The closer she got, the more clearly Verdant Green Maiden could see the man standing beneath the tree. He was middle-aged, with a straight bearing and an ineffable, mysterious aura about him. There was also a streak of tenacity running through that aura.
"What is your name, sir? Are you waiting for someone here?"
Verdant Green Maiden asked.
"I am Poor Daoist Yuan Tiangang. I have come especially to wait here for True Person."
The man beneath the tree clasped his hands toward Verdant Green Maiden in greeting and calmly introduced himself.
Yuan Tiangang?
Hearing him say he was Yuan Tiangang, Verdant Green Maiden couldn't help studying him a little more. Smiling, she said, "You came especially to wait for me, and called me True Person rather than anything else. What connection do you have to Tai Ping Daoist temple?"
"When I was young, I studied at Tai Ping Daoist temple. I also heard the stories of Yu Se Zhenren."
Yuan Tiangang answered calmly.
"I see."
When she heard that Yuan Tiangang had once practiced at Tai Ping Daoist temple, Verdant Green Maiden raised an eyebrow and nodded. Then she waved up at the sky, beckoning Hong Luan down.
Hong Luan alighted on Verdant Green Maiden's shoulder.
Yuan Tiangang's gaze swept over Hong Luan, and he marveled at the blue bird before him. After all, in the legends, no blue bird had ever accompanied Yu Se Zhenren. He came back to himself, clasped his hands toward Verdant Green Maiden once more, and made an inviting gesture. "True Person, could I speak with you in private?"
"If you want to chat, just chat. Why do we need to go somewhere else? There's nobody here but you."
Verdant Green Maiden looked at Yuan Tiangang with an odd expression.
Yuan Tiangang smiled and