Chapter 180 Is it Ashes?!

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In the following days, Yan Yu spoke very little and barely exchanged a few words with Xiao Qing and the others. He was mainly feeling too heavy-hearted and wanted to be alone for a while, so he didn't feel like it.

Xiaoqing could tell, so she was very understanding and didn't bother him, letting him calm down for a while, hoping he could be happier and move on from the grief of Shen Jin's departure...

Yan Yu continued to miss Chen Jin and would occasionally go to the snow mountain to sit for a while.

Every night, I toss and turn, unable to fall asleep. I dream of Chen Jin's face, and every morning when I wake up, the bedside is cold.

It was so cold that his heart ached slightly.

“Shen Jin…” Yan Yu gripped the bed sheet tightly, his voice hoarse.

After a long while, Yan Yu finally opened his eyes and looked at the empty bedside.

"I'm sorry, I was wrong." Yan Yu looked at the empty space beside him and said softly.

After saying that, Yan Yu loosened the bed sheet and got out of bed.

After finishing breakfast, Yan Yu went to the snow mountain again. In summer, the snow mountain must not be cold. The summer sun was shining on him and it was slightly warm.

Yan Yu skillfully found the spot, sat down, picked a handful of grass, and began to weave a bracelet.

"Shen Jin..." Yan Yu looked at the bracelet in his hand and called out Shen Jin's name softly.

No one answered him; only a gust of wind blew by.

After waiting for a while, Yan Yu lowered his eyes, suddenly smiled, and whispered to himself, "You know what, I miss you so much..."

Still, no one answered him.

"Where would you be..." Yan Yu muttered to himself, "Why won't you give me a chance..."

At this point, Yan Yu paused, looked at the bracelet, and couldn't help but let out a mocking laugh.

"You must have been so cold back then. It's all my fault for not rescuing you..." Yan Yu's voice grew hoarse, and his eyes gradually reddened again.

He was afraid that if he spoke again, his tears would well up again.

Shen Jin was so afraid of the cold that the thought of him being buried in such a cold snow mountain made his heart ache as if it were being torn apart.

For the past few days, Yan Yu has been thinking about whether or not he should go out.

He wanted to leave, but he hesitated. He still wanted to stay in this village forever, for the rest of his life. After all, Shen Jin had disappeared here. Shen Jin was such a person who was afraid of loneliness, and he could only feel at ease if he stayed with him.

...But it also feels like a form of escapism.

In a daze, Yan Yu returned home.

"Brother Yan Yu, did you go to the snow mountain again?" Xiao Qing asked casually when she saw Yan Yu return.

"Hmm." Yan Yu nodded in response. "It's quite beautiful there."

Xiaoqing couldn't help but laugh when she heard that.

Yan Yu returned to his room and took out the butterfly specimens again to look at them, thinking about Shen Jin as he looked at them.

It wasn't until evening that a knock came at the door: "Brother Yan Yu, dinner is ready."

Upon hearing Xiaoqing's words, Yan Yu snapped out of his reverie, put down the butterfly specimen in his hand, and gently stroked the box twice.

Then, Yan Yu got up and walked over, saying, "Okay, coming."

Xiaoqing was standing at the door when she saw Yan Yu come out. She smiled at him and said, "Let's go, Brother Yan Yu."

"Okay." Yan Yu nodded in response.

The two went to eat together, and the old lady just brought out the last dish.

"You're here? Sit down and eat." The old lady glanced at the two of them and said.

So the three of them sat down to eat.

During the meal, only Xiaoqing and the old lady were talking. Yan Yu just ate his own food in silence, and when he did talk, it was still about daily life in the mountains.

Xiaoqing suddenly asked curiously, "Brother Yan Yu, was the place where you used to live nice?"

She had never left the village to see other places, so she was still somewhat curious about the outside world. When Shen Jin was still alive, she often asked him these questions.

Suddenly thinking of Shen Jin, Xiao Qing's eyes filled with sadness, but she didn't tell Yan Yu, afraid that Yan Yu would feel very sad if he thought of Shen Jin.

Upon hearing Xiaoqing's words, Yan Yu paused in his actions.

After a moment, Yan Yu answered Xiao Qing's question: "It's not as nice as here."

The city is so complicated, people's hearts are so hard to fathom, there are so many schemes and so many traps, it's really not as interesting as here. The people in this village are all very nice.

Moreover, Shen Jin also said that he liked this place and thought it was very beautiful.

Xiaoqing blinked twice, picked up a piece of food and put it in her mouth, not quite believing Yan Yu's words.

"Really?" Xiaoqing asked subconsciously, then couldn't help but laugh, "How could that be?"

Because she always felt that the technology outside was more advanced than that of this village, and that many things were much more sophisticated.

"Really." Yan Yu said, feeling a little sad. The city was full of treacherous people and left too many wounds, but this place was different. This place could heal wounds.

These days, he has been thinking about whether he should go out or stay here... or perhaps he should leave and travel around. The world is so big, and there are so many sights he hasn't seen yet. It would be a shame not to take a look.

...but Shen Jin was no longer by his side.

The old lady watched the two of them chat with a smile, occasionally chiming in with a word or two. Suddenly, she asked, "Yan Yu, are you considering whether or not to go back?"

The words spoken were not questions, but statements of affirmation.

Yan Yu was stunned for a moment and fell silent.

Hearing the old lady's words, Xiaoqing was stunned. She turned to look at the old lady, but Yan Yu's expression did not change much. After all, the old lady had experienced so much, and she could guess seven or eight parts of what others were thinking.

"Is that so?" Xiaoqing turned to look at Yan Yu and asked.

Yan Yu didn't hide anything, nodded, and said in a low voice, "I really like it here... but staying here all the time isn't a solution. I don't know what's going on outside, and I want to go back and take a look."

"I see... Well, actually I'm still very reluctant to part with Brother Yan Yu." Xiao Qing seemed a little regretful.

After all, Yan Yu had been with them for so many days, it was impossible for him not to have feelings for them.

However, if Yan Yu wants to leave, she won't stop him, because Yan Yu doesn't belong here. He has his own place to belong, and he should indeed do what he wants to do.

"Then, if you ever want to leave, just let us know," the old lady said again.

Xiaoqing nodded as well.

After a pause, he quickly added, "If you're going to leave, you must tell us. Don't just leave without saying goodbye."

Hearing Xiaoqing's words, Yan Yu couldn't help but chuckle.

"Don't worry, I won't," Yan Yu replied with a smile.

Xiaoqing was relieved and continued eating. The old lady seemed to think that Yan Yu was really leaving, and kept putting food on his plate. Yan Yu smiled and did not refuse.

Before we knew it, more than half a month had passed.

For the past two weeks, Yan Yu has been contemplating whether or not to leave.

One night, Yan Yu had a dream, and vaguely remembered that Shen Jin had once said he wanted to travel the world...

Yes, now that Shen Jin is gone, is it really okay for her to live like this for the rest of her life?

Yan Yu suddenly realized it was time to leave and go back to see what was going on. The incident where he and Shen Jin fell off the cliff together was still unresolved, and they hadn't found out who was responsible.

After returning to his old place, Yan Yu wanted to travel around and see other places... just like Shen Jin had said, he also wanted to see sights he had never seen before.

Actually, he was also reluctant to leave the village. After all, he had stayed there for so long and had developed feelings for it. Moreover, the people in the village had been very kind to him, especially the old lady and Xiaoqing, who had helped him a lot.

However, even if he leaves, he can still come back to visit often in the future.

After thinking it over, Yan Yu had already decided to leave. However, it was the middle of the night, too late, so he decided to talk to the old lady and Xiao Qing about it first thing tomorrow morning.

Yan Yu thought about it all night and couldn't sleep.

The next morning, Yan Yu got up early. The old lady was making breakfast in the kitchen, and Xiao Qing was helping her.

"Grandma, Xiaoqing." Yan Yu walked in and called out to the two of them.

Upon hearing Yan Yu's voice, the two of them were startled and turned to look at him.

The old lady spoke first, asking, "Why are you up so early today? Breakfast will be ready soon. Just wash your hands and you can eat."

After saying that, the old lady went back to doing her own thing.

"Grandma, I've come to tell you something." Yan Yu hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up.

Anyway, he must have made up his mind, and he'll have to say it sooner or later, so he might as well say it now.

As his words faded, the kitchen fell silent, save for the occasional crackling of the burning firewood.

"Are you leaving?" After a long while, the old lady finally broke the silence.

Xiaoqing pursed her lips, looked at Yan Yu, and didn't say anything.

"Yes." Yan Yu nodded in response.

The old lady nodded knowingly, her expression showing no surprise. She opened her mouth, preparing to say the next sentence.

"Are you really sure about this? Are you really going to leave?" Before the old lady could speak, Xiaoqing interrupted her.

Yan Yu then turned to look at Xiao Qing and nodded: "Yes, I've already thought it through."

Hearing Yan Yu say he had made up his mind, Xiao Qing didn't say anything more and could only nod.

The atmosphere became somewhat heavy for a moment. Xiaoqing lowered her head slightly, unsure of what to say.

After a moment, Yan Yu continued, "Don't worry, I like it here. I'll come back to visit you often in the future."

Xiaoqing's eyes immediately lit up again.

"Really? You'll really come back? Will you come to see me again?" Xiaoqing asked.

"Yes, there are many memories here, and there are also many of you. I am truly grateful for all the care you have given us." Yan Yu smiled and looked at the two of them earnestly. "I just have some things I haven't taken care of yet, and staying here indefinitely isn't a solution. It's time for me to leave for a while."

“Shen Jin once said that he had a dream: to travel around the world. The world is so big, and he wanted to see all the different places.” Yan Yu spoke of Shen Jin with a touch of sadness, but he still tried to control his emotions.

He said, "I will not forget you, nor will I forget this place. So don't be sad, we will still have a chance to meet again in the future."

This place holds so many memories, so many fun things to do, and so many warm-hearted people. Shen Jin disappeared here too, so how could he possibly forget this place...?

Xiaoqing listened attentively to Yan Yu's words.

"Alright, Brother Yan Yu, remember to think of us when you leave. I'll miss you." After a moment of silence, Xiao Qing gave Yan Yu a beautiful smile.

Seeing Xiaoqing's smile, Yan Yu also chuckled.

"Don't worry, I'll definitely miss you. I'll never forget you, no matter who else I forget," Yan Yu replied to Xiao Qing with a smile.

Afterwards, Yan Yu talked with them for a while before leaving to go back to his room to pack his things.

Yan Yu packed a few things quickly, without taking too much, just some daily necessities. Finally, he picked up the box containing the butterfly specimen and carefully placed it into his packed luggage.

After packing everything up, Yan Yu didn't rush to leave. Instead, he stayed in the village for a few days, wandering around.

Yan Yu explored almost the entire village, especially his favorite spots, where he lingered a little longer.

Every place he visited filled Yan Yu with emotion. These places held so many memories for him, and the more he visited, the more reluctant he felt to leave.

However reluctant he was, he still had to leave.

On the way, Yan Yu encountered some villagers, stopped, and greeted them with a smile.

"Are you here to have fun?" the man asked Yan Yu with a smile.

Yan Yu nodded, somewhat moved: "Yes, the scenery here is very beautiful, so I wanted to come and see it."

"I also think this place is quite beautiful." The person laughed along with Yan Yu for a while, then paused and said to Yan Yu, "How about we go to my house for lunch later?"

Upon hearing his words, Yan Yu smiled, then gently shook his head, politely declining to have dinner at his house.

The people in this village are incredibly warm and kind; this is the third person he's met today to invite him to their home for a meal.

Seeing that Yan Yu refused, the man's expression didn't change; he just smiled and said, "Then you must come to my house to play next time!"

"Okay, I'll definitely go next time," Yan Yu replied with a smile.

Afterwards, the two looked at the scenery together and chatted for a while until the other person had to leave.

Before he left, he repeatedly reminded Yan Yu to come to his house to play.

Yan Yu watched the person's departing figure and sighed softly.

After a long while, Yan Yu said softly, "Now I'm even more reluctant to leave. What should I do..."

After staying in one place for a while, Yan Yu turned around and left, heading to the next place.

Yan Yu walked around outside, looking at the whole village, before returning home.

When he got home, the old lady prepared a lot of food for him, saying that he should eat it on the way.

"Grandma, you don't need to give me so much," Yan Yu said to his grandmother.

As he was about to take those things out, the old lady stopped him and gently patted his hand.

"Anyway, Grandma doesn't have anything else to give you, so you can take this," the old lady said with a smile to Yan Yu.

Hearing the old lady say that, Yan Yu pursed his lips and finally accepted the things she gave him.

At this moment, Xiaoqing also arrived, carrying a box in her hand.

As soon as she saw Yan Yu, Xiao Qing smiled, ran up to him, and handed him the box in her hand: "Brother Yan Yu, this is for you."

Yan Yu took the box with some doubt, opened it and took a look. Inside lay a medicinal herb of very good quality.

"Here, this is the best medicinal herb I've gathered. It's been alive for at least a thousand years. I'm giving it to you now. It's very good; you might find it useful in the future," Xiaoqing said to Yan Yu, pointing to the herbs in the box.

Yan Yu simply stared at the medicinal herb, remaining silent for a long time without uttering a word.

After a while, Yan Yu chuckled and looked up at Xiao Qing: "Then thank you."

"You're welcome," Xiaoqing replied with a smile.

Yan Yu accepted the medicinal herb.

Actually, he didn't like this atmosphere, as if he would never see them again. However, he wouldn't let down the old lady and Xiaoqing's kindness, so he accepted them all, even if he might not need them in the future.

Several days passed in this way. During these days, Yan Yu explored every corner of the village and clearly memorized all the scenery.

He must come back here someday.

In the end, Yan Yu still had to leave.

On the day he was to leave, Yan Yu got up very early, and the old lady and Xiao Qing also got up very early to see him off. There were not many people in the village who came to see him off, because Yan Yu asked the old lady and the others not to tell anyone.

"Grandma, this is my contact information. If you ever encounter any difficulties or need my help in the future, you can contact me." Yan Yu handed a slip of paper to the old lady and said to her.

The note contained Yan Yu's contact information and address.

The old lady took the note Yan Yu handed her, nodded, and responded.

Then, Xiaoqing said to Yan Yu, "Remember to come back and visit us in the future."

"Okay." Yan Yu looked at Xiao Qing and smiled.

"Oh, by the way, if you hear any news about Shen Jin in the future, remember to contact me." Yan Yu said to the old lady and Xiao Qing as if he had suddenly remembered something.

Although he knew the possibility was extremely small, it was possible that Shen Jin really was still in this village.

Upon hearing Yan Yu's words, neither the old lady nor Xiao Qing showed any surprise, clearly having already guessed that he would say such a thing.

To avoid upsetting Yan Yu, the old lady didn't say anything else, but simply turned around and agreed, "Okay, if we have any news about Shen Jin, we will definitely let you know as soon as possible."

Yan Yu nodded, responded, and thanked the old lady.

After a brief farewell, Yan Yu prepared to leave.

Someone from the village drove him out. Yan Yu got in and sat in the passenger seat of his truck. The man started the car and drove off.

The moment the car started, Yan Yu was overwhelmed with emotion.

He glanced back and saw that the old lady and Xiaoqing were still standing there. When they saw him looking over, they waved to him.

"Goodbye, Brother Yan Yu!" Xiao Qing waved and shouted to Yan Yu.

"Goodbye!" Yan Yu waved to Xiao Qing as well.

As the car drove further and further away, Yan Yu could only see two small figures before they quickly disappeared from sight.

Yan Yu only looked away when the object was out of sight.

"You're reluctant to part with him?" The person driving next to Yan Yu glanced at him and said with a smile.

Hearing his words, Yan Yu snapped out of his reverie and chuckled.

"Of course I'm reluctant to leave, but even if I'm reluctant, I still have to go. All good things must come to an end," Yan Yu said softly.

Hearing Yan Yu's words, the man smiled and shrugged, saying nothing more, and continued to concentrate on driving his car.

Not long after, the truck passed by the snow-capped mountain.

The snow-capped mountain that Yan Yu frequented was where Shen Jin disappeared.

Yan Yu leaned against the window, looking at the snow-capped mountain, and suddenly felt very reluctant. If he left, would Shen Jin be lonely and sad here all by himself?

"Um, could we stop the car for a moment?" Yan Yu gritted his teeth and said to the driver as they were about to leave the snow-capped mountain.

The man looked at Yan Yu with a puzzled expression and then stopped the car.

"What's wrong? Do you need to pee?" the driver asked Yan Yu, looking completely bewildered.

Yan Yu pursed his lips, glanced at the scenery outside the window again, and chuckled after a while.

"No, please continue driving," Yan Yu said apologetically to the driver.

The driver didn't seem to mind, just smiled and started the car to leave.

Yan Yu watched as he completely left that snow mountain, feeling inexplicably sad.

Suddenly, Yan Yu turned to the person next to him and asked, "Could you please go and take a look at the cliff where I fell?"

Upon hearing Yan Yu's words, the man paused for a moment, then pondered for a while.

“Going there is fine, it’s on the way anyway, but what are you going there for?” The man still looked puzzled.

"I...I just wanted to go and take a look," Yan Yu said to the man after thinking for a while.

Even he himself didn't know why, but on a whim, he suddenly wanted to go there to see it. Perhaps it was because there were memories of him and Shen Jin there.

"Alright then, I'll take you there." The man nodded in agreement without asking any questions.

"Thank you," Yan Yu quickly thanked him.

"No need, it's nothing, just a small matter," the man replied.

Soon after, the man drove the car to the cliff where Yan Yu and Shen Jin had fallen.

"Alright, we're here. You can go now," the man said to Yan Yu as he stopped the car.

Yan Yu quickly thanked him, jumped out of the car, and walked over there.

"Then I'll go over there." Yan Yu took two steps, then turned back to the person and said.

The man waved to Yan Yu, signaling him to come over.

After a pause, the man added, "Remember to come back soon, I still need to go to the city to pick up some goods, don't stay too long."

Upon hearing the man's words, Yan Yu quickly nodded and replied, "I'm just going to take a look. I'll be back soon. If I haven't returned for a long time, you can go ahead."

"Okay." The man didn't refuse and nodded in agreement.

Then Yan Yu left.

The man watched Yan Yu's departing figure, scratched his head, wondering what he suddenly wanted to do there. That place was so dangerous, full of cliffs and precipices, and the forest inside was easy to get lost in.

After thinking for a while, the man still couldn't come up with an answer, so he stopped thinking about it and took out the food he had brought, sitting in the car and starting to eat.

Yan Yu arrived at the cliff where he and Shen Jin had fallen together. Relying on his memory, Yan Yu went to the cave where he and Shen Jin had once hidden together.

“Chen Jin…” Yan Yu stood at the cave entrance, calling Chen Jin’s name softly.

He and Shen Jin were being chased and hid in this cave. It holds many memories for him and Shen Jin.

After standing at the cave entrance for a while, Yan Yu took a deep breath and finally mustered up the courage to go inside.

He was afraid to recall his memories with Shen Jin, because the feeling was truly like being stabbed with a knife.

Finally, Yan Yu went inside. The light inside the cave was dim, and Yan Yu couldn't see very clearly, so he walked in little by little.

Using the light coming from outside the cave, Yan Yu walked slowly. Suddenly, Yan Yu stopped abruptly, his eyes fixed on the front, as if he could hardly believe it.

"How..." Yan Yu finally spoke after a long while, stunned. There were signs that someone had been in the cave in front of him.

Yan Yu's heart skipped a beat. His face first showed shock, then turned to joy. He raised his voice and exclaimed, "It's Chen Jin?!"