Sword Shatters Stars

Chapter 134 I've been waiting for you
Did Ma Jin and Liu Qingqing know about this?
Lin Xiufei doesn't know, and doesn't want to guess.

"Whether they know or not, there's no point in guessing; the answer will come out on its own. I just feel that sometimes fate plays tricks on us, and a single choice can change everything."

Fang Yuan remained silent; such is life.

Once a choice is made, there's no going back.

Therefore, he likes to think things through clearly and carefully beforehand, so that he can accept all the consequences without complaint or regret.

But this only represents his attitude.

When Zhao Youyue and the others came out, Lin Xiufeng and the others agreed on the same story.

They didn't mention joining the Heavenly Martial Clan, nor did they mention the mutated fish they brought back.

Zhao Youyue still hoped that Fang Yuan was overthinking things, and said with a positive outlook:
"It must be a misunderstanding. Once we meet the new members, all doubts will be dispelled!"

Lin Xiufeng also hoped for the same.

More than an hour later, many of the people inside the buildings in the Wulin Mountain Cluster came out.

Carrying umbrellas, or straw hats and raincoats, they continued their work in the pouring rain.

Ma Jin and Liu Qingqing gathered more than a hundred people at their headquarters in the northern part of the mountain range.

Ma Jin and Liu Qingqing told Lin Xiufeng and the others that the regiment had recently recruited more than 500 people, most of whom were busy. The people in front of them were responsible for the construction work of the headquarters and the surrounding area.

These people introduced themselves one by one so that Lin Xiufeng and the others could get to know them.

“There were still a few dozen people in the original village, keeping it running. Now, many more people know about our base camp, and people coming and going in the wilderness are coming here. The outside has been traversed by people…”

Ma Jin explained these changes.

Lin Xiufeng always said it was good, praising their management.

However, he discovered that most of the group members he knew were from the original Shanwang Village.

Thus, the previous question still lingered in Lin Xiufeng's mind—

How could there have been such a big change so soon after they left?
What disappointed Lin Xiufeng the most was a certain exchange of glances with Fang Yuan.

Lin Xiufeng clearly read a message in Fang Yuan's eyes—

As they feared, these new members were most likely members of the Heaven-Turning Organization.

Lin Xiufeng didn't say anything, just like when she came back last time.

When Ma Jin asked when he was leaving, he specifically said:
"About five or six days."

At this point, the maximum distance from which the Overturning Heaven Organization could send people after receiving the information was basically determined.

All that's left is to wait.

Just like last time, Lin Xiufeng and his group practiced together every day after they had rested well, passing the time.

During this time, Lin Xiufeng desperately hoped that Ma Jin and Liu Qingqing would suddenly run over and tell them everything.

Time passed, day by day.

Zhao Youyue preferred to believe that Ma Jin and Liu Qingqing were unaware of the situation, and that the Fantian Organization had deceived them.

On the morning of the fifth day, when Lin Xiufeng met Ma Jin and Liu Qingqing, he told them:

We'll set off tomorrow.

"So soon? Aren't you going to stay a couple more days?"

Liu Qingqing wanted to persuade him to stay, but Ma Jin said:

"The regimental commander and his men have lofty ambitions; they can't be like us, just lazing around in the base and living a mundane life."

Lin Xiufeng couldn't help but laugh and say:
"It is said that whether people strive or not, they all end up in the same place, trying to find a comfortable zone and then just wanting to maintain stability."

"You guys are so lucky. You found your comfort zone so quickly. You should stay stable until you get tired of it."

"Once you break through to the Heavenly Warrior realm, you'll be more stable."

"We can only wait for the captain to find a good opportunity to lead us," Liu Qingqing said with a smile, but Ma Jin remained silent.

“There’s a chance.” Lin Xiufeng suddenly said, noticing that Ma Jin was somewhat moved.

"What kind of food is in the warehouse? Ma Jin, take me to see it, and I can bring some on the way." "I'll go with the commander. Ma Jin hasn't been to the warehouse much," Liu Qingqing volunteered.

Lin Xiufeng looked at her with a grin and said:

"No way! I'm so handsome, what if you pounce on me like a hungry tiger? How am I supposed to explain that to Ma Jin later!"

"Commander!" Liu Qingqing said, blushing, "It was all Ma Jin's suggestion, and I'm being made to take the blame!"

Liu Qingqing turned and ran away. Ma Jin met Lin Xiufeng's gaze and said somewhat embarrassedly:
"The warehouse is over there."

After walking for a while, seeing no one and no more wooden houses inhabited, Ma Jin suddenly spoke up.

"Commander, you don't know, but as the number of people in the regiment increased, those kinds of relationships also became complicated."

"Liu Qingqing accidentally saw people in the troupe doing all sorts of crazy things several times, and she described it to me when she got back."

“During those days, we were surrounded by several attentive men who were always hovering around us, which was really hard to bear.”

"But then again, everyone keeps talking about how once you come here, you should liberate yourself, and how you can continue to be bound by the morals and customs of Tianlan Star."

"Liu Qingqing was probably also dazzled by the handsome guy fawning over her. She would occasionally mention to me how others exchanged partners, each doing their own thing, and saying things like 'exclusivity is mutual constraint and pleasure.'"

“I had a few beautiful women around me, and after she said that, I casually mentioned it, and that’s how the relationship started.”

“Actually, these are private matters that you yourselves feel are appropriate to discuss with me.” Lin Xiufeng sensed that Ma Jin wanted to say more than just these things.

Ma Jin looked ahead, walked to the warehouse, opened the door, and found no one else inside. As he took out dried meat, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, he muttered to himself:
"Qingqing and I haven't lived together for a few days. After we started hanging out, I suddenly started to lose my mystique towards her day by day."

"Actually, the commander can also see that my ideas are completely different from Liu Qingqing's."

“But we’ve been together since the first year of high school. We always thought that after so many years, we should spend our whole lives together. It’s no big deal to give in to her and go along with her.”

"These past few days I've suddenly realized that perhaps what I was clinging to in the past was just an idea."

"I thought that the happiness that comes from love is actually just physical."

"I think I no longer love her, and I don't want to go back to the way things were with her."

"It's that feeling... that you can't find any reason to still like her. It's not that you hate her anymore, it's just that you don't love her anymore."

Lin Xiufeng had never experienced this feeling before and didn't know what to say.

Ma Jin picked up a piece of dried meat, stared blankly for a long while, and then suddenly said:

"Commander, you should leave quickly!"

"Hmm?" Lin Xiufeng's gloom of the past few days vanished.

He, along with Zhao Youyue and the others, had been waiting for Ma Jin and Liu Qingqing to say those words for a long time!

Lin Xiufeng could roughly deduce the predicament Ma Jin and Liu Qingqing would face after Fan Tian came knocking on their door.

They couldn't run away, and they couldn't warn others, so they could only passively cooperate in order to survive.

That's completely understandable, but failing to act when given the opportunity is an unforgivable betrayal.

“You left just a few days ago, and Fantian found you here. Someone in the group betrayed everyone in order to join Fantian.”

"Fan Tian arranged for more than 400 people to keep a close watch on us."

"What I just described is, frankly speaking, a brainwashing of all of us by Fantian, tempting us to degenerate into becoming like them."

"Liu Qingqing was not only influenced at first, but also worried that if she did not cooperate, she would be punished later."

“I’ve been thinking about what we should do when you come back.”

"Liu Qingqing said that we are not on the same path as you. Joining Fantian and continuing to be the village chief here is the right thing to do."

"I'm hesitant."

Ma Jin then selected several pieces of lean, dried meat, and continued speaking:

“I’ve gotten used to going along with her. But these past few days since you’ve actually come back, and with my efforts to dispel Liu Qingqing’s allure day by day, I’m increasingly reluctant to do this.”

"Commander, take the meat and leave ahead of time. Don't go north, go south."

(End of this chapter)