At Bright Moon Nunnery

The group followed the mountain path to the gates of the nunnery.

They were two black-lacquered wooden doors, their paint chipped and mottled, though the door rings had been polished to a gleaming shine, clearly handled often.

The stone steps before the gate had been swept spotlessly clean, without so much as a fallen leaf.

Just as Shen Hui raised his hand to knock, the door creaked open from within.

A young nun came out carrying a bamboo basket.

She looked no more than fifteen or sixteen, clad in a gray robe with a blue cloth cap on her head. Her face was round, and there was still a touch of childishness between her brows and eyes.

She had likely not expected such a large group to be standing outside. The moment she looked up, she shuddered in fright, nearly dropping the bamboo basket in her hand.

Once she came to her senses, she immediately stepped back and slammed the door shut again.

One frightened eye showed through the crack in the door.

Shen Hui took the chance to examine her.

There was not a trace of cultivation on the girl; she was merely an ordinary mortal, no different from the daughters of common households.

"Please wait, little master."

Shen Hui stepped forward, his tone gentle. "We mean no harm."

The young nun scrutinized them through the crack for quite some time before pulling the door open another sliver and revealing half her face.

"Y-you... who are you people?"

"This humble Daoist is Qingxuan, a fellow Daoist from Clear Wind Temple."

Shen Hui performed a Daoist salute. "May I ask if Martial Aunt Duo Ming is in the nunnery?"

He spoke with courtesy and offered his salute first, lowering his stance considerably in the hope of putting her on guard