Chapter 8: The Cause

In fact, I have always had a realization about the future, that is, before a certain period of time, the peaceful happiness I want may always be a mirage, existing but not lasting, and even somewhat illusory.

And after a certain period of time? Is it just peace, and the so-called happiness is just full of regrets?

I dare not think too carefully, I can only vaguely anticipate it, as a worst-case scenario for myself, but when Xiao Chengqian suddenly said that, my hand holding the cigarette couldn’t help but tremble, the cigarette slipped between my fingers and fell, then rolled off my face, burning me so much that I couldn’t help but cry out, and I suddenly sat up from the flat rock.

Because the movement was too intense, it pulled on my chest. In the moment I sat up, I couldn’t help but rub my chest twice and took two breaths.

Xiao Chengqian looked at him and said with a hint of levity, “You don’t have to overreact like that.”

I ignored Xiao Chengqian and waited until the pain in my chest had subsided before saying, “It’s just a burn from the cigarette. I was actually prepared for it. With everything else going on, this kind of happiness is no different from stealing a half-day of leisure. I’m already very satisfied with it. However, don’t just say half of what you mean. Just say it directly.”

“To be more direct, we’re going to leave here and go on the run. What do you think?” Xiao Chengqian jumped off the rock after saying this, patted his hands, and stared at me.

He tried to look relaxed, but his eyes were serious and even a little heavy.

Fleeing to the ends of the earth? Is it that serious? In fact, I should have thought of it earlier… I didn’t answer Xiao Chengqian’s question directly, but looked at him and said, “Your grandfather has also returned. If fleeing to the ends of the earth is a matter of our family, why are you involved? Haven’t you always wanted to go back and take back your position and your things?

Hearing me say this, Xiao Chengqian’s face faintly showed a hint of anger, and then he came over in big strides, grabbed my neck with his elbow, and said loudly, “You are a smartass, and I have gotten into trouble with you. Master Jiang is not much better, and my grandfather has gotten into trouble with him… Do you think we can stay out of it? That kind of rich life and from the moment you met, it was destined that I could not live… Even the way I have always believed in has been changed because of you. Is this what you are telling me?”

Xiao Chengqian became more and more agitated as he spoke. I was choking and couldn’t breathe. I blushed and could only forcefully break his grip. I coughed twice, endured the pain of my chest being torn apart by the cough, and then said, “Are you going to kill someone or rob someone? I’m going to call someone!”

“Then go ahead!” Xiao Chengqian’s face was swollen with anger, which made me a little amused.

He jumped off the rock and patted Xiao Chengqian on the shoulder, only whispering, “Actually, I know.”

Xiao Chengqian sighed, and in the end, he was not angry with me. After a long silence, he said, “My grandfather said that it’s fine not to go back to that place.”

“Isn’t it safer to go back?” I said seriously. After all, it is an organization, and there are many human and material resources that can be used, and even financial resources can provide some help. At least it is safer than running away with us.

After hearing my words, Xiao Chengqian couldn’t help but turn around. He put his hands in his pockets and looked at me very seriously and said, “Chengyi, that’s not what I meant. The organization is not the same as it used to be. From the news my grandfather received through secret channels this time, the people who really belong to our forces have been completely removed. You grew up in a simple environment, and there are less than 10 people in the sect… You don’t understand the cruelty of struggle. It’s like fighting for the throne. Once you sit on the top, will anyone be willing to step aside? Plus, Grandpa has been gone for so long, we can’t go back at all. Going back is like walking into a trap.

I may not really understand these things, because I think that since this organization was created by the descendants of the Wu family, it should belong to them. But I don’t want to understand these ups and downs. Just as in some people’s lives, the pursuit is the pinnacle of power and material, while others feel that a cup of tea and a meal are enough.

It cannot be said who is right or wrong, but it can be said that when pursuing different things, it is not necessary to understand the other person’s world, but rather to add a touch of confusion to one’s own ‘purity’.

Life is a matter of the heart, and the state of mind is what determines the way life is lived.

I was silent for a moment, and asked Xiao Chengqian, “Do you want to go back?” I actually wanted to ask why we had to run away, but as a brother, I should be more concerned about Xiao Chengqian’s thoughts. At least I didn’t want him to live a forced life.

Xiao Chengqian sighed, stood next to me, looked up at the swaying bamboo forest in the sunlight, and said with a hint of melancholy, “Of course I want to go back. I have many ambitions. For example, there are so many people in the organization, and I really want to cleanse their minds once again. I am not afraid to admit that what we have pursued and believed in is wrong. I want to lead the organization in a new direction… I even want to turn it into an organization that upholds justice and has a clear bottom line! At the very least, I can become a recluse and exist as a pale shadow of the Snow Mountain Sect. Can you understand my unfulfilled ambition, Chengyi?”

“Yes!” I nodded gently.

“Unfortunately, I can’t do anything… I can only listen to my grandfather talking about everything in the organization and then feel sad! It has completely gone parallel with the other three evil sects. To put it bluntly, they are all crazy about following Yang Sheng. I don’t know how this Yang Sheng did it.” Xiao Chengqian couldn’t say anymore.

“You shouldn’t doubt Yang Sheng’s intelligence. From the first time I saw this person, I felt that he was the kind of person who, if he wanted to do something, would definitely be able to do it to the extreme. Because he is really smart enough, otherwise he wouldn’t be called a young genius. Second, can you understand his persistence? That kind of persistence, for the sake of scientific research, even if he can’t take care of himself, maybe he just doesn’t care about these unimportant details? My previous understanding was not that deep, and when I said it myself, I realized that such a smart and persistent person who is also extreme is really scary.

Geniuses are all paranoid. Does Yang Sheng interpret this saying well?

Xiao Chengqian didn’t doubt my words, but when he heard me say this, his face turned even paler. Finally, he let out a weak growl, kicked the ground angrily, and the bamboo leaves on the ground flew up… As the bamboo leaves fell, he said, “Maybe I was young and reckless, and faced my own painstakingly run organization, and embarked on such a path, but Grandpa was much more calm than I was. He told me that it is never too late to realize the truth, and that he was just grateful to Master Jiang for showing him a different world, a different relationship, a different sense of justice, and a different persistence… I am also grateful to you for allowing me to experience something different, but I always feel that I am not doing enough, so how can I just accept my fate? But my grandfather told me that doing one’s best is already doing it, and one should not look at it with an anxious heart, clinging to the result. One should not look at the result, just do it, and I still can’t understand it.”

After saying this, Xiao Chengqian was again a little irritated and wanted to light another cigarette, but I grabbed his hand and took the cigarette, rubbed it, and threw it away.

I said, “You don’t understand what your grandfather said, but I do. He has already chosen to do it. Even if he runs away with us, it is a kind of confrontation and prevention. Don’t you see it?”

“Is that so?” Xiao Chengqian suddenly looked at me helplessly, but also with hope.

“Of course it is. You think about it yourself. Your grandfather just wants to work with us to find the source of the evil and then choose to go back.” I said seriously.

“I think I understand a little.” Xiao Chengqian looked at me and suddenly smiled.

I also smiled, took Xiao Chengqian in my arms, and then asked casually, “Why are you leaving the Bamboo Grove so soon? Why are you running away from the world?”

“Master Jiang asked me to talk to you about this. After the battle at Gui Dao Bay, Yang Sheng has completely turned his back on us… Do you know how strong the forces supporting Yang Sheng are now?” Xiao Chengqian’s brows furrowed slightly when he said this. It seemed that this kind of thing was very difficult for him to talk about.

“The four major forces?” I asked uncertainly.

“That’s just the biggest force on the surface. In secret, I heard Master Jiang and my grandfather talking about it, and they mentioned it by chance. It’s unmeasurable.” Xiao Chengqian said this while kicking the ground unconsciously, as if this was the only way to relieve the pressure.

“If that’s the case, then he must kill us. Of course, if we are willing to surrender… then why didn’t he find us right away? I mean after we came out of Guidaowan.” My voice also became low.

“Do you think he doesn’t want to? There are two reasons. The first is that he seems to have something going on over there and hasn’t had time to take care of us. As for the second, it’s that someone on our side has intervened a little bit and given us a few moments to catch our breath.” Xiao Chengqian said seriously.

“Who is helping us?” I can only think of Jenny, the leader of the group. Under this kind of pressure, I’m afraid it’s really only her.

“You’ll have to ask Master Jiang about that,” Xiao Chengqian sighed.

“When will you leave?” In fact, where can you go? I don’t dare to think about this question, and I don’t dare to ask. If it is really as Xiao Chengqian said, then the overwhelming power is overwhelming.

“I don’t know,” Xiao Chengqian said to me in a low voice.