On Heavenly Battle Mountain, Yi Shuyuan had been lying on his side inside the Broken Peak Grotto. Now he straightened his clothes and sat up.
Yi Shuyuan looked around and discovered that a patch of vines had grown outside the Broken Peak Grotto, providing some cover. Clearly, this was Old Vine's work as well.
He rose to his feet and walked out of the Broken Peak Grotto, step by step.
Though it was winter outside, Heavenly Battle Mountain still had an air of birdsong and fragrant blossoms. Even the snow was confined to some of the higher peaks, while many parts of the valleys remained lush and green.
"Hui Mian."
Yi Shuyuan spoke softly. His voice blended into the mountain's natural chorus of flowing water, wind, birds, and beasts, yet seemed to drift into the distance on the breeze.
He waited a while, but received no answer, prompting him to mutter.
"Where has that little rascal run off to now?"
Hui Mian had been thoroughly conscientious when watching over Stoneborn and Qi Zhongbin, yet now that Yi Shuyuan himself had taken a nap, it had gone off to play?
Still, even if Hui Mian had not heard him, someone in the mountain certainly had.
Almost as soon as Yi Shuyuan finished muttering, a wisp of smoke rose from the ground. It was Teng Fu, the Mountain God of Heavenly Battle Mountain. The moment he appeared, he cupped his hands in greeting to Yi Shuyuan.
"So you're awake already, Mr. Yi! I thought you might sleep for eight or ten years!"
Eight or ten years? Could anyone really sleep that long?
Oh, with an immortal, perhaps there really was no telling. But I certainly haven't developed that habit yet.
"Then perhaps I gave the wrong impression."
"Heh heh, Fellow Daoist Hui