Pain, Loss, Forgotten in a Blink

The sound was not loud, and it came from within the side room, but to Shi Xuan and Mo Jingqiu, whose minds were clear as mirrors, a distance of barely ten paces did nothing to hinder them from hearing the Temple Master's muttering. They could not help exchanging a smile. Even in this Age of Dharma Decline, there were still people pursuing the path of External Core longevity.

Hearing the explosion, the little boy hurriedly turned and rushed inside. Before long, coughing and complaining, he dragged out a tall man whose face and clothes were covered in pitch-black powder. "Temple Master Grandpa, with so much smoke, what are you still doing in there?"

The tall man's voice was rather aged. Somewhat distracted, he said, "Perhaps if I carefully sense whether there is anything unusual about this smoke, I can find the reason for my repeated failures." As he spoke, he seemed about to walk back into the side room, but the little boy slapped a damp handkerchief, prepared long ago, over his face. The cool sensation cleared his head considerably. He could not help sighing, then carefully wiped his face clean with the handkerchief.

"Temple Master Grandpa, a passing husband and wife wish to stay the night." Taking the opportunity, the little boy hurriedly told the Temple Master about Shi Xuan and Mo Jingqiu.

After wiping his face clean, the Temple Master did not look as old as his voice sounded. He was in his forties, with regular features and graying temples, looking severely worn down.

He raised his head to look at Shi Xuan and Mo Jingqiu. Seeing that they did not appear to be vicious criminals, and that they carried themselves well, peaceful and composed, and since the Capital City was not far away and travelers and merchants