Martial Arrogance Dragon Soul-Chapter 203 - 193 The Night of Keeping the Years

The Autumn Waters Villa was bright with lights tonight, exceptionally lively.

Qin Qing, among the crowd, drank and felt the ambiance of staying up late on New Year’s Eve.

Qin Shuang sat beside her brother, equally happy.

But in Qin Qing’s heart, there was a lingering concern.

"Father, Mother..."

Now, father and mother were each in a different place.

Knowing full well the torments of the underground furnace in the palace’s lower levels, similar to an underground purgatory, yet being unable to save his father, was what pained Qin Qing the most.

"Brother! Are you thinking about dad and mom?" Qin Shuang quietly tugged at the corner of Qin Qing’s clothes.

Hearing this, Qin Qing quickly gathered his thoughts. He did not want to show his vulnerable side to his sister.

In front of his sister, he had to be the strongest support.

"Brother’s fine, just remembered some things," Qin Qing forced a slight smile.

"Brother, actually, Little Shuang misses dad and mom too..." Little Shuang said weakly.

In fact, in Little Shuang’s memory, the impression of her father and mother was very vague, almost non-existent.

Because when she was very young, Mr. and Mrs. Qin Yi had already left.

At that time, it was Qin Qing who played both the role of father and mother to raise her, the two unfortunate children depending solely on each other.

Little Shuang also had a chronic illness, and there were several times over the years that Qin Qing thought she might not make it.

But... fortunately, Qin Shuang was tough, she had survived death several times and ultimately remained alive!

But without parents by their side, that sense of blankness and helplessness when encountering problems, Qin Qing still remembered it clearly. After all, he was still young and couldn’t handle everything perfectly, but thankfully, over the years, his second uncle Qin Tao and seventh uncle Qin Tong had helped them a great deal.

"Little Shuang, rest assured!" Qin Qing pinched Little Shuang’s cheek: "Brother promises, father will definitely return this year. Yes, he will come back, and next year, when we stay up late, he, along with me and Little Shuang, we will all be together!"

"Really?" Little Shuang’s eyes sparkled, filled with hope and anticipation.

"Of course! When has brother ever lied to you?" Qin Qing said with a smile.

"Yay!" Qin Shuang cheered and laughed.

...

Meanwhile,

in the imperial palace of Luochuan Imperial City.

Beneath the palace.

Here, there was no distinction between day and night.

Similarly, for over three hundred days a year, every day was no different.

And there was no atmosphere of staying up late for the New Year.

"Huff, huff!"

A body, seemingly on the verge of death, kept adding large amounts of charcoal, grease, and flint into the furnace below.

The scorching heat wave surged up in an instant, washing over Qin Yi’s sallow face with an unhealthy flush of dark red.

Qin Yi’s eyes were empty, extremely weary.

After dumping all the materials into the furnace, he slowly retreated to one side.

After a long while, it seemed he caught his breath and looked up.

Above was the endless despair, only the dark red glow reflected from the scorching magma, enough to make one dizzy and disoriented.

"My children. My children, Qing’er, and Little Shuang... how are you faring now?"

"Father is sorry. I cannot be by your side to take care of you."

Qin Yi sat on the ground, trying hard to recall the images of his son Qin Qing and daughter Qin Shuang in his memory.

In this underground purgatory, day after day, year after year, he had almost given up hope.

Here, few people survived.

Because long-term exposure to the underground furnace inevitably leads to the erosion of fire poison. Over the years, one’s body would collapse and die from internal combustion.

But in fact, the vast majority couldn’t even endure until that day.

Most people had already mentally collapsed before their bodies were destroyed.

Just yesterday, Qin Yi witnessed someone who had come in after him shrieking and, like a madman, leaping into the lava, instantly turning to ashes. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

In the magma of this Underground Furnace, countless lives had already been lost.

Qin Yi even wondered if the next one would be himself.

He didn’t know how much longer he could hold on.

In this endless despair, the only thing that might still support his will to live was those two children.

Those two unfortunate children...

...

"Boom boom boom!"

"Bang bang bang bang bang..."

The Watch-Night was about to reach the midnight hour.

In Luochuan, the Imperial City of the Great Qian Dynasty, at that moment, brilliant fireworks suddenly lit up the entire city.

Countless fireworks shot into the sky simultaneously, exceptionally splendid and bright.

So bright that almost everyone forgot that beneath the prosperity and beauty of this royal city lay unseen filth and darkness.

Fireworks filled the city.

Everyone inside the Autumn Water Villa put down their wine bowls, gazing at the dazzling fireworks exploding in the sky.

Jiang Ruorong suddenly turned her face, looking at Qin Qing beside her.

Compared to half a year ago, Qin Qing’s face seemed to start showing firm lines, his visage gradually losing its childishness, becoming more defined, and in his pupils, the sky full of fireworks was reflected.

Perhaps at this moment, he was even more dazzling than the fireworks, more memorable in people’s eyes.

"If time could forever stand still at this moment, then the fireworks would never wither. The feast would never end, and the people of this world would never part..."

Jiang Ruorong said softly to herself.

...

But ultimately, the fireworks faded away.

The feast also eventually came to an end.

"Master. I plan to go to the Scripture Pavilion of the Great Qian Martial Institute to find some Martial Techniques," said Qin Qing.

Bai Qiuhe looked at Qin Qing in surprise, seemingly not expecting that on such a special day, Qin Qing would still be thinking about cultivation.

And to think of going to the Scripture Pavilion at this time.

"Good!"

A look of gratification appeared in Bai Qiuhe’s eyes.

Qin Qing’s talent went without saying, but under such excellent natural conditions, his continued diligence, even with such rapid progress in cultivation in such a short time, showed no sign of pride or complacency.

This temperament truly comforted the elderly Bai Qiuhe.

"Eh... have you broken through to the Divine Might Realm?" Bai Qiuhe only then noticed.

"Yes. I broke through in the Tianjue Forest!" Qin Qing nodded.

"Good, good!" Bai Qiuhe nodded repeatedly, his heart both shocked and delighted, as Qin Qing’s talent was even more terrifying than he had anticipated.

He was now even more curious about what heights Qin Qing could eventually reach in the future.

Perhaps one day, the name Qin Qing would be known throughout the Heavenly Mind Continent.

And he, Bai Qiuhe, would also be remembered as Qin Qing’s master!

Jiang Ruorong took Qin Shuang to rest.

Gong Yanghe, upon hearing that Qin Qing wanted to go to the Scripture Pavilion, felt provoked. Qin Qing had better talent and was even more diligent than he was; how could this be acceptable?

So Gong Yanghe immediately entered the practice room to cultivate in seclusion.

As for Qin Qing, he came alone to the Scripture Pavilion of the Great Qian Martial Institute.

"Time does not permit me any slack..."

Gazing at the Scripture Pavilion before him, Qin Qing took a deep breath and stepped inside.