It seemed that, from some unknown point in time, this man accustomed to a life on the battlefield had slowly begun to adapt to a life of peace.
Perhaps it was precisely because it was too peaceful, or perhaps because he had never truly experienced it, that he had become somewhat infatuated.
In truth, for someone like him, peace was actually unaccustomed. Even after half a year, he still hadn't gotten used to it. His days of idleness truly felt like life without purpose.
What he feared was a life where the end was visible at a glance.
For the first three months after leaving, he accompanied Mu Hanqi to see all the magnificent landscapes of their country. In those three months, they drove nearly twenty thousand kilometers, visiting almost all the famous mountains and scenic spots in Great Xia.
The original plan was to rest in Jiangnan for a while, but unexpectedly, after going through various places, she became pregnant, so they had to settle down here temporarily.
As Mu Hanqi had said, he himself didn't know which city they would finally settle in, nor did he know where his own destination lay.
For them, this was the next topic worth exploring.
"Speaking of which, your birthday is coming up soon. What gift do you want?"
Mu Hanqi was counting the days; Ye Longlin's birthday was on the twenty-seventh of next month. This year, he would turn twenty-eight, with only two years left before he reached thirty.
But upon closer thought, achieving all that he had before the age of thirty was already something to be proud of.
"Me? I don't really want anything."
"For a long time, I thought I would probably never get married or have children. My destination was likely the battlefield. But then I met you. If it weren't for your companionship, perhaps we wouldn't be where we are today."
"For me, you are the best gift, and Little Churan is an even greater blessing bestowed upon me by heaven. You two, mother and daughter, are the most important women in my life, without exception."
Ye Longlin said softly. The rare warmth touched the soft spot in Mu Hanqi's heart, bringing tears to her eyes.
Mu Hanqi wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, leaned her head on Ye Longlin's shoulder, and said emotionally, "Ye Longlin, let's get married."
As these five words left her lips, Ye Longlin's mind went completely blank.
Yes, Mu Hanqi had given everything to him, and he seemed to have nothing to give her in return.
Now, not only was she carrying his child, but she was also living in seclusion with him in this small town. It was time he gave her a proper commitment.
"Okay."
They hadn't even registered their marriage yet. Strictly speaking, they were currently just boyfriend and girlfriend.
He should also give Mu Hanqi a commitment. At the very least, if a wedding couldn't happen for now, they should get married first, officially sanctioned.
"Wait for me at home for a bit!"
Marriage, for men, meant shouldering significant responsibility—building a home, protecting their family, and earning a living. The meaning of marriage was to have a warm harbor.
To integrate your life with hers. The happy moments and the unhappy ones, she would always be by your side, because she already considered you her closest person. She would never leave.
Perhaps I am not as good as you imagine, but no one can replace me.
When we walk into the Civil Affairs Bureau, the promise given to each other should be for a lifetime, not only witnessed by parents but also by heaven and earth, representing our adherence to the vows of marriage.
There was a peculiar old man in the town, peculiar in the sense that he was a fortune teller who officiated at weddings and funerals.
"Old Lin, please help me see when is the most suitable time for us to get married."
Ye Longlin entered with a roast chicken and a jar of strong liquor, speaking directly.
He didn't believe in ghosts or gods, but when it came to the date of their marriage, he couldn't be careless.
After all, in the end, it was better to believe than not to believe.
Old Lin, also the only geomancer in town, was called a semi-immortal. When encountering any matters, seeking him out was the right course of action.
Old Lin turned to look at Ye Longlin and asked with a chuckle, "Planning to marry the girl?"
As he spoke, he turned back to fashioning paper effigies, which looked quite eerie.
"Yes, that's why I came to you to see which date is better," Ye Longlin smiled.
"Didn't you not believe in ghosts and gods? Why do you believe now?"
Ye Longlin pursed his lips, not saying much.
He had killed too much in his life. He himself feared it would affect his unborn child. When people have something to care about, they think about many things.
"Forget it. There's an envelope beside you. Open it yourself. But kid, I'll give you a piece of advice: your destiny is filled with too much killing intent. If you can't wash it away, both Xiao Qi and the child will be affected by you. They will be harmed."
Ye Longlin didn't care at all and thus didn't take it to heart. He picked up the nearby envelope, waved his hand, and turned to leave, "Alright, I got it. I'll invite you to the wedding feast then."
Old Lin shook his head and sighed, a trace of worry etched between his brows.
After Ye Longlin opened the envelope and read its contents, he immediately threw it into the trash. Upon returning home, he directly retrieved the household registration booklet from the second floor and placed it on the counter.
"Tomorrow, we'll go and get our marriage certificate!"
Mu Hanqi's eyes were slightly red. Had she been crying?
Ye Longlin quickly asked, "What's wrong? What happened? Who bullied you? Tell me, and I'll go beat him up."
Mu Hanqi remained silent, throwing herself into his arms and sobbing, "I thought, I thought you didn't want me anymore. You left without saying anything, and I was so afraid you'd leave me."
Ye Longlin rubbed Mu Hanqi's small head helplessly, his voice gentle. "How could I not want you? Don't worry, even if I don't want myself, I will want you. Don't overthink it, okay? Be good, be obedient. I'll make you fish soup tonight, alright? What you need to do now is rest well, understand?"
Mu Hanqi nodded obediently.
Perhaps it was due to her pregnancy that this girl always liked to overthink things. He was also quite helpless.
"You promised, don't lie to me. Tomorrow we'll go to the Civil Affairs Bureau."
"I won't lie to you."
"I promise that in poverty, sickness, hardship, suffering, wealth, health, joy, and happiness, I will be devoted to you, love you, and cherish you for life."
Marriage was something he had never considered before. But since meeting her, it seemed his past thoughts had long since vanished.
Perhaps, maybe, this was love.
If this news reached the capital, he wondered how many people would be shocked.
"Wait for me for a moment. I'll go to Aunt Zhang's and ask her to prepare a banquet for tomorrow night. We'll invite everyone in town to dine at Aunt Zhang's restaurant tomorrow, what do you think?"