The Female CEO's Personal Bodyguard

Chapter 1791 A Long Life Without a Future

"Have you never left the Soul Separation Sect?"

Lin Chen held a magical artifact in his hand, casually examining it while chatting with the shop assistant.

"Yes, when I was eight years old, I was chosen by a senior uncle from the Li Hun Sect in the village. He gave my parents a large sum of money and then took me back to the Li Hun Sect. I have never left since."

Lin Chen laughed and said, "Then you've been here for quite a while, haven't you?"

The waiter's eyes held a sense of sadness and helplessness: "More than two hundred years."

Lin Chen looked up, his eyes showing a hint of sympathy: "How are you feeling?"

The waiter laughed and said, "Every day is the same, what's there to feel?"

The man's smile held a hint of repression and obvious helplessness; clearly, he was not satisfied with his current life.

Lin Chen asked, "Aren't there many people here who get married and have children?"

The waiter shook his head: "There are far fewer female disciples than male disciples in the Soul Separation Sect. Even if they were to get married, they would choose disciples who are more outstanding, have a better future, and are more likely to leave here and go out into the world. Who would marry a man like me who has no future?"

"After cultivating for over two hundred years, I've only barely reached the peak of Foundation Establishment. With my aptitude, I'm at the bottom of the social ladder here, only slightly better off than those slaves without freedom. Every day, I can only comfort myself by thinking of this as my own little village. There are many people in this village who have never left in their entire lives, and I'm just one of them..."

Lin Chen asked, "Do you all want to go out?"

Who wouldn't want to go out?

The waiter's eyes lit up, and an expectant look appeared on his face: "Apart from the core disciples and the sect's high-ranking members, who have the privilege of leaving, none of us are qualified to leave. We can only live here for the rest of our lives."

"Although I came here when I was eight years old, I don't have many memories of the outside world. But I know that the outside world is not like this. Everything here seems to be no different from the outside world, but it's all fake."

"Someone like me will probably live here my whole life, and then die here, unknown and uncared for..."

Lin Chen looked slightly surprised. He had no special relationship with this guy, having only dealt with him two or three times. When the guy heard that he was a special envoy from the Celestial Palace and came from the outside world, his eyes lit up.

It seems he has been suppressing his feelings for a long time. Someone like him is probably unlikely to have any contact with the outside world.

Aren't you afraid of others finding out what you're saying?

The waiter chuckled, "Who here doesn't want to get out? What I say is the same for everyone, so who cares? Even the higher-ups in the sect wouldn't care." He pursed his lips and muttered under his breath, "Would an eagle soaring in the sky care about the complaints of ants on the ground?"

Lin Chen confirmed, "Is this what most people here think?"

The man nodded: "Look at how many people are in this underground city. Most of them are like me, people with certain qualifications, but those who aren't qualified enough don't develop well and are eventually eliminated. So they can only survive underground and can't leave."

“We even worry that one day, when our group becomes too large and a burden, we might be disposed of directly, or turned into slaves, and eventually die within the formation…”

Lin Chen nodded, having gained some understanding of the overall situation of the Soul Separation Sect. However, while he sympathized, this was an internal matter of the Soul Separation Sect, and Lin Chen had no right to interfere.

Given how secretive the Soul Separation Sect is about its location, it's clear they wouldn't allow these people to leave. What if the sect's address were leaked?
As they were talking, a disciple of the Soul Separation Sect walked in and said respectfully, "Special Envoy Lin, the Sect Master invites you in."

Lin Chen put down the magical artifact in his hand and nodded to the shopkeeper: "Live a good life, there will always be opportunities."

The waiter glanced at the disciple of the Soul Separation Sect beside him, hesitated, and then simply nodded.

Lin Chen followed the Soul Separation Sect disciple toward the main hall, and casually asked, "What does the Sect Master want with me?"

The disciple shook his head: "I don't know. I was just ordered to come and invite Special Envoy Lin."

Lin Chen nodded and said no more.

Following the disciples of the Soul Separation Sect into the main hall, they immediately saw Gao Chen and the others waiting inside. However, compared to last time, there was an unfamiliar man they had never seen before.

This must be the important person Gao Chen was referring to.

Seeing Lin Chen enter, Gao Chen smiled and said, "Special Envoy Lin, have you been settling in well these past few days?"

Lin Chen smiled and said, "The underground city is a completely new experience. It's very good. Sect Master Gao is very thoughtful."

After a pause, Lin Chen's gaze fell on the unfamiliar man's face: "I haven't seen this man before..."

Gao Chen smiled and said, "He is Mr. Mo, the high-ranking member of the sect I mentioned earlier."

Mr. Mo?
If not a specific title like elder or hall master, then "sir" is used.
Lin Chen was slightly surprised, but on the surface he remained calm and smiled, "Mr. Mo, hello. I wonder how your discussion went? Now you should be able to give me a definite answer, right?"

(End of this chapter)