Significance of The Walking Stick?

The walking stick is symbolic of leaving Yugiri. When Aritomo left Yugiri for a walk before disappearing forever into the jungle, Ah Cheong handed him the walking stick, as usual. Aritomo took it but then gave it to Ling and said he wanted to walk alone that day. She never saw him again. Ling imagines that there will come a day when she tells Ah Cheong that she does not need the walking stick for her daily walk. That seems to signal the day when she will also disappear.