"Green Duckweed Discourse—if Fellow Daoist makes a trip there, you will likely gain some other news of Heavenly Secrets."
Emerald Cloud Temple stood amid the mountains.
After Lu Qing had gone up the mountain that day,
he had stayed here for the night.
The next day.
Early morning.
Because a sparse rain had fallen last night, the green mountains and clear waters beneath this morning's sky were veiled in a hazy mist.
The grass and leaves were damp, and the earth carried the scent of rain.
This weather, as though it had washed away a little of yesterday's dust,
also meant that early this morning, aside from the droplets still clinging to the leaves and telling visitors of last night's rain,
a golden morning sun had already risen slowly above the horizon on the far side of the mountains. Its crystalline radiance shone through the peaks, lending those cultivating within them a few more traces of transcendent air.
Lu Qing's gaze paused slightly.
He saw, in a corner of the distant sky where clouds piled upon clouds, a sea of clouds revealing the shadow of a palace complex.
"Guest, breakfast is here. It was all made from ingredients gathered in the mountains."
The Emerald Cloud Temple disciple who had come to deliver breakfast to this guest room carried food whose fragrance filled the air.
He happened to see Lu Qing stepping outside.
"Just set it here. Thank you."
"You are too courteous, Guest. We rarely receive visitors here at Emerald Cloud Temple."
The disciple had an honest face and could not help saying so.
Seeing Lu Qing looking toward the palace shadows within the sea of clouds,
he wanted to say something, but suddenly remembered the elder's instructions. The words caught in his throat, and his face promptly turned red.