"Are you that eager for me to leave?"
"No, that's not it. The main thing is, when I go into seclusion this time, I won't be out for several years. You'll be all alone and miserable on the island, with no one to cook for you or make you pastries."
'Look at him, acting like he's doing all this for my sake.'
"You're already skinny enough. If you don't eat well, you'll waste away to nothing. The mainland has plenty of inns and all kinds of food. Once you're back, you'll be able to put some weight on in no time. Besides, don't you have several fathers? A whole family is waiting for you, so you should head back sooner rather than later."
'Right, the old Taoist actually sounds like he's heartbroken for me!'
"Look, I'm going into seclusion in three days. How about I send you off the day after tomorrow? Is that alright?" the old Taoist asked, his tone a little tentative.
