Returning to my homeland
Song Guansui stood alone in the quiet courtyard, a few emerald green leaves of the Chinese parasol tree falling on his shoulder.
The blue-purple jacaranda tree in the courtyard had long passed its peak blooming season; its branches were now only lush green, and even the last trace of its fragrance had been swept away by the wind.
He clearly possessed profound internal strength, and ordinary wind and cold could not penetrate his meridians at all. However, when a gust of wind swept by, swirling up green leaves from the ground and landing on his clothes, the biting cold seeped into his bones, making his fingertips tremble.
What felt even more empty and unsettling was his heart—it felt as if a piece had been ripped out, leaving only a gaping hole through which the wind could rush in. He knew better than anyone that his heart had long since gone with Jiang Manyan.
But the person he cherished so dearly betrayed him and fled from him, colluding with outsiders! The scene of the chaotic clash of blades that day flashed back into his mind.
When Qin Lingfeng was in danger, Jiang Manyan rushed forward without thinking and used her back to shield the man from a fatal blow!
That glaring red was even more intense than when the jacaranda flowers were at their peak, burning him with pain in his internal organs.
His knuckles were white from the exertion, and the air pressure around him was so low it felt like water could drip from them.
Song Guansui lowered his eyes to look at the crushed dead leaves at his feet, a cold voice escaping his throat.
"The Qin family... Qin Lingfeng..."
Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a murderous aura that could destroy the world.
"I want you to pay for your crimes with your blood!"
He also wants to find Jiang Manyan. Before, he only wanted to imprison Jiang Manyan and make her stay obediently by his side!
Now! He wants Jiang Manyan to see with her own eyes that those who protect him, and those he protects, will ultimately perish because of him.
He wanted to alienate him from everyone, to make him understand that the only person in this world who could support him and protect him was Song Guansui—even if it meant using the most extreme methods, he would lock him back by his side.
— — — —
Qin Lingfeng's sudden departure plunged the Qin family in the central district into a brief period of chaos.
Song Guansui hated Qin Lingfeng intensely and launched a fierce attack on the Qin family in the central district. The Liu family saw that the Qin family was in turmoil and Qin Lingfeng had disappeared.
Believing the opportunity had arrived, the Song and Liu families immediately joined forces to encircle and suppress the Qin family, dividing up the power vacuum and territory left behind.
This struggle, by a twist of fate, won a precious respite and opportunity for development for Chengdu, located far to the southeast.
— — — —
The carriage moved slowly along the official road leading to Jincheng. The closer Qin Lingfeng got to Jincheng, the more he could feel the tension in Jiang Manyan's body in his arms.
Jiang Manyan's feelings weren't one of trepidation at the prospect of returning home, but rather a deep, almost unbearable anticipation and fear.
He has been gone for too long and has experienced too much suffering and torment. Is Jincheng, the "pure land" he built with his own hands, still the same?
When the carriage was transferred to a boat, and the boat passed through the last river, the city nestled against the mountains and by the water came into view, Jiang Manyan could hardly believe her eyes.
The earthen and wooden city walls of my memory have now been raised and reinforced. The walls are made of quarried stone mixed with rammed earth, making them appear thick and sturdy.
Banners fluttered on the city wall, and embroidered on them was the symbol of Jin City that he had personally designed years ago—an orchid growing tenaciously beside a rock.
Deep moats and watchtowers have been added around the city walls. Guards in uniform stand on the towers, armed and sharp-eyed, scanning the surroundings. Their spirit and demeanor are completely different from when he left, filled with professional vigilance.
The wasteland outside the city has been transformed into neat terraced fields, with crisscrossing irrigation canals reflecting the sunlight.
"This...is this really Jincheng?"
Jiang Manyan murmured to herself, her voice trembling slightly.
He expected to see a city devastated by his loss, but instead, he found a vibrant and thriving scene before him.
Qin Lingfeng held his hand tightly, his eyes filled with pride and heartache, and whispered.
"Slow Smoke, look, this is your Jincheng. You haven't wasted your efforts."
Then they changed to horse-drawn carriages and drove closer to the city gate.
The soldiers guarding the city conducted a rigorous inspection. When the carriage curtain was lifted, revealing Qin Lingfeng's face, and the thin, pale face in his arms that was still recognizable at a glance, time seemed to stand still for a moment.
Immediately afterward, an incredulous, tearful cry shattered the silence.
"It's...it's the city lord! The city lord is back! City Lord Jiang is not dead—!"
The sound was like a boulder thrown into a still lake, instantly creating a thousand ripples!
The soldiers guarding the city threw down their spears and rushed over. Their faces were not filled with lax discipline, but with uncontrollable joy and excitement. They knelt down with tears in their eyes.
"Lord of the city! You've really returned!"
The news spread quickly.
"The city lord is back!"
...
The news spread like wildfire throughout the city.
Farmers working in the fields threw down their hoes, craftsmen in the workshops put down their tools, and children in the school ran out with their teachers... People flocked to the main street of the city gate from all directions.
The street was instantly packed with people.
People looked at the familiar figure in the carriage, at his gaunt face and his weak appearance with the splints on.
Recalling the grief when the news of his "death" arrived, and everything he had done for them, countless tears welled up in my eyes.
Those weren't tears of sorrow, but the ecstatic joy of something lost and found again, the peace of mind after venting grievances, and the excitement of having one's spiritual pillar stand firm once more.
"Lord of the city! You've suffered so much!"
"We knew you would come back!"
"Jincheng is saved! We have someone to rely on now!"
...
Cries, laughter, and cheers mingled together, converging into a warm and powerful torrent that enveloped Jiang Manyan tightly.
Jiang Manyan was carefully helped down from the carriage by Qin Lingfeng. Standing on the land of Jincheng, she looked at the sincere, tearful faces in front of her, and saw the unreserved trust and love in their eyes.
He had held back his tears for so long, but they finally slipped down his cheeks. When he left, Jincheng was just a hopeful but fragile seedling, and now…
Jiang Zhong strode through the crowd. This resolute "big brother" also had red eyes. He knelt on one knee, his voice choked but loud.
"Welcome back, City Lord!"
On the way back to the city lord's mansion, Jiang Zhong reported to Jiang Manyan.
"Slow Smoke, the news of your 'accident' has brought grief to the entire city. But we haven't collapsed! You always said that we must protect our home! So, everyone has turned our grief and anger into strength!"
"Men, women, young and old, anyone with strength came spontaneously to reinforce the city walls and dig trenches. They said they wanted to make Chengdu strong enough so that when you came back, you would see a safer home!"
"The brothers in the guard team are even more determined, training like crazy according to the training methods you left behind! They said, we can't let you risk your life alone outside anymore, we need to have the ability to protect you and protect Jincheng!"
"The farmers have taken great care of their crops, and the harvest is better than in previous years! The granaries are overflowing with grain!"
"The children in the school study exceptionally hard. The teacher says they want to grow up quickly and become as capable as you, so they can help you with your studies!"
Listening to Jiang Zhong's narration, looking at the neater houses on both sides of the street, the simple yet clean clothes on people's bodies, and the faces full of hope and energy, Jiang Manyan was filled with tremendous shock and indescribable emotion.
The seeds of ideals, kindness, and resilience he planted did not wither during his absence; instead, they grew wildly on this land, blossoming and bearing fruit.
Jincheng is no longer an infant that needs his constant protection; it has grown into a teenager with tenacious vitality and cohesion.
He turned around and met Qin Lingfeng's gaze, seeing the same shock and relief in the other's eyes.
Jiang Manyan took a deep breath, feeling the familiar air of Jincheng, and an unprecedented sense of power and belonging welled up within her.
This is his true home, the pure land he is willing to protect with his life.
His return is not only a return of his body, but also an anchoring of his soul.
No matter how difficult the road ahead may be, he will walk it together with these lovely and respectable people.
— — — —
When Jiang Manyan returned to Jincheng, she was severely weakened. Her already slender figure appeared even thinner, and her large robes hung loosely on her body. Her face was always pale.
Jiang Zhong and Qin Lingfeng saw all of this and were very anxious.
The small kitchen in the city lord's mansion became Jiang Zhong's most frequent posting place. He was no longer just a guard commander who only needed to give orders, but instead, he was researching medicinal cuisine recipes in various ways.
In the morning, it's a bowl of carefully cooked rice porridge with red dates and longan, served with a side dish of light and easily digestible side dishes.
Lunch always includes a nourishing soup, sometimes it's chicken stew with yam, sometimes it's mutton stew with angelica root. The broth is skimmed clear, yet it's exceptionally delicious.
Dinner was more refined, consisting mostly of soft and nourishing foods such as fish paste and egg custard.
Jiang Zhong didn't talk much, but his tightly furrowed brows would only relax slightly each time he saw Jiang Manyan take a few more sips.
This silent yet steadfast care, like the warmest hearth, soothed Jiang Manyan's wounded body and soul.
However, besides dietary supplements, the bigger "problem" is that Jiang Manyan's heart is almost entirely devoted to government affairs.
His study became his second "prison".
After returning to the city, Jiang Manyan plunged into the mountain of files. Unable to use his right arm, he used his left hand. He began to learn from Mr. Zhang Qiong, drawing more detailed city defense maps and designing more ingenious traps and secret passages.
Planning new irrigation farmland... He often sits for three or four hours at a time, forgetting to drink water and rest, his pale face only showing an unusual blush from focus.
Qin Lingfeng saw this and felt both heartache and anger.
He knew that Man Yan wanted to make up for lost time as soon as possible and build Jincheng into an impregnable fortress, but overdrawing his newly improved health in this way was no different from drinking poison to quench thirst.
So, after Jiang Manyan removed the splints, Qin Lingfeng began his "intervention".
Every morning or evening, whenever he had a spare moment, he would barge into the study, close the blueprints in front of Jiang Manyan without a word, and grab her left hand.
"Slow smoke, it's time to stretch your legs."
He carried a cigarette and strolled through the fields, forests, and under the moonlight.
Later, when Man Yan's shoulder recovered, Qin Lingfeng began to help him stretch and exercise. The two sparred and Qin Lingfeng also taught him self-defense techniques.
What they teach is not the art of killing, but rather some gentle internal martial arts or soothing sword techniques that help to invigorate blood circulation and strengthen muscles and bones.
In the backyard of the city lord's mansion, or on a quiet hillside outside Jincheng, he would patiently correct Jiang Manyan's movements, his fingertips brushing against her slightly cool wrist, feeling her pulse gradually becoming stronger.
This was not only a physical workout, but also a rare moment of relaxation for Jiang Manyan, allowing her to escape from her busy official duties.
It was also a rare sweet time for them.
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