Nether Prefecture.
Within a land that was a paradise beyond the world, a fairy realm in the Human Realm.
On an unknown immortal mountain, peach trees bloomed with pink-red flowers across the hills. A breeze swept through, sending countless petals slowly spinning and dancing through the air.
Halfway up the mountain at the center of that sea of flowering trees, a small mirror-like lake held a lone skiff, which had slowly come to rest at its center.
Hong Ye wore a rain cape and bamboo hat, reclining against one end of the boat, his face flushed with drunken languor.
The hem of Lin Xin's white robe trailed inside the skiff, stained with quite a bit of black filth, yet he did not care in the slightest.
"I never thought you would come back to find me." Hong Ye tipped his head back and took a swallow of wine.
Lin Xin studied him intently. Only now did he vaguely begin to see just how powerful this despondent middle-aged man before him truly was.
Without question, Hong Ye was stronger than a Heavenly Venerable.
Yet he did not possess the vast, boundless grandeur of a Dao Ancestor.
"Many people think I am an evil man," Lin Xin said blandly. "Or they think I am simply a butcher who kills without batting an eye."
"But no matter how others see me, my greatest principle in life is to keep my promises."
"You make it sound as though you feel deeply about it."
Hong Ye spoke lazily.
"I do not have any particular feelings about it. It is simply that everyone has principles of their own." Lin Xin remained calm. "Now, can you tell me how to rescue you from the Nether Prefecture?"
Hong Ye smiled.
"You have shown me hope, but the time