Master Zhang took a pull on his dry smoke and took a sip of tea. He picked up the envelope and glanced at it before breaking into a smile. However, his heart started to feel increasingly uneasy. "This was sent by your Uncle Yu, but he used an old friend's name. He really is something else..."

As Zhang Tianshi was still laughing, his smile suddenly disappeared from his face as he tore open the envelope.

"His complexion grew increasingly dark, with a mix of surprise and sadness."

The four of them looked at Zhang the Celestial Master with some curiosity, and as they approached and glanced at the paper, they looked up at each other in surprise.

The first sentence reads: "When you receive this letter, I will no longer exist in this world, and I will no longer have the chance to taste the promised old cellar."

With just this one sentence, the flames in everyone's heart were completely extinguished. No one among them felt the slightest joy anymore. Suddenly, the surroundings became silent, and only the bone-deep sadness spread among the few people.

Master Zhang carefully examined the thin piece of paper, flipping it back and forth, not letting a single word or symbol escape his attention. He went over it again and again, reading every character from beginning to end.

The crowd was silent.

After a long while, Master Zhang took a deep draw from his dry tobacco pipe, his expression appearing to be both crying and smiling.

"Old friend? My comrade, in the end, you have still surpassed me. Until death, you still think of me. You truly have deep feelings and strong emotions."

Zhang, the master Taoist, had somewhat cloudy eyes. He casually wiped his face, and suddenly realized that his face was already covered with tears, unconsciously.

He looked up and muttered, "Why is it raining on such a good day?"

The sky was still clear and sunny, like a washed blue. The sun rose from the east without a trace of rain. As for what Zhang Tianshi said, it was just an excuse for his tears.

Zhang Tianshi gently put down the paper in his hand and crossed his legs, stretching them out together. He looked up at the sky, raised the wooden stool and swayed it lightly. He smoked dry tobacco in his mouth and kept humming some old tunes.

Li Mingyue and the three brothers of the Cheng family all had a touch of sadness on their faces, with a look of regret in their eyes. They took turns picking up the paper on the table and reading it before passing it to Mu Yu.

Mu Yu silently took the paper and read it through. The page had turned slightly yellow, which suggested that it was written at least six months ago. Did his master's old friend already anticipate his own death? Mu Yu had no way of knowing for sure.

"On the paper, there's only half a page of words, just a few sparse sentences."

"Dear friend: By the time you receive this letter, I will no longer be of this world. The promised bottle of aged wine, I will no longer have the fortune to taste."

"You must be curious why I haven't come to see you for four years. Actually, I am searching for something. I can't tell you exactly what it is right now, but once I find it, it will be a groundbreaking achievement."

"I've been searching for that 'thing' for almost ten years now. I've finally got a clue, but I'm not the only one searching for it. There are other organizations as well, and for the past ten years, I've not only been looking for the 'thing,' but also avoiding the watchful eyes of those organizations. My life hasn't been as carefree as it used to be."

During the process of searching, unexpected incidents could happen at any time. After careful consideration, I decided to take the risk and write you a letter. You should treat it as my farewell note.

"I come into this world with nothing, and I will leave with nothing. If there is still a body left after I am gone, please bury me on a high mountain so I can take one last look at the bustling world before me."

"May 15th, written by Yu Yuan."

"Mu Yu looked at the date again, May 15th, last year's May 15th?"

"Isn't Yu Yuan the old friend who sent a letter to Zhang the Celestial Master last time? The contents of that letter were very cheerful, so why did this letter today become his final one?"

"Will there be any problems inside? Last time, that letter was two or three full pages. Master Zhang said that his old friend sent him the letter as soon as he returned. He looked elated, as if he had found treasure."

And this letter, which once brought so much joy, now brings only sadness to my heart.

Zhang Tianshi pulled out the letter he had received earlier at some point, carefully examining the return address. He wiped away the tears from his face and gathered himself. "Causeway Bay is only two days away from here. Since the letter couldn't have taken more than three days to arrive, let's pack up and go pay our respects together."

With a loud slap on the table, Master Zhang stood up and walked straight to his own room, probably to pack up his belongings.

The remaining four people followed Zhang Tianshi's instructions and went back to their respective rooms to pack. Ten minutes later, the group of five calmly found a car and directly hired it to go to Causeway Bay.

However, even if we hurry along the journey, it would still take a day and night by car. By the time we reached Causeway Bay, it was already the early morning of the third day.

When you talk about Causeway Bay, it sounds like a bay, but in fact, it's actually a pretty big town.

Five people got out of the car one after another. Cheng Sheng put the money for the car on the sleeping driver, and adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. Under his glasses, his dark circles were impossible to hide.

The driver couldn't stay awake just after nightfall, so in order to save time, they switched to Cheng Sheng to drive, while the other four people slept intermittently for a while.

This car ran out of gas just outside of town, but they were not far from the address to mail the letter, so they decided to get out of the car and walk there instead.

The town was gradually awakening from its slumber in the early morning. Everything around seemed hazy and peaceful. Occasionally, a crystal-clear water droplet dripped from a tree on the side of the road. Had they not been on their way to offer their condolences, they might have stopped to admire the town's awakening.

Half an hour later, the sky was completely bright, and the morning sun emitted a little warmth, which belonged solely to the lazy and beautiful morning.

The five people found a remote building according to the door number. It was a small building with a white lantern hanging at the entrance. The word "Dirge" was written on the lantern with a brush. There were also uncleaned traces of an explosive attack on the ground.

Master Zhang looked at the gate, straightened his Zhongshan suit that was wrinkled, put away his smoking stick, cleared his throat, perked up his spirits, and led the five people inside the gate.

As soon as they entered the door, they saw a not very spacious hall with a black lacquered coffin parked inside.

"The coffin was shiny black and ominous, and in front of it was a burning incense table with a memorial tablet."

Just as Zhang Tianshi placed his hand on the coffin, a teenage boy of similar age to Mu Yu walked out of the room.

"The youth had a sturdy build and a rough voice, asking, 'Who are you guys?'"

Master Zhang's tears fell unintentionally on the lid of the coffin. He restrained his sorrow and asked back, "It's been four days, why hasn't the burial taken place yet?"

The young man gave him a strange look, but then seemed to realize something and his eyes revealed a hint of understanding. "Oh, you are the old friend that Master Yu mentioned? Before he died, Master Yu told me to wait for someone to come and bury him."

"If this person doesn't come, what will we do?" Zhang Tianshi reached out and touched the coffin, tears streaming down his old face.

The youth answered, "You haven't come yet? Master Yu said you would definitely come. You're not coming now? Master Yu's predictions are really far-reaching, he can foresee everything."

Master Zhang sighed, "You can predict everything? Have you even predicted your own destiny? Did you predict what will happen to me after you leave?"

Li Mingyue stepped forward and lifted the heavy lid of the coffin. Upon instinct, he glanced down but quickly turned his head away. His eyes were still heavy with sorrow and filled with a layer of alarming fear.

At the moment when the Taoist Zhang opened the coffin, he immediately saw the appearance of the person inside. His mouth fell slightly open and tears stopped in his eyes.

Upon seeing the strange expression on their faces, Mu Yu and the Cheng brothers couldn't help but turn away from the coffin after taking a single glance at it.

As the coffin lid was opened, a white-haired old man with a large gaping mouth was seen inside, staring intensely upwards with blood flowing from all seven orifices. His rasping and desperate appearance made people extremely uncomfortable, causing the hair on their backs to stand on end.