Genshin Impact: Liyue's Strongest Thousand Rock Army

"Mom, what's wrong with you?"

"The doctor said that it was a heart problem, but the problem was not discovered in time and he was not properly treated. Three days ago, he couldn't walk anymore..."

Su Ping was silent. Birth, aging, sickness and death were common to all people, but he never expected that it would come so quickly and so unpredictably.

He boasted that he had lived a lifetime and should know what it means to cherish, but what he saw before him was the desolation of "the tree wants to be still but the wind does not stop, the son wants to support his parents but they are no longer there".

Perhaps this was God's punishment for him, because he was too relaxed. He had something he had never had before, but he didn't cherish it and seemed to have gotten used to it.

At this moment, a sudden change would be the most painful thing, like the scene before his eyes, like him with only tears left.

Su Ping supported himself on the chair with both hands, slowly stood up, and walked to the bedside step by step. Every step he took was shaky, as if he couldn't stand steadily at all.

But when he was about to fall down, he did not fall down because his willpower was still strong enough to support him and he reached the bedside.

My mother's body was right there. The blue veins on her forehead had not yet disappeared, her face was still as pale as paper, and her frowning brows told of her pain.

To Su Ping, it was as if his mother had a nightmare after falling asleep. All he wanted was to let his mother not worry.

So, Su Ping reached out and slowly held his mother's hand. He was definitely not afraid of the remains that might scare others.

My mother's hands were not delicate but rather rough, like old tree bark. Perhaps because of her illness, only a layer of skin and bones remained, which made them feel even more uncomfortable.

Su Ping held the hand, which still had some residual warmth, and never wanted to let go. He was afraid that if he let go, his mother's soul would have no place to go and would not be able to find its home.

Originally, Su Ping did not believe in something as illusory as the soul, but now, he hoped that it was real and could be seen by living people.

Even if it is just a little bit of feeling, it is precious, but this is just his thought.

Su Ping leaned his head on his arm, squatted down, half of his body lying on the bed, and slowly closed his bloodshot eyes.

After suffering such a blow and crying so hard, he was exhausted both physically and mentally. His grief-stricken heart made the fatigue even more overwhelming.

Little by little, as if drowning his entire being, pushing his body forward, slowly stepping into sleep, and sinking into the sea of ​​soul.

……

When Su Ping woke up, it was already early morning of the next day. He was lying on his bed with empty hands, holding nothing.

He suddenly got up and looked at the empty bed behind the drawn curtain beside him. Although he had a night's rest, his eyes were still bloodshot and full of sadness.

After another hesitation, Su Ping suddenly raised his head and looked at the half-open door. His mother would be buried today. Although the village also had the custom of keeping watch on the seventh day after death, the body could not be left at home.

Thinking of this, Su Ping rubbed his eyes. After he was able to see things clearly, he immediately got out of bed and rushed out the door.

More than ten people had gathered outside the door, some holding gongs, some holding flutes, and two people holding a bag of paper money were standing at the front of the team.

Su Yue was wearing a sackcloth and standing in a daze beside the stretcher covered with white cloth. His eyes were full of fatigue, as if he had not slept all night.

Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang were both wearing linen clothes without any edges, which is commonly known as wearing linen mourning clothes.

After noticing Su Ping coming out, Aunt Zhang also took out a set of clothes for the child, so that he could change into these clothes that few people liked, because once these clothes appeared on the child, it would definitely not be a good thing.

Afterwards, four people were responsible for lifting the stretcher, and two people holding paper money scattered the paper money in front as if to clear the way, and walked out of the village.

Family members Su Yue and Su Ping, along with Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang, and Xiao Cui, who had hurried back last night and now had red eyes, walked together.

The burial location is in a quiet woods outside the village. The occasional bird calls seem to cleanse one's soul and make one calm and focus, and it has a special charm.

During the whole process, Su Ping remained silent. After they dug the hole, wrapped his mother's body in a straw mat and buried it, he did not say a word, just like... a puppet.

Afterwards, Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang asked those who came to help to leave, and took their daughter back to prepare a buffet, which was a long-standing custom in the village.

No matter it is a wedding or funeral, several tables must be set up before the dust settles.

Seeing that they were about to leave, Su Ping finally spoke in a hoarse voice: "Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang, please take these Moras. We need them for the banquet."

As he spoke, Su Ping took out the more than 100,000 Mora from his arms. This light bill was something that most families in the village could not afford. Even if they could, they could not take it out all at once.

Aunt Zhang didn't bother to think about how the money was earned, nor did she show any surprise. Perhaps it was because she had not yet recovered from the untimely death of the girl she had liked since she first saw her.

Or maybe, he thought that Su Ping had excellent performance since childhood, and he often brought money home recently, so this might be the case.

"No need. We have enough money at home." She shook her head subconsciously and refused to take the bill.

Su Ping took a few steps forward and held the banknotes in front of Uncle Zhang next to him. His voice was still hoarse, "You guys take it."

Uncle Zhang sighed, pushed the money back from the boy's hand, and shook his head, saying, "You won't need so much. Keep it well, or give it to your dad. Don't lose it."

Su Ping pondered and turned to look at the only young woman in the field. She was a woman who was also present when he was born. At that time, she was about the same age as Su Ping.

Xiao Cui wiped her face, brushed away the tears, and choked up as she whispered, "Su Ping, be obedient and put it away."

Su Ping did not say anything else and silently put the money back into his arms. Since they refused to take it, he could not force it on them, so he could only find another way to do it.

but not now.

After Uncle Zhang left, Su Ping and his family were the only ones left in the forest, and the forest returned to its usual tranquility. Except for the occasional bird calls and breeze, there was no other sound.

In front of the grave mound, there was a wooden sign. Two figures, one big and one small, stood quietly in front of it, staring intently, as if there was another figure in front of them, and she existed vividly.

This is a family of three. They are separated by a low grave and a barrier that is difficult for both heaven and man to climb over, but they seem to be closely connected, as if inseparable.

Death is not the end of a person, forgetting is. Perhaps many years later, when Su Ping returns here, it will still be like this.

Time passed, little by little, and it seemed like a long time had passed before Uncle Zhang finally came to inform us that it was time to go back to our seat and take charge.

The father and son said nothing. They just looked at the monument a few more times, then walked back to where they came from, towards their home.

At this time, several tables had been set up in front of Su Ping's house. People were helping to bring the dishes to the tables. Neighbors who lived nearby and loved to join in the fun had all taken their seats early.

The only thing left was that table, where the host's seat was occupied.

Not long after, Su Yue and his son finally arrived, and the banquet continued. Everyone started eating, but since they were not at home, they did not eat like guzzlers.

The most deserted table was of course the one occupied by the host family, especially the table of Su Yue and his son Su Ping. They didn't even touch their chopsticks, which lay there peacefully.

A table full of delicacies was something that was only available on festive occasions in previous years, but today, in their eyes, the delicacies seemed to be non-existent and no one touched their chopsticks.

Aunt Zhang didn't have much of an appetite, but seeing the two of them like this, she certainly couldn't just sit there and watch, "You two haven't eaten anything since yesterday, so... you need to eat something now."

"If you stay hungry for too long, you won't be able to bear it." Aunt Zhang frowned slightly. She knew what it felt like to be hungry, so she didn't want the two of them to starve to death at this point.

Seeing that they still didn't move, Aunt Zhang took the initiative to serve them two bowls of soup, and then said kindly: "Eat quickly, especially you, Su Yue."

"You are in poor health. Do you want Su Ping to make money? He can make money, and a lot of it, but he is still a child and can't stand such hard work..."

"Auntie knows you're feeling bad right now, but you have to think about your child. Xiaoying just left, you can't let your child suffer as well, right?"

"I, understand." Su Yue's dull face finally showed some life, his scattered eyes recovered a little, and a faint light ignited in a very deep place.

Uncle Zhang patted him on the shoulder and consoled him, "Good job, kid. Eat. Only when you are full can you have strength. Please...please don't collapse!"

Su Yue felt the weight coming from his shoulders. It was not from Uncle Zhang's hand, but the weight of the child he had to take care of since now, as he no longer had someone to sleep with.

This is the burden that every father will take on when he becomes a father, but at that time, there is someone who can help him hold on for a while so that he can have a moment of respite.

Looking at his child, Su Yue touched his head and said in a hoarse voice, "Eat, Ping'er, let's eat together."

Su Ping also looked at his father. His eyes reflected the other's vicissitudes of life, as well as deep sadness, which he had to hold on to. After pondering for a while, he nodded.

At this point, no one else at the table spoke. The father and son ate, filling their empty stomachs. However, they still felt that there was no taste, like chewing wax.

This is the tide of sadness in the heart that masks the sense of taste and obscures the tongue that can recognize a hundred flavors, leaving people only able to feel bitterness but unable to taste saltiness, sweetness, or spiciness.

Xiao Cui, who had been sitting in this seat silently, looked at the father and son who seemed to have regained their vitality, and only let out a sigh.