Consuming lifespan to draw rewards, I'm invincible in the apocalypse!

Should we meet alone?

Jiang Yi yawned into the wind, exhaling a large breath of northwest wind.

He didn't reply to Luo Changqing's message either.

After all, it wasn't long before they arrived at the riverbank, accompanied by the oppressive aura of the little silver dragon.

This time, Luo Changqing personally came to greet him.

And they also apparently dispersed some bystanders.

There were only a few people scattered around the riverbank square, including members of the four major guilds and Xu Dadao.

As Jiang Yi slid down from the little silver dragon, he immediately spotted Xu Dadao.

This kid has changed quite a bit.

He now has a scar near his eyebrow.

Although the wounds have healed, his entire brow bone looks somewhat deformed, making his right eye look a bit strange as well.

Even his eyes, his right eye looks a little smaller than his left.

In addition, his demeanor has become more mature and composed, even showing a touch of world-weariness.

Of course, this mature temperament also brings with it a visible aura of strength, neither humble nor arrogant, calm and composed.

Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow, and the little silver dragon transformed back into a little boy, landing steadily.

Xu Dadao glanced at the little silver dragon, its eyes, one big and one small, showing a slight emotional fluctuation.

Then, he actually bypassed Luo Changqing and greeted Jiang Yi first: "Hello, boss, do you remember me?"

That's a bit strange.

How long has it been? Jiang Yi doesn't have dementia, so how could he not remember Xu Dadao?

Xu Dadao seemed to realize this as well, and he pursed his lips, offering a proactive explanation:

"While exploring the endless sea, Wei Ling Shuang and I accidentally entered a special space."

"You might not believe it, boss—"

"We stayed in that space for a full seven years!"

"However, when we returned, only 7 minutes had passed!"

"That's why when I came back here and saw old friends, I felt a sense of reunion after a long separation..."

He said this with a rather sentimental tone, and then added self-deprecatingly, "Look at me, don't I look a bit weathered? That's what time has honed."

Jiang Yi listened with slight surprise, but not to the point of disbelief.

He raised an eyebrow and said meaningfully, "You managed to return safely after staying for seven years, you must have gained quite a bit, right?"

Xu Dadao paused for a moment, then smiled bitterly: "The gains were considerable, but the price paid was also severe."

"There were about 50 people on our ship at the time, but in the end, only me, Sister Shuang, and Xiao Duo came back alive, and those two..."

Seeing Xu Dadao's somber expression, Jiang Yi asked again, "Your girlfriend, Zhu Mei..."

Xu Dadao's expression stiffened slightly, then he pursed his lips and said in a deep voice, "He's dead too."

These three simple words may hold a story yet.

Jiang Yi keenly sensed that Xu Dadao didn't seem to be particularly grieving over Zhu Mei's death.

On the contrary, my emotions are quite complicated.

So they must have gone through a lot during those seven years.

And those events are likely accompanied by various tests of human nature.

Jiang Yi could sense that Xu Dadao had undergone some deeper changes beyond just his outward demeanor.

It was a change in morality, conscience, and character.

Before, Xu Dadao clearly had a rather upright personality and seemed to possess an aura of righteousness.

He was the first to apologize to Jiang Yi, and his attitude was quite sincere.

Jiang Yi could sense that he was sincere.

However, now, the righteous aura he once possessed seemed to have been smoothed out by something.

Like a pure young man who has struggled in society for many years, he eventually loses something.

He became a disillusioned and dejected middle-aged man, disillusioned with humanity.

Jiang Yi didn't ask any further questions about it.

He merely raised an eyebrow and casually asked:

What would you like to talk to me about alone?

Xu Dadao glanced around, his eyes conveying a clear meaning.

Seeing that Jiang Yi really intended to talk to Xu Dadao alone, Luo Changqing decisively led his men to retreat.

On the riverbank square, only Jiang Yi, Xu Dadao, and the boy who had transformed from a little silver dragon remained.