Chapter 397 No matter how many lifetimes, no matter how many times

Xiao Mo personally wrote a letter and sent the news of his father's death to the Qin royal palace via flying sword.

Upon hearing the news of Xiao Shi's passing, Qin Shengtian, the ruler of Qin, sat alone in his study for a very long time.

Soon, news of the death of Prince Zhenbei, Xiao Shi, spread throughout the Qin court and then rapidly spread throughout the land.

Everyone knows that when Xiao Shi passed away, he passed the position of Prince of Zhenbei to Xiao Mo.

All fifty-seven generals, four hundred thousand Snow-Treading Dragon Riders, and one million two hundred thousand Northern Wilderness infantrymen pledged their allegiance to Xiao Mo.

Including Xiao Mo's former fiefdoms and the fiefdoms of the generals in the Northern Wilderness, the three states of the Northern Wilderness and the Wei territory were now all under Xiao Mo's control.

Xiao Mo could establish a kingdom at any time.

But everyone unanimously believed that Xiao Mo would not rebel.

The King of Qin quickly issued an edict—Xiao Mo's title would remain hereditary and unalterable, still the title of Frost King, but he would be appointed as the General Who Guards the North, succeeding his father's original position and managing the three northern states and the northern army.

No one had any objection to Xiao Mo becoming the new Prince of Zhenbei.

Everyone thought this was a matter of course.

Of course, they dared not object.

After all, apart from Xiao Mo, the Northern Wilderness army would not recognize anyone else.

"I came to the battlefield, and I will die on the battlefield. My funeral should be simple."

At Xiao Shi's request, Xiao Mo held a funeral for Xiao Shi in the Northern Wilderness.

The participants were soldiers from the Northern Wilderness and officials from various cities in the three states of the Northern Wilderness.

There were no sycophants from the imperial court at the funeral.

Xiao Mo also did not bring his mother and Si Yao to the capital.

The reason is quite simple.

In his last words, Xiao Shi said he did not want any women with red eyes, acting coy and awkward, to be at his funeral.

Xiao Mo knew that his father simply thought women were prone to crying, but he didn't like anyone shedding tears at his funeral.

However, Xiao Mo sent a letter to his elder brother, Xiao Yichuan.

However, the reply Xiao Mo received was written by the sect leader of the Shaking Mountain Sect.

The sect leader of the Shaking Mountain Sect stated that Xiao Yichuan is currently in seclusion attempting to break through to the Nascent Soul stage and is unable to attend the funeral, asking Xiao Mo for forgiveness.

Xiao Mo could understand this.

The breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage is extremely dangerous and cannot be taken lightly. If the eldest brother were to learn of his father's passing at this time, it would greatly affect his Dao heart. At best, his Dao would be damaged; at worst, he would perish.

However, Xiao Mo sighed.

Who knows how many years it will be before my elder brother emerges from seclusion? I wonder what his feelings will be when he learns of our father's passing.

After Xiao Shi was buried.

Xiao Mo raised the wine jar and poured the mulberry wine in front of his father's tombstone.

Behind Xiao Mo, the 1.6 million-strong Northern Wilderness army also poured out their Sangluo wine and stood solemnly.

On the eighth day of the funeral, Xiao Mo finished his mourning period and officially took over all the institutions in the Northern Wilderness.

Because before his death, Xiao Shi had made various preparations for the handover, clearing away some uncertainties in various organizations and removing obstacles for Xiao Mo.

Therefore, these organizations cooperated with Xiao Mo.

After learning of the death of the King of Zhenbei, the states of Qi and Zhao saw this as a good opportunity. They believed that the Northern Wilderness Army might be thrown into temporary chaos, and they wanted to take advantage of the situation to launch a counterattack and reclaim their lost cities.

But Xiahou Nan, Li Jing, and Zhao Guang had already thought of this.

Not only did the states of Qi and Zhao fail to recapture a single city, but they were also ambushed by Xiahou Nan and Li Jing, resulting in heavy losses for both armies.

For a time, the states of Qi and Zhao became docile again.

After Xiao Mo returned to the Qin capital, many people wanted to go to the Frost King's Mansion to comfort him and express their concern.

However, Xiao Mo did not meet with a single court official, nor did he accept a single gift.

Upon learning that Xiao Mo had returned to the capital, Qin Siyao hurriedly returned to the Frost Prince's Mansion.

In Qin Siyao's view, this was the death of Xiao Mo's biological father, and she was very worried about Xiao Mo's condition.

However, Xiao Mo just smiled and gently tapped her head, saying, "I'm fine."

However, Qin Siyao knew that Xiao Mo was not really alright.

Although Xiao Mo didn't have much contact with his father, Xiao Shi was still his father no matter what.

How could the children be okay after their father's death?

This can be seen from the fact that Xiao Mo often spends his days lost in thought in the courtyard.

Qin Siyao didn't know what she should do, but every day after taking care of her mother and making her drink her medicine, she would run from the palace to the Frost Prince's Mansion to stay by Xiao Mo's side.

At mealtimes, Qin Siyao would cook for Xiao Mo.

In the afternoon, Qin Siyao would also make tea and some pastries for Xiao Mo.

If Xiao Mo was lost in thought in the courtyard, Qin Siyao would sit beside him and keep him company.

"Aren't you tired of running back and forth between the palace and the Frost Prince's residence every day?" Xiao Mo asked the girl beside him with a smile.

"No, I don't think so." Qin Siyao shook her head. "You and Mother are the people I care about most. How can I be tired of taking care of the people I care about most? Besides, I am your fiancée, and I will be with you for the rest of my life."

Looking at the woman beside him, Xiao Mo felt a slight stirring in his heart. He slowly reached out his arm, pulled her into his embrace, and gently stroked her hair.

Qin Siyao loved being held by Xiao Mo. She snuggled close to him, as if trying to melt her soft body into his bones, and rubbed her fair cheek against his chest.

Xiao Mo calmly looked at the flowers, plants, and trees in the courtyard, while Qin Siyao quietly listened to his heartbeat.

After a while, Qin Siyao raised her head and looked at Xiao Mo with blinking eyes: "Xiao Mo, I think I said something wrong."

"Did you say something wrong?" Xiao Mo asked.

"Didn't I just say I wanted to be with you for a lifetime? But I've realized that being with you for a lifetime doesn't seem like enough. Taoism and Buddhism both have the concept of reincarnation, so we have many, many more lifetimes to go." Qin Siyao blinked her eyes and said earnestly.

"So?" Xiao Mo gently lifted Qin Siyao's pert nose.

"So, from now on, in every reincarnation of yours, I will find you and stay with you until you get tired of me," Qin Siyao said earnestly, leaning on Xiao Mo's shoulder.

"I won't bother you, but reincarnation is not such a simple matter."

Xiao Mo's lips curled up slightly as he joked.

"I've heard that reincarnation involves crossing the Bridge of Helplessness and drinking Meng Po's soup. After drinking it, you'll forget your past life. What if I forget you?"

"It's okay."

Qin Siyao pressed herself against Xiao Mo's chest, speaking with full confidence.

It's okay if you forget me, because I will always remember you.

Even if I drank the Meng Po soup.

I will always remember you.

And then, I will find you.

Finally, I'll make you fall in love with me.

No matter how many lifetimes.

No matter how many times.

(End of this chapter)