802 Coming Home Part I (1/2)

The winter was cold and windy.

As the tension was released, the refugees were relocated. People living in the Southern City were working hard to rebuild their homeland.

Hundreds of Tang soldiers were passing by along the road. Judging from their armor and weapons, they were likely to be from the garrison troops. Seeing them, people would put down their tools and encourage them. Some of them would shout, ”Come on, Chang'an is close.”

The soldiers would nod and move on. The applause would stop soon after. Since the imperial court was unable to increase the relief efforts, they had to help themselves out to pull through the winter. At least, they had to mend the houses.

Behind the Tang Army's procession there were several carriages. People assumed they were southern officials and paid no attention to them. They would never believe that these people in the carriages had, in a sense, saved the country.

The sunshine shone through the gaps and fell on Jun Mo's face—his pale face looked like white snow under the sunshine. He looked at the scorched village and kept silent. Nobody knew what he was thinking.

Mu You looked at his face and could not help becoming worried.

All of the Academy disciples had been injured in the Verdant Canyon. She was less injured but she had spent too much Psyche Power in maintaining the tactical array. She felt better after these days.

The rest of them were all in worse shapes and still could not get up after treatment. They all rested in the trailing horse carriages, hoping to recover.

Jun Mo was the one she worried the most since his injuries were the most severe. He had woken up after they left the Verdant Canyon. He seemed fine, but everyone was worried.

It was because he barely talked during the trip—he just sat by the window, watching the wilderness covered with snow or the burned villages.

Looking at his face and hair scattering on his back, Mu You rested her eyes on his empty sleeve and sighed silently in her heart.

The carriages did not enter Chang'an. They headed directly to the Academy.

The Tang Army who escorted them had left before they reached the meadow. The meadow was covered with snow and peach flowers, which hadn't yet blossomed. The Academy was quiet and lonely.

There was no royalty, ministers and citizens welcoming them and they heard no gong sounds. Only a few people were waiting for them.

However, they didn't care. They did not inform the people in Chang'an. Returning to the Academy was coming home.

There were only two people waiting for them on the meadow—the cute little servant, Xu Jialun and Ning Que, who was leaning on a crutch and covered in bandages.

The little servant cried out before he could say something.

He had been scared since Jun Mo left. He was so excited when he saw his young master come back safely until he found his empty sleeve.

He cried out loudly.

Jun Mo frowned and said, ”Stop.”

Upon hearing this, the little servant tried to stop, but his tears were too much to be wiped off. Then he saw Jun Mo's hair which made him break down once again.

”Young master, what happened to your hair?”

Staring at his empty sleeve and gray hair, Ning Que was speechless.

Jun Mo said with a straight face, ”It is too dusty after the long trip.”

It sounded clumsy and adorable, but no one laughed.

The carriage was quiet.

”Why is the Academy so quiet?” Second Brother asked.

Ning Que answered, ”Third Sister dismissed the instructors and students in advance, so some of them left. Most of them are working for the imperial court in Chang'an or joined the army.”

Jun Mo asked, ”How are Elder Brother and Yu Lian?”

”They are disabled for now, but they look fine,” Ning Que answered.

The carriage drove through the ruined stone gate of the Academy and went deep inside.

The buildings and the Front Hall of the second floor had been destroyed. Even the paths to the old library and the back of the mountain were devastated. They could not find anyone to rebuild them for now.

Jun Mo grew silent as he was taking in the scene.

It was still as warm as spring in the back of the mountain.

The little servant and Tang Xiaotang carried the disciples into the hut and laid them on beds for their recovery. Some of them had woken up, but the rest were still unconscious.

There would be no vertical bamboo flute sounds, music, booming sounds, or brawls between Song Qian and the Eighth Brother temporarily. Probably they would never see their Master again.

The Eldest Brother and Yu Lian were both sitting in wheelchairs.

Jun Mo released Mu You's hand and walked to the Eldest Brother, saluting. Then he turned to Yu Lian and said, ”Xiong Chumo deserves to die. Why didn't you kill him?”

Yu Lian answered, ”He is more useful living than dead.”

Second Brother thought for a while and let it go.

Looking at his empty sleeve and gray hair, Eldest Brother comforted him and said, ”Teacher told us, if something was unchangeable, we have to adapt.”

”I don't care, but I feel sorry.”