Warm winds swept the cloud terrace, and fragrance lingered along the winding paths.
In a pavilion on Three Immortal Island, seven figures stood or sat, all of them personal disciples of Jie Teaching.
The immortals wore varied expressions.
Daoist Duobao was the calmest of them all, smiling as he slowly savored a cup of hot tea;
Zhao Gongming and Holy Mother Jinling were somewhat restless, pacing back and forth before and behind the pavilion.
Yunxiao sat upright in a corner of the pavilion, her long hair arranged in cloud-like coils, dressed in a simple ru skirt. Her face was cool and peerlessly beautiful, yet she revealed little emotion. With her usual gentleness, she watched her two younger sisters.
Qiongxiao, in a pale yellow gown; Bixiao, in a short skirt and little jacket; and Holy Mother Guiling, who favored pale green gauze dresses, gathered on either side of the stone table in the middle of the pavilion. Qiongxiao and Bixiao were playing chess, while Holy Mother Guiling stood beside them, "pointing here and there"...
The three of them appeared the most relaxed, as though this matter had nothing to do with them.
The crisp tap-tap of chess pieces landing mingled with birdsong and insect chirps drifting on the wind, lending this moment in the pavilion a rare serenity.
Outside the pavilion, Zhao Gongming turned as if to say something. Yet after opening his mouth, he merely let out a sigh and continued pacing with his hands behind his back.
Qiongxiao watched the board with her lovely eyes, delicately pinching a smooth chess piece between her fingers. She smiled. "Big Brother, if you have something to say, just say it. We're here to discuss a solution. If no one says anything, how are we supposed to discuss it?"
"Alas..."
Zhao Gongming sighed.