Ningluo
The man smiled at Tang Feng, his voice trembling with tears. "Go back! Don't feel burdened. Everyone should take responsibility for their actions, and I'm no exception. You don't need to worry. Ziliang would rather see you than me. He needs a soul to understand and accompany him, not just a body." Tang Feng grabbed the man's hand. "I... I understand. Even if Ziliang doesn't know what you've done, I will remember. I won't let you be forgotten. When we return to Yanyun, I will bury you at my father's grave... In the afterlife, you should be reunited. Perhaps my father always loved you; after all, you are his son. Whether you are talented or successful, it doesn't matter to him..."
The man nodded, then said, "When you get back, be careful of Consort Rong. Back then, when I went to the palace to ask His Majesty for a marriage decree... I accidentally wandered into the back garden and overheard Consort Rong talking to someone. I was discovered and fled back to the Tang residence, but I was chased outside the city and fell from my horse... So... I'm sorry that you encountered so many pursuers as soon as you arrived in Yanyun."
Tang Feng frowned. It turned out that his dreams were all true. This 'Tang Feng' had discovered Rong Ji's secret, leading to this situation. He hadn't really thought things through before. Although he knew Han Jiuhua was loyal to Xu Chang'an, and Xu Chang'an was Li Yunheng's confidant, how could 'Tang Feng' be being hunted down by Han Jiuhua before entering officialdom? Back then, Li Yunye said Li Yunheng might be connected to Pu Yuan, meaning 'Tang Feng' had witnessed Rong Ji colluding with Pu Yuan's envoy and, after being discovered, wanted to kill them to silence them. Tang Feng nodded, "I understand. I will be careful when I get back. Don't worry!"
Hearing Tang Feng's assurance, the man finally relaxed. His body gradually lightened, turning into white smoke and slowly disappearing into the darkness. Tang Feng looked down at his hand, still warm from the man's touch, and his eyes reddened. "Tang Feng... you're very brave... thank you." His consciousness began to blur. When he regained consciousness, Tang Feng found himself lying on a straw bed in the Taoist temple. He raised his hand and touched his eyes, which were wet with tears. Seeing Tang Feng like this, Su Zili knew the final outcome. She sighed softly, patted Tang Feng's shoulder to comfort him, and then took out the Spirit-Controlling Stone. "Tang Feng, if you want to stay in Yan Yun, to avoid things going like before, you here... might..." Tang Feng nodded. "I understand..." Su Zili picked up the black cat. "It will still be your Spirit Guide. I'll hang both Spirit-Controlling Stones on them. When the time comes, you over there... just destroy the Spirit-Controlling Stones."
Tang Feng hesitated for a moment before asking, "You and Li Linglan..." Su Zili wasn't angry, she just smiled and hung a letter around the cat's neck. "He and I... are ultimately destined to be apart. Please deliver this letter to him. Yu Lingzi gave us this fate, but he will also sever it. It's too late to dwell on it now." Tang Feng didn't reply. He knew Su Zili had made this decision after a long time. Looking at the prepared black cat, he decided to go to Xiling one more time, even if he failed this time, he wouldn't regret it.
After leaving Su Zili's Taoist temple, Tang Feng saw Uncle Li packing up his stall. Seeing Tang Feng approach, Uncle Li laughed and scolded, "You little rascal, you run faster than a rabbit the moment you mention work!" Tang Feng was already in the wrong, so he could only apologize softly and help Uncle Li pack up the stall. Then Uncle Li pointed to a bottle of wine on the cart and asked, "Want a sip?"
"That's not good... If Aunt Li finds out, we'll both get a scolding." Tang Feng knew that this trip back to Yanyun might be his last, and he might never return. There would be no more Tang Feng in this world, and the only ones who would remember him after his death would probably be Uncle Li and his wife. After a moment's thought, he said, "Uncle... I think we should go out to eat." Uncle Li was taken aback, then patted Tang Feng's forehead. "Silly boy, talking nonsense again. Do you think I don't know what kind of money you have? Don't touch the savings account in the old house; that's your..." "Grandma left this for you to get married. Your aunt will find you a good wife. Whatever you want to eat, Uncle's stall has it all." He lit the fire. "Tang boy, I've practically watched you grow up. And you... you're good friends with my son. To put it bluntly, you're practically my son too. Life's like that, there are always ups and downs. If you're unhappy at work, someone at home will comfort you. If things are chaotic at home, maybe work will be smooth sailing. You might get yelled at all at get off work, or you might come home to find money." Although fate has been unkind, it won't always be bad. "Stop thinking such nonsense, you hear me?" Tang Feng stood to the side, opening a beer, wiping his moist eyes with his hand, and nodded. "You don't need to worry about me... I'm actually... doing quite well." Thinking of everything that happened in Yanyun, although the deaths of Tang Zhaonan and Qin Liuliu were indelible wounds for Tang Feng, he had to admit that fate hadn't been unkind to him. There was Zhou Ziliang who loved him, Qin Jiujiu who cherished him, and Zhang Mobai who had always silently stood by his side. "I've thought about it a lot... You're right, there's nothing I can't get over." Tang Feng handed the beer to Uncle Li. "Uncle... let me toast you. This time... I'm sorry for causing you and Auntie trouble." Uncle Li laughed heartily. "You rascal, when did you learn such polite talk? Have you been watching too many martial arts movies and period dramas?" Hearing this, Tang Feng just smiled and didn't say anything, finishing his beer in one gulp and standing up. "Uncle... I'll go back now." Uncle Li nodded, tidied up his cart, and said, "Will you come set up your stall with me again tomorrow?"
Tang Feng shook his head. "I might have to leave here..." Uncle Li hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Yes, yes, young people should go out and explore. Don't forget to come back and see your grandma during the New Year." Tang Feng didn't say anything, but helped Uncle Li push the cart until it reached the alley entrance before slowly stopping. "Uncle... I'll go back now. You and Auntie... take good care of yourselves." Tang Feng knew that he wouldn't be coming back this time, and Uncle Li and Auntie Li were his only remaining attachments here. After saying goodbye to Uncle Li, Tang Feng went into a small pharmacy and got some sleeping pills. The shop assistant was initially reluctant to sell them to Tang Feng, but after Tang Feng showed him the doctor's prescription, the assistant relented, handed the medicine to Tang Feng, and instructed, "Sir, please take it as prescribed." Tang Feng put the medicine away, nodded, and walked into the night.
Back home, he turned on the gas, looked at his grandmother's portrait on the altar, and smiled. "Grandma... if it were you, you would bless me..." Tang Feng had never thought about how he would leave this world. The first time was just a fluke, but this time it was truly his own choice. After leaving Su Zili, Tang Feng had imagined many ways to commit suicide, but he dismissed them all. He wanted to die with dignity. Although he didn't know what would happen after his death, he didn't want to make Uncle Li and his wife sad by leaving in an undignified way. Sitting on the old sofa, he saw Su Zili's black cat sitting outside the window, so he got up and let it in. He rubbed its fluffy head and listened to the chirping of the spirit beast on its neck. "You came to take me... right?" The black cat meowed a few times at Tang Feng. Tang Feng covered his grandmother's portrait with a cotton cloth, afraid that his appearance would frighten his grandmother in the afterlife. He then swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills and slowly awaited the arrival of death.
When Tang Feng opened his eyes again, he saw an antique pear wood bed frame. He tried to lift his hand and slowly got up, but fell back onto the bed. Although Tang Feng was still a little dazed, he was now certain that he had returned to Yan Yun. On his pillow were two letters written by Yu Lingzi and Su Zili to Emperor Yun. Tang Feng put the letters into his pocket and tried to sit up again. His body was stiff from not moving for too long, but Tang Feng still gritted his teeth and got up. After confirming that this was neither the palace where he was imprisoned, nor the Zhou or Tang residences, Tang Feng slowly began to look around. The carved beams and the purple-gold wood furniture all spoke of the owner's identity. Just then, Tang Feng heard some noise. A girl carrying a basin of water walked in. Seeing Tang Feng sitting up, the two stared at each other, frozen in shock. Suddenly, the girl screamed, dropping the basin. She then turned and ran away. Tang Feng watched the girl leave, stunned. "Am I that scary...? There's no need for her to run away... I'm not robbing anyone."
A moment later, an elderly man dressed in a black shirt and white blouse, stroking his goatee, walked in with an enigmatic smile in his eyes. The girl, hiding behind the old man, secretly sized up Tang Feng, who was sitting on the bed. "I didn't expect that after sleeping for three years, I would actually wake up..." Tang Feng's first reaction upon seeing the old man was that he felt a little lewd, but out of courtesy, he still bowed respectfully. "Old man... I am..." The old man patted the girl's hand, signaling her not to be afraid, and stepped forward. "You've been unconscious for so long, haven't you felt anything?"
Tang Feng stretched his arms. "My arms... they're fine, it's just my leg..." The old man stroked his beard and nodded. "It's alright... it's nothing serious, it's just that you haven't moved around for three years and your body is too stiff." Tang Feng looked around at his surroundings and asked, "Where am I...?"
"This is Ningluo, and I am Chen Chen." Upon hearing the place name, Tang Feng frowned. In all his years in Yanyun, he had traveled all over the country, but this was the first time he had ever heard of this place. Chen Chen probably knew what Tang Feng was thinking, so he explained, "Ningluo is a small mountain range sandwiched between Shanghan and Yanyun. Because of its high mountains and treacherous terrain, neither side wanted this land. When I was young, I traveled all over the country and got into too many romantic entanglements, so I came here to build a pavilion and make a living by selling information."
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