In the morning, Wu Chen fed everyone a filling breakfast of soup, boiled eggs, and fried bok choy. The Tong remnants were effusive in their thanks and gave them some of their excess venison in return. As they gathered their things together to leave, Wu Chen took Tong Bai Shun aside.

'What can I do for you, Wu Chen Gonzi?' Tong Bai Shun asked with a small smile.

'I have a gift for you before we part.' Wu Chen said, reaching into his Void pouch. He swiftly removed 50 silver taels and piled them up before the feet of the shocked third son.

'Wu Chen Gonzi...this...I can't accept this!' Tong Bai Shun stared at the taels, and his face grew red.

'You have to.' Wu Chen grinned, 'It's a gift. If you refuse it, I will lose all face before your clansmen.'

Tong Bai Shun was at a loss. Just yesterday, he had tried to kill this man's Guardian, and yet he had fed them, guarded them while they slept, and offered this gift as well. He had no way of repaying these favors anytime soon.

Seeing the play of emotions on the big man's face, Wu Chen patted him on the shoulder.

'Don't overthink it, Tong Bai Shun Gonzi.' Wu Chen spoke quietly, 'I have more than enough to spare. Please take it. Your clansmen need you, and they need vegetables, clothes, and blankets. I know your compound was burned to the ground, so you weren't able to take anything from there to aid you. Don't be stubborn when your men are in need.'

Tong Bai Shun tried to swallow around the lump in his throat, but it was difficult. He glanced up at Wu Chen's beautiful face and dropped into a low bow of thanks. He couldn't even say the words, but then again, he didn't need to. Wu Chen patted his shoulder again and walked back towards the fire, giving Tong Bai Shun time to put the taels in his own Void pouch and pull himself together.

'So, what are your plans after leaving us?' Wu Chen asked the clansmen brightly while Tong Bai Shun gathered the taels and wiped his tears away.

'Tong Bai Shun has some friends in a village not far from here. We're going to stay with them while we decide our next course of action.' One of the others shouted out with a smile.

'That's good! I will feel relieved knowing you are all safe and well fed.' Wu Chen said, patting the man on his back.

Chu Haoyu finished filling his waterskin and walked up to Wu Chen, 'Are you ready to go then?' He asked bluntly. His impatience to leave was written all over his face.

Wu Chen raised an eyebrow at his rude behavior but understood the need to get back on the road. He nodded once and turned back towards the Tong clan remnants to say his goodbyes. Tong Bai Shun joined them, his eyes still a little red, but a smile on his face.

'Wu Chen Gonzi, we thank you for your kindness and generosity. One day, we will find a way to repay you.' Tong Bai Shun led his clansmen in a deep bow of thanks, 'May your Clan Quest be successful, and your path be smooth. Safe travels!'

'Safe travels!' Wu Chen called back as he and Chu Haoyu once again began walking along the eastern road.

Tong Bai Shun and his clansmen watched until the two men turned a corner and were lost to their sight.

'It's a good thing you didn't kill that Chu Haoyu after all.' One of the men said, shaking his head.

'I pray what you say is true.' Tong Bai Shun said under his breath as he turned towards the village, his clansmen following his steady lead. He hoped their benefactor would be safe. Wu Chen Gonzi was a man of character, elegance, and beauty. He deserved better than that snake at his side.

All men had their own trials and tribulations to go through, and Wu Chen seemed to already be wary of Chu Haoyu, so perhaps this was his. If he didn't have his clansmen to take care of, he would have been happy to join Wu Chen on his journey to ensure his safety. He only hoped that the warning he had given would be enough.

Wu Chen waited until they were well out of earshot of the others and then punched Chu Haoyu on the shoulder. Hard.

'Hey!' Chu Haoyu exclaimed indignantly as he grabbed his shoulder, 'What was that for?'

'Because you were a complete asshole this morning.' Wu Chen scolded.

'I'm an asshole every morning.' Chu Haoyu grinned as he leisurely walked beside Wu Chen.

'There is no talking to you.' Wu Chen grumbled as he picked up speed.

'Don't be like that.' Chu Haoyu frowned, 'The guy attacked me, after all. I thought I was being pretty damn lenient, all things considered. I didn't wipe them all out the minute they attacked me, did I?'

'True enough.' Wu Chen sighed, 'Can you just try to be a little more polite, though?'

'I can try, but I wasn't raised in a family clan like you.' Chu Haoyu spoke lightly, but Wu Chen could hear pain as well, 'I've been on my own most of my life. Being polite wasn't really all that necessary for survival.'

Wu Chen glanced at the handsome man walking beside him. It couldn't have been easy being on his own and trying to cultivate without help. He couldn't imagine the difficulties he would have had to endure, 'I only ask that you try.'

Chu Haoyu needed to change the subject, 'How far is that town where we can purchase some horses? We were going to talk about it last night, but we both got busy.'

Wu Chen pulled the map out of his Void pouch and unrolled it enough to get a good look at the area they were currently in. Chu Haoyu walked close and took a look over his shoulder, enjoying the line of Wu Chen's pale neck and his scent more than the exposed map.

'Another two days should bring us to Linan. It's a decent sized town according to the map, so it should have horses available for sale.' Wu Chen closed up the map and subconsciously stepped a little to the side to gain some space between them as he returned it to the pouch.

'Good! I can't wait to get to a decent place with a bed and a bathtub.' Chu Haoyu said with an exaggerated stretch.

'We also need to restock our fruits and vegetables.' Wu Chen reminded him.

'If you hadn't lost two levels at the temple, we could work on boosting your cultivation.' Chu Haoyu said with a frown, 'If we could get you to your Golden Core sooner, you could begin practicing inedia.'

Wu Chen chuckled as he shook his head, 'I would still have a few years of practice to get to my Golden Core, even without the loss. You, of all people, should know that.'

Chu Haoyu smiled a sultry smile and stood before Wu Chen, forcing them both to stop in the middle of the road, 'There are many ways to boost your cultivation that you may not be aware of, Wu Chen. I would be happy to help guide you in a few. You'd be surprised what I've picked up over the years being on my own.'

As Chu Haoyu stepped closer, Wu Chen felt his heart rate begin to accelerate, and his face flushed slightly. Feeling flustered, he stepped back and almost tripped over a rut in the road. Chu Haoyu reached out and pulled him tightly against his chest, enjoying the chance to have him in his arms again. He could feel Wu Chen's heart racing, and he smiled as he looked down at the blushing man who wouldn't meet his eyes.

'You should be more careful.' Chu Haoyu whispered in his ear. He wanted to nip at it and draw in his scent, but he didn't want to scare him.

'Thank you for stopping my fall.' Wu Chen mumbled with his head down, 'You can let me go now.'

Reluctantly, Chu Haoyu let him go. He smiled as he noted how quickly Wu Chen began walking down the road. He had not been unaffected by their accidental embrace. His heartbeat and the telltale blush didn't lie. Chu Haoyu grinned as he picked up speed to match Wu Chen's rapid steps.

Wu Chen was feeling angry with himself. He was a grown man, and he needed to start acting like one. Although feeling desire was natural, without the emotions to sweeten it, it was nothing more than animalistic lust. Chu Haoyu was handsome, and his words were suggestive and bold. Of course, his body would react. If he couldn't learn to control himself around him, he may as well just continue the journey alone. At least he wouldn't feel like he was disappointing Lu Yong every step of the way.

'Wu Chen,' Chu Haoyu tried to get his attention, but the man still wouldn't even look at him, 'Are you okay? Did you injure yourself when you tripped just now?'

'I'm fine.' Wu Chen answered, finally slowing down to a normal speed, 'Thank you for your concern.'

Once again in control, Wu Chen glanced at Chu Haoyu's handsome profile as he walked beside him. He took a hard, honest look at his feelings towards the man and found that there was...nothing. He didn't have any of the warm, intimate feelings he had enjoyed with Lu Yong. The emotions simply weren't there. Chu Haoyu was certainly attractive, and his body reacted when he was near, but he didn't love him.

Having analyzed how he felt about Chu Haoyu, he felt better. Lu Yong was the only one who had ever made him feel all of those complex emotions surrounding the word love. He no longer had any doubts.

Chu Haoyu was certainly a desirable man, but he was no Lu Yong.