Having finally escaped the chaos of the old street tour and returned to his parents' house, Zhang Shaozhong endured a dinner with a subtly tense atmosphere (his parents frequently exchanging glances). He felt as if he had fought a high-intensity war, and was utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally.
The parents seemed to sense the complex and unspoken atmosphere between the three young people, and went back to their room early, leaving them alone.
The Mid-Autumn Festival moon is round and large, like a silver plate hanging in the dark blue sky, its clear light shining down on the world.
After Zhang Shaozhong finished washing up, he went to the living room and found a slender figure standing by the window of the balcony and the guest room.
Ling Qingxue stood by the window of the guest room, without turning on the light. The moonlight outlined her cold and lonely profile.
She gazed up at the full moon, her eyes no longer calm or indifferent as usual, but filled with a deep, almost overflowing longing and a faint sadness.
It was a kind of melancholy that transcended time and space, a longing that stretched to the ends of the earth yet made it impossible to return to one's homeland.
Zhang Shaozhong could even vaguely sense that a faint, incongruous sense of desolation lingered around her, utterly out of place with the festive occasion.
Ye Meier leaned against the balcony door frame, unconsciously fiddling with a mooncake that Zhang Shaozhong's mother had given her, but she didn't eat it.
Her eyes, which usually sparkled with allure or cunning, were now calm as she gazed at the moon, her eyes somewhat empty and lost.
Her flamboyant demeanor subsided considerably, revealing a rare vulnerability, like that of a lone wolf separated from its pack.
Zhang Shaozhong could sense the intense resentment, the desire for power, and a hint of... unease about the unknown future in her emotions.
Neither of them spoke, but the silent loneliness and longing weighed more heavily on Zhang Shaozhong's heart than any words could express.
His initial frustration and helplessness due to today's chaotic situation were instantly replaced by an indescribable feeling of heartache and responsibility.
He almost forgot that the two people in front of him were not from this world.
They possess immense power and extraordinary pasts, yet they are forced to remain in this unfamiliar land, like fish out of water or birds with broken wings.
The excitement belongs to others, the reunion belongs to others.
This bright moon, which illuminates countless family reunions, may only be a cold symbol reminding them that their hometown is far away in time and space.
Zhang Shaozhong walked over silently, first going to the balcony and standing next to Ye Meier.
"Looking at the moon?" he asked softly.
Ye Meier snapped out of her daze, quickly suppressing her momentary vulnerability and reverting to her carefree demeanor. She took a bite of her mooncake and mumbled, "Hmm, look at the moon here, it's not much different from ours! It's just... it lacks a bit of malevolent aura, it's boring!"
But Zhang Shaozhong could sense the loneliness hidden beneath her feignedly relaxed tone.
He then walked to the window of the guest room and stood not far from Ling Qingxue, not getting too close.
"Fairy, are you homesick?"
He asked directly, but in a gentle voice.
Ling Qingxue's body trembled slightly. Without turning around, she continued to gaze at the moon. After a long while, she let out a soft sigh, as light as a snowflake falling to the ground.
"The moon is like the moon of my hometown, but the people are not the same as those in my hometown."
She murmured softly, a barely perceptible tremor in her clear, cold voice, "This world may be wonderful, but it is not my home. I wonder how my sect is doing, and whether my old friends are well..."
She didn't say anything more, but Zhang Shaozhong truly felt her deep worry and concern.
Looking at these two once-powerful figures, now revealing their softness and confusion under the moonlight, Zhang Shaozhong felt as if an invisible hand was tightly gripping his heart, making him feel both sour and bitter.
He was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke in an unprecedentedly serious and firm tone:
"Actually... I've always had this idea."
Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier turned to look at him at the same time, their eyes sparkling in the moonlight.
Zhang Shaozhong looked at them and said, word by word, "Once I've earned more money and our strength has recovered somewhat, we'll go find a way to send you back!"
These words were like a thunderbolt, leaving Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier stunned!
Ye Meier's eyes widened: "Go back? Kid, are you serious? Do you even know how to get back? Do you even know where the way back is? And even if we did find it, the spatial barriers, the spacetime turbulence... even in our prime, we wouldn't dare to venture there easily!"
Ling Qingxue also stared at Zhang Shaozhong, her eyes filled with shock and complex emotions: "Traversing between two worlds involves the fundamental laws of the universe, which is beyond human capability. You don't need to..."
How will you know if you don't try?
Zhang Shaozhong interrupted her, his eyes burning, "This world is constantly evolving, and there are many unsolved mysteries. Perhaps there are clues about space and dimensions? There must be more than just one 'fellow traveler' like Mo Huaiyuan! We can gather information, search for ancient texts and secrets, and even... when the chaotic energy becomes stronger, maybe I can sense something!"
He became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he had found a third goal in life besides "living" and "making money".
"I know this is difficult, and the chances are slim. But we can't just do nothing, can we?"
Zhang Shaozhong looked at them and said sincerely, "No matter how good this place is, it's not your home. I can see that you miss home. Now that we're family, your affairs are my affairs!"
He patted his chest, trying to make his words sound more reliable: "So, we have to work even harder! Work hard to earn money and accumulate resources! Work hard to cultivate and restore our strength! Then, together, we'll find the way home!"
Under the moonlight, Zhang Shaozhong's face still carried the naivety of youth, but the firmness and responsibility in his eyes deeply touched the hearts of Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier.
Ye Meier looked at him, her eyes flickering, and suddenly smiled. That smile was no longer the usual teasing or seductive one, but rather carried a hint of warmth and... perhaps even a dependence that she herself was unaware of?
She punched Zhang Shaozhong's shoulder hard: "Alright! Kid! You've got guts! Then I'll be waiting for you to take me back and wreak havoc!"
Ling Qingxue did not smile. She simply looked at Zhang Shaozhong quietly. In her cold eyes, it was as if ice and snow were melting, and a very subtle but real warmth was spreading.
She nodded gently; a thousand words were condensed into a single word:
"good."
At that moment, the three of them seemed to be drawn closer together because of their shared goal.
The previous jealousy, embarrassment, and chaotic scenes all seemed insignificant in the face of the grand and heartwarming vision of "going home".
Looking at the two women bathed in moonlight, Zhang Shaozhong felt an unprecedented surge of motivation.
Make money! Become stronger!
Take them home!
This became a vow he secretly made.
This seemingly unattainable goal, like a beacon, illuminated his future path and gave him a deeper understanding and a stronger sense of connection to this life of "living together as immortals and demons."
Tonight the moon is full, but people are not reunited; however, our hearts are tightly bound together by a shared promise.
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