Untying the Altar (4)

Everything proceeded in such a tightly packed rush. They crossed the bitterest winter and welcomed late spring, its warmth deepening by the day, until one day, the disciples could no longer suppress their curiosity and finally took action.

When it came to gathering information, naturally, Fifth Senior Brother was the man to seek out. Several familiar inner disciples made a special trip to Spirit Pool Peak, hoping to ask Lin Huaixu to sound out Second Senior Brother and unravel the mystery that had lingered in everyone's hearts for so long—just who was coming, to make Second Senior Brother behave so unusually?

Lin Huaixu was deeply curious as well. Thus, early that morning, beneath the eager gazes of several junior brothers and sisters, he followed the bluestone path wet with morning dew and climbed to the summit of Spirit Pool Peak.

Shen Yuxi's little courtyard was as quiet as ever. Several old pear trees were covered in blossoms, clouds and snow adorning their branches. The stone table and stools had been dampened by the morning dew, gleaming moistly beneath the rising sunlight.

When Lin Huaixu knocked on the courtyard gate, Shen Yuxi was standing beneath the old pear tree in fullest bloom, slowly drawing his movements to a close. His morning breathing exercise was nearly finished. His outstretched arms gradually gathered before him, his breath long and fine as a thread, quietly blending with the morning mist winding around Spirit Pool Peak's summit.

Today, he wore a long robe in twilight-cloud pink. Faint, shadowy patterns of branches and leaves were woven into the fabric, flowing with a soft sheen in the dim morning light.

The collar and cuffs were edged in a finger-width band of silver, making his already refined features all the more distinct. Against such a tender hue, his