"Destiny..." Huo Qubing nodded.
"Then how long will it take before he appears?"
"For a life form capable of thought to evolve from causality, it will take at least several centuries... Until then, we can only wait."
"Although the white stones in your hands can help you conceal your karma, I will not activate them for you yet. Each of you has your own historical mission and must form all manner of connections and karmic ties with others. If too much karma accumulates while you are concealed, it may break the concealment and allow the Key of Doors to discover you."
"Therefore, I will wait until some point two thousand years from now, when you no longer form too much karma with the world, and then activate all your white stones at once, completely hiding you."
"So you're saying that, for the time being, we should keep doing whatever we're supposed to do?" Yan Zhong asked thoughtfully.
"That's right. And this period may last two thousand years." Lin Qiye spoke slowly. "Everything that happened in this ruined temple is merely an 'agreement'... an 'agreement' that will only need to be fulfilled at some point over two thousand years from now."
"Karma as the thread, white stones as the token... this is our sacred covenant."
Everyone exchanged glances and nodded together.
"We'll talk about the future later... Right now, there's still something we haven't finished." Lin Qiye glanced at the Karma Thread drifting from the Willow Branch, narrowing his eyes. "Once you've rested, we'll set off."
Everyone had finished their rations, and the dizziness from riding the flying carriage had faded. They pushed open the ruined temple's door, which creaked in the wind and snow, and headed toward the two carriages.
"Lin Qiye." Huo Qubing stopped him.
"What is it, Marquis?"