Dawn broke, and sunlight fell on the clock tower.
A vintage carriage swayed its way into the Monastery. Wei Yunmo stepped down calmly, practiced at ignoring the bleak, pallid surroundings. This place was oppressive; even the air was steeped in pain. Anyone who stayed here long enough would fall ill, even if they had been healthy to begin with.
He carried his own luggage, dressed in a vintage suit reminiscent of a detective's, with a deerstalker on his head. He looked like a miniature gentleman.
He walked into the hospital without a change in expression, ignoring everyone as everyone ignored him. Patients shed tears, and nurses hurried to and fro.
Wei Yunmo stopped someone and looked up, asking earnestly, "Dunpli, where's Teacher?"
Dunpli looked down at him and said hesitantly, "Why are you only getting here now? Teacher's in his office. You should have arrived an hour ago and waited for him there."
Wei Yunmo shook his head. "I couldn't help it. It was a long journey, and I left as soon as I received the letter. Did something happen?"
Dunpli bent down and spoke quietly. "You'll have to fend for yourself. Teacher's probably very unhappy. An old friend came to visit him yesterday, and he wanted to introduce you right away, but you were late."
"An old friend?"
Wei Yunmo frowned. After all this time, this was the first he had heard of his lofty, arrogant teacher having a friend. The man was probably just as difficult to get along with.
He said numbly and calmly, "It's fine. Teacher won't kill me. I'll go see him now."
"All right."
Dunpli continued making his rounds among the patients. Wei Yunmo passed through corridor after corridor, leaving the bustle behind for desolation as he headed toward the darkest part of the