As soon as he bade farewell to the young man, Yi Feng had scarcely returned to his courtyard seat when voices wafted in from outside.
Yi Feng couldn't help but smile wryly.
The timbre of the voice was unmistakable. Stepping out, his intuition proved correct.
Indeed.
It was the middle-aged man who adored chess despite his ineptitude, Wu Yonghong.
However, what caught Yi Feng off guard this time was Wu's company. Three other elderly gentlemen of comparable age flanked him.
A cursory glance at the trio drew a disdainful curl of Yi Feng's lips.
They exuded a rather chilly air!
One was as slender as a reed, with a complexion so sallow it was unclear if malnutrition had plagued him since childhood. He appeared frail and fragile, seemingly liable to collapse from the slightest nudge. Yi Feng balked at the notion of inadvertently causing his collapse.
The second individual fared somewhat better in appearance, yet his attire left much to be desired. Adorned with trinkets resembling chicken bones and other curious paraphernalia, his most striking accessory was a sizable skull-shaped thumb ring, emanating an otherworldly aura.
As for the third, he presented a more affluent facade. A mouthful of gold teeth, a hefty abacus slung across his back, and two weathered eggs cradled in hand rendered him an enigmatic figure, albeit lacking in aura.
Nevertheless, guests were guests.
Despite their peculiar countenances, Yi Feng deemed it imprudent to judge solely by appearance.
Yet, Yi Feng found it slightly perplexing that these peculiar elderly men materialized so abruptly. They were conspicuously absent during the departure of the young man seeking directions. An odd circumstance indeed.
"Mr. Yi."
Wu Yonghong extended a respectful greeting, his manner noticeably altered since their previous encounter.
"Long time no see. Please, do come in and take a seat!" Yi Feng welcomed them with a genial wave.
"Thank you."