After hearing Linglong's words, Ye Li showed a bit of regret on his face. He really wanted to go down and take a look, but he was indeed not strong enough now and couldn't go down at all.
Feeling the life force around him gradually eroding his body, Ye Li could only helplessly start flying back the same way he came.
He had just begun to learn how to fly and was very enthusiastic about it. Even when he reached the stone stairs, he did not want to walk up them anymore. Instead, he sped up and sprinted towards the top of the abyss at high speed.
Soon, Ye Li arrived at the stone gate at the top of the abyss. After arriving here, Ye Li was able to use the runes that Luffy had taught him before to teleport out.
Ye Li, who was suspended in mid-air, flicked his fingers, and suddenly a rune array appeared in his hand.
The stone gate above emitted a golden light, enveloping Ye Li.
Ye Li’s eyes blurred, and when he returned to normal, his figure had appeared on the stone platform outside the stone gate.
After a moment of hesitation, he couldn't help but take a deep breath of the outside air.
The progress in his cultivation did make Ye Li extremely excited, but the free air was something more comfortable. He had been in the gourd for twelve years.
This kind of life, which was like being imprisoned, made him feel suffocated and uncomfortable.
Looking at everything around me that seemed familiar yet unfamiliar, I couldn't help but be dazed.
Soon several guards came to Ye Li. When they saw Ye Li, a look of vigilance appeared on their faces.
"Who are you and what are you doing here!?"
The guards surrounded Ye Li and asked.
Ye Li was stunned and said, "I am Kou Shi, a friend of Luffy."
When they heard Ye Li introduce himself, several guards were shocked again.
"So it really is you, you are really not dead!!!"
After confirming Ye Li's identity, the guards put away their vigilance.
Ye Li scratched the back of his head and said, "I am indeed not dead, what's wrong?"
A guard said: "It has been a year since you entered the abyss. We all thought you had died in there, and only the chief believed that you were definitely not dead.
We were assigned to guard this area just to wait for you, but we all thought that you had been assimilated and dissolved by the life force."
Hearing his words, Ye Li laughed and said, "Thank you for your hard work, I am indeed not dead.
By the way, Luffy said that after I get out, he can take me to see him, right?"
The guard said: "Yes, that's exactly what the chief said.
My lord, please follow me and I will take you to see the chieftain."
Ye Li nodded, then followed the guard out of the sea and walked towards the direction of the chief's village.
Along the way, Ye Li felt that everything around him seemed strange, but there was also a sense of familiarity in the strangeness.
Twelve years is just one year for everyone, but for Ye Li, it has been too long.
As Ye Li walked, he adapted to the strange feeling brought by time, and began to think about the past.
After a while, the two finally arrived at the gate of the chief's village.
The guard led Ye Li into the village and came to the door of a big house.
"Please wait a moment, my lord. I will go in and pass the message."
After the guard said something to Ye Li, he walked straight into the chief's camp.
After a while, a young man rushed out of the house and came to Ye Li with an excited look on his face.
"Brother Ye, you are not dead after all, hahahaha!!!
I knew that with your ability, there was no way anything could happen!!!"
The person who came was indeed Luffy. He looked more mature than before, but when he saw Ye Li, he still showed the pure smile that a young man should have.
"Hey, I was in there for a little while longer, but it's really okay."
Ye Li said with a smile.
Luffy looked Ye Li up and down. He vaguely felt that Ye Li had changed a little, but he couldn't tell exactly what had changed.
At this time, Ye Li was also looking Luffy up and down. After not seeing him for twelve years, he felt a little strange.
"Oh, Brother Ye, I'll go get Xiaoqing. I got him drunk last night, so he should still be lying down now!!!"
Hearing what Luffy said, Ye Li was stunned and said, "What, Xiaoqing is drunk, what's going on!?"
Luffy laughed and explained, "Since you entered the abyss, Xiaoqing has been wandering around the abyss.
Later, when I saw it, I treated it to delicious food and drinks, and then we became familiar with each other.
After all, it saved my life several times, and I am very grateful to it. It also knows our relationship, so it is friendlier to me than to other people.
Xiaoqing has been wandering outside the abyss, waiting for you to come out.
I often go there to check on the situation and have a big meal with it.
After Xiaoqing learned how to drink, he would fly to the village to find me every time he felt craving for alcohol. He came again yesterday.
I got it some strong liquor to drink, and it succeeded in getting it drunk."
When Luffy talked about getting Xiaoqing drunk, an extremely smug smile appeared on his face.
Ye Li could see that Luffy treated Xiaoqing as a playmate of the same age. Only when teenagers were having fun together would they consider getting their friends drunk as a form of fun.
Ye Li smiled and said, "Okay, then take me to see Xiaoqing. I haven't seen it for many years... a year, and I miss it a little bit."
Xiaoqing also saved Ye Li's life, and Ye Li treated it as his partner, so when he talked about Xiaoqing at this time, he missed it a little.
After Luffy said "hmm", he ran ahead and took Ye Li all the way to the back of the village.
"I made a cave for it on the cliff over here so it can rest comfortably. I'll take you there."
As Luffy spoke, he led Ye Li towards the back mountain.
When the people in the village saw Ye Li, they all showed curiosity on their faces. After all, not many people knew him, and most people were wondering who the people around the chief were.
Soon, the two came to a cave in the back mountain, and a slight snoring sound came from the cave.
Ye Li was stunned when he heard this and said, "This guy is sleeping so soundly."
Qingluan is a monster after all. It seems that she must have drunk too much to sleep like this, otherwise she would definitely be very alert to the movements around her.
But this also shows one thing, Qingluan still trusts Luffy very much, otherwise she wouldn't let herself drink to the point of unconsciousness.
After smiling, Ye Li took the lead and walked into the cave. Sure enough, Xiao Qing was lying on a pile of soft hay not far away to rest. His constantly rising and falling chest and the slight snoring coming from his mouth made him look like he was indeed sleeping soundly.