Some endings are written on graves.
Outside of Xuanzhu County, the Rebirth Cemetery.
This is a new cemetery, and its name naturally relates to the uprising on the night when the Silver Blood was burned out. Everyone believes that after that night, Xuanzhu County gained a rebirth, so they named this new cemetery "Rebirth," hoping that the martyrs buried here can rest in peace.
Apart from the martyrs who died in the uprising, most of the deceased are actually family members, slaves, and guards of the Silver Blood merchants. However, in death, like extinguished lamps, their bodies are also transported to the Rebirth Cemetery for burial, though no one would pay for coffins or engrave tombstones for them.
There is a caretaker of the Rebirth Cemetery named Uncle Shou.
Ordinary people are generally unwilling to work in the cemetery. The strong spirit of the Huiyao people might cause them to have hallucinations in the graveyard at night, and prolonged depression could even shorten their lifespan. But Uncle Shou is able to enjoy himself within the cemetery. He has a dog and engages daily in grave digging, tombstone engraving, and reading newspapers.
Someone noticed that Uncle Shou goes to the depths of the cemetery every morning to offer incense to two graves.
Those two graves have no names, only surnames.
One is Jing's grave.
One is Tai's grave.
...
...
Some endings can never be concluded.
"Is this Crystal Capital?"
Ting Wan Jian disembarked from the cargo ship, looking at the tense-faced, dark-skinned people near the port, glancing around: "Where is the crystal?"
"Underground." Ting Chao Zao followed up saying: "There used to be many open-air crystal mines here, but they've long been exhausted, leaving only a few deep mines. However, as maritime trade gradually prospered again, it was hailed as the 'Eye of Scandinavia'."
"So, how do you plan to establish yourself here?" Ting Chao Zao, folding his arms, said: "Father said that from now on, we are to make all the decisions."
"The old man being this kind-hearted?"
"Unfamiliar with the territory, the long journey has dulled his mind. He's afraid we'll conspire to drown him in the latrine."
"How could it be? We are his sons, we wouldn't let him die so disgracefully," Ting Wan Jian chuckled: "Let him hold a stone and sink into the sea, dying neatly yet poetically, what do you think?"
"I have no objections."
"Alright, just a joke, a joke." Despite saying it was a joke, Ting Wan Jian didn't have a hint of a smile on his face: "Our accounts haven't settled yet. When he grows old and can't walk, let him truly reflect on his actions."
"As for what to do... we start a newspaper here to promote freedom, sudden wealth, and class hatred, how about that?"
Ting Chao Zao looked at his elder brother with an odd gaze, Ting Wan Jian giggled: "Just kidding, I'm not Jing Zhengwei, I don't have his patience, and it doesn't seem like everyone here is literate. Ah, so poor and backward."
"Find a way to meet the local governor, then capture him, lure the local landlords and nobility over, and then wipe them out in one go."
The eldest son of the Ting Family said indifferently: "Our Ting Family has guns and people, I'm too lazy to scheme with a bunch of savages, just eliminate the upper-class nobles here, then start building manors and factories, slowly recruiting soldiers, and spending a dozen years, we might be able to overrun Scandinavia."
"Sounds simple enough, then it's up to you, my dear brother." Ting Chao Zao said with a humph.
"Of course, it's simple, this place, Scandinavia, is poor and deserted. Only failures like us would come to such a place, but..."
"I can't beat Jing Zhengwei, but I can't beat a bunch of savages?"
Ting Chao Zao said: "The problem is how to start the first step... although our people can speak the Scandinavia language, there's no network..."
"May I ask if you are from the Ting Family?"
At this moment, a middle-aged Huiyao man suddenly walked out from the riverside, greeting from afar, appearing to be a merchant. Ting Wan Jian signaled for him to come over and asked: "Do you know us?"
"I recognize the crest of the Ting Family." The middle-aged man said respectfully: "Is the eldest son of the Ting Family here?"
Ting Wan Jian and Ting Chao Zao were taken aback, and Ting Chao Zao suddenly claimed: "I am the eldest son of the Ting Family."
The middle-aged man asked: "May I ask, what is the essence of a merchant?"
Ting Chao Zao was stunned.
Ting Wan Jian laughed heartily: "A merchant, is one who harms."
The middle-aged man instantly understood, "Greetings to the eldest son of the Ting Family."
"Alright, are you a subordinate of Jing Zhengwu?"
"Yes."
"Then do you know...?"
"I know." The middle-aged man said calmly: "Young Master Jing Zhengwu is dead, but his instructions to us already included the eventuality of his death."
Ting Wan Jian curiously asked: "He's dead, and you are still willing to follow his orders?"
"This matter is not about loyalty, and I won't conceal it any longer so the eldest son of the Ting Family knows, I am a member of the Scandinavia resistance organization." The middle-aged man whispered: "For years now, countless Huiyao people have been sold to Scandinavia, enslaved and degraded, a fate worse than death. But due to the constraints of the Grace Lock and the bloody suppression of Scandinavia people, we could only endure and wait for the opportunity."
"Young Master Jing Zhengwu was one of the opportunities we waited for. He promised us that, should he inherit the Jing Family one day, he would organize forces to liberate Scandinavia. Even if something happened to him, within five years, the Ting Family would certainly come to Scandinavia, and then we could seek assistance from the Ting Family."
Ting Chao Zao glanced at his elder brother: "This is a gift from your friend."
"This is our agreement." Ting Wan Jian looked towards the sea, "I know he remembers, and he knows I would come."
He turned to the middle-aged man: "Then, can you arrange for me to meet the highest-ranking noble official here?"
"The highest governor of Crystal Capital is Grand Duke Swen," the middle-aged man said with a fist salute: "We can arrange a meeting, Grand Duke Swen always welcomes Huiyao people. What identity do you plan to meet him with?"
"A merchant." Ting Wan Jian said: "We've been sailing for days and need three days to rest. I'll send someone to follow you, these few days you arrange for our meeting, then on the evening of the third day..."
"We merchants, will harm people."
...
...
Some endings have nothing to do with death.
In a small courtyard in the outskirts of the city, two children were practicing their combat techniques, swinging quarterstaffs taller than themselves, humming and chanting. The morning sunlight danced upon them, shining brightly.
Suddenly, they heard familiar footsteps. Both turned their heads towards the courtyard entrance and saw a figure they dreamed of every night. At once, they dropped their quarterstaffs and dashed over.
"Mom—"
"Mom, what did you bring? It smells so good!"
Seeing her younger son coming to hug her first, while her elder son's attention was on what she was holding, Mi Die felt both amused and exasperated. She squatted down to hug them, asking, "While Mom was away, did you listen to your grandparents, study hard, and practice your combat techniques?"
"We did—"
"Brother didn't!"
The young boy was shocked. His brother betraying him instantly dealt a heavy blow to his young heart. He immediately grabbed his brother's shoulder, saying, "Mom, he's lying. He's the one who slacks off every day—"
Mi Die tapped her elder son's forehead, hugging her younger son, and said, "As the older brother, not setting a good example is bad enough, but how can you bully your younger brother?"
The young boy watched as his brother stuck his tongue out at him, making faces that made him almost jump in anger: "Mom, look at him, look at him!"
The younger brother immediately put on a well-behaved expression, but still got his forehead tapped by Mi Die: "You two little troublemakers, if I'd known, I wouldn't have bought you delicious treats."
"What, there's something tasty?" The two brothers immediately looked at the bag in Mi Die's hand. Opening it, they found all sorts of cakes and candies, and just as they were about to reach out, Mi Die swiftly and sharply tapped their hands.
"Wash your hands before eating."
"Okay~"
The two brothers happily went to the well to wash their hands, and went into the house, eating candy while asking, "Mom, how long can you stay this time?"
Mi Die propped her chin, watching them with mouths full, and took out a handkerchief to wipe their mouths: "Until you grow up."
The two brothers blinked, and the younger one smartly asked, "Mom, are you not leaving anymore?"
"No, I'm not," Mi Die nodded: "Mom won't leave you anymore."
However, the scene Mi Die imagined, where her sons would be moved to tears, didn't happen. The two brothers exchanged a look, their expressions somewhat grave. She raised an eyebrow slightly: "What, aren't you happy to have your mother back home?"
"Of course not, we're happy, very happy!" The two brothers laughed heartily, but there was an unmistakable hint of unease on their faces.
"Right, since you said you practiced, I'll test your combat techniques later. I remember your father could produce three staff shadows at your age, so you can't be worse than him."
Staff shadows are a standard of strength in the Liaoyuan combat technique, referring to the ability to distort the staff's actual position through light. Twelve shadows mean gaining basic proficiency, thirty-six shadows mean integration and mastery.
The two mischievous kids panicked immediately, "Mom, we really practiced!"
"Really, Mom, you know, just a few nights ago, a thief came to our courtyard. Just as Grandpa and Grandma weren't home, we drove the thief away!"
"Yes, if it weren't for Brother's combat technique being a bit off, that thief wouldn't have escaped!"
"It was clearly you who didn't control him properly!"
"It was clearly Brother being too scared to stab anyone!"
"That person dodged by themselves!"
"That person was badly hurt already, it's because Brother was scared! Blah blah blah!"
Mi Die tapped the younger brother's forehead: "Don't do such rude gestures."
"Nonetheless, since you both said so, I understand."
In the expectant eyes of the brothers, Mi Die clenched a fist, making a cracking sound as she did: "It seems neither of you can produce three staff shadows, but don't worry, I'll supervise your training, and you'll catch up in no time."
"With Mom here, you don't have to worry about being bullied anymore."
Just as the two brothers wore mournful expressions, a knock came from outside. Mi Die went out to see who it was and found it was Lisang.
She asked, "What is it? Is something up with Qing Lan?"
Lisang shook his head: "No."
After a brief pause, he said, "I have resigned from my guard duty."
After a moment of silence, he added, "Do you need a guard?"
"...Ah?" Mi Die was slightly dumbfounded, seeing Lisang's earnest expression, not knowing what to say for a moment.
"Mom, who's that uncle?" The two brothers peered from inside the house, shouting out loud.
Mi Die glared at them, shrugged, and said, "These are my two children, quite naughty, aren't they?"
"Hmm." Lisang thought for a moment: "Much better than the young master."
Mi Die: "...That is true."
They both saw Jing Zhengwei grow up with their own eyes, compared to him, any child seemed kind and cute.
Thinking of this, she understood Lisang's intention, and felt a bit agitated.
Suddenly seeing a quarterstaff on the ground, she came up with an idea, kicked it up and caught it, saying: "Come to think of it, we've never had a match before, have we?"
"No."
"Let's have a bout," Mi Die said: "For us, there's no exchange more direct and pure than a fight."
"Alright."
A new battle began.