Dusk (6)

After seven or eight days of quiet recuperation, Lin Huaixu had recovered most of his spiritual power, and his wounds were gradually healing.

He had not been idle while recovering. Over these past few days, he had drawn up practical formations for nearly all the ideas in Shen Yuxi's notebook, working through them meticulously on paper and revising them again and again. By now, he had more or less laid the foundations for Shen Yuxi's daydream.

That day, Lin Huaixu opened his eyes just as dawn began to break. Outside the window, morning dew dripped from the tips of bamboo leaves, tapping out faint, scattered notes against the flagstones.

He lifted his fingertips slightly, gathering a wisp of spiritual light and circulating it through his meridians three times. Once it returned to his dantian, he let out a long breath. His dantian brimmed with spiritual power, and his damaged muscles and bones had nearly healed, leaving only a faint itch to remind him of his injuries.

After confirming that his injuries were no longer a concern, he took out his jade token and sent voice transmissions directly to the second elder and the sect leader, arranging to meet at Clear Parasol Hall.

Inside Clear Parasol Hall, sandalwood incense curled from a three-legged censer, spreading its tranquil fragrance through the air. Since the hall had to remain shielded from outside scrutiny year-round, its doors and latticed windows were always shut. It was much dimmer than elsewhere, and several colored-glass lamps burned even during the day. Their flickering flames made the hall a little warmer than outside and lent it an even more solemn air.

When Lin Huaixu stepped through the doors, True Person Yu Qing and Yu Qin True Person were already waiting in the seats of honor. Dressed in gray-blue