Atop the city wall, Yun Xiaoyao also held one ring in his palm as he watched Yun Yang and Ji Lingxi"s retreating silhouettes with an unreadable expression.
Yun Xiaoyao still stood on top of the city wall, even until the duo"s forms could no longer be seen.
The night breeze came, caressing the city.
Soft sighs could be heard from the top of the walls. The man closed his palm gently, grasping the ring tightly in it.
"To the end of this life, I won"t open this ring," Yun Xiaoyao murmured.
This was his son"s gift to him but he did not want to know what was inside. He only wanted to keep it intact and whole, complete in its original form.
…
Ji Lingxi and Yun Yang moved towards the east, not going very fast at all. Of course, their relaxed speed was relative to their personal speed and maximum velocity. Compared to the common man, they were already much faster.
As they moved, they probed for their sense of fortuity. They had a vivid realization that as they as they wished, they could manipulate all their mystical Qi and leave this realm to enter the Bound of Universe! The feeling was growing clearer, but both of them had no thoughts of doing so.
The Four Seasons Tower had yet to be banished!
Along their journey, they saw tendrils of smoke rising from houses. People along their way were smiling, wholesome smiles that were thoroughly at peace and untroubled. Every time they came near a village, children were seen chasing each other and playing, occasionally running along the roads.
Pa.s.sersby were busy as well, each with a destination to head to. No longer was there the futile sense of hopelessness that permeated the air during the four-nation siege previously. There was a hopeful look towards a better life that could be seen clearly on everyone"s faces. What also tinged their expressions was a superior air of dignity and confidence.
Occasionally when a military troop pa.s.sed by, all the vendors of any tea stall by the roadside would pa.s.sionately ask the soldiers to stop for a drink. They served the troops with all they had to express their grat.i.tude. However, the army would never stop, only pa.s.sing by the pa.s.sionate owners with grateful smiles.
When a troop finally pa.s.sed by, the vendor pushed his tea stall even further instead, setting it up almost on the paved road. When another troop came by, he held a tray and pushed a cup of tea into each of the soldiers" hands.
"How can you not accept my tea? This is a token of my heart. The military has its rules, but I want to express this small token of mine too!"
"Lingxi, do you know… The biggest wish we nine brothers had in this lifetime was nothing but to be able to see such a phenomenon!"
Yun Yang watched the pa.s.sersby in contentment, joy thoroughly filling him. He could not help slowing down his already relaxed pace, halting his steps to observe the scene where the tea stall owner served the army a refres.h.i.+ng repast.
"Big brother once said that if there was one day when Yutang"s people could have full meals and warm clothes for the cold, when they can walk with a raised chin and puffed chest, when they"re filled with pride and not resigned to meek docility,then, the day to world union isn"t far away. Our lifetime"s aspiration is – is but so. For this goal, we have no regrets even when we die, even when we fight battle after battle."
"Now, all of Yutang"s fronts are secured and prospering. The domination is so close within reach. Relatively, the people"s confidence and dignity have all grown. Yutang has already grown an indomitable backbone. As long as this support system remains, our effort isn"t wasted."
Yun Yang spoke joyfully, "In other words, the goal we"ve been fighting for our entire life can be considered completed. I didn"t let my brothers down. When we meet again, I can face them square in the face. I"m so happy – I"m thrilled."
"You"re all amazing people – you and my brother, and the other big brothers as well," Ji Lingxi said respectfully.
Yun Yang laughed, "Indeed, are we all not amazing people?"
Ji Lingxi then continued by asking, "What you mean is that you won"t be partaking in Yutang"s union war of Tianxuan subsequently, is that so?"
"Yes," Yun Yang answered with a heavy nod, "The current state is apparent. Whether Supreme Cloud intervenes or not, this world – this Tianxuan Continent, shall be united under Yutang"s reign. It"s only a matter of time! Supreme Cloud"s existence, right now, is only for spiritual support."
"Previously, I saw pa.s.sion and indignation on the faces of Yutang"s people, but more of it were numbed sufferings and hopeless pain. Now, everyone"s faces are colored with pride and ambition!"
"This is the foundation of a powerful nation, the base of an eternal reign!" Yun Yang said with a smile.
Ji Lingxi pondered and asked, "Still… how will other countries think that it"s a good thing for Yutang to take over the world?"
"The heart of a man is never centered. This is just how things are." Yun Yang answered faintly, "Being conquered and conquering is never the same. Even war can never differentiate the right and wrong party. It"s just a contrast of stances. From individual perspectives, everyone"s right, including Han Sanhe, including Zi Yuanlong, including Qiu Jianhan, including me… All our choices are correct, they"re all based on benefits to the country, officials, and people!"
"In my view, every ruler will think they should be the one to conquer the world, they"d be the best choice for this world. Firstly, this is ambition, a desire, a sense of achievement. At the same time, it"s a covert sense of purpose. They feel that they could administer this world well – they will provide grace to the people and s.h.i.+ne brilliantly for years to come!"
Yun Yang spoke very slowly.
"In spite of this, it"s never them who can decide who is to be the true ruler of this world. Only the grand scheme of the world itself can conclude this."
"For so many years, Yutang has been at the core of wars. Millions of people were oppressed to no end. Sacrifice is basically a concept embedded in every Yutang person"s heart. In such a nation, any sliver of hope given can cause its people to burn like a prairie fire! Based on this premise, who else is more qualified to dominate the world if not us?"
"It"s still the same old reasoning – the affairs concerning this have no right or wrong. There"s only the strong and the weak – perspective and choice!"
"We"ve grown to this stage by being hara.s.sed by other empires. The spine nurtured from wars can"t be broken by anyone. It simply can"t be crushed."
Yun Yang watched the zestful roadside life with interest. As the weather slowly warmed up, there was already a budding layer of green that swayed along the breeze. The thriving force of life was everywhere.
By the road, a boy ran out with a stumbling gait and was met with Yun Yang and Ji Lingxi. He blinked his big eyes as he asked, "Uncle, do you want to come in for a cup of tea?"
Yun Yang laughed and patted the boy"s head, answering, "Uncle is not thirsty. What"s your name?"
"I"m San Huzi1," the boy answered rather shyly.
"Hmm, San Huzi…" Yun Yang grinned in amus.e.m.e.nt and said, "I guess that you have two elder brothers too, one"s called Da Huzi and another is called Er Huzi. Am I right?"
The boy looked at Yun Yang with sudden amazement and asked, "Uncle, how did you know? Are you our relative? Why do I not recognize you? My memory is quite remarkable!"
Ji Lingxi could not help pressing her lips together to suppress a chuckle.
"Hmm, where are your two elder brothers? Are they not home? Why didn"t they bring you out to play?" Yun Yang asked.
The boy replied ecstatically, "My brothers have gone to become generals! They"re great warriors! Mama said that they"re with father. They"re all heroes – great generals! When we celebrate spring festival this year, Huzi lit incense for them to wish them well!"
With father – incense! Wish them well?
Translator Note:
1San Huzi (三虎子sān hǔ zi): Huzi means tiger cub, usually a child"s nickname to imply a talented and capable young man; San here is three or third, meaning that the boy in this chapter is the third child of the family, thus explaining the plot where Yun Yang makes a guess of the boy having two elder brothers.