C5

Bu Ku's thatched cottage gradually turned to ashes in the fire, and then he and his sister went missing, causing a huge stir in this small mountain village. Everyone thought that the mountain demon was the culprit, so they invited Magi to try to expel the "evil aura".

The more pitiful and ignorant they were, the more they were good at finding reasons to explain things they couldn't understand. Even though they clearly knew that all of this was meaningless, they didn't dare not repeat it. Rules were sometimes more important than their lives.

Bu Ku was walking along the road by himself, the luggage on his back was very obvious to his small body. The moon was bright and sparse, and the night was filled with the enchanting cries of owls and many unnamed birds. Suddenly, Bu Ku heard a sound of branches being broken behind him. The strange sound scared the arrogant birds into flying away, until they were no longer making any sounds.

Bu Ku stopped and the corner of his mouth curled up into an inexplicable smile. He sighed and slowly turned around, only to see Shi Min quietly watching him from behind.

The surroundings quieted down at the right time, as if time had stopped. They looked at each other, speechless.

"Where are you going?" It was Shi Min who was the first to break the silence, unable to hold back the silence in his surroundings.

"Where?" Bu Fang bitterly laughed. The world was vast, and even Bu Ku himself did not know where he was going. He calmed down and said, "I just want to go out and take a look."

Before Bu Ku could finish his words, Shi Min hurriedly asked anxiously, "Then will you still be back? Return here, Stone Village! "

Looking at the flames behind him, he couldn't help but wonder, "Stone Village?" These three words caused Bu Ku's heart to ache. He replied, "They shouldn't be coming back again, right?"

Bu Ku's reply once again caused the conversation to sink into an awkward silence. Shi Min's eyes were already filled with tears, but he did not want to give up. He probed again, "Then will you come back to see me again?" As if he was afraid that Bu Ku would refuse, Shi Min hurriedly said, "It's fine anytime. As long as you return it, I'll wait for you."

Shi Min's words caused Bu Ku, who had already turned cold in his heart, to feel a trace of warmth. However, this warmth was immediately tossed to the back of his mind by Bu Ku. Those with dreams are most afraid of softening their hearts and being preoccupied.

Looking at Shi Min's wistful gaze, Bu Ku hesitated. No matter how strong Bu Ku was, he was still a ten-year old child after all. The only thing left for him to endure was his originally carefree years.

Bu Ku's heart once again calmed down and said, "It shouldn't be. This should be the last time the two of us will meet …" "No problem, be happy …"

Bu Ku's forced joy only made the surrounding environment more awkward. The younger sister didn't say anything and just stared blankly. She didn't dare to blink, afraid that the instant she closed her eyes, Bu Ku would disappear.

In the end, Bu Ku steeled his heart and took a deep breath. Just as he was about to turn around and leave, he was once again called out by Shi Min's voice.

Shi Min finally calmed down and said with a forced face, "Today is your birthday, have you forgotten?"

Where did Bu Ku stay? Birthday? Perhaps there were only two people in this world who knew that today was their birthday, but one of them chose to use death to escape, while the other was suffering because of her.

Shi Ming waved his hand with the beef and said, "This is something I prepared especially for you. Regardless of why you left, can you let me have one last meal with you? "Don't forget, today is also my birthday."

That's right, Bu Ku and Shi Min were not only born in the same year, but also on the same day. This was a beautiful scene in that small mountain village.

At this moment, every word from Shi Min sounded exceptionally careful. She was truly afraid that Bu Ku would never leave just like that, not even once.

The tears swirling in his eyes were forcefully suppressed by Bu Ku. He turned around and smiled toward Shi Min as he nodded his head. Shi Min finally laughed, even though his face was covered in tears.

On the east side of the village, by the river, was the same willow tree that Bu Ku had once made a hat out of willow branches. Shi Min and Bu Ku sat cross-legged facing each other under the tree.

Shi Min slowly opened the package of beef. He lowered his head to carefully organize the beef, but unknowingly, tears began to flow down his face. Drops after drops of tears fell onto the back of his hand, as well as onto the beef.

Bu Ku looked on and grabbed onto Shi Min's hand without saying a word. This caused Shi Min to jump in fright. He raised his head, and just happened to meet Bu Ku's gaze. Shi Min hurriedly used his other hand to wipe away the tears on his face.

Bu Ku's face still had the usual calm expression. Seeing Shi Min's awkwardness, he still smiled, revealing two small canines. Only now did the atmosphere ease up from its awkwardness.

Shi Min pulled out his hand and his face became slightly flushed. He carefully picked up a piece of meat from the ground and brought it to Bu Ku's side. At this point in time, Bu Fang had no appetite to eat. He seriously looked at Shi Min, then took out his own Dragon Travelling Jade Pendant.

Shi Min was so frightened that he suddenly stood up as well.

He placed the jade pendant on the ground and cut the jade pendant into two halves. He placed half of the pendant in his bosom, took the other half into his arms, and returned to Shi Min's side. He placed the other half in front of Shi Min and said quietly, "Take it, and keep it as a souvenir. Promise to me that you will forget about me, and then you will be the little princess who was happy in Stone Village, okay?"

He raised his hand mechanically and took the jade pendant. With a bitter smile, he patted Shi Min's head, and habitually stopped at the end of her braids for a moment. Then, he picked up his bag on the ground and left.

It was only when Bu Ku had walked a long distance that Shi Min finally realized what was going on. He shouted in the direction that Bu Ku had left, "Where are you going? "When I grow up, can I come find you?"

Bu Ku's figure paused for a moment, but soon after, as if he did not hear anything, he continued to walk forward, until his figure became even thinner …

A year later, a group of troops wearing a lion's helmet and an armor made from iron leaves, with bronze heartglass at the front and back, broke into Stone Village. They searched the village purposefully, but to no avail, and soon fell into a frenzy, massacring the entire village, robbing all the women and children, and finally cutting off the heads of any little boy that could be seen, as if they were in a hurry to return to their families. Shi Da Kai and the men from the village had lost their lives in this unequal battle, and Shi Min had been swept away along with his women.

The disappearance of a village was a very common occurrence in those warring times.