Misty Manor truly was far away. After the carriage left the city gates and traveled east for nearly the time it took an incense stick to burn, it finally reached a broad, straight road. The carriage stopped, and the three got out.
Qiutong pointed at the road and said, "Go farther ahead, and once you cross this road, you'll reach Misty Manor. I can't see you any farther. I live at Huanxi Mountain Villa—come visit me if you get the chance."
Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu said a few words of thanks before Qiutong climbed back into the carriage. The carriage turned around and slowly headed back, while Qiutong waved farewell to the two from inside.
The Zhang brothers gazed at the broad, straight avenue and the enormous trees lining its sides, and an involuntary sense of solemnity rose in their hearts. They took a deep breath and strode forward in great steps.
Before long, they saw a tall archway in the distance. As they drew closer, they could make out the two huge characters inscribed upon it: "Misty." Were those not the same two characters on the token?
The brothers' hearts pounded even faster. Hope was right before their eyes.
Several men wearing sabers stood ramrod-straight beneath the archway, while another paced back and forth nearby. He was presumably their leader. It was noon, and under the blazing sun, the Zhang brothers were the only people walking along the road. The guards had naturally noticed them long ago. Seeing the two continue forward, the leader stepped up to meet them, raised his right hand to stop them, and scrutinized them for a long while before asking, "Please stop, gentlemen. Ahead lies important territory of our sect."
Zhang Xiaohu stepped forward, cupped his fists, and asked, "May I ask, is