CHAPTER 852: CHAPTER 849: PHOTOGRAPH

With reunions, there are also farewells.

Reunions are always joyful, but farewells are heart-wrenching.

Relationships in the world come and go, that’s the nature of things.

Shen Siyuan gave Liu Shanhai a day’s time, but this day must come to an end.

"So, are you leaving?"

Qi Wenjing asked softly, her voice unable to hide her sadness, yet she still tried to appear calm and composed.

They played outside for a whole morning, then returned to the spot where they met yesterday.

It was also the coconut grove where Liu Shanhai and Qi Wenjing had their wedding photos taken.

"Hmm~" Liu Shanhai nodded gently.

Then, with a smile, he feigned a relaxed tone: "Don’t miss me too much. If you really can’t help it, go climb Siming Mountain. You’ll be too tired to think of anything..."

Siming Mountain is an unknown mountain near their hometown, with an elevation of over a thousand meters, and when they were newlyweds, they often went climbing there.

Qi Wenjing liked the mountain very much, but always complained of fatigue, then would ask Liu Shanhai to carry her, but once tired, she’d stop thinking of anything.

"I... I didn’t need anyone to carry me, I was lying."

Qi Wenjing could no longer maintain her composure, her voice tinged with the sound of tears.

"I know, but I liked carrying you," Liu Shanhai said softly.

Between the two stood Liu Yongkang, who looked up at his dad and then at his mom.

Although only five years old, he faintly seemed to understand something.

"Daddy, are you leaving? When will you come back?" Liu Yongkang asked.

Liu Shanhai didn’t know how to answer him.

Qi Wenjing noticed his difficulty, so she smiled and said to their son: "When you miss him next time, he will come back."

Liu Yongkang stared up at her silently.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Qi Wenjing asked guiltily.

"Mommy is lying," Liu Yongkang said.

Then he turned back, continuing to look at Liu Shanhai.

Liu Shanhai thought for a moment and said: "If you miss me, go climb the mountain with Mommy. You take good care of her, little man."

Liu Shanhai reached out and ruffled his smooth hair, messing it up.

Li Yongkang frowned and pushed his hand away, a little unhappy: "But... but I can’t carry her."

"Mom doesn’t need you to carry her; just don’t let her carry you next time."

Qi Wenjing teased deliberately, trying to sound lighter to dilute the sadness of goodbye.

"I won’t, but once I grow a bit older, I can carry Mommy."

"That’s great, little man, let’s agree on that then," Liu Shanhai said with great effort to hold back his sadness.

"Of course, let’s bet on it."

"Alright, pinky swear..."

...

The limited time quietly slipped away as they spoke, and it was soon time for Liu Shanhai to leave.

Qi Wenjing looked at the resting bench beside them, and suggested: "Let’s take a photo."

"A photo? But..."

Liu Shanhai wanted to explain, but Qi Wenjing interrupted him directly.

"No buts, come on over quickly."

She reached out to hold their son in her arms and quickly walked over to the resting bench nearby.

Liu Shanhai helplessly walked forward and sat beside her.

Qi Wenjing took out her phone and handed it to him.

"You take the photo for us."

Seeing Qi Wenjing’s serious expression, Liu Shanhai could only pick up the phone and start the camera.

The Liu Yongkang in Qi Wenjing’s arms wanted to turn around, but she held him still with her hand.

"Mommy’s holding you, it’s fine."

"Then you’ll just take a picture of my butt," Liu Yongkang complained.

"Then we’ll take a picture of your butt," Qi Wenjing gently patted his bottom twice.

At this moment, Liu Shanhai had already opened the camera interface, holding the phone high, though there was no trace of him in the lens.

But Qi Wenjing didn’t mind, extending a hand to interlock her fingers with Liu Shanhai’s, her body slightly leaning towards him, her whole body fully relying on his body weight for support.

Since there was no image of Liu Shanhai in the lens, this action appeared odd in the photo, completely defying the principles of physics.

And Liu Shanhai finally understood why Qi Wenjing wanted to take this photo.

This very photo without him would prove that he indeed existed.

With a click, their phone album had a new entry—a photo showing Qi Wenjing leaning awkwardly, as Liu Yongkang tried hard to look back.

"I’m leaving."

Liu Shanhai placed the phone on the bench.

Qi Wenjing raised her head slightly and closed her eyes.

Then she felt as if her lips were lightly kissed, and just as quickly as it happened, it was gone.

She slowly opened her eyes, and sure enough, Liu Shanhai had disappeared from her sight.

Qi Wenjing stood there dazedly, tears welling up in her eyes.

At this time, Liu Yongkang had finally broken free from his mother’s embrace.

"Mommy, why are you crying?"

He reached out a tiny hand and wiped at Qi Wenjing’s eye corners, turning his head to look around, only to find no sign of his dad.

Seeing the empty space beside him, with no one around, he stood in a stupor.

Then he said, "Daddy left, didn’t he?"

He murmured softly: "He sure ran fast."

The originally grief-stricken Qi Wenjing was amused by her son’s words.

Tears in her eyes and a smile on her lips, she picked her son up and stood up.

"Kangkang, let’s go home," Qi Wenjing said.

"But we just came for two days, are we going back already?"

As Liu Yongkang spoke, he was still looking around, trying to find where his dad was hiding.

"Mommy has some things to do when we get back, we’ll come back next time, okay?"

Thinking of her husband’s remains still in the desolate mountains, her heart ached sharply.

"Okay."

Liu Yongkang might have sensed something, and he nodded obediently in agreement.

Watching the two walk away, Liu Shanhai then rolled up a gust of Yin Wind, circling around them and soaring up into the sky...

Qi Wenjing looked up at the sky, waved her hand.

"Goodbye."

She whispered softly in her heart.

-----------------

"What you said, I already know. It’s fine, you go back into the Ten Thousand Soul Banner first."

Shen Siyuan gestured, pulling Liu Shanhai directly into the Ten Thousand Soul Banner.

As it turned out, upon his return, Liu Shanhai had first expressed his deep gratitude to Shen Siyuan, then told him about his encounter with Huang Lancai today.

He didn’t know Huang Lancai’s name, but from his description, Shen Siyuan quickly understood whom he referred to.

As for his identity as the Qiong State Governor, he had never intended to keep it a secret.

After hearing about it, Huang Lancai hurried back, which led Shen Siyuan to surmise a few things, as he had met Grandpa Liu.

His attire, if someone didn’t know, could easily mistake him for a Wuchang from the Netherworld.

Now that he held the power of Qiong State Governor, when the Netherworld opens again, such a vast place would indeed require some staff.

Compared to a wandering ghost with no knowledge, an old ghost like Grandpa Liu, with rich experience, would surely be more handy.

As Shen Siyuan had just absorbed Liu Shanhai into the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, a pink and white tender arm climbed onto his shoulder.

Since the morning when Shen Siyuan said he would help the two women increase their cultivation level, Ruan Hongzhuang still behaved with some restraint.

However, Taozi was unconcerned, directly clinging to Shen Siyuan, following wherever he went, sticking close and rubbing, with a cheeky grin...

PS: There are two more Chapters to come later. Taking the kids to interest classes on Saturday and Sunday, so there’s a lot going on.