At a deserted street corner on Black Dragon Long Street.
The disheveled old man dropped onto the ground with a thud and began coughing violently. His sallow, aged face flushed red from the coughing, and the veins on his forehead bulged.
"Damn you, thieving old heaven! I've already been hiding away in disgrace for endless ages, yet you still won't let me shake off this body full of karmic obstacles and tribulations!"
The disheveled old man panted heavily, as though he had just suffered a grave illness, slumped there as if every ounce of strength had been drained from his body.
Yet he continued cursing under his breath, strings upon strings of filthy obscenities pouring from his mouth.
A slender, fair hand suddenly stretched out before the disheveled old man. Resting in that jade-like hand was a gleaming green pill.
"Senior, if you take this pill, you'll feel a little better."
A girl seemed to have appeared out of thin air. Bending over, she looked worriedly at the disheveled old Daoist sprawled on the ground.
The girl had clear, youthful brows and eyes. She wore coarse cloth, her smooth long hair hanging loose in disarray. Small and slender, she looked about fifteen or sixteen years old.
Most striking of all was the pair of deep, dark-golden eyes she possessed!
"No pill in this world can cure my illness."
The disheveled old man sighed and pushed away the girl's hand holding the pill. "Keep this pill for yourself. If I take it, it'll be a complete waste."
As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward the girl's feet.
Around each of her slender, rounded ankles was a blood-colored chain as thick as a thumb. Like shackles and fetters, they were exceptionally glaring.
The girl silently put away the pill, crouched down, hugged