Chapter 95: A Departed Friend

As Su Yan began to speak, He Song gained some understanding of why the old man and the girl had moved and what had happened to them after they relocated.

Twelve years ago, when rogue cultivators attacked the immortal market, the enforcement team suffered heavy losses, and the outskirts of the market were completely abandoned.

However, Su Jin, who had already been at the sixth level of Qi Refining at the time and made a living by hunting demonic beasts, was a formidable fighter.

When chaos erupted in the market, Su Jin took Su Yan and fled.

For someone like Su Jin, with high cultivation and strong combat skills, surviving with Su Yan wasn't too difficult.

Ordinary rogue cultivators were no match for him.

After True Person Bear Mountain returned and wiped out the rogue cultivators in the market, Su Jin moved with Su Yan to District A, where they lived a reclusive life.

From then on, He Song never saw the old man or the girl again—until today, when he happened to wander into District A and ran into an old acquaintance from twelve years ago.

After listening to Su Yan's account, He Song's expression remained calm, but he couldn't help feeling skeptical.

After all, Su Jin had been a sixth-level Qi Refining cultivator twelve years ago, and as a rogue cultivator, his combat experience was extensive.

When the market fell into chaos, instead of taking advantage of the situation, Su Jin chose to leave with Su Yan. This didn't seem like something a typical rogue cultivator would do.

In such situations, most rogue cultivators would have seized the opportunity to loot.

He Song had heard of many rogue cultivators whose wealth had suddenly increased after the calamity, likely due to such actions.

Moreover, if Su Jin hadn't suddenly come into wealth, why would he have moved?

Though He Song privately dismissed Su Yan's explanation, he didn't voice his doubts. Instead, he nodded along, his eyes appropriately reflecting a sense of nostalgia.

"Ah, back then, I was fortunate to be taken away by a friend, which saved me from disaster. Thinking about it now, that calamity was truly terrifying," He Song said, his tone heavy with emotion.

Su Yan nodded vigorously, like a chick pecking at rice.

However, she soon began asking about He Song's experiences over the past twelve years.

He Song naturally shared only what he could, omitting anything too sensitive.

After all, they hadn't seen each other in over a decade, and He Song wasn't sure what kind of person Su Yan had become.

If it weren't for her appearance helping him resolve a lingering worry, he might not have engaged with her at all.

"What? Brother Song, you've already reached the sixth level of Qi Refining?" Even though He Song only shared what he could, Su Yan couldn't help exclaiming in surprise when she heard about his cultivation level.

Seeing this, He Song quickly gestured for her to lower her voice, and Su Yan complied, though her eyes still shone with admiration.

"The sixth level of Qi Refining... When Grandpa was alive, his highest cultivation was only the sixth level.

It's only been a little over a decade, and you've already caught up to him," Su Yan said, her voice softening as a hint of sadness flickered in her eyes.

But her words caught He Song off guard.

Su Jin, the sixth-level Qi Refining cultivator who had been a formidable hunter of demonic beasts, was dead?

Hearing this, He Song opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. He wasn't sure what to say.

Twelve years ago, He Song had been at the third level of Qi Refining, while Su Jin had been at the sixth level.

He Song had never experienced a real battle, while Su Jin, as a rogue cultivator, had made a living by hunting demonic beasts and had extensive combat experience.

Back then, although Su Jin had always been polite to He Song, He Song could sense a subtle distance between them.

When Su Yan often came to pester He Song, Su Jin neither encouraged nor discouraged her.

At the time, the two had maintained a cordial but superficial neighborly relationship.

If it hadn't been for Su Yan frequently seeking him out, He Song might not have remembered the old man and the girl at all.

But now, hearing Su Yan confirm Su Jin's death, He Song couldn't help feeling a pang of sorrow as he recalled the old man who had always stood behind Su Yan, a faint smile on his face.

For mortals, life was fleeting, lasting only a few decades. Living to seventy was considered a rare blessing.

In this ancient world, the average lifespan was even shorter. The saying "living to seventy is a rarity" perfectly captured the brevity of a mortal's life.

For Qi Refining cultivators, even those who reached the peak of the late stage could only live to be one hundred and twenty years old.

Early-stage Qi Refining cultivators lived to ninety, while mid-stage cultivators lived to one hundred.

The difference in lifespan between Qi Refining cultivators and mortals wasn't vast.

Only by reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, with a lifespan of two hundred years, could one truly be said to have transcended mortality, with a lifespan more than triple that of a mortal.

With the addition of life-extending pills, that lifespan could be even longer.

As for higher realms like the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages, He Song didn't know the exact lifespans.

The miscellaneous books in the immortal market's Spirit Technique Pavilion didn't provide clear records, only that they were likely very long.

Now, just over a decade after He Song had transmigrated to this world, someone he had known had already been laid to rest.

Though he didn't know how long Su Jin had lived, death was final. Once someone was gone, they were gone forever.

This realization filled He Song with a deep sense of melancholy.

"Please accept my condolences. You shouldn't underestimate yourself. In the future, you'll surely reach the sixth level of Qi Refining, or even higher. Foundation Establishment is within reach," He Song comforted Su Yan, though his heart was heavy.

Though they had only been neighbors for a little over two years, Su Yan had often sought him out as a child, leaving He Song with fond memories.

For an old acquaintance, He Song didn't mind offering a few words of comfort.

However, while he was willing to offer words, he wasn't about to provide any substantial help.

Su Yan was just a girl who had liked to pester him in the past.

They hadn't seen each other in over a decade, and He Song didn't know what kind of person she had become.

If, after some observation, he found her character acceptable and they became friends, then helping her wouldn't be out of the question.

But for now, he wasn't inclined to offer more.

He Song doubted that Su Yan was living in hardship. Before his death, Su Jin had been a sixth-level Qi Refining cultivator.

It was unlikely that he hadn't left Su Yan some inheritance. Therefore, her life was probably still comfortable.

After He Song's words of comfort, Su Yan's mood improved slightly, though a faint trace of sadness remained. Soon after, their conversation came to an end.

They exchanged the spiritual signatures for their message talismans and shared their current addresses, agreeing to stay in touch. Then, they parted ways.

After leaving the teahouse, Su Yan disappeared into the crowd. He Song, meanwhile, retraced his steps and returned home.

(End of Chapter)