Welcome Dinner
"【Old Six】, come, as your Master, I toast you a cup!"
Under the night sky dotted with stars like chess pieces, 【Third Senior Brother】 【Wenren You】's room was incomparably bustling. A bright red banner hung at the door, with several large words written in vigorous and lively calligraphy fluttering unrestrainedly:
——Warmly welcome sales champion 【Old Six】 returning in triumph fully loaded.
In the fiery hot 【Kitchen】, the spatula was being swung so fast it was almost smoking. The usually stingy and frugal 【Third Senior Brother】 【Wenren You】 rarely made twelve dishes in a row today, complete with chicken, duck, fish, and meat.
Inside the dining room, the young Master, whose cheeks were flushed from drinking, slammed his finished wine cup onto the table with a bang. He threw his arm around Chen Ling's shoulder, his smile like a blooming chrysanthemum:
"【Old Six】... As your Master, I really didn't misjudge you. Two hundred and thirty million, that's already enough for our 【Dusk Society】's expenses for six or seven years. You are the top sales champion of our 【Ancient Vault of the Drama Path】, and also the sugar daddy providing food and clothing for all the members of the 【Dusk Society】!"
"Come! As your Master, I toast you another cup! I'll bottom up first, you drink as you please!"
After speaking, the youth directly swung up the wine bottle and started gulping it down his mouth, seemingly extremely happy.
To the 【Ancient Vault of the Drama Path】, money was a worldly possession, but to the 【Dusk Society】, the existence of money was indispensable.
Two hundred and thirty million propped up the liquid funds of the entire 【Dusk Society】, cured 【Third Senior Brother】's stingy fault, allowed Master to put his arm around him and drink to his heart's content, piled up the meat pieces in 【First Senior Brother】's bowl, unknotted Second 【Senior Sister】's brows, and even made 【Clown】, who only knew how to frantically stuff his face, hesitate for a few seconds before leaving half a piece of braised pork for him...
At this moment, Chen Ling finally realized that the 【Ancient Vault of the Drama Path】 wasn't actually that detached from the world. With money, many things could be changed.
"Master, this is all what I should do." Chen Ling said seriously.
"Hahaha, having you, 【Old Six】, is truly the fortune of the 【Ancient Vault of the Drama Path】!" Master seemed to be already drunk. He hugged Chen Ling's shoulder and said with a smile, "Although your strength is still a bit lacking right now, as your Master, I believe that one day... you will be able to become the mainstay of the 【Ancient Vault of the Drama Path】."
"Rest assured, Master, I will work hard."
"No matter what happens in the future, you cannot forget these senior brothers and sisters of yours, understand? You must know... they are among the few people in this world who truly care about you."
Master's gaze swept over the bustling people at the table. In his intoxicated eyes, there was a sudden hint of sorrow,
"If even you forget them... then they, will truly disappear."
Chen Ling froze in place.
He was just about to ask Master what he meant, but the latter slumped dazedly onto the table, as if he had already drunk too much.
That night, it was 【First Senior Brother】 Ning Ruyu who personally carried Master back on his back.
Chen Ling didn't know where Master lived. He only knew that Ning Ruyu carried him straight towards the depths of the 【Ancient Vault of the Drama Path】. His figure disappeared under the evening wind and the night sky, and also disappeared from his perception. It took over an hour before he returned.
"How long has it been since our 【Ancient Vault of the Drama Path】 was this bustling?"
On the grassland blown by the evening wind, 【Mo Jue】 and 【Luan Mei】 were the last to leave. They looked at the figure of Master, who was speaking drunken words while being carried away by Ning Ruyu, and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
"Too long." 【Luan Mei】 shook her head. "I can't even remember clearly anymore."
"Before this, our activities basically just consisted of watching movies and watching plays... But compared to immersing ourselves in illusory stories time and time again, this kind of life still makes people... how should I say it, makes people feel more real."
"I understand what you mean. In this 【Ancient Vault】, being real is more precious than anything else."
【Luan Mei】 nodded slightly.
The two of them stood in the evening wind for a long time, both looking at Chen Ling's house fluttering with colorful flags. After an unknown amount of time, 【Mo Jue】 yawned, waved his hand and said:
"Let's rest early... Tomorrow I still have to tutor 【Little Junior Brother】 and practice the basic secret methods."
"En, good night."
The welcome dinner for Chen Ling was considered over. After 【Third Senior Brother】 【Wenren You】 finished washing the dishes and chopsticks, he took down the banner hanging at the door, meticulously folded it, and put it into his own wardrobe.
By the time all this was done, it was already late at night.
Snap——
As the light in 【Wenren You】's room was extinguished, the last light on the grassland also retreated into the darkness.
The other senior brothers and sisters had basically all gone to rest. Only Chen Ling lay on that familiar bed, looking at the twinkling stars filling the sky, unable to fall asleep.
His mind repeatedly echoed the words Master had just said to him. He always felt that the meaning contained in that sentence was more complex than he imagined...
To tell the truth, during his days in the Red Dust 【Main City】, every day was a luxurious banquet with rich meat and fish. But even if they were all added up, they weren't as delicious as this one meal eaten in 【Third Senior Brother】's home. It wasn't that 【Wenren You】's culinary skills surpassed all the famous chefs in the 【Main City】, but only here could he completely relax.
The simple meals at home were always more delicious than the rich social engagements outside.
Perhaps it was because his spirit was constantly tense when playing the role of the 【Special Envoy】 in the 【Main City】 earlier, but not long after, a wave of sleepiness washed over him like a tide. Chen Ling's eyes slowly closed, and he fell into a deep sleep.
...
The next day, Chen Ling resumed his daily life in the 【Ancient Vault of the Drama Path】.
Among the four basic secret methods, Chen Ling had already mastered the 【Cloud Step】 of the "【Acting】" skill before he set off. On the second day of his return to the 【Ancient Vault】, under 【Wenren You】's dumbfounded gaze, he mastered the 【True Word】 of the "【Speaking】" skill.
When Chen Ling was in the Red Dust 【Main City】, the "words and sentences" mixed with power that he occasionally used were the prototype of 【True Word】. Therefore, quickly mastering it within a short half-day was not a difficult thing in Chen Ling's eyes.
"【Little Junior Brother】, starting today, I will teach you the '【Singing】' skill secret method."
【Mo Jue】 stood in the courtyard with a rarely serious expression.
Chen Ling blinked, "Wasn't what you taught me before a secret method?"
"No, that was just teaching you the most basic vocalization and techniques before mastering the secret method."
【Mo Jue】 took out a piece of paper from his chest, as if it was filled with writing, and handed it to Chen Ling. "This is the true '【Singing】' skill secret method, and it is also the most important secret method among the four basic secret methods of our 【Ancient Vault of the Drama Path】."
Chen Ling took the piece of paper, opened it, and after seeing the content on it, spoke with some astonishment:
"This is... the 【Requiem Ballad】?"