Chapter 175: Stealing Fragrance (30 – Conclusion)
Pei Yinnian was right.
Gold really didn’t have much of a use here.
However, Xiao Ji quite liked such a secluded place, simply saying:
“These past few years have been relatively stable, but looking at the current situation, the flames of war will eventually spread to an uncontrollable level. When that time comes, this will be a blessed land.”
This place had been meticulously chosen by Xiao Ji. When the smoke of war formally rose in the future, this was one of the few countries that maintained neutrality and did not participate in the conflict.
Pei Yinnian could understand this point.
But the four women in the house couldn’t quite grasp it.
However, having fallen into such circumstances, everyone could only settle down and live their lives honestly.
They cleared the land for farming and raised cattle and sheep.
In the first few years, there were no shortage of conflicts at home. The Xiao mother and daughter stayed silent, but Mother Pei was somewhat broken by the loss of her status. She frequently directed her glares and sharp words at the now-powerless Pei Yinnian.
This caused Pei Yinnian quite a bit of anger.
But Xiao Ji was the perfect remedy for life’s hardships. Quiet, non-confrontational, and never one to argue, he could always calmly accept all of Pei Yinnian’s bad moods.
They spent several years progressing from being merely self-sufficient to expanding their farm and hiring labor, becoming famous landowners in the nearby villages. Only then did Mother Pei finally settle down again.
It wasn’t until several years later, when the flames of war raged everywhere and countless people were buried in the conflict, that Mother Pei finally understood why Pei Yinnian had chosen to leave his homeland back then.
Xiao Ran and Pei Xinyun eventually got married one after another. A year before the fires of war subsided, Mother Pei passed away from illness.
Perhaps as people grow older, they become more obsessed with returning to their roots.
After Pei Yinnian passed the age of fifty, he began to frequently mention Huating and talk about the past.
He spoke of how Huating had changed hands again, and wondered how Nan Siyan was faring these days.
Xiao Ji knew that Pei Yinnian was homesick.
So, he sold the farm and, in the spring of the following year, took Pei Yinnian and Mother Xiao back to Huating.
They happened to arrive during a grand wedding banquet; the street feast alone lasted for three days and three nights.
Among the crowd, Xiao Ji recognized Nan Siyan, and he also recognized the man standing beside Nan Siyan—none other than Immortal Lord Changming, who presided over slaughter and execution in the Heavenly Realm.
As their eyes met, the two exchanged a look before their paths diverged once more.
Xiao Ji felt a rare competitive urge and asked Pei Yinnian:
“Do you want to hold a wedding banquet?”
But Pei Yinnian refused, smiling:
“We’re so old now; I stopped being obsessed with such things long ago. In the end, I’m the one who owes you. I wasn’t able to marry you and make you my Young Madam when you were young.”
Xiao Ji understood Pei Yinnian. He knew that the man truly had no obsession with that matter in this life, only a sense of apology toward him.
He took Pei Yinnian’s hand as they walked slowly toward the direction where the Pei Mansion used to stand:
“To live a lifetime having enjoyed fame and fortune, lived as common folk, left one’s homeland, and returned in glory—with a lover constantly by one’s side and a healthy body—that is already the greatest blessing.”
Pei Yinnian nodded, feeling somewhat fortunate that he didn’t have a strong sense of mission, wasn’t blinded by power, and hadn’t rushed into the battlefield in a fit of hot-bloodedness.
He tilted his head to look at Xiao Ji:
“In the end, I still made you suffer a lot. I’m sorry.”
Xiao Ji had no concept of “suffering.” Aside from his mission, he only recognized Pei Yinnian.
However, his vocabulary for expressing emotions was ultimately a bit lacking. Hearing those words, he didn’t know how to argue back for a moment.
He could only stiffly imitate Pei Yinnian’s usual cursing tone: “What kind of dog sh*t are you talking?”
Pei Yinnian laughed, grabbing his hand and kissing the back of it:
“Mister Xiao, have all those books by sages been eaten by dogs? Where did you learn such rascal words?”
A smile finally appeared on Xiao Ji’s face:
“Young Master Pei taught me well.”
The two stopped in front of the site of the former Pei Mansion. It no longer looked like it did in the past; it had been converted into a church.
The sun was setting, and its afterglow filtered through the cross, spilling over the eaves. A flock of white pigeons flew from afar and landed on the roof. Time seemed to stand still in peace.
Pei Yinnian looked up and said softly:
“It’s a pity that these old bones of mine won’t be able to enjoy this era of peace and prosperity for much longer.”
Xiao Ji looked at his profile:
“Then make a wish for the next life. Wait for me in a peaceful world.”
Pei Yinnian locked eyes with him: “You’ll still come looking for me?”
Xiao Ji nodded without the slightest hesitation: “I will.”
Translator’s Note: And that concludes the Huating/Republic Era arc! It’s bittersweet to see them grow old together, but a new life awaits. See you in the modern world!
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Ahhhh old men yaoi just hits different~ I wanna see them live comfortably next arc but I love whatever the author throws at us