Fat Tiger carried Bai Yujun through the wind to Barren Stone Beach.
Barren Stone Beach was quiet in the dead of night. Fire basins scattered throughout the camp crackled as they burned, while the low-level cultivators on watch nodded off one after another. Then a strong wind suddenly rose. Fat Tiger rode the wind down beside the deep pit, landing before the great tent. Tu Yue, hurrying along with brisk steps, hastily gathered the Tu Lineage cultivators to receive her. After many days, Tu Yue finally saw the Mysterious Girl again.
Bai Yujun held paper and brush, her head lowered as she diligently wrote and sketched. Tu Yue stole a glance from the side.
She could not understand any of it.
She merely assumed her cultivation and experience were insufficient to comprehend such profound runes. Still, she did her utmost to remember as much as she could. It might enrich the Lineage's foundation and perhaps, someday in the future, prove unexpectedly useful.
The earthen mound was quiet. The many Tu Lineage cultivators lowered their heads and waited silently, not even daring to raise their eyes for a furtive look.
The darkness in the eastern sky gradually faded.
Snores rose and fell from the ragged tents of the laborers in the distance. Cart drivers slept atop their flatbeds, guarding their carts and beasts of burden. From time to time, someone could be heard grumbling and slapping mosquitoes. The stench of animal dung drifted erratically on the night wind, now east, now west. A black dog keeping watch barked wildly into the darkness. The cook, who had risen early in the dark, had already begun preparing breakfast. Work began at dawn and sleep came at nightfall, so the cook had to make meals before daylight.
Bai Yujun blew gently over the paper,