There was a world of difference there that he could not hope to overcome anytime soon. As much as he wished to have that, he was an outsider who was a placeholder all this time.
"Of course we should leave now" the phoenix was put down but not let go of it. Sui elt envious and wanted that too for himself but he knew that Ryu would not give it to him. Not with his own initiative at least.
Sui would have to try hard to take it for himself.
The cold of the mountains changed to the warm volcanoes of the dragon land pretty quickly. Noha lead them through the empty passes in-between the snowy peak that hid Keito and Sui from the prying eye. It was a strategic decision to make their retreat easier on them.
Since the guards had not been informed beforehand to not anyone leave, it was far too easy to trick them into leaving them alone and the party was out of the phoenix clan's area of influence.
