Meng Jueyan's appearance could attract attention, but not the kind he wanted. The scars on her face and her missing eye often drew looks of disgust from other disciples. That kind of reaction could easily escalate into conflict within the volatile environment of the sect.
Xuan Qing presented the opposite problem.
Her beauty was striking, and even when dressed plainly she could easily draw unwanted attention. Han Yu wanted neither of those possibilities. So the masks remained in place as they traveled.
The night sky hung quietly above them while faint lanterns illuminated the sect pathways. Most disciples had already returned to their caves for cultivation, which made the paths relatively empty.
Still, they were not completely alone.
A few wandering disciples glanced at the group as they passed.
One young disciple even stumbled slightly when he noticed them approaching. His eyes lingered briefly on the masked figures walking behind Han Yu.
