The Great Elder, in the end, did not live to see the day he would step down, though it was only three short months away.
A new generation replaces the old.
The departure of the Great Elder also signified the end of one era and the dawn of a new one. Rumors said he passed away peacefully. Even though the person he wished to see most was not by his side, it was because he did not wish to disturb them.
A simple funeral, personally arranged by Jin Zheng and Wu Xing, was in its final stages of preparation.
…
In the quiet, undisturbed countryside, snowflakes filled the sky. In just one day, it had beco impossible to distinguish road from field. Even the greedy turtledoves hid in the dense forest, tucking in their necks, silently waiting for the blizzard to pass. Fortunately, as the morning wore on, the heavy snowfall finally showed signs of letting up.
In a small mountain village less than a hundred kiloters from Cangyun City, silence reigned. In front of a small cottage, a young man in hemp clothing, his face covered with a stubbly beard, stood silently with his eyes shut tight.
He had been standing for half a day.
Not until the aroma of food wafted from inside the house did he slowly open his eyes. He exhaled a puff of white air, his expression radiant.
"Darling, it's ti to eat."
A woman in a floral-patterned padded coat, an apron tied around her waist, walked out. Her features were delicate, her beauty astounding.
"You've worked hard, my love."
The young man turned, taking the woman's fair, slender hand, and they stepped into the cottage together.
On a simple dining table, three dishes and a soup were steaming, their fragrance filling the air. The vegetables were hogrown, the fish was caught from the river, the chicken was raised by them, and even the rice was harvested by their own hands from the paddy fields. A basin of charcoal glowed under the dining table, dispelling the bone-chilling cold.
Their small, humble ho was filled with warmth.
"We're almost out of firewood," the woman said as she ladled a bowl of steaming hot chicken soup for the young man.
"Thank you, my love." The young man smiled. "After we eat, I'll go chop so wood."
"I'll catch a wild pheasant on the way back to help you build up your strength," he grinned, revealing a set of pearly white teeth.
"You…" The woman reached out with a slender finger and tapped Chen Yang's forehead. "Be careful out there, the snow is deep. Didn't you nearly break your tailbone half a year ago? Have you forgotten the pain now that the wound has healed?"
Embarrassed, the young man rubbed his head, his face flushing slightly. He stubbornly retorted, "Tis have changed. Besides, life is hard enough without you pointing that out."
"Just be careful. I'll wait for you at ho."
"You got it!"
After lunch, Chen Yang shouldered a bamboo basket and stepped out of the house into the knee-deep snow. He left a trail of footprints as he headed toward the dense forest nearby. He smiled as he took in the scenery. This kind of quiet, leisurely life truly suited him.
He used to have so many restraints, but now he lived as he pleased. What were power and riches? They were as transient as duckweed on water or a puff of smoke from a bygone era. However, his business wasn't finished yet. For now, this was rely a case of putting his horse out to pasture and letting his blade rust in the armory.
"Lad, going out to chop wood in this weather?" An old man in blue clothes, holding a long-stemd pipe, took advantage of the break in the snow to take a stroll.
It was Chen Yang who gave a wide grin. "Yes! Village Chief, should I chop a bundle for you too?"
"Ever since you arrived, the firewood in my shed has barely been touched. You should get more for yourself to save you the trip," the Village Chief said cheerfully. When this fellow first arrived, he was frail and sickly, but over ti, he grew stronger and stronger, as if he had endless energy. It wasn't just his own household; the entire village had benefited greatly from his help. If he hadn't already been married, the Village Chief might have betrothed his only granddaughter to him. For the people of this isolated village, a person's worth was judged by their work ethic and their kindness. Everything else was irrelevant.
"You should head back inside, sir. It's cold out, and the roads are bad," Chen Yang advised.
The old Village Chief waved his hand. "I'm waiting for the mailman. I don't know what he was thinking, coming out in this weather. Couldn't he have waited a few days?" At last, the old man complained, "I'm not grumbling, but the roads are treacherous. What if he falls?"
Chen Yang smiled without saying a word. Just as he was about to leave, a bell rang out.
DING-A-LING.
A bicycle struggled toward them from a short distance away.
The village chief grumbled again before saying, "Co inside and warm up."
"You think I wanted to co?" The mailman was holding back his own frustration, but his expression turned serious. "The Great Elder of the Martial Departnt's Elders' Court has passed away. I have to go. I need to hurry to the next village."
Nearby, Chen Yang's body went rigid. He stood rooted to the spot, completely motionless.
We've been apart for less than a year, and the Great Elder has already passed away?
Why wasn't I notified?!
After an unknown amount of ti, Chen Yang took a deep, shuddering breath and turned back. He waved to the old Village Chief. "I'm leaving. Goodbye."
"What?" The Village Chief was taken aback, though not entirely surprised. It was obvious this young man was no commoner; why would he linger in a place like this? Still, he asked, "Will you be coming back?"
Chen Yang paused.
Will I co back? If I'm still alive, of course I will.
"I'm not sure."
Tossing out those words, Chen Yang hurried ho.
The winter air was frigid, the wind like a blade.
Chen Yang sat quietly at ho for an hour, replaying every mont of their ti together.
Why wasn't I inford?
Truthfully, Chen Yang knew. The Great Elder simply hadn't wanted to disturb him.
But…
How could I not see you one last ti?!!
Qin Qiu ca over and gently embraced him. "I've packed our things. Let's go."
"Okay," Chen Yang nodded.
He hadn't been able to see the Great Elder one last ti, but he absolutely could not miss the funeral. He had to go—to offer incense, to kowtow, to say a few words from the heart and see him off on his final journey.
Watching Chen Yang leave, the old Village Chief muttered to himself. That fellow… he couldn't be from the Martial Departnt, could he?
anwhile, in Cangyun City.
Though the city seed lost in sorrow, undercurrents were already swirling in the shadows. The Great Elder's passing had left a vacancy. With the other two Elders scheduled to retire after the festival, three seats in the Elders' Court were now up for grabs. This was an enormous prize.
It was said that whoever controlled the Elders' Court controlled half the Martial Departnt. Everyone wanted to be the first to seize the opportunity. The Great Elder's funeral was naturally the perfect chance to do so. Rumors were already spreading that the forr subordinates of these three Elders would face a brutal purge.
...
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