Chapter 251: Depart To The Ninth Ruins
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
All Tang Ling had done in the past was bury the word ‘mother’ in the deepest recesses of his heart.
For a very long time in his life, he treated the uncle and aunt who adopted him as his own parents because they had looked after him as their own son. His debt of grat.i.tude felt as heavy as a mountain.
Therefore, Tang Ling had intentionally neglected his true lineage and buried his parents in his mind. He had lived happily with a poor family despite having to struggle almost every day because he felt the warmth from them.
Sometimes, when he was young, he would think of his mother but only for a while.
He believed that his father would have abandoned him but not his mother. Whenever he thought of his mother, a couple of questions popped up in his mind and troubled him.
Mother, why did you abandon me? What obstacles forced you to make this decision?
No, I’m not blaming you. I just want to share your burden. Mother, when I grow up, I won’t be your burden anymore. I’ll hunt so you can have meat every day.
They were simple thoughts from the purest of heart.
However, as time flew by, Tang Ling stopped thinking about those questions anymore. After his uncle and aunt went missing and his grandmother confirmed their death, he never thought about his mother anymore.
However, Tang Ling still found out about his true lineage and the thoughts from his younger days rumbled in his heart. The word ‘mother’ became a strange persistence that was rooted firmly in his heart.
The lesser his mother appeared in stories about Tang Feng, the more he insisted on finding out who she was. This persistence froze into ice in Tang Ling’s heart and s.h.i.+elded him from his father.
He blamed Tang Feng for everything that happened to him: the pain, the suffering, and the fact that he was abandoned. He believed that his mother would never abandon him because a mother would suffer more than anyone else if she lost her child.
“That’s the end of the story. Now it is time for you to choose,” Ro Yan’s voice echoed.
Tang Ling looked up, and with his eyes devoid of emotion, he looked at Ro Yan to ask, “Do you have any cigarettes? I want a pack.”
Ro Yan had difficulties in searching for words to reply. Why was he asking for a pack of cigarettes? Regardless, he still gave the boy a pack.
Tang Ling glanced over at Ro Li’s dull expression and Ro Xin’s complicated gaze as he lit his cigarette. After two puffs, he said, “This pack of cigarettes is the price for my bone marrow. Stop telling me about fighting along my side. I don’t know what’s the List of Seeds and I don’t care about the Dragon Army or Tang Feng. Get it?”
Ro Li scratched his head and said, “I don’t want to become a normal person, but if Tang Ling isn’t happy about giving me his bone marrow, I’ll take the pills. If he’s okay with it, from this day onwards, I’ll be his brother-in-arms and I’ll follow him wherever he goes and fight alongside him.” A man with simple thoughts chose the simple way with no conflicts, hesitation, or dilemma.
Ro Yan sometimes felt that his son was better than him. The funny thing was that Ro Li’s answer did not even take Tang Ling’s opinion into consideration.
Tang Ling glared at Ro Li and said in a slightly upset tone, “Why the h.e.l.l would I want you to follow me? Take my bone marrow and go wherever the h.e.l.l you like. I’m used to being alone.”
“No can do! Repaying a debt of grat.i.tude is what a man does.” Ro Li stiffened his neck and refused to compromise.
“That is Tang Feng’s business. Go talk to him then.”
“I can’t find Tang Feng anywhere and I’ve also accepted his kindness, so if he said I’ll fight alongside you, I must fight alongside you.”
“Okay, fine, I’m not giving you my bone marrow.” Tang Ling slammed the table and bolted up.
“Then, I’ll take the pills,” Ro Li insisted on his stand.
“Please give my brother the bone marrow.” Ro Xin, who had kept quiet throughout the whole story session, finally spoke as she looked at Tang Ling with a pitiful gaze, “Do you know why I learned all this herbal and medical knowledge? It’s because I know my brother was born with a defect since he was young. Even if he had Uncle Tang Feng’s bone marrow for all these years, he still feels cold like ice at night and I can’t find out the reason behind it. I know I’m such a failure, but I once swore that I would find a way to cure my brother and I’ll never forget what my brother told me. He said he would grow stronger and stronger so that he can go see the world with me.
“I know he’s trying to protect me. I know he’s trying to fulfill my dreams of learning all kinds of medical knowledge all around the world, but he doesn’t know I started on this path because of him.” Ro Xin was unusually calm when she uttered those words, and Tang Ling was silenced by them.
He thought of last night when he saw Ro Xin drenching his body with hot water. That scene where his sweat hung at the tip of his nose was branded in his mind. When he thought of Ro Xin’s expression as she said she was going to cure him, he could not reject such a look.
“Ro Xin.” Ro Li’s eyes were rimmed with tears. He always thought his little sister was better than him and that he should always protect her to become a great healer or possibly a doctor.
Unbeknownst to him, the sister that always rolled her eyes at him and scolded him for his nagging was…
“Brother, go with Tang Ling. He isn’t just anyone. He will travel far and long. He will reach many places in the world and you can follow him and live an amazing life. Didn’t you always want to be a hero when you were young?”
“That’s what I am trying to do: stand by him and fight alongside him. It’s nothing much, but at least I can live up to my bottom line.” Ro Li’s answer was firm.
Tang Ling puffed at his cigarette in frustration. He no longer wanted to argue. Fine, I’ll just give him my bone marrow and then find a chance to dump this giant loli somewhere else!
“Great.” Ro Xin nodded.
She then looked at Ro Yan. “Dad, both Brother and I have viewed the Ro Drifter Camp as our responsibility ever since we were young. It limited our sight and bound our hearts, making us circle around the Herrocky Mountain Ridge for the rest of our lives. I know it’s unfilial for me to say something like this, but…” Ro Xin stared at Ro Yan.
Ro Li was trembling when Ro Xin said that. What is she talking about? Dad might beat her up! Everyone knows how he cares about the camp!
Tang Ling had a peek at Ro Li and could not help but sigh softly. He felt a little sad for the giant loli because an idiot like him had failed to read the situation and did not notice anything different.
Ro Yan did not say anything as he stroked Ro Xin’s hair with a complicated gaze. He was actually relieved. His son had outstanding talent. Even if his life would be filled with danger alongside Tang Ling, a man should devote his life to doing something big and meaningful. Danger could not be an excuse, and his hesitancy earlier was a joke. There was nothing to be sorry about anymore.
I guess this smart girl saw through my thoughts. Ro Yan did not say anything.
“Dad, I’ve been complaining about our lives, but today let Brother have his way. As a daughter, I want to stay with you, so you can stop thinking about sending me away.” Ro Xin was very stern with her words.
Ro Li blinked several times in confusion. Huh? Dad is sending Xin away? Am I going out to the world? Like right now? Unfortunately, he had no answers.
Ro Yan smiled and said, “Staying back will be dangerous. Jim is making his move as we speak.”
“It’s fine. I’m not afraid. My uncles and aunts are respectable people. I’d rather die in glory than live in dishonor,” Ro Xin replied firmly.
“As expected of my daughter!” Ro Yan went over and gave Ro Xin a hug.
“Dad, let me…” Before she finished, a tinge of sadness appeared in Ro Yan’s eyes, and the next thing that happened was a quick chop at her neck, knocking her out.
“Dad! What are you doing?” Ro Li shouted in shock.
“You…shees.h.!.+” Ro Yan had had it with his idiotic son. He turned around to the door and said, “Aide Chen, come in.”
Aide Chen entered the mobile home with a big suitcase which he put on the floor before stepping out.
“Tang Ling, as you can see, my son is almost helpless and my daughter is the exact opposite. Please take care of them for me in the future. If you view them as a burden, you can just walk away, but I have one request: please let them settle down in a safe place.” Ro Yan’s eyes screamed of sadness and pleading.
Somehow, his gaze saddened Tang Ling a lot. He fished out another cigarette and let it hang at his mouth before saying, “Ro Xin is an amazing girl. She might be the one taking care of us.”
“Should I be relieved?” Ro Yan smiled as he then stood up. “I’ve only spent so much time with you. I can’t say I know you well, and even if you don’t want to hear it from me, I have to say it—
I see Tang Feng in you. This alone a.s.sures me feel that you will be taking care of them.” He then placed the luggage in front of Tang Ling. “There’s not much here. I’ve memorized the recipe that Ro Xin made for your medical bath, and these should be enough herbs and medicines. If it’s not, Ro Xin will take care of them along the way.
“Other than that, there are more Ro family teachings in here. Tang Feng had the right to learn it, and so do you. If you want, you can ask Ro Xin for it anytime. Every book is open for you to read.” Ro Yan paused before he looked at Ro Li. “Remember what I said and tell Ro Xin that I said so.”
Ro Li finally understood what was going on. His father was bidding farewell to them and it saddened him to know that, but he did not know how serious things were or what the farewell meant.
“I’ll take a look at them.” Tang Ling accepted the offer because he longed to be stronger whenever possible because of what he shouldered.
“Mmm.” Ro Yan nodded and said, “Ro Xin’s note is also in the luggage, and so are her healing tools. I’ll also put the bottle with the remaining bone marrow for Ro Li inside together with the pills. You can turn him into a normal person whenever you like.”
“No need for that. I’ll give him my bone marrow. Is the recipe inside?” Tang Ling asked.
“Yes, there are also some other things inside and I’ll let you find out by yourself. In short, time is limited and the camp is a complicated place. The few people you met today might have a.s.sociated themselves with the outsiders,” Ro Yan warned.
Tang Ling raised a brow. “The Stardust Council?” It was just a wild guess. As he made his way here, the feeling in his heart grew stronger and he realized that the Stardust Council’s influence was everywhere. Even a small Drifter camp could not escape from their grasp.
A tinge of shock flashed in Ro Yan’s eyes. He knew? Is Tang Feng’s son this extraordinary? Regardless, he nodded to a.s.sure Tang Ling, “Yes, it’s them.”
Tang Ling hesitated for a moment and suggested, “Uncle Ro, you can actually leave with us.”
“Do you think I can? Or do you think I will?” Ro Yan was moved and his eyes gave him away as he believed that his bet on Tang Ling was the right one. However, he could not and would not agree to the suggestion. His answer stated his intention clearly.
“Dad, you!” Ro Li finally grasped the situation, feeling dejected and nervous. He shouted, “No, you must leave with us. If you don’t, I won’t either.”
“You stupid knucklehead, you’d better go as far as you can! I’m not leaving, but it doesn’t mean that I’m going to die. You can just come back when you get stronger! Think about your sister. Think about what she has to face here! Jim has always had his eyes on her. Don’t you want to protect her? Are you just going to leave her in Tang Ling’s hands?” Ro Yan shouted in Ro Li’s face.
Xin? Xin… Ro Li circled around anxiously and punched the wall all of a sudden. He turned back to his father with a teary face. “Dad, you aren’t going to die, right? Right? I’ve been so depressed ever since Mom died of sickness. I…”
“Of course, I’m not dying! What do they get by killing me? They just want the camp.” Ro Yan chose to keep the truth from Ro Li although the enemy might be after the family teachings and possibly the secrets to the Ninth Ruins.
“Really?” Ro Li wiped his snot.
“Nonsense! How dare you nag me?! Your sister is waking up soon.” Ro Yan glared at his son.
Ro Li dared not argue anymore. Instead, he squatted aside and continued sobbing.
Ro Yan looked at Tang Ling. “I really should man up. I’m done, so go now. Ro Li will bring you to the Ninth Ruins and you can leave through there.”
“Why there?” In confusion, Tang Ling explained, “Uncle Ro, I have something that I must do and I have to get to the Darkness Port.”
“Really? That’s not a bad choice either. You will pa.s.s the Ninth Ruins if you are heading to the Darkness Port.” Ro Yan could not help but knock on his forehead lightly. “Fate is always scary and the destined child is probably scarier than fate itself.
“Do you know that the Stardust Council will scour the earth for you guys after this? If you don’t go to the Ninth Ruins, you’ll never outrun the search. The Ninth Ruins just so happens to the sure path to the Darkness Port, but I’m afraid it is also an opportunity of sorts.
“Tang Ling, fate prepared this for you. I really look forward to your future and I’ve also started to look forward to Ro Li’s. Unfortunately…” Ro Yan’s eyes had never looked so miserable before.
The Ninth Ruins? Tang Ling was baffled by the question, but he knew it was not time to ask. Since Ro Li was leading the way, he would have to go to the Ninth Ruins. After Ro Xin woke up, he might be able to get some useful information.
With that in mind, Tang Ling nodded and said, “Let’s go to the Ninth Ruins then. We leave right away.”
He started to pack his stuff and Ro Li pitifully lugged the big luggage that Ro Yan had prepared for them before lifting Ro Xin up.
We’re leaving right away?