Chapter 65 Remembering Gratitude

Guozhao Zhiqiang and Deming walked back to Guozhao Zhiqiang's home along the mountain road. Guozhao Zhiqiang noticed that Deming was slowly following behind him. He stopped and turned around. He asked, "What's wrong?"

Deming said sadly, "I'm sorry I didn't listen to you. If I listened to you, you wouldn't be hurt."

Guozhao Zhiqiang walked closer to Deming, "I can be hurt a thousand times because of you, but I won't let you be hurt once because of me." He stretched out his right hand and touched Deming's left cheek. "Let's go home. I'm hungry."

Deming's tears began to slowly run down his cheeks. He looked up at Guozhao Zhiqiang and hugged Guozhao Zhiqiang tightly. He sobbed, "Zhiqiang, I'm scared. I'm really scared." Deep down, he wanted to say, 'Zhiqiang, I'm afraid of going to sleep at night, not knowing if I will wake up the following morning'.

Guozhao Zhiqiang patted Deming on the back of the head lightly, "I will always be by your side, don't be afraid."

Deming smiled and held Guozhao Zhiqiang's left hand. As they started up the mountain, Deming said, "I'll cook tonight. I don't like your cooking."

Guozhao Zhiqiang smiled and looked at him then said, "Hmm..."

Deming brought the last dish to the table and sat opposite Guozhao Zhiqiang. Guozhao Zhiqiang looked at the dishes on the table, it smelled delicious. He visioned this moment over and over again in his heart, and after thirteen years, it finally came true.

Deming looked up at Guozhao Zhiqiang and said, "Why don't you eat? Will looking at me fill up your stomach?" He picked up a piece of vegetable and put it in his bowl. "Tomorrow, I'll cook you some meat."

Guozhao Zhiqiang smiled and said, "If you want to eat meat, why not cook some meat?"

Deming smiled at Guozhao Zhiqiang, "Today is the fifteenth day of the month."

Guozhao Zhiqiang chuckled softly, "I forgot."

Guozhao Zhiqiang chewed his food slowly. He wasn't sure if Deming's food was really delicious, or if he was too hungry, or because it was Deming who was eating at home with him. Whatever the reason may be, tonight's dinner tasted especially delicious to him.

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "The dishes tastes very good."

Deming answered, "When I woke up, I realized I had to learn how to do these things for me. I couldn't have done it without Li Bingqing's help. She taught me everything from reading, writing, cooking, cleaning, and mend my clothes."

Guozhao Zhiqiang smiled and said, "Then I should thank her for cultivating you."

Deming asked, "Why?

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "In the future, I will leave all these housework to you, and you will have to mend my clothes for me."

Deming teased, "Oh, I'm not as good as Yang Chuntao."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "True, if you don't want to do these things, I can ask her."

Deming said wildly, "You dare?" He pointed at Guozhao Zhiqiang with his chopsticks.

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "Just kidding, it's not too late. Can you help me clean the room after dinner?"

Deming asked, "For what?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "For Gen and his family. I want Gen to rest. I don't want to let the help of Ah Bao and Xiaomei go to waste."

Deming said, "I thought no spirit or demon could come up here."

Guozhao Zhiqiang moved the robe to one side, and the protective circle on his left chest was clearly visible. He said, "This symbol here... will allow anyone to go up Peach Blossom Mountain."

Deming complained, "Someone once promised me that he would tattoo one on me, but that never happen. I don't know if this is a good time to hearken back that promise..."

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "I'm not sure if I can make one for you. I have to ask Shan for confirmation first."

Deming nodded and looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang, "How come there are three bedrooms?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "The other two rooms are for Chuntao and other juniors."

Deming stared at Guozhao Zhiqiang, "So, Yang Chuntao often sleeps here?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "Hmm."

Deming asked, "You let her come whenever she wants?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "Hmm."

Deming asked, "Why?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang looked up at Deming, he saw a pair of angry eyes staring at him. Then he smiled and said, "She is also my junior."

Deming picked up the chopsticks and said to Guozhao Zhiqiang, "Really?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang teased, "You are not thinking about poking my eyes with those chopsticks, right?"

Deming said sarcastically, "Who knows?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang shook his head, and the two continued to eat.

The next day, Guozhao Zhiqiang and Deming returned from picking peaches. Gen, Wan, Zemin and Nianzu were already with Yang Bao and Tam Qiu.

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "You are here."

Yang Bao said, "I asked Gen to wait for a few days, but he insisted on coming today."

Gen stood up, "Zhu ren, I feel better. I can walk now. I didn't expect to ever walk again, but thanks to Doctor Yang and lady Xiao; today I'm able to walk again."

Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, "Ah Bao, when will he recover?"

Yang Bao, "In two days. Gen, if you have cramps, it's normal. Also, you have to remember that you can't kneel for two months, this is the best I can do."

Gen smiled happily, "I am very happy with what you have done. If you need something that is not within my ability, I am willing to do it."

Yan Bao, "I just need you to protect those who need help, don't use your power to kill innocent people."

Gen said, "Doctor Yang, I promised, as long as I'm still alive I will not kill a single innocent person."

Yang Bao, "Don't call me Doctor Yang, call me Ah Bao, I'm younger than you."

Gen said, "I can't do that, you saved me, I can't call you by your first name."

Yang Bao said, "It's senior brother who saved you, not me."

Gen said, "Zhu Ren saved my life, you saved my leg. If you don't ask me to call you Doctor Yang, I will call you Childe Yang. Please accept it."

Wan said, "Childe Yang, don't argue anymore." She smiled. "This is the right thing to do."

Lee Nianzu said, "Second senior brother, if you refuse, you will ruin his good intentions."

Yang Bao sighed and said, "Okay, I will accept the term Doctor Yang, but not Childe Yang."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "There are two rooms in total, you can choose which room to live in."

Yang Bao said, "Senior brother, masters and shimu are leaving."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "Gen, you stay here, I'll go see my masters and shimu."

On the dirt road the hunters say goodbye to their masters and their shimu. They watched helplessly as their masters, shimu, the two Xiao sisters, and Lang Lirun walking out of Cloud City.

Lim Junjie shouted, "Grandfather, be careful on the way home and pay attention to your safety."

Lang Lirun looked back and wave at Lim Junjie, then quickly followed the two clan leaders.

Zheng Tingfeng mocked, "Only babies cry, you cry more than Nianzu."

Lim Junjie, "Wait for your turn."

Guozhao Zhiqiang lightly patted Lim Junjie's head, "Okay, don't cry, what will Uncle Lin say when he sees you like this? He's gone, and he'll be fine, nothing will happen to him. Don't cry anymore. Let's go back."

Xiao Mei sighed, "When will they come back?"

Yang Bao said, "They will come back when they have time. Don't be too sad. Just know that the two masters and shimu are doing well, that's all that matter."

Guozhao Shaquan said, "Shimu and the two masters cannot break the agreement with Jiutian Xuannu."

Guozhao Shaquan said sadly, "Every time they come back home, they look older..."

Zheng Yaozu, "I don't know how many people are like them? To be able to travel the world freely with your confidants as the heart desire."

Tian Xiang said, "There are not many fortunate people like them. Let's think positively. Although the two masters and shimu are not at home, they spend every day together and create the best memories together." He chuckled. "If I were them, able to travel freely with my confidants on sunny or rainy days, I wouldn't complain."

Fang Weimin, "My father and teachers Lee is one couple of those fortunate people. Although their happiness comes with huge sacrifices, the sacrifices are worth it."

Fang Weisheng asked, "Why?"

Fang Weimin said, "Because they can stand by that person, they know that will never leave them under any circumstances."

Tam Liang, "We all come from different places, but because of them, we are now brothers and sisters."

Tam Kun, "Without them, we would starve to death in that hidden room."

Guozhao Zhaohui, "Without them, no one will know what will happen to us on that mountain trail." He looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang, Xiao Mei, and Guozhao Bolin.

Lee Nianzu said, "If they didn't pass through our village that day, I would have been burned to death."

Lim Junjie, "Without uncle Baiyu and Zhiqiang, I would never have been born."

Fang Weisheng, "I have something to say."

Yang Bao, What's the matter?"

Fang Weisheng sighed and said, "I want to apologize for my wrongdoing."

Tam Qiu smiled and said, "Don't rush to a conclusion next time, okay?"

Fang Weisheng nodded, "I understand sister Ah Qiu."

Yu Lei said, "They didn't save me from death, but I'm glad I became a Guozhao hunters." He looked around his siblings. "Second senior brother, what about you?"

Yang Bao smiled at his juniors, "It's time to go back. I have to go visit Gen and Wen." He put his hands behind him and limped slowly in front of the other juniors.

Yu Lei shouted, "Wait, don't avoid this question." He turned to look at Guozhao Zhiqiang. "Senior brother, do you know what the two masters and shimu did for him?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "It's not my place to tell his story." He slowly followed Yang Bao to Peach Blossom Mountain.