Since his good brother put it so bluntly, and they were about to leave anyway, the Big Boss decided to reveal the truth.
Wu Jinliang was stunned on the spot.
After finally coming back to his senses, he thought it made sense.
Many people wanted to leave the Exile Lands, and just going to the Bowang Pavilion asking for a lift was a naive idea.
Of course, they'd refuse; they'd probably not even bother acknowledging you.
Understanding this, he couldn't help but laugh.
He’d had concerns about Shen Youkun's background too, but didn't expect Brother Chun had already prepared a response, albeit a rather humorous one.
Recalling Brother Chun's past courtship of Miss Miao, he found it increasingly funny, laughing heartily, "Why didn't you say so earlier? I really thought you fancied Miss Miao."
"It's true I fancied her. Miss Miao is beautiful and kind. Isn't it normal to be attracted to such a person? But my liking her is useless. As you said, a person of her upbringing wouldn't take a liking to someone like us, simple bumpkins. Why make such a wonderful person like Miss Miao feel awkward?" With a self-mocking murmur, Shi Chun patted Wu Jinliang's face with his wet hand, "We're just trying to survive; don’t overthink."
Closing his eyes again, though mentioning Miss Miao, the image in his mind was of another woman, a memory forever etched upon his heart.
It was from his youth when she first appeared in Eastern Nine Plains.
He watched her from the shadows, seeing her fend off danger.
She was a young, lovely woman who exuded a unique charm that was hard to describe.
That woman had grabbed his hand, half-embraced him, and taught him, hand-to-hand, to write "Shi" on the ground.
Feeling the warmth of her body and the fragrance she carried, his heart pounded in that timeless moment.
Sitting on the cliff's edge with their legs dangling, watching the sunset, he was melancholy.
Tomorrow loomed with threats of violence, and like the native dwellers, he was filled with unease about his fate.
She taught him a crucial lesson: "I am fate; fate cannot rule over me."
The sunset haloed her long, flowing hair, and her gentle smile captivated him.
He couldn’t help but sneak glances at her.
During sandstorms, while others sought refuge, she laughed like a madwoman and danced amid the swirling torrents, knowing full well it would end in disarray, yet reveling in her freedom.
Sometimes like a vagabond, she'd play tunes on stones or tuck grass behind her ear, whimsically asking everyone how she looked.
She loved bathing, and when he stood guard, she'd call out from the cave, taunting him about sneaking a peek.
Even though her cultivation was destroyed, she lived freely and delightfully, possessing an unbounded wisdom that defied adversity.
He knew even then that she was no ordinary person.
Afterward, he saw many women, including the wonderful Miss Miao, yet never another as enchanting as her.
Having bathed in her brilliance, yet not holding holiness in undue esteem, lying in the dirt or flirts on the sandy ground, she winked playfully at him.
She dazzled his youth and showed him the path to beauty and goodness.
Until one day, she left as easily as she came, unobtainable and ethereal.
When she departed, no one knew her true name, and thus, he took the surname "Shi" in remembrance.
The youth with a "Shi" did not fear fate anymore.
He advanced bravely, becoming the Big Boss of Eastern Nine Plains.
But that wasn’t his ultimate goal.
He hoped that one day, when he discovered who she was, he would have the strength and status to stand before her, confessing his enduring admiration from his youth, unchanged until this day.
He didn't want, when meeting her again, his own lack of polish to prevent him from expressing his admiration.
He believed such a woman would not remain unknown.
There was no need for an exhaustive search; as long as he had real strength, he would naturally encounter her.
The water jar he was soaking in now was once used by that woman for bathing.
Some people, even unseen, are like the wind, always there to stir hearts.
Lost in the image in his mind, as if savoring the bath with closed eyes, he suddenly muttered a determined sentence, whether to himself or to Wu Jinliang, "I must get out!"
Wu Jinliang replied, "Of course. The colorful world outside awaits us."
Shi Chun opened his eyes, staring at him, "Why do you keep reaching for my hair? What’s your intention, confess honestly."
Indeed, Wu Jinliang had been pretending to help shave his beard while probing his hair.
Seeing his intentions laid bare, he stopped hiding and straightforwardly asked, "Where did you hide that purple sparkling nebula? You didn't stash it on your body or in your hair, maybe... uh... your butt?"
Shi Chun rolled his eyes at him, "No wonder you're all keen on assisting with my bath. Tell me honestly, if one day you were captured and tortured, would you betray me if you knew where it was hidden?"
"Heh heh..."
Wu Jinliang chuckled, stalling before mumbling, "It depends on the situation, right? If not confessing would cost my life, maybe keeping my life is important?"
"Hmph!" Shi Chun snorted coldly, "Then stop asking."
Sighing, Wu Jinliang gave up for the time being.
After a while, Shi Chun suddenly raised his left hand, showing the scar from a whip, "When my hand touched it, it entered my body through the wound..."
He recounted the incident at the mine’s end, even detailing the strange occurrences afterward, especially how he broke the Immobilization Talisman, which Wu Jinliang had asked about many times.
He described the process and method comprehensively.
Finally, he repeatedly emphasized, "Remember, when we're out, use this method to break the talisman if encountered. It's likely to work. This trick must stay secret, or we might lose our lives."
Wu Jinliang eagerly nodded, "Got it, got it. Bursting their secret would cut their finances, they’d certainly kill us. Don't worry, I won't leak it even under threat.”
“Don’t wave that knife around my eyes, okay?" Shi Chun glared at him jubilantly wielding his knife around.
"The water's getting too hot."
"No problem, I'll take care of it."
Wu Jinliang cheerfully moved over to remove the firewood under the stone mortar.
After a thorough soak and wash, they donned clean clothes.
Despite just bathing, they appeared less clean than their clothes.
Their hands and faces bore darkened skin from limited washing conditions, with cracks and bloody cuts, even their lips were chapped.
However, Shi Chun’s outfit looked refined, clad in a slightly faded robe, hair neatly tied with a hairpin, whether scholarly in demeanor was unknown, yet he appeared as a changed man.
Alas, after two steps, a "rip" sound came from underfoot; he looked down to find his left big toe poking through his shoe’s fabric, wagging as he walked.
Just two steps and it tore again, due to worn shoes over time.
Repair was easy enough; a needle and thread would do, there were always small tools available, though there was no fabric to match the shoes’ color.
In the end, he found a scrap and stitched it quickly, scraping soot from the hearth where the bath water was boiled to color both shoes black before wearing them.
Stomping his feet, Shi Chun cheerily remarked, "Perfect."
Once organized, the two descended the mountain.
Wu Jinliang hefted two blades, holding one across his shoulder, giving the smaller one to Shi Chun since wielding a weapon clashed with his scholarly appearance.
After cresting a hill, they turned back, looking at the cylindrical stone mountain standing among the wilderness with complex expressions.
“Will we ever return?” Wu Jinliang asked.
"Returning is easy, just commit a crime, but I won't accompany you."
Shi Chun stated firmly before walking away, devoted to his goal.
Wu Jinliang hurried to catch up, chattering, "Are we really leaving? It feels like a dream..."
Within the deep courtyards, City Lord Ba Yingshan knocked again on the guest's door.
Qi Yueru, eyes red from tears, opened to let him in.
Ba Yingshan was here to report, speaking directly, "As expected, those two local kids from the Eastern Nine Plains have entered the city with baggage, likely planning to leave officially."
Ordinarily, he wouldn't need to report such trivial matters personally, but some things were sensitive, not suited for others to handle.
Qi Yueru's eyes flashed, "When will they go out?"
Ba Yingshan replied, “It's uncertain exactly when, but they'll probably visit the Bowang Pavilion; someone’s watching them and will inform you promptly.”
In Eternal Dawn City, Wu Jinliang sauntered with a large knife over his shoulder, looking all boastful and mighty.
Beside him, Shi Chun maintained a refined air, wearing a carefully rehearsed gentle expression, smiling at everyone.
Having learned some characters from that lady teacher, Shi Chun considered himself cultivated and different from the Exile Lands' savages.
The pair headed straight to the Bowang Pavilion, nodding and greeting familiars amidst bustling pedestrians.
Passing near the pavilion’s busy loading area, they paused, spotting an impressive woman, catching their attention from afar.
The woman carried herself with luscious charm, draped elegantly in simple clothing, with large, bright eyes exuding energy and spirit, navigating through goods and giving instructions.
Both knew her, owner of the Bowang Pavilion and mother to Miss Miao, named Lan Qiaoyan.
Noticing the two at the gate, the elderly man beside her chuckled softly, prompting her notice.
Turning to face them, she saw Shi Chun offer a cultured greeting with a bow.
Wu Jinliang waved excitedly and shouted, "Mother!"
His exclamation echoed like thunder, causing everyone around to turn in surprise, bewildered about the boss lady's sudden son.
Lan Qiaoyan's face darkened, muttered something to the elder, who gestured for them to approach.
Guards at the gate allowed them entry at once.
Shi Chun walked with measured elegance, while Wu Jinliang, as if meeting family, bounced over with his burden, happily greeting her again, "Mother!"
Lan Qiaoyan's face chilled, looking as though she might throttle him, "Shut up! Big guy, I hear you've got so many women calling you mom you need a second pair of hands to count. Do you just call any woman ‘mom’?"
Wu Jinliang's expression froze.
How did she know this, and how should it be explained?
Shi Chun, arriving soberly, raised a hand as if swearing, "Lady Lan, I can attest, he only calls beautiful women 'mom.'"
Wu Jinliang promptly nodded in agreement.
Only calls beautiful women ‘mom’? This flattery made Lan Qiaoyan roll her eyes, glaring at Wu Jinliang, "Roll as far as you can, I don't have such shameless sons. Call me that again, and I'll rip your mouth apart!"
(Chapter ended)