Chapter 39: The Helplessness of Mortals

  Xue Pan left Yi Shui Town. As he was about to leave, Ding Yan gave him a word as a return for this encounter.

  Another quiet month passed, the weather gradually warmed up, and the snow began to melt. The children who had been cooped up at home all winter rushed out of their doors early in the morning. Ding Chen was no exception. Early in the morning, Zhu Zi ran to Ding Yan's house and called out Ding Chen, saying they were going to play hide-and-seek.

  Childhood is carefree.

  A group of tired children sat on a street corner, talking about things they were interested in.

  "Do you know? Yesterday, a heroic guest came to our store. He was carrying a steel knife on his back and wearing a bamboo hat. As soon as he pushed the door open, he shouted loudly 'Young one, bring me two catties of beef!'". The child who spoke was the son of the only inn owner in Yishui Town, three years older than Ding Chen, and exactly eight years old this year.

  The child imitated the heroic posture of a knight-errant and attracted the attention of other children.

  "Really? Really? You really saw him with a steel knife?" another child asked curiously.

  "That's right, that knife is this big, this long..." The child gestured.

  Zhu Zi is the biggest among these kids and also the king of the kids. Upon hearing the discussion, although curious, he still puts on a disdainful look. "What's the big deal? In the future when I grow up, I'll become the leader of the martial arts world and make those people tremble with fear at the sight of me."

  "Really? Brother Zhu?"

  "Of course it's true! Once I become the Alliance Master, I'll appoint you as the Gate Master." Zhuzi said with a heroic tone.

  "But we don't know martial arts." Ding Chen said with a runny nose.

  "Look at that thoughtful expression! 'What's the big deal about martial arts? We can practice it ourselves. I think Hu San's dad's knife skills are pretty impressive...' "

  "No way, Zhu Zi Ge, Hu San's father is a pig butcher, he only knows how to slaughter pigs, not swordsmanship."

  "How can you kill a pig without knowing knife skills? I see his father's knife skills are just for killing pigs!" Zhu Zi said angrily.

  ......

  Ding Yan sat at the door, leaning against it, with his eyes closed, and a sense of fatigue emanating from his expression.

  If possible, he really wanted to continue like this forever.

  However, he couldn't! In his heart, there were too many things that he couldn't let go of. The乾坤宗 from his past life, the missing master brother, the lingering memories of a beauty, and the restraints of this life, three unfinished matters...

  "Mr. Ding, why are you sitting alone at the gate?" A middle-aged woman hastily walked back from outside the town, saw Ding Yan sitting at the gate in a daze, and stopped to ask.

  The woman was Wang Sheng's aunt from next door. After Ding Yan moved here, Aunt Wang helped him a lot and even mentioned matchmaking several times.

  "Hehe, having stayed indoors for a long time, I just want to come out and sit for a bit." Ding Yan opened his eyes and said with a smile.

  "Alas, what a pity that you, Ding Xiucan, were born with such literary talent in this chaotic world. If it were a peaceful and prosperous era, who knows, maybe you could have become a top scholar...". Wang Shu sighed and continued, "The other day, I heard news from the prefecture that Zhao Guo's army was defeated at the border, many cities have fallen, and it's estimated that within a short period of time, Chu Guo's great army will arrive here..."

  When mentioning Zhao's defeat in battle, a hint of worry appeared in Wang Shu's eyes.

  Yishui Town is her hometown where she grew up, and if not necessary, she really doesn't want to leave her hometown.

  "Never mind, you'd better get ready too. Who knows when the Chu State's army will arrive." After finishing speaking, Wang Shu hastily left.

  Ding Yan leaned against the door, with the back of his head resting on the wooden door, gazing at the distant sky.

  "Is it war?"

  The news of Zhao's defeat spread like a tidal wave, and the people's panic accelerated Chu's advance.

  The peaceful Yishui Town was also affected by the war. Many bandits hiding around Yishui Town defected, and some even directly joined the army of Chu State. For a time, the town was in an uproar, and many residents began to move inland.

  Pushing open the door, Ding Yan looked at the empty town, his expression melancholic.

  Ordinary people have too many helplessness in their lives.

  "Uncle, today Hu San's family also moved away..." Ding Chen followed behind Ding Yan, with too many unexplained things in his small eyes.

  He didn't understand why these friends had to leave their hometown.

  Ding Yan didn't say a word and took Ding Chen with him to the front of Old Man Yang's house.

  Knock on the door.

  No echo.

  Ding Yan knew that Old Man Yang would never leave. For an old man, his hometown was where his soul belonged.

  "Yang Bo, are you there?" Ding Yan pushed open the door and walked in.

  After entering the house, a strong smell of medicine wafted out.

  Yang Lao Han is getting old, with increasing age, he is plagued by illness and relies on medication to sustain his life.

  "It's...Ding brother ah......" Old Yang lay on the bed, struggling to move his head slightly.

  Ding Yan walked over, stretched out his hand and placed it on Old Man Yang's pulse. After a long while, he withdrew his right hand without saying another word. He knew that the old man didn't have much time left. Through his immortal senses, Ding Yan clearly saw the aura of death wrapped around the old man, thick and heavy like a withered branch.

  "Grandpa Yang." Ding Chen asked.

  "Eh! Xiao Chen'er be good... cough... cough." Old Man Yang struggled to get up, but failed.

  "You two should also escape quickly, I heard that the great army of Chu State is about to arrive. They are not like those bandits, they are regular troops..."

  "Time really flies, I remember when you and your grandfather came to the city back then, you were just a young boy, Little Chen was only this tall, now you're all grown up, Little Chen is so tall too..."

  Ding listened quietly to the old man's nagging.

  After a long time, the door was pushed open again.

  "Uncle Ding, why haven't you left yet!" It was Zhu coming in.

  "You! You little scamp, how did you come back again?! Cough, cough......" Old Man Yang exclaimed excitedly when he saw Zhu, but by the end of his sentence, it turned into a severe bout of coughing.

  Zhuzi heard this and hung her head in shame.

  Walked over to the stove, took out the earthen jar, put in the medicine, and lit the fire.

  From the pillar's movements, it can be seen that in these days when Yang Lao Han was ill, he was taking care of him.

  "Are you trying to suffocate me?" Old Man Yang bellowed when he saw Zhu didn't speak.

  "Grandpa won't leave, I won't leave either!" Zhuzi said stubbornly.

  "You..."

  Ding Yan fell silent, then stood up and took Ding Chen away from Old Man Yang's home.

  Outside, on the street, a bleak wind blows.

  Ding Yan walked on the street, with cold wind blowing against his clothes.

  After walking a few steps, Ding Yan saw Zhu Zi's mother hurrying over, and when she saw Ding Yan, Xu Mu was overjoyed.

  "Ding Xiuciai, have you seen our pillar?"

  Ding Yan nodded and pointed in the direction of Old Man Yang's house. After a hasty thank you, Xu Mu hurriedly left.

  "Uncle, are we leaving too? If we all leave, who will take care of Grandpa Yang?" asked Ding Chen.

  Ding Yan didn't say anything, lifted his head and looked towards the horizon.

  Just then, he clearly felt a breath of air flying over from above Ishui Town. The speed wasn't very fast, and according to Dingyan's guess, it should be a Qi-refining cultivator using the ability of a magic treasure to temporarily control the air.