Void Cultivation

Chapter 347: Chapter 346- Melancholy

Seemingly satisfied with Grey’s answer, Violet smiled lightly. She quickly devoured the fruit in her hand with a few bites before casually tossing the core aside.

"We’ve been gone for quite some time. They were actually considering replacing us and appointing a new captain and vice-captain," Violet said with a slight frown.

"However, after I told those old fogies what we were up to, they immediately changed their minds. Now they’ll never bother us again, even if we disappear for years. Our positions in the Detective Agency are completely secure." She patted the table proudly as a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

She seemed to contemplate taking out another fruit from her storage bag, but after a brief moment of consideration, she ultimately decided against it.

When Grey heard that the captain had informed someone else about their adventure, he couldn’t help feeling somewhat apprehensive. The secret surrounding the Eye of Fate was simply too important.

However, after thinking about it for a moment, he chose to believe her.

Of course, there were probably a few people within the sect whom Violet trusted enough to share such a secret with. Individuals like her master or perhaps Caster himself.

Regardless, Grey had no intention of digging deeper into the matter.

What mattered most to him was confirming that his position as vice-captain still belonged to him.

With that matter settled, Grey rose from his seat and prepared to leave the office.

"Huh? Where are you going?" Violet asked in surprise. "I thought we were going to chat a little longer."

Grey ignored her complaint and continued walking toward the door.

Just as he was about to leave, however, he heard her speak once more.

"But it’s good that you’re finally back," Violet said in a noticeably lower tone.

Grey paused.

"I didn’t realize it at first, but something big is about to happen within the sect. Whether it’s good or bad... I honestly don’t know."

Her voice carried an unusual seriousness that immediately caught Grey’s attention.

Before he could ask for clarification, however, Violet suddenly smiled.

The serious atmosphere vanished as though it had never existed.

"Anyways, it’s good that you’re back in time. Let’s just wait and see what happens."

Leaning comfortably against her chair, she waved him goodbye.

Her long white hair cascaded down her shoulders like flowing silk, nearly reaching the floor. There was a calm confidence in her expression, as though whatever event was approaching did not concern her in the slightest.

Grey stared at her for a moment before finally leaving.

A short while later, he arrived at the vice-captain’s office.

Sitting behind the desk, he wore a slightly stunned expression.

"What exactly did the captain mean?" Grey muttered to himself.

"What event is about to happen within the sect? And why did she imply that it could be both good and bad?"

Although Violet had not elaborated further, Grey did not dismiss her words.

In fact, he had already noticed something unusual after arriving at Sky Mist Sect.

The atmosphere throughout the sect felt different.

There was an unmistakable sense of anticipation lingering in the air.

Many disciples who normally spent long periods outside were hurriedly returning to the sect. At the same time, those who were leaving appeared unusually rushed, as though they were trying to finish their tasks as quickly as possible before returning.

Everyone seemed to be waiting for something.

It was precisely because of this observation that Grey had chosen to visit the Detective Agency first rather than returning directly to his cave abode on Sky Mist Peak.

Unlike the secluded mountain peaks, the city below was always filled with disciples and information. If there truly was something significant happening, the Detective Agency would likely be the first place to hear about it.

After pondering the matter for some time, Grey slowly closed his eyes and prepared to cultivate.

However, before he could enter a meditative state, a memory suddenly surfaced in his mind.

Within that memory, he saw a young girl with auburn hair.

A girl who loved refining medicinal pills.

A girl whose eyes would light up whenever she spoke about alchemy.

Ange.

Grey froze momentarily.

Only then did he realize that he had practically forgotten about her.

Several months had passed since they last met.

He didn’t even know how she was doing anymore.

The realization left him feeling slightly guilty.

Back then, both Caster and Luo had specifically asked him to look after Ange since they all belonged to the same sect.

Unfortunately, things had not gone according to plan.

After meeting Violet, Grey found himself with increasingly less time for friendships and personal matters. Most of his attention had been devoted entirely to cultivation.

Before leaving the sect, he had only recently broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. He had been focused on stabilizing his cultivation and adapting to his newfound strength when he and Violet were suddenly assigned the mission.

Since then, one event after another had occurred.

As a result, he had barely seen Ange at all.

Their only interactions had been through communication slips.

Even those exchanges had become increasingly infrequent over time.

Thinking back on it now, Grey couldn’t even remember the last proper conversation they had shared.

A trace of guilt appeared in his eyes.

After a moment of hesitation, he abandoned the idea of cultivating.

His strength could be restored later.

For now, he decided it would be better to check on Ange and see how she was doing.

After all, it had been far too long.

Bringing out his communication slip, Grey glanced at the countless messages and missed voice transmissions that had accumulated during his absence.

Ever since leaving the sect, he had rarely found the time to check it. Between cultivation, life-and-death battles, and the countless unexpected events that had followed, communication with the outside world had slowly slipped from his mind.

His gaze swept across the long list of names. Some belonged to fellow disciples that he hardly knew.

Others belonged to members of the Detective Agency who had called on their vice -captain when they needed help.

A few were from merchants and acquaintances he had met over the years.

Yet among them all, one name stood out immediately.

Ange.

Her name appeared over and over again.

She had sent more voice transmissions than anyone else.

Grey stared at the list for a moment. A complicated expression gradually appeared on his face.

He had not realized just how many times she had attempted to contact him.

For some reason, a trace of guilt surfaced in his heart.

Several moments passed before he finally took a deep breath and activated the communication slip.

A voice transmission request was sent. The connection signal echoed softly through the room.

Grey waited in silence. For a second.

Two seconds. Five seconds.

Just as he began wondering whether she was busy, the communication slip suddenly lit up.

The call connected.

A familiar voice soon entered his ears.

"Hello..."

There was a brief pause. Then the voice continued cautiously.

"Grey... is that you?"

The moment he heard her voice, Grey felt as though an invisible wave had crashed into him.

A powerful feeling of nostalgia surged through his heart.

Alongside it came an indescribable melancholy.

For a brief moment, it felt as though time itself had reversed.

His thoughts drifted back to the past.

Back to the days when he had been nothing more than a filthy scavenger child struggling to survive.

Back when every meal was uncertain. Back when cultivation was merely a distant dream.

He remembered the day Caster had taken him in.

He remembered following behind the young man through the dangerous Corroded Zone, scavenging for valuable materials amidst endless dangers.

He remembered the countless hunts they had gone on together.

The dangerous beasts. The poisonous environments.

The narrow escapes from death.

He remembered waking up every morning before sunrise and seeing Caster standing silently outside.

The young man burdened with the fate of every scavenger would often gaze toward the distant scavenger camp from high above, saying nothing as the morning winds swept through his robes.

At the time, Grey had never understood why.

Now, looking back, those memories felt strangely precious.

His thoughts continued drifting. He remembered Luo’s small shop.

The scent of herbs and medicinal ingredients.

The shelves packed with countless bottles and containers.

The endless lessons about alchemy.

Most importantly, he remembered spending those days alongside Ange.

Back then, they had spent countless hours refining medicinal pills together.

They had failed together. Learned together.

Argued silently over formulas together.

Those simple days now felt unimaginably distant.

A faint smile appeared on Grey’s face. Yet that smile quickly faded.

Because he also remembered something else.

It was through alchemy that he had first begun studying poisons.

It was through poisons that he had discovered his unique path.

And it was that path which had eventually carried him far away from those peaceful days.

The more Grey remembered, the stronger the emotions in his heart became.

Nostalgia.

Melancholy.

Regret.

All of them intertwined together. For a moment, he completely forgot what he had intended to say.

The room fell silent.

Only the faint sound of breathing could be heard through the communication slip.

Several seconds passed. Ange did not interrupt him.

She simply waited patiently.

Finally, Grey gathered his thoughts. His voice was noticeably softer than usual when he spoke.

"Hey..."

Another brief pause followed. Then a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Hey, Ange..."