The third day of the first month, Great Xuan Calendar 379.
The New Year had just passed, and the festive season was still ongoing. Auspicious paper cuttings were posted throughout the manor, while rows of festive red lanterns hung beneath the corridors.
Zhang Yu, clad in a loose azure robe, sat beneath a porch facing the lake. A low table stood before him, and the clear tea in a white jade porcelain cup gave off a pure, delicate fragrance.
This was the fourth New Year he had spent since arriving in Qingyang. Everything within and beyond Qingyang was peaceful now, so he could enjoy this rare moment of leisure.
Yet it would not last long. By the second month, he would be heading to the outer layer, a place where warfare was frequent and where Celestial Xia's most important war was currently being fought.
A flock of white egrets suddenly flew over the water, lending a touch of life to the lake's previously clear and tranquil surface.
Wonder Elixir Lord beside the low table suddenly propped itself up and stared fixedly at the egrets. The spiritual multicolored mist around its body flickered in and out of sight.
Zhang Yu reached out and rubbed its head. The little leopard cat narrowed its eyes, then lay back down, the spiritual multicolored mist around it drawing back in as well.
Zhang Yu then took out a Daoist tome from his Violet Star Pouch and held it in his hands as he slowly read.
After reading for some time, Li Qinghe approached and bowed with cupped hands. "Sir."
Zhang Yu asked casually, "What is it?"
Li Qinghe said, "A letter has arrived from Stone Canal Temple."
Zhang Yu looked up, set down the Daoist tome, and accepted the letter from Li Qinghe. Opening it,