Hu Xiaotian crept up outside the Flowing Moon Pavilion, wet the window paper with his tongue, and poked a hole through it with his finger. Peering inside, he saw only a middle-aged Taoist nun meditating on a rush cushion. No one else was there. He listened closely. Judging by the rhythm of her breathing, she had a solid foundation in internal arts, but she was hardly a first-rate expert.
He suddenly remembered that he had infiltrated this place to find the transparent Blue Skull. Since this was the Flowing Moon Pavilion, he might as well search it thoroughly. Hu Xiaotian went to the door and knocked softly.
The nun opened her eyes and asked quietly, "Who is it?"
Pinching his throat to alter his voice, Hu Xiaotian said, "Senior sister, it's me!"
Perhaps outsiders rarely entered the Clear Mystery Monastery, for the nun did not grow suspicious at all. She rose, came to the door, and opened it. Before she could see what was happening, Hu Xiaotian chopped her neck with his palm, knocking her unconscious. He caught her, took the opportunity to seal her acupoints, and gently lowered her to the floor. Pressing his palms together toward her, he said, "Amitabha, forgive my sins!" Only then did he remember that she was a Taoist disciple. "Reverend, forgive this offense," he added. He bolted the door and began searching the room. The Flowing Moon Pavilion had only two rooms, with bookshelves lining every wall. Although they held plenty of texts, searching was not difficult when he knew exactly what he wanted. Hu Xiaotian checked the shelves first. The skull was slightly larger than two ordinary skulls combined, so any container holding it would have to be at least two feet square. If it were out in the open, it should