"They really are a fascinating young couple, and I'm almost certain that they come from the south," Lia said.

"The south? I bet they're no ordinary people, right?" the elderly man asked.

In his eyes, there was no way that such a poem could've been made by any ordinary woman.

Lia nodded in response, then smiled as he asked, "Are you willing to come with me now?"

"You were never planning to give me a choice in the first place, were you?" the elderly man asked with an amused expression. "I could tell from the moment you came in that you weren't going to take no for an answer."

"You're right," Lia replied with a wry smile. "I really am in desperate need of people. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come to you on such short notice. At my age, things like dignity and reputation don't matter anymore. I'm going to take you with me even if I have to tie you up and kidnap you."

"Do you really have to do this? You're already an old man as well, can't you just settle down and enjoy your retirement?" the elderly man sighed before continuing to smoke his pipe.

"Quit trying to stall for time and complaining about this and that. Hurry up and pack your things, and we're going to set off as soon as you're ready," Lia urged, and it seemed that the decision had already been taken out of the elderly man's hands.

"Take a look: what do you think I need to bring with me?" the elderly man asked as he took a carefree glance around the room, indicating that there were no belongings here that he wasn't...