Fang Gui placed the sprigs of osmanthus that Fang Yi had brought back from Qiao Xue's place into a glass bottle filled with water, keeping them in the shade under the eaves by day and hanging them on the straw tent at night. As darkness fell, the fragrance of the flowers drifted on the breeze, and the brothers drifted off to peaceful sleep amidst the subtle scent of osmanthus.
One evening, as the sky filled with brilliant sunset clouds, Fang Yi disbanded his "Duckling Corps" by the small river. Summer had gone, autumn had arrived, the river water had grown cold, and it was time for them to part ways.
The "ducklings" made a pact with Fang Yi to gather by the river again next summer. Before bidding farewell, Fang Yi reminded them to firmly keep in mind all the swimming techniques they had learned as well as certain taboos, repeatedly admonishing them not to disregard the dangers of the water just because they knew how to swim. Water and fire have no mercy, he warned, and they must never casually go splashing about in the river. True to form, the "ducklings" listened very earnestly to every single word Fang Yi said.
Chapter 56