"Good!" Ye Qiutang agreed at once.
At the next fork, the path was tucked behind a courtyard wall and quite secluded. The poor visibility made it even harder to see in the dark. Ye Qiutang and the others stopped and watched Jiang Cheng and the Fatty chase after them down the path to the left.
When Monk Huide and his group caught up from behind, Ye Qiutang and the others made a big show of things. They turned their backs on Monk Huide, then fled in a panic down the stone-paved path to the right.
Jiang Cheng and the Fatty kept up the chase. Gradually, the dozen or so monks ahead scattered, until only Monk Huicong's figure remained, flickering in and out of sight.
"Master Huicong, stop running! It's us!"
The Fatty shouted breathlessly. He couldn't understand how Monk Huicong, who looked so frail, could have such incredible stamina.
The surroundings were growing unfamiliar, too. He and the Doctor had never been here before. Against the dim backdrop, the buildings loomed indistinctly, like enormous monsters.
At last, after they turned past a courtyard gate, they completely lost sight of Monk Huicong.
Jiang Cheng immediately signaled for the Fatty to stop. The two of them strained to listen. It was deathly quiet nearby.
Sure enough, they heard a faint sound, as if someone were tiptoeing slowly across the ground.
They slowed their steps and crept toward the sound. After passing through a thicket, they came upon an old-fashioned building.
It was an imposing structure, but clearly in a state of disrepair. Withered leaves were scattered across the bluestone steps outside the entrance.
"There!" The Fatty suddenly raised a hand and pointed excitedly.
Jiang Cheng followed his finger and saw one of the building's side doors open just wide enough for someone