After breaking through to late dark force, Mo Yun's constitution had improved dramatically, and his speed had increased considerably as well.
With his blood qi surging, Mo Yun raced along like a bolt of black lightning, so fast that only an afterimage could be seen. He returned to Yellow Maple Town in a little over an hour.
Night had deepened. The town's streets were deserted, with only a few lonely lanterns hanging beneath the eaves, casting a gentle glow.
Without slowing, Mo Yun passed through several familiar alleys and soon reached the entrance to Wutong Alley.
From afar, he spotted a slender figure standing outside his courtyard gate, rising onto tiptoe to peer toward the alley entrance.
The biting wind whipped her skirt, but she seemed not to feel it, her eyes fixed intently on the entrance.
It was his older sister, Mo Yiyi.
Her face was red from the cold, and she kept her hands tucked into her sleeves, occasionally stamping her feet for warmth. The instant she saw Mo Yun, her eyes lit up.
Warmth flooded Mo Yun's heart. He hurried over, taking two strides where he would normally take three, his voice tinged with concern and reproach. "Sis, it's freezing out here. Why are you standing outside?"
Mo Yiyi trembled slightly from the cold, but her smile was radiant. "Tomorrow's New Year's Eve. I figured you'd definitely come home today..."
Mo Yun clasped her icy hands and stirred his blood qi to drive away the cold, saying helplessly, "Even so, you can't keep waiting at the gate. What if you make yourself sick in weather this cold?"
Mo Yiyi smiled. "I wasn't waiting the whole time. I only came out for a little look now and then. And didn't I catch you at just the right moment?"