Xu Qing opened the Tianyan Yin Pupil, penetrating through the mundane obstacles of the Yin River, and followed the ethereal guide of Qi towards the direction pointed by the shoes.
In the depths of the Netherworld, boundless and vast, the place pointed to is beyond the vast ocean, where the sun rises at the eastern extremity!
"Penglai Purple Palace..."
Xu Qing gazed into the distance and recalled the legend of the founding Emperor, who leveraged the nation's strength to seek the secret to immortality at the three great immortal mountains: Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou.
...
Jinmen Prefecture.
After handling his affairs, Xu Qing returned to Linjiang, two entire years having passed.
Before heading to the Funeral Shop, he routinely visited the corner store on Miscellaneous Goods Street to buy some 'Central Plains specialties,' intending to bring them to Xuan Yu and the Immortal Hall.
However, upon entering an old pastry shop claiming to be a renowned Central Plains establishment in Bianliang, planning to buy some snacks, he suddenly overheard two punks discussing a sensational matter in the hooligan circle.
The old rascal from Flower and Bird Street, Feng Junbao, known as Feng Second Master, who lived in North Gate Alley, has run out of steam, ready to depart this world, perhaps within a day or two; certainly, he won't last through this winter.
"Master Feng lived without illness throughout his life, lived thoroughly, now in his eighties, a respectable old age; even if he truly passes, that would be a celebratory funeral. We might as well go and pay respects to share in the good fortune..."
The two hooligans, while waiting for their pastries, casually chatted about irrelevant topics as they strolled with their birds and played with walnuts.
Yet, they failed to notice the middle-aged man in front, who had just bought pastries, vanished into the street's end.
His swift movements couldn't be matched even by ordinary martial experts.
In the pastry shop, the shopkeeper, who had just packaged the pastries, turned his head only to find the customer gone.
"Where's Shopkeeper Xu? I've prepared these pastries..."
With no choice, the shopkeeper had to instruct his clerk to personally deliver the pastries to Underground Street.
...
North Gate Alley.
Xu Qing hurriedly arrived at the Feng family residence, relieved to find no obituary posted outside the door.
Over the past thirty years, old acquaintances seemed to vanish like antique paintings and relics, only becoming fewer and fewer.
Feng Second Master was among the earliest friends he made, back when he hadn't yet established himself and lacked the Yintong items to breakthrough Silver and Golden Armored Corpses, Second Master offered considerable help.
Now, decades later, Feng Second Master has continued liaising with Underground Street, their relationship was truly one of gentlemanly ties, neither for fame nor vanity.
If he couldn't visit an old friend at their life's end, it would surely leave some regret in the future, when recalling the memories in midst of midnight dreams.
Bypassing the shadow wall, Xu Qing saw many standing in the corridor talking before reaching the main hall.
Glancing around, he found some faces familiar.
None other than Xie Yunyan of Taian Escort Agency, along with his group of gold-badged Town Guarding Escort Masters.
However, this young master now became an old veteran on the roads nearing fifty.
Upon seeing Xu Qing, Xie Yunyan nodded to greet him, his demeanor much steadier than in the past.
Xu Qing continued inside, nearing the main hall, hearing faint sounds of argument emanating.
"Your father can let go of everything these years, except for your lifelong affairs. Think about it not only for yourself but for your father too; at least discuss a marriage, maybe it boosts spirits, and your father would recover..."
"Mother, I can promise anything you say, except this matter! You know what I look like, even calling me hideous is an understatement, which family's girl would be willing to marry a scared ugly ghost like me?"
"Besides, it's not that I don't want to marry, but I want to marry someone who genuinely doesn't mind my ugliness like my father, who at old age, mother, isn't it true you have heartfelt admiration for him..."
"Isn't that different? Back in the day, your father adopted..."
Madam Feng swallowed her words quickly.
She couldn't mention she was once Feng Second Master's adopted goddaughter?
This secret cannot be revealed to the child.