Chapter 211 Farewell He won't come back

“Lou Cangyu, it’s Lou Cangyu again.” Mu Chenbi clenched his fists. “Guan Ye, this man is ruthless. He killed Xiao Ma, and I’m afraid he will soon think about where the rest of us are. The dead are gone, but the living must go on. Think of Ji Fang, and Miss Mei… If we don’t leave now, I’m afraid they won’t be able to leave either.”

Guan Ye wiped away her tears and got up to leave. Suddenly, she saw something, took a few steps, bent down, and picked up a paper package. The package was warm and emitted a strong, sweet aroma. Guan Ye remembered this smell. It was when Song Mian was still alive. She sat on the steps of the fried cake shop, swaying her head as she ate a whole one. The skin was soft and chewy, and the filling was fragrant. It was exactly the same as Xiao Ma's description. No, it was even better than Xiao Ma's description. She had promised Xiao Ma that she would bring him a few when she went to the market. She had gone back and forth on West Street countless times, but she had never kept her promise.

“This is…” Mu Chenbi recognized the paper package from the fried cake shop, “Little Ma went back to the city… just to…”

"I'm leaving." Guan Ye picked up the still-warm oil paper package, took one last look at Xiao Ma's tragic silhouette, wiped away her tears, and walked towards the alley entrance without looking back.

dockside

Urged on by the boatman, Ji Fang finally pulled the reluctant Mei Xiaoqing onto the boat. Mei Xiaoqing pleaded with the boatman to wait just a little longer, just a little longer. Ji Fang kept looking into the distance, a vague sense of unease creeping into his heart. But he firmly believed that Xiao Ma was an all-powerful and intelligent man who could turn danger into safety no matter how difficult the situation. He was certain that this would be the case.

"Miss Mei." Ji Fang hesitated, wanting to persuade Mei Xiaoqing not to wait any longer. He knew that Mei Xiaoqing would jump off the ship without hesitation for Xiao Ma, so how could he let Mei Xiaoqing abandon Xiao Ma? At worst, Ji Fang secretly resolved to live and die together.

The sound of running footsteps reached his ears. Ji Fang looked up at the sound, his eyes filled with surprise, and pointed to the approaching figures, saying, "They're here, they're here."

Mei Xiaoqing turned and ran towards the edge of the boat. "Xiao Ma, Xiao Ma?" The person's voice gradually became clearer. Mei Xiaoqing rubbed her teary eyes. "Where's Xiao Ma?"

Guan Ye waved the oil paper package in her hand at Mei Xiaojing, "So Xiao Ma went to buy you fried cakes. There was a long queue outside the shop..."

"Where's Little Horseman?" Mei Xiaojing searched behind Guan Ye.

Mu Chenbi looked at Guan Ye with a hint of nervousness. Guan Ye smiled and said easily, "Xiao Ma just bought the fried cakes. He remembered that he had something to discuss with your cousin and was worried that he couldn't be in two places at once. He just happened to see me and the Crown Prince, so he asked us to bring the fried cakes to you. He went to the Mei residence first."

Mei Xiaoqing shook her head and said, "Impossible. What could be more important than seeing me off? Why does he have to go see my cousin now? No, I have to go find him." As Mei Xiaoqing was about to get off the boat, Guan Ye gave Ji Fang a look. Ji Fang didn't have time to think and suddenly grabbed Mei Xiaoqing's arm and pulled her back.

"This concerns the lives of over a hundred people in Xingguo Ward," Guan Ye blurted out. "Xiao Ma suddenly thought of a way to save them, and we must discuss it with Young Master Mei as soon as possible." Seeing that Mei Xiaojing was skeptical, Guan Ye nudged Mu Chenbi with her elbow.

Mu Chenbi quickly chimed in, "That's right, Xiao Ma's method is excellent. Time is of the essence, the mission is heavy, the lives of over a hundred people... we can't afford to delay, Miss Mei..."

"Really?" Ji Fang's eyes lit up with hope. "Little Ma really came up with a way to save everyone? That's great!" Ji Fang waved his fist. "As expected of the smartest person, Miss Mei, you can rest assured. There's nothing he can't do. Once we've saved everyone, he'll definitely come looking for us."

Guan Ye forced a natural expression, "Of course it's true, Ji Fang. Xiao Ma asked me to tell you that you must, you absolutely must, take good care of Miss Mei."

"Of course." Ji Fang patted his chest. "If I lose even a single hair, he'll slash me with his sword. I, Ji Fang, am a man of my word, and I'll protect Miss Mei even at the cost of my life. When we reunite, we'll drink until we drop at my little courtyard."

Mei Xiaojing's cherry lips turned pale, and she hesitated to say anything more. Guan Ye saw that she seemed to believe her, so she stood on tiptoe and handed her the oil paper package. "This is what Xiao Ma bought. He left it for you to eat on the road. This is what Xiao Ma has been craving. You two... eat it while it's hot."

Seeing Mei Xiaoqing frozen in shock, Ji Fang hooked the thin rope with his large hand, weighed it in his hand, and chuckled, "So much? Then thank you, Xiao Ma."

"Boatman," Guan Ye said to the boatman who was raising the sail, "the wind is picking up, it's time to set sail."

"Let's go!"

"Guan Ye." Mei Xiaoqing called out to Guan Ye, who was about to turn around.

Guan Ye's heart tightened, her eyes instantly reddened, and her nose stung with tears, but she dared not answer.

“Guan Ye.” Mei Xiaojing held back her tears. “Did Xiao Ma eat it by himself? Every time he wants to eat fried cakes, I stop him. I say that fried cakes are too filling, and if he eats too much, he won’t be able to eat anything else. Xiao Ma has never tried this before, has he?”

Guan Ye blinked and two lines of clear tears fell. For a moment, she felt that she could no longer act. She was about to open her mouth and tell Mei Xiaojing that Xiao Ma was dead and that Xiao Ma could never go back to Canglang Island.

“We all ate it,” Mu Chenbi said calmly. “We ate it with Xiao Ma. The first batch of fried cakes was the crispiest and softest. You’ll know once you’ve tasted it.”

The sails were hoisted, and the ship sailed into the depths of the sea, the salty sea breeze scraping against everyone's skin. Seabirds circled overhead, calling and lingering, as if singing a farewell song.

"Guan Ye, tell Xiao Ma to come find us soon... sooner rather than later!" Mei Xiaojing shouted loudly to Guan Ye from the edge of the boat.

A gust of wind startled Mei Xiaoqing's tears, which scattered onto Ji Fang's bare hand. Ji Fang lovingly touched it, and taking advantage of Mei Xiaoqing's inattention, he lightly licked the girl's teardrops with the tip of his tongue, savoring the taste as sweet as honey.

Following the direction of his hand, Ji Fang's gaze suddenly froze. He saw… he saw what appeared to be a smear of red on the oil paper wrapping… red? Ji Fang's fingertip gently touched it; the red was moist and sticky. He brought it closer to his nose, and smelled blood… it was blood… fresh blood…

Blood…where did this blood come from…This is fried dough cake that Xiao Ma bought himself, fresh out of the pan and still warm…Why is it stained with blood…and whose blood is it…?

"Guan Ye!" Ji Fang cried out in a hoarse voice. "Guan Ye..." Ji Fang suddenly understood something, and the word "Guan Ye" choked in his throat, and he could not utter another word.

Little Horse...it's Little Horse...Little Horse...it won't come back.

Guan Ye raised her arms high, waving them vigorously at the departing ship behind her. Finally, unable to control herself, she squatted down on the ground and cried out in anguish, "Little Ma...why, why did this happen..."

Mu Chenbi watched the large ship disappear from sight, stroking Guan Ye's hair repeatedly with his palm, tears welling up in his dark eyes.

“Ji Fang.” Mei Xiaoqing turned around, looking sullen and unhappy. “Do you think Guan Ye and the others are hiding something from me? Why didn’t Xiao Ma come to see me off? He told me he would definitely come to see me off.”

Ji Fang covered the bloodstains on the oil paper package, baring his teeth, and said, "You still don't understand Xiao Ma. He's always like this, doing whatever comes to mind. So many lives have been lost in Xingguo Ward; once he comes up with a plan, he won't wait a moment longer. Brothers and women can't stop him. Besides, isn't there a way?" Ji Fang continued, "There's a saying, 'If love between two people lasts forever... then what does it matter, what does it matter...'"

"Why should we care about being together every day and night?" Mei Xiaoqing said, amused and exasperated. "Ji Fang, your knowledge is nothing special."

Ji Fang lowered his head, not daring to look directly into Mei Xiaoqing's innocent eyes. Just as he was about to leave, Mei Xiaoqing suddenly reached out her hand to him, "Take it out."

"What?" Ji Fang was startled.

"Fried cakes!" Mei Xiaoqing said, annoyed by his clumsiness. "I told you to eat them while they're hot, but you've almost ruined them. These were bought for me by Xiao Ma, why aren't you taking them out?"

"Oh, oh." Ji Fang hurriedly untied the thin rope, picked up a piece of fried cake and handed it to Mei Xiaojing, while fiddling with the blood-stained oil paper, crumpling it into pulp and flicking it into the churning deep sea.

Mei Xiaoqing held the still-warm fried cake in both hands, opened her mouth and took a big bite: "It's just a fried cake, how delicious can it be? Is it worth thinking about all day? And I even had to go and buy it myself..." With one bite, the filling burst into her mouth. Mei Xiaoqing chewed and savored it with care, and her eyes gradually became moist again.

“Ji Fang,” Mei Xiaoqing said, twitching her round, onion-like nose, “this fried cake…it’s so delicious.”

Yes, how could it not be good if it's what Xiao Ma has been longing for? Ji Fang leaned against the mast, picked up the fried cake and stuffed it into his mouth. He bit too fast and sprayed the bean paste all over himself. Mei Xiaoqing looked at Ji Fang, who looked like a cat covered in confetti, and chuckled. Ji Fang watched Mei Xiaoqing finally break into a smile and then laughed too. As they laughed, they both laughed until tears streamed down their faces.

Holding his blood-dripping sword, Lou Cangyu had already walked half a street. His body was stained with blood, and those who saw him avoided him. Lou Cangyu seemed to enjoy the thrill of being feared. The moment the blade pierced Xiao Ma's heart, he felt Xiao Ma's heartbeat gradually slow down. In that pause, Xiao Ma's pupils dilated, his face frozen in a look of resentment. Unlike killing Song Mian, that night was dark and the alley was deserted. He couldn't see the expression on Song Mian's face. The sword to the throat was swift and decisive. Perhaps Song Mian died without knowing what had happened, or why he was dying… No, he knew so much. The more he knew, the faster he died. He just didn't know who had killed him. Perhaps… Song Mian would hold someone else responsible for this.

Lou Cangyu grew increasingly smug; so this was the exhilarating feeling of killing. He examined the still-wet bloodstains on his sword, gently pressing his fingertips against them, rubbing the sticky residue, a smile playing on his lips.

Little Ma, the Little Ma who had never looked down on him, finally died at his hands. Wait! Lou Cangyu suddenly remembered something—Little Ma's fried dough cake… The situation was urgent, everyone was on edge, and Little Ma was usually cautious. How could he have given himself away for something as trivial as fried dough cake? Why did he risk his life to sneak into West Street? And… Lou Cangyu closed his eyes and recalled that during their fight, Little Ma had looked up at the sky several times… Why was he looking up at the sky? What was different about today compared to usual?

Today…it’s foggy. Lou Cangyu suddenly opened his eyes. Yes, there’s a really thick fog…so thick that the market on West Street opened late today. Why would Xiao Ma care about the fog?

They were leaving Rongdu! By boat, they were going to leave by water! Yes, it must be. The fog was thick, and the boat could only leave when the fog cleared. It was this persistent fog that had delayed Xiao Ma, forcing him to risk returning to West Street. Fried dough cakes, the fried dough cakes he had longed for countless times, Xiao Ma was determined to eat them before leaving.

The fog lifted, the boat set sail, which is why he looked up at the sky several times… Lou Cangyu took a few deep breaths to calm the surging emotions in his heart. Rongdu Wharf, the wharf from Xingguofang, they must be waiting for Xiao Ma there! They must still be there.