strictlysupreme Chapter 287 Returning to the Village to Retrieve Goods
Chapter 287 Returning to the Village to Retrieve Goods
Xiaoman's mother, however, had an unusually serious expression. She gripped his hand, tied the red string tightly, and solemnly gave him instructions.
"Xiaoman, you must wear this jade all the time. Even if the string breaks and is repaired, you must continue to wear it. You cannot take it off even for a day. Do you understand?"
At that time, Xiaoman did not understand the meaning of these words.
Holding the cool jade stone in my hand, gazing at the mess in the room, I felt as if something was blocking my throat, and I couldn't utter a sound.
He was young then and didn't understand why his mother would say these words to him so solemnly.
He pressed on with another question, but unexpectedly received an even harsher reprimand in return.
"Just wear it as I tell you to. If I find out you've taken it off without permission, you'll be in big trouble!"
Unfortunately, before he could grow up and find out the reason, his parents had already passed away.
Now, this half of the red jade has become an unsolved mystery in his heart.
It can only weigh heavily on my chest and remain in my memory.
Xiaoman tied the red jade back around her neck and turned to walk towards her room.
They left in a hurry back then, and later the Spirit King sent people to bring all the items that could be found in the village to the Illusionary Spirit City and return them to them.
But Xiaoman had something extremely important hidden under her bed in her room.
Because everyone was rushing to escape back then, they didn't have time to take it with them.
He took out a tinderbox, blew on it, held it in his hand, walked to the bedside, and moved the bed aside.
Then he squatted down and took a brick from the corner.
Inside, a small wooden box lay quietly.
"Luckily it wasn't lost, otherwise I would have really let Sister Xiaoya down."
He muttered to himself, carefully took out the wooden box, and turned to walk out.
As soon as I stepped out of the room, I saw Shi Zi coming this way.
"Is the item still there?" Shi Zi asked.
Xiaoman raised the wooden box in her hand and shook it, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes: "Yes, it's still here."
"Didn't you open it to take a look?"
"I just took it out; I was just about to come find you to look at it together."
Shi Zi took the tinderbox from his hand and said, "Quickly open it and see what Sister Xiao Ya left you back then that made you keep it a secret from us for so many years!"
Xiaoman retorted, "Sister Xiaoya said back then that I was not allowed to open it until I reached the Innate Realm."
"I know, I know!"
Shi Zi quickly handed the tinder forward, saying, "Here, let me hold it for you. You can light it yourself."
Xiaoman pulled out the clasp of the box in her hand, lifted the wooden box lid, and both of them stared intently at the box.
On top of the box was a small porcelain bottle, and below the bottle was a piece of paper.
Xiaoman didn't reach for the bottle first, but instead reached out and took out the piece of paper and unfolded it.
Shi Zi quickly brought the tinderbox closer, and the orange-red flame illuminated the writing on the paper.
The handwriting on the letter was neat and legible.
"Little snotty bug, when you open this letter, then Sister Xiaoya first congratulates you on breaking through to the Innate Realm."
The bottle contains a 'Power Gathering Pill' that I specially concocted for you.
Do you remember when Sister Xiaoya first tested your aptitude, there was a living creature inside you that kept absorbing your internal energy?
The pill I refined is to help you repair the internal energy that was absorbed by that living thing inside your body.
However, this elixir is extremely potent and cannot be consumed by anyone who has not reached the Innate Realm.
Otherwise, the power of the Heavenly Realm might not be able to withstand its rampage, and it might even damage one's own meridians.
That's why I warned you that you can only open this box when your skill reaches the Innate Realm.
I originally planned to hand it over to you personally after you broke through to the Innate Realm.
After careful consideration, I decided that since you are an obedient and well-behaved child, I would let you keep it yourself.
You've always been sensible, so I believe you won't do anything reckless.
If you see this letter and there's anything you don't understand, you can come and find me.
Little Sister Ya will also help you practice your skills, you know?
"Little slug!"
At the end of the handwriting was a small smiley face, with a touch of playfulness, as if teasing Xiaoman.
After the two finished reading the letter, Shizi looked up at Xiaoman and opened his mouth as if to say something.
In the end, it all turned into a soft sigh: "This..."
Xiaoman carefully folded the letter and tucked it into her bosom, her voice low and deep: "Let's go see our parents."
Shi Zi nodded, and the two walked side by side toward the fields outside the village.
There is a protective embankment next to the fields in Sujia Village.
To the left of the embankment is a mountain, and behind the embankment was originally a river.
Now, only a shallow stream remains in the river.
Yang Hualing ordered that all the villagers who died that year be buried at the foot of the mountain.
The two walked to the foot of the mountain and looked at a large area of scattered mounds of earth.
There wasn't even a tombstone in front of the grave, and the grave was overgrown with weeds.
Both of them knelt down and kowtowed deeply to the mounds of earth, their foreheads touching the ground, and did not lift them for a long time.
His relatives are buried here, as are the village elders and the neighbors who used to call out their names with smiles.
A mountain breeze swept by, carrying the astringent scent of grass and trees, as if faint sobs echoed in the wind.
The two knelt there silently, their occasional gasps particularly clear in the quiet foot of the mountain.
After an unknown amount of time, Shi Zi slowly got up.
"Father, Mother, we're leaving now. We'll come back to see you after we've avenged you!"
His voice had a heavy nasal tone.
The two turned around, glanced back at the silent mounds of earth, and slowly left the foot of the mountain.
The two returned to the village and went to Yundan's courtyard.
Of all the houses in the village, Yun Dan's room was relatively well-preserved.
The two of them spent more than an hour cleaning and tidying up before they finally finished getting the room almost done.
Shi Zi exhaled a breath of stale air: "It's almost done."
Xiaoman clapped her hands and said, "I'll go to the mountains to catch some wild game to eat."
“Okay, I’ll tidy up a bit more, then I’ll start the fire and wait for you,” Shi Zi replied.
Xiaoman nodded, lightly touched the ground with her toes, and used her lightness skill to run towards the mountain forest behind the village.
The pebbles then threw all the useless things outside.
Once everything was ready, they lit a fire in the open space of the yard.
The firewood was sourced locally; there used to be a bamboo pavilion in the courtyard that Yun Dan had asked the villagers to build.
After so many years, it had long since fallen into disrepair, and the dry, rotten bamboo and wooden strips were just right for starting a fire.
The flames crackled and popped, illuminating the surroundings.
Not long after, Xiaoman returned, carrying a plump wild animal in her hand. Its fur was brownish-red, and it looked like a muntjac.
Seeing that Xiaoman returned so quickly, he smiled and said, "Pretty fast."
Xiaoman skewered the prepared muntjacs with wooden sticks and roasted them over a fire.
As the oil dripped and sparks flew, the aroma of meat quickly filled the air.
He cut off a piece and handed it to Shi Zi: "Try it."
Shi Zi blew on the hot game, took a small bite, and exclaimed, "It tastes great!"
The two shared the roasted meat, the firelight reflecting on their faces, dispelling some of the heaviness.
The night breeze carried the fragrance of grass and trees, and the chirping of insects drifted intermittently from afar—this long-lost tranquility stirred a faint sense of nostalgia in their hearts.