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Chen Xiaojun slowly gathered his thoughts and opened his eyes. The dimness of the quiet room enveloped him, with only the Nethersea Seven Kill Sword across his knees giving off a faint blue glow that reflected the settled depths in his eyes.
He felt slightly tired, but his mind was exceptionally clear.
He stood, stretched his somewhat stiff muscles and joints, pushed open the heavy stone door, and headed toward the courtyard.
Sure enough, before he drew close, he heard faint conversation and a few hearty laughs.
He rounded a corner, and the courtyard came into view.
Zhu Wuneng's burly frame occupied most of a stone bench, Dugu Fu lounged to one side, and Ma Liang was gesturing as he spoke. Qiu Qingquan, An Mingyuan, and Yuan Run were there as well, all gathered around a sturdy stone table.
Scattered across the table were nut shells and a few plates of simple side dishes. Most eye-catching were a ruggedly shaped bottle fired from dark brown clay and the liquor in everyone's cups, which had a peculiar amber hue.
Under the Soul Guidance Lamp, that color looked especially mellow, and the liquor carried a faint, distinctive scent of herbs mingled with minerals.
Chen Xiaojun walked over, his footsteps alerting them.
"Young Master!" Zhu Wuneng spotted him first and broke into a broad grin.
"Sixth Brother!" Ma Liang also stopped speaking and greeted him with a smile.
Qiu Qingquan, An Mingyuan, and the others either rose or nodded in greeting.
Chen Xiaojun's gaze fell on the bottle and the amber liquor. "What kind of wine is that?"
Qiu Qingquan picked up his cup and swirled it. "This is Rock Marrow Wine. The underground areas around Iron Jaw Fortress are damp and chilly, with heavy miasma.