Du Ping heaves a sigh, half relieved and half disappointed.<br/><br/>"I understand: duty calls, and outweighs even the dearest wishes of our hearts.  I cry your pardon, then, and will hope to see you upon a more auspicious occasion.  After we have rebuilt, certainly."  He gives Draken another look, somewhat less stern than the last.  "It is best that you honor your charge in a timely fashion.  When you return, heroes three, I pray you entertain us with as much of the tale as you are permitted to share."<br/><br/>With that he claps his hands and the work stops, some of the walking wounded standing less sturdily than others, and the assembly bows to you as a collective gesture of respect.<br/><br/>Further, the man Fox spotted earlier steps out of the shadows.<br/><br/>"I will accompany them for a time," he announces to Du Ping,  his voice just loud enough to carry.<br/><br/>"B-but..."<br/><br/>"Do not concern yourself.  There is strength in numbers, and they are going the same way as I."  He approaches--youngish, maybe a bit handsome if you squint, simply clad.  "That assumes that my company is welcome, of course."  He clasps his hands and bows.  "I have the honor of being named Zhu Qingtong, a sometime poet who wanders the realm of lakes and rivers.  May I have the signal pleasure of traveling with such distinguished warriors?"<br/><br/>