Light Fortress
Chapter 715 - 203 Southward (short - )

Chapter 715: Chapter 203 Southward (short Chapter)

Outside the alley.

Cars were parked densely.

Tonight’s dinner gathering was a relaxed event for the young people in the old street alley.

But for the Five Families, it was a big event.

On and off the cars, the Transcendents responsible for family security exchanged cigarettes and silently smoked... They had a lot of pressure on their work tonight.

These young people in the alley were basically the future "helmsmen" deciding the direction of Changye.

If something happened to them,

it would be catastrophic.

Except for the Li Family, who only sent one person, the other families had arranged quite strict security measures.

The one person from the Li Family was enough to handle all emergencies.

...

...

The banquet ended.

The door of the alley opened, and the warm steam scattered with the snow mist.

The Transcendents waiting outside the alley for a long time finally breathed a sigh of relief, it was finally over.

"Brother Gu, I heard that you and Miss Chu are going on a long trip after tonight?"

Gong Zi put his arm around Gu Shen’s shoulder, took the first step out of the courtyard, and said, "Allow me to wish you a happy honeymoon in advance!"

"Thanks."

Gu Shen laughed and said, "But how did you steal my lines?"

He laughed and looked at Mu Ya, while Mu Ya looked at her slightly tipsy fiancé and helplessly shook her head.

He said he wouldn’t touch a drop of alcohol, but he still drank a bit.

Just a little.

The cemetery turmoil ended.

The "rift" between the Gong Family and the Mu Family disappeared after Mu Yi took a blow for Gong Qing, and the Snow Mirror shattered and cracked. The marriage between Gong Zi and Mu Ya was naturally confirmed.

The whole process was thrilling but without danger.

Gong Zi lowered his voice, drunk, and slowly said, "Brother Gu... I owe you too much. If there’s anything you need help with, just say the word."

On the way from the North Continent to the East Continent, he heard about Xu Yan’s affair.

He only hated that he couldn’t grow wings.

However... thanks to Gu Shen!

Otherwise, who knows what the situation between the two families would be when he returned to Changye. Besides, saving his father in the cemetery and saving the innocents of the Five Families... he knew that now Gu Shen had "accomplished great things," setting aside his identity as an S-rank disciple of the Grand Judge, he was also the "Tomb Guardian" chosen by Master Qianye, and the "young leader" appointed by Mr. Gu.

These layers of identity, combined, were no less than the future head of the Gong Family.

The weight might even be heavier.

Now, Gu Shen already lacked nothing.

At this moment, Gong Zi again felt that his foresight back then was correct... He guessed that Gu Shen, who came to Changye, would one day have fame and fortune, but he didn’t guess that all this would come so quickly.

One year.

It only took one year.

"No need to be polite."

Gu Shen said softly, "According to Brother Gong’s words, I only have one wish."

"Please speak." Gong Zi’s expression turned solemn, listening intently.

"I wish the two of you to grow old together in peace and happiness."

Gu Shen smiled and offered his blessings.

He and Chu Ling saw Gong Zi and Mu Ya leave the alley... Now he was indeed different from a year ago, but it wasn’t the change in his status or situation.

It was his mindset.

The biggest change this year was his mindset.

A hundred years of life is like a small wave, a thousand years in Changye... is a big wave, big waves and small waves, all are waves.

Looking down on the long river of history for thousands of years, every wave rises and falls, and every wave, every person, is a passerby.

In the end, all things in the world are dust.

With this "spectator’s heart," Gu Shen wouldn’t feel disappointed when unknown and wouldn’t become arrogant when in power. He could always maintain a calm heart, see the world, and see himself.

One by one, friends said goodbye to each other at the alley streets of Snow Forbidden City.

"Miss Chu, my utmost respect."

Mu Nan, who was twelve times full, spoke with emotion, deeply admiring.

This was the first time he had been defeated in eating.

He was holding his round belly, looking like a pregnant woman, and his normally Buddha-like figure seemed even more "plump." This was the first time Mu Nan ate to this extent, taking difficult steps, only able to support himself by leaning against the wall... At this moment, the Transcendents arranged by the Mu Family outside the alley finally came in handy, with several heroes rushing out in the night. Everyone working together could barely support him steadily.

And on the other side,

Chu Ling was graceful and elegant.

Her belly was still flat, not even a bit bloated, no different from before eating... This body was not ordinary, the food tasted in the mouth was immediately digested by "source energy."

In a sense,

she would never feel hungry or full.

At first, she continued to eat out of curiosity and for the delicious taste. Later, it was purely to accept Mu Nan’s challenge.

Competing with Chu Ling on eating was like challenging Gu Shen to a drinking contest.

With the Blazing Fire Spirit, Gu Shen could remain sober no matter how much he drank.

Born from a divine embryo, Chu Ling could eat until dawn.

Mu Nan looked complexly at Miss Chu, still wanting to say something, but a burp stopped him.

Then came Little Iron Man.

Gong Zi broke the rule and drank a bit, so of course, he couldn’t be an exception.

But Shen Li had very poor alcohol tolerance, passing out after a few sips. Now he had drunk quite a bit, hugging Luo Yu’s arm, mumbling, "I’m not drunk... I can still drink..."

Luo Yu said angrily, "Still say you’re not drunk? Your drool is dripping on my hand!"

"Gu Shen... I can still fight three hundred rounds with you!"

Shen Li shouted, then bit Luo Yu’s iron arm.

The night sky of the alley was filled with sounds of cursing and laughter.

...

...

At last, the voices drifting above the alleys all faded away.

Gu Nanfeng supported Song Ci, while Nan Jin stood nearby with his sword, observing coldly.

"Gu Shen, I’m not in good shape this time... I’ll crush you next time!"

Crow grumbled, as stiff-necked as ever.

His body was mostly wrapped in bandages. Having endured the impact of the Netherworld King’s aura from the Golden Gate, to have recovered so much in just a few days was truly amazing.

He was treated by Changye Saint Lin Beizhu. Elder Lin advised him to rest and recover properly, but he had stubbornly sneaked out of the sickbed to drink with Gu Shen.

In his words, coming all the way from Dadu District without having a drink with his brother would be meaningless.

"I’ll be waiting."

Gu Shen smiled and patted Song Ci on the shoulder.

"Hiss... Not so hard, it hurts!"

Crow grimaced.

With that pat, he felt like all his bones were aching.

"Take it easy on the alcohol for a while," Gu Shen advised with a helpless shake of his head.

"If it weren’t for you, who would I drink with?!" Song Ci rolled his eyes.

However... despite the ache from the pat, his shoulder didn’t feel as heavy anymore.

In that brief touch, Gu Shen sent a tiny trace of Blazing Fire Spirit to circulate inside Song Ci’s body, conducting a simple checkup.

Having suffered the impact of the Netherworld King’s Spark, he was worried that Song Ci, as a Light Divine Seat Apostle, might develop some adverse resistance... But Song Ci’s internal injuries were better than he’d expected. As an "Undead," he had already fully recovered from the direct impact on his meridians.

The Blazing Fire Spirit merely cleared a few negative thoughts before dispersing.

That was all he could do.

Gu Nanfeng steadied Song Ci.

"Xiao Gu, during this period... Changye has me. You and Miss Chu can leave without worry."

Gu Nanfeng laughed, "Have fun."

For some reason, Gu Shen sensed a hint of melancholy in Gu Nanfeng’s smile.

Was he thinking of someone from North Continent?

...

...

Bidding farewell to old friends from Changye one by one, Gu Shen and Chu Ling then left Changye.

They declined the Gu family’s offer of a helicopter and chose to drive away instead.

The SUV traversed the high mountains, dust swirling. Looking back, this first city of East State Jiangbei, under the reflection of falling snow, appeared square and orderly. Centuries of history lit up the nights of Snow Forbidden City with flickering lanterns, each one illuminating the ancient charm and elegance left behind from past eras.

The night was dark.

The lanterns were vibrant.

"I never thought... Changye could be this beautiful..."

Chu Ling opened the car window, gazing at the increasingly distant square "small city" reflected in the rearview mirror, and murmured softly.

In the world of Deep Sea, there were countless photos of Changye.

Spring, summer, autumn, and winter, north, south, east, and west.

Every angle of Changye was in her memory, but no photograph could compare to the scene before her... These were beauties the Wind Eye couldn’t capture, images that could only reside in memory.

This ancient town seemed out of place in this era.

Seeing it in photos and seeing it in person were indeed different.

And the difference was substantial.

"Many who live in Changye think the same," Gu Shen said with a smile. "The closer you are, the more likely you are to overlook the beauty before you."

He glanced at the increasingly distant ancient town behind.

His attention, however, was more on the girl beside him.

But... there were exceptions.

Chu Ling was an exception.

This girl born from the Divine Embryo was a stunning view, whether at hand or afar.

Gu Shen gazed at her for a long time.

Until Chu Ling’s voice broke his thoughts.

Chu Ling, also watching the increasingly distant world in the rearview mirror, asked softly, "Where are we going?"

To her, this world was very small.

Living in the deep water area, she could see every piece of land in the Five Continents in an instant.

This world, yet, was very big.

Big enough that leaving Changye meant every piece of land she touched was unfamiliar and unknown.

"Along Qing River, heading south."

Gu Shen squinted his eyes, turned on the car’s audio system, and said with a gentle smile, "No destination, just heading south all the way, to where the snow melts, to where the sun shines brightly."

Southward.

Just like that... all the way south.

Chu Ling brushed her hair, lost in thought.

Unconsciously, images of Qing River’s photos appeared in her mind, but she soon cast them aside. Living in the real world, she didn’t need the photos from the deep water area to tell her what Qing River looked like.

Now.

She had her own eyes.

She could see for herself.

"What do you think?"

After waiting for a while without getting a response, Gu Shen cautiously asked.

Chu Ling returned from her daze.

A smile spread across her face.

"Meow~"

Before Chu Ling could speak, an orange cat in her arms lazily meowed, as if replying on her behalf.