Night had fallen over Mount Cangxuan, and not a soul was to be seen. The only sounds were the chirping of crickets in the woods, the cawing of crows, and the crisp, rhythmic trilling of cicadas. The group followed a winding path through the trees for a while, crossing a bridge before spotting a cluster of illuminated buildings. The lights were still burning. Through the main gate, one could see walls of white jade and several magnificent palaces, though it was unclear which ones they were.
"Han Lin," Ye Hong said, "go over and ask the old man at the gate."
The man wore black, surrounded by several other cultivators from the manor. His face, etched with the grim aura of his cultivation, softened considerably when he saw the group of young disciples; they did not look like villains.
Chapter 21