Chen Shi walked into the quarry as the howling wind blew. Everything outside was frozen solid, yet the foot of the mountain enjoyed a gentle warmth where the ice and snow melted.
Gravestones were piled everywhere here, none of which bore any names.
Du Yiran was packing his bags, tossing his axe and chisel into his Void Realm.
He was dressed heavily in a sheepskin jacket with the wool side worn inward, stuffed with a cotton padded coat on top of that. This made him look quite bulky, though he had actually grown thin with age.
He wore a sheepskin hat, wrapped up tightly against the elements. Weathered by wind and sun, his face looked somewhat dark.
Chen Shi had grown into a half-grown youth, taller than Du Yiran, who was so old he had grown short.
"Grandpa Du!"
Chen Shi stepped forward, knelt, and kowtowed, saying, "Chen Shi is deeply grateful for Grandpa Du's grace in saving my life!"
Du Yiran continued packing his things, saying, "Get up. Your life or death has nothing to do with me. It was only because I owed a favor to Chen Yindu that I agreed to rescue you. This is a matter between us older generations, so you need not take any gratitude to heart."
Chen Shi knocked his head heavily against the ground several times, stood up, and said, "No matter what, Grandpa Du is my savior. Why would Grandpa Du be here? My grandpa said you were at the Huangshi Mountain range doing, doing..."
Du Yiran raised his eyes to look at him, asking, "Acting as a Sui?"
Chen Shi nodded.
Du Yiran coughed twice and said, "I knew he would make things up about me. Still, since I am neither dead nor alive, I suppose I count as a