The first to visit was the Abbot of the Silent Lotus Temple.
He arrived quietly, his golden robes shimring faintly under the morning light. The monks bowed as he ascended the peak, his steps light yet filled with reverence. When he reached the lotus's great bloom, the Saintess and Lotus Spirit greeted him silently before stepping aside to let him through.
Lin Mu, still seated within the lotus, managed a faint smile when he saw the elderly monk. "Abbot," he said softly, his voice carrying warmth though it was still weak. "It has been a while."
The Abbot clasped his hands together, bowing deeply. "Amitabha. It gladdens this old monk's heart to see you awake, Lin Mu. The world owes you a debt that can never be repaid."
Lin Mu shook his head slowly. "I only did what had to be done."
The Abbot smiled faintly. "Spoken like one who truly walks the path. The Silent Lotus Temple will forever welco you. Rest here as long as you need. The Green Urim Peak is as much your ho now as it is the Spirit's."
He then examined Lin Mu carefully, using his own immortal sense.
Though the Abbot's thods were inferior compared to the Saintess, his Wisdom Fire allowed him to glimpse the faint threads of vitality that struggled within Lin Mu's form. His expression grew solemn, yet he said nothing of it.
Instead, he placed his palm together again and whispered, "May the will of Buddha and the light of the Lotus guard your soul."
With that, he left quietly, his footsteps fading into the wind.
A few hours later, two small serpentine figures appeared from the clouds, slithering gracefully through the air. Xiao Yin and Xiao Yang arrived first, their white and black scales glinting like twin suns.
Behind them walked a familiar figure dressed in blue and white, ng Bai.
The mont the twin snakes saw Lin Mu, their eyes lit up with pure joy.
"Master!" they cried in unison.
They darted forward, their bodies twisting like ribbons of light. Before they could reach him, however, the Saintess raised a hand.
Her calm but firm voice echoed in the air. "Stop there."
The snakes froze midair, hovering only a few feet away.
"Your master is weak," the Saintess said, her tone gentle but unyielding. "If you touch him now, even your affection may wound him."
Xiao Yin and Xiao Yang lowered their heads, their tails drooping. "We understand," they said softly.
Lin Mu chuckled, his voice still faint. "It's alright. I can feel your joy even from here. I'm glad to see you both again."
The twin snakes perked up at his words, their eyes shimring with happiness.
"Master," Xiao Yin said. "You were gone so long. We thought..." She trailed off, unable to finish the thought.
Lin Mu smiled gently. "I know. I was asleep, but I'm awake now. I just need so ti before I can move again."
ng Bai stepped forward, his expression composed though his eyes were slightly red. "Master, it's good to see you awake," he said, bowing slightly. "You really scared all of us."
Lin Mu smiled. "I can imagine."
"I didn't waste any ti while you were gone," ng Bai continued, a trace of pride breaking through his voice. "I trained every day. You'll see when you recover, I've got a few surprises waiting for you."
"Oh?" Lin Mu raised a brow, his curiosity piqued. "Then I'll look forward to it."
ng Bai grinned faintly, bowing again before taking his leave. The twin snakes followed, glancing back at their master before fading into the clouds.
Not long after, a familiar hum of Qi filled the air, and Daoist Chu appeared in flowing green robes. His presence was calm and grounding, like the earth itself. He bowed respectfully to Lin Mu. "It's good to see you among the living again, Lin Mu. You gave the heavens quite a scare."
Lin Mu chuckled quietly. "I didn't an to cause such a stir."
Daoist Chu smiled. "The world you saved will continue to thrive. All sects are united now, and even the smaller clans have begun to rebuild. You can rest easy knowing the Silent Lotus World is at peace."
"I'm glad," Lin Mu replied, his expression softening. "Thank you for handling things while I was gone."
Daoist Chu shook his head. "We rely did what we could. The credit belongs to you."
He stayed for a few minutes more, exchanging quiet words with Lin Mu before departing.
Monk Hushu ca next, his bald head gleaming in the sunlight, his laughter echoing warmly. "Ah, so the great saviour returns to the world of the waking! The heavens truly have rcy."
Lin Mu smiled faintly. "You haven't changed, Monk Hushu."
"There has to be one constant to keep the people anchored." Monk Hushu
stated.
"Then I'll count on you, until I can return," Lin Mu said lightly.
Monk Hushu gave him a nod and clasped his hands. "May your strength return soon, my friend."
After him ca Cattaleya.
The muscular woman's dark hair shimred as she stepped onto the lotus. Her face held both reverence and warmth. She normally would've pulled him into a strong hug but instead bowed deeply. "It's good to see you well, Lin Mu. Your recovery has been the greatest blessing in these years."
"I didn't expect you'd still be here," Lin Mu admitted.
"There's no way I'd go anywhere. It's more fun with you anyways," she replied softly. "And... I knew you would awaken."
Her words carried quiet sincerity. Lin Mu smiled in return, though faintly, and thanked her. She gave a firm nod before leaving as fast as she ca.
Elyon arrived last among his companions.
Cloaked in shadows, his expression was solemn, but his voice carried a rare gentleness. "So, you finally decided to wake up," he said dryly.
Lin Mu smiled. "It seems I made you wait too long."
"Five years isn't much compared to seclusion session for an Immortal," Elyon
replied. He paused, studying Lin Mu for a mont before adding, "Rest well. The world may be calm now, but it will need you again soday."
"I'll be ready," Lin Mu said simply.
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