Yu Yuanzhen had Ye Lin settled in the neighboring courtyard.
The courtyard was small, with a main room and a side room. An old osmanthus tree grew inside, its branches reaching over the wall.
Ye Lin pushed open the window and glanced at the night outside. Then he shut it, sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, and began circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill.
A lamp burned in the neighboring courtyard. He could faintly hear Yu Xiaogang and Yu Yuanzhen talking.
Yu Yuanzhen's room was much larger than the side room, but its furnishings were simple.
An old wooden bed, a table, two chairs, and a landscape painting on the wall, its scroll yellowed with age.
He sat down at the table and poured tea for Yu Xiaogang, then for himself. Leaning back in his chair, he let out a long breath.
He asked how Yu Xiaogang had lived all those years away from home, and Yu Xiaogang told him from the beginning.
He spoke of Nuoding Academy, Shrek, Flender and Zhao Wuji, and the students.
As he talked, he came to Luo Sanpao.
"Sanpao was just a pig at first." Yu Xiaogang held his teacup, his tone calm.
"Everyone knows that. But I only learned later that he could absorb Dragon Bloodlines. Each time he absorbed one, he changed a little."
Yu Xiaogang could not help thinking, Thank goodness for Tang San. He really is a reincarnator—he knows so many secrets.
He looked at Yu Yuanzhen and went on.
"When I reached my third ring, Sanpao could already take on his current Radiant Sacred Dragon form."
"But back then, he could only maintain it while using a Soul Skill. The rest of the time, he was still his round little self."
He paused and set down his teacup.