Kyōraku University was about half an hour's walk from Matsukaze Town, not much farther than Chen Miao's trip to Seimei Shrine.
After getting up that morning, Chen Miao walked through the alleys of Matsukaze Town, passed along the eastern stretch of Sanjo Street, and headed toward Kyōraku University.
The alleys of Matsukaze Town were relatively traditional and quiet.
Once he entered the eastern stretch of Sanjo Street, however, the architecture began to blend old and new, and the low buildings gave way to taller ones.
A little farther on, the old-fashioned shops disappeared altogether, replaced by shopping complexes.
Having seen more than enough concrete jungles, Chen Miao preferred the more traditional, old-fashioned houses of Matsukaze Town.
Before long, Chen Miao arrived at Kyōraku University.
As soon as he entered the gates, the cherry trees lining both sides of the campus's main road caught his eye.
November was not cherry blossom season, though. All Chen Miao saw were bare, withered-looking branches that resembled ghostly claws.
The fountain at the end of the road was rather more interesting than the bare cherry trees.
The university motto was carved beside the fountain, entirely in Japanese, seemingly without any consideration for whether foreigners could read it.
Chen Miao glanced at it and lost interest.
After getting his bearings, Chen Miao headed toward the place where he needed to check in. On the way, a grove of century-old ginkgo trees, ablaze with gold, drew his attention.
Naturally, it was not the scenery that caught his eye, but the faint yin energy seeping out.
The morning surge of yang energy had already passed, and there was little yin energy around to begin with, especially at a university filled with young people.
Since entering Kyōraku University, Chen Miao's yin control had barely had a chance to activate.