The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 460: Heavenly Dao

Chapter 460: Heavenly Dao

Bai Mo appeared worn out, evident from his slight panting as he seemed on the verge of lounging haphazardly on the rock. Despite his fatigue, he maintained composure, resting while also admiring the captivating new surroundings.

This space, while beautiful, lacked the verdant richness of Nanshan’s forests. Instead, it exuded a rugged charm, boasting a colorful palette ranging from grey to red, and an assortment of earthy browns as far as the eyes could see. Trees and rocks were adorned with patches of moss-like growth, adding a whimsical touch to the landscape.

Xu Zeng’s place remained unchanged from his memories of it, whether from a year ago or what felt like a lifetime.

The presence of two newcomers, seemingly from a different world, added to the surreal atmosphere. Yet, here they were, with Bai Mo resting in the background while Xu Hu Zhe assisted in unearthing Xu Zeng’s ’treasures.’

Both Xu Zeng and Xu Hu Zhe wielded sharp stones— one more expertly than the other— retrieved from the nearest tree during a previous visit to this part of the forest with his dad.

Despite the strangeness of the situation last year, Xu Zeng’s intuition guided him to retrieve only a piece of gold and the two rings— the gateways to his sanctuary, the world he’d willingly shared with Xu Feng.

Everything else remained abandoned, or better yet, stored in this hole for retrieval at a later time. His instincts had served him well, signaling that change was on the horizon. And everything had changed last year.

Instead of being dumped in Nanshan Estate, he ended up in that zombie-filled world, and his brother ended up finding two mates, marrying, birthing two children, and dying in cold blood... a lot had happened in a year.

One couldn’t go back in time, but if he could, Xu Zeng would only want to save his brother... if it were possible, he would save his dad too... maybe he would also save Bai Mo’s parents... would he be able to also save Xu Hu Zhe’s mother?

If he could, he would save all those lives that died and left too young, and leaving their own young behind. Other than these innocent lives, he would relive it all without hesitation.

Despite all the suffering he felt in Sun Village, he would live it again to meet Xu Hu Zhe and Bai Mo. They hadn’t known each other for long, but he felt like he would like to know them for the rest of his life.

He couldn’t remember the time he felt so comfortable in this body. Even in his other body, he hadn’t been so relaxed. It was so surreal, strange even.

As the silver-haired ger paused to gaze at the sky, the warm rays of daylight bathed his face. Daylight approached, signaling the start of the farmers’ day—this was harvest time, where one worked from dawn to dusk, using all the daylight afforded to them.

These farmers were all working to harvest their crops in time for tax collection and to beat Mother Nature simultaneously.

They needed to quicken their pace if they wished to conclude their business in Sun Village before the farmers returned for a break. Yet, there was no sense of urgency in this serene moment.

The tightness in Xu Zeng’s chest had dissipated, replaced by a sense of contentment as he closed his eyes, contemplating the heavens above. Echoes of an ancient chant reverberated in his mind, hinting at the favor of the heavenly Dao bestowed upon the chosen few.

’The Heavenly Dao favors few. Those blessed by the earth are doubly blessed by the Heavenly Dao. Blessings deferred will eventually accrue in the worthy. From one life to the next, blessings accrue.’

"I’ll carry Momo, on the way back."

Xu Hu Zhe continued working at the hole, not even pausing as he whispered the last sentence meant for Xu Zeng’s ears.

A certain silver-haired ger smiled, for the first time his dimples were showing deeply in both sides of his face. The smile was genuine and filled with joy. Having people who cared about you was truly a blessing.

He wasn’t sure what that inheritance meant, nor did he think he ever heard it before, but he would accept what sounded like a good thing and be grateful for the moment. There were many sad things, but there were also happy things too.

.

.

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Seated on the rock alongside Bai Mo, Xu Zeng glanced up at Xu Hu Zhe towering over them. Despite the absence of direct sunlight, the tall figure provided ample shade, offering respite from the gradually brightening sky.

Their mission was accomplished— Xu Zeng’s dad’s hidden treasures were unearthed and carefully packed away. The artifacts, along with the preserved shell, found their place in the large back basket and the spare backpack.

With their task completed, they remained in the tranquil clearing, enveloped in a sense of calm. Buoyed by the newfound clarity from his inheritance, Xu Zeng felt emboldened to share his thoughts.

He expressed his reluctance to visit his dad’s final resting place in the Sun Village ancestral shrine. There was no desire to revisit his old home or encounter his estranged brothers, "father," or stepmother. None of them held a place in his heart as true family.

In fact, his dad wasn’t his dad either.

Yet, despite the complexities of these relationships, Xu Zeng still harbored a deep affection for his ger-dad— the man who wasn’t truly his biological parent but had loved and cared for him nonetheless.

Ultimately, Xu Zeng decided against returning to Sun Village. Instead, after voicing his concerns, he meant to reflect on his choices with Bai Mo and Xu Hu Zhe— either join him for breakfast in their current secluded sanctuary or commence their journey back to Aran Town.

"Visit your dad," Bai Mo suggested gently, while Xu Hu Zhe’s reaction was more emotional. "Your dad must want to see you. You should visit him."

Xu Zeng felt conflicted. He wanted to visit his dad too, but... there were so many reasons not to go back. It wasn’t safe to take his nephews back, or anything of his dad’s in fact. If he ran into that woman, she would want everything off his back... but that didn’t mean he would give it to her.

Maybe he was thinking too hard about this?

Xu Zeng hesitated for a moment, then nodded.