In a dark palace, dozens of colossal pillars stood tall.
Atop each pillar, a flame, as red as molten fire, blazed fiercely.
Suddenly, the flame atop one of the pillars flickered violently twice, then with a *poof*, extinguished.
Witnessing this, the guards stationed in the dark palace immediately changed countenance.
One of them whispered a few words to his companion, then swiftly turned and departed.
After a considerable while, the departed guard returned.
This time, however, he was accompanied by an expressionless elder in a black cloak.
Upon entering the palace, the elder quickly proceeded to the pillar where the flame had been extinguished.
"Second Elder, we were on duty when the flame suddenly..."
As the elder entered the palace, the guards, facing a formidable presence, exhibited looks of sheer terror.
As long-term sentinels of this place, they were acutely aware of the immense importance of the flames atop these pillars.
While the extinguishing of the flame had absolutely nothing to do with them, the last time a flame had gone out, the guards on duty that day had almost all been executed. Thus, when the flame was extinguished, the guards' expressions turned to sheer panic.
The elder, known as the Second Elder, raised his hand, interrupting the guard's words.
He then approached the pillar, examined it closely, and said, "Later, you will report this matter separately to the other three elders."
Having spoken, the Second Elder turned around and slowly left the premises.
The guards, whose hearts had been pounding in their chests, heaved a collective sigh of relief as the Second Elder departed without uttering a single word of reprimand.
"Phew, we're truly fortunate today, we dodged a bullet."
"When I saw the flame go out, I thought we were doomed."
"Yes, I also thought this was the end of us, but I never expected it to be so easily resolved."
As the Second Elder left, the guards within the palace gradually returned their hearts to their rightful places.
Meanwhile, beside the Second Elder, who had just left the palace, a young man now appeared.
"Master, whose soul fire just extinguished?"
The young man, closely following the Second Elder, pressed him with undisguised curiosity.
The Soul Fire Hall held a uniquely significant position within their Chase Soul Valley, which fueled the young man's intense interest.
The Second Elder let out a cold snort, "You and your incessant questions. It was the soul fire of Deputy Valley Master Lin Yong's son that went out."
Hearing his master's words, the young man let out a simple "oh."
Speaking of Lin Yong, he had once been an extraordinary prodigy in Chase Soul Valley, the youngest Deputy Valley Master in its history.
However, during a battle with an enemy, he sustained severe internal injuries. Upon his return, he immediately entered a period of secluded cultivation, which had now lasted for several decades.
As for his son, he too possessed an arrogant disposition. After his father entered seclusion, finding the disdainful glances of others in the valley unbearable, he chose to venture out into the world.
Yet, unexpectedly, after only a few years, he had met his end, which was truly a cause for lament.
It was said that the creation of the Soul Fire Hall was a result of a Valley Master with immense divine power in Chase Soul Valley, who, by chance, acquired a treasure of great divine power.
This treasure could extract a wisp of a person's soul fire and nurture it within.
After prolonged nurturing, the soul fire could bestow great benefits upon a person.
Because of this, every individual who left their soul fire in the Soul Fire Hall was considered one of the most exceptionally talented individuals in Chase Soul Valley.
But who could have foreseen that the exceptional talents of Chase Soul Valley would perish so ignominiously?
However, because the father of the deceased genius was injured and in seclusion, no one would concern themselves with his fate.
Silently listening to the entire account, the young man followed his master, a sense of melancholy settling in his heart.
...
"Mom, Shi Shi and A Bin and I have planned to have dinner together tonight. You don't need to cook for us."
Before leaving home this morning, having prearranged to dine with Gong Cheng Bin, Du Fei informed his mother, Wu Chun Mei.
Following this, Du Fei and Liu Shi Shi departed.
With Du Fei having returned for a few days, life had quickly resumed its usual rhythm.
The busy hours of the day passed swiftly, and soon it was time to leave work for the evening.
Having no pressing matters, Du Fei drove ahead to pick up Liu Shi Shi.
As usual, upon arriving at the underground parking lot of Sunshine International Building, he sent Liu Shi Shi a message and waited in the car.
This time, Liu Shi Shi arrived at the car quickly.
"Where are we eating tonight?"
Although she knew they were having dinner with Gong Cheng Bin, Liu Shi Shi was unaware of the dining location.
Now that they were about to head there, she casually asked.
"He mentioned a newly opened rustic restaurant, A Bin picked the place."
Du Fei replied to Liu Shi Shi as he started the car.
Liu Shi Shi nodded upon hearing this.
As the car was pulling out of the underground parking lot, Du Fei's phone rang.
"What's up, Brother Bin? Another order?"
Du Fei picked up his phone and checked the caller ID, which displayed Gong Cheng Bin's name.
He then connected his phone to the car's Bluetooth and answered the call.
"Have you picked up your girlfriend yet? I've already arrived at the location."
Gong Cheng Bin's voice came from the other end of the phone.
Hearing Gong Cheng Bin say he had already arrived, Du Fei glanced at the clock.
"No way, Bin! What time is it, and you're already there? What's going on, did you skip lunch today specifically to save your appetite for this meal?"
Du Fei's tone was one of feigned surprise.
Liu Shi Shi, beside him, playfully rolled her eyes at Du Fei.
Gong Cheng Bin on the other end of the phone let out a hearty laugh, "Are you feeling a bit scared? Did you agree too rashly before? Tonight, I'm going to eat you until you're sick of it!"
"Alright, then I'll eagerly await you making me sick of it. Okay, okay, enough messing around. I just picked up Shi Shi and am now driving to the address you gave me."
With a smile, Du Fei ended the call with Gong Cheng Bin.
Fortunately, Du Fei and Liu Shi Shi had left early today, and the traffic on the road had not yet reached its evening peak.
Following the address on the navigation, Du Fei drove for over forty minutes before arriving at a restaurant called Xiao Yan Rustic Cuisine in the western part of the city.
Despite the somewhat remote location, surrounded by low-tiled houses, Du Fei found that once he parked the car, many farm-to-table and rustic restaurants had opened in this area, and the surrounding parking spaces were already more than half full.
It seemed Gong Cheng Bin was indeed quite adept at choosing locations.
Locking the car door, Du Fei took Liu Shi Shi's hand, and they walked into the restaurant before them.