"It indeed is my brother!" Xie Ying confirmed the "mountain climber's" identity.
Xiumei immediately released her grip.
Xie Ying stepped forward to help Xie Jue up.
A handsome face, open and bright eyes, but now, covered in a few blades of grass and mud marks, diminished and in a state of disarray.
"Brother, what... what are you doing here?" Xie Ying exclaimed.
"Didn't mother tell you that I would be here in a few days?" Xie Jue asked.
"She did tell me, but she didn't say it'd be today. Also, why didn't you go home first, why were you following us?" Xie Ying inquired.
Xie Jue responded disheartedly, "I did go home, but mother said you had left. I heard that there were not many people accompanying you, so I felt worried and decided to come over."
"Then why didn't you take the regular mountain path and instead choose to cross over from the mountain top?"