Ying Bing had been contemplating divine intentions until evening.
She was now just a hair’s breadth away from mastering the Five Apertures of Guan Shen, having completed three-tenths of the Hundred Divine Forms. Although thirty-plus extreme forms seemed like a lot, each one was something that ordinary people would spend their entire lives understanding, yet she did not feel this was particularly fast.
In this life, her path had fewer twists and turns.
There were obstacles, but as long as she wanted to move forward, she would have to face them.
For example, the Jade Phoenix Divine.
It was something the Huanmo Sect was determined to obtain, and it was also something she could not give up.
“Why hasn’t he come yet?”
Ying Bing looked at the empty chairs and tables, rubbing the big-headed doll at her waist, then stepped out the door.
As she went downstairs, her steps suddenly halted.
The Jiawei Tavern mostly catered to soldiers, and today for some reason, it was unusually quiet.
At the corner table, he sat silently, like a soulless sculpture.
On the table, lost in thought, were a letter that could never be delivered and half a string of copper coins.
Once a young man full of vigor.
Now his back was lonely and vague, like a wanderer adrift.
“The celestial sister, your husband has been sitting there all afternoon.”
“I always say, couples make up on their bed after a fight…”
The tavern owner mistakenly thought they were having an argument and offered advice in a tone of someone who had experienced it all.
“Did he come early?”
Ying Bing’s jet-black eyes revealed a hint of indescribable emotion.
She knew him very well; even if she didn’t want to know, she could tell what he was thinking the moment she saw him.
He wasn’t the type to hide his true feelings behind a mask, nor was he hard to understand. He could be quite childish at times, and his happiness or sadness often showed on his face.
He always made things I liked…
In the end, Ying Bing gave up on cooking and quietly sat beside him, sharing his silence.
After a long while, Li Mo muttered:
“Bing, the father of the Fuyingzi I’ve been searching for, is dead.”
“Because of the war, he died on the road delivering military intelligence.”
In her previous life, she grew up in peace. Little Li only knew about war from books, seeing only the heroic deeds of famous generals and wise predecessors.
He never knew how many letters never reached home were hidden in those numbers.
Lu Yi was just one of them.
True war hadn’t even begun yet.
And more people would d*e in the chaos.
Moreover.
This chaos had a close connection with him.
“Bing, perhaps we shouldn’t have come to the South Border in the first place?”
“We haven’t done anything wrong, so why do so many people have to d*e?”
Li Mo called out to her, but it seemed as if he wasn’t really asking anyone, more like asking himself.
Each question struck a chord in Ying Bing’s heart.
For a moment, she felt a strange yet expected pain in her heart.
She lowered her gaze, gently taking his hand into hers, and softly said:
“Such is the course of events. For instance, war; there’s no right or wrong, only what should or shouldn’t be.”
“Perhaps it depends on whether someone arrives early or late.”
In her previous life, the disaster beast tide secretly planned by the remnants of the Da Shang clan also erupted, only after the Qingyuan Sect fell.
Not to mention Qingmu City, even Nan Pass was breached, wreaking havoc all the way to Yunzhou.
“Having a little wealth… a young hero…”
Li Mo glanced at the few dozen copper coins and the letter that had already been opened.
The letter was short, merely hoping for safety.
“But I can’t even protect the peace of a small family…”
Ying Bing “hmm-ed,” gazing into the young man’s eyes, and said:
“Words are pale, only experiences count.”
“Experiences teach us to grow.”
Her voice was gentle.
Li Mo opened his mouth, turned his head to look at her, and it seemed as if she brought a glimpse of moonlight to this dark night.
He wanted to ask Bing, did you know from the start that there would be a war, and that the South Border would erupt?
But looking at her eyes, he felt no need to ask anymore.
She knew.
From the moment he wished for safety and joy before the Jade Phoenix Divine, she knew.
Li Mo finally understood that she understood the weight of that wish more than he did then.
She was waiting for him to grow.
—
“Ying Bing, what are your plans?”
“Same as yours.”
“Ying Bing, I’m so tired.”
“Then sleep. Just get some rest.”
In the cold, silent tavern,
suddenly a song reminiscent of orchids in a secluded valley began to flow, melodious and graceful.
“The sky is dark, about to rain…”
“The sky is dark… so dark…”
The night sky, covered by thick clouds, seemed as if the moon wanted to listen in and parted a sliver of cloud.
A ray of moonlight peeked through, illuminating her singing the nursery rhyme and him sleeping on her knee.
…
The next morning.
In front of the sugar painting stall, Huizi was no longer the leader, but he occasionally managed his grandfather’s sugar painting stall, and with the freedom to use the pot of maltose, his status was self-evident.
He was earnestly squatting in front of the stone slab, practicing sugar paintings with a small pot of syrup, surrounded by a group of little kids waiting for candy.
“Tiger Brother, our boss, is a hero on the Qianlong List, right?”
“Eleventh place? What’s his name… Strong Wife Soul?”
“Is that really our boss? No wonder he’s the boss, even his nickname is unique.”
“Really or fake? Hasn’t he tricked us?”
Hearing the doubt, Huizi immediately took offense.
Pointing at the painting on the stone slab, he said:
“Our boss was impressive. Can’t you tell from my drawing?”
The little kids shook their heads, only seeing that it looked delicious.
After all, Huizi was still learning to paint, and the scribbles barely resembled a large-headed, small-bodied figure, neither impressive nor comical.
“Since I’m friends with your boss, can I get free candy?”
Suddenly, a voice came from nearby.
Without looking, one could tell it was our mount brother, Huang Donglai, who was penniless.
Actually, Huang Donglai wasn’t poor; he just didn’t save money. Instead, he spent every coin on practical items, since money couldn’t buy food or knock someone unconscious.
“You’re the boss’s friend?” Huizi looked at Huang Donglai half-doubtfully.
“He is.”
Hearing that familiar voice,
Huizi and the little kids, including Huang Donglai, were stunned.
Turning around, they saw Li Mo smiling brightly, as usual, but with a more reserved and gentle demeanor.
“Boss!”
“Brother Li?”
“Donglai, you know a war is coming, yet you stay here? That’s not like you.”
Li Mo greeted the little kids, casually asking.
Huang Donglai took the sugar ball from Huizi: “I wanted to taste the sweetness… and you’re no different?”
“I plan to leave.”
“Huh?”
Huang Donglai looked at Li Mo.
With a war approaching, it was natural to prioritize oneself, but he felt this wasn’t like Li Mo.
“But I’ll return soon, so there’s something I need you to take care of.”
Li Mo’s voice suddenly disappeared, not because it got softer, but because he was using telepathy.
“To fill it? The whole thing? How much will that cost…”
Huang Donglai’s eyes widened.
“Nature has endowed me with talents, which will surely be useful; even if I scatter thousands of gold, it will return.”
As the words faded, mist arose.
The mist swirled, instantly concealing the youth’s figure. When it cleared, he had vanished.
Flipping clouds isn’t about lightness but about lightness of heart.
A light heart brings a wide world; where can’t one go?
“Tsk, maltose is indeed sweet.”
Huang Donglai murmured to himself, looking at the spot where he had vanished.
Huizi, eyes wide, waved his fists and shouted:
“What did I say? What did I say!”
“The boss treading on the seven-colored auspicious clouds, how could he not be a peerless hero?”
…
PS: Sorry for the delay, dear viewers. Considering character growth, careful consideration is needed.
Please support with charges, thank you.
