Gifts

Seeing this, He Song nodded to himself. He took the teacup and set it before him, but did not drink.

It was their first meeting. Better to be cautious.

However, as He Song listened to Zhao Lin speak, he grew somewhat interested in how Zhao Lin and Meng Guan addressed each other.

Within the small circle formed by He Song, Meng Guan, and Wei Fan,

Meng Guan's nickname was Old Meng, and both He Song and Wei Fan called him that.

Wei Fan had no nickname. He Song and Meng Guan both called him Brother Wei.

As for He Song, due to his cultivation and age, Wei Fan and Meng Guan both called him Fellow Daoist He.

It was not because they were distant. He Song simply disliked being called Little He or Little Song, while the other two were both older than him. After the three discussed it, the other two had continued addressing him as Fellow Daoist.

Now, hearing Zhao Lin call Meng Guan Brother Meng,

He Song immediately understood.

Zhao Lin and Meng Guan had a good relationship, but it had not yet reached the point where Zhao Lin could enter their small circle.

Still, they were likely not far from it.

If Meng Guan had not suddenly left, then in a few more years, the little circle of He Song and the other two might have gained another member.

Thoughts flashed through his mind, but He Song's hands did not slow in the slightest.

He placed the talisman ink he had been carrying onto the table.

Looking at the cluttered desk before him, He Song thought that he had indeed brought the right thing this time.

This messy desk seemed to be Zhao Lin's worktable for crafting talismans, piled haphazardly with all manner of talisman-making tools.

A talisman brush that looked extraordinary at a glance.

Several dishes of dark-red, unidentifiable talisman ink.

And talisman paper scattered all around.

The presence of these things made the table look especially disorderly.

"Forgive my presumptuous visit. I previously heard Old Meng mention that Fellow Daoist Zhao was skilled in crafting talismans, so I brought some talisman ink on this visit. I hope you will not find it beneath your notice." He Song pushed the talisman ink toward Zhao Lin as he spoke.

Meng Guan's letter had indeed said that Zhao Lin was skilled in crafting talismans.

He Song had merely catered to his tastes when he went to the Stall Area to buy some talisman ink.

It was not anything particularly valuable, but it still looked far better than arriving empty-handed.

"You have made me spend too much, Fellow Daoist. If you need spirit talismans in the future, feel free to come find me. So long as I can make them, I definitely will not let you suffer a loss." Zhao Lin accepted the talisman ink and secretly glanced at it. The warmth in his eyes immediately increased another degree.

He was not lacking in talisman ink, but buying it himself and receiving it as a gift were entirely different matters.

Back when he had been a Spirit Plant Farmer, forget anyone bringing him gifts—even when he wanted to give gifts to others, he could not find a way in.

Now that He Song had come to visit and brought a gift, he was sincerely delighted.

Having accepted the gift, the two of them could be considered acquainted.

Remembering how Meng Guan had specifically instructed him to look after He Song before leaving, Zhao Lin began to speculate about the relationship between He Song and Meng Guan.

Perhaps He Song could clear up his confusion.

As this thought crossed his mind, Zhao Lin immediately asked,

"By the way, Fellow Daoist He, do you know why Brother Meng suddenly left? He looked hurried, as though he had something urgent to attend to, but I was a little muddle-headed at the time and did not ask further."

By the end, an awkward expression flashed across Zhao Lin's face.

What muddle-headed and failing to ask further?

He had been utterly stunned by the pie that had fallen from the sky and had not asked anything at all.

Before last night, he never could have imagined that Meng Guan would suddenly leave that very night and hand his position over to him.

As a result, he had spent the entire night in a daze, only recovering somewhat by this morning.

"It is not exactly a secret. Fellow Daoist Zhao will naturally learn of it in a few days." He Song did not answer Zhao Lin's question. Seeing that his purpose had been achieved, he no longer had any desire to remain.

Thus, after perfunctorily responding to Zhao Lin a few times, He Song soon took his leave.

The news of the Red Spirit Gold Mine was indeed not much of a secret.

But certain inside information was something He Song certainly would not share with a cultivator he had only just met.

His information came from Wei Fan. Compared to ordinary cultivators, the information Wei Fan could obtain was certainly more accurate.

Still, in a few days, news that the Red Spirit Gold Mine was recruiting Rogue Cultivators as miners would surely spread throughout the entire Immortal Market.

What reactions the Rogue Cultivators and the cultivators within the Immortal Market would have then, He Song did not know.

By then, Zhao Lin would naturally understand why Meng Guan had left.

There was no need for He Song to tell him in advance.

After bidding Zhao Lin farewell,

He Song spent several minutes returning to the entrance of his home.

His gaze fell upon the neighboring house beside his, and a thoughtful look flashed through his eyes.

Within Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market,

He Song knew quite a few people.

But there were very few who could be called friends.

Wei Fan, Meng Guan, and Lin Cong were the only few friends He Song had in Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.

Lin Cong was the burly man who lived next door to He Song.

A Rogue Cultivator who made his living hunting demonic beasts with partners, his personal combat strength was extremely formidable.

Because of Lin Cong's fierce combat prowess, He Song had once been forced to invoke Wei Fan, a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator, as backing.

Fortunately, the man had harbored no ill intentions.

They had now known each other for more than five years.

Over those five years, their relationship had changed from that of ordinary neighbors to friends who could chat freely.

They often sat together over tea, discussing interesting things they had experienced.

It seems like... it has been half a month since we last met, hasn't it? As He Song considered when he had last met Lin Cong, he thought to himself.

Half a month could be said to pass in the blink of an eye under ordinary circumstances.

But He Song clearly remembered that when Lin Cong had come to see him half a month ago, he had said that he was about to break through to the fourth layer of Qi Refining.

Now that they had not met for half a month, He Song did not know whether Lin Cong had successfully broken through.

His gaze lingered on Lin Cong's house for a moment. He Song shook his head and ultimately did not go disturb him.

If he went over now and Lin Cong happened to be at the critical juncture of a breakthrough, it might affect their relationship instead. That would be no good.

Once Lin Cong successfully broke through into the Qi Refining Middle Stage, it would not be too late for him to offer congratulations.

Thinking this, He Song had just been about to enter his home when the sound of a door opening suddenly reached his ears.

He Song looked toward the sound.

Yet he discovered that it was not Lin Cong who had opened the door, but the neighbor on He Song's other side.

Lin Cong lived to the left of his house, while this household lived to its right.

"Hello, Brother Song." A childish voice greeted He Song.

"Fellow Daoist He, you just got back?" The old man held the little girl's hand and greeted He Song with a faint smile.

The old man and the little girl had only moved here two years ago.

The neighbor who had once lived to the right of He Song's home had also been somewhat acquainted with him. However, two years ago, that neighbor had left in a hurry one time, never to return. From then on, He Song had never seen him again.

It was not until a month later, when this old man and little girl moved in, that He Song had no choice but to accept the fact that he had suddenly gotten new neighbors.

As for whether the original neighbor was alive or dead, He Song did not know.