"Chen Ying!"
Hong Yin had recognized the face beneath that slender figure's hood. A smile rose on her usually tranquil face. For master and disciple to meet again in the Immortal Spirit Realm was truly fate.
Gong Chenying reached her in an instant and hurried to offer a disciple's salute. With a gentle sweep of her monk's sleeve, Hong Yin lifted her before she could bow.
"You've already reached Spirit Transformation. How quickly time flies!"
A soft force raised Gong Chenying to her feet. Hearing the emotion in Hong Yin's words, she felt it too. They had been apart for so long that she herself had already reached Spirit Transformation!
Remembering Hong Yin's patient guidance, and how they had not seen each other once since parting all those years ago, even the steadfast Gong Chenying felt her eyes redden.
Hong Yin's smile deepened. She had always valued this disciple who had inherited her teachings despite not belonging to the Buddhist order. Gong Chenying possessed the Three Talents Spirit Root and had always treated her with profound respect.
As for Hong Yin herself, she had nothing left to call her own. This lay disciple might be the only person in the world who still had a connection to her.
After so many years of searching, she had nearly fallen into despair. Not a single disciple might remain of Red Buddha Temple, once so glorious. Gong Chenying was her only family!
Gong Chenying's feelings showed plainly, but this was no place to talk. Hearing the weight of years in her master's voice, she was just about to offer some comfort.
"Fellow Daoist Hong Yin, since we parted at the Tianli Clan, seas have turned to mulberry fields. Yet you're as radiant as ever, and your cultivation has soared straight into the clouds.