Mortal: Traveling Between Two Realms with Mei Ning to Pick Up Trash

Time flows on.

It has been ten years since Zhou Yu last visited Qingzhu Xiaoxuan. Even if Zhou Yu doesn't say it, he has to admit that he misses Mei Ning a little.

I've lived for thirty years across my two lifetimes combined, and for some reason, when I think of Mei Ning's face, I always have a feeling I've never had before.

A voice interrupted his thoughts.

"What are you thinking about?"

Zhou Yu turned to look at Han Li approaching, smiled, then looked at the rainy day outside and asked, "Shopkeeper, is there anyone you find hard to forget?"

Han Li looked at the rainy day outside and remained silent upon hearing this.

Zhou Yu shook his head. The longer he stayed in this world, the more distant he felt from his original world, and the more difficult it became for him to simply see the people or things in this world as characters in a story.

Is Han Li really just seen as the protagonist in a tale of a mortal cultivating immortality? It's hard to see it that way anymore.

Zhou Yu waved his hand, and two bamboo chairs flew over.

The two sat under the eaves, watching the heavy rain outside.

Zhou Yu remembered his older sister from his previous life.

It seemed to be a rainy day when he bought many things for his niece, but he didn't feel any heartache. Even though his sister didn't say it, he understood why she didn't continue her studies in high school.

My family was poor. My grandfather had passed away, and my parents were always arguing. My father was an uneducated scoundrel, and my mother alone couldn't afford to pay for both of our tuition fees.

My older sister didn't continue high school; she went to find a job, though neither of them ever told me why.

At first, things weren't so unacceptable, but recalling them later made them increasingly painful.

I must make something of myself, not let them down, and make my sister happy.

Did I achieve that? I'm not sure. I did get into a good university and found a job that others would consider respectable.

Looking back, it seems like everything was just beginning when I came into this world.

Suddenly I feel like I haven't accomplished anything all these years. A cultivator! A cultivator!

They may seem omnipotent, but in reality, they are no less helpless than ordinary people.

Another voice came.

"Zhou Yu! Shopkeeper!"

Zhou Yu watched as Xiao Qin and Xiao Tan walked slowly towards him, each holding an umbrella.

"Brother Qin." Zhou Yu smiled at Xiao Qin, then looked at Xiao Tan, whose face seemed even paler.

Xiao Qin walked to the eaves, closed his umbrella, nodded to Zhou Yu, and then called out to Han Li, his tone still warm and enthusiastic, as if rainy days were a very interesting thing.

Xiao Tan didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly as a greeting.

Zhou Yu then casually gestured for two chairs. "Sit down. What made you decide to come over in this heavy rain?"

Xiao Qin helped Xiao Tan sit down before sitting down himself. He took out a small cloth bag from his pocket, opened it, and inside were a few pieces of osmanthus cake, although they were a little broken from the bumpy ride.

"This was made by Xiao Tan. I said I would bring some for you and the shopkeeper, but I haven't had time until now. It's raining today, so Xiao Tan can't set up her stall. I'll just deliver it now."

Zhou Yu and Han Li accepted the osmanthus cake.

Zhou Yu took a bite and laughed, "Sister Xiao Tan's cooking is still so good."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tan's paleness seemed to lessen, and a faint smile appeared on her face.

Zhou Yu put the remaining osmanthus cakes aside and looked at Xiao Qin, "Brother Qin, how have you been lately?"

Xiao Qin rubbed his hands together and smiled, "Not bad, the recent missions have all gone smoothly."

Zhou Yu nodded. "That's good."

Xiao Qin chuckled twice, glanced at Xiao Tan, then turned back and lowered his voice, "Zhou Yu, I've been thinking about something lately."

"What is it?"

Xiao Qin hesitated for a moment, scratched his head, and said, "Well... I heard that there is a kind of medicinal herb in the outer sea that can cure Xiao Tan's illness. I want to go to the outer sea to take on a mission."

Zhou Yu glanced at him, then at Xiao Tan, "The outer sea is not like the inner sea; it's too dangerous."

"I'm not afraid, and I'm not the only one going on missions." Xiao Qin patted his chest, but his tone didn't sound as confident as he said he was.

Xiao Tan suddenly spoke up, "I disagree."

It was just three words, but the tone was very firm.

Xiao Qin opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back, lowered his head, rubbed his hands together, and didn't mention it again.

Xiao Tan didn't say anything more, her gaze falling on the rain-soaked ground outside, watching the raindrops create one small crater after another.

Zhou Yu looked at the two of them, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly asked, "Brother Qin, Sister Xiao Tan, you've been married for several years now, haven't you?"

Xiao Qin paused for a moment, then looked up. "Yeah, almost six years."

"Haven't you thought about having a child?"

As soon as the words were spoken, the courtyard fell silent, and the rain became exceptionally clear, pattering loudly.

Xiao Qin's smile froze for a moment. He turned to look at Xiao Tan, but Xiao Tan didn't look at him and kept her head down.

"I've thought about it," Xiao Qin said, her voice much lower. "Xiao Tan is weak, and the doctor said... she needs to recover first."

Zhou Yu didn't press further, but a hint of confusion flashed in his eyes.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked, "Sister Xiaotan, how's the recipe I mentioned last time?"

Xiao Tan said softly, "I'm feeling better, I cough less at night, but..."

"Just what?"

"I just don't have the energy," Xiao Tan said. "I get out of breath after walking just a few steps, and I can't muster the energy to do anything. Sometimes I wonder if I'm a burden to him."

Her gaze gently fell on Xiao Qin, who had her head down and seemed not to have heard what she said.

Zhou Yu put down his teacup and said seriously, "Sister Xiao Tan, you are not a burden. If Brother Qin is willing, then you are not a burden."

Xiao Tan's eyes reddened slightly. She nodded, turned her head, and looked at the bamboo forest rustling in the rain.

The rain seemed to have lessened a bit, changing from a downpour to a drizzle.

Xiao Qin stood up and helped Xiao Tan up as well. "Zhou Yu, shopkeeper, let's go back first, the rain has lessened."

Zhou Yu saw them to the door and stuffed a packet of medicine into Xiao Qin's hand, "Take this back and give it to Sister Xiao Tan to help her recover."

Xiao Qin declined twice, but couldn't refuse, so he accepted it. He opened the umbrella and tilted it towards Xiao Tan.

Zhou Yu stood at the door, watching their figures disappear into the rain and mist.

Turning around, he saw Han Li still sitting under the eaves, holding a teacup in his hand. The tea had gone cold, but he hadn't drunk it; he was just holding it there.

Zhou Yu walked over and sat down next to Han Li.

"Xiao Zhou, did you deliberately ask them if they wanted children?" Han Li suddenly asked.

Zhou Yu leaned back in his chair, watching the rain dripping from the eaves. "Cultivators may seem carefree, but they don't necessarily live as long as mortals. Foundation Establishment takes two hundred years, Golden Core takes five hundred years. They sound long, but how many of them can actually die peacefully in their old age?"

He paused, his gaze falling on the bamboo outside, which was glistening from the rain. "Brother Qin and Sister Xiaotan, they are both good people. I hope they can have a child, a hope, so that even if something unexpected happens in the future, they will have the motivation to live."

Han Li remained silent for a long time before putting down the cup of cold tea in his hand.

"You're too soft-hearted," he said.

Zhou Yu smiled and did not refute.

She sighed inwardly. In her past life, she couldn't change her family's fate, and in this life, she can't change the fate of others. So why did fate send her to this world?

The two sat under the eaves, watching the water droplets hanging on the bamboo leaves. When the wind blew, they fell down in a soft patter, like another light rain.

……

The two returned to the house and were sitting down when Master He arrived.

"This rain just won't stop." His voice was still the same, unhurried and calm.

Zhou Yu stood up, placed a chair down, and said, "Mr. He, please sit down."

Master He walked over and sat down, moving a little slower than before. The chair creaked as he sat down, and he adjusted his position before he could sit comfortably.

His gaze fell on the chessboard, which was still in its original position, with the chess pieces neatly arranged on both sides, as if waiting for someone to play at any time.

"Come on, let's play chess. We haven't decided the winner of yesterday's game yet," he said, reaching for a chess piece.

The placement of the piece was good, still the star position he usually played, and his momentum remained the same. However, the sound of the piece hitting the ground was a little softer than before, as if his strength was not as great as it used to be.

Han Li picked up a black piece and placed it down.

The two men stood under the eaves after the rain, placing their pieces one by one, neither of them speaking.

When Master He reached the middle of the game, he suddenly stopped and coughed. It was a light cough, and he covered it with his sleeve before quickly letting it fall.

He picked up the teacup and took a sip. The tea was freshly brewed; Qu Hun had brought it over sometime during the day, and it was still steaming.

"This tea is good," he said.

Zhou Yu sat to the side, looking at the black and white pieces on the chessboard, without saying a word.

"Little Zhou, your chess skills haven't improved lately," Master He suddenly spoke, without looking up, his gaze still fixed on the chessboard. "Did you stop practicing once you reached the Foundation Establishment stage?"

Zhou Yu smiled and said, "Old He is right, there has indeed been less rain recently."

"You can't stop playing chess," Master He said, picking up a white piece and placing it down. "If you don't practice for a day, your skills will become rusty; if you don't practice for ten days, your mind will become rusty; if you don't practice for a month, everything will become rusty."

Zhou Yu responded with a nod, offering no explanation.

Han Li placed a black stone, blocking one of the white stones' escape routes. Master He exclaimed in surprise, tilted his head to observe for a moment, and stroked his beard. "This move is interesting."

He reached for a chess piece, flicked it twice in the chess box with his fingertips, and then picked up a white piece.

The game continued, with more and more black and white pieces appearing.

As the game drew to a close, Master He counted the pieces, shook his head, then nodded. "You won, you won. This game of yours is getting harder and harder to win."

Han Li put the chess pieces back into the chess box. "Old He's chess is still the same."

Master He laughed twice, but his laughter wasn't as loud as before.

He stood up, dusted off his robe, walked to the door, and looked out at the bamboo forest.

"I'll come again tomorrow," he said.

Zhou Yu stood at the door, watching that figure gradually disappear into the bamboo forest.

Han Li walked to his side, holding a teacup in his hand.

The two stood under the eaves, looking at the bamboo forest after the rain. The wind blew from the depths of the bamboo forest, carrying the smell of earth and the fragrance of bamboo leaves.

Zhou Yu leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, and asked, "Boss, how much longer do you think Old Master He can stay down?"

Han Li did not answer. He held the cup of cold tea and stood there for a long time until the light on the horizon dimmed before turning around and going back into the shop.

The curtain fell, swayed a few times, and then gradually quieted down.