Feeling Poorly

As people began to depart from the area around the hall, Lady Xueyan was the first to leave. She was the center of attention, dressed in elegant, somber black attire adorned with a striking talisman of black onyx and jade. Wuyi offered her a respectful bow as she passed. Her immaculate black robe, adorned with an eight-pointed symbol, stood in stark contrast to Monk Zhen's modest robes. As Monk Zhen passed by, Wuyi couldn't help but notice the pungent odor of sweat. The man was far from clean, especially in comparison to the women.

The Elders of the Lotus Blossom Pavilion followed behind Lady Xueyan. Nearly the entire cloister had attended the ceremony, with over sixty elders from her pavilion adorned in their uniform slate-grey robes, each marked with an eight-pointed symbol. Behind them were the novices, another sixty women dressed in lighter shades of grey, some in more form-fitting attire, others less so.