As far as the eye could see, a dense crowd had gathered at the entrance. But no one had tried to force their way in, so the temple's defensive array had yet to activate.
Zhou You's first thought was that the Bone Profound Sect had come for revenge. After all, he had killed their rising star, who might even have been the old sect master's illegitimate son. It would be no surprise if they had come knocking.
But then he noticed something was off.
People seeking revenge ought to look murderous. This lot, though, showed no hostility at all. If anything, they looked as if they were trying to...
Curry favor?
While Zhou You was still baffled, the crowd spotted him.
An old man with snow-white hair immediately hurried over, smiling.
"True Person Zhou, you're finally back! We've been waiting so long for you!"
True Person?
Zhou You knew both words, but somehow, put together, they made no sense to him.
He turned around. Apart from a drunk, two hangers-on, and a coffin, there was no one else in sight. Only then did he point at himself and ask in disbelief.
"By 'True Person,' you mean... me?"
The old man wore the easy smile of someone greeting an old friend. He nodded eagerly.
"Of course. Who else could I mean?"
"...But no matter how you look at it, I hardly qualify for that title."
To his surprise, the old man looked utterly certain.
"True Person Zhou, you're a Daoist, aren't you?"
"...Yes. When I'm out and about, I do call myself one."
"And Five Aggregates Temple follows your lead now, doesn't it?"
"...More or less. There are only a handful of us left, though, so it doesn't mean much."
"But you're still the head of a sect. At such a