"Haha, I trust you." Chu Feng smiled, then added, "Also, Song Xi, I've told you many times—if you consider me, Chu Feng, a friend, just call me Chu Feng. No need for 'Lord' or anything like that. It makes things too formal, and I'm really not used to it."
"But someone as powerful as you—if I just call you by your name, wouldn't that be incredibly disrespectful?"
Song Xi hesitated, but it was easy to tell from his eyes that he was actually eager.
He was eager—truly eager—to call Chu Feng by his name.
He felt that for someone of his cultivation level, being able to address Chu Feng so directly was an honor.
"The bond between brothers isn't measured by the gap in one's cultivation."
"It's measured by how close you are."
"If you keep being this formal, it means you're not treating me as a friend," Chu Feng said.
"No, no, that's not it at all." Song Xi waved his hands in a hurry.
"Then call me Chu Feng," Chu Feng said.
"Alright, if you say so, then I won't stand on ceremony. Chu Feng—heh heh." Song Xi broke into a dopey grin, beaming with delight.
It was clear he was overjoyed. Despite being older than Chu Feng, he was far more innocent—almost like a child.
"Song Xi, take this. And don't go back to work at that Zhao residence." Chu Feng handed Song Xi a Universe Bag.
Through their conversations over the past few days, Chu Feng had learned that Song Xi was merely a temporary laborer at the Zhao residence, holding a very low position there. He was frequently beaten, scolded, and bullied.
The only reason he endured it was because his mother was gravely ill and needed expensive medicines for treatment.
Everything inside this Universe Bag would be enough for Song Xi to live comfortably for quite some time—at the very least, he wouldn't have to worry about money for a while.
"This… this is far too valuable. I… I…"
Song Xi took the Universe Bag, and after sensing the treasures inside, his expression changed instantly.
He was overwhelmed with emotion, even feeling that this couldn't be real. He never imagined that after knowing Chu Feng for such a short time, Chu Feng would give him something so precious.
But precisely because it was so valuable, he felt he couldn't accept it. He didn't think he deserved such an extravagant gift.
And yet, his current circumstances meant he desperately needed money. What Chu Feng was giving him was truly a godsend.
Saying he didn't want it would be an outright lie.
"I said from the very beginning—you help me, and I give you compensation. This is that compensation," Chu Feng said.
"But this is way too much. All I did was point you in the right direction. That's nowhere near worth this much," Song Xi said.
"Keep it. Other people might not be worth it, but in my eyes, you are." Chu Feng patted Song Xi on the shoulder.
Hearing those words, Song Xi froze. It took him a moment to recover, but by then, his eyes had already grown moist.
"Chu Feng, I've never met anyone as good as you. I… I really don't know what to say."
"Come on, Song Xi. If you keep talking like that, I'm going to think you're flattering me." Chu Feng patted his shoulder again and laughed.
"Heh heh… no, I'm not flattering you." Hearing Chu Feng joke, Song Xi laughed along with him, and at the same time wiped away the tears that were about to spill.
"So, Chu Feng, what are your plans going forward?" Song Xi asked.
In his mind, a figure as important as Chu Feng had surely come to the Great Thousand Upper Realm to make a name for himself.
"I'm going to your home," Chu Feng said.
"What? You want to go to my home?" Song Xi was stunned. This answer from Chu Feng had caught him completely off guard.
"Song Xi, since I said you're my friend, I truly consider you one."
"Your mother is like my own mother. If she's ill, I can't just turn a blind eye."
"Besides, I happen to be a Spirit World Master. I believe I may be able to help with your mother's illness," Chu Feng told Song Xi.
"Chu Feng, you—you want to go to my home specifically to treat my mother?" Song Xi's eyes went wide, and his voice was filled with utter disbelief.
"Mm." Chu Feng nodded.
"Chu Feng, I…" In that moment, two streams of hot tears rolled down Song Xi's cheeks.
Earlier, when Chu Feng had given him so much money, his eyes had merely reddened.
But learning that Chu Feng was willing to personally come and treat his mother's illness—Song Xi simply couldn't hold back his emotions anymore.
There were two reasons for his reaction. One was gratitude, but the more powerful one was hope—if Chu Feng stepped in, his mother's illness might be alleviated, or perhaps even cured completely.
He was a filial son, and that was why his response was so intense.
As for why Chu Feng, despite having only just met this man, called him brother—it was because he saw something worth respecting in Song Xi's character.
In truth, Chu Feng didn't have many friends. But every person he chose to call a friend was, without exception, someone of loyalty and integrity.
"Come on now, a man shouldn't shed tears so easily. What's there to cry about?" Chu Feng said with a smile.
And so, Chu Feng and Song Xi set off toward Song Xi's home.
As for this trip, treating Song Xi's mother was only part of the reason. The other part was that Chu Feng wanted to take another look at that Sacred Mountain.
He had a feeling that what they had encountered on the Heavenly Staircase might very well have been the work of someone.