cliff, which was already quite discernable in the distance, he only felt his heart being ravaged by waves of emotions; indescribable feelings rising and falling incessantly.

Reddie finished its feed. In these past few days, it had been quite joyful and active, yet suddenly, it seemed more exhausted than its usual self.

It licked Yun Yang affectionately, forbidding him to leave, and even placed its head between Yun Yang's arms.

Just like that, it fell asleep, allowing itself to be locked in Yun Yang's embrace.

Yun Yang's face was wearing a somber expression as he hugged Reddie tightly. Ji Lingxi stood warmly beside him, her body against his and Reddie's, and just like that, she remained at rest silently.

At that very moment, the horse and the two individuals seemed to have merged into a single ent.i.ty. Under the setting sun, they were shrouded in a blanket of gold, s.h.i.+mmering splendidly with scintillating beauty.

Yun Yang and Ji Lingxi did not venture a single step that day. They stayed on the peak and settled there for one whole day.

When the entire land was dusted with the twilight sun, Reddie finally stirred.

Turning around, it stood up and shook its mane loose before letting out a shrill neigh into the distance.

The force from the powerful, earth-shattering neigh pierced the air in an indiscernible, lingering breath. The mane covering its entire body resembled ferocious flames.

Then, like before, Reddie lowered its head and started licking Yun Yang's leg affectionately; then, it moved to his hands, his chest, and his head.

Reddie whimpered slightly. After giving Ji Lingxi a few affectionate licks as well, it stepped aside and started searching for food with its tail swis.h.i.+ng from side to side as if nothing had transpired.

"What time are we leaving?" Ji Lingxi asked.

"Tomorrow, in the morning," replied Yun Yang solemnly.

On that night, Yun Yang procured a myriad of food and ingredients. Working together, the two of them whipped up a hearty feast. A jug of wine was produced, and the two of them began to drink and hoist toasts to each other.

Being a good sport, Reddie surprisingly drank three big bowls. It yelped in joy, its shrill neigh rocking through the valley.

The night grew deeper and both Yun Yang and Ji Lingxi were seemingly asleep.

Reddie, who was laying at a corner, stood up silently.

Even in the dark, its eyes s.h.i.+mmered with a dazzling crimson. Its gaze was fixated upon Yun Yang's face with utmost reluctance, studying it for the longest time.

Reddie stuck out its tongue carefully and gave the side of Yun Yang's robe a gentle lick. Retreating two steps, it studied Yun Yang's face from afar in silence; it did not budge for quite a while.

Tears slowly pooled within the pair of big, round eyes, and finally — they fell, drop by drop.

After a moment, Reddie turned its body around slowly, as if it was afraid to wake Yun Yang, and retreated seven to eight feet away in absolute silence. With a sudden twist of its body, it leaped effortlessly into the dark and set off quietly. Within moments, it found itself at a peak, a million miles away from where it was before.

This was the tallest peak in the region — it was much taller than the peak Yun Yang and Ji Lingxi were situated.

Reddie's flame-like physique stood tall on the mountain peak, its head held high. It whipped its head around suddenly and found itself gazing longingly in the direction where Yun Yang and Ji Lingxi were slumbering. Again, it stood there for quite a while without budging the slightest inch.

Reddie's mane danced wildly in the biting cold wind, yet it did not move. It was as if it had turned into a beautiful sculpture.

After a long period of time, Reddie finally turned his head around, retracting its longing gaze.

Lowering its head, it wept and whimpered, its hooves thudding restlessly at the edge of the peak as if it was contemplating something. How it wished to run back to be by the side of its warm, beloved master — to revisit that longing tenderness and nostalgic sentiments.

Yet, even when tears had started to pool at its hooves, Reddie did not return.

Then, it finally turned its head around and left. This time, like a flash of red lightning, it headed straight into the wilderness, never turning back again.

…

Early in the morning, Ji Lingxi roused from her slumber.

As she opened her eyes in a sleepy daze, she found herself propped against Yun Yang's body, her head on his shoulders. Feeling embarra.s.sed, she recoiled her body and averted her gaze — only to realize that something was amiss.

Ji Lingxi only responded after half a beat. "Where's Reddie? Has it gone to find food?" She mumbled, her eyes searching.

Yun Yang's somber voice had a strange quality to it. "Reddie is gone."

"Gone?" Ji Lingxi cried out involuntarily. In one quick swoosh, she stood up immediately. "Why did it leave?"

"Reddie has always been a naturally psychic ent.i.ty. We've never considered to bring it along with us this time, yet this horse had followed us all the way from Tiantang City till here. Deep down, both of us understood the fate of this relations.h.i.+p we share, so there is no need for words…"

"Since that moment, I knew. Reddie could feel that I would be leaving its side, and there might not be a chance to meet again. That was the reason why it came after us, disregarding everything else — just to say a final goodbye."

"Throughout the entire journey, it was desperately trying to win favors. It was constantly wandering by our sides. It ate whatever I fed it — whether or not it enjoyed it, Reddie still consumed everything with relish.

Yun Yang's eyes were closed, and his voice was kept neutral without betraying the slightest quiver; yet, Ji Lingxi could knowingly feel the ferocious waves of emotions that ravaged his heart.

"The only thing it wanted was nothing but the last moment of joy — together."

"As of now, we have almost arrived at Tianxuan Cliff. Reddie knew that this was as far as it could follow us, so… it left, quietly, in the middle of the night, yesterday."

Deeply saddened, Yun Yang closed his eyes.

Yet, the scene that lingered before his eyes was one of Reddie standing atop the faraway peak — the moment where it turned around and locked eyes with him. His heart clenched with an unspeakable sorrow.

Goodbye, Reddie.

I will miss you…

Yun Yang let out a long sigh, his heart full of melancholy.

I only wish for you to be happy, free and unfettered by anything…

When the right time comes, when I return to Tianxuan, the first thing I will do is to find you, and feed you, and ride you — we shall bask ourselves in this endless joy once again!

…

Yun Yang approached the base Tianxuan Cliff, his purple garbs bellowing around him; walking next to him was Ji Lingxi, cloaked in ivory. They had finally arrived.

Both of them approached; they were evidently a match made in heaven. The man was das.h.i.+ngly handsome, exuding an elegance like no other, while the lady was full of grace, blessed with outstanding beauty.

However, as they turned the corner to the area bordering Tianxuan Cliff, Yun Yang's face abruptly turned a shade paler — his deific consciousness was warning him that something was horribly wrong.

"What is Fu Baoguo's eastern battalion doing here? Judging by its scale, it seems like the entire eastern forces have been deployed here — but whatever for?" Yun Yang was stunned at the scene that greeted him — a scene of tight-knitted rows of military tents with their banners fluttering in the air.