929 Questioning Heaven in the Morass, Collecting Things Under the Jade Tree (2/2)

Nightfall Mao Ni 44690K 2022-07-20

”You are no match for her. Quit trying.”

Ning Que looked at the black donkey and tried to comfort him. He knew why Gaga was furious. It was his Youngest Uncle's donkey. How could it be fond of Haotian?

The black donkey had traveled around the world with Ke Haoran and formed its solitary, upright, irritable and arrogant character. It was in no way like Ning Que's big black horse who had inherited his impudence. His comforting did not work and it kept kicking its hoofs. I'll give everything today for a kick on your face, you hussy!

Though it had no idea what hussy meant, it was sure that was a dirty word.

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Despite of its pride, it could do nothing but surrender to this powerful enemy. Being the governor of the Morass, Gaga was still no match for Haotian. Although he inherited the pride from the Youngest Uncle, it also remembered the key technique the Academy had taught — to surrender when there was no chance of winning and plan for revenge later.

Countless wild horses occupied the marsh around them. They have never seen the sun and blue sky in the Morass before, so they all looked above and stayed unmoved, making themselves into a funny scene.

Only the black donkey knew it was because the wild horses did not dare to look at it being so wretched. It felt somehow pleased. When Ning Que provided it with some juice of the crashed fruits from the basket, it felt even more pleased. It wondered how it could have wasted its previous years without knowing such a wonderful way of consuming these fruits.

Ning Que tried hard to put its shabby carriage together and came to the donkey. He took out some plaster and applied on its pelada fur. Then he murmured something to it and Gaga nodded insincerely. However, he seemed satisfied and smiled to it.

Getting back to the carriage, he saw Sangsang's clear bright eyes and realized that she had seen through all his plans. However, it did not bother him because she was bound to know everything and his plans could never be carried out unless he could conquer her.

Gaga sat back into the shabby carriage and led the group of wild horses toward the fog at the other end of the Morass. It could not avenge his master, but it had tried its best and thus had no regrets.

Why is it heartbreaking to see the old black donkey in that carriage? Watching the crowd of wild horse trotting off and the heartbreaking donkey in the dust, Ning Que pondered for a long while and asked, ”The Youngest Uncle, what kind of person was he?”

Ke Haoran, the Youngest Uncle was a legend in the Back Hill of Academy and the human world. Ning Que received his legacy but did not know much about him even though he had heard a lot of stories about him.

What made him decide to draw his sword against Heaven? How did he die? What was he thinking at his last moment? What happened in the Wilderness back then?

No one, not even the Headmaster knew the answers to those questions, except for the Youngest Uncle who had passed away and Haotian who was standing right by his side. That was why Ning Que asked.

Sangsang said after a pause, ”He was a maniac.”

Ke Haoran had been referred to as Maniac Ke by the common people. However, if even Haotian agreed that he was a maniac, then it should be considered as the greatest honor and pride for a human being.

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Getting out of the Morass, they entered the West Wilderness. Ning Que and Sangsang kept going west. They traveled with no hurry, so when they finally arrived at the heart of the West Wilderness it was already autumn.

The autumn in the Central Plains was fresh, clear, and desolately charming. However, in the Wilderness it was nothing but chilling. A snow fall came right after some morning winds.

There were rolling hills in the deserted fields. A dead tree stood next to a hill with its frosting branches and it looked like a jade sculpture that was made by skillful craftsmen. They shivered in the snowstorm as if they were nodding to welcome some visiting friends.

Ning Que and Sangsang got out of the carriage and came to the dead tree. The branches suddenly shivered more violently and shook off the snow and frost. Then a hole was unveiled on the frozen and firm ground in front of the tree.

He bent down and collected the things from the hole, and headed back to the carriage. Sangsang followed. The hole in front of the dead tree disappeared immediately and the branches were re-covered by snow and frost. Everything seemed unchanged.

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