Three people stood in the restaurant lobby, waiting for Li Ping.
They were Meng Qingyi, Xiong Pohai, and Huang Yan.
The first two needed little introduction; both were old acquaintances of Li Ping.
Li Ping also had some dealings with Huang Yan, though those had been under his alias, Li Jingyu.
After Li Jingyu refined pills for Huang Yan, he had received the venom sac of a Third-Tier Poison Wyrm as payment.
That venom sac had later played a decisive role when he broke through Hua Hong's protective barrier.
Without it, he really would have had no choice but to flee for his life.
When Li Ping emerged, the three hurriedly bowed respectfully. "Senior Li!"
Li Ping motioned for Zhang Tie and the others to leave first, then regarded the three with interest. He guessed they had all learned about his advancement to core formation from Ye Chen.
"What brings you here?" he asked mildly.
The three exchanged glances. In the end, Xiong Pohai spoke first.
Seventy years ago, Xiong Pohai had been a burly, middle-aged man with a full beard, his rough exterior concealing mercenary cunning. Now, seventy years later, age had bent his back so badly that he could no longer stand straight. His hair had turned gray, and his eyes looked thoroughly clouded.
He was actually Meng Qingyi's senior brother and the oldest of the three. Li Ping estimated that he was around two hundred and twenty or thirty, nearing the end of his lifespan.
"Senior Li, this junior offended you on several occasions in the past." As Xiong Pohai spoke, his back, already stooped with age, bent even further.
He slowly removed the Storage Bag at his waist and respectfully offered it to Li Ping. "This junior was young and foolish back then," he said obsequiously.