Over ten miles outside Weifang City, a small hill stood on the plain, like a meat bun.
There was a Daoist temple on the hill, called Qixia.
Within Qixia Temple was a separate courtyard named Qixia Courtyard.
Early in the morning.
Outside Qixia Temple, fallen leaves danced through the air.
A Daoist priest was gently sweeping the dead leaves, his head lowered in silence.
The woods on the mountain were sparse, and shafts of sunlight fell from above, forming pillars of light.
Wei He slowly climbed the steps and arrived before Qixia Temple, where he saw the Daoist priest sweeping.
"Daoist priest, I have come in answer to our half-month appointment," he said in a deep voice.
"Please enter, benefactor." The priest raised his head, glanced at him, and nodded.
Wei He nodded and walked forward.
As he reached the temple gates, the doors suddenly opened on their own.
He was somewhat surprised, but his expression remained unchanged. Looking entirely natural, he stepped through the gates.
Inside the temple, there was a stone table in the courtyard, with two people seated beside it playing black and white stones.
One of them was Old Sun Tanguang, whom Wei He had met before.
"You're here, you're here. Brother Chen came quite early. It isn't time yet." Sun Tanguang rose and cupped his fists.
Wei He returned the gesture.
"I had nothing to do anyway, so I came ahead of time. I live within Weifang City, so it's close enough."
"That works too. Since you came early, we can exchange a few pointers first." Sun Tanguang smiled, then extended a hand to introduce the other person who had risen.
"Come, come. This is Xu Miaoran, master of Wufang Mountain Yuanxu Cave."
The person who rose was dressed like a military general, wearing a