Chapter 48 Drafts

A bamboo-handled oilcloth umbrella sheltered a sliver of sunlight. The two walked side by side, gently stepping through the puddles on the bluestone slabs.

Lin Pingzhi casually glanced at You Mingjiang.

The Nuo mask was placed on her face, completely obscuring her features, like looking at flowers through a fog, yet it only made it harder to quell people's curiosity.

His thoughts drifted, and he couldn't help but wonder what kind of face was hidden beneath the mask.

Every time I think about it, my eyes unconsciously drift towards it.

·

You Mingjiang frowned.

There were many lanterns hanging in the alley, with the words "Fuwei" written on them, so you could tell at a glance that you had arrived at the territory of Fuwei Escort Agency.

She frowned, for no other reason than that.

Along the way, the marks of the Green Dragon Society were scattered here and there, and the closer we got to the Fuwei Escort Agency, the more marks we saw.

Could it be that the Azure Dragon Society has also set its sights on the Lin family's heirloom?

You Mingjiang let out a cold laugh in his heart.

Sigh, whatever the Azure Dragon Society's schemes may be, she'll get involved in anything they want to get involved in.

.

Just then, an old man dressed as a gatekeeper appeared at the alley entrance.

An old man carrying a lantern with "Fuwei Escort Agency Branch" written on it came running with small steps, the tassels swaying and creating halos of light.

Upon seeing the person in the distance, Lin Pingzhi waved happily.

You Mingjiang asked in confusion, "You recognize this person?"

Lin Pingzhi shook his head and said bluntly, "I don't recognize him. But judging from his attire, he looks like an old doorman from one of my family's security escort agencies."

The old doorman's eyes lit up, and he raised his voice to call out, "Isn't this the young head镖师 (bodyguard/escort)?"

Lin Pingzhi quickly replied, "It's me!"

The old doorman, his face still wet with rain, didn't bother to wipe it off and hurriedly said to Lin Pingzhi:

"You've come at the perfect time! Master Baili has been waiting impatiently!"

.

Being a gatekeeper in a security escort agency is never an easy job.

The Qingyuan branch is quite large. Even if Fuwei Escort Agency is not up to par, it should still hire someone who can maintain a respectable image, right?

But the old man in front of me was listless and lacked any energy; he even spoke haltingly…

Calling him a handyman is pretty close.

I didn't expect Fuwei Escort Agency's idea to be so unique...

You Mingjiang couldn't help but glance at the old gatekeeper again.

At first glance, there seemed to be nothing wrong, but then I noticed a snake scale stuck to the old gatekeeper's shoe.

Her eyes tightened, and her gaze froze.

Snake scales?

.

Lin Pingzhi panicked upon hearing the old gatekeeper's words.

In the Liaodong region, who doesn't know the name Baili Changqing? People call him "The Great Hero of Liaodong." His Changqing Escort Agency has branches all over the towns and cities of Liaodong. Wherever the escort flag flies, there is protection. The four major escort agencies in the Central Plains also respect his skills and value his reputation, and specially invited him to discuss the important matter of joint escort operations.

If Fuwei can join forces with them this time, coordinating efforts from the north and south, and continue escorting goods, let's see which thief would dare to act so easily.

He knew this was no small matter, so he didn't even bother to open his umbrella and ran towards the security company.

She had only run two steps when she turned back, her hair dripping wet: "Sister, I will never forget your great kindness. Please come with me to meet our parents and rest for a while."

You Mingjiang suspected something was wrong with the old doorman, but seeing his timid and hesitant manner, she knew that this thief was hiding his true identity, disguised as a doorman to lure Lin Pingzhi, with Lin Pingzhi as his target. If she didn't leave, the old doorman wouldn't reveal his true identity, so it was better to hide first and eliminate him as soon as he was exposed. She didn't have time to play hide-and-seek.

He shook his head: "It was nothing, no need for thanks, and no need to disturb your parents. Farewell."

Lin Pingzhi was still unwilling to give up: "But I haven't asked my sister's name yet..."

You Mingjiang was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Just pretend you've never met me, and don't mention me to anyone."

Lin Pingzhi was speechless, and tears welled up in his eyes.

You Mingjiang said no more, turned his back, waved his hand, and walked straight into the rain.

Her footsteps pattered through the puddles, gradually fading into the distance until they were no longer audible.

Lin Pingzhi watched the gradually blurring figure, his heart aching with a bittersweet feeling. He gripped the satchel tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white, and suddenly felt that the bag of pearls was heavier than ever before, digging painfully into his shoulder.

It hurt my heart even more.

.

Just then, a strange, eerie laugh suddenly came from behind: "Hee hee hee."

Lin Pingzhi was startled and hurriedly turned around to look. He saw the old gatekeeper carrying a lantern with his head down, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably, and the lantern in his hand swaying back and forth.

The dim light cast eerie shadows on the ground.

"What... what's wrong with you?" Lin Pingzhi tried to remain calm.

The old doorman slowly raised his head, grinning with a gaping maw, and chuckled at him, looking just like a hanged ghost trying to steal his soul.

Lin Pingzhi felt a chill run down his spine: "Who are you?!"

"I am the Azure Serpent God, one of the Twelve Constellations!"

Suddenly, countless brightly colored snakes emerged from under the old gatekeeper's robe, their heads writhing and their bright red tongues flicking out.

These snakes were clearly highly venomous, but the Jade Serpent God, though unarmed, moved with the agility and suppleness of a snake.

Lin Pingzhi knew at a glance that the visitor meant trouble, and he thought to himself, "I don't know you!"

"Whether you know me or not, what does it matter? As long as you know I'm going to kill you, that's enough!"

The Jade Serpent God's fierce palm strikes aimed at Lin Pingzhi's vital points, and Lin Pingzhi dared not take them head-on.

But the swarm of snakes came on fiercely, and Lin Pingzhi felt a chill run through his body. Every time he dodged a venomous snake, it felt like he had just escaped death. With nowhere left to hide, he had no choice but to roll on the ground, getting soaked to the bone again. The rain blurred Lin Pingzhi's vision. He stood up in a disheveled state, and before he could even catch his breath, the Azure Serpent God missed his attack and came at him again.

"Where do you think you're going to hide?" The Jade Serpent God grabbed his throat.

Just as that withered hand was about to crush his throat, suddenly, several gleaming silver needles flew over with a rustling sound, turning the green-scaled snake into a beehive.

You Mingjiang held the umbrella in his left hand, took a step in mid-air, and used the umbrella to block Lin Pingzhi's way.

Rain streamed down his face, his wet hair clung to his skin, and he breathed heavily, his chest heaving. He murmured unconsciously, "Sister..."

His voice trembled with the shock of surviving a disaster.

You Mingjiang draped the tarpaulin over his head and said, "Stand aside."

"...Sister!" Lin Pingzhi, though filled with fear, forced back his trembling, "Don't let him go!"

You Mingjiang raised her eyes and stared coldly at the Jade Serpent God, her hand gripping the umbrella handle so tightly it creaked.

The bodyguards on both sides sat in the hall, exchanging pleasantries and drinking tea; the atmosphere seemed quite harmonious.

She then turned back into the alley, relieved.

Unexpectedly, upon arriving, he saw the Jade Serpent God about to kill Lin Pingzhi.

In You Mingjiang's eyes, the Twelve Constellations were nothing more than a bunch of clowns who could amount to nothing in the martial arts world. They had no bottom line and relied on their petty tricks to disrupt the peace of the escort agency.

Among the twelve constellations, the White Mountain Lord is not much of a threat, let alone the mere Poisonous Jade Serpent Lord, who is even less capable than the Eagle Claw Team recruited by the branch on July 15th.

These filthy people, back in the day when they were in the Yazhou branch, wouldn't even be worthy of carrying her shoes.

She really hadn't expected that Lin Pingzhi was weaker than she had imagined.

She originally thought that Lin Pingzhi was in such a sorry state because he was a young镖头 (chief镖师, a kind of bodyguard) and was seriously injured, but she didn't expect him to have such a hard time fighting the Jade Serpent God.

"Whoosh—"

With a flick of his sleeve, the Azure Serpent God sent over a dozen brightly colored azure-scaled snakes flying toward You Mingjiang.

The umbrella suddenly dipped downwards.

The bamboo umbrella ribs creaked open, the ribs were made of mortise and tenon joints, and the sharpened bamboo strips spun rapidly, with the blood of a venomous snake blooming faintly on the umbrella surface.

A cold glint flashed in You Mingjiang's eyes. He lightly touched the ground with his feet and lunged forward.

In the blink of an eye, the tip of the umbrella was close to the Jade Serpent God. Taking advantage of the moment, You Mingjiang pressed the spring, and the tip of the umbrella popped out a sharp blade, slashing at the Jade Serpent God's arms.

"Ah—" A shrill scream echoed through the sky, and the lantern at the alley entrance swayed, casting a dark red glow on the puddles.

Yu Mingjiang stood holding an umbrella, looking at the Jade Serpent God Lord who was wailing and rolling on the ground, his face expressionless.

The Jade Serpent God fell into a pool of blood, both arms cleanly severed, dripping with blood.

Before he could even get up and run away, You Mingjiang had already slowly walked over.

Upon seeing this, the Jade Serpent God was so frightened that the hairs on his body stood on end!

He struggled to support his crippled body, kicking his legs to pull himself back.

He takes a step back, and You Mingjiang takes a step forward.

Until his back was against the wall, his mutilated arm overflowing with blood, he had nowhere left to retreat.

He wanted to live, not die.

It was all his fault for being careless and wasting too much breath on Lin Pingzhi, which ultimately sowed the seeds of future trouble.

The Jade Serpent God had lost too much blood and was so cold that his teeth chattered.

Seeing You Mingjiang slowly stop and raise his umbrella sword high, he ignored the pain of his reopened wound, forced himself to sit up, and shouted hysterically, "It wasn't my idea, it was the Azure Dragon Society..."

You Mingjiang paused, then looked at him abruptly.

The Jade Serpent God was overjoyed and was about to plead for himself when the umbrella sword suddenly pierced his left chest, and blood gushed out!

“You…” The Azure Serpent God’s eyes were bloodshot, and he spat out thick black blood.

"Serves you right." You Mingjiang looked at him coldly as the umbrella sword pierced his chest. She spun the umbrella handle, crushing his organs, and then suddenly pulled out the umbrella sword.

With a thud, the body of the Jade Serpent God fell to the ground.

At the same time, a small porcelain bottle with a cork plug rolled to her feet.

You Mingjiang picked up the small porcelain bottle. A yellow label had a line of tiny characters written on it: "Green-scaled snake venom".

.

.

Lin Pingzhi stood there, stunned.

His lips parted slightly, he swallowed, still not quite recovered.

Rain pelted his body, but he was oblivious, his mind replaying the image of the Jade Serpent God being stabbed to death by a sword.

After a long while, he seemed to snap out of a daze and walked towards You Mingjiang. When he reached her, his voice was filled with excitement: "Sister, you're amazing!"

You Mingjiang tucked the small porcelain bottle into his bosom and rubbed the bloodstains from the tip of the umbrella on the ground.

Lin Pingzhi muttered to himself, "If I could have such amazing skills, my parents would be so happy..."

You Mingjiang interrupted him: "This person is the Jade Serpent God Lord of the Twelve Constellations. He has committed many evils and has a high bounty in the martial arts world. The government also wants to get rid of him. After I leave, you can send someone to invite the government to come here."

When Lin Pingzhi heard that she still wanted to leave, he felt as if he had been doused with cold water, and his bright eyes dimmed. He subconsciously took a step forward, his hands clenching involuntarily.

"Sister, will we ever meet again?" Rain or tears streamed down his jade-like cheeks. His voice grew increasingly urgent, rising in pitch, tinged with a sob, "I will become strong, and I won't hold you back anymore..."

You Mingjiang patted his head: "Good boy, once you've mastered martial arts, we'll meet again someday."

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of light flashed in Lin Pingzhi's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by anxiety. He hastily wiped the rain from his face. "Sister, how long will we have to wait?"

"Just practice your skills properly, and I'll test them later."

Lin Pingzhi nodded heavily, as if encouraging himself, "Okay, I definitely won't let my sister down!"

You Mingjiang turned to leave, but he quickly grabbed her sleeve and stammered, "I won't tell anyone about this; it's a secret between my sister and me..."

You Mingjiang felt a warmth in her heart, but still gently pulled away from Lin Pingzhi's hand: "Take care."

The Nuo mask gradually disappeared into the hazy rain.

Lin Pingzhi stood there, gazing in the direction she had left, without moving for a long time.

.

The moss was slippery and crawled out from the cracks in the bricks.

Scattered barking of dogs echoed in the quiet alley.

You Mingjiang secretly escorted Lin Pingzhi all the way. She was worried that since he was disguised as the old doorman, the Fuwei Escort Agency might have been harmed.

Walking along this bluestone path, turning through several deep, narrow alleys, and then around a large archway, you will arrive at West Street.

Upon closer inspection, one can see a large vermilion gate open, with a gold-plated plaque reading "Fuwei Escort Agency Qingyuan Prefecture Branch" hanging high above.

Sitting on the bench by the door was a middle-aged man dressed in a tight-fitting outfit and carrying a sword. He was burly and his eyes revealed the sharpness of a martial artist; he was clearly no ordinary person.

This man was none other than Baili Changqing, the chief镖头 (bodyguard/escort) of Changqing镖局 (escort agency).

His group of bodyguards, their faces flushed, surrounded a porter from the Qingyuan branch of the Fuwei Escort Agency, demanding an explanation.

I vaguely heard someone say, "Your Chief Escort Lin is so arrogant! We came all the way from Liaodong, but he left us hanging here. What kind of alliance is this? He's just playing us for fools!"

"...What a coincidence that all the Lin family members have met at the same time! Are you making a fool of us?!"

"Let's go back to Liaodong!"

Surrounded by people, the镖师 (bodyguard/escort) looked anxious and helpless, wiping away sweat repeatedly, appearing utterly embarrassed. This镖师 had worked for the镖局 (bodyguard/escort agency) for many years, and was known for his honesty and integrity; faced with this situation, he truly didn't know how to handle it.

"The disappearance of the young镖头 is no exaggeration. The chief镖头 has already sent people to investigate. You heroes are all chivalrous figures in the martial world. If you can help, why don't you search together?"

As he spoke, he inwardly groaned.

Chief镖头 Lin has really lost his composure this time. What should we do?

Lin Zhennan, a shrewd businessman, deliberately arranged this meeting in Qingyuan Prefecture. Located at the confluence of three rivers, Qingyuan Prefecture boasts convenient port transportation, making it a prosperous area. The guards escorting valuable goods in this area are all highly skilled in martial arts, and even the porters are all strong and energetic. Lin Zhennan had always heard that Baili Changqing held immense prestige in Liaodong and feared losing face, hence his deliberate arrangement. However, he hadn't expected his son, Lin Ping, to go missing a few days prior, causing Lin Zhennan to lose his composure and frantically search for him.

Thinking of this, the porter inwardly groaned, but outwardly still spoke kindly.

.

You Mingjiang seemed to be deep in thought.

From the moment You Mingjiang saw the old gatekeeper, she sensed something was amiss. Judging from their conversation, Lin Pingzhi must be the only son in the family, who was extremely favored. If that was the case, why didn't his father let him learn that damned "Evil-Repelling Sword Manual"?

Lin Pingzhi leaped up the steps in a few strides, tossing aside the tarpaulin covering his body. He clasped his hands in a fist salute and hurriedly stepped forward, saying, "Heroes, please calm down and let's talk things over."

The surrounded镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) saw this familiar, handsome face and their eyes lit up: "Young镖头 (Young Master Escort)!"

The heroes of Liaodong were taken aback at first. Seeing that he was handsome, but looked like a drowned rat and was in a sorry state, they said, "And who are you? Don't think you can get rid of us just because someone comes along."

Lin Pingzhi quickly explained, "I am Lin Pingzhi, the young head of the Fuwei Escort Agency. The Fuwei Escort Agency has indeed done something wrong this time, causing you all to come from afar only to be treated coldly. It's just that my father was delayed because I was captured by the Purple Whale Gang. Please forgive me, brothers, and please forgive Uncle Baili."

Hearing him say this, the crowd exchanged glances and gradually calmed down.

These bodyguards just want an explanation; if handled properly, they shouldn't be difficult to appease. He's no longer a child, so he should naturally act like an adult.

Baili Changqing carefully examined him and found him to be handsome and refined in speech. Although his face was covered in mud and he had injuries, he sweetly called him "Uncle," and was very generous and open-minded. Baili Changqing immediately felt a good impression of him.

In his early years, Baili Changqing roamed the Fujian region, and after a few years, he moved between Fuzhou and Jianzhou before finally going to Liaodong, where he finally made a name for himself.

Not many people knew about this; only his close friends were aware of it, including Deng Dinghou and Wang Wanwu.

As for the Fuwei Escort Agency, Lin Yuantu was a powerful figure in the southeast back then, and who did not respect him? His son, Lin Zhennan, was also a good man. Although his martial arts skills were not as good as his father's, he was well-liked in the southeast area because of his reputation for being public-spirited and charitable.

Back then, the Green Dragon Society's stronghold was in southern Fujian. At that time, the Green Dragon Society was expanding its territory, just as Baili Changqing was making moves there. The Green Dragon Society was repeatedly thwarted by Baili Changqing, and the two sides clashed quite a few times.

Once, Baili Changqing was tricked and ambushed, almost losing his life. Fortunately, the Fuwei Escort Agency happened to pass by and saved his life.

This time, by establishing a joint venture escort agency and incorporating the Fuwei Escort Agency into his territory, Baili Changqing may well be expressing his gratitude.

Furthermore, if it weren't for that escort mission...

If it weren't for that woman...

Upon seeing this handsome young man, Baili Changqing's heart suddenly tightened, and he vaguely saw Jiang Yunxin's figure again.

I wonder how she's been doing all these years raising her child?

Years have passed since we last met. That child must have grown into a handsome young man by now.

...

Thinking of this, Baili Changqing softened his tone and patted his shoulder: "So you are Pingzhi's nephew. Don't panic, it's good that the misunderstanding has been cleared up. My brothers are also impatient, don't take it to heart. But, what are you doing..."

Hearing his leader say this, Lin Pingzhi breathed a sigh of relief; the turmoil at Fuwei Escort Agency was temporarily over.

He smiled wryly and invited everyone inside: "This is a long story, my friends, let's go back to the hall and continue our tea."

After everyone entered the mansion, the escort quietly leaned close to Lin Pingzhi's ear, gave him a thumbs up, and whispered, "It's good that the young head镖师 arrived in time. He's really becoming more and more like your grandfather."

Seeing that the situation had calmed down, You Mingjiang silently turned and left.

Lin Pingzhi seemed to sense something, turned back and looked at it deeply, finally sighed softly and ordered the door to be closed.

.

You Mingjiang walked out of the alley, holding an umbrella.

Suddenly a firework exploded, bringing her back to her senses. She murmured, "I forgot, today is the Lower Yuan Festival."

The Lower Yuan Festival is the birthday of the Water God.

Taoist temples are holding religious ceremonies, with Taoist priests chanting scriptures and worshipping. Many people are releasing paper lanterns along the riverbank.

I heard that some local gentry have prepared several puppet shows featuring medicinal herbs tonight.

Ding Linglin dragged Ye Kai forward, saying, "Hurry up, I haven't seen the drug-powered puppet yet!"

Ye Kai said helplessly, "Miss Ding, what's the rush? The drugged puppet isn't going anywhere."

As he spoke, he gently poked Ding Linglin's waist, gesturing for her to glance at Fu Hongxue.

Fu Hongxue, pale-faced and wrapped in a black fur coat, walked slowly through the bustling crowd.

His figure looked desolate and lonely, and his once bright, solitary eyes had lost their former brilliance.

Ding Linglin couldn't bear it, so she poked Ye Kai's waist and tried her best to lower her voice: "Fu Hongxue is still the same as before. What's wrong with him?"

Ye Kai wasn't quite sure what was going on either.

However, after Fu Hongxue chased You Mingjiang out, he developed a high fever upon returning and remained delirious for several days. When he woke up, he was in this dejected state.

He couldn't tell Ding Linglin about You Mingjiang, since You Mingjiang was the murderer of her third brother. Ding Linglin had already been heartbroken for a long time, and he couldn't bear to rub salt into her wounds.

Ye Kai tapped her nose with his finger, "Stop fooling around with me all the time, let Fu Hongxue have some peace and quiet."

Fu Hongxue could hear the conversation between the two people.

Without saying a word, he silently walked to the other end.

Ye Kai sighed, but ultimately did not speak to stop him.

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You Mingjiang strolled around the neighborhood, put her umbrella into her bamboo medicine basket, and took off her Nuo mask to get some fresh air.

There was a vendor selling roasted chestnuts nearby, and the aroma was so enticing that it reached her nose from a distance. She took a string of coins and followed the flow of people forward.

Fu Hongxue had no intention of lingering by the river and was about to turn and leave when a figure suddenly flashed past him. He glanced at it unintentionally, but was struck dumb, frozen on the spot.

Amidst the surging crowd, only one person remained in his field of vision.

He stared blankly at the familiar figure.

She was dressed in a blue robe, carrying a bamboo medicine basket on her back, and she seemed to be full of interest in whatever she saw in the market. Even just seeing her profile, he had already filled in the blanks of her face in his mind.

Fu Hongxue trembled like a leaf, tears already streaming down his face. His voice was hoarse as he struggled to call out, "...Ming Jiang!"

You Mingjiang subconsciously turned around: "Hmm?"

She turned her head and saw Fu Hongxue standing in the dim light, staring intently at her.

He looks like he's lost a lot of weight.

The black fur coat swayed on his thin body, and he had stubble on his chin and dark circles under his eyes, looking extremely haggard.

Fu Hongxue forced back his tears, pushed through the bustling crowd, and walked towards her step by step.

Every step was filled with disbelief and caution; getting too close risked being an illusion, while not moving forward risked missing out.

sky!

This person was actually Fu Hongxue.

You Mingjiang's mind went blank for a moment, and she stared at him in a daze.

Her heart was filled with mixed emotions, a thousand words unspoken, yet she didn't know where to begin. She looked at Fu Hongxue, her lips moved slightly, but no sound came out.

The surrounding noise gradually faded away, and it seemed as if only the two of them remained in the whole world.

Amidst the bustling crowds, she was like a dazzling lighthouse in the darkness, guiding his voyage.

Her clothes were lifted and then fell back down by the wind, and the way she tilted her head was exactly the same as in my memory.

Three zhang, two zhang, one zhang.

My heart suddenly exploded in my chest with a dull pain, my knees went weak uncontrollably, yet I still kept leaning forward.

Even from a distance of ten feet, Fu Hongxue felt intimidated and stopped in his tracks.

Does the miracle of the dead coming back to life really exist in this world?

Have the knees worn raw from kneeling under the moon these past few days truly earned the mercy of Heaven?

Or perhaps he's having another nightmare, and when he wakes up, he'll be back to sleep on a pillow of locust trees?

He desperately wanted to rush over, but he was also afraid that if he did, he would only catch a gust of wind.

Fu Hongxue bit the tip of her tongue, and the taste of rust immediately filled her mouth.

pain.

It wasn't a dream after all.

This broken body was always like this; whenever he experienced extreme joy or sorrow, he would convulse and spasm, his lips turning white, and he could collapse to the ground at any moment, foaming at the mouth like a convulsing goat.

But he didn't care anymore.

He would gladly give his heart if she would stop for him.

After staring at each other for a long time, Fu Hongxue's eyes turned red. Suddenly, he pushed through the throng of people, his steps trembling, without dodging or avoiding, and headed straight for her.

In this way, it is inevitable that some friction will occur with those around them.

Some people shoved and cursed at him, and a peddler's carrying pole brushed against his forehead, but he was oblivious and deaf to their pleas. He staggered forward, his eyes fixed on the figure.

I was afraid that if I looked away even slightly, she would turn into a handful of starlight and disappear before my eyes.

This expression reminded You Mingjiang of a child chasing butterflies. The child was clearly anxious, but he held his breath and moved forward, afraid of scaring the butterflies away. Even breathing heavily became a problem.

Yu Mingjiang couldn't bear it and lifted her foot to walk towards him, but after only half a step, a look of tears, like those of a startled deer, appeared in his eyes. It was a look of despair, trepidation, and fear.

She dared not move, and could only stand there, waiting for him to walk towards her.

He walked over, limping and unsteady, like a toddler just learning to walk.

With only a few feet between them, he suddenly opened his arms and hugged her tightly. His arms were wrapped around her tightly, as if she had grasped a lifeline, yet he still couldn't stop trembling all over.

The familiar scent of purple gromwell lingers around my nose; it's the living, breathing Yu Mingjiang.

He said with tears streaming down his face, "I...I found it."

His broken sobs were mixed with a little blood and foam. He hunched over and buried his face in the crook of her shoulder.

It must have been the moonlight of the Lower Yuan Festival that was so heavy that it bent his spine, which had been lonely for nineteen years.

Fu Hongxue recalled that when he read "The Song of Everlasting Regret" before, he always thought that "searching to the ends of the earth" was too exaggerated and pretentious. But at this moment, he deeply understood the desolation of the words.

Longing is like the rain hanging from the eaves; the sound of the rain tapping away seeps into the depths of your heart.

Every reunion in this world is, in a way, a deliberate search.

Why bother traversing the heavens and the underworld?

But the prayer mat in front of the shrine at the Guandi Temple made him heartbroken and distraught, and caused him to wake up from nightmares countless times with tears in his eyes.

It was all his greed that led to these mistakes.

He is willing to step back into the position of his brothers and sisters.

He only wanted her to live, and from then on, he never dared to be greedy again.

.

You Mingjiang was startled by the sudden hug.

Seeing this, passersby cast surprised glances. No matter how wonderful the drug-powered puppet was, it couldn't be as entertaining as this scene.

She stood there awkwardly, her hands outstretched, feeling embarrassed and at a loss amidst the laughter around her.

You Mingjiang stammered, "Fu... Hongxue?"

She really wanted to pry his arms off and remind him not to hug and cuddle in public.

But a hot tear landed on her neck, causing a slight stinging sensation.

You Mingjiang didn't know what to do.

He was crying and laughing at the same time, tears of indistinguishable between joy and sorrow falling one by one into the crook of her neck.

Fu Hongxue's voice trembled slightly: "You're not dead... As long as you're alive, that's enough..."

A warm tremor surged through his chest.

Like a fledgling bird frozen stiff in a long, cold night, it finally welcomes the dawn.

.

With her hand suspended in mid-air, her fingertips curled, You Mingjiang hesitated for a long time before gently hugging him back.

Amidst the bustling crowd and surging noise, his words, like a morning bell and evening drum, pierced through the layers of clamor, each word clear and distinct.

Fu Hongxue felt very happy at that moment.

All the little moments of beauty in his life suddenly ascended to heaven and became this most dazzling person.

He could clearly hear You Mingjiang's heartbeat. He didn't speak, but just listened quietly to her heartbeat.

Only living people have a heartbeat.

Yu Mingjiang panicked and gently patted his back: "Don't cry."

Hearing her words, Fu Hongxue's tears flowed even more, and she quickly turned her face away, "I...I'm not crying."

Not wanting her to see his vulnerable side, he covered his face with his hands, but tears slowly seeped through his fingers.

He finally broke down in tears.

You Mingjiang raised her hand, wanting to gently wipe away the tears from the corner of his eyes: "You are a man."

“In front of you,” Fu Hongxue grasped her hand, clasped his hands together to his lips, his voice muffled and choked with sobs, “I feel like I can never be strong.”

You Mingjiang hesitated and asked, "Aren't you angry?"

"...Angry?" He slowly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot. "Angry about what?"

"I'm not dead... then all the tears you shed for me were for nothing?" You Mingjiang struggled internally. "Don't keep it to yourself. Even if you slap me a few times, I'll take it and never fight back."

Fu Hongxue felt a sharp pain in his heart; losing her was truly unbearable.

Every moment was incredibly agonizing.

If shedding all your tears could bring back the most important person, then there would be countless Meng Jiangnus in the world.

Tears welled up in his eyes, and a sharp pain shot through his heart. He didn't speak, but simply gazed at her silently.

You Mingjiang understood.

"Thank you." A warm feeling welled up in You Mingjiang's heart.

Without realizing it, her fingertips gently touched Fu Hongxue's hand.

Her fingertips were pleasantly warm, and her fingertips, calloused from years of gathering herbs, had a rough texture. In contrast, Fu Hongxue's hands were pale and cold, as if frozen by frost, devoid of any warmth.

Fu Hongxue subconsciously closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly, as if she was trying her best to suppress the surging emotions in her heart.

A faint scent of purple gromwell wafted from You Mingjiang, lingering around his nose, while a warm sensation spread from his clasped hands, reaching the softest part of his heart.

Not far away, a woman selling hairpins was idly tending her stall, taking in the whole scene.

She watched with great interest, muttering to herself, "Oh my, this is so interesting! It's even more addictive than eating sunflower seeds!"

You Mingjiang: "..."

Fu Hongxue: "..."

“…It was my rashness.” You Mingjiang finally came to her senses and slowly withdrew her hand.

After withdrawing her hand, she let it hang naturally at her side, as if the little incident had never happened.

Fu Hongxue was slightly taken aback, as if he hadn't yet recovered from that brief moment of warmth. Then, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but he swallowed it back.

He lowered his eyes, his fingers unconsciously curling slightly, as if trying to hold onto the fleeting warmth.

.

Just then, a faint sound came from the sky.

In an instant, the fireworks exploded with a deafening roar, and the intense light surged like a tidal wave, instantly illuminating the entire night sky.

You Mingjiang coughed lightly, his gaze still fixed on the sky, and introduced, "The medicine-powered puppet."

His voice carried a hint of anticipation and excitement.

Fu Hongxue responded softly, "Mm."

His voice was deep, yet it couldn't hide his curiosity.

The two walked towards the riverbank, one in front of the other.

People flocked in from all directions, excited shouts erupting from the crowd, their hurried steps filled with barely contained joy.

As one section of the fuse burned out, a deafening roar erupted, and fireworks burst forth in the night sky, as bright as day.

The sound of the flame core exploding was continuous, and Nezha, riding on his Wind and Fire Wheels, swiftly soared into the air from among the bamboo branches and flowering trees.

Amidst the howling wind, the Hun Tian Ling fluttered wildly, and then, celestial maidens and divine generals cleaved through layers of smoke and mist, shining brilliantly.

It truly lives up to the line, "The east wind releases a thousand trees of flowers at night, and blows down stars like rain."

Yu Mingjiang's eyes were filled with amazement as she murmured, "Is this the drug-powered puppet?!"

The glow of the fireworks illuminated Fu Hongxue's stern face, his eyes filled with shock and wonder.

When Fu Hongxue's gaze fell on You Mingjiang's bright eyes and saw her excited expression, he felt a surge of warmth.

It's like drinking a cup of warm yellow wine with ginger and preserved plum on a cold winter's day.

The wine slid down my throat, warming my whole body and filling my heart with a blissful feeling of being enveloped in warmth.

②Suddenly turning around, I found him there, amidst the dazzling lights and fireworks.

-----------------------

Author's Note: [Good Luck Lotus] "The east wind releases a thousand trees of flowers at night, and blows down stars like rain," is from Xin Qiji's "Green Jade Table - Lantern Festival."

[Good Luck Lianlian] Quotation from an ancient poem ①: "On the roads of the nine provinces, there are no jackals or tigers; on long journeys, there is no need for an auspicious day." This is from Du Fu's "Two Poems Recalling the Past".

[Good Luck Lianlian] Quotation from ancient poetry ②: "The river is clear and the sea is calm, the times are peaceful and the year is bountiful" is from Zheng Xi's "Ode to the Prince in the Sun".

[Let me see] Thank you to the following little angels for the nutrient solution and the hand grenade:

[Heart] "Moon Viewing" irrigates with +2 nutrient solution; "Quiet" irrigates with +2 nutrient solution; "75231239" irrigates with +5 nutrient solution. [Heart]

[Heart] "Gardenia" threw 1 grenade [Heart][Heart] "Jessica" irrigated with +7 nutrient solution, "Autumn Brew" irrigated with +1 nutrient solution [Heart]