Wei Zhilin finished writing, set his wolf-hair brush on its rest, and gazed absently at a locust tree outside the window, its leaves just showing green. Suddenly, as though sensing something, he said in a low voice, "Come in!"
A faint silhouette drifted inside like a wisp of smoke.
The newcomer came to a stop. He was an ordinary-looking middle-aged man, who bowed respectfully to Wei Zhilin and presented a letter with both hands.
Wei Zhilin took it and waved a hand lightly. The man vanished again like a wisp of smoke.
Wei Zhilin broke the wax seal, drew out the confidential letter, and laid it on his desk to study. Without realizing it, he began to frown...
"Senior Brother!"
The door swung open at Cheng Zi Ya's booming call, interrupting Wei Zhilin's thoughts.
"How is it going? Those youngsters are doing well in their training, aren't they?"
Wei Zhilin set down the confidential letter and looked at Cheng Zi Ya with a smile.
Cheng Zi Ya pulled open the front of his robe. Fine beads of sweat covered his bronze chest and neck, glittering in the sunlight.
"Don't even mention it!"
He wiped his face with his robe, picked up a wine jar from the floor, and poured himself a bowl. He gulped it down in one go, wiped his mouth, and said, "That little bastard Gu Qingzhou is probably sleeping like a log at home again. There's still no sign of him!"
Cheng Zi Ya's chest heaved with anger. Shaking his head in displeasure, he continued, "I've been teaching them the Primal Unity Ruyi Art for days, and that brat Fan Dazhi still doesn't even know how to throw a punch!"
Wei Zhilin stroked his beard and laughed, his smile as warm as the bright early-spring sunlight in