She held a red sandalwood cane, her silver hair secured in a bun with a silver hairpin. A forehead band and robes of black and dark blue completed her simple, dignified attire, and her bearing was gentle and kindly.
She was none other than Xuanming's eldest sister, Xuandu.
His call of "Eldest Sister" stirred waves in Xuanming's heart, and Xuandu was equally overcome with emotion. "Little Brother!"
Though they exchanged letters every year, the siblings had not seen each other for a long time. Holding each other's hands, they walked inside together. Xu Fusheng stopped the rest of the household from coming forward to pay their respects at once, leaving his mother and uncle time and space together.
Both Xuandu and Xuanming were pleased with her son's—and his nephew's—thoughtfulness. Once they had taken their seats as host and guest, Xuanming personally brewed tea, and the siblings chatted as they drank.
They reminisced about the past, discussed cultivation, and spoke of Floating Cloud Mountain's prospects. Nothing was off-limits, and their words seemed inexhaustible. Only an hour later, when dinner was ready and Xu Fusheng came personally to invite them, did Xuanming and Xuandu reluctantly bring their conversation to an end.
At the lavish dinner, the Xu Family's younger generation formally paid their respects to Xuanming, and he gave each of them a meeting gift. After dining in the company of the family elders, he spoke with his eldest sister for another hour before returning to the guest courtyard to rest.
Early the next morning, rosy dawn light dyed the clouds. After collecting dawn purple qi, Xuanming went to Pine Crane Courtyard, where his eldest sister lived. Before long, his nephew arrived with his wife and children. Xuanming did not wait until the birthday banquet to present his gift; there was no