New cicadas sang hoarsely in green locusts and tall willows; the warm breeze first touched the strings.
Beneath the green gauze window, aloeswood incense smoked; the clack of chess pieces startled a midday sleeper.
A light rain passed, small lotus leaves turned, and pomegranate blossoms bloomed as though about to burn.
Slender hands played with clear spring water in a jade basin; pearly droplets shattered, then rounded again.
Summer, year 466 of Ming.
Three Pure Ones Mountain, Bright Governance Mountain.
Bamboo shade lay deep; cicadas clamored.
This summer was especially hot. The dog days had only just begun, yet the heat was already unbearable. A light rain, in particular, had done nothing to dispel it, instead making the sun overhead shine all the more dazzlingly, forcing people to lower their eyes, not daring to look up.
Beside Crystal Pool, Lion lay on the ground with his head hanging over the water, panting with his great mouth open. Now and then, he stuck his tongue into the pool to lap up some water.
Xinshu crouched beside Lion, scooping water from the pool with her hand and sprinkling it over him, trying to make him more comfortable. As the droplets scattered into the air, the fierce sunlight caught them, forming rainbows.
Bai Yongliang stood behind the girl, holding up an enormous banana leaf to shade her.
Cheng Xinzhan emerged from Carefree Cave, waving his Dust-Tailed Whisk. He had originally taken it along to Western Kham to disguise himself as a Rogue Person given to lofty discourse. But it was light to handle, useful for brushing away dust and fanning himself, and quite handy. After a dozen years, the habit had stuck. Even now that he had left Western Kham, the fan never left his hand, while the Hunyuan Ruyi had instead