Beyond the grove of pines and cypresses, the view opened up once more.
Ahead lay an enormous square paved with bluish-gray stone slabs. Time had worn their surfaces smooth as mirrors, reflecting the drifting clouds and the outlines of the academy buildings.
At the far end of the square stood a majestic hall. Above its doors hung a plaque inscribed with three words: Sky Origin Hall.
It was the central hall of Tianyuan Academy, where generations of palace mistresses had discussed affairs and passed down their teachings.
Disciples had been scattered across the square. Some sat on the Stone Steps studying Jade Slips, some spoke in hushed voices, and others had just emerged from the hall.
The moment Palace Mistress Lingxin and Fang Chen appeared at the edge of the square, every disciple—walking, sitting, or talking—stopped.
Every gaze swung toward the entrance.
See Taiwan Novel Network for novels, էաҟąղ.çօʍ for smooth reading
No one spoke. Their eyes held confusion, wariness, curiosity, and a faint, almost imperceptible hope, as though they, too, were waiting for something.
Then Palace Mistress Lingxin and Fang Chen stepped fully out of the shadow of the Stone Steps, their figures coming into focus beneath the sunlight filtering through the treetops.
"Palace Mistress L-Lingxin?"
A delicate-featured woman in an azure disciple's robe was the first to cry out. The Jade Slip in her hand fell to the ground with a clack, but she did not bend to pick it up.
Her cry was like a stone cast into a still lake. Ripples spread swiftly across the entire square.
"How can this be? Didn't Palace Mistress Lingxin set out on the Path to Heaven with Daoist Friend Fang Chen and the others?"
"Look! Isn't that Daoist Friend Fang Chen?"
Someone had spotted Fang Chen and could not help