Clop, clop!
Hoofbeats rang out.
At the North City Overpass, the old fortune-teller and the blind old Daoist turned toward the sound, delighted to see Daoist Yuan seated on the donkey.
He held a fly-whisk, his bearing relaxed and his expression at ease. His presence was entirely different from before, less plain and approachable, more like an immortal with a sage's bones.
The two rose and bowed. Xuanming nodded, motioned for them to follow, and continued onward on his donkey.
Along the way, he encountered the two wandering Daoists, Fulai and Huoqu. At Xuanming's gesture, they followed as well.
One led and four followed, passing through the town. Only after they had left Floating Cloud County's county seat did Xuanming stop.
Looking at the four before him, he concealed himself no longer. With a light flick of his fly-whisk, he dispelled his disguise, and a white-haired old Daoist riding a deer appeared before their eyes. Though stunned, all four were clever men and immediately understood that this was Daoist Yuan's true identity. They bent low in reverence.
Xuanming did not stop them, accepting their bows without hesitation. He said gently, "I am Xuanming, a cultivator of the Truth-Seeking Abbey. Previously, I took the name Yuan Shoucheng to wander the mortal world and experience its ways. You and I share a measure of affinity. Having spent over two years together, I also know your temperaments. Now that I am about to travel far, I have come to bring this bond to fulfillment before I leave."
He swept his sleeve, sending four streaks of light into their brows, then explained, "These are some of my Divination Insights, which I shall bestow upon you. I hope you will remain true to your hearts. Do not flaunt your abilities or run wild, or should