The next morning dawned cloudy.
The Liujiang Grand Gathering's martial contests would last three days, and today, many people of the martial world were once again heading for Swallow Immortal Terrace.
Song You saw that pavilion again, and again saw the narrow goat trail leading to it. Only, there was no mist today; everything looked perfectly clear.
With no misgivings, he continued up the path.
Before long, he reached the pavilion.
He sat cross-legged as before, quietly taking in the scenery.
Anqing's mountains and waters suited both sun and rain, each with its own charm.
Before long, a swallow flew in from who knew where. It still flew wildly, darting up, down, left, and right without ever leaving the skies above Swallow Immortal Terrace. It reminded Song You of summer evenings, when swallows would always wheel and play in the sky, just as light and nimble, giving one a sense of being unfettered and free.
Song You stood and brushed off the dust.
Then he cupped his hands toward the sky in greeting.
"Your Excellency has been lingering here for quite some time. Why not come over for a chat?"
The swallow continued flitting wildly through the air.
The martial folk below also found it strange—
It was far too early in the season.
Yet everyone knew this place was called Swallow Immortal Terrace, and all had heard the tales of the terrace and the Swallow Immortal. When they looked up, alongside their surprise, they felt a measure of reverence.
But as they watched, the swallow vanished.
A young boy had appeared in the mountainside pavilion.
He looked to be fourteen or fifteen, slender in build, with red lips and white teeth, extraordinarily beautiful. At first glance, it was hard to tell male from female.
The boy's beauty was difficult