"Heh heh."
Faxiang heard this and shook his head with a wry smile.
"Sect Leader Li, you jest."
"Compared to you, Sect Leader, what does this monk's meager cultivation amount to?"
His gaze fell upon the sword case in Li Xiaoyu's hand, his expression turning grave.
"Did you come here because of that demonic matter?"
"Precisely."
Li Xiaoyu looked at him and nodded heavily.
"This matter is of great importance. I ask Senior Brother Faxiang to take me to see Abbot Puhong."
"Very well."
Faxiang said no more.
He turned and led the way.
"Please follow me."
Under Faxiang's guidance, Li Xiaoyu passed through layer upon layer of halls before finally arriving at a secluded meditation courtyard in the back mountains of Heavenly Sound Temple.
Ancient trees towered within the courtyard, surrounded by lush bamboo.
Peaceful Buddhist light shrouded the entire compound.
At the center of the courtyard, a stern young man in black robes sat quietly beside a millennium-old cold Jade Bed.
The arrogance and hostility of his younger days had vanished from his eyes, leaving only tranquility.
His gaze never left the girl in green lying upon the Jade Bed.
It was as though she was all that remained of his world.
"Xiaofan."
Li Xiaoyu looked at him and called softly.
Zhang Xiaofan's body trembled.
He slowly turned around, fixing his eyes on that familiar figure.
A long-lost smile appeared on Zhang Xiaofan's face.
"Senior Brother Li."
He rose to his feet, walked over to Li Xiaoyu, and respectfully bowed.
"You've come."
"Mm."
Li Xiaoyu looked at him and nodded heavily.
He reached out and patted Zhang Xiaofan on the shoulder.
"I've come."
Just as they were catching up, an aged, compassionate voice suddenly sounded from within the meditation chamber.
"Amitabha."
"Sect Leader Li has come from afar,