As dusk swept over the green mountains, Daoist Lingxiao finally returned to the thatched hut on the mountain in the last streak of sunset.
A pine-resin lamp had already been lit inside. Its dim yellow light spilled through the bamboo window onto the bluestone slabs outside the door, casting the shadows of several figures in blue cloth Taoist robes. Seeing him return, they all hurried forward to greet him.
"Lingxiao, did the trip go smoothly?"
Xuanmingzi spoke first. Stroking the half-foot-long silver beard beneath his chin, he looked both expectant and faintly doubtful.
"Smoothly."
Daoist Lingxiao stepped into the room, sat beside the stone table, picked up a clay bowl and poured himself a bowl of cold tea. After draining it in one gulp, he said, "Wu'an City has undergone nothing short of a complete rebirth, from top to bottom.
Let me tell you all about it..."
He recounted everything he had seen and heard in Wu'an City.
The moment he finished, Daoist Yujing frowned. "Senior Brother, could it be that some illusion spell has clouded your eyes?"
"Giant beasts forged of steel that can run on their own? And run so fast?
We cultivators value 'the Tao follows nature.' Could such contraptions, so contrary to common sense, be hiding some crooked and heretical path?"
"Yes, Senior Brother Lingxiao. It's not as if we've never been to Wu'an City before. How could it become even grander than Xianyang City in just a few dozen days?
Xianyang City is the capital of Great Qin. How could Wu'an City possibly compare?"
Faced with their doubts, Daoist Lingxiao did not get angry. "If you do not believe me, we can go down the mountain tomorrow and see for ourselves."
"From what I observed in Wu'an City today, Zhao Cheng is no utterly evil