Wang Ping entered the Clouds with Yulian and Zhi Gong, where he saw Daoist Gong Wu standing atop a ball of fire. He wore a gray, wide-sleeved Daoist robe, a red jade crown upon his head, and held a whisk in his hand.
The blinding sunlight shone upon him, seeming to merge with him and lending his entire figure an ethereal, mysterious air.
When he saw Wang Ping and Zhi Gong, he courteously cupped his hands in salute. Then, turning into a streak of fire, he arrived before Wang Ping and Zhi Gong and said with clasped hands, "Greetings, three Fellow Daoists."
He was still as aloof and cool as before.
Standing upon an auspicious cloud, Wang Ping returned the salute politely together with Zhi Gong and Yulian.
"Fellow Daoist, having come from so far away, why not visit my dojo for a cup of plain tea?"
Wang Ping extended the invitation.
The last few times he had encountered Daoist Gong Wu, they had merely exchanged hasty greetings without even speaking a word. However, Thousand Wood Temple and the First Sect had shared ties for centuries. Although the First Sect had now disbanded, their past friendship remained, and Wang Ping's disciples still had dealings with some of the First Sect's former disciples.
Daoist Gong Wu seemed poor with words. He merely cupped his hands in acknowledgment of Wang Ping's invitation.
Wang Ping did not mind. He took the lead in descending through the Clouds with Yulian, and in the blink of an eye, they landed at the Mountain Top Dojo. Before the Old Huai Tree, Ao Hong frowned slightly upon seeing Gong Wu, but for Wang Ping's sake, he said nothing unpleasant.
When Wang Ping invited Daoist Gong Wu to sit, Gong Wu waved his hand and said, "I will