Nightfall

Real Buddha In Front

It was the first rain in the Hebei Province since the drought. The rainwater was cold and when Ning Que found the small girl underneath the pile of corpses, she was purple and was about to die of coldness and hunger. Since that rain, Ning Que had concealed many psychological shadows in his heart. As Sangsang almost died many times during her childhood years, that shadow only grew heavier and he concealed it even deeper.

As time passed, Sangsang got sick less frequently and even though the doctor who followed the army couldn’t dispell the cold aura inside of her, he had given her medicine for it. Besides ensuring that there was hard liquor by her side, she was made to do housework constantly to exercise her muscles and get the blood flowing. Ning Que almost forgot about this.

Especially when Sangsang first started her cultivation of the Divine Skills of the West-Hill Tao Sect, the cold aura within her was like a thin layer of snow in spring. Ning Que thought this meant she was cured but who would have thought that she would relapse again and so seriously this time. It was even more dangerous than the few times when she was young.

The shadow concealed within the depths of Ning Que’s heart arose again; he thought hard during the journey and was constantly worried. The Headmaster couldn’t treat her disease… could the Lanke Temple really treat it? Was Sangsang’s illness really just an illness or were the two of them destined to have a cold future?

Because of these shadows, since Sangsang was very young, Ning Que had never discussed with her such things. Now, Sangsang seemed to want to say something but he didn’t want to listen.

He didn’t want to listen but Sangsang wanted to speak.

“Young Master, do you know why I have been constantly staring at you?”

For some reason, Sangsang had started calling him young master again.

Ning Que laughed and said, “Because I look good.”

Sangsang said, “You are not even the former Prince Long Qing, why would you be worth staring at?”

Ning Que said somewhat angrily, “I have told you not to bring this up again.”

Sangsang knew he was pretending to be angry to cover up something and she said softly, “You know why.”

Ning Que knew but he didn’t want to say it; he looked like a small rash boy now. Stubborn, innocent, immature, easily angered and easily brought to tears.

At this moment, Sangsang looked like a sensible older sister. She stared at him quietly and gently said, “I am afraid that when I die, I won’t be able to see you again.”

Finally hearing that word from her mouth, Ning Que shuddered slightly.

Sangsang looked at the grave in front of them and asked curiously, “Where do people go after they die? Whether it’s turning into ashes, rotting away or being sealed in stone. Is that still me?”

Ning Que didn’t want her to hold onto such emotions for a long time, as shouldering such emotions or thinking about such things wasn’t healthy for a gravely sick person. Hence he wanted to change the topic but it was a little hard.

“Some say that when death comes, one becomes nothing. Others say that after dying, you go to the Underworld.”

“I’d rather go to the Underworld.”

Sangsang looked at him seriously and said, “The Underworld sounds scary but I can wait for you there.”

Ning Que looked at her slightly pale face. He took off his coat to wrap it around her shoulders and said softly, “The people in the Underworld will forget what happens in this world. By that time you wouldn’t remember me so you shouldn’t go.”