Chapter 106 Spacetime Order
I endured half a month of semi-imprisonment by playing tug-of-war with Hua Yingxiong, which was no easy feat.
The stalemate between Cao Cao's army and Yuan Shao's army continued fiercely, with both sides exchanging blows in a lively and exciting manner.
From the moment I was allowed to stay, I began to stir with the urge to plan another escape. Although the soldiers in the camp had given me many privileges and care because of my status as their "wife," the hardships of military life far exceeded my imagination.
Even the most unpalatable food was exceptionally precious, which made me miss the girls at Chunfeng Deyilou even more. Just thinking about their superb culinary skills made my mouth water.
But this is a battlefield, and the slightest mistake could cost you your life. Besides, I have Baozi and Zhao'er with me, so I dare not make any rash moves. Moreover, Cao Cao's spies are everywhere.
Zhao'er has been very busy lately, having started learning to wield swords and knives.
After having breakfast and feeding Baozi, I carried Baozi around and wandered from house to house. The scene was quite strange. Among the soldiers who were ready for battle at any time, there was a woman carrying a child leisurely strolling around and looking at things. It was really eerie.
Actually, I was scouting escape routes.
As I was strolling around, I happened to see Hua Yingxiong directing the cooks to boil a pot of medicine, which had a very strong Chinese herbal smell.
"Madam!" Upon seeing me, Hua Yingxiong hurriedly waved and greeted me.
I walked up to him, holding the steamed buns, and looked at him suspiciously. "What are you doing?"
Without saying a word, Hua Yingxiong handed me a bowl of herbal medicine.
"Another tonic?" Staring at the dark, pot-water-like broth, I started to feel nauseous, my mouth watering.
"You're just being presumptuous," Hua Yingxiong scoffed.
"Not for me to drink?" I was overjoyed and stopped caring about his tone. Half a month of taking tonics had made me want to vomit at the sight of medicine, causing me serious psychological trauma.
"It's for Fengxiao," Hua Yingxiong frowned, a rare occurrence. "That guy is really not a good patient; he has no sense of responsibility whatsoever."
"He refuses to take his medicine?" I frowned, remembering how he always complained that the medicine was bitter.
“Well, they always say it’s the same whether you take the medicine or not, don’t suffer for it,” Hua Yingxiong took the steamed bun from my arms and said, “Go and deliver the medicine.”
"Why should I go?" I wondered.
"Because you are beautiful, kind-hearted, have a strong sense of justice, and like to help the weak and punish the strong..."
"Hmm?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Uh, it's about helping the weak and punishing the strong," Hua Yingxiong quickly corrected himself, then concluded, "So, this great and sacred task of delivering medicine is entrusted to you!"
I gave him a clean eyeball, kissed his cheek, and then took the medicine to find Guo Jia.
After asking several patrolling guards, they finally found his tent.
When the medicine was brought into his tent, Guo Jia was looking down with great difficulty, reading a book.
Perhaps smelling the medicine, he said without turning his head, "Put the medicine down, you can leave now."
I ignored him, took the medicine and walked to his side. "Drink it."
He paused slightly, then looked up at me. "Pei'er?"
He still had a very handsome face, but the difference was that he was wearing the glasses I gave him. Did he still have so much trouble reading while wearing glasses?
My heart sank slightly as I handed him the medicine. "Take your medicine."
Guo Jia looked at me, frowning with some difficulty, "The medicine is so bitter."
"A real man is afraid of taking medicine; I'd be a laughingstock if word got out!" I said irritably.
Guo Jia stood up, his delicate brows furrowing tightly. He stared at me for a long time before suddenly speaking, "I think I forced someone to take medicine before..."
I was stunned. He had told me about An Ruo before.
Guo Jia frowned, a hint of pain showing on his face.
I was shocked. Even when he was extremely ill, I never saw any sign of relaxation on his face. But now, he was in great pain.
"A half-immortal...a half-immortal!" I helped him up, tossing the book he was clutching aside as I muttered, "You stinking scholar, what time is it, and you're still reading!"
"What did you say?" Guo Jia looked at me with clear eyes and grasped my hand. "What did you just say?"
I was startled by him. "Hey, you stinking scholar, what time is it? Still reading?! Are you out of your mind?!"
Upon hearing this, Guo Jia slowly sat down, his expression returning to calm, as if he had breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ruo Ruo, it's Ruo Ruo! I remember now, I forced her to take her medicine, and she called me a stinky scholar." Like a child who had received candy, Guo Jia actually smiled slightly.
"Drink your medicine." Although I was filled with doubt and suspicion, I still handed him the bowl of medicine.
Guo Jia smiled slightly, obediently took the medicine bowl, and drank it all.
After taking the empty bowl back to Hua Yingxiong, several cooks were vying to take a bun.
"Did you drink it?" Hua Yingxiong asked with a smile when he saw the empty bowl.
"Hmm," I handed him the empty bowl, then added, "You know what happened, right?"
Hua Yingxiong paused, then smiled, "Which matter are you asking about?"
"About Fengxiao, he just...acted a bit strange." I frowned.
"Do you know about the order of spacetime?" Hua Yingxiong asked an even stranger question.
I shook my head.
“Every time and spacetime has its own order, and we time travelers disrupt that order,” Hua Yingxiong said, pulling me to a quiet spot.
"So what? If that's the case, why should we travel through time?"
“There are many kinds of opportunities to travel through time. Some are to repay debts from a previous life, and some are to untie knots from a previous life. These are not important. What is important is that if a traveler can return to their own time and space, then in order to maintain the order of time and space, all traces of that traveler in the other time and space will gradually disappear as they leave,” Hua Yingxiong said slowly as he looked at me.
Little by little...disappearing completely?
I stared at him blankly, and involuntarily blurted out, "Including...memories?"
“Yes, including memories.” He nodded.
In other words, after An Ruo leaves, Guo Jia and Cao Cao's memories of An Ruo will gradually disappear.
Just now... was Guo Jia forcing himself not to forget anything about An Ruo?
Recalling Guo Jia's pained expression just now, my heart ached slightly. Wasn't this too cruel? Now, all he has left... are memories...
But... is even having memories of her a luxury?
That frail man... was using his entire life to leave behind memories with her...
To be missed is a kind of happiness; to be able to miss someone is also a kind of happiness. I originally thought that Guo Jia could forever miss that woman who was already happy; I originally thought that Guo Jia could remain peaceful in such longing...
Longing is having the image of the person you miss in your mind—her appearance, her voice, her smile…
Longing is being able to recall everything you shared with her—every smile, every tear, or perhaps… just a single sentence…
Then, you can savor it slowly over time and reminisce about it...
However, after the woman the man cherished with his life quietly left, he was even deprived of the right to miss her.
In the end, everything... was just emptiness...
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