Yama Reborn-Chapter 522 - 519 [Day 5]

Chapter 519: Day Five

In the seclusion of the mountains, Chen Nuo sat by the edge of the woods, watching the sunrise and sunset, the interchanging dawn and dusk. The morning brought the rising sun, the evening the glow of twilight, and the night a sky filled with a tapestry of stars.

Suddenly feeling sentimental, he took out his mobile phone to snap a photo of the starry sky and sent it home.

At that time, mobile phones didn’t have WeChat; one could only send pictures via MMS.

After sending it, he quickly received a reply from Lu Xixi, which was a photo of his daughter lying in her crib, sucking on a pacifier.

Then, a text message followed: "All is well at home; don’t worry. Looking forward to your early return."

Chen Nuo sighed, putting the phone away.

Beneath the night sky, outside the dormitory near the school construction site, a small table was laden with barbecue and cold dishes. On the ground lay an almost empty crate of beer.

The foreman and Brother Lei were already half-drunk, still chuckling and swapping tall tales.

Nearby, Seed was hunched over a small stool, doing his math homework under the light. He occasionally glanced up at Brother Lei, who was playing finger-guessing games with the foreman, a faint smile on his face.

After finishing, he stood up, walked over with his workbook, and handed it to Brother Lei. "Old Wu, I need a parent’s signature."

Brother Lei immediately sobered up a bit and carefully scrutinized the workbook. The foreman beside him, the one who had stuffed money to "buy a school bag" just days ago, laughed heartily. He snatched the workbook to take a look and exclaimed loudly, "Brother Lei, you’re so fortunate! This son of yours seems to have good grades; the workbook is filled to the brim. Unlike my kid at home—give him a set of math problems, and he leaves most of it blank. I’ve beaten him and scolded him at home, but the boy just doesn’t get it."

He then turned his drunken gaze to Seed and bellowed, "Kid! Study hard! Grow up and get into a good university, make your father proud!"

At this point, the foreman reached for his wallet again. "No, no, I insist. I’ve got to buy our great-nephew a new pencil case..."

"Don’t, don’t, don’t!" Brother Lei quickly pressed his hand down. "No need, no need, we have one at home!"

"Look at you, being so distant! It’s for the kid!"

While the two adults tussled, Seed had already picked up a bottle of soda from the table, opened it with a bottle opener, taken a few contented sips, and let out a comfortable burp.

The construction site at night was very quiet, with flying insects swirling under the safety lights and the sounds of frogs and insects echoing from the distant fields.

Listening to these sounds, Seed looked back at the people at the table and suddenly grew pensive, a small smile creasing his face.

They... seem very happy.

「The fifth day, morning.」 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

As the first rays of dawn touched the land, the distant mountaintop was bathed in a splendid red glow.

Chen Nuo, leaning against a tree trunk, slowly opened his eyes to see a small figure emerging from the large mansion in the distance, walking steadily into the woods and stopping in front of him.

"You’re here?"

"Yes." Erya’s expression seemed complex as she whispered, "She... the Old Ancestor, asks that you come in."

"Alright." Chen Nuo slowly stood up, stretched lazily, his joints popping and cracking.

He looked down at Erya. "What about you? Are you heading down the mountain now?"

Erya pursed her lips. "Yes, I’m going to school. There’s a test today."

"Go on then." Chen Nuo smiled as he patted Erya’s head.

Suddenly, Erya’s eyes reddened, and she whispered, "After this, I’ll never see the Old Ancestor again, right?"

"..." Chen Nuo was silent for a moment, his fingers gently stroking Erya’s hair as he said softly, "Keep your Old Ancestor in your heart, remember her words, and she will always be with you."

Tears welled in Erya’s eyes, and one rolled down her cheek as she glanced back at the ruins of the large mansion.

"If you can’t bear to leave, why not go back and say goodbye to her one last time?"

"The Old Ancestor won’t allow it." Erya shook her head. "She said that once I leave, I’m not allowed to return. I must go to school diligently, and if I dare look back, she’ll beat me."

Seeing the little girl biting her lip, her mouth trembling as if she might burst into tears any second, Chen Nuo gently patted her shoulder. "Then go. Heed her advice, go to school properly, do what you’re supposed to, and live your life as it should be."

"The Old Ancestor said that when I turn eighteen, she’ll have Master pass on the leadership of the Qingyun Sect to me." Erya finally burst into tears. "I wanted to erect a memorial tablet for the Old Ancestor in the sect, and even erect a statue for her. But she forbade me from making any statues."

Chen Nuo glanced towards the mansion, shaking his head with a smile. "Your Old Ancestor didn’t really look like that, so what kind of statue would you erect? Surely you can’t make it in the image of Sun Keke."

"Then, what does the true Old Ancestor look like? Tell me, no, draw it for me, and I’ll find the best craftsman to carve it."

"Uh..."

Chen Nuo found himself at a loss for words.

Her original appearance? They couldn’t possibly set up a statue of Lu Xixi inside the Qingyun Sect. That would be chaotic.

He waved his hand dismissively. "If your Old Ancestor said there’s no need, then there’s no need. Now, hurry on, off you go."

Erya looked deeply into Chen Nuo’s eyes. "Then I’ll set up a memorial tablet—but do tell me, what exactly is the name of our Old Ancestor? I asked her, but she refused to say."

Chen Nuo thought for a moment, then extended his toe and traced two characters on the ground. "Your Old Ancestor’s name is Yun Yin. These are the two characters; remember them."

Erya looked down, observing the simple characters with great seriousness, then nodded firmly. "I’ve got it. I won’t forget, not even for a second."

Having said that, ever the little genius from the Qingyun Sect, Erya took a deep breath, sniffed back her tears, fiercely wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and turned to stride towards the mountain path leading away from the forest.

Watching Erya’s retreating figure disappear into the distance, Chen Nuo sighed, turned around, and walked toward the ruins of the large mansion.

Within the ruins of the large mansion, Yun Yin stood in the backyard, staring blankly at a dry well. She didn’t say a word even when Chen Nuo arrived at her side.

Chen Nuo stood quietly beside Yun Yin for a few minutes before Yun Yin finally shook her head. "This well... I used to look into it when I was a child. Back then, you could see the moon’s reflection in its water at night. But now... the well is dry."

Chen Nuo hummed softly, looked earnestly at Yun Yin, and slowly said, "Is it the last day? Whatever you want to do today, I’ll accompany you."

Yun Yin suddenly lifted her face and smiled. "Yes, it’s the last day, so let’s do something ordinary. I want to have breakfast."

"I remember when I was young, we used to eat a kind of rice with savory meat scraps for breakfast, along with pork potstickers."

Chen Nuo thought for a moment and said softly, "I’ve seen breakfast stalls in the town. Let’s go check them out."

The breakfast joint in town was doing good business in the morning. Chen Nuo and Yun Yin stood in line at the back of the crowd and bought a serving of rice with savory meat scraps—which was minced meat mixed with rice, made using the local method and wrapped in leaves.

After eating a couple of bites, Yun Yin sighed and shook her head. "It’s not the taste from the past."

Chen Nuo responded softly, "Hundreds of years have passed. Over such a long time, customs change, let alone the taste of food. Today’s seasonings are different from those in the past."

Yun Yin nodded, scanned the items in the breakfast stall, and her eyes suddenly brightened. "Artemisia cakes?"

Her face revealed a childlike joy as she went over and asked for one.

It was a local food made from artemisia harvested from the fields at this time of year, chopped, and mixed with rice flour to make cakes. Then fried in oil, they had a savory taste with a hint of the artemisia’s fresh herbal fragrance.

Chen Nuo paid for it while Yun Yin couldn’t wait to bite into one. She nodded with a smile. "This taste is somewhat like it."

The breakfast stall owner, seeing such an incredibly beautiful young woman, was especially kind and even offered her a cup of soy milk, striking up a conversation.

Yun Yin directly used the local dialect to chat briefly with the owner.

The owner was surprised by how fluently Yun Yin spoke the local dialect, but he didn’t recognize her—in a small place like this, people come and go, but Yun Yin’s face was unfamiliar.

Yun Yin smiled and merely told the owner that her family was local but had moved away, and that she had only recently returned.

"...to be a teacher at the nearby village school."

Upon hearing this, the owner was even more pleased and now respectful. He mentioned that his own child attended the village school and asked Yun Yin to look after them, even telling her his child’s name and class.

Yun Yin listened carefully and noted it down. The owner tried to refund the breakfast money, but Yun Yin naturally refused. The owner, resigned, then brought over a complimentary dish of pork potstickers.

After breakfast, Chen Nuo accompanied Yun Yin on a leisurely stroll through the village. Before they knew it, a good part of the morning had passed.

As the sun climbed overhead, Yun Yin finally let out a sigh. "Let’s go back to the mountain."

"Not looking anymore?"

"There’s nothing more to see," Yun Yin shook her head. "Hundreds of years have passed, and everything here has changed. There’s not a trace left of those days."

Hearing the dejection in Yun Yin’s voice, Chen Nuo didn’t quite know what to say—in fact, he was unsure what he *could* say.

In the old estate’s backyard ruins, Chen Nuo casually cleared away some broken bricks and tiles to create an open space, then sat down side by side with Yun Yin against the base of the wall.

"Did you sit in the forest outside for several days because you didn’t trust me, afraid that I might deceive you, renege on our agreement, and sneak away?" Yun Yin asked softly.

Chen Nuo thought about it and shook his head. "No."

"Really not?" Yun Yin sneered. "You were worried that I tricked you, took over Sun Keke’s body, and ran off to who knows where, so you’ve been watching from outside, haven’t you?"

Chen Nuo turned to look at Yun Yin with a very serious expression and shook his head. "Truly not. I don’t know why, but I just had a feeling you wouldn’t deceive me this time. My reason for staying outside and accompanying you today was actually quite simple."

"Consider it... seeing you off on your final journey."

"Guilt?" Yun Yin raised an eyebrow.

"I suppose," Chen Nuo nodded.

"Then help me with one thing," Yun Yin looked at Chen Nuo.

Chen Nuo took a deep breath. "Say it!"

"That person who caused all this... who sent you to 1982 to find me, then used your hand to gravely injure me, took over my body, and shoved my soul into this little girl, Sun Keke..." Yun Yin said coldly, "Find him, and then kill him!"

"...Okay," Chen Nuo nodded. "I will do my best to accomplish this."

Although he suspected that Zero might already be dead by this time. But faced with Yun Yin’s dying request, Chen Nuo couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

After finishing this conversation, Yun Yin stopped talking and leaned against the base of the wall, squinting at the sky.

The two of them sat shoulder to shoulder, not knowing how much time had passed.

The sun moved slowly from overhead, dipping toward the west.

Under the setting sun, Chen Nuo could feel the aura of the powerful expert beside him, Yun Yin, dwindling bit by bit.

When the last ray of sunlight disappeared into the west, dusk settled in. Finally, Yun Yin’s head gently tilted onto Chen Nuo’s shoulder, as if she had fallen into a deep sleep, her breathing peaceful.

Chen Nuo sighed. With a casual beckon, a blanket from a room in the front courtyard flew over and landed on Yun Yin’s body.

「The sixth day, early morning.」

Having sat through the night, Chen Nuo had not slept for even a second. When the girl beside him suddenly trembled slightly, Chen Nuo immediately turned his head to look at her.

Seeing the girl’s eyelashes flutter a few times, she slowly opened her eyes. The familiar, tender gaze in her eyes finally allowed Chen Nuo to relax.

"Keke?"

"...Mhm," Sun Keke replied softly, looking into Chen Nuo’s eyes from up close. Then she wrinkled her nose as a strand of her hair tickled it, making the girl sneeze.

Chen Nuo let out a breath, subconsciously turning and grasping Sun Keke’s shoulders. "You... you’ve finally come back."

Sun Keke looked a bit weak and somewhat uneasy as she glanced around.

"Where is she?" Chen Nuo asked in a low voice.

"She...left," Sun Keke sighed softly. "Actually... she’s quite pitiful too."

Chen Nuo took a deep breath, embracing Sun Keke tightly, shaking his head. "None of this was ever supposed to concern you, yet you got dragged into it."

Being held by Chen Nuo, Sun Keke didn’t struggle but instead closed her eyes, as if savoring his embrace.

Two minutes later, Sun Keke gently pushed Chen Nuo away and stood up from the ground.

"It’s all over."

"Mhm."

"There won’t be any more of these bizarre events happening to you."

"Mhm..."

"Let me walk you down the mountain."

"Mhm."

Sun Keke’s mood seemed somewhat downcast—Chen Nuo could understand why.

It wasn’t just him who felt guilty towards Yun Yin; Sun Keke, this kind-hearted girl, also felt intense sympathy for her.

They walked out together, through the ruined front courtyard, and reached the main gate. Chen Nuo held Sun Keke’s hand the entire way, and she allowed her small hand to be held by him.

However, when they reached the gate, Chen Nuo looked up to see a figure standing outside the courtyard gate.

"Seed?" Chen Nuo sighed. "You’re quite punctual."

"Seventeen days were agreed upon." Seed shook his head. "You know, I’m actually quite anxious too."

Chen Nuo nodded.

Seed smiled. "Looks like everything’s been resolved, right?"

"Sort of," Chen Nuo sighed.

Seed’s gaze passed over Chen Nuo, glanced at Sun Keke standing behind him, and he smiled. "Hello, Miss Sun Keke. I hope your recent experiences haven’t frightened you too much."

Sun Keke pursed her lips, remaining silent.

"Since it’s all resolved, then we should also leave," Seed sighed.

"So soon?" Chen Nuo thought for a moment. "Let me take Sun Keke back first."

"No need," Sun Keke shook her head. "I... I should head back to school."

Chen Nuo frowned. "Then I... I’ll take you back to school."

"There’s no need," Sun Keke still shook her head. "The other day when I woke up, you told me you had some very important business requiring you to travel far... You better go quickly."

After a pause, Sun Keke spoke softly, "There are many, many people in Jinling waiting for your return. You’ve already been delayed here for so many days. It’s better to leave sooner and return sooner."

Chen Nuo was slightly surprised.

"I’ll wait for you in Jinling!" Sun Keke bit her lip and slowly said, "You can’t get into trouble! Promise me you’ll come back safe and sound to see me in Jinling!"

"...Okay." Chen Nuo nodded solemnly.

Seed stood with his hands in his pockets, quietly waiting for the two to finish their farewell. Then he waved at Sun Keke. "Don’t worry, I guarantee nothing will happen to him."

After saying this, Seed went over to lightly grab Chen Nuo’s clothes, threw a smile at Sun Keke, and the two disappeared from the spot.

"Oh, and say hello to Brother Lei for me. Tell him we were father and son for a time, and if I get the chance, I’ll come back to see him!"

Seed’s final words hung in the air.

Sun Keke stood there, watching the two disappear. After a long, long while, she finally let out a wistful sigh.

Then the girl clenched her fists, turned around, assessed the direction, and started heading toward the path leading down the mountain.

「Morning, at the village elementary school.」

In the old headmaster’s office.

"You want to end your internship early?" The old headmaster frowned at Sun Keke. "Actually... there’s no need to go through the procedures. Your boyfriend has already requested leave on your behalf. Whatever you want to do, the school won’t interfere."

Hmm... your boyfriend offered a very generous sum...

Sun Keke felt a bit helpless and spoke softly, "Actually... never mind, Headmaster. There’s no need to explain. I want to end my internship, and it’s not about asking for leave. I truly want to formally conclude this internship."

"This..." The old headmaster frowned. "If you... go back, won’t it be difficult to explain?"

Sun Keke shook her head. "I’ll handle it."

The old headmaster looked deeply at the young and beautiful girl before him and sighed. "Very well... Actually, from the first day you arrived, I guessed that a pretty girl like you probably wouldn’t choose to be cooped up in a school teaching. For a beautiful girl like you, there are more exciting things out there."

With that, he shook his head. "People have their own ambitions; I won’t force it."

Clearly, the old headmaster had misunderstood something. Sun Keke hesitated for a moment but chose not to explain.

She said slowly, "Headmaster, I won’t say more... Actually, you’re right. I’ve just come to realize some things. I... maybe I’m not suited to being a teacher in a school."

"Although I really like teaching and educating others."

"But... maybe, I have some more important things to do."

After speaking, Sun Keke stepped back, bowed to the headmaster, then turned and walked out.

At the school, Sun Keke saw Brother Lei supervising the construction site and approached to greet him gently, "Brother Lei!"

"Keke," Brother Lei laughed heartily and gestured with his hand. "What’s this... Eh? Where’s Mr. Nuo?"

"Chen Nuo... left with that curly-haired boy." Sun Keke thought for a moment, then said, "That boy had a message for you."

Brother Lei’s face tensed. "He... Hey, where did he go?"

"He said he’s left." Sun Keke smiled. "Oh, and he also said, you were like father and son for a time, and he’ll come back to see you if he gets the chance."

Brother Lei was flabbergasted.

Come back to see me? No! Please don’t come back! My heart can’t take it!

Then glancing at Sun Keke, Brother Lei asked, "Keke, are you... going back to resume teaching at the school?"

"No, I’ve already spoken to the headmaster. I’m ending my internship and going back to Jinling right away."

"Huh?"

Brother Lei turned to look at the construction site beside him.

This whole project was arranged just so you could take leave. And now you’re saying you’re not going to be a teacher anymore?

"It’s fine, Brother Lei," Sun Keke smiled. "Helping the school build a classroom building is doing a good deed; it’s meritorious."

Well, she wasn’t wrong.

Brother Lei then stopped dwelling on these things and said, "If you’re heading back to Jinling, let me arrange a car for you. I need to go back to Jinling this afternoon to get a batch of building materials. You can ride back with my car."

But Sun Keke shook her head. "No, I’m in a hurry to get back for something important. I’ll just take the long-distance bus from the county seat myself."

With that, the young woman took one last deep look at the school, as if having finally made up her mind. She waved goodbye to Brother Lei and strode away.