He Kao suddenly drifted off, momentarily forgetting to speak, as if entering a state of ethereal enlightenment, standing there as if forgetting his own existence, yet also seemingly omnipresent within the sky and clouds.
In the past, he could only enter such a state in deep meditation, but today, it was unexpectedly touched upon during idle chatter, filled with an unprecedented sense of vivacity and freshness.
He stood there not knowing how long had passed, when suddenly the light and shadows before his eyes rippled and shattered, bringing him back to consciousness.
In the pool were a few white stones gradually emerging from the water; jumping from one to another could lead to the opposite shore. It was there that Gu Chun sat on a white stone, taking off his shoes to soak his feet in the pool.
Ripples he stirred shattered the sky's reflection in the water, swirling the green mountains and white clouds, and he beckoned, "This water is so clear, why don't you come soak too?"
