Taiyang Academy would not admit new students until after the second month. The first month had not yet ended, and the academy's teachers and students were still on recess.
As Zhang Yu and Li Qinghe walked along, they found the academy empty and deserted. They only occasionally encountered a few teachers and students residing within the academy, but when they passed one another face-to-face, those people behaved as if they had not seen them at all.
The two followed a broad, level avenue lined on both sides with flowers and luxuriant trees until they arrived before a two-story building with a small courtyard outside and flower trellises above.
Li Qinghe naturally had no difficulty recognizing it as their former residence within Taiyang Academy. He could not help taking two steps forward. Seeing that the place had changed little since they had left, he turned back and said, "Sir, it is still the same here as before."
Zhang Yu said, "The Academy has always kept this place. I returned once before attaining the Dao, and I stayed here then. I must now go to the Profound Residence to settle some matters. You may go back and see your clansmen and elders. If you lack anything, or if there is any matter, come back and tell me."
Li Qinghe gave a deep bow and said gratefully, "Thank you, sir."
Zhang Yu nodded, then continued north along the stone-paved avenue, heading toward the Eastern Court Profound Residence.
As he looked upon the road ahead, he recalled that he too had once followed this very road toward the Profound Residence. Back then, he had merely been a student who had just come here to seek the Dao. Today, however, he was a Profound Venerable who had transcended the world.
He seemed able to see