The heavy wooden door creaked open. The first thing to come into view was Master Li's booted feet.
Master Li stepped slightly aside and addressed someone outside, his voice respectful, with a barely perceptible trace of nervousness. "Great Immortal, please come in."
The person addressed as the Great Immortal said nothing, merely stepping through the doorway.
The newcomer had a pair of bound feet, clad in black cloth shoes embroidered with dark patterns. Her steps were soundless, but not particularly slow.
Zhang Yuanbao hurriedly bowed again and said respectfully, "Welcome, Great Immortal."
An old woman's aged, hoarse voice rang out, carrying a measure of spite and impatience. "Oh, Ru Lin, you child, how have you worn the vitality of this body down so badly?
"Didn't I tell you to take things easy, not to overwork yourself, and certainly not to act recklessly?
"...You've only used this body for a little over two years, haven't you? Just look at the state you've reduced it to!"
After speaking, the old woman paused and swept her gaze around the woodshed. It finally settled on Cui Jiuyang, who lay unconscious on the plank bed. "The one lying on that wooden bed-is he the next vessel you found? Where did he come from? Have you investigated his background?"
Master Li hurriedly stepped forward and answered respectfully, "Yes, Great Immortal.
"This vessel is a childhood friend of young Zhang Yuanbao.
"His entire family later moved away to do business. He only returned from out of town a few days ago and came especially to spend time with Yuanbao.
"I saw that he was an outsider with few roots in Tianjin and a clean background, so I chose him as Ru Lin's next vessel."
The old woman's voice was shrill and grating, like fingernails scraping rough wooden