The sound of fallen leaves being swept came from a distance. Mingjing stepped back and bowed even lower as an elderly monk approached along the bluestone path through the Pagoda Forest, sweeping as he went. Hu Xiaotian recognized him clearly: the kindly old monk was Yuanmu, whom he had met at Spirit Sound Temple.
Yuanmu was an eminent monk of Heavenly Dragon Temple's Yuan generation. His standing was exalted, and he belonged to the same generation as Yuankong. Even Master Tongyuan, the abbot of Heavenly Dragon Temple, had to address him as Martial Uncle, while Mingjing had to call him Grand Martial Uncle. His position within Heavenly Dragon Temple went without saying.
Back when Hu Xiaotian had fled Great Yong with Huo Shengnan, he had encountered Sword Palace elder Qi Changguang while passing through Spirit Sound Temple. Hu Xiaotian had happened to suffer qi deviation because of the Void Art at the time, and only Yuanmu's guidance had saved him from disaster. He had not seen Yuanmu since that encounter, and had never expected to meet him again today at Great Xiangguo Temple.
Qiqi, however, did not recognize Yuanmu and assumed he was merely an ordinary sweeping monk. But when she saw how respectfully both Mingjing and Hu Xiaotian behaved, she immediately realized that this elderly monk was no ordinary man.
Hu Xiaotian moved aside, but Qiqi remained where she was, showing no intention of making way.
Yuanmu stopped about ten feet from Qiqi and looked at Hu Xiaotian with gentle eyes. "Benefactor, you truly are blessed with extraordinary fortune. This old monk thought you would have ascended to paradise long ago."
Hu Xiaotian smiled. "Master Yuanmu, we haven't seen each other in so long, yet the first thing you do is curse me to die. Isn't that rather unkind