Xuanqing wore plain, elegant blue-gray casual clothes, his long hair casually pinned up with a wooden hairpin. His aura was harmonious and restrained, well suited to the natural ambience atop the mountain.
His bearing perfectly matched the common people's image of an immortal—kind yet majestic, with an unmistakable divinity about him. When he arrived at Nine Profound Mountain led by a puppet, his gaze immediately settled on Wang Ping.
"Congratulations, Fellow Changqing, on another advance in cultivation." Xuanqing cupped his hands in salute, his voice clear and bright.
Wang Ping had already straightened from his reclined posture, a gentle smile appearing on his face. He did not rise, merely raised a hand in invitation toward the jade cushion Bai Yan had just occupied. "Why be so polite, Fellow Xuanqing? Please, sit."
As he spoke, a puppet stepped forward and skillfully served Xuanqing a cup of freshly brewed plain tea.
Xuanqing seated himself gracefully, his gaze sweeping over the chessboard on the stone table that had not yet been fully cleared away. Smiling, he said, "It seems I came at an unfortunate time. Have I disturbed your refined pleasure?"
"It was merely a few casual moves to pass the time." Wang Ping's tone remained even. With a casual wave, the chess pieces returned to their respective boxes, and the board became as spotless as new. "You presumably did not come merely to drink tea and discuss chess, Fellow Daoist?"
Xuanqing lifted his teacup, gently blew aside the floating leaves, and took a light sip. "Fine tea—brimming with spiritual energy, clearing the heart and cleansing the mind."
He set down the cup. His expression grew slightly more solemn, though he retained that detached air. "Fellow Daoist, you speak plainly, so I shall be direct as well. Recently, the aura of the starry