After returning from the Eternal Palace, Lin Bai never left the Sword Hiding Hermitage again. He sat by Moon Gazing Pond, fishing.
Several days passed. Although he had not caught a single fish, Lin Bai seemed to take endless delight in fishing.
It was not until one dawn that Zhou Xi hurried over to Lin Bai. The moment he opened his mouth, he began stammering: "Master... Master... Master..."
"What's there to panic about?" Lin Bai said calmly, his back to Zhou Xi. "Murong Chuan has come, hasn't he?"
Zhou Xi stared wide-eyed. "How did Master know?"
"Hmph. I've made the Heng Province Alliance suffer so many losses. After leaving seclusion, the first thing Murong Chuan will do is come looking for me." Lin Bai rose from the edge of Moon Gazing Pond and walked into the pavilion. "What are you waiting for? Brew tea and receive our guest."
"Yes!" Zhou Xi hurried off to welcome Murong Chuan inside. Standing in the pavilion, Lin Bai soon saw a young man and an old man walking toward it one after the other. Once Zhou Xi had brought them before Lin Bai, he went to brew the tea.
"I haven't visited the Sword Hiding Hermitage in over twenty years, but this place is still as beautiful as ever—springlike in every season, truly an Immortal Realm." Murong Chuan swept his wide sleeves and walked up to Lin Bai with a beaming smile. He clasped his fists in salute. "You must be Junior Brother Qing Luo, the new master of the Sword Hiding Hermitage. I'm Murong Chuan. I've been in seclusion for many years, but after emerging, I found Junior Brother Qing Luo's name resounding like thunder. I happened to have some free time today, so I took the liberty of paying you a visit.