Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 131

When Ling Xiao appeared at the base, Red Head’s expression immediately became very strange. He tried hard to hold back, but eventually couldn’t resist turning his face away. Even so, he was still uncomfortable and finally buried his head in Bing Can’s back, so Ling Xiao couldn’t see his face. Bing Can, who was initially fine, was also infected by Red Head’s actions and couldn’t help but smirk.

Ling Xiao finally couldn’t stand it anymore. “If you want to laugh, just laugh! Don’t make yourself sick holding it in!”

“Pfft. Hahahaha—” Red Head burst into a series of hearty laughter almost immediately. Laughing so heartily on the second day of the nation’s crisis seemed quite inappropriate, but he just couldn’t control himself.

His laughter was infectious, and the expressions of others present varied. Nie Yun, being of a milder temperament, was more restrained, while Fu Yao and Fei Jing seemed almost to be reveling in schadenfreude. Ling Xiao knew it would turn out like this and kept telling himself that, as someone who had seen thousands of years, he shouldn’t stoop to their level. But seeing Red Head laugh until tears came out, Ling Xiao still felt the urge to strangle him.

Red Head, unable to contain his laughter, collapsed on Bing Can’s shoulder. A history that was oppressive and heavy, but anything involving Ling Xiao somehow had the effect of turning tragedy into comedy.

“Speaking of which,” Red Head finally stopped laughing, “so the founding Marshal was Ying Feng’s first life. We even went to the museum to admire you during our time in Lion Academy.”

“Don’t just casually use the word ‘admire’, okay?” Ling Xiao scorned him.

“The news has spread faster than I thought. By now, everyone must know about this.” Nie Yun was still worried. “I wonder how the public is reacting.”

Fu Yao’s subordinate quickly brought the first-hand report.

“Report to the Marshal and Deputy; there’s good news and… uh, ordinary news.”

“Start with the important one.”

“Many people have voluntarily signed up to join the military, wanting to serve the country.”

“That’s good news,” Fu Yao agreed. “And the ordinary news?”

“The portion of the populace not signing up for the military is now… rushing to shop.”

“Shopping?” Fuyao was baffled, then realized, “Because of the war, are they stockpiling supplies?”

“No.” The subordinate wiped the sweat from his forehead. “After the news was released, a large number of people flooded into the history museum to buy ‘remembrance stones’, and the number is continuously increasing. The museum entrance is now jam-packed, and the curator… is asking for your advice on whether to dispatch troops to maintain order.”

Everyone: “……”

“We’re busy reconstructing the base. There’s no manpower to spare, so let him deal with it himself.” Fu Yao bluntly refused the request, and the subordinate quickly left to relay his words.

“Yesterday was a day of national crisis; is today Valentine’s Day or something?” Red Head regretted not going earlier to grab a piece himself. “Unknowingly, Ling Xiao, you’ve started an industry.”

Ling Xiao felt wronged. “But I haven’t made a single penny from it.”

“At least you’ve boosted consumer spending,” Fu Yao said, sounding more sarcastic than complimentary.

As the group walked toward the great hall, Red Head asked, “Ling Xiao, now that you’re back, are you going to continue jumping to future time points?”

“I don’t know. At least I don’t feel like disappearing now,” Ling Xiao answered honestly. “But my wish has been fulfilled, and I have no more concerns. It would be nice to see what the future looks like.”

Ying Feng glanced at him but said nothing.

“Hey.” Ling Xiao poked Ying Feng quietly when no one else was paying attention. “What if I time-travel again?”

“Then I’ll carve stones for you,” Ying Feng replied without hesitation. “I’ll carve one every year, and you can dig them out and sell them in every era you visit. Eventually, you’ll also have a lot of money.”

“I like that idea.” Ling Xiao chuckled. “You better not forget.”

Reporters covering the post-war situation immediately approached them for a statement from the newly appointed Marshal. Fu Yao looked directly into the camera with an intense gaze. “The day that just passed was the darkest day in Tianxiu’s history. The audio-visual records distributed to everyone must have overturned everyone’s understanding.”

“But we are the Tianxiu people, the masters of this land for four thousand years. We possess thoughts, wisdom, and emotions no different from ordinary people. Once we have all these, we are no longer machines controlled by others.”

“Loyalty, bravery, fearlessness of sacrifice—these qualities we were endowed with have become an ingrained part of our genes, accompanying our growth for thousands of years, and will never fade.”

Behind him, people were busily repairing the most important building for the Tianxiu people. On their faces, there was no sign of the despair of a destroyed homeland, only a spirited determination for the future.

“I believe our compatriots will not be defeated by any difficulty. As long as our souls are still shining, our spirit will never be extinguished.”

Fu Yao lifted his head. Though his stature was small, his image was towering.

“Regardless of who created us, we will be the masters of our own fate. No matter who wants to destroy us, we have the courage to fight to the end, never retreating.”

The cameramen were so moved they almost wanted to drop their equipment to applaud him. The reporter then asked a few more questions of public interest before turning the microphone to Ling Xiao.

“As the only person who has witnessed four thousand years of Tianxiu’s history, do you have anything to say?”

“Um…” Ling Xiao, usually quick-witted, was at a loss for words in front of the camera. “My true thoughts have already been expressed in the previously uploaded footage. I’m glad that through my experiences, I could restore the truth of history…”

He inadvertently glanced at Ying Feng beside him and suddenly had a thought. “I also hope that in the future, our fledglings can be properly educated about the significance of the coming-of-age ceremony. When we are reborn and become fledglings again, we can live without lies. I look forward to that day.”

“So what about you?” After learning that Ying Feng was the reincarnation of the founding Marshal, the reporter even used a respectful tone. “Do you have anything to say to your Qizi in this life?”

Knowing that Ying Feng wasn’t good with words, Red Head and the others were waiting to see him stumble. Ling Xiao, feeling sympathetic, stepped in for him. “Aren’t you here for post-war coverage? Asking such personal questions isn’t very appropriate.”

“It’s precisely because the atmosphere is so oppressive that we need to find some positive topics to give people confidence,” the reporter replied confidently.

To everyone’s surprise, Ying Feng, described as “not good with words”, silently took out a small box from his left breast pocket. The cameraman, with keen eyes, immediately gave a 360-degree close-up of the object in his hand.

Ling Xiao suddenly felt nervous and whispered to Ying Feng in a voice others couldn’t hear, “Hey, we’re alive.”

Ying Feng casually acknowledged his reminder but still lifted the silver metal box to his eyes and slid his thumb across it, opening the lid.

The people around gasped in surprise, and even the reporter was too excited to know how to continue. The only person who could still speak and burst into laughter was Red Head.

“Ying Feng, the ring you chose is so outdated! That’s a style from decades ago. I can’t believe you still found it!”

“Because I bought it the day before you disappeared.” Ying Feng gently took out the ring, deemed outdated by Red Head. “That day was our first anniversary of forming our bond. I originally planned to rush back to give it to you… I wish I could have returned a bit earlier.”

Ling Xiao was overwhelmed, his vision filled with the small ring. He hadn’t expected Ying Feng to remember the day of their bond, especially since it wasn’t a particularly happy occasion for either of them.

Broadcast via satellite into homes across the planet, under the witness of all its inhabitants, Ying Feng lifted Ling Xiao’s hand and solemnly slid the ring onto his ring finger.

“After so many years, I can finally put this ring on your finger myself.”

Ling Xiao’s eyes wanted to cry, but his mouth wanted to smile. He foolishly gazed at his left hand, feeling unreal as if in a dream.

Even Red Head couldn’t help feeling emotional.

“Forming a bond before dating, consummating the marriage before proposing—truly the most unconventional couple I know,” he said mockingly while wiping his eyes. “I was wrong. I will never again say Ying Feng isn’t good with words. Actions are indeed much more powerful than words.”

Seeing the two standing there foolishly, he led the crowd in chanting. “Kiss!”

Encouraged by the crowd, Ling Xiao took a step forward. They didn’t kiss but hugged each other tightly instead. Their souls that had been exchanged through lifetimes were now inseparable once more.

On a day that should have been for remembrance and sorrow, happiness spread as smiles on everyone’s faces, passing on indefinitely. It brought a ray of hope to this planet that had just suffered a great blow, like the dawn after darkness.

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