Early the next morning, Zang Murenqing prepared the horses for Bai Zhongqi and Ze Pei, ready to set off on their journey. Ze Pei wanted to leave some money for the grandma who had sheltered them over the night, but neither the grandmother nor her son would accept it.
Last night, the village's youth Gang Naj and Xu Erli, who had listened to Bai Zhongqi's "storytelling," came early to see him off, their faces full of reluctance to part.
Gang Naj came with a basket of fruit he had picked at dawn, offering it to Bai Zhongqi and said, "Teacher Bai, please be sure to defeat the Evil Dragon and save everyone. I will work hard too, and someday, I too will become a man who can help everyone."
Xu Erli, with red eyes, said somewhat shyly to Bai Zhongqi, "Teacher Bai, please be sure to come back to visit the village when you have time."
The sincerity in the villagers' hearts touched Bai Zhongqi. He nodded and gestured his thanks to the people of the village.