Zhong Wan bowed to the Imperial Preceptor's retreating figure, then turned and quietly left.
As she walked down the wooden steps, the two instructors who had brought her here earlier were waiting.
Seeing Zhong Wan come down, one of the instructors stepped forward and said coldly:
"Come with me. Your senior brother has been waiting for you for quite some time."
With that, he walked straight ahead.
Zhong Wan hurried after him.
Following this instructor out of the forest, around small lakes, streams, and boulders, winding this way and that, she finally passed through a narrow gap between rocky peaks. Suddenly, the view opened up.
Before her was a small mountain plateau beside a cliff, no more than a dozen zhang across. Lush green grass covered the ground. Two large trees stood near the cliff's edge, with a stone table and stone stools beneath them.
Against the mountain wall stood a cave, with several simple thatched huts before it.
The instructor's expression swiftly changed from the indifference he had shown Zhong Wan to respect. He bowed from afar toward the thatched huts and said:
"I have brought her."
"Many thanks!"
A young man's voice came from within one of the huts. Zhong Wan's eyes widened abruptly, shock filling her face.
That voice! After hearing the reply, the instructor bowed respectfully once more before turning and hurrying away.
Zhong Wan stared intently at the place from which the voice had come, as if she wanted to stare flowers into bloom there. Her face was full of disbelief.
Amid the creaking of a wooden door turning, the door of one of the thatched huts opened, and a young man walked out.
He wore the white inner-sect disciple robe edged with azure patterns. His long black hair was casually tied up, and his