"Who goes there?" Zhao Ting barked.
The person in the tree turned back. It was Black Stone. Zhao Ting hurriedly bowed to him.
Black Stone, his face flushed with drink, gave him a once-over, let out a small belch, then turned back and continued guzzling from the wine jar in his arms.
Yet what filled his belly was not wine, but a bellyful of thoughts.
Without any clear instruction, Zhao Ting neither knew whether to stay nor leave.
By rights, since the other party ignored him, he ought to have the sense to withdraw. Yet after walking several steps away, he could not help looking back. He walked a few more steps, then looked back again.
In the end, he stopped. The person forcing him from behind the scenes had instructed him to make contact with Black Stone, but he had never had many chances to be alone with him. Now, it seemed he had stumbled upon just such an opportunity.
Yet the task he had been forced to undertake made him feel as though he stood at the edge of an abyss, fearful and trembling.
But step by step, he had sunk too deeply. He had done too many things from which there was no turning back. His leverage and weaknesses were all in the hands of the person coercing him from behind the scenes. Since that person dared force him, he had no choice.
After hesitating again and again, Zhao Ting still turned around. His steps were somewhat timid as he slowly returned to the cliffside, approached the pine tree, and tentatively called out, "Elder."
Black Stone turned around. "What is it?"
Zhao Ting tried asking, "Why is Elder drinking alone here?"
Black stone said coldly, "Can't I? Are you here to control me too?"
Zhao Ting hastily