Early the next morning, as dawn barely broke, Yang Jing woke.
He got up, washed, and changed into clean, close-fitting white clothes, feeling refreshed.
A servant disciple from the Dining Hall delivered breakfast to his courtyard.
Yang Jing quickly finished breakfast, locked the courtyard gate, and set off straight for the summit of Lingxi Peak in the morning light.
Along the mountain path, the morning mist had yet to fully disperse. It lingered among the lush trees, carrying a damp chill.
In June, Lingxi Peak brimmed with verdant growth. Birds chirped brightly in the branches, and dew rolled down leaves to splash against the bluestone path.
Sunlight pierced the thin mist, casting dappled patches of light and shadow. A breeze swept past, bringing the refreshing fragrance of plants and mountain flowers.
He encountered quite a few Lingxi Peak disciples along the way. Whether outer or inner disciples, they all stopped when they saw Yang Jing, their eyes filled with admiration as they bowed respectfully. "Good morning, Senior Brother Yang!"
Yang Jing nodded and responded warmly as he continued upward at a steady pace.
Before long, Yang Jing reached the summit of Lingxi Peak.
The square at the summit was spacious, and quite a few disciples were already practicing martial arts there. Most were Inner-Door Disciples dressed in white robes, their Fist Wind howling, their moves sharp and their breathing steady.
When these disciples saw Yang Jing arrive, they stopped and cupped their hands in greeting, calling him "Senior Brother Yang" with voices full of respect.
Sweeping his gaze across the square, Yang Jing also spotted familiar faces such as Shi Xin and Fang He. They were chatting together off to one side, and hurriedly smiled and waved when they saw him.
Yang Jing exchanged a few pleasantries with them, then