Xu Changqing halted and looked toward the sound.
Two streaks of light came racing over, one green and one white, swift as lightning. As they landed, their forms suddenly contracted, turning into two palm-sized spirit birds.
The green bird's feathers were like jade, with golden patterns adorning its wingtips.
The white bird seemed to be formed from congealed frost, green tear-like markings circling its eyes.
Before Xu Changqing could react, the two spirit birds flashed with spiritual light and transformed into two children around seven or eight years old.
The green-clad child bore a green mark between his brows.
The white-clad child had white patterns on his forehead.
Both were exquisitely carved from jade and powdered with rouge, their auras as pure as the spiritual qi within a Secret Realm.
Xu Changqing was startled. "May I ask who you two are?"
He had explored the entire Thousand Mechanisms Corridor and this courtyard, yet had found no trace of any living creature. He had never expected such beings to be hidden here.
The green-clad child spoke first, his voice crisp as birdsong. "Fellow Daoist, there is no need for concern. My brother and I are guardian spirits born from the giant tree in the Inner Garden."
The white-clad child added, "We have guarded the Inner Garden all year round and should not have shown ourselves.
"When Fellow Daoist broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm just now, you used the power of laws to repair the Outer Garden. We cannot simply stand by in the face of such karmic ties, so we came out to meet you."
Xu Changqing felt a pang of guilt and hurriedly cupped his hands in salute. "You two seniors called out to this junior. May I ask what guidance you have for me?"
"Guidance is out