Wu Bie respectfully perford the kneeling rites reserved for elders.
Mrs. Sun approached with tears in her eyes and helped him to his feet, examining him from head to toe.
In his features lingered faint traces of Wu Zhen’s grace.
But only a few.
Still, there was so resemblance.
"I heard you were nearby, so I sent for you," Yan Wanqing said. "I hope it’s not too presumptuous?"
Wu Bie shook his head, "I’m dealing with so old matters. Once they’re resolved, I plan to leave."
"Where will you go?" The Southern Border was currently being reorganized by Chai You, and it seed unlikely that Wu Bie would want to return to that sorrowful place.
Thus, Yan Wanqing asked an extra question.
Wu Bie cracked a smile, his features bright as the radiant moon, exceptionally handso, yet always shadowed by an underlying thread of sorrow in his deep-set eyes, "I don’t know. I’ll make the world my ho, and see where I end up." He fingered a pendant on his chest, thinking about traveling more and seeing the world outside.
Yan Wanqing had actually noticed that pendant when he walked in. It was quite peculiar.
It was entirely red, but it looked inexpensive, hanging on a string of black cord.
Wu Bie seed to treasure it greatly.
She didn’t recognize it, but Mrs. Sun, following his movents, noticed the pendant and slightly furrowed her brow, "Whose ashes are you carrying?"
"Ashes?" Yan Wanqing was stunned.
Sothing flashed through her mind instantly.
Wu Bie hadn’t expected Mrs. Sun to recognize it. His expression turned solemn, then he relaxed again and smiled, "A beloved person. I couldn’t bear to leave her alone in the dark underground, so I keep her with , hoping she can also see the mountains and rivers outside."
Mrs. Sun appeared moved.
"No wonder you are in this vicinity."
Yan Wanqing was perplexed, "Mother, what do you an?"
"There is a skilled craftsman nearby who can process ashes into these red stones for wearing. He must be quite old now. It’s quite sothing that you managed to persuade him to co out of retirent for this," Mrs. Sun obviously had more to her words.
Wu Bie, ever so clever, probably knew that Mrs. Sun had known the craftsman when she was young.
"Indeed, it took so effort. After he finished mine, he burnt down his workshop." Wu Bie spoke lightly, watching the master breathe a sigh of relief as the flas engulfed the building, as if he had been liberated.
Perhaps for others, perhaps for himself.
In any case, he left quite relaxed, leaning on his walking stick to return ho.
Then Yan Wanqing’s people ca to find him.
Mrs. Sun, listening, nodded, "That sounds like him. He spent a lifeti crafting keepsakes for others, yet he clung to no reminisces himself. He must have been too weary; I never thought he could last that long."
With that said, Mrs. Sun refused to say more.
That was the man’s story, and she always preferred not to probe into others’ tales.
Maintaining silence was a courtesy to both the deceased and the living.
Wu Bie bade farewell to Mrs. Sun and Yan Wanqing, planning to leave that very night.
Just as he stepped out, he saw Yan Lingzhen standing in the pitch-dark area, her eyes brightly fixated on him.
The entire village was extrely quiet, with only sporadic sounds of chickens crowing and dogs barking.
Carrying a hint of firework smoke, the autumn night was filled with a flavor of longing and affectionate attachnt.
Yan Lingzhen was the first to speak, "I heard everything you just said."
Wu Bie kept silent.
Yan Lingzhen took a couple of steps forward, her gaze falling on the stone at Wu Bie’s chest, "Is this Sister Huai Yu?"
"Hmm."
Her expression was moved.
She reached out both hands and stepped forward, "May I take a look?" Her tone was full of caution, as if afraid that Wu Bie would refuse.
Wu Bie rembered that rainy night when the girl had cried heart-wrenchingly, pressing against Huai Yu’s wounds, his fists clenched tightly before he loosened them and said, "Okay."
A completely red stone was placed in Yan Lingzhen’s palm.
She stared at it, a tear involuntarily falling from the corner of her eye.
"Sister Huai Yu..."
Wu Bie didn’t know why, but his heart, which had been calm just monts ago, suddenly rippled.
A sour sensation arose at the tip of his heart, causing a painful tightness in his chest, and his eyes began to moisten as well, tears threatening to fall.
He quickly turned away.
Afraid of being seen in such a state.
Yan Lingzhen caressed the stone.
It still retained so human warmth, was very smooth, and had patterns on it. The creator had transford those ashes into a unique stone.
Just like how these people had lived in the world, each experiencing a different life, tasting sweetness, bitterness, sorrow and joy, all unique in their own ways.
She looked at it intricately, touched it over and over, and finally, reluctantly handed it back to Wu Bie, "Here."
Wu Bie put the stone back on his chest.
"With this, take care." Yan Lingzhen said hoarsely.
"Thank you." Wu Bie bowed with both hands, then, without looking back, mounted his horse and, taking advantage of the boundless night, left the village at high speed.
Yan Lingzhen stood in the sa spot for a long ti, not knowing what she was looking at until she ca back to her senses to find that her sister was already standing behind her.
"Let’s head back inside and sleep. We need to get moving again tomorrow." She didn’t say anything else and simply gently patted her own shoulder.
Yan Lingzhen obediently nodded her head, saying nothing herself, and walked toward the house.
Yan Wanqing stood still, looking at the darkness, then watched as Yan Lingzhen closed the door before she slowly sighed.
"It’s getting late, Wanwan. You should go rest too." Xiao Pingfeng said, walking up beside her.
Yan Wanqing didn’t move, "I’ve heard that after a person dies, if no one rembers them, their soul fades away and eventually disappears from this world forever."
This was the first ti Xiao Pingfeng had heard such a thing, and he reached out and held her hand, sowhat at a loss.
The palm of Yan Wanqing’s hand was slightly cold, and she had a bitter smile on her lips, "... She was still so young."
And she had left this world forever, leaving them behind.
But regardless.
They would always rember Huai Yu.
Wu Bie would carry her towards the freedom she longed for, to see the vast mountains and rivers.
"I’m fine, maybe just too tired today." She needed to manage her emotions, after all, Huai Yu wouldn’t want her to be crying all day long.
Xiao Pingfeng escorted her back to the house and then hugged her over and over again, reluctantly.
He had no choice, as his mother-in-law was in another room, and if she were to discover them, all the goodwill he had slowly built up might be lost.
For the sake of being able to sleep with his wife every night in the future, enduring these monts now was worth it.
"If you need anything, just call . I’m right next door," Xiao Pingfeng said as he blew out the light.
Yan Wanqing replied, "Okay."
Listening to the door being shut, she rubbed her sore waist and then closed her eyes.
anwhile, a slender figure headed towards the grain cart.
Lu Yin circled the grain cart several tis, unable to find what she had hidden earlier.
She had no choice but to return to Huai Xini to report.
"Have you checked inside the grain? Maybe it got rolled into it during the long journey," Huai Xini speculated.
Lu Yin nodded, "I will go again."
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