"The hour grows late, Senior Qu," Mu Nan said to Qu Shanling, who was still retching in the corner of the wall. "I shall have a banquet arranged to welcome and cleanse you from the dust of travel."
"There's no need, no need at all. I've already made arrangements with an old friend, and I'm busy every evening for the next few days. You all go ahead without me," said Qu Shanling, waving his hand.
Mu Nan tried to persuade him a few more times, but Qu Shanling steadfastly refused, so Mu Nan did not insist further. Seeing that it was getting late, the two said goodbye to everyone and headed back to the Mu Mansion.
Just before leaving, Mu Nan apologized to Qu Shanling, "Senior Qu, truth be told, neither my brother nor I bear the surname Mu. It's just that our family's rules are extremely strict, so we had to change our surnames and start this auction house. I apologize for not having revealed this earlier and hope you can forgive our deception."
