Into The Sea

A few days later, a pair of weary young travelers arrived in a small town in the southwest of Jingzhou.

As the New Year’s Eve was approaching, the eaves of the houses along the street were decorated with festive red lanterns. The streets were bustling with people. Lan Wu looked around curiously for a moment before turning to the woman sitting on horseback. “Is this the place?”

Ji Lingyue nodded, pointing to the city gate not far away. “Back then, I left the city along this road and headed north.”

However, back then, this was just a dilapidated town. A dirt road stretched from south to north, with a few low-roofed tile houses scattered along the way. The most impressive building was the two-story inn in the west of the town.

She raised her eyes and looked at the continuous mountain range outside the city. “Our village is deep in the Meishan Mountains. The mountain roads are difficult to travel. It takes a whole day to get out.”

Lan Wu nodded, leading the horse out of the city gate, leaving the bustling fireworks behind. She continued to walk into the mountains.

The winter was bitterly cold, and the mountains were silent. Occasionally, a bird would fly overhead, causing the snow accumulated on the branches to fall.

Lan Wu walked along the winding path, her breath forming white clouds in the air. Aside from the crunching of her feet on the snow, the only sounds were the crisp ringing of the bells on the horse’s saddle.

Ji Lingyue couldn’t help but call out. “Lan Wu.”

Lan Wu hummed, turning her head. Her slender neck was nestled in the fluffy collar of her coat. Her dark eyes were as gentle as autumn water. “What is it?”

“If you’re tired, we can just fly up.”

“Fly where?” Lan Wu turned her head back. “You can’t use your demonic energy for now, and I need to rest as well. We should avoid using it if we can. That’s what Elder Yao said.”

“But…”

“It’s alright, I’m not tired.” Lan Wu said gently. “It’s not difficult to walk like a human once in a while. Back then, when we went to Haochen Mountain, we walked all the way there, didn’t we?”

Ji Lingyue paused, her voice full of nostalgia. “That’s right.”

“Don’t worry. If we can’t reach it before dark, I’ll fly us over.” The woman smiled. “I’ll walk the same road you walked back then. It’ll be interesting.”

Ji Lingyue was silent for a moment, then looked up at the rolling snow-capped peaks, her voice full of uncertainty. “I wonder if Ji Village… is still there.”

A few hours later, the two of them climbed the mountain path. In the glow of the setting sun, they saw a peaceful village with smoke rising from the chimneys. They both froze in place.

Ji Lingyue’s lashes trembled, her voice hushed. “This is…”

The village, which should have been ruined by the passage of time or completely disappeared, was right before their eyes. The sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard. The houses were neatly arranged. Children wearing thick coats were chasing each other on the small paths between the fields. Near the creek, several women were smiling, chatting as they pounded clothes on the stone anvils.

Lan Wu blinked, leading the horse slowly into the village.

Soon, the two unfamiliar faces attracted the attention of the villagers. Several children ran over to them, looking them up and down curiously, but not saying a word. Lan Wu smiled at them, taking out a handful of candies. The children immediately swarmed her, grabbing all of them.

“Hey, you…”

A slightly older girl ran over, pulling the children eating candy back. She said apologetically, “Please forgive them. The children are greedy. If you’re going to the city, you have to go further down the mountain.”

“We just came from the city.” Lan Wu turned her head, helping Ji Lingyue down from the horse. “May I ask if this is Ji Village?”

“Yes, are you looking for someone?”

“No.” Ji Lingyue shook her head, hesitating for a moment. “My ancestors were from Ji Village. They left a long time ago and never returned. She always missed her hometown. So, I came back to take a look and to pay respects to our ancestors.”

“Is that so?” The girl’s gaze became friendlier. “When did your ancestors leave?”

Ji Lingyue said, “About… sixty years ago.”

“Sixty years ago?” The girl paused, looking Ji Lingyue up and down. “That was even before Ji Village was rebuilt. It’s a good thing your ancestors left, otherwise, they might not have escaped the disaster.”

“Oh?” Lan Wu raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t you know? Sixty years ago, there was a tragedy in Ji Village. Almost all the villagers died. They were buried in the graveyard at the north end of the village. I heard they met horrible deaths at the hands of demons.”

“Almost?” Lan Wu tilted her head. “Were there survivors?”

“Of course.” The girl said. “Since someone took the trouble to bury them properly, there must have been survivors. But even after Granny Ji’s family rebuilt Ji Village, and as they grew old and passed away, no one ever saw that person.”

Ji Lingyue frowned. “Granny Ji?”

“Yes, she was the one who rebuilt Ji Village. Back then, her family went out to do business, and when they returned two years later, they found Ji Village had become a ghost town, with no one left. The people in the village now are all descendants of Granny Ji’s family, their relatives, and people who moved here from other neighboring villages.”

Lan Wu pressed her lips together, looking at Ji Lingyue instinctively. The woman’s face was calm. She asked softly, “What was Granny Ji’s name?”

“Ji Yan.”

“Ji Yan,” Ji Lingyue murmured softly, her brows relaxing. “It’s her.”

“Do you know Granny Ji?”

“I guess you could say that I do.” Ji Lingyue said. “My ancestors and her were childhood friends.”

“Really?” The girl’s eyes widened with joy. “Then Granny Ji will be so happy to see you. I’ll go tell her right away.”

“It’s no rush.” Ji Lingyue said. “I’d like to pay my respects to my ancestors first. My ancestors’ family… probably died in that disaster too.”

“Okay, I’ll show you the way.”

“There’s no need.” Ji Lingyue shook her head. “I know where it is.”

The girl paused. “How do you know…”

Before she could finish, Ji Lingyue walked away, heading toward the graveyard. When she left all those years ago, this place was just a patch of overgrown weeds.

Now, it was surrounded by a blue brick wall. There was even a tiled roof. Ji Lingyue entered the graveyard through the main gate, finding that it had been repaired and cleaned. Every grave had a neat tombstone.

It turned out that in the long years since she left, new life had sprouted from the old graves, and the abandoned village had regained its vitality.

Time changes everything, and the world moves forward with the flow of time. Nothing remains stuck in the past except memories.

She lowered her gaze, scanning the tombstones along the path. They all had ashes from burnt offerings scattered in front of them. Even the ones in the corners seemed to have been visited.

Ji Lingyue stopped, gazing at the names carved into the tombstones. After a long moment, she knelt down.

Lan Wu took out the various offerings she had bought in town. She looked at them for a moment, still not understanding why these things had such a deep meaning. She then handed them to her obediently.

Ji Lingyue glanced at her helplessly, then turned her head, carefully lighting the incense, offering it up, her voice soft. “I’m sorry, mother. It took me so long to come see you.”

“I used to be afraid, afraid of returning to you without accomplishing anything, afraid of facing you. But now, I’m not afraid anymore.”

The weak flame suddenly flared up, consuming the thin paper money thrown into it. “I have friends now, and I have someone I love… I’ve learned many skills and experienced many things. Don’t worry, I’m doing well…”

The woman knelt in front of the graves, sharing her experiences over the years as if she were chatting with family. When the paper money was burnt, the sky had grown dark. Stars appeared in the night sky, casting a silver glow on the cold tombstones.

Ji Lingyue sighed softly, touching the three familiar names one last time, then slowly stood up.

Lan Wu took her hand naturally. “Finished?”

Ji Lingyue nodded, walking with her. “Didn’t you listen?”

Lan Wu said quickly, “It’s your private conversation with your family. I wouldn’t eavesdrop without your permission.”

“Why are you so nervous? It’s okay even if you heard.” She leaned against Lan Wu, her voice soft. “You’re my family too.”

Lan Wu pressed her lips together, her ears turning red.

She turned her head, her brows and eyes dancing with a smile. As they walked side by side to the graveyard gate, they saw an elderly woman with gray hair leaning on a cane, standing quietly outside.

When Ji Lingyue saw her, she momentarily stilled.

At the sound, the elderly woman looked up, carefully examining the two of them. After a while, her gaze settled on Ji Lingyue’s face.

This was…

The withered hand clutching the cane trembled uncontrollably. She took a shaky step forward, her aged voice uttering a familiar name from the past. “Ah Yue?”

Ji Lingyue blinked, her heart filled with countless emotions. Finally, she let out a soft hum and said gently, “It’s been a long time, Ah Yan.”