The campfire had burned for most of the night, and its light was fading.
Black Mountain had long since sprawled out asleep on a rock, snoring loud enough to shake the heavens, his belly rising and falling, a bear paw resting on it.
Red Wind glanced at him, sighed, and pushed away the bear paw draped over him.
Xie Changsheng lay on his back, gazing at the star-filled sky, and suddenly spoke:
"Come to think of it..."
"Our experiences after Ascension were each more ridiculous than the last."
Zhou Yan leaned against an old tree, idly waving his fan:
"I became a live-in son-in-law at the Murong Residence, Old Xie dug ore in a mine, and Fairy Luo ran a stall in the Lower Three Heavens..."
Then his gaze fell on Song Chi.
Song Chi was drinking wine from a bowl. Sensing that gaze, his hand stiffened.
"What are you looking at me for?"
Zhou Yan looked away, hiding half his face behind his fan:
"Nothing. Just suddenly remembered a few scenes."
Song Chi's face instantly darkened. "..."
Xie Changsheng clicked his tongue beside him. "We know even if you don't say it."
Song Chi snorted coldly. "My experiences are not for outsiders' ears!"
Luo Hongyi hugged her knees, a reminiscent look on her face:
"I had it worst back then. Missed nine meals every three days."
"But I got used to it later. It was just how things were."
Zhou Yan waved his fan. "I had it relatively good. Even though I was under house arrest at the Murong Residence, at least I had food and drink."
Murong Li blushed slightly at that and did not dare speak.
Xie Changsheng sighed. "At the mine, I got... eighty a day."
"Only later did I learn that wasn't wages. It was