Chapter 28
Such a grand completion and commemoration ceremony awakened this land once again and reconnected the two neighboring ethnic groups. From then on, this land, soaked in prayers and sweat, was no longer a silent border, but a symbiotic land that carries shared memories and hopes for the future.
Jia'er was thrilled as he walked back with his mother that day. He had never seen such a shocking and captivating moment since he was born. He savored the experience as he walked, wishing he could dig another river for his mother on the spot.
Of course, that opportunity is gone.
Yinglong was unaware that the child had this idea. After taking him back to the Muyun tribe, she let him go and left him to ponder it on his own.
Jia'er thus briefly regained her freedom.
On his free time, he would run around after Aono and the others without feeling tired at all, because he wanted to be with them.
The day of parting was approaching, and although no one said it, he already had a vague premonition in his heart.
This premonition comes from one's natural reaction.
For example, when he walks through the Muyun tribe now, he finds that he has become much more observant. He used to think that the tribe was beautiful, but he never realized how beautiful it was. Everywhere there are green mountains and clear waters, and even in secluded places there are flowers everywhere.
How beautiful! He has lived in such a beautiful place for so long.
Watching rows of birds fly overhead, Jia'er lay on the grass, lost in thought.
He now feels as light and airy as a feather, as if all his burdens have been lifted, but there is still one last thing on his mind that he cannot let go of.
He sometimes asked Aono:
"Qingye, do you really only offer beef and mutton in your sacrifices, and nothing else?"
"Of course not! What else do we need to put in?"
"For example, what about those that can breathe?"
"Breathe? No, maybe add some wild fruit."
Jia'er refused to give up:
"Really? They don't even release any live animals?"
“How can a living thing stand still? Are you going to tie it up? Besides, why would we need live calves or lambs for sacrifices? Our ancestors didn’t eat them,” Jinbao said.
"Sacrifices are meant to be eaten by people?" Jia'er asked in surprise.
"No, I mean in terms of form. In terms of form, it's for our ancestors to eat. Why do we need to put live animals in the food? Wouldn't it be better to just put beef and mutton in?" Jinbao was getting anxious. Why couldn't he understand what he was saying?
Jia'er listened thoughtfully.
They exchanged glances upon seeing this.
Why has Xiaolong become so stupid again after just a few days?
But he's always been like this... Oh well, considering he's always been like this, I'll just let it go.
Unable to get an answer from here, Jia'er had no choice but to put the matter aside for the time being. His immediate priority was to pack his bags with his mother.
Mother started packing her luggage, and he also started packing his own things.
In late spring, when the grass is growing and the orioles are singing, Xiaolong packs his clothes one by one, packing one piece here and one piece there. In his spare time, he looks out the window and finds the scenery outside pleasant.
This shouldn't be a season for farewells, yet farewells are just around the corner.
"We'll all meet again," Ao Jia thought, "Little Dragon of Philosophy."
A gentle breeze stirred, caressing the figures of Xiaolong and his mother as they busied themselves together.
Later on, Koji finally learned that he could no longer be a sacrificial offering.
It all started on a sunny day when his mother took him to Heyan Village one last time, where he met the old village chief again.
By then, Heyan Village was no longer the desolate place they had first seen. Now, a wide river flows through the alleys, and the sound of babbling streams is constant. The old houses and withered ancient trees have all come back to life, becoming orderly and lush again. Everything is so vibrant and thriving.
Jia'er's hand was held by his mother. He walked along with his eyes wide open, looking for the ancestral hall he had visited last time.
As Xiaolong walked along the road, he noticed that the landscape here was different again. Last time he came, he didn't see a single person for half a day, only a few elderly people in a corner. This time, however, there were crowds of people passing by in every alley and main road of the village, and there were even quite a few vendors dressed as tourists from other places doing small business here.
He could hear the constant rustling of conversations, but Jia'er didn't hear a word because his eyes were too busy—he was busy interacting with the children he passed along the way, and he would get excited whenever he saw a child his age walking by.
Especially when someone walks by with a piece of candy in their hand, he will stare at them from a distance for a long time.
What is that? Jia'er is just curious.
But despite his curiosity, he hadn't forgotten his main task: he'd come with his mother to inquire about making offerings for the old village chief. Did they still need them?
Led by her mother, Jia'er arrived at the ancestral hall. She looked up and was slightly surprised by the sight before her.
Compared to the outside of the village, the ancestral hall here is completely renewed. From the roof to the steps, it has been carefully repaired from top to bottom. Even the outer walls are smooth and white again, as if they have been repainted with a layer of ink. No matter how outsiders look at it, they will think that this building is the most important building in the village.
"It's so beautiful," Jia'er thought to herself.
"Young master, how have you been?"
Before Jia'er could recover from the shock, he suddenly heard the old village chief's deep, aged voice. He turned his head and saw an old man with a cane walking towards him, looking shaky.
The old clan chief was accompanied by many young servants, who helped him all the way to the entrance of the ancestral hall.
Jia'er was still wearing a cloak today, so only his big eyes were visible as he stared intently at the old man who had made him flee in panic last time.
Hmph, he won't be afraid if he comes again today!
If you're going to make it a sacrifice, then make it a sacrifice!
As the old village chief approached him and his mother, Jia'er was waiting for the old man to speak, but instead, the old man said nothing, only bowed respectfully to his mother, and then said in a voice full of gratitude and respect:
"Thank you, Sage, for saving my people from this dire situation."
He also said many other things, such as "the forbidden technique has dissipated," "like a god who has recreated us," and "his kindness is as heavy as a mountain."
Jia'er didn't listen carefully; he was just curious why the old man was bowing to his mother, why their place had become like this, and whether they still wanted to offer him sacrifices.
His ears unconsciously stretched forward.
What are you talking about with your mother?
The old village chief had to stop talking because a figure that couldn't be ignored appeared in front of him, and the figure was moving closer and closer... So he looked down and met a pair of big, thirsty eyes.
"Oh, and this young master..." The old village chief seemed to just realize something. He reached out and touched Jia'er's cloak, pondering what to say.
"This young master is also exceptional; his innate talent and extraordinary physique suggest he will surely become one in a million in the future..."
Jia'er didn't care about being praised. He looked up at his mother and realized that she had long been fed up with the old man's nagging, so he decisively spoke up:
"Do you still want me to be your offering?"
"Huh?" The old man was clearly startled by his words and seemed somewhat surprised.
“I say,” Jia’er swallowed hard, “do you still want me to be your sacrifice?”
As Jia'er spoke, he casually revealed his forearm, which was firm and had faint muscle lines.
The warm spring sunshine shone on Xiaolong, who was shrouded in a cloak, making him look like a peacock with its tail feathers spread. Yet, he seemed quite indifferent, with only one forearm showing.
"Oh, hahahahaha." The old man's hearty laughter suddenly rang out, and Jia'er heard it with a puzzled expression.
Why are you laughing?
The old man said quietly:
“My forbidden technique is a technique passed down from our ancient ancestors. Because the records are incomplete and many parts have been lost, the technique is extremely dangerous. Once this forbidden technique is activated, at best the summoner will lose their mind, and at worst the summoner will be destroyed and die. Now that our village has gradually returned to what it was like thousands of years ago, I will not use this forbidden technique.”
Jia'er was completely confused; he only caught the last sentence—"I don't need to either."
"So, you don't need me as a sacrifice anymore?" Jia'er asked again to confirm.
"Hahaha, no need, no need." The old village chief never expected that his "joke" would be remembered by this little guy for so long. If he really dared to make this child a sacrifice, even his mother probably wouldn't agree. Thinking of this, he glanced at the person next to him, but didn't dare to look up at him properly.
Yinglong stood aside, already fed up with the old man's nagging. Now that he had finished speaking, she had achieved most of the purpose of bringing the child here.
She stood there and waved, indicating that the old village chief could leave; perhaps his words today were enough.
The old village chief understood perfectly. Having dealt with the sage for so long, he knew her temperament very well, and it was indeed time for him to leave.
"Then we'll take our leave."
In the brief moment Yinglong waved, the old village chief, with great foresight, quickly walked away with the help of his attendants.
After saying goodbye to the old village chief, Jia'er followed his mother to the sundial. Looking at the sunlight shining on the stone, he said somewhat dejectedly:
"Oh? They really don't need me as a sacrifice anymore?"
When Yinglong heard the child ask this question, he couldn't help but sigh. He had brought the child here today to show him how the village had changed.
She gently stroked the child's head and said:
"Actually, you've already completed your task of being a 'sacrifice', haven't you?"
"Really?" Jia'er asked, but he wasn't sitting in the ancestral hall doing anything.
"Of course it's true." Yinglong patiently taught his child, "Look, didn't you help dig that wide river channel? Because of these river channels, the villagers in this village no longer have to suffer like that. Haven't you already completed your task of being a 'sacrifice'?"
Jia'er looked around and saw that it was indeed the case. This place was completely different from when she first came. The people's faces were no longer so distressed; instead, everyone was radiating a vibrant energy. And those children... oh, what were they holding in their hands...
"Yes, oh." Jia'er seemed to realize at first that he had already completed his task of being a "sacrifice".
Thinking this way, Xiaolong's face instantly brightened.
Well, he said his strong physique wasn't built for nothing; it turns out he had already completed his mission.
Jia'er thought for a moment, then raised his arm high again.
Looking at the child's gullible appearance and his simple, honest smile, Yinglong felt a mix of emotions.
This silly child has inherited her and the silly dragon's robust physique perfectly, but her intelligence is exactly like the silly dragon's, not a bit like hers.
Why.
So that day, Jia'er happily followed her mother back to the Muyun tribe. Along the way, they walked along the river. Looking at the surging, magnificent river, Jia'er couldn't help but jump into the river and swim to the bottom. After swimming a distance, she would pop her head up to wait for her mother!
Seeing the little fool so happy and carefree, Yinglong breathed a sigh of relief. She hoped her child could always be this happy, even if he resembled his father—
She admitted it!
*
Packing luggage is no easy task; at least for Jia'er, it was comparable to a large-scale migration.
"Mother, let's take this."
He held a hoe upright in his hand. It was a hoe that someone had casually thrown to him when he first didn't have a shovel, and he used it very well.
"I won't take it!" Yinglong said without even looking at it.
"Take it with you," Jia'er said to himself.
"Mother, I want to take this too." These are grass seeds, which he sows with everyone every spring.
His mother didn't look at him, so he stuffed it into his small bag himself.
"Mother, I want to take this too." He then picked up a basket, which could be used to carry luggage.
Jia'er was impressed by his own wisdom. He put aside some of the things he had already packed and began to look around the place where he lived with his mother.
This place is a small building that the chief of the Muyun tribe arranged for them to live in separately. Like most of the tribespeople, it is a wooden stilt house that connects many other houses.
Jia'er and her mother lived on the very edge, because it was the quietest place.
He looked around the room. On the right side of the room were a bed, a table, and a wooden stool. On the left side of the room were various plant roots and oddly shaped pebbles that he had brought back from outside over the years.
Oh, these are all things I painstakingly collected; they'll all go with him.
"Mother, let's take this." Jia'er raised a salt sapwood branch, which was taller than him. He held it up and walked around the room, sweeping across the wooden walls.
After he had covered the ground with leaves, Koji put down the salt stalk tree because he saw something else in his line of sight.
It was a wind chime made of animal bones, which Qingye had taught him to make from the elders of the Muyun clan.
The wind chimes were made from the bones of very hard wild animals, which were very rare and difficult to shape. He studied them for a long time.
Aono said this was for good luck, and that it would make him smarter and wiser.
The last sentence is very important. Without thinking, Jia'er took down the animal bone wind chime hanging on the wall.
"Mother, let's take this."
There were also birch bark rolls, resin lamps, bone whistles... so many things.
"Mother, let's take this."
Xiao Long took so many and piled them up at the door.
Yinglong hadn't paid any attention to him at first, but when he turned around, he saw that the kid had piled up the doorway completely.
He's carrying this and that; does he think he's moving house?
"I'm not bringing it!"
After his mother uttered those two cold and heartless words, Jia'er disagreed.
"No, take it with you."
Yinglong sneered. She'd see how this kid would take things when he left. Did he think he owned all the family's things?
Seeing that the boy showed no signs of stopping, she had to think of something to distract him.
Oh, right.
“Shouldn’t you say goodbye to your good friends right now?” she reminded the child, knowing he had a group of little friends.
"Well, I already told Aono and the others. They'll take me home, and I'll come back someday. We made a promise..."
They even made a promise? He'll come back? Will he come back on his own? Yinglong found it very interesting.
However, Jia'er was telling the truth. After learning that he and his mother were leaving, he had said goodbye to everyone properly. During this time, he had also gone to many places with everyone. Even though he was reluctant to leave, the thought that they might meet again in the future filled him with endless hope.
Yes, he will meet everyone again eventually.
And the day of parting came so quickly...
On the day of departure, Jia'er and his mother stood at the entrance of the Muyun tribe village. The entire tribe came to see them off. Among the crowd of adults, Jia'er saw Qingye and the others. They stood beside their parents, shorter than the others, but they stood at the front, looking at him eagerly.
He still couldn't take everything with him. His mother said that no one would help him carry it, so even with all his might, he could only manage to take a small backpack full of things. But it didn't matter; he would give those things away to everyone and would come back again.
His mother led him away, and Jia'er kept turning back to look at everyone he saw. They were all smiling at him playfully in the crowd.
We all agreed that no one is allowed to cry when we leave, so everyone should be happy.
As Koji walked, he waved his little hands vigorously. He suddenly remembered that Aono and the others had asked him with great reluctance before:
"Are you going home this time? To reunite with your father?"
He replied that no, his mother wanted to take him to other places, and there were still many places they hadn't been to yet.
"Oh, okay, then you must remember to come back and visit us!"
"I definitely will," Jia'er promised earnestly.
Even though he didn't know where he and his mother would go or what they would experience in the future, he knew he would definitely come back!
"OK!"
Although he didn't cry like he did when he was a child, Jia'er still felt a lump in his throat as he looked back every time he took a step. Everyone was still laughing, and he was still waving vigorously.
Just like when he said goodbye to Hua Hua many years ago, he was actually very upset.
"Don't cry," Yinglong gently comforted the little one.
Jia'er listened to his mother's words and nodded vigorously.
They promised not to cry, and they didn't. Jia'er was still watching everyone's expressions from afar; they were all trying hard to hold back their tears, even smiling...
This final scene will likely be etched into his mind forever. Xiaolong's eyes were finally filled with tears as he tried to keep them open...
Once outside the barrier, everyone's figures grew smaller and smaller... Jia'er tightened his little backpack and finally looked back with reluctance.
A few tears still fell silently. Jia'er blinked, but no one said a word.
He was certain that they would meet again in this lifetime.
The sun was high overhead, and its rays shone brightly on him and his mother, as well as on the road ahead.
A new journey is about to begin; he will once again travel far away with his mother.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
