The night turned cold. Crickets and night-singing insects near the trees were performing their nightly song. The sky was filled with the moon and stars; a sense of unrest lingered despite the overall tranquility.

  Inside, a casual conversation took place between Mo Yan and Master Shen Jichuan. Mo Yan informed the Master that he had just returned from his cultivation retreat and had some work to complete. Once the conversation finished, the Master quietly left the room. After his departure, the room became absolutely silent and cold, as if no one was present.

  Outside, four disciples stood guard by the door:

  Yun Zhi, Su Nian, Bao Fang, and Tian Miao.

  Then, Tian Miao looked at the others and said softly, since Su Nian held the highest rank among all the disciples and was Mo Yan's personal disciple, all the disciples gave him special respect. Tian Miao spoke with this respect:

  "Esteemed Brother Su Nian, it is nearly time... We should move away from the door, quickly!"

  Su Nian, Bao Fang, and everyone else knew what was about to happen. Naturally, as Su Nian moved away from the door, everyone else also stepped back from their positions and stood still.

  Then, moments later, the door abruptly burst open with a loud WHOOSH. Inside, Mo Yan was seated on the floor by the table, deep in meditation. His eyes were closed, his hands bound in cultivation mudras. He was motionless. His demeanor was serene, his aura steady.

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  Then, suddenly, with a mighty roar. He summoned his spiritual beast, Bai Long. It erupted from his back, streaked out of the room like a silver line of light, and flew directly high up into the sky. High above, Bai Long began to trace a massive glowing circle in the thick black clouds, exactly the same one he had created eight years ago to search for Yu Sui.

  Tian Miao looked up in wonder. Though they all witnessed this sight every night, every time it felt just as extraordinary. Looking towards the sky, Tian Miao asked Su Nian:

  "Esteemed Brother Su Nian, Master Bai Long... why does he do this every night? Why does he create that same circle in the sky?"

  Su Nian crossed his arms, his voice cautious but respectful. He gave the disciples an answer, but deep down, he knew something else.

  "Who knows... perhaps Young Master is trying to create and learn a new powerful protective barrier!"

  But inwardly, Su Nian could not shake the feeling that this was not practice, not protection...

  It was remembrance. It was longing. It was the pain of a bond that was still alive.

  And inside, Mo Yan sat like a wax statue. His pale face, devoid of any expression, which used to bloom like a rose when Yu Sui was near, now had all its color and joy washed away by his tears, as if they were dust. Even though he tried to keep himself strong, his heart was begging like a child to see Yu Sui, the way a child insists on seeing his mother.

  The nightly ritual has been revealed.