Before leaving in the morning, Chen Shouyi received an invitation to Xiao Changming's morial service.
Half a month had already passed, and the news of Xiao Changming's death was finally confird from above.
When Bai Xiaoling delivered it, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
Even as a powerful Martial Artist or a prospective one, life was still so fragile, no different from anyone else's.
Though he was now far stronger than Xiao Changming, in the face of true danger, he remained vulnerable.
This ti it was Xiao Changming, maybe next ti it would be his turn.
Chen Shouyi had originally planned to train in the other world as usual today, but this invitation suddenly brought so reflections; life should have more things worth cherishing besides just becoming stronger.
He imdiately changed his mind and went to his parents' restaurant.
"Why are you here?" Mrs. Chen was mopping the floor, and upon seeing Chen Shouyi, she asked in surprise.
"Seeing you guys work so hard, I ca to help!" Chen Shouyi said with a smile.
"Help with what, there's no need for you to help here." Mrs. Chen said dismissively, yet there was a hint of comfort on her face.
Chen Dawei heard the commotion and walked out from the back kitchen with a kitchen knife in hand: "Why do you have ti to co by today?"
"Nothing much to do today!" Chen Shouyi responded with a dry laugh.
Since his parents opened the restaurant, he had only been there once. He never asked whether it made a profit or loss, as with such a small restaurant, even if it made money, it wouldn't be much.
The annual inco probably wasn't even as much as what he used to spend on arrows each month before becoming a Martial Artist.
However, although he intended to help, he wasn't allowed to stay long before being shooed out.
...
Walking on the street, the sunlight had beco glaring by the morning.
He suddenly felt at a loss for what to do.
Ever since obtaining the Book of Knowledge, his life had beco monotonous and simple, either training or fighting.
Yet Chen Shouyi had long gotten used to it and found joy in it.
The gradual realization of strength was addictive and the only thing that gave him a sense of security in this chaotic world.
He wandered idly on the street for a while.
Still, he decided to go to the other world.
He paused, turned back ho to get his bicycle.
...
Early the next morning, Chen Shouyi entered the second floor of the hotel lobby.
The morial service was conducted by the authorities, with many from the military and provincial and city governnts present.
Xiao Changming's wife and daughter, dressed in mourning clothes, greeted the guests. Xiao Changming's wife looked older than him, appearing in her forties with crow's feet at the corners of her eyes, while the daughter seed to be just a middle school student, with bright eyes and a gentle deanor.
One of the emcees, after receiving the invitation, whispered an introduction:
"This is the provincial chief security consultant, Chen Shouyi, Mr. Chen, your husband's forr colleague."
"Please accept my condolences." Following custom, Chen Shouyi placed a white envelope on the etiquette lady's tray.
Xiao Changming's wife and daughter bowed together.
Chen Shouyi quickly stepped aside slightly.
Entering the hall, a black-and-white photo was placed on the podium, below it a black urn, surrounded by wreaths.
However, Xiao Changming's body was not found; what's inside was probably just so belongings, serving as a symbol.
After an etiquette lady helped pin on a black mourning flower, Chen Shouyi bowed in front of the morial photo.
"You ca too," Qin Liuyuan approached, saying.
"Yes!" Chen Shouyi nodded.
"I didn't expect Xiao Changming to be sacrificed too!" Qin Liuyuan sighed: "He was a Martial Artist."
In just a year, from Fang Shengjie, Cao Zhenhua, Cui Ziweng, to Xiao Changming, all the great Martial Artists of his era were gone. Now only he and Lei Ruiyang, who also beca Martial Artists by taking Divine Blood, were left.
He couldn't help but sigh.
"A Martial Artist isn't a god, and even gods have monts of falling," Chen Shouyi said.
"True, life is fragile."
Soon after, Lei Ruiyang ca in, standing with a group from the military. The two exchanged glances from a distance and then refocused their attention.
...
The morial service quickly comnced.
The host first introduced the attending leaders one by one.
The highest ranking present was a deputy governor, followed by the commander of the stationed troops in Hedong City, the deputy mayor of Hedong City, and then Lei Ruiyang and Chen Shouyi.
"...Martial Arts Verification and Discipline Inspection Departnt Director Lei Ruiyang, Provincial Chief Security Consultant Chen Shouyi..."
Standing beside him, Qin Liuyuan looked at Chen Shouyi with astonishnt upon hearing this.
Though both were chief consultants, there was a world of difference between a city and a provincial chief security consultant; the disparity was evident.
Many military martial artists who had previously seen Chen Shouyi glanced at him in shock; if it weren't for the solemn atmosphere of the morial, there would have been an uproar.
Young, powerful!
It added a layer of mystery to his entire being.
...
After the morial service ended.
Chen Shouyi briefly exchanged words with the provincial and city leaders who ca over before leaving the hall with Qin Liuyuan.
With his current strength, he no longer needed to be cautious.
Whatever opinions others had could not change his status.
"Have you beco a Martial Artist?" Qin Liuyuan asked, with a touch of reverence on his face. Perhaps due to psychological reasons, standing next to Chen Shouyi, he felt a strong sense of oppression.
"It was just sothing recent, hasn't gone through proper certification yet," Chen Shouyi said nonchalantly.
Hearing Chen Shouyi's admission, Qin Liuyuan's feelings were complicated and hard to describe.
How long has it been?
Isn't the other party under twenty?
He considered himself diligent, never slacking in training, but compared to the other, he might as well have lived in vain.
...
At this mont, Xiao Changming's daughter ca running out of the hall.
"Uncle Chen… Uncle Chen!
"Uncle Chen!"
...
When he first heard the voice, Chen Shouyi didn't initially react, it took being called three tis for him to realize it was him being addressed. Xiao Changming's daughter, looking around fourteen or fifteen years old, wasn't much younger than him, yet unknowingly he had reached uncle status: "Do you need sothing from ?"
"My mom wants to discuss sothing with you!"
Chen Shouyi was a bit confused, he wasn't close to Xiao Changming, what was there to discuss.
Nonetheless, he said to Qin Liuyuan: "You go ahead, we'll talk next ti."
"Sure, take care!" Qin Liuyuan instinctively used a respectful tone.
Soon, Chen Shouyi and the girl returned to the morial venue.
Xiao Changming's wife had red-rimd eyes:
"Mr. Chen, sorry for bothering you!"
"No problem, what would you like to discuss with ?" Chen Shouyi asked.
"ng ng, don't listen in!" Before speaking, Xiao Changming's wife sent her daughter away; after she walked off, she wiped her tears and incoherently said: "Actually, I think Old Xiao isn't dead, just missing. He's such a capable person, a Martial Artist, he told before his mission he'd definitely return…
You're his colleague, please, could you bring him back…"
Chen Shouyi paused in silence: "Sister-in-law, please accept my condolences!"
"I beg you, he's not really dead, just missing, he even ca to in a dream… woo woo woo!"
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