Standing near the front was none other than Monk Hushu, the serene figure who had once accompanied him and proven himself both ally and friend.
The monk's kasaya fluttered in the wind, and though his face bore the same calm as always, Lin Mu could see the firm resolve in his eyes. Around him were several other elders of the Silent Lotus Temple, each dressed in kasayas of different colors, their ranks signified by the shade and embroidery.
Some were golden, some crimson, some plain gray, but all radiated the tranquil yet unshakable presence of Buddhist cultivators who had spent lifetimes tempering their spirits.
Even as they prepared for a mission steeped in blood, their faces carried the same calm and peace that had always marked their order.
The Silent Lotus Temple had arrived.
The Sky Cloud Immortal Lotus Vessel hovered above the beach like a radiant sun, its petals shimmering with soft light that bathed the assembled cultivators below.
