Ascending to the Clouds Alone

Looking at Lu Shaohui's worn-out garrison uniform, Lin Su, who had been puzzled, asked:

"Shaohui, you look like you haven't even reached adulthood yet, what brings you to the garrison?"

Lu Shaohui lowered his eyes, stroking the rim of his glass, his voice tinged with bitterness, and said:

"I just turned fourteen this year and joined the garrison last year."

"fourteen?"

Lin Su frowned involuntarily. "Even if he's at the age of 30, he shouldn't be on the city walls to help defend it."

Lu Shaohui raised his head, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes, and explained the reason:

"My father was originally a soldier in the garrison. He died in the battle to defend the city last year. So, I took over my father's position and joined the army."

He paused, then lowered his voice:

"The deputy general had some old friendship with my father. He was considerate that I was too young to withstand the daily training and fighting on the battlefield, so he kept me in the army to do some miscellaneous tasks, making me a half-garrison soldier."

"If the city hadn't been in dire straits, I wouldn't have been sent to the front lines."

Upon hearing this, Lin Su's previous doubts vanished, and he looked at the boy with more empathy.

They initially thought the boy was being forced into military service, but it turned out he was enlisting in the army in place of his father.

At such a young age, he had to shoulder such a heavy burden. As a fellow wanderer in this world, Lin Su understood the bitterness all too well.

He couldn't bear to delve any deeper into the boy's painful past, and said softly:

"I see. Others might not have been able to withstand it."

"I have cultivated my Qi to the first level in the army and have a place to stay, which is better than wandering around aimlessly."

As he spoke, a lingering sense of melancholy spread across Lu Shaohui's eyes.

Looking at him, Lin Su felt a growing sense of sympathy for the boy, and silently raised her glass to lightly clink it against the boy's...

After several rounds of drinks, the sun began to set in the west, and the light of day began to fade.

Ye Qingqing looked up at the window and whispered:

"Tonight at 7 PM, my grandfather is holding a memorial service for the orphaned children. I need to go back to the clinic to help out. Do you have any plans for the future?"

Lu Shaohui understood, and quickly stood up, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, his expression showing a hint of apology:

"Brother Lin, the army doctor specifically instructed me to return to camp before dark."

Lin Su then stood up, his tone full of concern:

"Alright, I'll take you back. You can rest and recover in the camp and don't worry about anything else. I'll find another opportunity to visit you in a few days."

At dusk, the three of them left Juxianlou.

Ye Qingqing looked at the two people in front of her and said:

"You two are still recovering from your injuries, so be careful on the road and don't linger outside."

After saying that, he turned and headed towards the clinic.

As the sun sets, everyone has something to do for tomorrow.

Lin Su escorted Lu Shaohui to the gate of the military camp, and only turned back after watching the young man enter the camp.

On the way back to the clinic, I saw that the streets and alleys were filled with flickering fires and burning incense and paper money, with smoke billowing everywhere, all in the process of commemorating their ancestors.

The burning paper money turned to ashes, fluttering down like lost, gray-white butterflies, drifting aimlessly.

He stopped and stood on the side of the street, staring blankly, momentarily lost in thought.

Recalling the scenes of the Lin family's ancestral worship in previous years, a sense of sorrow washed over me.

Gradually, all the chaotic thoughts in my mind settled into a single, unified whole.

Lin Su looked up at the setting sun, then started walking, searching for a shop selling ghost money.

In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, he found the shop selling ghost goods and went straight into it.

The shop is furnished in a simple and rustic style, with a lamp hanging from the beams, its dim light making the whole shop seem even more solemn.

As soon as he entered, Lin Su spoke:

"Shopkeeper, please bring me a bundle of paper money, incense sticks, and a pair of white candles—all of the finest quality, the very best!"

The shopkeeper looked him up and sized him up:

"Young man, is this for tonight's offering?"

"Indeed, thank you for your trouble."

In a short while, the shopkeeper had the items ready and said:

"Judging from the fact that the young man is not a local, he must be reminiscing about someone by looking at this item. I have prepared an extra envelope and pen and ink for him, hoping that he will have a safe journey ahead."

Lin Su felt a surge of gratitude. After thanking the shopkeeper, he left the shop with his belongings...

He also bought wine, wine glasses, fresh fruit and several kinds of food along the street.

By the time we arrived at the riverbank, dusk had completely fallen.

Many river lanterns float on the river, their lights reflected on the flowing water, creating shimmering, golden reflections.

The evening breeze, carrying the damp chill of the river, slowly and leisurely brushed against the bank and drifted away along the river.

Lin Su avoided the hustle and bustle and found a quiet riverbank.

With everything in order, he spread out the writing brush and ink, wrote the name of the Lin family ancestor, and signed it uniformly as "Respectfully presented by the recommender, Lin Su". He then wrote the character "封" (sealed) on the back of the paper.

In addition, he took another letter and wrote down Han Xiangyu's name.

Then the paper money was neatly folded and rolled up, and placed into the sealing paper one by one.

After filling the package, he lit two white candles and stuck them into the ground.

Then he lit incense and took out three sticks to place in the middle of the two candles.

Starting with candles, they proceeded towards the Lin family's old residence, placing incense sticks on either side with each step, thus creating a long and winding path for guidance.

Next, he divided the paper money into three portions and laid them flat in front of the candlelight, then neatly arranged fresh fruit and food on top of them.

Finally, three wine cups were laid out and each was filled with clear wine.

All sacrificial offerings were properly arranged.

Lin Su knelt before the incense and candles, lit the paper money, and set the envelope ablaze.

"To our ancestors above, on this Mid-Autumn Festival, our unworthy descendant Lin Su, wandering in a foreign land, sets up this local altar for worship."

Today, we prepare incense and offerings for the deceased, to send our deepest remembrance...

May our ancestors bless us and help Lin Su uncover the truth and avenge his family. One day, we will surely rebuild the Lin family ancestral hall to restore our family's prestige.

After reciting the prayer, Lin Su kowtowed three times deeply, then continued burning paper money, whispering:

"My dearest mother, I was unable to fulfill my filial duties in your presence when you were alive, and in these three years I have also failed to achieve any academic success to bring honor to our family. I am an unfilial son."

To this day, the father's whereabouts remain unknown.

Even if the road ahead is fraught with danger and countless hardships, Su'er will surely find him and bring him home.

At this point, Lin Su's throat tightened, and the grievances and longing that had been building up for three years could no longer be contained. Tears welled up in his eyes and dripped down his cheeks to the ground.

Warm scenes from the old Lin family mansion flashed through his mind, and those warm old times turned into sharp blades, cutting back and forth in his heart.

He could no longer maintain his usual restraint; his shoulders trembled violently, and a suppressed sob escaped his lips…

He buried his head and began to sob uncontrollably.

After his emotions had calmed down a bit, he remembered the name of that old friend:

"Uncle Han, today Lin Su offered a distant libation with clear wine, and another day we will erect a monument for you."

Holding a stack of paper money, he separated three pieces and added them to the fire. Each time he added one, he expressed a thought from the bottom of his heart.

Lin Su remained asleep for a long time after the paper money had been burned to ashes.

As night deepened, the ashes of the paper swirled and danced in the cold wind, dissipating into the vast night sky.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in the back of my neck, and the light in front of me was instantly swallowed by darkness.

Just as Lin Su's consciousness completely collapsed, a cold whisper rang in his ear:

"I've been waiting for you for so long!"