Chapter 198 Reasons for Fighting
The cemetery in winter is even more desolate than usual. Without the greenery brought by plants, all you can see is black, white and gray. The few people walking in the cemetery are wearing monotonous clothes. Although they are not white, they are also a token of their love. Being in such an environment is like walking into an old photo without color.
But in such a cemetery, there is a tombstone that is slightly different from the others.
It is made of gray-black rocks and has simple decorations, but it is easy to recognize from the forest of tombstones. From the outside, this tombstone is not eye-catching. Even the gifts placed in front of the tombstone are only a few, which means that the owner of the tomb did not have a wide range of friends during his lifetime. The specifications of the gifts are not luxurious, so from this perspective, there is no eye-catching element.
If you ask passers-by in the cemetery what makes it so special, the answer they get will probably be "atmosphere."
Many people have a similar feeling in life: a house that has been inhabited for a long time and a house that has been unattended for a long time give people a different "atmosphere". Many times, just by relying on this "atmosphere", people can vaguely perceive whether a place is inhabited.
Among the older generation in Donghua Prefecture, this "atmosphere" is also called "popularity."
The feeling such a tombstone brings to people is a different atmosphere. Just noticing it gives people an unusual impression.
Lin Yun looked at the tombstone.
He had his hands hanging by his sides, his face expressionless, his eyes slightly lowered, and he just watched silently.
The gray tombstone in the cold wind seemed even harder and colder than usual. It was covered with a layer of white velvety ice. The cherry blossom crystal necklace hanging on the corner of the tombstone was also covered with a layer of ice, making it look particularly desolate.
Because of this, Aso Yuanxiang, who was wearing a fashionable windbreaker, and Lin Yun, who was wearing casual clothes, seemed somewhat out of place.
"Should we change our clothes before coming back?" Looking around, Aso Yuanxiang, who was wearing sunglasses, couldn't help rubbing the back of her hands. Even though she was not a native of Fangting City, she could feel this subtle and heavy atmosphere.
"…The intention is enough."
The words paused slightly in Lin Yun's mouth, and then turned into a murmur mixed with sighs: "But I think if she were here, she wouldn't care about these things. After all, it's just self-consolation."
The girls had been sent back to the base. After arriving at the cemetery, Lin Yun naturally had no reason to maintain Delphinium's appearance, so he turned into Lin Yun's appearance.
Beside him, Aso Yuanxiang also slowly squatted in front of the tombstone, looking forward steadily.
The two people only exchanged a few words after getting out of the car. After Lin Yun brought them here, they had nothing else to say.
He didn't know what Aso Yuanxiang was thinking at the moment, but it didn't stop him from choosing silence. If it were nineteen years ago, maybe he would find some topics to break the deadlock, but now is not the same as it was back then, and they are no longer young. For adults, sometimes appropriate silence is more appropriate than words.
——“So that’s how it is.”
After a long while, Asou Yuanxiang slowly spoke: "I didn't know it would feel like this to see a friend's tombstone. It really... makes it feel unreal."
"What do you think it will be like?" Lin Yun asked.
“I thought I was going to cry.”
She still didn't look up, with a look of disappointment in her expression, "But after arriving here, I don't feel as sad as I imagined. Maybe it's more of a regret. I always feel like my emotions are covered by a layer of gauze, and even I can't see clearly."
"After all, it's been a long time."
Lin Yun was not surprised by her words, "Besides, you haven't seen each other for a long time."
"It's been a long time... maybe, 8 years? 9 years? At least it's shorter than the time we were apart."
Aso Yuanxiang sighed: "When I was an examiner in the Magic Kingdom, she brought newcomers from Fangting City to take the exam. I didn't expect that would be the last time."
"Have you ever contacted each other privately?" Lin Yun asked.
"We kept in touch at first, but later on... we had fewer and fewer common topics, so we rarely talked alone anymore."
Aso Yuanxiang chuckled twice: "She knows that I am not happy to listen to her daily trivialities, and I also know that she doesn't care about the bad things in my workplace. She is content to be a full-time wife, and I am focusing on my career as a singer. We both know that we are still sisters and still miss the feeling of talking about everything, but we can no longer understand each other's words."
“People are so strange sometimes. They clearly want to love each other, but their hearts will still drift further and further apart.”
Aso Yuanxiang continued: "I have actually thought about it many times, whether I should arrange a place to meet up properly, chat, and share what I have been doing these years, but every time I felt that 'there is still time' and 'there is no rush'. Until that day, the dean suddenly called me over and told me that 'Sakura is dead'."
Lin Yun did not respond.
His right thumb was in his trouser pocket, and his exposed fingers tapped on the surface of the fabric. His lips moved twice, but in the end he said nothing.
Because he suddenly remembered that a few months before Anya passed away, she had suggested to him: "How about calling all the old teammates together for a gathering?"
At that time, he was concentrating on his work and did not think that this sentence had any other meaning, so he just replied "Indeed", and that was it.
——Don’t be in a hurry, there will always be opportunities in the future.
This was also what he thought at that time.
He somewhat understood why many people in middle age were used to smoking, probably because they were upset but couldn't express it. But he didn't have the habit of smoking, so he could only stand there like a wooden stake.
"If someone else said this to me, my first reaction would probably be 'Are you kidding me?' Because no one knows her strength better than us. If we only have the remaining beasts as enemies, I can't imagine any remaining beasts being her opponents."
Aso Yuanxiang said calmly, "Did something happen before he transformed? Or did he get some disease? No matter how you think about it, he shouldn't have been killed by someone else."
"But the dean made it very clear that the cause of death was not an accident...but pure homicide."
Lin Yun clenched his fists.
Even though he had heard this sentence countless times and confirmed it to himself countless times in his heart, hearing it again would still make him feel emotional.
But two years ago, when he was unable to contain his hatred because of the news of Anya's death, someone found him and told him: "Think clearly about what you are carrying now and don't do anything impulsive."
That person is also the "dean" mentioned by Aso Yuanxiang, with golden green cat eyes.
"You said before that she told you not to come to the funeral, or even to come to Fangting City?"
Lin Yun said awkwardly: "Did she tell you the reason?"
"Yes, I have."
Aso Yuanxiang said calmly: "You know, a mere unreasonable order will not stop me from doing what I want to do."
"Why?"
"Because when I came, the only option left for you was 'revenge'."
Raising her head and turning her face to the side, Aso Yuanxiang looked at Lin Yun and said, "If I don't come back, or if neither Su Shengzi nor I come back, you can calm down and weigh the consequences of 'revenge'. But if we come to the funeral at that time, what will you think?"
"What do you think?"
"The Qianting City team has reunited, but one of their members has been killed. Everyone wants revenge, but only one of them gave up the power of a magical girl and now can no longer fight."
She stood up from her squatting position. Maybe it was because her feet were numb, but Aso Yuanxiang stood on tiptoe. "In a situation like this, with your personality, do you really have the choice of 'not seeking revenge'?"
Lin Yun was speechless.
The other party was right. If the situation really turned out like that, he would probably not hesitate at all to return to the fight.
"…Even if that's the case, what's wrong with that?"
But even so, he still has doubts: "I don't feel like I'm being coerced or forced, because that's what I wanted to do."
"Really?"
Aso Yuanxiang asked back: "Then what are you fighting for now?"
"Of course I am doing this now for..." Lin Yun suddenly stopped talking halfway through his sentence.
Because he realized what the other person wanted to express.
Now, he is indeed not fighting for "revenge". The reason he picked up the flower of his heart again is actually to protect his children.
"The reason for fighting is very important. Just because the reason is different, the way of fighting will be very different. You should understand."
Aso Yuanxiang continued: "The dean's idea is that the answer to the question of 'whether to fight' must be answered by you. And only if we don't interfere, you can find your own reason to fight, a reason that you decide for yourself."
"What if I decide to fight for revenge alone?" Lin Yun frowned.
"If you do it completely of your own free will, no one can stop you."
Aso Yuanxiang frowned: "But I have to emphasize that I don't want you to die with Anya, and the dean doesn't want you to die either. You used that trick during the Full Moon Festival, right? The trick that damaged your magic suit in exchange for combat power. If you use it again, you will die."
"You have already faced this level of battle just to protect your child. If you knew the real murderer and chose to seek revenge, how quickly would you burn out your life? Believe me, my friend, although it may sound selfish, no one wants to see that scene."
"...I know. I already understood what you said." After hearing this, Lin Yun sighed, "No matter what, I have to first let Lulu... no, let those children have the ability to protect themselves. Before those children can stand on their own, I will not act rashly."
"It's not okay for them to be on their own."
Aso Yuanxiang glared at him and said, "Are you so anxious to commit suicide? You want revenge without even knowing who the real murderer is? Are you planning to attack the Black Dawn's lair and start a massacre?"
"Neither this nor that works, so what are you doing here? Are you here to guard our dean?"
Lin Yun replied unhappily: "Do I need to remind you that my position is half a level higher than yours? Alternate Inspector?"
"I told you when we first met, of course I'm here to be your bodyguard, Inspector."
Aso Yuanxiang laughed twice, "Let me confirm with you again. Although the 'moth' who secretly controlled Fangting City has been overthrown, you haven't had a good time recently, have you, sir?"
"Average." Lin Yun answered indifferently.
One of them was smiling, the other had a cold face. After a long stalemate, Lin Yun took a step back and said, "There are indeed a lot of problems."
"Who is the enemy?"
"you do not know?"
"How would I know? I just got here."
"Didn't you ask the Golden Green Cat's Eye? There's no record of it at the Investigation Institute?"
"What to record?" Aso Yuanxiang looked innocent.
"Who just told me that I know the progress of the matter better than anyone else?"
Lin Yun's eyes widened: "So this is just a nice talk?"
"I do know the progress of the matter, and I also know that Claw Scar sent someone over, but how can I know who it is?"
Aso Yuanxiang spread out her hands confidently: "Aren't we here to exchange information? Tell me."
"…Forget it, just pretend I didn't say anything. I'll take you to the Strategy Bureau and explain it to you. You'll understand after I show you the relevant information."
"Okay, it just so happens that I haven't been to Fangting City's Strategy Bureau for a long time."
"Why do I remember someone saying not long ago that going to the Strategy Bureau was boring?"
"Because I really don't want to go to the Strategy Bureau right now. You also said you'll go back later, right?"
Aso Yuanxiang curled her lips slightly: "As soon as I arrived in a city, I went straight to the local Strategy Bureau. This kind of thing happened so many times that it's really annoying."
"I'm not taking you there to have fun. It's not that interesting anyway."
"Don't worry, I understand."
Aso Yuanxiang responded perfunctorily, and then suddenly seemed to remember something, raised her handbag, reached out and took out a square piece of thin paper.
"What is that?" Lin Yun asked.
"It's an album CD, mine, the latest one." Aso Yuuka replied.
"Why are you taking out your album here?" Lin Yun was puzzled.
But the other party shook the CD in his hand and said with a smile: "Is this the custom in your Donghuazhou? You have to bring a gift to the deceased."
"so what?"
"This is my gift." Aso Yuanxiang blinked.
"You are too narcissistic."
Lin Yun put one hand on his waist and held his forehead with one hand: "How can you bring something like this when you pay homage to the dead?"
"I'm not being narcissistic, my friend. Anya would definitely like it if she knew."
Placing the album in front of the tombstone, Aso Yuanxiang made a gesture of worship, bowed deeply, waited for dozens of seconds, and then stood up and said, "Look, she told me it sounds good."
"It's so stupid," commented the deceased's family.
This time, Aso Yuanxiang did not make any rebuttal, and did not even respond.
She just glanced at the tombstone with a gentle look.
The tombstone did not give her any response, but what remained in her thoughts was the last conversation between the two.
——"So you haven't heard my new song at all? I spent several days recording this perfect version. Please, sister, listen to it."
"Well... even if you say that, and send me a string of strange letters, I don't know how to turn it into music."
“That’s a web link!”
"It needs to be done on a computer, right? It seems so difficult... Compared to this, Lulu did some craftwork in kindergarten today and learned how to fold a paper crane. Do you want to take a look? Our child is surprisingly talented in handicrafts. It seems that he was the first one in the class to fold one."
"Is that so? It sounds amazing, send it to me later. But it's my song! Remember to listen to my song!"
"Okay, okay, I will definitely listen to the songs of big singers. Let Ayun do it after he gets off work."
"Your tone shows that you don't intend to listen..."
“I really intend to listen.”
"Ah... I don't know how to use a web link, but you at least know how to listen to a CD, right?"
"CD? Ah, disc? That's no problem. So you're going to release a CD?"
"It may still be some time before we release an album, but it will definitely happen, and it will take two years at the latest. My songs have very good sales data recently, and if I continue to develop, there will definitely be no problem with releasing an album."
"Okay, I'll buy one then."
"No need, I'll give it to you."
"I like Yuanxiang the most. I'm touched!"
"Don't say such things in such a perfunctory tone. It will only make people feel more sad..."
"Okay, okay, the main thing is that I really don't know much about music, nor do I know much about computers, but Yuanxiang, I don't need you to give me your album, I will definitely buy one to support you."
"Is it a deal?"
"It's a deal."
"If you haven't bought it, I will personally deliver the album to your house."
"Send it to my house? Um...then I suddenly don't want to buy it!"
"Hello!"
(End of this chapter)
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