Chapter 1144 - 1048: Parting
The next morning dawned bright and early.
Sunlight drenched the entire little mountain village as Li Fan awoke from a sound sleep.
“Meow meow.”
Bai Xiaoqing too stretched out her little paws, yawning lazily.
Li Fan stroked Xiao Bai and said,
“Time to get up, you lazy cat.”
He quickly dressed himself and, carrying Xiao Bai, stepped outside.
In the courtyard, the disciples were already up, and Gong Ya had served breakfast.
After washing up with the help of the female disciples, everyone gathered for breakfast.
“Great Demon King, we are planning to set off today.”
Yun Xi spoke to Li Fan.
Li Fan looked around at his many disciples and nodded slowly, saying,
“Okay.”
Yun Xi said,
“This trip might take a rather long time…”
Li Fan replied,
“Mhm.”
Yun Xi looked at him with wide, hopeful eyes and said,
“That’s all you have to say??”
“Nothing else?”
Hearing this, Li Fan smiled, deciding not to tease the silly girl any longer, and said,
“I’ve packed everything for you.”
With that, he brought out a beautifully embroidered bundle and continued,
“I’ve packed your favorite clothes and dresses.”
“You seldom use rouge and face powder, so I’ve selected some light and fragrant ones for you and also prepared some lotions, remember to apply some if your skin gets dry or if the sun is too strong.”
“I picked out a couple of pairs of soft shoes, as well as socks, an umbrella…”
“And a box of the pan-fried dumplings and dates you love to eat, packed away in the Ghost Fang Box; don’t forget to eat when you’re hungry.”
He listed the items one by one and looking up at Yun Xi, he asked,
“Have I missed anything?”
Tears welled up in Yun Xi’s eyes as she turned away and wiped her eyes, saying,
“That’s everything.”
Li Fan smiled slightly, thinking to himself, this silly girl…
Suddenly, his gaze faltered as he looked around at his disciples, noticing a group staring at him…
Li Fan immediately put on a stern face and said,
“What are you gawking at? We are traveling far – haven’t you packed your things yet?”
The disciples:
“…”
Right away, everyone scattered to get ready.
Nan Feng packed the zither that Li Fan had made.
Zi Ling and Dugu Yuqing both took plenty of ink and paper.
Long Zixuan visited the study, where the hung longbow still didn’t give a good impression, but it reminded him to take more arrows.
Qing Chen cleaned the cobwebs for the last time, then quietly sprinkled some breadcrumbs in front of an ant nest as a gesture of thanks before taking the broom with them.
Lu Rang watered the vegetable garden in the small courtyard one more time, took his potted plant along, and gathered lots of seeds.
Dugu Yuqing filled his bag with Cinnabar, and it was stuffed with a thick stack of Talismans.
Jiang Li packed the least; he simply took a few of the chess pieces that Li Fan often played with.
Wu Dade uprooted the spiky Ancestral Melting Gold Tree to take with him.
Su Baiqian took many jars of medicine…
Xinning carried a box full of books that starkly contrasted her petite frame.
Everyone was ready.
“Alright, let’s head over to the mental hospital.”
Li Fan spoke up immediately.
Subsequently, the group of disciples rose, took their belongings, and left the small courtyard together.
After leaving the courtyard, they headed straight to the mental hospital.
When they arrived at the mental hospital, Ming Tianbei and Jiang Xue were in the midst of handing out items to a group of well-ordered patients.
– Jiang Xue had also received the news and had come to the mental hospital early in preparation for departure.
“These steamed buns are from Auntie Wang, three for each person, don’t fight over them!”
“Uncle Zhang brought jerky, one small bag per person, stop fighting over the chili skins!”
“These are the trash you’ve collected over the period, each person pick three…”
The patients lined up to receive their items, exhibiting impressive discipline and order!
Li Fan saw this scene and couldn’t help but smile; these patients were the epitome of order.
The ones who couldn’t queue were the mad ones. The ones queuing properly were the sane ones.
Finally, after all patients had received their stuff, Li Fan stepped forward and asked,
“Is everyone ready?”
Seeing Li Fan, Ming Tianbei immediately responded with great respect,
“Reporting to Elder… We’re all ready.”
The patients too, showed utmost respect and bowed their heads.
Li Fan nodded and said,
“Good, then let’s go.”
At that, the group of patients picked up their things and, following the disciples, started walking towards the outskirts of the village.
“Great Demon King, you should go back.”
Yun Xi said.
Li Fan said:
“It’s all right… I’ll see you off.”
Yun Xi didn’t say anything further.
Li Fan escorted them, and soon they had reached the entrance of the village.
“Master, we are leaving!”
“Master, goodbye.”
The disciples bid their farewells one after another.
Li Fan nodded and instructed:
“Be careful on your journey and pay attention to safety. If you encounter any difficulties… remember to come home.”
The group of disciples all nodded in acknowledgment.
“Go on, then.”
Li Fan waved goodbye.
Thereupon, disciples such as Nan Feng, Zi Ling, Long Zixuan, and others began their journey.
“Great Demon King… I’m leaving.”
Yun Xi, with her large eyes full of reluctance, said:
“…Thank you.”
Li Fan smiled and said:
“Silly girl…”
“It’s not like you’re not coming back; what’s there to be sad about?”
“In your pack, there are a few pieces of letter paper with some deductions and thoughts on ‘The Darkest Game.'”
“Although the solution is not yet complete, there’s an outline. There’s no need to follow the path of ‘A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire;’ don’t get too obsessed. Think less, and be happy, understand?”
Upon hearing this, a spark of hope flickered in Yun Xi’s big eyes as she asked:
“Is there really another solution?”
Li Fan nodded and said:
“There definitely is… believe me.”
Yun Xi nodded and said:
“Okay, then I… I’ll be going now!”
She then left the village and departed with the others.
In the morning sun, a group of disciples, with their luggage on their backs, left their hometown.
Li Fan stood at the village entrance, bathed in the sunlight.
Xinning glanced back from afar and a shallow smile appeared in her eyes.
“Big Brother is just like he was back then… only this time, I don’t have to stay put and wait for such a long, long time…”
She smiled, recalling the day she first met Li Fan in her previous life. She was treating an injured fawn when Big Brother approached from the sunset, covered in light…
“Master… in this life, we will surely be able to fight side by side with you…”
Zi Ling’s eyes shone with determination.
Their figures grew smaller and eventually disappeared from sight.
…
At the entrance of the small mountain village.
Li Fan could no longer see them, but he still stood under the plum tree at the village entrance for a very long time.
He looked up at the plum tree next to him.
It seemed like it had only been a few years since the plum tree had been transplanted here.
Now it was lush with foliage.
“As the tree grows, so too do people…”
Li Fan couldn’t help but mutter.
“Little Li, what’s wrong? Can’t bear to see the disciples leave?”
At this moment, Second Elder’s voice came. He stood by the roadside, leaning on his cane, saying:
“Don’t worry, they won’t get lost.”
“Come, continue our game of chess with Second Elder. I nearly beat you in our last game!”
Li Fan turned around, smiled and said:
“Alright.”
He turned and went with Second Elder to his courtyard.
The two set up the chessboard according to the previous unfinished game.
“Look, your King has been cornered by me, afraid to show its face. How long can you maneuver… unless you forsake the chariots, horses, and many other pawns, you might have a chance to checkmate me…”
Second Elder laughed and said:
“Little Li, will you abandon them or not?”
Li Fan replied calmly:
“I won’t.”
Second Elder said: “Then you’ll lose.”
Li Fan said: “No, I will win.”
Second Elder puzzledly asked:
“Unwilling to sacrifice pieces, yet you want to win?”
“How will you win?”
Li Fan raised his hand and suddenly moved his King.
The King stepped forward.
Capturing one of Second Elder’s chariots that had approached him.
He looked up at Second Elder, pointed to the red King, then gestured to the scattered chariots, cannons, and pawns, and asked:
“With this and these, can I win the game without sacrificing pieces?”
Second Elder was taken aback for a moment and said:
“You’re planning to… walk a tightrope; even the most crucial King has to move together with the chariots, cannons, and pawns? But one wrong step, and it could mean the loss of the entire game…”
Li Fan smiled and said:
“It’s better than watching you capture my pieces one by one.”
…