pertwk Chapter 63 Going down the mountain
Chapter 63 Going down the mountain
It has been two months since we came down from the snow-capped mountain.
Xiaoman stood by the window of the inn, looking at the gray sky outside.
Cangyue Prefecture is in the north and is much colder than Baiyue Town.
A breeze, dry and chilly, slipped in through the window cracks, making the papers on the table rustle.
She closed the window a little tighter and turned to look at the bed.
Wen Ranran is still asleep.
She curled up under the covers, with only the top of her head showing, her hair spread out on the pillow.
Feifei lay down next to her pillow, its tail wrapped around Wen Ranran's wrist, and fell asleep.
Xiaoman walked over and pulled the blanket up to cover Wen Ranran's exposed shoulders.
Her fingers paused for a moment when they touched Wen Ranran's shoulder.
bone.
It's too obvious.
She could feel it even through the blanket and her pajamas.
When she came down from the snow-capped mountain, Wen Ranran wasn't this thin.
Or rather, Xiaoman didn't notice how thin she was when she came down the mountain.
While on the snowy mountain, the uncle would keep an eye on Wen Ranran every day, using his primordial energy to suppress the effects of the Gluttony Sin Seal.
Although the uncle didn't say it, Xiaoman could tell that he cared a lot about the child.
"The mark of sin," the uncle said after a long silence when he first saw the mark on Wen Ranran's hand, "is not something a child should have to bear."
He taught them on the mountain for a month.
To be precise, I taught Xiaoman and Baozi for a month.
Wen Ranran doesn't need to be taught any combat skills; what she needs is control.
Control your vital energy, control your emotions, control your sinful imprints.
The uncle spends two hours every morning teaching Wen Ranran how to absorb Qi.
"Imagine your vital energy as water," the uncle said. "The mark of sin is stone. Water cannot wash away the stone, but it can envelop it."
"If it's covered, it won't be so easy for it to hurt you."
Wen Ranran listened very attentively.
She sat on the snow, her eyes closed, her small hands placed on her knees with palms facing upwards, and her vital energy slowly flowed out of her body.
The color of the sin mark will fade slightly when it is enveloped by primordial energy.
But it won't last long.
Xiaoman would help Wen Ranran suppress her Qi again every day before it became ineffective.
It needs to be suppressed five or six times a day.
Each time, she could feel Wen Ranran's vital energy decreasing.
The mark of sin was devouring her vital energy.
It was also devouring her body.
"This can't go on," Baozi said last night.
They sat in the restaurant downstairs at the inn. Wen Ranran was already asleep, and Xiaoman carried her back to her room before coming down.
Baozi ordered a bowl of noodles, but didn't eat much; her chopsticks were resting on the rim of the bowl, and the noodles had clumped together.
"I know," Xiaoman said.
"Brother Lu entrusted her to us before he left..."
"I know."
Xiaoman's voice was a little heavier than usual.
Baozi shut up.
There was a moment of silence.
"I'm not blaming you," Baozi said, her voice lowering. "I'm just... anxious."
"I know."
Xiaoman picked up her teacup and took a sip.
The tea is cold.
She didn't ask anyone to change it, and just drank it down.
"The uncle said the side effects of the Sin Mark will accelerate," she said. "All we can do is slow it down, not stop it."
"What about Brother Lu...?"
He'll be alright.
Baozi glanced at her, seemed about to say something, but then swallowed it back.
He lowered his head, picked up his chopsticks, and began to eat the bowl of noodles that had gone cold.
The lights in the inn's restaurant were dim, and half of Baozi's face was in shadow, making it difficult to see his expression.
But his shoulders were slumped.
After coming down from the snow mountain, Baozi's condition was not quite right.
It's not a physical problem.
The uncle actually had a high opinion of the steamed buns.
"Earth attribute," he nodded as he tested the steamed bun's primordial energy, "pure, substantial, suitable for building physical strength."
"You don't need to learn those fancy things. Just train your body to be as tough as steel. Zero can't hurt you, and you can't hurt Zero either, but at least you won't die."
It didn't sound like a compliment, but Baozi still smiled.
"So, I'm a tank?"
"Tank?" The middle-aged man frowned, clearly not understanding the word. "You're a wall. A wall that doesn't move."
"But at least the wall won't be torn down," Baozi said.
The older man glanced at him but did not refute him.
In terms of physical skills, the uncle did teach them some things.
He demonstrated a technique to neutralize force, his body as light as willow catkins. When Xiaoman's attack struck him, the force seemed to be absorbed by something, disappearing without a trace.
"Water is the element that suits this," he said. "The vital energy is like water, and the body should also be like water."
"When the enemy's force comes at you, don't take it head-on; let it flow away."
Xiaoman learns very quickly.
She was naturally intelligent and had good physical coordination, so she mastered the basic techniques of neutralizing force in just two days.
By the third day, she could feel Baozi's fists hitting her, but it felt like hitting cotton.
"That's not right." Baozi shook his numb fist. "I hit you, why does my hand hurt?"
"Because you're too hard," Xiaoman said.
"Isn't the earth element simply hardness?"
"Hard and stiff are two different things."
The older man watched from the side without saying a word.
The old man's physical training for Baozi was completely different from Xiaoman's.
"You, stop learning all those fancy tricks." The uncle pointed at the steamed bun. "You only need to practice two things: getting hit and hitting others."
"Taking a beating is about making your body more resistant to injury."
"When your primordial energy covers your entire body, your muscles are taut, and your bones are aligned, you should distribute the enemy's attack throughout your body, rather than concentrating it in one spot."
"Hitting someone is even easier."
"Concentrate your vital energy in your fist, then press down with your entire body weight."
"If one punch isn't enough, then two punches; if two punches aren't enough, then ten punches."
"Keep beating them until they fall."
Baozi practiced very diligently.
He gets up before dawn every morning, practices horse stance in the snow, and punches the rocks repeatedly.
The rocks were cracked, and Baozi's fists were rubbed raw.
But he doesn't care.
"Anyway, I'm a wall," he said, grinning as he wrapped bandages around his hand. "Walls don't cry out in pain."
Xiaoman knew he was just putting on a brave face.
On the way back from Japan, Baozi started acting strangely.
But he didn't say anything, and Xiaoman didn't ask either.
Some things are more awkward to ask.
As for Lu Siye...
Lu Siye left too early.
On the third day, the older man asked, "Where's the person without attributes?"
"He had something to do and left first," Xiaoman said.
The man was silent for a moment, then sighed.
"What a pity."
"pity?"
"That person," the uncle said, "although he doesn't have any attributes, his physical talent is the best I've ever seen."
"He gathered a large amount of Yuan Qi in his body, and combined it with Yue Zhu's explosive power, the pure physical damage he dealt was no less than that of Xia Lan's technique."
"Moreover," the old man paused for a moment, "physical skills are often more effective than martial arts techniques in actual combat."
"Especially when facing human enemies."
Xiaoman knew what the uncle meant.
The damage of the Xia Lan technique is indeed high, but it also consumes a lot of resources.
Moreover, the activation of the Xia Lan technique requires time and the gathering of primordial energy.
In a real life-or-death struggle, there is often no time for that.
The physical techniques are different.
Physical skills are instinctive.
It is muscle memory, skeletal response, and conditioned reflexes formed after countless hours of practice.
When facing human enemies, physical skills are even more effective than martial arts techniques.
Because humanity's enemies use their brains.
They can dodge, block, fight back, and use all sorts of despicable means.
If the Xia Lan technique misses, it's a waste of time.
But physical skills...
If a physical attack lands, it deals real damage.
"If he stays," the uncle said finally, "I can teach him even more."
"He left in too much of a hurry."
Xiaoman did not respond.
The sky outside the window grew even grayer, as if it were about to snow.
Winter comes early and fiercely in Cangyue Prefecture.
She turned and walked to the bedside, sitting down next to Wen Ranran.
Xiaoman reached out and gently brushed aside the hair on Wen Ranran's forehead.
Her forehead was burning hot.
Xiaoman channeled her vital energy into the mark to suppress the sin seal.
Wen Ranran's breathing became more stable.
His brows were still furrowed.
Even in her sleep, she was enduring something.
Xiaoman looked at her and suddenly felt a lump in her throat.
Children should be at school, playing with their classmates, and coming home to delicious meals prepared by their parents.
But Wen Ranran did not.
She has no parents, no home, and no normal life.
She only had one thing after another that kept devouring her life.
"Ranran," Xiaoman whispered, "you'll be alright."
She didn't know if she was saying those words to Wen Ranran or to herself.
The door opened.
Baozi stood at the door.
He changed into clean clothes and washed his hair, but it was still a bit messy.
His facial expression wasn't good, as if he was hesitating about something.
"It's time to go," he said.
His voice was a little hoarse.
Xiaoman nodded, then stood up, took Wen Ranran's coat, and gently put it on her.
Wen Ranran was woken up and opened her eyes groggily.
"Sister Xiaoman..."
"Yes, we're leaving now."
"Where to?"
"Go find someone."
Wen Ranran rubbed her eyes and didn't ask any more questions.
She is very well-behaved.
They're so well-behaved it breaks your heart.
She never asks "why", never asks "where to go", and never asks "how long it will take".
She just followed along.
Xiaoman helped her put on her shoes.
Those shoes look a bit too big now.
Because Wen Ranran has lost weight again.
Xiaoman picked up Wen Ranran, and Feifei jumped onto her shoulders.
Baozi stood at the doorway and stepped aside to let them go first.
The corridor was narrow, and when Xiaoman passed by Baozi, she smelled his scent.
The scent of laundry soap is mixed with a hint of the bitterness of tobacco.
Baozi doesn't smoke.
But he's started smoking recently.
Xiaoman walked out of the room, with Baozi following behind.
The only sound in the corridor was the footsteps of the three of them.
No, it belongs to two people.
Xiaoman's footsteps were very light, almost inaudible.
Baozi's footsteps were heavy, each step sounding like he was going to stomp through the floor.
Wen Ranran made no sound of footsteps because she was being held by Xiaoman.
Go downstairs, check out, and leave the inn.
A cold wind swept over me.
The sky over Cangyue Prefecture is very low, and the clouds are very low, as if you could reach out and touch them.
There weren't many people on the street; they were all wrapped in thick coats and hurried past with their heads down.
Xiaoman wrapped Wen Ranran up a little tighter.
Baozi's car was parked on the side of the road.
A black SUV, quite old, with several scratches on the body and the rearview mirrors wrapped with tape.
Baozi stood by the bus for a while before getting on.
He had his back to Xiaoman, and it was unclear what he was looking at.
"steamed stuffed bun."
"Um."
"How are you?"
"I'm fine."
His voice was muffled.
Xiaoman didn't ask any more questions.
She carried Wen Ranran into the car and sat in the back seat.
Baozi got into the driver's seat and started the engine.
The engine made several noises before it started.
The car radio turned on by itself, and a woman's voice came through, broadcasting the weather forecast.
"...Snowfall is expected in the northern region tonight, with temperatures dropping to -12 degrees Celsius. Residents are advised to dress warmly..."
Baozi turned off the radio.
The car fell silent.
Wen Ranran fell asleep again, her head resting on Xiaoman's shoulder.
Feifei nestled in her arms and fell asleep.
The car started moving.
The buildings on both sides of the street slowly receded into the distance.
Nara Castle is an old castle with many buildings left over from the war.
The steamed buns were opened very slowly.
It wasn't because of traffic; it was because he didn't seem to want to reach his destination so quickly.
Xiaoman looked out the window without saying a word.
After driving for about twenty minutes, we left the city and got onto the national highway.
The scenery on both sides changed to fields and forests.
The crops have been harvested, leaving only bare land.
Baozi suddenly spoke up.
"Xiaoman" (Grain Buds).
"Um."
"Brother Lu will be alright, right?"
Xiaoman glanced at him in the rearview mirror.
Baozi's eyes were fixed on the road ahead, and his expression was not very clear.
"Yes," she said.
How did you know?
"Because he is Lu Siye."
Baozi remained silent for a while.
Then he smiled.
"That's true," he said.
The car fell silent again.
After driving for about ten more minutes, Baozi parked the car on the side of the road.
Not the destination.
It's a gas station.
The gas station was small, with only one pump, and an old man in dirty work clothes was dozing on a bench.
Baozi got off the bus to refuel.
Xiaoman sat in the car, looking at him through the car window.
Baozi stood next to the gas pump, one hand in his pocket and the other holding the nozzle.
His back was broad, and his shoulders were thick.
Xiaoman suddenly remembered someone.
Her father.
It wasn't because her father and Baozi had any similarities.
On the contrary, her father and Baozi were completely different.
Her father was one of the core figures of the conservatives, elegant in demeanor and speech, always wearing a well-tailored suit and with his hair meticulously styled.
He would chat and laugh with politicians at banquets, and make decisions in a gentle but unquestionable tone at family meetings.
When Xiaoman was little, I would hold her on my lap and tell her about the history and glory of Xia Lan.
But he would never act like Baozi.
They won't reveal their weaknesses.
Baozi's weakness cannot be hidden.
It can't be hidden.
It can't be covered up.
Xiaoman suddenly felt a pang of heartache.
It's not the kind of heartache that exists between a man and a woman.
It's something more complex.
After adding oil and paying, Baozi walked back.
When he opened the car door, a gust of cold air blew in.
Wen Ranran shrank back and snuggled closer to Xiaoman.
Baozi glanced at the back seat, then moved more gently, closing the car door almost silently.
He restarted the car, drove off the national highway, and turned onto a side road.
The road was bumpy, and the trees on both sides were even denser, their branches and leaves intertwined, completely blocking out the sky.
The light dimmed.
Xiaoman hugged Wen Ranran tightly.
After driving for about half an hour, Baozi finally parked the car in front of an old building.
There was a sign hanging at the entrance; the words were blurred, but still legible.
"Yuanqi Research Lab".
Baozi turned off the engine and sat in the driver's seat without moving.
Xiaoman didn't move either.
Wen Ranran is still asleep.
It was quiet for a long time.
"Xiaoman" (Grain Buds).
"Um."
"I have something to tell you."
Xiaoman looked at him in the rearview mirror.
He looked down at the steering wheel.
"You say it," Xiaoman said.
Baozi remained silent for a long time.
It took so long that Xiaoman thought he had changed his mind.
Then he spoke.
"I like you."
Xiaoman did not speak.
"I know you know," Baozi said, her voice a little hoarse. "You've always known."
Xiaoman remained silent.
"I didn't mean anything by it," Baozi said, looking up at the windshield. "I just... wanted to say it."
"It's too uncomfortable to hold it in."
Xiaoman looked at him.
"Steamed buns," Xiaoman said.
"Um."
"You are a good person."
Baozi smiled.
"Friend card," he said.
"I'm not giving you the 'friend card'," Xiaoman said gently. "I genuinely think you're a good person."
"You are loyal to your friends, ruthless to your enemies, and patient with Ranran."
You have many admirable qualities.
Baozi shook his head.
"I don't."
"You have."
"I don't."
Baozi's voice suddenly grew louder.
Wen Ranran stirred slightly, and Xiaoman gently patted her back, calming her down again.
Baozi realized his lapse in composure, took a deep breath, and lowered his voice.
"Xiaoman, don't try to comfort me."
I'm not trying to comfort you.
"So you're just pitying me."
"I'm not pitying you."
"I'm just stating the facts."
"The truth is," she looked into Baozi's eyes, "I like Lu Siye."
Baozi slid her hand off the steering wheel and placed it on her lap.
He didn't speak.
"I like something about him," Xiaoman said, "something I can't quite put my finger on."
"It's not because he's so great, not because he's so smart, not because he's so good at fighting."
"It's something else."
"Something I've never seen in anyone else before."
Baozi nodded.
"I understand," he said.
"You understand?"
"I understand."
Baozi turned his head and looked at her.
"You like the light he exudes," Baozi said, "but I..."
He didn't continue.
But Xiaoman knew what he was going to say.
All I have is my shadow.
"steamed stuffed bun."
"Um."
"You will meet a girl who likes you."
"Everyone has their own strengths."
"I like Lu Siye's strengths, and I'm sure there are others who like your strengths too."
Baozi looked at her, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she swallowed it back.
He looked down at his hands.
Baozi knows.
He is not a hero.
He's the kind of person who will turn and run away at a crucial moment.
What are his strengths?
What are his strengths?
He doesn't even respect himself.
"But..." Baozi's voice was very soft, "I don't even like myself."
Xiaoman remained silent for a while.
Then she gently placed Wen Ranran on the seat, letting her lean against Fei Fei and continue sleeping.
She opened the car door, got out, walked to the driver's side, and opened the car door.
A cold wind blew in.
Baozi looked up at her.
Xiaoman bent down, reached out, and gently patted his head.
"steamed stuffed bun."
"Um."
"You're not the kind of person you think you are."
"That's me."
"You are not."
Xiaoman's hand remained on his head, motionless.
"You ran away that night."
Baozi froze for a moment.
"But you came back."
Baozi didn't say anything.
"You ran because you were afraid, but you came back because you chose not to run."
"Being afraid is not wrong; everyone is afraid."
"Choice is key."
Baozi's eyes reddened.
He blinked hard, trying to suppress the stinging sensation.
But it didn't work.
Tears still fell.
He wiped his face with the back of his hand.
"Damn," he said, his voice muffled, "It's embarrassing."
Xiaoman smiled.
"It's not shameful," she said.
Baozi took a deep breath and wiped away her tears with her sleeve.
He looked up at Xiaoman.
"Thank you, Xiaoman."
"What are you thanking me for?"
"Thank you for not lying to me."
"I didn't lie to you."
"I know."
Baozi sniffed and forced a smile.
"You're right, I will meet someone who likes me."
"Yes."
"She might not be as pretty as you, as smart as you, or as..."
"steamed stuffed bun."
"Okay, okay, I won't say anything more."
Baozi raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.
"I admit it."
"I really accept it."
He took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly.
"Brother Lu is a lucky man."
"It's good to have met you."
Xiaoman did not respond.
She straightened up, closed the car door, returned to the back seat, and picked Wen Ranran up again.
Baozi started the car and drove into the research institute's courtyard.
After the car came to a complete stop, he did not turn off the engine immediately.
He sat in the driver's seat, looking at the gray-white building in front of him.
"Xiaoman" (Grain Buds).
"Um."
Do I really have any shining qualities?
Xiaoman looked at him in the rearview mirror.
Baozi's expression was very serious.
"Yes," Xiaoman said.
"What?"
"You asked that question."
Baozi paused for a moment.
"What kind of highlight is that?"
"That proves you care," Xiaoman said. "You care whether you're a good person."
"A truly bad person wouldn't ask this kind of question."
Baozi remained silent for a long time.
Then he laughed.
This time, he genuinely laughed.
The smile spread from the corners of her mouth to the corners of her eyes, and from the corners of her eyes to her entire face.
"Thank you, Xiaoman."
"Thank you."
"Can't you thank me again?"
"OK."
Baozi turned off the engine, removed the key, and opened the car door.
A cold wind blew in, carrying the smell of snow.
It's going to snow.
He stood outside the car, zipped his jacket all the way up, and put his hands in his pockets.
Xiaoman carried Wen Ranran off the car.
Feifei peeked out from Wen Ranran's arms, looked around, and then shrank back inside.
Baozi walked up to Xiaoman and reached out her hand.
"Let me carry you."
Xiaoman glanced at him and handed Wen Ranran over.
Baozi took Wen Ranran from her, supporting her back with one hand and her knees with the other.
"It's alright, Ranran," he said softly. "Your brother's here."
Xiaoman watched his retreating figure.
The bun has a wide back and thick shoulders, like a wall.
Xiaoman walked over and stood next to Baozi.
"Let's go."
"Um."