Night fell.
Light rain pattered against the roof tiles, making the room especially quiet.
Ye Jingtang sat cross-legged on a bench, practicing the Jade Bones Dragon-Elephant Flame-Rebirth Diagram. His breathing was long and steady, his expression tranquil. Long practice of this profound method had lent his bearing a touch of otherworldliness, though the change was so subtle that anyone who did not spend their days and nights with him would struggle to notice.
On the bed nearby, Fan Qinghe sat upright in a long red gauze dress, holding the same posture as she practiced the Dragon-Mingling Diagram.
Fan Qinghe indeed did not know the Bright Deity Diagram. Her astonishing perception came purely from diligent practice and talent, but her trip to Capital City this time had brought her tremendous luck.
As a specially hired physician treating the Empress Dowager, she had thickened her skin and asked Perfected Person Xuanji for the Dragon-Elephant Diagram. Perfected Person Xuanji had shown it to her, and she had thus acquired it for free.
She had wanted to see the Flame-Rebirth Diagram too, but Perfected Person Xuanji had not been so generous with that, saying she would reward her with it only after she cured the Empress Dowager. Besides wanting to win Ye Jingtang over, this little wish also helped drive her wholehearted assistance.
After arriving in Gukou Town and eating lunch, Ye Jingtang had sent Niao Niao out to scout the mountains, while the two of them waited and rested in their room. Since the wait was rather long, they had each sat down to practice, and night had fallen before they knew it.
Gukou Town was very small. Its visitors were mostly smugglers and hardened martial wanderers, and there was little traffic. Naturally, there was not much to do at night either. The