Chapter 910: Chapter 19: Exiting the Pass Chapter 910: Chapter 19: Exiting the Pass âSo, Brother Wen, after the battle at Yanqiao Pass, you left Yan State?â
In the second layer of the Linglong Ghost Market, within a side hall.
Wang Ba and Wen Yong sat facing each other.
The once carefree and unrestrained Wen Yong now sat cross-legged with a slightly restrained demeanor.
His mind occasionally flashed back to the scene just now.
Hearing Wang Baâs words, Wen Yongâs face, already beginning to show wrinkles, couldnât help but reveal a trace of reminiscence and emotion:
âIndeed, after I left Yan State, I went to Song State, where I barely scraped by for a few years, only to hear the news that Yan State had been occupied by the Incense Fire Dao.
Sensing the danger, I heard that Jin was stable, so I immediately moved to Chen State again.
But just three days after my relocation, I learned that Song State had also been taken by the Incense Fire DaoâŠâ
As Wen Yong spoke, he sighed and shook his head.
...
Wang Ba, upon hearing this, couldnât help but feel glad for Wen Yongâs keen intuition.
Had he lingered on his decision, perhaps they would never have had the chance to meet again.
Wen Yong then turned to Wang Baâs somewhat unfamiliar face and a smile appeared, as he carefully pulled out a token from his chest that seemed to have been frequently played with, smoothed by touch and gleaming, and held it in his palm:
âDo you still remember this?â
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Wang Baâs gaze fell on the item, but for a moment he had no recollection, and puzzled, he said:
âWhat is thisâŠ?â
âIt seems Brother Wang has forgotten, which is understandable.
To you, it was just a small matter, but it was this token that saved my life.â
Wen Yong chuckled, his eyes filled with nostalgia as he put away the token and with a hint of emotion, he said:
âThis was what you gave me back at Yanqiao Pass, during our fortuitous meeting, saying that in times of crisis, I could rely on this token to seek you outâŠâ
âAfter moving to Chen State, the local Sect suspected me of being a spy for the Incense Fire Dao and were about to Soul Search me, when coincidentally, Elder Tang, who was rebuilding the Linglong Ghost Market here, saw me.
Noticing Brother Wangâs mana aura on it, he questioned me, and I was thereby spared from death.â
Upon hearing Wen Yongâs words, Wang Ba instantly understood.
He couldnât help but sigh and said:
âThis has nothing to do with me; itâs just that Brother Wen himself has good fortuneâŠâ
Wen Yong didnât argue but merely smiled and said:
âAll in the pastâŠ
I have yet to congratulate Brother Wang on your successful Core Formation.â
As he spoke, he hesitated slightly.
Wang Ba, with his keen perception, noticed this and said:
âIf thereâs something you want to ask, speak freely.â
Wen Yongâs face showed a trace of apology.
He couldnât help but ask, âMay I inquire, Brother WangâŠ
what grade is your Golden Core?â
Wang Ba hesitated slightly.
Noticing this, Wen Yong quickly said:
âPlease forgive me, Brother Wang.
It was just a moment of curiosity that made me speak out of turn.â
Wang Ba, however, smiled and waved it off, saying:
âThereâs no harm in asking.
Itâs not that I canât say, butâŠ
the Golden Core I formed is considered first grade.â
âFirst grade?!â
Wen Yong instantly widened his eyes.
But he didnât notice the implications of Wang Baâs use of âconsidered.â
He murmured to himself:
âNo wonder!
No wonder!â
No wonder even Nascent Soul Cultivators are left behind by Brother Wang, ShenâŠ
no, Brother Wang.
It must be because of Brother Wangâs exceptional talent, becoming a core disciple of a great Sect, that he was personally protected by an Immortal Master of Nascent Soul.
Recalling this, Wen Yongâs eyes filled with admiration and a hint of melancholy.
Years ago, they both ran the Changyi Society together on Baiyun Prairie in Yan State.
Separated by fifty years, their fortunes differed as much as heaven and earth now.
One rose like the sun, suspended high in the Vault of Heaven.
While the other lay like bones in a tomb, nameless and forgottenâŠ
There were sighs and reflections.
And more significantly, an unspoken thought lingered in the heart, along with an unvoiced desire.
They didnât talk for long, and soon, Zhou Lve came over with a pile of documents.
Seeing his chance slip away, Wen Yong hesitated before tactfully taking his leave.
Just as he was about to leave, Wang Ba suddenly said:
âIf you need anything, just ask.â
Wen Yong paused for a moment, then nodded earnestly.
âWen Yong takes his leave.â
âUncle-Master, your friendâŠ
he wanted to ask for your help, didnât he?â
Zhou Lve glanced at Wen Yongâs departing figure, and her straightforward nature prompted her to ask immediately.
Wang Ba replied calmly:
âThe law should not be lightly impartedâŠ
If he canât make up his mind, even if I want to help him, it wonât be easy for him to succeed.â
He naturally saw through Wen Yongâs thoughts.
It was nothing more than wanting to ask for his help in achieving Golden Core, but harboring doubts about it.
This was human nature.
Given the friendship between the two, if Wen Yong were to ask, Wang Ba naturally would not hesitate to lend a hand.
However, perhaps because Wen Yong was already advanced in years, and lacked the capability to control the Qi and Blood in his body, resulting in obvious physical decline and even the appearance of white hair and wrinkles.
Attempting to make a breakthrough to Golden Core in such a state, if he failed, his death was certain.
Whether to risk it all or to quietly enjoy the last of his life, Wang Ba couldnât decide for him; the choice was Wen Yongâs to make.
Wang Ba didnât dwell on it any longer and immediately turned his attention to the documents Zhou Lve had brought, asking in confusion:
âIs there a problem?â
Zhou Lve shook her head and said:
âAlthough itâs a bit messy, thereâs no major issue, butâŠ
the Ghost Market in Chen State has been operating for more than twenty years, making losses for the first dozen years.
It seems to have improved only in recent years.
Could it be that theyâŠâ
âNo, donât jump to conclusions,â Wang Ba interjected, cutting off Zhou Lveâs wild guess.
He then explained:
âItâs expected for the Ghost Market to make losses.
Just the construction of this market alone, to recover the costs in some of the poorer states, it might take half a Jiazi to achieve that.â