Dao-Treasuring Peak, Path-Seeking Courtyard.
Xuanming woke from a good sleep, stretched, and stepped out of his thatched cottage feeling refreshed, gazing into the distance.
Facing the rising sun and treading upon the morning light, Xuanxu rode a Spirit Crane eastward, descending True Mystery Peak.
Naturally, the Spirit Crane had been borrowed from his junior brother Xuan Kong. Although the other third-generation Daoists had begun raising birds and beasts to serve as mounts, those creatures still needed time to grow. For now, they still had to borrow Spirit Cranes to travel.
As for why Xuanxu was leaving the mountain today, Xuanming counted off the days on his fingers and understood: the Chu had formally launched their challenge. Since the matter was going to court, how could they leave the younger generation to charge ahead alone? As the abbey's presiding True Person, Xuanxu naturally had to leave the mountain to lend his weight. His status and standing were appropriate; he could represent the entire Truth-Seeking Abbey and demonstrate Floating Cloud Mountain's resolve.
Xuanming remained behind to oversee matters and continue anchoring their fortune. After all, bringing charges against a direct-line son of the Wang Family was not something that could be accomplished overnight. The Wang Family was a Confucian Dao aristocratic clan, their tongues slicker than any other. Who knew when this lawsuit could be won? Xuanming could not leave Floating Cloud Mountain for too long.
Still, he had also prepared to leave the mountain. If needed, he would set out immediately for Fengyang Commandery. At worst, he would go and return the same day. Powerful though the Wang Family was, the Truth-Seeking Abbey was not to be bullied.
Watching Xuanxu, who had already left True Mystery Peak, Xuanming felt that even while waiting for news, he could not simply do nothing.