Second Inquiry of the Heart

Early the next morning, Xu Wuyi arrived at Lin Jianyi's small courtyard.

The courtyard gate stood ajar, and the snow on it had already been swept away. A thin layer of snow covered the ivy along the walls, gleaming crystalline in the morning light.

Xu Wuyi stood outside the gate for a moment before pushing it open and entering.

In the courtyard, Lin Jianyi sat at the stone table beneath the ancient pine, holding a cup of hot tea. He still wore that set of blue cloth robes, his aura tranquil, as though he had blended into the snowy scene around him.

Hearing the footsteps, Lin Jianyi raised his head.

His gaze fell upon Xu Wuyi, traveling from top to bottom, then from bottom to top. Then he gave a slight nod.

"You're back?"

His tone was calm, as if he were asking a neighbor who had just returned from a stroll.

Xu Wuyi stepped forward and gave Lin Jianyi a deep bow.

"Teacher Lin, this student has come to trouble you again."

Lin Jianyi waved a hand, signaling for him to sit.

Xu Wuyi sat opposite him. A cup of hot tea had already been set on the stone table before him, still steaming.

"Have some tea first," Lin Jianyi said.

Xu Wuyi lifted the cup and took a sip. The tea was crisp and clear, carrying a faint sweetness. It tasted exactly the same as it had eight months ago.

The two sat facing each other, drinking tea without either of them speaking.

The ancient pine in the courtyard was blanketed in snow. From time to time, snow slipped from its branches with a soft rustle. A few birds chirped in the distance, their calls especially crisp in the snow-cleared morning.

After a long while.

Lin Jianyi set