Chapter 44 [Shen·IF Line] Death Escape [Shen] What if Little Yu was bigger...
IF scenario: What if Dr. You fell off a cliff and was seriously injured, then was forced to fake his death...
—
Yu Mingjiang clutched his left abdomen and struggled to get off the oxcart, his clothes already soaked with cold sweat.
The ever-spreading colic confirmed her suspicions: while the golden title [Listening to the Rain on a Withered Lotus] had repaired fatal injuries to her spine and other areas, it had left behind the potential for internal bleeding in her spleen.
Initially, she was in a state of "stress-induced analgesia," with minimal and slow bleeding from her spleen. Later, she experienced severe pain from her upper left abdomen to the left side of her body. This was partly due to the increased bleeding, which irritated the peritoneum and surrounding tissues; and partly due to the fact that she carried the feverish Lu Xiaojia on her back during a brisk walk in the rain, which exacerbated the rupture of her spleen.
On the way back, she had already gone into shock. There were no surgical options available at the moment, and she would die within a few hours. Realizing this, You Mingjiang hurriedly left, intending to deal with the man in black immediately!
She was certain that the other party was the son of the Ding family!
Even if he were the King of Heaven's brother, he couldn't act arrogantly towards her. She was determined to kill that man in black!
You Mingjiang would never bow down to his enemies, and he wasn't afraid of Lu Xiaojia finding out. If Lu Xiaojia wanted to avenge his brother, then let him come and take revenge!
.
The Ding family mansion.
As soon as You Mingjiang landed, he saw Ding Lingzhong lying lazily in the pavilion, reeking of alcohol.
With a casual wave of his hand, he shouted at his servants, "What are you all standing there for! Quickly call my troupe of singers over here, stop dawdling, I'm waiting to listen to some music to relieve my boredom!"
Ding Lingzhong was pampered at home from a young age, which eventually led to his vicious nature.
He personally caused the two of them to fall off the cliff, thinking he had gotten away with it, and was smug about it for several days.
Until You Mingjiang and Ding Lingzhong met face to face.
Ding Lingzhong's eyes widened, and he suddenly jumped up.
He never expected that after he caused her to fall off the cliff, she would still be alive and even appear in the Ding residence.
Her face was deathly pale, and she walked unsteadily, like a ghost. Ding Lingzhong couldn't help but exclaim in shock, "You... are you a human or a ghost?"
You Mingjiang relaxed his brows and said, slowly and deliberately, "Found it."
The man in black had his face covered, and she wasn't sure if he was Ding Er or Ding San, but upon hearing this, she immediately locked onto him: It was him, no doubt about it!
Ding Lingzhong was also a ruthless character. He thought to himself: If I can harm you once, I can harm you a second time!
Unfortunately, You Mingjiang thought the same thing: If I can handle the old beast, I can handle the young beast!
.
Ding Lingzhong's swordsmanship was swift and, while it was indeed the authentic Ding family style, he could not kill You Mingjiang no matter how hard he tried.
You Mingjiang sneered, immediately understanding why Ding Lingzhong was jealous of Lu Xiaojia. At this moment, Ding Lingzhong, his eyes bloodshot from being toyed with, lunged at her with another sword thrust. You Mingjiang nimbly dodged, then closed in, her right fist aimed straight for his throat.
Ding Lingzhong felt a tightness in his throat, his face instantly turned purplish-blue, and the long sword in his hand crashed to the ground.
Having landed a successful blow, You Mingjiang did not pause for a moment.
She kicked out with a swift motion, and with a crisp "crack," Ding Lingzhong's kneecap dislocated.
He screamed and knelt on one knee. Taking advantage of the situation, You Mingjiang picked up his sword and plunged it into his eye socket.
Ding Lingzhong let out a sharp scream, his body convulsed violently, and his hands waved wildly.
You Mingjiang held him down tightly until he stopped moving, then kicked the body away like a broken sack.
Just then, the group of singers arrived in the garden and screamed upon seeing the scene.
You Mingjiang coughed up a mouthful of blood, already at his last gasp.
Seeing that more and more people were gathering in the garden, she didn't waste any more words and flew away.
When the Ding family arrived, they only saw Ding Lingzhong's gruesome death. Ding Chengfeng fainted on the spot from the pain. After regaining consciousness, he ordered the arrest of the murderer and vowed to avenge his son.
.
You Mingjiang staggered into the house.
Ye Kai and Cui Nong were playing chess when they were disturbed by the noise. Looking up, they saw that she was covered in blood and looked terrible.
"Are you injured?" Cui Nong asked in surprise, reaching out to help her.
“This isn’t my blood, it’s someone else’s.” You Mingjiang looked exhausted and waved his hand gently. “Cough cough… I’m going home now. I came here specifically to say goodbye.”
Ye Kai frowned: "So sudden? Should we wait for Fu Hongxue to come back...?"
You Mingjiang sighed softly, "No need to wait. I'll kill Ding Lingzhong."
Unable to announce her death aloud, she could only use this resolute method to silence all concerned inquiries.
The room was completely silent, and Ye Kai's expression was the most complicated.
Speaking of which, Ding Lingzhong is his half-brother and Ding Linglin's third brother.
Thinking of this, he felt a mix of emotions.
But Ye Kai also knew that You Mingjiang would never kill innocent people indiscriminately.
What exactly did Ding Lingzhong do?
You Mingjiang did not offer any further explanation.
She handed Ye Kai two boxes of medicine: phenytoin sodium injection and levetiracetam tablets. "Please give these to Fu Hongxue for me. This box of anti-epileptic injections needs to be administered intramuscularly, which means..." She explained with difficulty, but with great patience.
Ye Kai felt a vague sense of foreboding rising in her heart, and her gaze towards You Mingjiang was full of worry, but You Mingjiang seemed oblivious.
A profound sense of accomplishment filled her heart—all her efforts seemed to have been rewarded in the best way possible, which was undoubtedly the most perfect ending she had hoped for.
However, before she could leave completely at ease, there was one last thing she had to do: deal with that old beast Ma Kongqun.
Cui Nong remained silent for a while, then, with tears welling in her eyes, she said in a trembling voice, "I know where he is."
“I didn’t want to talk to him, but he is my father after all, I…” Her voice choked up a little, “I prepared a food box, thinking… at least to let him have a hot meal.”
"Dr. You, I'll take you to him."
.
The night was deep, and Cui Nong led the way. Along the way, there were only the sounds of hurried footsteps and the occasional whistling of the wind.
It felt as if a dull knife was slowly scraping inside her stomach. You Mingjiang staggered half a step, enduring the churning pain in her abdomen. She bit her tongue and swallowed the metallic taste, letting cold sweat soak the stray hairs on the back of her neck.
"What's wrong with you?" Ye Kai noticed her and reached out to help her, but You Mingjiang stepped aside to avoid him. "You look terrible."
"It's nothing." You Mingjiang quietly swallowed a mouthful of blood.
Seeing that she was behaving very strangely, Ye Kai called a little beggar to invite Fu Hongxue, while he followed far behind.
The excruciating pain raged and throbbed within my abdominal cavity.
Yu Mingjiang gritted her teeth and encouraged herself again and again in her heart. Just when she was about to give up, a dilapidated temple appeared in front of her.
"Father?" Cui Nong stepped into the dilapidated temple, her voice echoing softly in the empty space, creating faint ripples.
After a long while, an aged voice came from behind the Buddha statue: "Cui Nong, you've come."
Cui Nong hurried to the weathered Buddha statue and whispered, "Father, I brought your favorite food..."
Before he finished speaking, Ma Kongqun slowly emerged from behind the broken Buddha statue. He was emaciated, his face haggard, and his sunken eyes were filled with weariness and vigilance.
The severed hand, wrapped in a dirty rag, stood out starkly in the dim light.
Ma Kongqun's eyes were cloudy, and his face turned deathly pale at the sight of You Mingjiang and Ye Kai. Realizing he was doomed, he turned and glared angrily at Cui Nong: "You bitch, how dare you betray me!"
Before he finished speaking, Ma Kongqun sprang up like a lit powder keg, lunging straight at Cui Nong with his knife.
.
"This knife is coated with deadly poison!" With a low shout, Ye Kai's throwing knife and Ma Kongqun's short knife simultaneously tore through the heavy air.
However, Ma Kongqun's desperate last stand was faster than anyone could have imagined. Cui Nong's eyes widened, reflecting a cold light. Tears welled up and streamed down her pale cheeks.
You Mingjiang's pupils suddenly contracted.
"Swoosh—" The sound of a short knife piercing flesh was exceptionally clear in the empty, dilapidated temple. Warm blood splattered out, landing on Cui Nong's horrified face.
This fatal blow was ruthless, precise, and steady, piercing straight through the heart's aorta.
At the same time, Ye Kai's flying knife arrived.
A flash of cold light, and Ma Kongqun fell to the ground, dust billowing up.
"No!!!" Cui Nong let out a shrill scream.
Cui Nong's knees buckled, and she trembled as she caught You Mingjiang's limp body. The moment her palm touched his back, hot blood flowed over her palm and stained her sleeves red.
There was so much blood, dripping in strings from between her fingers, blooming on the ground like dazzling red plum blossoms.
Ye Kai lunged at the bamboo medicine basket and frantically rummaged through it, but those miraculous medicines that had saved countless lives were now lying quietly in the system space that had recognized him as its master, sparing him, an outsider, the last glimmer of hope.
He futilely grabbed a handful of mugwort leaves, tears streaming down his face.
.
Ma Kongqun lay sprawled on the ground, barely breathing, like a candle flickering in the wind. You Mingjiang coughed up blood, but her gaze remained fixed on his face as she spoke haltingly:
"This cut... cough cough... it really showed no mercy... you owe her so much... how could you bear to... hurt her again..."
Ma Kongqun's throat rattled with phlegm, and he twitched his lips: "I've been raising an army for a thousand days, and I'm using it for one. She's the one I raised, so naturally she should be put to use."
He gazed at the gray light filtering through the temple roof, his voice gradually lowering: "In the end... I'll take someone down with me... It's not a bad deal."
He spoke as if it were an extremely ordinary business transaction.
But the murky light in his eyes gradually faded away.
A surge of evil fire rushed to Cui Nong's head, burning her eyes until they turned bloodshot. She drew the ebony dagger given to her by You Mingjiang, lunged at Ma Kongqun, and stabbed him hard in the heart.
You Mingjiang once said that she wanted to break free from the shackles of luck, and what she should break free from most was this nightmarish bloodline!
With a soft "thud," the ebony dagger plunged straight into Ma Kongqun's chest. Ma Kongqun's body stiffened abruptly, and blood gushed out instantly, splattering onto Cui Nong's face, mixing with her tears, making it impossible to distinguish between them.
Cui Nong seemed to have gone mad, recklessly stabbing Ma Kongqun again and again, each stab accompanied by a painful and furious roar:
"This is what you owe me! This is also what you owe Dr. You!"
"Since you don't want me as your daughter, I don't need a father like you!"
Cui Nong only stopped what she was doing when Ma Kongqun became completely still and his body turned cold and stiff.
Clang—
She released her grip, and the ebony dagger fell to the ground with a crisp sound.
She slumped to the ground, staring blankly at Ma Kongqun, who was already lifeless.
“Cui Nong…”
The blood gushing from You Mingjiang's throat drowned out his words.
"I'm here...I'm here!" Cui Nong finally came to her senses. She scrambled to You Mingjiang's side, tightly grasping her hands as if she could keep her there. "I'm here, Dr. You..."
“Wanmatang…only this medicine can cure the poison on the horse masters. They wouldn’t dare disobey you…” You Mingjiang placed the small porcelain bottle into Cui Nong’s trembling palm, and she coughed up blood. “Ma Kongqun is dead, Wanmatang…is yours now…”
Cui Nong shook her head frantically, tears streaming down her face like a burst dam, splashing onto You Mingjiang's gradually cooling cheeks: "I don't want Wanmatang, I only want you!"
She frantically wiped away the blood that kept gushing from You Mingjiang's mouth, but the blood just wouldn't stop.
"Don't talk nonsense... Take it..." You Mingjiang grasped her hand and placed the small porcelain bottle into her tear-soaked palm. Her hand fell limply to her side. "Promise me... otherwise I... I'll never see you again... cough cough!"
"I promise you everything... I promise you everything..."
Cui Nong held her, feeling her world crumbling. Tears streamed down her face, her voice trembling with despair, "Dr. You promised to watch over me and help me live a good life. You can't break your promise..."
You Mingjiang smiled, a weak yet gentle smile, and she gripped Cui Nong's hand even tighter.
She wanted to tell Cui Nong that she could be resurrected and wouldn't die, but the figure in front of her gradually blurred, and her consciousness slowly drifted away: "Don't be afraid, I won't die... I will... cough cough..."
A sudden surge of hot, metallic taste rose in his throat. Yu Mingjiang instinctively tilted his head back to swallow, but heard a series of bursting bubbles erupt in his chest. More blood and foam surged up, silencing all words.
Her gaze gradually became unfocused. She turned her head to look at Ye Kai, her lips trembling slightly, but she couldn't utter a complete syllable.
Wanmatang was originally Shendaotang. As the son of Hua Baifeng and Bai Tianyu, Ye Kai's identity is of utmost importance.
Ultimately, all of these arrangements require his approval.
"Help me..." Her unfinished words turned into bloody foam, and her pupils began to dilate.
Ye Kai understood what she meant, nodded vigorously, and squeezed You Mingjiang's hand: "Don't worry, I will definitely help Cui Nong."
With her worries resolved, You Mingjiang revealed a satisfied smile.
Her eyelids slowly drooped, as if gently closing a window to the world. The radiant light that had once shone through that window gradually faded into the deepening shadows.
"Dr. You, wake up, wake up..."
Cui Nong burst into tears, futilely pressing her hand against her chest, only to find that the warmth beneath her palm was dissipating.
Ye Kai took her pulse, silently stood up, and said in a low, sorrowful voice, "It's no use."
"Doctor You—" A mournful cry echoed from inside the dilapidated temple.
Fu Hongxue's limp slammed heavily against the threshold.
He leaned against the door frame, panting heavily. Rotten splinters dug into his palms, and drops of blood slowly seeped out.
He rushed here with all his might, but ultimately failed to see her one last time.
Moonlight filtered down and shone on You Mingjiang's drooping wrist.
Her body, starting from her fingertips, gradually transformed into a shower of tiny starlight that drifted away.
Fu Hongxue staggered and fell to his knees, tearing off his outer robe to try and wrap it around her disappearing body, but instead caught a gust of wind.
"don't want……"
Cui Nong reached out into the air, and the brightest cluster of starlight paused on her tear-streaked eyelashes before exploding into fine, snow-like dust.
This was the last bit of tenderness You Mingjiang left for her.
On the ground where the starlight had faded, there lay a note, which appeared to be an IOU:
"On [date], I, You Mingjiang, borrowed fifty taels of silver from Fu Hongxue, with the principal due in two years. If I fail to repay the loan by the due date, I will be charged one coin of interest per month."
Fu Hongxue suddenly coughed violently, and the blood that welled up in his throat splattered onto the words "Principal to be repaid within two years".
Dye that unfulfilled date scarlet.
.
.
[NPC You Mingjiang is dead.]
[168-hour countdown to resurrection begins...]
.
.
Time flies.
Qingyuan Prefecture, the fifteenth day of the tenth lunar month, is the Lower Yuan Festival.
The Lower Yuan Festival is the birthday of the Water God.
A Taoist ritual is being held at the temple, with Taoist priests chanting scriptures and offering prayers. Many people are releasing paper lanterns along the riverbank. I heard that some local gentry have also prepared several trees of medicinal puppets for a performance tonight.
A firework suddenly exploded in the sky, bringing You Mingjiang back to her senses. She said softly, "It's the Lower Yuan Festival."
Smelling the aroma of roasted chestnuts, she took a copper coin and strolled over with the flow of people.
Fu Hongxue, pale-faced and wrapped in a black fur coat, walked slowly through the bustling crowd.
His figure was desolate, and he looked even more lonely than usual.
Unconsciously, Fu Hongxue wandered to the vicinity of a stall selling roasted chestnuts. Despite the sweet aroma of the chestnuts, he remained uninterested and was about to leave when a figure suddenly flashed past him.
He glanced at it subconsciously, but was struck dumb and froze 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.
A thousand words were in her heart, 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 has he fallen into a nightmare again, only to wake up to another blissful dream? He longs to rush over immediately, yet fears that if he does, he'll only catch another 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 and bewilderment.
She dared not move, and could only stand there, waiting for him to walk towards her.
She just watched as he limped and staggered towards her like a toddler 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.
Fu Hongxue, with tears streaming down his face, said, "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.
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, watching the whole scene unfold. She was thoroughly enjoying herself, muttering to herself, "Oh my, this is so interesting! It's even more addictive than eating melon 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.
.
Both were preoccupied with their own thoughts, with a thousand words stuck in their throats, yet they couldn't find a suitable way to begin.
One pretended to look up at the sky, while the other looked down at the ground.
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 night sky, and said softly, "This is the drug-powered puppet."
Her voice carried a hint of joy that she herself was unaware of.
Fu Hongxue responded softly, "Mm."
His voice was deep, yet it couldn't hide his curiosity.
Now, taking advantage of the lively scene in the sky, they no longer had to remain silent. The two walked towards the riverbank, one after 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.
Suddenly turning around, I found him amidst the dazzling lights and fireworks.
.
·
On the distant river, a sand barge broke through the fog.
Inside the cabin, Lu Xiaojia poured himself a drink and downed several glasses of wine in succession. Fenjiu is light, so light it glides down the throat, lukewarm; yet it is also heavy, so heavy it weighs on the heart, weighty and burdensome.
He drank cup after cup of sorrowful wine, yet it only made his eyes burn with tears and his heart ache, and he just couldn't get drunk no matter what he did.
Ding Lingzhong died.
He was a thorn in his own heart that he couldn't get rid of.
The thorn has now been uprooted, but a small yet deep hole remains in Lu Xiaojia's heart.
It hurts so much.
It hurt even more than the last time he needed stitches; it hurt so much he wanted to cry.
If a fake item labeled "Ding Lingzhong" dies, how can the genuine item prove its identity?
What exactly is he?
Lu Xiaojia really wanted to ask her, "Did you kill Ding Lingzhong for my sake?"
But he was afraid to hear the answer.
Some people are like the moonlight on the sea, seemingly close at hand, but actually unattainable.
But the more you try to erase longing, the clearer it becomes. You Mingjiang's image constantly flickers before his eyes. At first, he could maintain his pride, but night after night, longing eventually prevailed. Lu Xiaojia was almost at his breaking point.
.
Lu Xiaofeng lifted the curtain and entered the cabin, his gaze immediately drawn to the gray-clad youth. The young man's hat was pulled low, revealing only his sharp chin and thin lips; he looked both clever and aloof.
He sat alone in a corner, holding a wine cup in his hand, the wine in the cup rippled slightly. In front of him was a low table with a plate of dry-fried peanuts, a plate of cucumbers, a small plate of dried moss, and a pot of fine Fenjiu wine next to him.
Having spent many years in the martial arts world, Lu Xiaofeng could tell at a glance that this young man was no ordinary person.
At this moment, the boatman whispered a reminder to him: "This man has a strange temper, don't pay any attention to him."
Lu Xiaofeng ignored the boatman's warning.
Thinking back to my early days in the martial world, I was young and impetuous, exuding an aloof and unapproachable air. But now, seeing this young man in gray, I feel a sense of familiarity and can't help but want to find out more about him.
Lu Xiaofeng walked to the low table, snapped his fingers, and said with a smile, "Brother, you can't drink like this in silence. Why don't you join me? How about it?"
He downed the drink in one gulp, gently set down the glass, and said in a cold voice, "Not good."
Lu Xiaofeng raised an eyebrow.
His smile remained unchanged. He dusted off his clothes and sat down naturally opposite the young man in gray.
Lu Xiaojia looked up.
Across from me sat a striking young man, most notably his two neatly trimmed mustaches, as fine as his eyebrows.
This man was incredibly shameless; he picked up another wine glass, his eyes shining like stars.
He didn't move, but coldly said, "I don't know you."
"My name is Lu Xiaofeng, Lu Xiaofeng with four eyebrows."
Lu Xiaofeng stroked his signature mustache. "Now we know each other."
Lu Xiaojia didn't speak, picked up his glass, and tilted his head back to gulp it down. Perhaps he drank too quickly, the alcohol went down his throat, and he coughed violently, "Cough cough cough—"
Suddenly, an arm came out and snatched his wine glass away; it was the strange man who called himself Lu Xiaofeng.
Lu Xiaofeng twirled his empty cup and said in a low voice, "Young man, you look like you have something on your mind."
"It's none of your business," Lu Xiaojia said hoarsely as she reached out and snatched her wine glass back.
Lu Xiaofeng then noticed that a faded red brocade was draped over his lap. The brocade was wrinkled, its color not very bright, and its edges were rough, as if it had been rubbed a thousand times.
"Plop." A tear suddenly fell onto the red brocade, slowly seeping into a dark circular spot.
Lu Xiaofeng was stunned.
This is……
A swordsman's tears?
Lu Xiaojia tilted her head back and downed another glass of wine, the liquid flowing down her chin onto her clothes.
Lu Xiaofeng said, "A person who wants to get drunk to death is either running away from something or punishing himself."
That hit the nail on the head; there was no room for argument.
Lu Xiaojia suddenly felt incredibly tired.
Perhaps it was the effects of the alcohol, perhaps it was Lu Xiaofeng's eyes being too clear, or perhaps it was because he had been holding on for too long... He suddenly wanted to tell his story to this complete stranger in front of him.
He peeled a peanut and introduced himself: "Lu Xiaojia."
Lu Xiaofeng paused, realizing that he wanted to have a chat, and chuckled, "What surname? Were we from the same family five hundred years ago?"
Lu Xiaojia gave a self-deprecating laugh: "Wrong, it's a road where 'everyone goes their own way,' a road where we part ways..."
Lu Xiaofeng raised an eyebrow, reached out and snatched a peanut from his small dish, peeled it, and tossed it into his mouth, chewing it with a crunching sound: "So it's a smooth and easy road."
"Bon voyage, smooth road ahead?" Lu Xiaojia smiled bitterly and began to tell her story.
He recounted how he grew up as an outcast, how he struggled with hatred, and how he felt warmth for the first time after meeting You Mingjiang.
“I knew from a young age that I was an outcast, and my cousin took my place.”
Lu Xiaojia stared at the empty wine glass. "I should hate him. He usurped my place, he used the title of 'Young Master Ding' to do evil to me... He harmed an innocent person, he deserved to die... But now that he's dead, I feel..."
Lu Xiaofeng refilled his wine cup at the opportune moment, and then continued his words, "I don't even know who I should hate anymore, especially when the murderer is the person you care about the most."
Lu Xiaojia exclaimed in shock, "How could you..."
How could this stranger, whom I've just met, see through my deepest secret at a glance?
"Is this the owner of this red brocade?" Lu Xiaofeng pointed to the crumpled red brocade. "What can make a swordsman lose his soul is mostly because of love."
The boat rocked gently, echoing Lu Xiaofeng's words.
Lu Xiaojia remained silent for a long time, so long that Lu Xiaofeng thought he wouldn't speak again. Finally, he said, "Yes, you guessed right... she did kill him."
After listening, Lu Xiaofeng slowly peeled a peanut: "Interesting. You're so angry that she killed you, her cousin who usurped her place?"
Lu Xiaojia was silent for a moment, then said, "Not entirely."
"Then why are you angry?"
“I’m angry with her…” Lu Xiaojia’s voice was strained. “Being angry with her made me realize that all my so-called forbearance and protection over the years was just a joke… I can’t protect anyone…”
Lu Xiaofeng suddenly burst into laughter, which left Lu Xiaojia both bewildered and annoyed. He then wiped away his tears of laughter and said, "Xiao Lu, you're not angry, you're scared."
"Scared?" Lu Xiaojia's eyes widened.
“Afraid of losing her.” Lu Xiaofeng became unusually serious. “That girl pulled you out of the abyss, and now you’re afraid she’ll push you back in, or… afraid she’ll disappear.”
Lu Xiaojia's pupils suddenly contracted.
Lu Xiaofeng poured himself another cup of wine: "I have a friend named Hua Manlou. He always says that the biggest hurdle in life is not forgiving others, but making peace with yourself. It's a battle fought alone, with your opponent being yourself. There's no way out and no help."
At this point, he patted Lu Xiaojia on the shoulder and said, "What you need to do is make peace with yourself."
"you……"
"What do you mean, 'what do you mean'?" Lu Xiaofeng picked up some dried seaweed with his chopsticks, stuffed it into his mouth, and poured Lu Xiaojia a full glass of wine. "How's this wine?"
Lu Xiaojia took a sip, frowned, and said, "It's neither spicy nor pungent, it's quite sweet."
"Sweet is just right," Lu Xiaofeng laughed. "Life is already bitter enough, why bother to create more excitement for yourself?"
Lu Xiaojia was stunned.
This time, he drank another glass without frowning.
.
Lu Xiaofeng sighed softly, "Go find her."
"...I don't know how to face her."
Lu Xiaojia covered her face with both hands, "What right do I have... She killed Ding Lingzhong to avenge me... I'm still angry with her... I'm not even worthy to stand in front of her."
Lu Xiaofeng put down his wine glass and looked directly into his eyes.
"You think too highly of yourself. Have you ever considered that the person who killed your cousin wasn't doing it for you, but for themselves? Your cousin caused someone to fall off a cliff, and you're not angry, but you don't allow others to seek revenge?"
Lu Xiaojia felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
He had never considered this possibility.
"Then she... left without saying goodbye..."
"Are you stupid? If she doesn't run, is she just going to wait to be surrounded and killed?"
At this point, Lu Xiaofeng paused, "Also, she is afraid, just like you."
Lu Xiaojia said in a trembling voice, "...Afraid?!"
"Yes, she's scared."
Lu Xiaofeng hit the nail on the head, "You know she cares about you and is afraid you'll turn against her..."
"...I don't know, maybe...I'll never know." Lu Xiaojia shook his head, gently tucking the red brocade into his bosom, pressing it against his heart. The red brocade seemed to still carry You Mingjiang's warmth, making his heart tremble.
Lu Xiaofeng slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go find them!"
Lu Xiaojia said dejectedly, "...I can't find her."
Lu Xiaofeng grabbed Lu Xiaojia and said with burning eyes, "Listen, this martial world is only a small place, and life is only 30,000 days long. As long as you are determined to find it, there is nothing you can't find!"
Looking at the man she had just met, Lu Xiaojia suddenly felt a weight lift from her heart.
"Why are you helping me?" Lu Xiaojia asked.
Lu Xiaofeng blinked and said leisurely, "I'm the kind of person who can't stand seeing beautiful women with sorrow. Whether they're men or women, as long as their eyes and brows darken, I can't help but interfere. I just have to."
That was obviously a joke.
"...Thank you."
Lu Xiaojia's lips twitched, and a smile finally appeared on her face—the first time in days.
Lu Xiaofeng waved his hand, "What are you thanking me for? I just said a few nonsense words."
"Lu Xiaofeng." Lu Xiaojia straightened his clothes, used his sword to lift his satchel, and slung it neatly over his shoulder. He called him by this name for the first time. "I'll treat you to a drink sometime."
“That makes more sense. When you find the girl you love, don’t forget to invite me to your wedding.” Lu Xiaofeng winked, raised his glass in a toast, and said, “I wish you great success, and farewell to the martial world.”
Lu Xiaojia nodded and smiled, then said softly, "See you in the martial world."
Before he finished speaking, he had already leaped over the gunwale, his toes lightly touching the shimmering river surface, like a startled swan treading on the waves. In just two or three leaps, his figure had blended into the night and disappeared from sight.
Lu Xiaofeng watched the departing figure, stroked his beard, and a gentle smile appeared on his lips.
“Youth is wonderful,” he murmured. “Even the way he’s troubled by love is so interesting.”
Lu Xiaofeng withdrew his gaze, hummed an off-key tune, and slowly picked up a piece of cucumber with his chopsticks.
Just as I was concentrating, the boat gently swayed, and the boatman's drawn-out, watery shouts drifted in from the window:
"We've arrived at Qingyuan Prefecture!"
.
.
The Lower Yuan Festival celebrations in Qingyuan Prefecture have come to an end.
A cold wind, carrying a faint smell of gunpowder, brushed against my cheek.
As the last burst of firework from the firecracker puppet faded, the lanterns along the riverbank went dark one by one, and even the old man selling paper lanterns had packed up his stall, leaving only colorful firecracker scraps scattered on the ground.
By this time, it was already very deserted.
Moonlight shone on Fu Hongxue's wrinkled clothes.
He stood quietly by the river, his gaze following the pomegranate-shaped lanterns drifting downstream in the river.
The pomegranate lantern, made of bamboo strips, swayed gently on the water, and the four lacquered characters "abundant harvest" on the lantern flickered in and out with the ripples.
Gradually, of the dozens of pomegranate lanterns floating on the river, only seven or eight remained lit.
His black fur coat fluttered in the night wind, and his fingers unconsciously rubbed the hilt of his knife.
“Look at those lanterns,” You Mingjiang pointed to the river, where dozens of pomegranate lanterns swayed gently. “Everyone is releasing lanterns, do you want to release one too and have some fun?”
Fu Hongxue said sadly, "I didn't have time to prepare."
Previously immersed in grief, I had no heart to celebrate the Lower Yuan Festival and naturally did not prepare paper lanterns.
"How about this?" You Mingjiang thought for a moment, then took out a crumpled Kongming lantern from the bamboo medicine basket. "It was from the Kaifeng welcoming drum performance, though not as fitting as the pomegranate lantern..."
Before she could finish speaking, the river wind rustled the paper used to decorate the lantern. She held up the Kongming lantern and showed it to him; on its surface were neat small characters that read: "May the rivers be clear and the seas be calm, and may the year be peaceful and the harvest plentiful."
"It's a good vision."
Fu Hongxue took the lamp and nodded slightly.
As soon as the tinderbox lit, You Mingjiang lit the wick. The Kongming lantern slowly rose into the air, its warm yellow glow illuminating their faces as they looked at each other.
They looked up together, watching the ball of light slowly rise into the sky, drifting further and further away, until it finally turned into a tiny star on the horizon.
After the Kongming lanterns had completely disappeared into the night, You Mingjiang turned to look at him, her tone calm: "You've fulfilled one of your wishes, haven't you?"
Fu Hongxue didn't say much, but gazed at her for a moment and said softly, "Thank you."
“It’s late and the wind is strong, it’s time to head to the inn,” You Mingjiang said, raising his hand to tidy his wind-blown hair. “I’ll take you back.”
“Okay.” Fu Hongxue didn’t stand on ceremony.
They remained silent the entire way, with only the occasional glint of Fu Hongxue's black hilt reflecting the moonlight.
Fu Hongxue watched the two shadows on the stone road, one long and one short, overlapping, passing over the lantern tassels left behind by the lantern seller, passing over the extinguished stove fire at the tea stall, and finally disappearing into the alley entrance shaded by weeping willows.
At the dimly lit entrance of the inn, the innkeeper was dozing behind the counter, tending to a lantern.
"arrive."
You Mingjiang smiled and said, "Let's leave it here."
Fu Hongxue paused for a moment, then suddenly laughed and repeated her words: "Let's leave it here."
You Mingjiang straightened his fur coat collar, noticing his haggard and thin appearance, the black robe hanging loosely on him. Remembering the medicine she had asked Ye Kai to give him earlier, she softly instructed, "Remember to take the medicine."
Fu Hongxue turned his face away, responded with an "Mm," and walked into the inn.
"Fu Hongxue," You Mingjiang called from behind.
Fu Hongxue leaned against the door frame of the inn and suddenly looked back.
You Mingjiang stood under the old willow tree, moonlight streaming down her shoulders, bathing her in its gentle glow. Her blue dress was enveloped in a shimmering light, simple and serene, like bamboo whose branches were weighed down by heavy snow yet refused to bend.
"Take care," she said softly.
Fu Hongxue turned his face away, steeled himself and nodded, ultimately saying nothing more. Without further hesitation, he turned and stepped out, heading straight into the inn.
.
You Mingjiang left the inn and strolled away.
Turning the corner of the alley, a waterway stretched out before us. White walls and black tiles lined both banks, and a small boat with a black awning drifted leisurely across the clear water. The boatman, wearing a low-brimmed straw hat, held a long pole and moved at a leisurely pace.
Upon seeing this scene, You Mingjiang was initially stunned, then smiled broadly. She took two steps towards the shore, tilted her head, and waited with a smile for the boat to approach, pretending to jump onto the bow.
With a "whoosh," the bamboo pole was held horizontally, blocking her way. The boatman said in a harsh voice, "I won't ferry you."
You Mingjiang's eyes flickered: "Why should I? It's not like I'm not paying for the boat."
The boatman said, "It's because you offended me."
You Mingjiang said, "I don't know you, how could I have offended you?"
The boatman's face darkened, and he said angrily, "Can't you recognize my voice?"
You Mingjiang could barely contain her laughter.
She barely managed to suppress the laughter that was about to spill out, feigning ignorance and keeping a straight face: "Who exactly are you?"
Lu Xiaojia remained silent for a long time, then suddenly took off her straw hat and threw it heavily onto the bow of the boat.
Lu Xiaojia looked up and met her smiling eyes.
You Mingjiang smiled and said, "It really is your pirate ship."
"Since you know it's my pirate ship, why don't you hurry up and get on?" Lu Xiaojia raised her chin slightly and reached out her hand.
You Mingjiang grasped that hand and, smiling, leaped onto the deck.
The water rippled gently, carrying the two of them leisurely towards the center of the river.
.
The cabin was warm, and there was a gleaming wooden table.
On the table were a dish of salted peanuts, a dish of steamed bottle gourd for dipping, a dish of small hot taro, and a bowl of braised pork belly with preserved mustard greens.
The rice wine was warmed to just the right temperature. The bowl was filled to the brim, and ripples spread across its surface. Lu Xiaojia gently touched the bowl to hers.
A bowl of warmed Shaoxing wine with ginger and jujubes tastes wonderful; once you drink it, your whole body will feel warm and cozy.
Enough to melt the snow and disperse the clouds, and to completely eliminate the ice crevices.
You Mingjiang did not drink water or drink it quickly.
She sipped the bowl of rice wine slowly, one sip at a time.
Besides not wanting to waste this pot of hand-brewed Shaoxing wine, there was also a slight sense of awkwardness, like "being timid when nearing home."
The time the two were apart was actually not too long.
It had only been a long autumn, and somehow, when they looked at each other, they felt as distant as strangers. They had so much to say, yet it all stuck in their throats.
She pretended to be tasting wine, but was actually secretly glancing at Lu Xiaojia.
He must have drunk quite a bit of Fenqing liquor, as his whole body was imbued with the scent of green apples, along with his own unique cool fragrance, like a desolate forest covered in snow.
You Mingjiang opened her mouth, but swallowed the words back.
She rarely hesitated like this.
Just as she was lost in thought, a small, steamed taro, soft and sticky, gently landed on the plate in front of her.
"What about me?" Lu Xiaojia picked up the half-bowl of wine, the amber-colored yellow wine, and gently swirled it.
You Mingjiang stroked the rim of the bowl, finally took a deep breath, and made his point clear: "I killed Ding Lingzhong."
“I know.” Lu Xiaojia took a sip of wine, her Adam’s apple bobbing.
Aren't you going to ask me why I killed him?
"I know."
You Mingjiang forced a bitter smile, the smile not reaching his eyes, "Since you already know... draw your sword."
Lu Xiaojia put down her wine bowl, the bottom of which made a crisp sound as it hit the table: "Why should I draw my sword?"
You Mingjiang pursed her lips, forcing back the stinging tears in her eyes: "You're asking a question you already know the answer to..."
After all, the person she killed was Lu Xiaojia's cousin.
Lu Xiaojia stared at her, her voice very soft: "You did nothing wrong."
If we really have to investigate, he's the one to blame.
It was his complicated relationship with the Ding family that should have ended long ago; it was his lack of foresight that led him to hesitate and take chances, even though he knew she had suffered injustice and mistreatment, and that Ding Lingzhong had committed many evils. This forced You Mingjiang to take action.
Lu Xiaojia unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his muscular upper body.
His collarbone was sunken, his muscles were clearly defined, and his thin but resilient chest was covered with scars of varying depths.
You Mingjiang's gaze involuntarily fell on the grotesque new scar on his chest, which resembled a centipede, and her eyelashes trembled slightly.
This sword strike came from Ding Chengfeng.
Even before Lu Xiaofeng could persuade her, Lu Xiaojia had already taken the blame for killing Ding Lingzhong in front of Ding Chengfeng.
From this day forward, all grudges between him and the Ding family are settled.
There is no longer a person named "Ding Lingzhong" in this world, whether he is real or not.
You Mingjiang lowered her head, tears falling onto the back of her hand, splashing into tiny droplets.
"Why are you crying?" Lu Xiaojia fastened her clothes and gently touched her cheek. "You should be happy for me. I owe the Ding family nothing in terms of blood ties."
Yu Mingjiang's eyes welled up with tears. He poured himself a full bowl of rice wine, held it up with both hands, and drank it all in one gulp, only to choke and cough repeatedly.
Lu Xiaojia suddenly grabbed her wrist, her voice low but firm: "Don't drink it."
"But in the end, I've left you homeless..."
Lu Xiaojia paused, then looked deeply into her eyes: "Then are you willing to give me back my home?"
“Lu Xiaojia, calm down…” You Mingjiang’s voice was barely audible. “I’m planning to join the Sun Moon Cult, and the road ahead will be too difficult. You’ve already offended the Azure Dragon Society, and you shouldn’t get involved in this mess, making one mistake after another.”
“Give me a reason,” Lu Xiaojia interrupted her. “Do you think I’m not generous or magnanimous enough?”
"No." Eight hundred thousand is a considerable sum.
"Am I not strong enough?"
"No." He was already considered a top-tier expert in the martial arts world.
Am I not handsome enough?
"no."
Lu Xiaojia is quite good-looking.
He had high brow bones, a straight nose, and a sharp jawline, which should have given him a very heroic appearance. However, he was born with a pair of phoenix eyes with upturned corners and a faint bluish tint under his eyes, which added a touch of weariness and fragility, softening his cold and aloof appearance. He was both beautiful and fierce.
You Mingjiang said in a low voice, "You are very important to me. I have an idea, why don't we go to the Guandi Temple..." She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes flickering slightly, as if she were about to use the same trick again.
Lu Xiaojia gently interrupted her, "The 'sworn brotherhood' tactic won't work on me." His voice softened slightly, "Don't you really have even the slightest bit of affection for me?"
He suddenly chuckled softly, his gaze gentle: "I know your personality best. If you dislike someone, let alone being in the same room, even just looking at them makes you feel uncomfortable."
You Mingjiang didn't speak, she just stared at him intently.
After a long while, she suddenly spoke: "Lu Xiaojia."
Lu Xiaojia gazed at her quietly, her eyes filled with tenderness and understanding, and uttered only a soft "Hmm?"
The "hmm" was drawn out, like the lingering drizzle of the plum rain season in Jiangnan, as if it was waiting for her to speak, or as if it had already guessed all the unspoken words she wanted to say.
“I like you very much, I like you so much. On that rainy night at Jingyang Ridge, on the cliff edge of Longhu Mountain, in the moonlight by the reeds, in that moment when you held me tightly… But can you understand? This liking alone is not enough…”
Lu Xiaojia paused, her fingers stroking the rim of the bowl.
His slightly swaying reflection was shown on the surface of the wine.
"Is it the same as liking Fu Hongxue?" He clearly didn't listen, his focus had wandered off.
He asked casually, but his eyes were fixed on You Mingjiang.
“It’s different.” You Mingjiang sighed and shook his head. “To him, it’s pity. To you, it’s seeing another version of myself.”
Lu Xiaojia suddenly smiled.
"That's great. Even my own parents don't like me, and you're the first person to say you like me."
A tear glistened on her eyelashes as Lu Xiaojia whispered, "When I was little, I was out in town once when my master and I ran into my father picking out a golden ruyi for Ding Lingzhong... The braised pork that night was the hardest thing I've ever eaten..."
You Mingjiang didn't speak, but reached out and caught his tears. She leaned closer and carefully wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes.
Lu Xiaojia was stunned for a moment.
So warm.
A person like him shouldn't have any attachments.
Now that I have it, I won't let it go.
.
Lu Xiaojia's voice was hoarse: "Do you still remember that almond?"
It was the kernel of the apricot that the two of them shared.
"Remember."
You Mingjiang was taken aback, then took out the almond wrapped in a handkerchief from the space in the bamboo medicine basket. Unwrapping the handkerchief, the still-intact almond's skin became even drier and smoother, gleaming with a honey-like sheen.
“Here it is.” You Mingjiang handed him the almond.
Lu Xiaojia's hand covered his, but she didn't take it away immediately.
The almonds were slightly warm in their clasped palms.
"So you've been... keeping it all along. Remember when I said that if you were willing to give it a chance, it could grow into an apricot tree?" Lu Xiaojia lowered her head and slowly closed her fingers. "I heard that apricot kernels should be buried deep, until next spring..."
As he spoke, he lunged forward without warning.
You Mingjiang was taken aback, instinctively thinking he had something private to say, and obediently tilted her ear slightly. Lu Xiaojia suddenly leaned in and unexpectedly planted a kiss on her cheek.
A fleeting kiss, like a dragonfly skimming the water.
You Mingjiang opened her eyes wide. The kiss landed very lightly, but it startled her so much that she shrank back and bumped her back against the cabin.
“You…” Her cheeks burned as she stared at him blankly, still reeling from the shock.
A pool of water floated beneath the boat's awning, trembling gently.
Her earlobes were so red they looked like they were about to bleed.
Lu Xiaojia succeeded with a kiss and finally took the almond from her palm.
"That's what I wanted to say. Next spring, we can watch this almond tree take root and sprout together."
You Mingjiang clutched her chest, and it took her a while to calm down.
She turned her face away, her cheeks flushed: "I've said it before, I like you a lot, but that's not enough. I don't want to be the kind of almond that grows wherever it's buried. I want to drift away with the wind and land in more fertile soil."
"I knew you were like this all along."
Lu Xiaojia took another step forward, and seeing that she was still about to retreat, she said with a burning gaze, "But you must understand that no matter where you drift, you will never lose me."
"What you will receive is an almond that will take root and sprout along with you."
Even if you drift across thousands of mountains and rivers, I will still land in the soil beside you.
.
.
Lu Xiaojia is a very stubborn person.
If I choose him, he will never let go. It might even drag him down with me.
After much thought, You Mingjiang took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling slightly, and her lips parted slightly.
The words of refusal will be uttered in the next moment.
Lu Xiaojia, quick as a flash, picked up a piece of braised pork with preserved mustard greens and, without a word, fed it to her.
"Hot..." she said, her voice thick with the sauce as she took the trembling slice of meat into her mouth.
Just as she swallowed, she saw Lu Xiaojia's chopsticks poised to strike, and she picked up another slice of meat and stuffed it into her mouth.
They seem determined to achieve their goal no matter what.
After eating several pieces, she quickly waved her hand and said, "Let me think about it, okay?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Xiaojia frowned deeply and said with dissatisfaction, "Don't try to fool me with this. Based on our past experience dealing with each other, your so-called consideration is actually just an excuse to avoid the issue."
He suddenly leaned forward, and the shimmering water outside the ship's side came into view. "It's my turn to have a lucky break."
Yu Mingjiang tried to appear sincere: "This time is really different, I promise."
Lu Xiaojia crossed her arms and said with a serious expression, "Unless you're willing to seriously consider our relationship."
You Mingjiang was both amused and exasperated: "You're forcing me, aren't you? You're making the ox drink water even though it doesn't want to! So you're just forcing me to agree?"
“You’ve misunderstood.” Lu Xiaojia shook her head slightly and said proudly, “I just want you to really see my heart clearly. Anyway, there’s plenty of time, so just keep testing me.”
You Mingjiang's eyes darted around, and she tentatively posed a difficult question: "What if my test is too hard and you can't complete it?"
Lu Xiaojia reached out and gently turned her shoulder: "I know, I'm willing to wait for you, I can wait. True gold fears no fire. If it doesn't work this time, I'll try again, again and again. I refuse to believe I can't get past you!"
Unexpectedly, Lu Xiaojia was quite stubborn.
You Mingjiang sighed.
Seeing that she still had doubts, Lu Xiaojia reached out and pulled You Mingjiang into his arms. He silently thought to himself, "Now that I've taken her hand, there's no reason for me to let go."
She struggled slightly, but Lu Xiaojia's arm didn't budge; instead, it tightened its grip even more. "Don't move."
Lu Xiaojia's breathing was right next to hers.
His voice was low and husky, and his warm breath brushed against her ear.
The cabin suddenly became eerily quiet. Even the air in this small cabin seemed to have thinned.
You Mingjiang was slightly taken aback, her body stiffened for a moment, and then relaxed, gently resting her head against his chest.
The sound of her heartbeat came through her clothes, thumping loudly and steadily, each beat striking her ear.
“If…” Lu Xiaojia suddenly said, “If I leave you, I might not be happy, maybe I will. Life is only 30,000 days long, it might be a little tough, but I can always get through it. I’m telling you this now not to ask for your pity. If you’re determined not to want me, why would I force you?”
You Mingjiang suddenly called out to him, "Lu Xiaojia."
"Um?"
"Thirty thousand days is too short. I want to live forty thousand or fifty thousand days, the longer the better."
A burst of sparks flew from the charcoal brazier, illuminating his suddenly bright eyes. Lu Xiaojia suddenly laughed, "You mean... I'll take that as a yes!"
"Hmm." You Mingjiang beckoned to him with her finger, "Come closer, I'll tell you about the test I'm going to give you."
.
Lu Xiaojia laughed and brought her ear close to You Mingjiang.
"You can't go back on your word. No matter what I ask, you have to do your best," You Mingjiang said softly.
Lu Xiaojia nodded and said, "I will never go back on my word."
You Mingjiang pursed her lips slightly, a sly smile curving her lips, and slowly said, "I want you..."
Lu Xiaojia held his breath, when a slight stinging sensation suddenly shot through his earlobe. He opened his eyes wide and realized that You Mingjiang had somehow gotten so close.
She gently bit his earlobe before slowly letting go.
Lu Xiaojia shuddered, his back involuntarily tensing up. When he came to his senses and tried to stop him, he grabbed nothing.
You Mingjiang had already nimbly retreated to the side of the boat, her figure skimming across the water like a swallow, and landed steadily on the shore.
She turned and smiled, a sly glint in her eyes: "Trying to take advantage of me? You'll have to train for a few more years!"
The awning boat swayed gently in the middle of the river. Lu Xiaojia stood at the bow, feeling utterly empty, watching that figure gradually disappear into the distance.
Suddenly, a clear voice called out: "Hey—listen up!"
Lu Xiaojia looked up in surprise.
You Mingjiang cupped her hands to her lips and called out:
"My test is to find me when everyone else can't find me."
She paused, then held up three fingers and added, "Three times, and you'll pass."
This sudden turn of events brightened Lu Xiaojia's eyes.
Looking at the smiling girl on the other side of the river, the smile gradually spread into his eyes, turning into a determined light.
Lu Xiaojia murmured softly, "Don't say three times, even thirty times, three hundred times... I will definitely find you."
.
.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com