It was an early autumn night, and the swollen Li River had risen almost level with its banks.
A bright moon shone high in the heart of the sky. The sand along the bank gleamed like snow; looking south from it, one could see fields stretching across a web of paths, moonlight spilling over the earth like frost.
Zhang Gaoxia stepped barefoot onto the soft sand, smoothed her blue-green skirt, and sat beside the river, watching the cold water slowly creep over her slender ankles.
In the deep grass behind her, insects chirped in waves, while a handful of fireflies flickered in and out of sight.
"Senior Sister."
A shy voice came from behind her. She rose and turned to see a young woman in a pale purple skirt.
"You're here, Jiang Zhoudu. What brings you?"
Zhang Gaoxia asked with a faint smile. The river breeze blew gently, stirring her hair.
She had now reached the second level of Qi Refining. Assigned to watch over the spirit fields that day, she had come down to the river after nightfall to clear her mind.
"Master heard you were keeping watch here alone, so he sent me to keep you company."
"Sorry for the trouble."
Jiang Zhoudu walked over slowly and sat properly beside her senior sister, leaving a step's distance between them. Unsure what to say, she fell silent.
Zhang Gaoxia said nothing either. She sat quietly with her arms around her knees, her head tilted as she gazed toward North of the River.
Across the Li River and several stretches of hills, she could faintly make out the colored radiance rising from the Lotus Temple. A few lines of scripture seemed to drift over on the river breeze, only to be drowned out by the insects.
"Senior Sister, how do