A chill ran from the soles of my feet straight to the top of my head, and my scalp tingled.

In that moment of utter shock, a subtle yet incredibly clear voice transmission entered his ears.

"Long time no see, Li Dahang."

Li E felt as if he had been struck by lightning!

Li Dahang... This was the nickname given to him by the brothers who worked with him at Fengjing Wharf back then.

Apart from his brothers who shared life and death with him, no one else knew about it!

A severed finger, coupled with this affectionate nickname unique to brothers...

Li E suddenly looked up, his sharp gaze fixed on the man's face.

In my memory, Qu Erlang was a fair-skinned and clean-cut young man.

Although they both carry heavy loads at the dock, this guy just doesn't get tanned.

His face always wore a smile, exuding the refined air of a scholar.

He was a rare cultured person among this group of rough men, and he often helped everyone write letters home.

But the person in front of me... was as thin as a rake, with a dark and rough complexion like old tree bark.

The deep wrinkles were like knife cuts, and his eyes and brows were full of vicissitudes and fatigue. Where was there any trace of the fair-skinned scholar he once was?

The face was completely different from what I remembered; I couldn't find a single trace of familiarity.

"Stop looking," the voice transmitted again, tinged with a barely perceptible bitterness, "I am Qu Er. I am still alive."

He casually pulled something from his pocket and gently pressed it onto the severed finger on his left hand, making slight adjustments with his fingertip.

After he let go, the color and texture of the object perfectly matched his skin tone and finger bones!

In the blink of an eye, a perfectly intact little finger appeared on his hand.

If Li E hadn't seen the broken stump with his own eyes, he wouldn't have been able to spot the slightest flaw at this moment.

Just then, the shopkeeper came over with a tray. "Guest, your wine is here!"