Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 102
>Chapter Title: War
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Chapter 102: War
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> Only after seeing Senior Brother Li leave did Yang Kid let out a breath of relief, his sitting posture becoming a bit more relaxed.
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> The group ate while chatting idly. With nothing much to talk about among themselves, the conversation soon shifted to the beggars peeking in from outside the door.
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> “I remember we didn’t see this many beggars along the way. Where did all these people come from?”
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> Hearing Senior Brother Baolu say this, Yang Kid immediately grabbed a piece of flatbread, soaked it in the thin porridge, and carried his bowl outside. “I’ll go ask for you.”
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> Gouwa looked at his retreating back and said to the others, “This kid’s really sensible. If he weren’t going home, I’d even want to take him in as a son.”
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> “You call that taking him in as a son? You just want to bring him back to wait on you hand and foot.”
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> Called out like that, Gouwa didn’t mind and just laughed it off.
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> Seeing Yang Kid come out, the beggars at the door raised their broken bowls eagerly, some even starting to sing a ditty.
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> Yang Kid ignored them and instead walked over to the young beggar who had fallen earlier, bowl in hand.
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> He was huddled in the corner, looking utterly pitiable, just like Yang Kid himself had been back then.
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> “I’ll ask you something. If you can answer, this flatbread is yours.”
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> Looking at the flatbread in Yang Kid’s hand, the disheveled young beggar nodded excitedly over and over.
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> “Where did you beggars come from?”
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> “From the east. We all came from the east! I’m not actually a beggar. I fled here with my dad and mom.”
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> “On the road, human traffickers kidnapped me, and I escaped halfway, turning into a beggar.”
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> Yang Kid fished out the softened flatbread from the porridge and handed it over.
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> The young beggar didn’t mind the heat, grabbing it with both hands and stuffing it desperately into his mouth.
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> “Why flee? Did your area suffer a disaster?”
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> Slurping up the porridge stuck to the flatbread and swallowing what was in his mouth, the young beggar nodded and continued, “Yeah, a disaster. If it had just been drought or flood, my dad definitely wouldn’t have abandoned the fields to run. But this time, it’s a military disaster.”
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> “See, all these people came because of the military disaster. This one’s huge. The soldiers rush into villages and grab anything they see. I heard several villages are completely gone.”
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> As Yang Kid was about to ask more, a shadow loomed over him from behind. It was Jian Dun, who stammered, “Th-this... this isn’t a m-m-military d-disaster. This is... r-routed soldiers!”
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> “Senior Brother Gao, so you’re saying there’s a war?” Yang Kid looked up at that broad chin.
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> Seeing that Yang Kid, unlike the others, didn’t look down on his stutter, a hint of delight appeared in his eyes.
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> A callused hand even bigger than Yang Kid’s head gently patted his head. “Y-yes... y-yes... that’s r-right.”
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> Yang Kid turned to the young beggar, who had been startled by Jian Dun’s massive frame, and continued asking, “A real war? How come we haven’t heard? You said your home’s in the east? Do you know where exactly the fighting is?”
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> “I don’t know. I just remember my home is in the east.”
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> Seeing the young beggar clearly knew nothing about it, Yang Kid turned his gaze to some of the older beggars.
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> “What are you two, big and small, chatting so enthusiastically about with the beggars outside? Hurry back to eat. We’ll need you to wash the bowls later.”
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> Hearing this, Yang Kid immediately grew alert. “I’ll wash the bowls! I’ll do it!” With that, he turned and hurried back inside.
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> Looking at the clean cloth shoes on Yang Kid’s feet as he left, then down at his own frostbitten purple feet, the young beggar’s eyes filled with thick envy. “I wish they’d buy me...”
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> “Senior Brother Cao Cao, those beggars came because there’s war in the east.”
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> “So what if there’s war? What’s it got to do with us? Baolu was just asking casually. Don’t take it so seriously like you’re some holy paper. He’s not the emperor.”
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> ——————————————————
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> Li Huowang lay on the clean white hospital bed, his expression full of hesitation and struggle.
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> Judging by his surroundings, the hallucination had shifted from the ICU to a regular ward.
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> In his hand was a round jade pendant, something from his body, strung on a cord around his neck.
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> Li Huowang remembered giving this to Yang Na before, yet now it inexplicably hung around his neck again.
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> He was no longer dwelling on how it got back. He was thinking about something else—something Doctor Li had said earlier.
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> “Right, Xiao Li, didn’t you just say that since things from that world can be brought here, you think this world is fake? Have you ever tried sending something from here to that side? You might get different results.”
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> Li Huowang held up the round jade pendant, examining it again and again. Finally, he steeled himself, clenched it in one hand, and tucked it into the pocket of his hospital gown.
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> “Let’s give it a try. Trying doesn’t cost anything. What if it works?” Li Huowang thought to himself.
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> But the next question hit him, leaving him stunned.
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> “What if it succeeds? What does that mean? That Bai Lingmiao’s side is fake? Or that both sides are real?”
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> Li Huowang didn’t know, but no matter what, he decided to try first and figure things out based on the results.
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> Minutes and seconds ticked by as Li Huowang waited silently for the outcome. It felt awful, like every moment stretched into years.
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> After the nurse changed his IV drip, Li Huowang finally felt the hallucination around him start to crumble.
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> When he returned to the ancient-styled room, the first thing he did was reach for his chest. Pulling out the jade pendant, his face froze.
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> Ignoring his clothes, Li Huowang got out of bed and rummaged quickly. Staring at the two identical round jade pendants in his hand, his expression went blank.
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> “Two? How can there be two? Why two?”
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> Li Huowang’s mind was a mess. He had considered bringing something from the other side, but he never imagined this result.
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> “Huowang.” A soft female voice suddenly came from outside the door—Yang Na’s voice.
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> Li Huowang looked toward the door, his face full of shock. How could Yang Na be here? Wasn’t she from the hallucination side?
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> “Senior Brother Li.” This time it was Bai Lingmiao’s voice. With a creak, the door was pushed open from outside.
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> Seeing the stitched-together “thing” walk in from the door, utter terror appeared on Li Huowang’s face.
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> “No, no! Don’t!!” Covered in cold sweat, Li Huowang jerked up from the bed.
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> Looking at the ancient furniture around him, he finally realized. Daydreams turning to night dreams—everything had just been a dream.
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> As he was about to lie back down, a thought bubbled up from nowhere in his mind. “Was it really just a dream?”
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> (End of chapter)