"Yes!" Winters responded.
"Am I pure?"
"Yes!"
"May I return to the east?"
"Never!"
"Good! Good! Good!" Brother Reed laughed heartily, "Now I can depart in peace."
His head slowly drooped, and he passed away peacefully in the company of Winters and the White Lion.
...
In accordance with Brother Reed's wishes, his body was cremated.
Winters and the White Lion dragged logs from afar and built a pyre.
The Shaman also arrived, dancing before the fire, offering the highest respect.
In his life, Brother Reed had been a monk, a Taoist, a priest, a preacher, a mendicant monk, and finally, he was sent off with shamanic rites.
After Brother Reed's departure, Erhulan also packed Winters's bags.
"I'm sorry." Winters's heart was wracked with pain, "I'm sorry."
Erhulan smiled and shook her head.
Guilt almost crushed Winters, but he still had things to do.
When Winters stepped out of the felt tent, Little Lion was waiting for him, holding the reins of four horses.