Once You Finish Cursing Me, It'll Be Too Late to Run! (Please Subscribe and Vote with Monthly Tickets)

"Senior Heaven-Topping." Daoist Yangci's throat tightened, and his voice unconsciously softened.

Heaven-Topping High Person instinctively shrank back, his withered fingers clutching his worn lapels.

He recognized this man: Daoist Yangci, once his little admirer.

The prodigy from a small kingdom who had followed him everywhere.

Now that he had fallen to this state, he really did not want his former admirer to see him.

But what could he do? Times had changed.

Heaven-Topping High Person's lips trembled. In the end, he merely rasped, "You've improved considerably."

Daoist Yangci bowed deeply. "All thanks to your guidance back then."

He meant every word.

Even though the man before him had lost all his cultivation, he still remembered that towering figure atop Nine Abyss Mountain, pointing out the land below and holding forth.

"What are you doing here?" Heaven-Topping High Person's voice was hoarse, his gaze evasive as he avoided meeting his eyes.

Daoist Yangci straightened and said softly, "I now serve at the Imperial Stud."

Heaven-Topping High Person froze briefly, then suddenly chuckled. "The Imperial Stud? Raising horses?"

"Yes," Daoist Yangci answered respectfully.

Heaven-Topping High Person remained silent for a long time, then suddenly looked up, a flicker of clarity passing through his clouded eyes. "That's a good choice. Perhaps this is your path."

He did not hate Li Chen. A loss was a loss.

If he hated anyone, it could only be himself for not being strong enough.

Daoist Yangci bowed again. "I will remember your words."

The cell fell silent, save for the distant sound of dripping water.

Daoist Yangci looked at the man he had once looked up to, now stooped like a frail old man, and a hundred conflicting feelings stirred in his heart.

Heaven-Topping High Person waved a hand. "Go. This place reeks of misfortune."

Daoist Yangci