The days in the Great burden Monastery passed in quiet anticipation. Lin Mu continued his cultivation, but his thoughts often wandered toward the coming guest.
Two months later, the wait ended.
One crisp morning, a monk arrived at Lin Mu's courtyard, offering a deep bow before speaking.
"Senior Lin Mu, a messenger from Lotus Prefecture has arrived. Daoist Chu is here."
Lin Mu stilled mid-form, his body freezing in the midst of a complex gravity step. A slow smile broke across his face.
"About time," he muttered, already moving to prepare.
Daoist Chu arrived not with ceremony or grand entourage, but with the wind at his back and dust on his boots. His robes were travel-worn, his gait relaxed, and his eyes gleamed with the mischief of a man who had crossed many mountains and caused twice as much trouble along the way.
He reached the temple gates just as the sun dipped behind the western peaks. There, waiting for him, were Lin Mu and Meng Bai.
