The corner of Xiaoge's eye showed a fine line, not deep, but so abrupt in the faint morning light.
When I first saw it, I felt a moment of inexplicable joy, but the subsequent worry for his health took over, suppressing those inappropriate fantasies.
However, Xiaoge soon glanced at me and said calmly, "It's an illusion technique."
This wrinkle came from the younger brothers, Xiao Xiao Zhang, who were capable in both literary and martial arts. They were exceptionally attentive to the patriarch's quality of life. When I looked over, I saw them diligently writing the "Patriarch's Logbook," the same wrinkles on their faces moving nimbly with every change in their expressions.
...It seemed as though time had truly left its mark on their faces.
Then I suddenly realized that so much time had passed that Xiaoge needed to use an illusion technique to match our aging.
Noticing this and looking in the mirror, I was surprised to find that the youthful face, which I remembered as always full of vitality, had become dry and dull at some point. His eyes had also settled, appearing particularly steady with those fine wrinkles.
After only a few glances, I heard Fatty calling from a distance, telling me not to admire myself too much and to hurry up and help him with his work.
He seemed to have aged even more. His hair had become much sparser, with small white stubbles starting to emerge at the roots. His face was oily from years of cooking, and only his voice remained the same as it was back then.
There was nothing to be done about it, as he was already quite old when he met us.
Compared to Fatty, I instantly looked several times more handsome. On closer inspection, I could now be described as a handsome and dashing mature man, so there was no need to gaze into the mirror and lament my fate.
While helping to serve dishes to a young couple, I remembered that my parents had been urging me to come home for blind dates a few days prior.
My parents were quite old, and I complied with their wishes, visiting them a few times. The blind date candidates were all different, including a girl of the "Xiao Huang Rong" type, whom I had once yearned for the most.
But for some reason, looking at their youthful and beautiful appearances, I suddenly felt that I had become quite old and was no longer a good match for them.
Even though I was still quite young.
Perhaps the emotions a person possesses in a lifetime are also quantifiable.
After experiencing such extreme anger, fear, anxiety, and pain, my emotions seemed to have become much more subdued after returning to a peaceful life.
Or perhaps, I no longer had the energy to spare for a new family.
Building a family requires a great deal of responsibility, which I cannot provide now. I couldn't drag someone else down just to appease my parents.
I couldn't even analyze my own psychological state clearly, let alone explain it to my parents. Fortunately, my good brother, Xiao Hua, was still holding strong as a handsome and wealthy single dog, allowing me, this weathered and poor single dog, to raise my shield and fight back.
If Xiao Hua doesn't get married, then I won't get married!
When I declared this, my parents showed very complex expressions, appearing as if they wanted to speak but hesitated.
Soon after, I heard from Xiao Hua, who always visited the poor, that he was using me as a shield at home in the same way.
...My good brother indeed.
Perhaps it was the blessing of the Flower God, but after this, my parents really stopped arranging blind dates for me. Although I felt a little uneasy, I was also happy to have peace.
Fatty, on the other hand, was doing very well in the dating scene. He often went to the village to procure goods and, at some point, hit it off with a widowed proprietress.
He went to her shop to help every few days. Several times I thought he was going to get married, but he would stylishly flick his hair and say that he simply enjoyed the feeling of a pure romance.
...Later, I found out that the proprietress was unwilling to enter the tomb of marriage again.
In a way, it was also quite good.
Looking at it now, all of us in this group are single dogs, and not one of us has betrayed the organization. We have truly carried forward the great brotherhood.
It is indeed quite good.
—
Although the Zhangliu God died unceremoniously, exploding with a bang, its abilities were undeniable.
Over the years, Fatty and I have been intentionally taking care of ourselves, even using face masks that I wouldn't dare to look at the price of, thanks to Xiao Hua's generous sponsorship.
...Speaking of which, I must thank Xiao Hua for his selfless contributions. Honestly, I feel that even if we sold ourselves, we still couldn't repay the money he spent.
Fortunately, Zhang Haike is always there to back us up. Occasionally, we can rely on the wealthy young Zhang to send Xiao Hua some expensive health supplements.
For a moment, I thank Zhang Haike.
In the thirtieth year of living in Yuncun, Hei Yanjing came for a visit.
He raised an eyebrow when he saw Xiaoge, whose face was full of wrinkles from the illusion technique, but he didn't say much. However, with that youthful face, he stood in the courtyard, and no matter how I looked at it, he resembled a group of college student volunteers in their prime visiting elderly and lonely villagers, which inexplicably made me angry.
"Old Wu, Old Wang, you two better live a few more years~"
Hei Yanjing's mouth indeed never spoke any serious words. Before long, he started rambling.
...How dare this old monster of unknown age call me the young and innocent Wu, Old Wu!?
Where is his conscience? Where is his face? Where is his bottom line?
Fortunately, Xiaoge soon sent him away. Hei Yanjing glanced at the white knife behind Xiaoge, let out a meaningless laugh, hummed a tune, and left without looking back.
Only Xiaoge remained at the door, looking down quietly at the stone in his hand.
...Later, I learned that it was the spiritual stone of origin that Hei Yanjing had obtained from the Everlasting Spring Water of Yingzhou. When immersed in ordinary water, it would release its power.
Xiaoge said this was something Hei Yanjing had promised back then.
I looked at him, knowing that he had actually forgotten. For people like them, perhaps promises are such things – both ethereal and root-bound.
Unfortunately, the Everlasting Spring Water couldn't truly grant everlasting life. It might provide vitality, but I still clearly realized that my vision was becoming blurrier day by day.
Fatty mocked that this spiritual stone was really useless. Xiao Hua sent professionals to inspect it, but in the end, they couldn't figure anything out.
It seems I have been confined by the lifespan predicted by the Zhangliu God, and so has Fatty.
Only he is not bound.
Sometimes, looking at Xiaoge's aged human skin mask, I would momentarily mistake it for his true appearance.
Zhang Yisanwu and Zhang Ersiu had returned to the Zhang family. After all, it wasn't practical for the elderly group to run a farm stay with their disabilities. Their work had stopped, and they had no reason to stay. After a while, they returned to change Xiaoge's illusion.
Only the three of us were left in the courtyard.
The few remaining dogs had been given away for adoption, and the chickens were no longer kept. Mao Tuan sat in the courtyard, lost in thought. Its oily blue fur had faded considerably; perhaps it was also reaching its age.
Then Fatty fell asleep.
A grave appeared in the courtyard. No one would call it inauspicious. I carried it for a few years, realizing that perhaps I would soon join Fatty for a game of cards.
At that time, Fatty would surely grumble about how boring it was to play with only two people, but I couldn't do anything about it. He would still have to thank me for not living too long, otherwise, he wouldn't even have anyone to remind him that "Fatty wet the bed at seven years old."
Thinking of this, I smiled.
Xiaoge was by my bedside. I didn't know how long I had slept. When I woke up, I suddenly felt much more energetic, even having the strength to lift my arm and pick up the gun.
When the muzzle was aimed at Xiaoge, he showed no reaction. Those eyes still looked at me quietly.
Actually, his illusion technique wasn't convincing at all.
My vision was blurry now, and I couldn't see his fake wrinkles clearly, but his eyes, as clear and clean as ever, were so clearly reflected in my sight.
...For a moment, just a moment, I truly considered taking him away.
I couldn't explain why I was so insane in the final moments of my life. The saying "a dying man speaks kindly" doesn't seem to apply to me.
On the day Fatty was buried, I saw him shed tears.
We had been drinking the Everlasting Spring Water all along, but at some point, a faint scent of blood had been mixed into it.
Fatty didn't mention it, and neither did I. Perhaps this was the only way to make him feel a little better.
Xiaoge's Qilin blood had brought about countless miracles, but this time, even it was powerless to reverse the situation.
Perhaps... I just didn't want him to suffer alone.
But this was too selfish.
Xiaoge wasn't alone. He had Zhang Haike, a group of Zhang family members, and Hei Yanjing. Speaking of which, Xiao Hua was still alive, though his health was no longer robust.
I realized again that it was probably for my own selfish desires.
I had tied my entire life to that vast snowy mountain, only to be awakened at death to realize it had only briefly favored a tiny mortal.
...Perhaps, I felt a trace of unwillingness.
I lowered the gun, and all along, Xiaoge had not dodged the muzzle.
I didn't know what he understood or what decision he made. I felt as if he had taken my hand, but it could have been a hallucination, as I was already close to completely losing consciousness.
Honestly, many people have asked me what Zhang Qiling gave me that made me follow him into the Forbidden Land as if I had lost my mind, and then live in seclusion in Yuncun.
...It seemed he gave me nothing tangible. I couldn't show anything, but I felt I had gained a lot.
In the past, I entered the Forbidden Land for my own adventurous dreams, but gradually, I realized that there were more brilliant things, more magnificent secrets that attracted my soul.
...He was the miracle I pursued, the grand epic I couldn't imagine.
Perhaps, I should have studied liberal arts back then.
As I closed my eyes, it was as if I had traveled through time and space, returning to the first day I celebrated Xiaoge's birthday.
Xiaoge couldn't remember his birthday, so Fatty made a decision on the spot, choosing a sunny day in November and walking in with a cake.
As I was grooming Blue Rabbit, it kicked me. Chasing it to the door, I happened to see a luxury car pull up.
Xiao Hua, dressed in haute couture, gracefully stepped out. Hei Yanjing followed behind, carrying bags of items, having earned a substantial sum from this moving job.
I hoped Blue Rabbit would help beat up Hei Yanjing, but they quickly formed a strategic alliance and together mocked my "noob" status.
"Here, Master Hei has kindly brought birthday candles specifically for the mute~"
Hei Yanjing chuckled and pulled out a candle as thick as a pen holder from his leather jacket. It was engraved with a large "200+".
I didn't really want to deal with him, but I really wanted to try this candle. And just as I was hesitating, the door was pushed open again—
Xiaoge walked in slowly, his face clean and without any illusion. His eyes looked over in the sunlight, exceptionally, exceptionally bright.