Chapter 203: Heading to Skywater City

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"Lao Bo, could I have another bowl of porridge?" Zeng Yi held a large bowl and asked the old man sitting across from him.

"Eat! Don't be polite. I made a big pot. I can't finish it by myself." the old man replied kindly and stood up to pick up Zeng Yi's bowl.

"Here, let me help you."

"Oh, no need, I can do it myself. How can I let you do such a small task for me?" Zeng Yi quickly stood up and walked to the pot to serve himself.

Seeing Zeng Yi's actions, the old man smiled and said, "It's no trouble. If it weren't for you saving this old bones of mine, I would have been gone long ago."

"Haha, it was only a small effort." Zeng Yi laughed and returned to his seat.

The old man had collapsed in the field due to exhaustion from work and happened to be spotted by Zeng Yi passing by. Zeng Yi rescued the old man suffering from heatstroke and brought him back to his home.

The old man's home was in a nearby village, and now Zeng Yi was a guest in his house.

"Lao Bo, let me serve you some."

"No need, I can't eat that much." The old man shook his head and declined when Zeng Yi reached out to take his bowl.

Seeing the old man insisting, Zeng Yi had no choice but to stop.

"Lao Bo, these pickled vegetables are really delicious. Did you make them yourself?" Zeng Yi took a bite of pickled vegetables and drank a mouthful of porridge. The taste was truly enjoyable and nostalgic.

Upon hearing Zeng Yi's words, the old man's face lit up with joy, and his wrinkles formed a smile. "I made them myself. If you like them, take some with you when you leave honored person."

"Just call me Xiao Yi, Lao Bo. It sounds awkward to be called an 'honored person'." Zeng Yi laughed, "Since you said so, I won't be polite."

Watching Zeng Yi eat, the old man's expression became absent-minded, and various thoughts flashed through his mind. He then sighed deeply.

"Oh, how long has it been since I last saw this scene?"

Hearing the slightly sad tone, Zeng Yi couldn't help but raise his head and look at the old man's desolate figure, feeling a sense of pity.

"Do you live alone, Lao Bo?" Zeng Yi asked.

"Yes, I am alone now. My wife passed away last year." The old man sighed, took a puff from his pipe, and exhaled a cloud of melancholic smoke.

"I'm sorry for bringing up sad memories." Zeng Yi said apologetically, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"It's okay, I've come to terms with it long ago. At this age, life and death are no longer a big concern. It's just a matter of early or late." The old man said with a faint smile.

"But the good thing is, she went first. My wife was the most timid person. If I had gone first, leaving her alone, how would she have managed to live?" Speaking, the old man's eyes glistened with longing, and he chuckled.

Hearing this, Zeng Yi fell into silence, and his mood became heavy.

"Do you have any children, Lao Bo?" Zeng Yi asked curiously.

"I do. My eldest son enlisted in the army and hasn't come back for years. My second son lives in the city." the old man answered somewhat dejectedly.

The old man knew very well that his eldest son had probably died on the battlefield, as he hadn't returned for so many years. And as for his second son, what a cruel fate!

"So your son doesn't take you to live in the city and leaves you living alone in the countryside?" Zeng Yi understood that the question should bypass the fact that the old man's eldest son might already be dead.

"I'm not used to living in the city. I prefer staying in the countryside. After all, my roots are here." The old man said in a low voice.

But Zeng Yi noticed that there was something off about the old man's demeanor when he said these words.

This instantly reminded Zeng Yi of something, and anger surged within him. Who wouldn't want to have their loved ones by their side in their old age? And yet, this old man, despite having a son, lived all alone in the countryside without companionship. It was impossible for him to say he wasn't lonely.

And his son, refusing to support his elderly father and leaving him to live alone in the countryside while he enjoyed his life in the city, was truly unfilial.

"Let's not talk about that. It's ruining the atmosphere." the old man said with a smile, seeing the awkward atmosphere.

He then added, "Xiao Yi, where are you from? Judging by your appearance, you must be a Soul Master, right?"

"Well, I am from a far away place and indeed, I am a Soul Master." Zeng Yi scratched the back of his head and replied.

"Indeed, with your temperament, you must be extraordinary. To become a Soul Master at such a young age, you truly have a bright future ahead!" The old man praised as he stroked his white beard.

This made Zeng Yi feel a bit embarrassed. Ordinary people like the old man hadn't seen much of the world, thinking that becoming a Soul Master would lead to a glorious life. Little did they know that before acquiring strong power, one would still be a bottom-tier figure in the world of Soul Masters. It could be said that the world of Soul Masters was even more ruthless than the world of ordinary people.

"By the way, Lao Bo, is this the territory of the Heaven Dou Empire or the Star Luo Empire?" Zeng Yi remembered this question and asked.

The Star Dou Great Forest connected the territories of the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires. Although Zeng Yi entered the Star Dou Great Forest from within the Heaven Dou Empire, he didn't know whether he had come out in the Heaven Dou or Star Luo Empire.

"We are currently within the territory of the Heaven Dou Empire." the old man replied.

"The Heaven Dou Empire's territory?" Zeng Yi was slightly startled. He hadn't expected that he had entered the territory of the Heaven Dou Empire after leaving the Barak Kingdom. This was convenient since he planned to go to the Heaven Dou Imperial City.

"Lao Bo, what's the nearest city from here?"

"The nearest city is called Skywater City, and that's exactly where my son lives."

Skywater City? What a peculiar name.

Upon hearing the old man's words, Zeng Yi made a decision. His next stop would be Skywater City.

Later, as the sky darkened, Zeng Yi decided not to travel at night but instead stay in the old man's house for the night.

Early the next morning, Zeng Yi bid farewell to the old man and prepared to head to Skywater City.

In front of the wooden house, the old man took out two jars and handed them to Zeng Yi, asking, "Kind sir, when you arrive at Skywater City, please visit Orchid Restaurant. My son works there. Just give him one jar of pickled vegetables. Tell him that I'm doing well in the countryside and he shouldn't worry."

Holding the two jars, weighing just over ten kilograms, Zeng Yi, who could easily lift thousands of kilograms, felt an inexplicable heaviness in his palm. This was the weight of a father.

Even though the old man's son was unfilial, the old man still cared about him in his heart.

"Don't worry, I will definitely deliver them to him." Zeng Yi assured with a smile. In his heart, he had already decided to give the unfilial son a good education on behalf of the old man.

"Then, I'll take my leave, Lao Bo. Take care." Zeng Yi said and, with the old man's astonished gaze, put away the two jars and left.

"Oh, sir, be careful on the road to Skywater City. I heard there are bandits roaming around. You should be cautious!" As he watched Zeng Yi's departing figure, the old man remembered this and quickly shouted a reminder.

"Thanks for the reminder. If I come across those bandits, I'll take care of them easily. Hahaha." Hearing the voice, Zeng Yi burst into laughter and left quickly.

Hearing the laughter fading away, the old man was momentarily stunned, watching Zeng Yi's figure getting smaller and smaller until it disappeared completely.

"I hope he'll be alright."

Muttering to himself, the old man walked into the house and casually closed the door.