Just as he was pondering his cultivation, a clear, lovely voice interrupted him.
"Qingtong, are you there?"
Hearing the voice outside his door, Xu Qingtong sprang to his feet and rushed to the entrance, taking the steps two at a time.
"Hui'er! Come in!"
The visitor was none other than Dongfang Hui. Xu Qingtong looked her over. Clearly, the girl had taken special care with her appearance today. Instead of her usual long dress, she had unexpectedly dressed much like Third Senior Sister, in a pale blue, square-collared long tunic, white trousers, and black boots. A broad white silk sash encircled her waist, and her long, jet-black hair streamed behind her like a waterfall, with locks hanging beside both ears.
Dongfang Hui came up beside Xu Qingtong, blinking her large eyes, which glistened as though washed by spring rain. Her gentle smile blossomed with a hundred charms, revealing a pair of delicate little canine teeth and two shallow dimples beside them.
"Do I look pretty?"
Xu Qingtong swallowed and murmured, "Such a maiden should dwell in heaven alone; how could mortal eyes behold so fair a face!"
Dongfang Hui rolled her eyes and said sweetly, "You silver-tongued flatterer!"
"Hui'er, did you come because you missed me, or is there something else you need?"
"The Forefather wants to see you. As it happened, I hadn't seen you in a long time either, so I took his order as a chance to come and see you."
Taking Dongfang Hui by the hand, Xu Qingtong led her into his cave abode. They sat beside the table, and Dongfang Hui rested her delicate cheek on her hand, gazing straight at him.
After a long while, she inexplicably asked, "Has Senior Sister Du been well lately?"
Xu Qingtong was as bewildered as a ten-foot monk