Chapter 53 A Horde of Demons Dance Wildly 46

Shen Xiao stayed in the village for two more days. Only after all the children had more or less recovered did he decide to take them to Qingshan City to settle down. First, Qingshan City’s unique terrain had kept it safe from bandits and deserters. Second, he trusted Lord Xu and Lady Xu.

However, bringing such a group of children on the road was no easy feat. After all, they were small, with short legs and little strength, unable to travel far. So Shen Xiao became a carpenter for the time being and fashioned a simple wooden cart. The children could sit inside, and he fastened the other end to the great-horned ram, letting the beast pull them along.

At first, the mood on the journey was heavy. These children had escaped death, their homes torn apart, and a dazed look lingered on their young faces. Later, Shen Xiao told them to each find a branch, saying he would teach them swordsmanship. Only then did the light return to their eyes, as if they had found a purpose.

In the days that followed, laughter gradually grew more frequent. When they passed lakes or rivers, they would roll up their trousers, rush into the water in small groups, catching fish and shrimp with carefree abandon—just like ordinary children. Only during their daily sword practice did something different flicker in their eyes.

...

Linyuan had been especially downcast these past few days. He had always been quiet, but recently he seemed listless, often not responding even when Shi Xianyu called out to him. Shi Xianyu had wanted to find a chance to talk to him, but seeing him in such a state, she could only set aside her own worries for now.

One morning, Shi Xianyu woke to find Linyuan gone. A light rain fell across her cheeks, a cool breeze stirring the air. The sleeping children were startled awake by the drizzle, bundling up their belongings and crowding onto the cart. Shen Xiao led everyone forward, hoping to find shelter before the rain worsened.

Shi Xianyu asked Shen Xiao where Linyuan had gone. Shen Xiao didn’t know—he guessed Linyuan might have gone ahead to scout the road. She didn’t think much of it; Linyuan was quick and often went ahead to scout. What she didn’t expect was that this time would be different.

This time, even by dusk when the rain had stopped, Linyuan had not returned.

It was too unusual. How could he vanish without a word? Shi Xianyu wondered if the rain had washed away his scent, causing him to lose track of the cave where they had taken shelter. She retraced her steps to their previous resting place, but found no tracks at all.

Linyuan had not come back. He had simply vanished.

Shen Xiao, worried something had happened, drew a few protective fire talismans and gave them to Shi Xianyu, telling her to look after the children while he retraced their route alone in search of Linyuan.

---

There were no clues, no direction—in this wilderness, finding one person was as fanciful as catching a dream. Shen Xiao returned empty-handed, as expected.

Upon his return, he told Shi Xianyu, “There are no signs of a fight nearby, no blood, not even the aura of a great demon. Linyuan must have left on his own.”

He hadn’t failed to return because of danger—he had simply left, without a word.

“Some demons have the habit of changing their dwelling every so often,” Shen Xiao guessed. “He might have gone to Spirit Mountain. I remember when we first rescued him, he kept muttering that he wanted to go there.”

Shi Xianyu pressed her lips together, bitterness rising in her heart. She didn’t understand—even if he had to leave, even if he needed to go to Spirit Mountain, why couldn’t he just tell her? Why did he have to disappear without saying goodbye? Had she been fooling herself all along?

Shen Xiao gently patted her shoulder. “Don’t overthink it. Once I settle the children in Qingshan City, I’ll help you look for him. Maybe something came up unexpectedly…”

She walked on silently. She didn’t want to look for him anymore.

...

Though she said she wouldn’t look for him, he was never far from her thoughts. Shen Xiao seemed to sense her feelings and deliberately slowed their pace. Where once they only paused twice a day, now they stopped frequently, as if intentionally delaying, hoping the missing man would catch up…

Another seven or eight days passed, and they reached Qingshan City.

Linyuan still had not appeared.

Shi Xianyu was forced to accept the truth: he had truly disappeared.

Before her lay a river where he had once fished, where he had kindled a fire on the bank and roasted fish. Now, he was nowhere to be seen.

Shi Xianyu’s nose stung, her eyes hot with unshed tears. Not wanting the children to see her cry, she took a deep breath, forcing the tears back.

Her prayers had gone unanswered. Linyuan was gone. She no longer knew what reason she had to stay.

When Shen Xiao finished building a bamboo raft to ferry everyone across into Qingshan City, Shi Xianyu took her leave.

Shen Xiao asked, “Xiaoyu, do you want to look for Linyuan? Don’t worry, once I settle them, I’ll go with you.”

Shi Xianyu slowly shook her head. “I’m not going to look for him… Brother Shen, I just feel it’s time for me to leave as well.”

Shen Xiao was taken aback. “…People meet and part throughout life; it’s only natural. Xiaoyu, will we meet again?”

She nodded. “When I have the chance, I’ll come back to see you.” She reached out to pat Xiao Man. “And to see everyone else.”

---

After thinking for a moment, Shen Xiao turned, took out his own bundle, and handed her a bag.

“You’ve helped me so much along the way, and I have nothing else to give. These seeds I’ve collected from all corners of the world—some are ordinary flowers and plants, others rare spirit herbs and fruits. Take them as a token of gratitude.”

Shi Xianyu accepted the bag and felt its considerable weight. Though it was not gold or jewels, its value was beyond measure—it held the effort of Shen Xiao’s seventy years of wandering.

“Brother Shen, I…”

“Take it,” Shen Xiao sighed softly. “I’ll keep searching for news of Linyuan. The world is vast—we’ll hear something, sooner or later.”

Shi Xianyu forced a smile. “Thank you, Brother Shen.”

She waved to everyone. “I’m off!”

Xiao Man and his friends all raised their hands to bid her farewell.

The sadness in her heart grew heavier; she quickly turned away, climbed onto the ram’s back, and let the tears fall freely, grateful no one could see them.

This parting was nothing like she had imagined. Though everything seemed to have ended well, the one she loved had vanished, and her feelings were left unfinished.

She couldn’t help but recall what Shen Xiao once told her—not all feelings have to end with a result. If you cling too much to endings, you’ll only cling to pain.

Back then, Shen Xiao had been lamenting his own affairs. He probably hadn’t imagined he was predicting her ending with Linyuan as well.

The great-horned ram carried her farther and farther away. When the friends behind her were no longer in sight, Shi Xianyu drew from her bosom the bead given to her by the attendant god—

A tiny bead, glowing softly between her fingers.

Once crushed, she would leave this world, never to see Linyuan again…

Why, even now, was she still thinking of him?

Shi Xianyu bit her lip, sorrow flooding her heart as she crushed the bead between her fingers with a crack.

Ahead, a thin mist rose over the path through the woods.

Through the haze, palace silhouettes appeared faintly.

Riding her ram, she entered. The muddy earth turned to white jade stones. The attendant god floated in the air before her, hands tucked respectfully into his sleeves.

“Your servant humbly welcomes the Lady back to the palace.”