Two days later.
Mount Longhu Scenic Area, in front of the ticket office at the mountain gate.
Lu You stood on the stone steps at the foot of the mountain, his back to the Celestial Master Mansion plaque. Before him, bluestone steps wound downward and vanished into the mist.
The morning breeze stirred his gray Daoist robe, gently lifting its hem. He no longer looked as old and withered as when he had first arrived at Mount Longhu.
Although his hair was still white, most of the wrinkles on his face had already faded.
His eyes were clear and sincere, like a child's, yet also like an ancient pine. Time had already left no trace on him.
Still, no one would fail to recognize who he was.
After all, that bearing could not be imitated.
That bearing of looking down upon the world, as weighty as a mountain.
No one stood behind him to see him off, because Lu You had never told anyone when he would leave.
"Heh, there are actually still so many people staking this place out. Interesting.
"It seems some people in the Outsider world do know about the stir I caused on Mount Longhu."
His voice was not loud, but it carried far on the morning mountain breeze, even traversing the distance to reach, with perfect clarity, the ears of every Outsider waiting at the foot of Mount Longhu for him to descend.
"Let all Outsiders know: I am descending the mountain to do just two things.
"The first is to kill. Quanxing's acting sect leader, Gong Qing, has grand designs with far-reaching implications. I will kill him.
"As for the rest of Quanxing, I will not kill a single one who stays out of my way. Those who stand in my way will not