Night fell without a trace of lingering sunset to ease the transition. The sky suddenly turned pitch-black as ink, and after a burst of violent wind came a torrential downpour.
The rain went from a sharp pattering to a crashing roar, and muddy water began spilling through the mountains.
For Bian Weikang, kneeling before the mountain gate, it was hardship piled upon hardship. Not only the sect-even Heaven itself seemed unwilling to show him a kindly face.
A grain of sandalwood gold sat on the steps before him. Its purple flame remained unaffected by the rain and still gave off light. He was already soaked like a chicken dunked in broth, water streamed down his face, and his whole body was icy cold. Colder still was his heart. He had knelt for so long, yet his parents truly would not even see him.
But what else could he do? To win his parents' forgiveness, to spare the woman he loved any further suffering, he could only keep kneeling until his parents agreed to see him.
No grass or trees grew on Mount Wukang, so it could not retain water. The rain running down its slopes soon gathered into streams large and small, while the water beside the gate steps thundered and roared.
The bold, vigorous characters spelling "Mount Wukang" on the ceremonial arch remained clearly visible in the swaying lamplight.
Two disciples stood beneath the arch in bamboo hats and straw rain capes. They could only watch Bian Weikang remain on his knees, not even daring to make a sound.
There was nothing they could do. The sect master had personally declared that this man had been expelled and no longer had any connection to Mount Wukang. He was not permitted to take a single step through the gate, and