Xue Pan left Yishui Town. Before leaving, Ding Yan gave him a word as a reward for this opportunity.
Another peaceful month passed, the weather gradually warming, the accumulated snow melting away. The children who had been cooped up at home all winter eagerly ran out. And Ding Chen was no exception. Early in the morning, Zhuzi ran to Ding Yan's house, calling out Ding Chen to play hide and seek.
Childhood is carefree.
After playing, a group of tired children sat at the street corner, talking about things that interested them.
"Do you know? A great swordsman came to our shop yesterday. He carried a steel sword on his back and wore a bamboo hat on his head. As soon as he pushed the door, he shouted, 'Boy, give me two pounds of beef!'." The speaking child was the son of the only innkeeper in Yishui Town, three years older than Ding Chen, and just turned eight this year.
The child's imitation of the demeanor of a martial artist attracted the attention of other children.
"Really? Really? Did you really see him with a steel sword?" Another curious child asked.
"Of course, the sword was so big and so long..." The child gestured.
Zhuzi was the oldest and the king of the children. Although he was curious, he still looked indifferent. "What's the big deal? When I grow up, I will become the leader of the martial arts world, and those people will be afraid when they see me."
"Really? Zhuzi, brother?"
"Of course, it's true! When I become the leader, I will appoint you all as the heads of the sects." Zhuzi said boastfully.
"But we don't know any martial arts." Ding Chen, with his runny nose, said.
Zhuzi looked thoughtful, "Martial arts, we can practice on our own. I think Husan's father's swordsmanship is quite powerful..."
"No way, Zhuzi. Hu San's father is a pig butcher, who only knows how to butcher pigs, not swordsmanship."
"How could he butcher pigs without any swordsmanship? I think his father's swordsmanship is the pig-slaughtering swordsmanship!" Zhuzi angrily said.
...
Ding Yan sat at the door, leaning against it, closing his eyes, revealing a sense of weariness in his expression.
If possible, he really wanted to continue like this forever.
But he couldn't! In his heart, there were too many things he couldn't let go of. The unknown whereabouts of his senior martial brother from the Qiankun Sect in his past life, the buried memories of a loved one, the constraints of his present life, and the unfinished three things...
"Ding Xiucai, why are you sitting alone at the door?" A middle-aged woman hurried back from outside the town and stopped in her tracks when she saw Ding Yan sitting in a daze at the door, asking.
The woman was Wang Shu from the next door, who had helped Ding Yan a lot since he moved here, and had even mentioned marriage several times.
"Hehe, staying in the house too long, I just wanted to come out and sit for a while." Ding Yan opened his eyes and smiled.
"Alas, it's a pity that with all your talent, Ding Xiucai, you were born in such chaotic times. If it were a peaceful and prosperous era, you might have become a top scholar..." Wang Shu sighed and then said, "A few days ago, I heard news from the province, saying that the army of the Kingdom of Zhao had been defeated at the border, and many cities had fallen. It is estimated that before long, the troops of the Kingdom of Chu will come to our place..."
When she mentioned the defeat of the Zhao army, Wang Shu's eyes showed a slight concern.
Yishui Town was the place where she was born and raised, and unless necessary, she really didn't want to leave her hometown.
"I won't talk anymore, you should prepare as well, we don't know when the Chu army will come over." After saying that, Wang Shu hurriedly left.
Ding Yan leaned against the door, his head resting on the wooden door, looking at the distant sky.
"Wars..." The news of the defeat of the Zhao army spread like a tide, increasing the fear of the people and hastening the advance of the Chu kingdom.
Even the peaceful Yishui Town was affected by the flames of war. Many hidden bandit forces in the surrounding areas of Yishui Town turned their coats, and many even directly joined the Chu army. For a while, the town was filled with rumors, and many residents started to move away.
Pushing open the door, Ding Yan looked at the empty town, feeling despondent.
Mortals in their lives have too much helplessness.
"Uncle, today Husan's family also moved away..." Ding Chen followed Ding Yan, with too much incomprehension in his small eyes.
He didn't understand why these friends had to leave their hometown.
Ding Yan didn't say anything, took Ding Chen and walked to Yang Lao Han's house.
Knock.
No response.
Ding Yan knew that Yang Lao Han would never leave. For an old man, their homeland is the resting place of their soul.
"Yang Bo, are you there?" Ding Yan pushed open the door and walked in.
After entering, a strong medicinal odor pervaded the room.
Yang Lao Han, who was old, had been plagued by illness as he aged, relying on medication to maintain his livelihood.
"Ah.. brother Ding..." Yang Lao Han lay on the bed, struggling to move his head.
Ding Yan walked over and reached out his hand, placing it on Yang Lao Han's pulse. After a while, he withdrew his hand without saying much. He knew that the old man didn't have much time left. Through his divine sense, Ding Yan clearly saw the dense and decaying death qi entwined around the old man, like a withered and rotting tree trunk.
"Grandpa Yang." Ding Chen greeted.
"Hey! Xiaochen, be a good boy... cough... cough." Old Yang struggled to sit up, but without success.
"Both of you should escape as soon as possible, I heard that the Chu country's army is about to arrive. They are not like those bandits, they are all regular soldiers..."
"Time really flies, I remember when you two entered the city, you were still a young boy, Xiaochen was just this small. Now you are already an adult, and Xiaochen is so tall now..."
Ding listened quietly to the old man's ramblings.
After a long time, the door was pushed open again.
"Uncle Ding, why haven't you left!" the one coming in was Zhuzi.
"You! How come you're back again! *cough*, *cough*..." Old Yang, seeing Zhuzi, shouted excitedly, but at the end, it turned into a fit of intense coughing.
Zhuzi lowered his head when he heard this.
He walked to the stove, took out the earthen pot, put in the herbs, and lit the fire to fan it.
From Zhuzi's actions, it was clear that he had been taking care of Old Yang during his illness these past few days.
"Are you trying to anger me?" Old Yang saw Zhuzi not speaking, and shouted.
"If Grandpa doesn't leave, I won't leave!" Zhuzi stubbornly said.
"You..."
Ding remained silent, got up, and took Ding Chen and left Old Yang's house.
Outside on the street, a desolate wind blew. Ding walked on the street, the cold wind beating against his clothes.
After walking a few steps, Ding saw Zhuzi's mother coming hurriedly. Upon seeing Ding, Mrs. Xu was very pleased.
"Master Ding, have you seen our Zhuzi?"
Ding nodded and pointed in the direction of Old Yang's house. After a word of thanks, Mrs. Xu hurriedly left.
"Uncle, should we leave too? If we all leave, who will take care of Grandpa Yang?" Ding Chen asked.
Ding didn't say anything, he raised his head and looked at the sky.
Just now, he clearly felt a breath flying above Yishui town, its speed was not very fast. According to Ding's guess, it should be a Qi cultivation practitioner who briefly levitates using the power of a magic tool.