With another brush of his sleeve, the clump of green powder evaporated into a ball of green fog that slowly rose up in the quiet room.
The wind set the beaded window curtain in motion. Behind the man stood a door which led to the eastern pavilion, and it opened up without a sound.
A faint, white shadow could vaguely be seen in the dark.
Catching that white shadow, the man instantly lost his disquieting expression. Turning around with a calm bearing, he spoke with a tone of respect and deliberate cordiality. "Sorry to alarm you, Sir Zong."
"No worries, Your Highness," the man in white responded while walking out from the darkness. He gazed out of the window at the fluttering leaves and added with a meaningful expression, "I wasn't planning to sleep."
He turned to the tea set on the table somewhat hesitantly, and Qi Xunyi immediately invited, "I haven't touched that. Please use it."
