The Elf (15)
They walked until they came to a hidden courtyard on the south of the elven tribe. Behind the courtyard was a cluster of dry and bald trees, with heavy snow falling from the branches from time to time.
After Chu Yi followed the back road for a while, he found that there was soil under his feet as the thick snow gradually became thinner. After dozens of steps forward, the shadow of the snowflakes was gone. In the moist soil, the budding grass could now be seen.
The withered branches stood out in spring, and the small pink flower buds emerge. He seemed to walk from winter to deep spring, it was only when he happened upon a pool shrouded with blurry white mist in the heat, did the elder stop and speak:
"Every human who participates in our ceremony must achieve the unattainable state of purity. The Beinan Lake should cleanse your body of the filth of the human world and make it so that you are fit to worship in the presence of the guardian tree."