Translator: Cinder Translations
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The Deathly Still Abyss lay between the mountains, with a vast range of peaks appearing as if cleaved by a sword.
On the land, a wide scar, several miles across and stretching for over a thousand miles, was left behind.
The cliffs on both sides of the gorge were sheer, so steep that even birds couldn't land.
Chilly winds constantly blew from the depths of the gorge, making the area eerily silent, with no plants, animals, or birds in sight.
The Gongsun family's residence was built at the edge of a cliff, covering several dozen miles. It was surrounded by protective city walls, and they had set up a protective formation to guard their family.
Beyond the residence, there was a small town. The town was surrounded by large fields, which served as the livelihood and breeding grounds for the Gongsun family's mortal inhabitants.
Song Wen passed through the small town and arrived at the Gongsun family's city gates.
The city gate was frequently in use, with cultivators coming and going.
After observing for a while, Song Wen gave up the idea of forcing his way in.
There was no need to risk offending the Corpse Demon Sect for a few Forget Me Not Mushrooms.
Turning away, Song Wen returned to the small town and entered the sect's market area.
Although it was called a market, it was actually just a street within the town.
Most of the people in the market were members of the Gongsun family, with only a few scattered loose cultivators passing through.
Song Wen visited several herb shops but failed to find any Forget Me Not Mushrooms.
Having no luck, Song Wen entered a tavern located in the town.
The tavern was mostly frequented by cultivators from the Gongsun family. Song Wen hoped to find a lead among them.
As soon as he sat down at an empty table in the tavern's main hall, he saw an unexpected figure enter.
It was Chen Feihe.
The man, though a male, was famous for his love of makeup.
He had risen to prominence in the Corpse Demon Sect by currying favor with Elder Ban Yu, a Golden Core cultivator, and had gained significant status within the sect.
In Song Wen's memory, Chen Feihe had always been impeccably dressed, his appearance dazzling and elegant, always exuding an air of grace and composure.
But now, he looked a little worse for wear. His face carried a subtle air of melancholy and weariness.
Though he still wore a light amount of makeup, his usually luxurious clothes were gone, replaced with a simple white robe.
Chen Feihe's appearance drew attention from the tavern's patrons, and their gazes were a mix of disdain, mockery, and, more often than not, indifference.
The Gongsun family cultivators in the tavern clearly recognized him, yet not a single one made an effort to greet him.
Chen Feihe found a table by the window and sat down. In a low voice, he ordered,
"Waiter, bring me some wine."
He was evidently a regular, as a moment later, a young servant arrived with two jugs of spirit wine and a few side dishes.
"Master Chen, you've arrived! The usual?" the servant greeted warmly.
Chen Feihe gave a slight nod.
The servant smiled and placed the food and drink on the table.
Chen Feihe waved his hand to dismiss the servant and began drinking heavily from the jug.
Song Wen, ever observant, noted that the wine and food Chen Feihe had ordered were not expensive—probably costing no more than three or four spirit stones.
Rising from his seat, Song Wen walked toward Chen Feihe's table and called out loudly,
"Waiter, bring more wine and food, the best you've got! I'm buying a drink for Brother Chen."
Chen Feihe, looking at the uninvited Song Wen who had sat across from him, wore an expression of confusion.
"Daoist friend, it seems we don't know each other, do we?"
The highest cultivation level in the Gongsun family was only at the Golden Core stage. To avoid drawing attention, Song Wen disguised himself as a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
By the way, Chen Feihe was currently at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
"If you don't recognize me, I certainly recognize you. Some time ago, Brother Chen saved my life."
Song Wen was referring to the time during the early stages of the righteous-evil war when Chen Feihe had sent a message, advising Song Wen, who was disguised as a loose cultivator, to leave the Corpse Demon Sect as soon as possible to avoid being caught up in the conflict.
Chen Feihe's brows furrowed upon hearing this, and the confusion in his eyes shifted to wariness.
"Who exactly are you?"
"It seems Brother Chen really has forgotten about me."
Song Wen shook his head with a hint of disappointment on his face. Then, he used his spiritual sense to transmit a voice message to Chen Feihe.
"At that time, I did send you quite a few new-style undergarments."
Chen Feihe paused for a moment, deep in thought. Suddenly, a light of realization flickered in his eyes, and he said in surprise,
"You're that loose cultivator from the market back then? Your name was... Zhang Cheng?"
Song Wen smiled slightly and nodded gently.
"You're still alive. Back then, I thought you didn't leave and were caught by the sect, made into cannon fodder. I was even worried for you for a while," Chen Feihe remarked.
"Thank you for your concern, Brother Chen. I was lucky to escape that calamity," Song Wen said with a touch of emotion. "I never expected that after so long, I would meet you again. It's quite a pleasant surprise."
This was not entirely just pleasantries from Song Wen.
Back when he was in the Corpse Demon Sect, besides Chen Yi, it was only this person in front of him, Chen Feihe, who had genuinely helped him.
At this point, the waiter had already brought over the "fine wine" that Song Wen had ordered.
Song Wen picked up his drink. "Here's to our reunion, Brother Chen."
Perhaps sensing the sincerity in Song Wen's words, Chen Feihe smiled faintly and also raised his cup.
"To our reunion!"
After drinking,
Chen Feihe put down his cup and sighed, saying,
"I remember you were just at the Qi Condensation stage back then, and now your cultivation has surpassed mine."
"Not long ago, I was fortunate enough to obtain a Foundation Establishment pill, which allowed me to establish my foundation," Song Wen replied. Then he asked, "Brother Chen, how did you end up with the Gongsun family?"
Chen Feihe's expression turned somewhat dejected. "I was sent by the sect to the Gongsun family to oversee the cultivation of the Forget Me Not Mushrooms."
Song Wen, puzzled, asked, "Since Brother Chen was sent here for work, why do you seem unhappy?"
Generally speaking, being assigned as an overseer to a subordinate faction was a lucrative position.
Chen Feihe looked around the tavern, then raised his hand to form a soundproof barrier.
"Brother Zhang, you don't understand. Being an overseer in the Gongsun family is a painful task."
"Why?" Song Wen asked.
"Gongsun Cailu, the direct disciple of the Supreme Elder Gou Jun, is said to be in seclusion, trying to condense her Nascent Soul. With such a gifted individual in the family, how could they care about a mere overseer? No Foundation Establishment cultivator in the entire Corpse Demon Sect would want to take on the position, which is why it fell to me. Also, you know that I enjoy makeup, and I've always been the subject of criticism because of it. In short, I've faced nothing but scorn in the Gongsun family," Chen Feihe explained.
Song Wen, still puzzled, asked, "Since the overseer position in the Gongsun family is so looked down upon, wouldn't your companion, Senior Ban Yu, intervene? How could he let you suffer like this?"
"There's a saying: 'Newcomers are always greeted with laughter, while no one listens to the tears of the old.'" Chen Feihe laughed bitterly.
Song Wen immediately understood. It seemed that Chen Feihe had fallen out with Ban Yu.
And it seemed that Ban Yu had already found a new favourite.
(End of the Chapter)
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