Gou Zai Xi You Dao Chang Sheng

[The second of the nine orifices, the 'Dongfangtian' (ear orifice), is drawn by the perfect energy of the eye orifice. Coupled with a deep foundation, it has naturally opened.]

[Current ear canal stability: 5/100 (initial opening)]

[Deepened understanding of the *Shouzhuo Jing*: Observe the Way of Heaven, act in accordance with Heaven. The mind opens naturally, in harmony with the Dao. Comprehension +10.]

When the ears are first opened, the world suddenly becomes vast.

Li Yan sat cross-legged in the room, his eyes lightly closed, but he could hear Fang Cunshan Ziye's breathing in his ears.

The rustling of pine needles in the wind.

The dew drips from the grass leaves.

The copper bells on the eaves of the main hall of the Three Star Cave trembled slightly in the distance.

The murmuring sounds of spiritual energy flowing deep within the earth's veins are like streams flowing into the ears, clearly discernible.

All things, according to their nature and following their principles, emit the sounds of nature.

He listened quietly for a moment, his mind gradually merging with the sounds of the night, his breathing becoming long and almost inaudible.

The warm, lingering afterglow of the complete eye opening flowed gently towards the ears.

The stability of the ear canal is also slowly increasing.

Li Yan is not in a hurry.

He knew that spiritual practice was like a seedling in spring, its growth unseen but increasing daily.

The right way is for things to fall into place naturally.

The mirror of the heart reflects the state of being at this moment:

【Li Yan】

[Destiny: The Fire Watcher (White)]

[Cultivation Level: Opening Stage (Perfected Eyesight, Initial Opening of Ears)]

[Technique: The Classic of Simplicity and Cunning (Comprehension: 22/100)]

[Aura of Destiny: 10/20]

[Supernatural Power: The Mirror of the Mind Reflects Objects, First Listening]

[Initial Listening: The ears possess extraordinary abilities, capable of discerning subtle sounds and perceiving omens of good or bad fortune in the most obscure of things.]

He immersed himself in the power of initial listening.

The sounds of the world around him began to peel away in his perception, revealing different layers.

The outermost layer consists of the sounds of objects: the sound of wind, the sound of water, and the chirping of insects.

At a deeper level, it is the sound of the flow of Qi.

The sap of the old tree outside the window trickles down.

The dull thud of the earth slowly settling beneath the foundation of the dormitory.

The faint tidal sound of one's own Qi and blood surging through the meridians.

Further in… Li Yan listened intently.

It seems to exist yet not exist, as if it comes from a very distant place, or a very high and distant place.

That was a grand, deep pulse.

It beats like the heart of the earth, and breathes like the sky.

"This is... the celestial music of the earth's veins?" Li Yan was slightly shaken.

Legend has it that true great beings can hear the direction of the earth's veins and observe the flow of celestial phenomena.

Even with my newly developed hearing, I can still catch a glimpse of the beginnings?

Although it is only a fragment and unclear, it already points to a great path to heaven.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and slowly finished his practice.

The opportunity has arrived, the path is under our feet, and we must proceed with steadfast steps.

Before the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), Li Yan had already gotten up.

With the ears just beginning to open, one is particularly sensitive to surrounding sounds. Why not take advantage of this quiet time to visit the herb garden?

Carrying the wooden bucket, he walked silently towards the back mountain, his feet still wet with dew.

The morning fog was still thick, and visibility was limited to about ten feet.

At this moment, however, the ears become the best guide.

Seven steps to the left front, there is a babbling mountain stream, the water splashing against the pebbles with a sound like jade breaking.

Three zhang to the right rear, an early-rising titmouse was preening its feathers on a branch, the rustling sound of its feathers rubbing together was fine and rhythmic.

Directly ahead... Li Yan paused slightly.

From the direction of the herb garden came a rustling sound, unlike the sound of wind blowing through the grass.

It looks like something is digging in the soil.

He treaded lightly, his eyes opened, and through the thick fog, he could vaguely see the northeast corner of the herb garden.

At the site where the Seven Star Grass once stood, a small, gray figure was busy at work.

It was the gray sable from that day.

Li Yan remained calm and collected, using the fog and terrain to conceal his presence as he slowly approached.

The sound became increasingly clear to my ears.

The sound of claws scraping the soil, and the small animal's slightly rapid breathing.

There was also a tinkling sound coming from deep within the soil.

The sable was so engrossed in digging that it didn't notice anyone approaching.

Before long, it pulled something out of the pit, about the size of a pigeon egg, gleaming with a hazy silvery light.

It was another starstone, and its luster was much purer and more complete than the one they had obtained before.

The gray sable placed the starstone aside, stood upright, and clasped its two front paws together.

He bowed three times to the pit, his posture devout.

After bowing, it picked up the starstone and turned to leave.

Li Yan understood.

This grey sable is incredibly intelligent; it not only knows how to repay kindness but also seems to understand the way of sacrifice.

There may still be some hidden treasures in the northeast corner of this herb garden, guarded by this spirit sable.

He had no intention of stealing the spirit sable.

The other party has a spirit and had previously given medicine, so there is a karmic connection.

Just as the gray sable was about to disappear into the fog,

With a slight thought, Li Yan took out the half-piece of coarse bread left over from yesterday from his bosom and placed it on the stone beside him.

The gray sable perked up its ears, turned around, saw Li Yan, and was initially startled, but then recognized him and its vigilance lessened slightly.

It hesitated for a moment.

Li Yan smiled slightly, pointed to the cake, and waved his hand, indicating that it was free to do as it pleased.

He immediately turned around, picked up the wooden bucket, and walked towards the cold pool.

After walking a dozen steps, I heard a slight rustling sound.

It was the sound of the gray weasel quickly snatching the bread and disappearing into the grass.

[Renewing good karma with the spirit sable, without giving rise to greed, in accordance with nature. Aura of Destiny +1]

[Current Affinity/Dharma Aura: 11/20]

Reflected in the mirror of his heart, Li Yan's lips curled into a slight smile.

For the next two days, Li Yan's life returned to normal.

I get up at the end of the day, tend to the herb garden, listen to the morning bell, and do my assigned chores.

If I have free time in the afternoon, I will go to a secluded place to cultivate, using the Water Spirit Jade to help stabilize my ear orifices.

Occasionally, he would observe the growth of plants in the medicinal garden with his eyes and comprehend the profound meaning of the "Guardian of Simplicity".

After his hearing began to improve, he took increasingly meticulous care of the medicinal herb garden.

When watering, you can hear subtle differences in the dryness and moisture level of the soil.

Know where to water more and where to just moisten the surface soil.

When loosening the soil, you can judge the soil's density and whether there are stones or insect holes by the sound of the hoe hitting the ground.

You can also hear the rustling sound of the seedling roots rubbing against the soil particles as they explore downwards, thus judging whether their growth is smooth.

The herbs in the herb garden are growing much better than in the same period of previous years.

Although there were no particularly rare species, the lush greenery was enough to make the occasional passing deacon nod slightly.

On this day, Li Yan was setting up a shade shelter for several shade-loving medicinal herbs when his ear suddenly twitched.

Fifteen zhang to the left, at the bend in the mountain path, there was the sound of clothes rustling in the wind.

It wasn't just one person.

The person in front walked lightly, but landed slightly unsteadily, suggesting they were a disciple with shallow cultivation.

Those following closely behind had steady steps and long, even breaths, suggesting they possessed genuine skills and a solid foundation in the art.

The two of them walked towards the herb garden, one after the other.

Li Yan's hands never stopped working; the bamboo frame of the pergola was steadily erected and covered with washed banana leaves.

Its ears picked up every word of the conversation from afar.

"...Senior Brother Chen, can the old ink bamboo on the west bank of that cold pool really be used to make excellent talisman brushes?"

The person asking the question was a young voice.

"nature."

"The ink bamboo has been nourished by the cold and damp earth for a hundred years, and its joints are imbued with a spiritual essence."

Using it to make a brush to write talismans and draw arrays can save a bit of spiritual energy.

However, that place was shady and damp, and there were green-scaled snakes coiled around it, making it difficult to approach.

"With my senior brother here, that snake must be..."

"Keep quiet."

The person addressed as Senior Brother Chen lowered his voice.

"There are people ahead. They are the disciples who tend the herb garden. Do not say anything."

The footsteps drew closer.

Li Yan was bending down to tidy the edges of the banana leaves when he heard the sound and looked up to see two people emerging from the mountain path.

The first person was dressed in an indigo Taoist robe, with a copper talisman hanging from his waist, and had a clean, white face.

A younger disciple in gray robes followed behind, who was smiling with his head down.

Li Yan put down the banana leaf in his hand, straightened up, and bowed his head, saying, "Greetings, my two senior brothers."

The disciple surnamed Chen glanced at the herb garden, noticing the neat rows of seedlings growing well, and raised an eyebrow slightly:

"You take care of this garden?"

"Yes."

"It does have some merit," the disciple surnamed Chen said, his tone softening slightly.

"We two have been ordered by the alchemy department to gather some auxiliary medicinal herbs."

Since you are familiar with it, please help us find three purple-backed amaranth plants, with stems that are at least ten years old and thick.

Five clumps of withered grass, with leaves bearing frosty markings.

Li Yan's mind raced.

Purple-backed hibiscus prefers sunlight and mostly grows in rock crevices on south-facing slopes.

The withered grass needs shade and dampness, and often grows under the rocks in the northern stream.

These two medicinal herbs grow in different places, one in the south and one in the north, several miles apart.

Moreover, none of these are native to the medicinal garden; they must be collected fresh from the mountains and fields.

Senior Brother Chen casually pointed this out, seemingly to test him, but actually to deliberately get rid of him.

He replied, "The purple-backed hibiscus grows on the south slope, while the withered grass needs to be found in the north stream."

A round trip would probably take most of the day. Could you two senior brothers wait here for a moment?

"It's alright." The disciple surnamed Chen waved his hand. "We'll just wander around here. You can go and come back quickly."

"Yes."

Li Yan took a small hoe and a medicine basket and headed south along the mountain path.

He was fully alert, listening to what was happening behind him.

After walking about thirty feet and turning around a mountain wall, the sound of the two talking in hushed tones could be heard intermittently.

"...Senior Brother Chen, why did you send that sweeping disciple away?"

"What do you know? How could we let him hear about the matter of the ink bamboo in the cold pool?"

The disciples who sweep and clean often walk through the countryside, so their senses are not necessarily dull.

If word gets out that we secretly took ink and bamboo to make talisman brushes, it won't look good.

"Senior brother, your considerations are thorough. Then let's..."

"Let's go check on the west side of the pool first. If the green-scaled snake isn't there, then cut down a few old bamboo stalks."

We'll talk about it later.

The sound faded into the distance, heading towards the cold pool.

Li Yan did not stop walking, but he already understood.

It turns out it was for ink bamboo.

There was indeed an old bamboo grove on the west bank of that cold pool, its trunk jet black, faintly gleaming with a ghostly light.

I heard from my senior brother the steward that it was a material for refining low-level talisman brushes, which the alchemy and artifact pavilion would occasionally collect.

However, the pool was slippery and infested with snakes and pythons, so the usual sweeping disciples were unwilling to go near it.

He shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

In the immortal sects, it is common for true disciples to act for resources, as long as they do not overstep the bounds.

My immediate priority is to complete this herb-gathering mission safely and without causing any trouble.

As for Mozhu... it has nothing to do with him.

The south-facing slope faces the sun and is covered with strangely shaped rocks.

Li Yan scanned the crevices in the rocks and quickly found several clumps of purple-backed hibiscus.

Choose plants with thick, dark stems, carefully dig up three plants with their roots intact, wrap the roots in damp moss, and place them in a medicine basket.

Just as he was about to turn and head towards the North Stream, his ear suddenly twitched again.

There was a gnawing sound coming from behind the pile of rocks to the right front.

Click, click, a rapid, fine sound.

He moved quietly and stealthily closer.

In a crevice of the rock pile, a snow-white jade rat was happily munching on a piece of pale yellow chalcedony.

The stone marrow was no bigger than a thumb, yet it faintly shimmered with an earthy yellow light, pure and rich.

"Earth Vein Stone Marrow?" Li Yan was slightly surprised.

This is a product of the essence of earth element, which is very beneficial for nourishing the spleen and strengthening the foundation.

It is far more precious than the purple-backed amaranth.

The jade rat, with its keen senses, seemed to notice something, raising its head and looking around warily with its small eyes.

Li Yan had already taken three steps back, his gaze shifting elsewhere, pretending to search for herbs.

He picked up a small pebble and flicked it lightly.

The pebble landed on the grass about ten feet away, making a rustling sound.

Startled, the jade rat snatched up the remaining half of the stone marrow and darted into the depths of the rock crevice, disappearing without a trace.

Li Yan then stepped forward and looked at the spot where the jade rat had been gnawing.

At the bottom of the rock crevice, there were scattered fragments of chalcedony, the largest of which was no bigger than a grain of rice.

It seems that the jade rat has already eaten most of the stone marrow here, leaving only these remnants.

He bent down and picked up the crumbs one by one.

Although it's just residue, it feels warm to the touch and has a pure earth elemental aura.

Little by little, it adds up to a small handful.

The mirror of the heart reflects.

[Collected fragments of earth vein marrow (residual earth element essence)]

[It can be slowly absorbed, nourishing the spleen and stomach, stabilizing the middle jiao, and has a slight effect in strengthening the foundation during the opening period.]

[Note: This item has a mild aura and is unlikely to trigger unusual phenomena, making it suitable for secret refinement.]

Li Yan wrapped the scraps in oiled paper and put them into his pocket.

I do not strive for the whole jade, but only for the broken pieces.

It is about choosing and discarding.

As the sun rose higher, he shouldered his medicine basket and headed towards the north stream.

The stream gurgled, and the stone walls on both sides were slippery and covered with moss.

Ground ash prefers shade and often grows under backlit stones. Only those with frosty white stripes on the leaf edges are old grasses that are more than five years old.

Li Yan scanned the area and quickly found several clumps of grass at a bend in the stream.

Examine closely those clumps of withered grass.

The leaves are grayish-green, and the edges are indeed marked with a line of frosty white veins, winding like a snake, which is a sign of its age.

Extending the small hoe, I slowly cut along the outer edge of the grass roots, my wrist flicking slightly to loosen the soil, and I dug up the whole plant, roots and all, without damaging it in the slightest.

All five clumps were placed in the basket.

The medicine is ready.

He did not rush back, but stood by the stream, his ears slightly open.

A mountain breeze swept through the treetops, bringing faint sounds from afar.

From the direction of the cold pool, there came the sound of metal and stone clashing, muffled thuds, mixed with urgent shouts.

"They really got down to business."

Li Yan understood immediately.

Those two senior brothers, Chen and his companion, have probably already clashed with the green-scaled snake guarding the pool.

He had no intention of getting involved, much less pry.

Today's matter is settled once he safely returns the herbs.

After a moment's thought, I chose another mountain path that was a little further away but more secluded.

By avoiding the cold pool area, although it takes more time, it avoids the embarrassment of running into a fight.

The mountain road winds and twists, with pine and cypress trees growing evergreen.

Li Yan remained unhurried, but kept a close eye on his surroundings.

Apart from the chirping of birds and insects, and the babbling of streams, nothing seemed amiss.

After walking for about half an hour, they could see the depression on the cliff where the herb garden was located.

Just as he was about to quicken his pace, he suddenly heard a soft tearing sound coming from the bushes more than ten feet to his left.

"Sizzle!"

Immediately following was a suppressed groan of pain.

anyone?

Li Yan paused, then disappeared behind an ancient pine tree, holding his breath and concentrating.

With focused attention, the sound from that location became clearer.

There are two people.

One person was breathing heavily and erratically, as if injured, with blood spurting through his veins.

The other person's breathing was slightly more stable, but still somewhat rapid.

"Senior Brother Chen... that beast is incredibly powerful! The bamboo staff... the bamboo staff is broken!"

It was the young disciple's voice.

"Silence!"

Senior Brother Chen said in a low voice, "Let's leave this place first. Although the snake venom isn't very potent, we need to force it out as soon as possible."

"But what about the ink bamboo..."

"We can't worry about that now! The fight just now was quite loud; if it attracts the patrolling officers, it won't be good. Let's go!"

Then came the rustling sound of leaves being plucked.

The two appeared to be supporting each other as they left, heading towards the alchemy room.

Li Yan waited a few more moments until the footsteps had completely faded away before emerging from behind the tree.

His gaze fell on the bushes, and after a slight hesitation, he walked over.

Parting the branches and leaves, one sees a mess on the ground, with fallen grass and trees, and specks of dark red blood.

A broken, dark bamboo staff lay askew in the soil, its broken ends jagged, with fresh bamboo sap still seeping out.

Scattered nearby were several palm-sized, sharp-edged blue scales.

There was nothing else.

Li Yan squatted down, his eyes scanning the area.

The broken bamboo staff had lost its spiritual energy and become an ordinary object.

Those few green scales did retain a faint trace of a cold, demonic aura, but they were of little use.

He was about to get up and leave when his ear suddenly twitched.

Something seemed to be buried in the soil closer to the roots of the shrub, its echo slightly different from the surrounding earth and rocks.

He brushed away the topsoil.

A black stone, about the size of a pigeon egg and irregularly shaped, was revealed.

The stone has a rough surface, is covered with fine pores, feels cold to the touch, and is quite heavy.

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary volcanic rock, but when Li Yan held it in his palm, what he saw was somewhat different.

Inside the stone, a faint silver light flickered and disappeared in an instant.

If his eyesight were not already perfect and his mind not focused, he would almost think it was an illusion.

The mirror of the heart reflects this object with a faint, ever-changing light.

[Unidentified black stone (suspected to be a fallen object, long-term tainted by the coldness of the earth's veins and trace amounts of stellar energy)]

[Status: Dormant (Surface spiritual energy is nearly exhausted, containing a trace of extremely weak star-evil metal energy, which is difficult to absorb directly)]

[Purpose: Unknown. It may be possible to try calcining it with subterranean fire and refining it with water to remove the surface impurities and explore its core. Risks unknown.]

[Note: This creature appears to grow alongside the ink bamboo in the cold pool, and was carried out by the green-scaled snake. Its aura is obscure and difficult to detect using ordinary methods.]

Li Yan's heart stirred slightly.

It sounds like it has some history, but it is currently dormant, its purpose is unknown, and it is quite risky to handle.

An opportunity that is not immediately available.

He weighed the black stone in his hand, then looked at the scales and broken bamboo on the ground.

After a moment's thought, he put the black stone into his pocket.

This substance has a subtle and difficult-to-detect aura; it can be left for future investigation.

As for the scales and broken bamboo, he did not touch them.

Leaving some traces would be more in line with the scene of the two people leaving in a hurry.

After tidying up, he didn't linger. Carrying his medicine basket, he steadily returned to the herb garden.

The nursery was deserted, with only the mountain breeze rustling through the seedlings and causing their leaves to sway gently.

Li Yan took out the purple-backed safflower and the ground-dried grass, arranged them neatly on the stone platform by the garden, and then stood quietly to the side to wait.

About half an hour later, Chen and his companion emerged from another path.

Senior Brother Chen's face was somewhat pale, the cuff of his left Taoist robe was torn, and his forearm was wrapped in a simple strip of cloth, through which blood could be faintly seen.

The young disciple followed behind, looking anxious, his hands empty, clearly having not obtained the ink bamboo.

Upon seeing the neatly arranged herbs on the stone platform by the garden and Li Yan standing respectfully with his hands at his sides, the two men's expressions softened slightly.

Senior Brother Chen stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the herbs, and nodded slightly: "The age and quality are both acceptable. Thank you for your trouble."

"It's my duty as my senior brother instructed me," Li Yan replied.

Senior Brother Chen took out a small cloth bag, poured out five thumb-sized, warm-colored seashells, and placed them on the stone platform.

"Here are five spirit shells as payment. Do not discuss today's herb gathering with others."

Spirit shells are minor spiritual materials circulated among low- and middle-ranking disciples of immortal sects, containing a thin amount of spiritual energy.

It can be used to assist in cultivation and to exchange for some common items.

Five spirit shells are a decent amount of extra income for a disciple who sweeps and cleans.

"Thank you, Senior Brother. I understand." Li Yan put away the spirit shell, his expression calm.

Senior Brother Chen said no more, gestured for the younger disciple to take the herbs, and the two turned and left, their steps slightly more hurried than when they arrived.

Only after the two figures disappeared at the end of the mountain path did Li Yan breathe a sigh of relief.

Today's task is finally completed without any complications.

It was at this moment that my state of mind was reflected.

[With proper choices, the power of fate increases by 1]

[Current Affinity/Dharma Aura: 12/20]

He turned his gaze away and first finished all the tasks that needed to be done in the herb garden that day.

Water the seedlings, loosen the soil, and check their growth.

By using both his eyes and ears, he gained an increasingly detailed understanding of this garden.

I know in my heart which blade of grass will sprout new leaves at midnight tonight, and which patch of soil is slowly gathering spiritual energy.

He returned to his quarters only after the sun had set and he had finished his work.

After closing the door and sitting cross-legged on the bed, Li Yan first took out the five spirit shells.

The seashell is light blue with natural patterns. The spiritual energy it contains is thin but pure, making it a commonly used small-quantity spiritual material by immortal sects.

He held one in his hand and tried to guide its spiritual energy with his eyes.

A fine wisp of cool air seeps from the seashell, flows down the fingertips, merges into the meridians, and finally nourishes the ears.

The faint light inside the ear seemed to brighten slightly.

The mirror of the heart reflects.

[Absorbing the spiritual energy of the Spirit Shell, ear orifice stability +0.5]

[Current ear function: 7.5/100]

One spirit shell can only improve by half a point.

Even if all five are absorbed, the increase is only 2.5%.

Li Yan stopped.

Spirit shells are rare, and it would be a waste to use them all for cultivation. It would be better to save them for exchange or emergency use.

He carefully put the spirit shell away before taking out the black stone.

The stone lay in my palm, heavy and cool.

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell on the stone, but the rough surface showed little luster and remained dull.

Gaze intently with all your might through your eyes.

The silver light inside the stone remained faint, appearing and disappearing intermittently.

If you listen closely with your ear canal twitching slightly, you can hear a rustling sound.

The information reflected in the mirror was the same as before; the patient remained in a state of dormancy, and its purpose was unknown.

Li Yan pondered for a moment, then took a bowl of water and immersed the black stone in it.

The water was calm, the stones sank to the bottom, and there was nothing unusual.

He then placed the stone on the windowsill to catch some of the setting sun's rays.

The stone remained silent, showing no sign of absorbing the light.

"It seems that ordinary water immersion and sun exposure are insufficient to activate it."

Li Yan retrieved the stone, held it in his palm, and tried to slowly channel his meager inner energy into it.

The true energy was like a mud ox entering the sea, without any reaction.

That rough outer shell seemed to isolate the inner and outer workings of the mind.

He stopped what he was doing and stopped insisting.

If the opportunity hasn't arrived, forcing it may easily lead to unforeseen changes.

Now that we have it, let's make the best of it for now and leave it for another day.

After carefully storing the black stone and the spirit shell, Li Yan closed his eyes and regulated his breathing, slowly absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy.

With the Water Spirit Jade in her bosom, and aided by its cool aura, the absorption of spiritual energy became much smoother.

A faint light emanated from within the ear canal, flickering with each breath, gradually solidifying.

The next day, after the morning bell rang, Li Yan went to the herb garden as usual.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the dew in the garden was crystal clear.

He inspected the seedlings and found them unharmed, so he took a wooden bucket and went to the cold pond to fetch water.

He paused slightly as he passed the bushes from yesterday.

The broken bamboo and scales were gone, and the marks on the ground had faded considerably, presumably because Senior Brother Chen had someone clean them up later.

A mountain breeze swept by, leaving only the fresh scent of grass and trees.

Li Yan did not linger and went to the edge of the cold pool.

The pool water was clear and cold, and the morning mist floated on the surface.

He bent down to draw water, his eyes scanning the bottom of the pool.

The pebbles and aquatic plants remain the same, with nothing new or unusual.

After the copper coin was taken away, the spiritual energy in the area seemed to calm down a bit.

Just as he picked up the bucket and was about to leave, his ear twitched.

A rustling sound came from the bamboo grove on the west side.

Li Yan continued walking without stopping, his expression unchanged, carrying the bucket of water back along the same route.

However, his ears heard the sounds coming from the bamboo forest behind him even more clearly.

The rustling sound moved slowly, carrying a cold, fishy smell—the very scent of the Green-Scaled Snake.

The snake had not gone far and was still lingering nearby.

He quickly left the area of ​​the cold pool.

Back in the herb garden, I watered and tended to it.

As the sun rose higher, the mountain mist dissipated.

Li Yan was resting on a rock by the garden when he suddenly heard footsteps coming from the mountain path.