Chapter 3: Zhou Ying

  Xu Hua held the bronze-colored pot-like object in his hand, carefully examining the marks engraved on it. There were mythical beasts and plants, under a thin layer of deep yellow copper rust, as if they had really gone through countless ages of baptism and reappeared in the world. However, Xu Hua put it down decisively, perhaps this was indeed an artifact from many years ago, but these things seemed to be just ordinary viewing objects, with no connection to martial arts whatsoever.

  Xu Hua then picked out a few more to look at, but none of them caught his eye. However, there was one jade pendant that seemed to have been worn smooth by the years, and it felt comfortable to the touch. Perhaps giving it to Xiaoying would be a good choice.

  Xu Hua thought for a moment and then said to Hu Tan Zhu: "This one will do, I don't need anything else."

  Although Xu Hua only chose one item, the stall owner was doing a lucrative business after all, and as long as he could sell one item, he would be able to pass the time.

  Xu Hua took the jade pendant with the incomplete moon engraved on it, paid the silver coins and quickly left, after all he was going to see Xiao Ying.

  "Welcome back next time, young master!" The boss of the stall in the back shouted loudly, then immediately packed up his stall and left with a smile.

  This deal was worth fifty taels of silver, and since one tael of silver is equal to a thousand copper coins, it was already a considerable gain, enough for him to live comfortably for two months.

  After leaving Hutuan's stall, Xu Hua quickly walked towards the northern civilian district. The people of Qing Mountain Town along the way were already accustomed to Xu Hua's behavior and were busy with their own affairs. Some who had received favors from Xu Hua would greet him, and he would nod in response.

  The northern part of Qing Shan Town is the poorest area in Qing Shan Town, where most of the poor people live. The houses here are very different from those in other places. They are all single-story and made of mud and wood, looking shabby and dilapidated. Some even have small holes, through which the rain and wind enter the house on windy and rainy days, making it difficult for the owners to keep warm.

  "Woof! Woof!"

  As soon as Xu Hua entered the northern district, he heard two dog barks and the sound of a rooster crowing. It was clear that someone's rooster had clashed with their neighbor's dog, which was something that only happened in commoner districts. People outside the northern district might raise dogs, but roosters were unique to the northern district.

  "Xiao Hua is here, come on in and take a seat! Auntie just made some Laba congee, it's delicious!"

  "Xiao Hua, Uncle, I boiled some eggs today, take a few to try!"

  Xu Hua walked along the way, seeing his aunts and uncles would shout at him to go in and eat something, rest, drink some water and so on. They had all received kindness from Xu Hua and Zhou Ying, but the agreed meeting place was not here. He hastily said: "Thank you, auntie and uncle, I still have to go to Dog Remains Grandfather's house today, I won't come in now, I'll come again when I'm free!"

  "Hua Zi, come and play often!"

  Listening to the uncle and aunt's voices, Xu Huahuan left with a smile. The uncles and aunts behind him couldn't help but exclaim: "Huazai is really a good person! He and Xiaoying are like living Bodhisattvas. They are the third young master of the Xu family and the second miss of the Zhou family, yet they come to our humble abode every day. It's really hard for them to do so. We're lucky to have met such noble people, it's truly a blessing from our past lives!"

  "Who says it's not? The other day, my child's mother fell ill and I had no money to buy medicine. I was anxious, luckily Hua Zi sent me five taels of silver and a piece of meat. I bought the medicine back and gave it to my child's mother to drink, and also made her a bowl of meat soup. In just two days, her illness was cured. If it wasn't for Hua Zi, I really don't know what I would have done!"

  "What's this, my Luda fell into the well a few days ago when neither I nor my husband were at home. Luckily, Hua was passing by and he personally jumped in to rescue him. If it weren't for him, my Luda would have drowned."

  "Yes, it's our good fortune to have met such a good person. Huazhi is a good man with good retribution, and in the future he will pass the imperial examination and enter the court to benefit the people."

  Xu Hua hurriedly rushed to Dog Leftover Grandpa's house, unaware of what the uncles and aunts behind him were discussing.

  At this time, Xiaoying had already arrived, and she was standing in front of Dog Remain Grandfather's house, combing his messy hair for him.

  Upon hearing the footsteps, Xiaoying looked up, revealing her pale and delicate face. Her long hair was tied up, with a slender neck, and her small white hands were holding a large towel to dry Dog Sheng's white hair. Seeing Xu Hua's arrival, Xiaoying freed one hand and beckoned to Xu Hua: "Hua brother is late today, hurry over to help."

  Listening to Xiaoying's crisp voice, Xu Hua ran over with a smile and said: "Hello, Dog Remain Grandpa." Then he helped him dry his hair.

  "Ah, it's Huazai who has come!" Dog Remains Grandfather lifted his head and looked at Xu Hua with kindness.

  "Hua brother, the roof of Dog Left Grandpa's house has many more holes again. You must help him repair it, otherwise when the windy and rainy days come, Dog Left Grandpa will catch a cold again."

  "Don't worry, leave it to me!" Xu Hua ran into the dimly lit small house, carried out a ladder, came to the front yard leaning against the beam, picked up the various tools Xiaoying had prepared, climbed onto the roof, and started patching up the leaks for Dog Remain Grandfather.

  In front of the house, Xiaoying helped Dog Sheng Grandpa deal with some other miscellaneous things, from time to time looking at Xuhua who was lying on the roof, with a smile on his face, overflowing with happiness.

  In her eyes, Xu Hua Gege is the kindest person in the world. He has become the pride of her heart. As long as she is with Xu Hua Gege, even if life is bitter, it's still happy. Moreover, she herself likes to help others and finds joy in helping others.

  On the rooftop, Xu Hua crouched on the roof repairing one hole after another, his mind a jumble of thoughts.

  Growing up in the Xujia, he came into contact with more knowledge than ordinary people, and his father was extremely fond of him, always encouraging the thoughts in his heart. Over the years, he read through book after book, understanding more and more principles, and living in the Xujia that made him feel not constrained at all, he gradually formed his own unique ideas.

  The book says: Warriors are mostly impulsive and act on their emotions, some people are carefree and uninhibited, while others do things without considering the consequences, being brave and fierce, relying on strength to bully the weak, causing trouble and stirring up endless disasters; while scholars govern the world with literature, hiding a gentleman's breath in their chest, treating people with benevolence...

  Or perhaps it was the beginning of human nature, and he gradually began to reject martial artists. He thought that martial artists were too overbearing, while scholars used reason to persuade people and reason to guide people, so he became infatuated with reading books.

  But gradually he discovered that bookworms are not all as righteous and just as they are described in books, there are also many hypocrites among them who are selfish and self-serving, their poison is even greater than some warriors. During this time, he became lost and confused, wondering what to do?

  What is the purpose of my existence?

  What is the meaning of my life?

  What is the pursuit of martial arts for warriors?

  ……

  After a long period of confusion and bewilderment, he suddenly became enlightened.

  My existence is to enjoy this beautiful world, to enjoy all the good things in it that I think are beautiful. Taking a comfortable bath is enjoyment, eating with gusto is enjoyment, and reading with enthusiasm is also enjoyment.

  The meaning of my life... isn't the meaning of my life to enjoy the beauty I want, protect the tenderness in my heart, adhere to my own ideals, and step by step develop towards my own ideals? Even to the point of using my own ideals to infect others' ideals, so that more people can identify with my ideals, and even share the same ideal as me?

  A warrior chases his own way, pursuing his own path!

  Everything has become clear, he finally dispersed the fog and saw the blue sky, he thoroughly formed his own ideas.

  At the same time, Xu Hua lamented that most people muddle through life without knowing what they truly want or their own ideology. Perhaps life itself has too much helplessness and frustration, causing them to gradually lose themselves.

  This world has light and darkness, good people and bad people, kindness and malice. It will never collapse completely just because of the loss of one person. Tomorrow, the sun will still rise in the east and set in the west; when one person dies, another is born; when one family declines, another rises; when one country falls, another emerges.

  So whether a person is evil or good, there isn't much of a constraint, everything follows one's nature. However, this still depends on the rules and norms of the world around them. If in a country everyone is good and follows the path of goodness, then if you are evil, you'd better think carefully about whether you can handle the consequences that come with being evil.

  ……

  In the end, Xu Hua came to a conclusion that as long as one has a clear idea of what they want to do and moves forward steadfastly, everything is worth it. To live with an independent ideology, and to die for one's own ideology, then there will be no regrets.

  The most tragic are those who have not formed their own ideas. Xu Hua has great benevolence and perseverance in his heart, he wants to save all living beings from the sea of suffering. You can be good, you can be evil, just don't waste your life, then you will gain something.

  He wants to save the world with his own body, rescue all living beings from suffering, but this path is more difficult than reaching the sky. This is a warrior's world, a powerful and cruel world where one person can destroy a country. To save the world, you need to have the power to suppress the world; otherwise, you will die yourself, and what's the point of being compassionate or kind?

  When Xuhua opened his eyes again to look at the world, he discovered different brilliance. In an instant of enlightenment, Xuhua, who had previously disliked martial arts, understood the importance of strength and the necessity of becoming a powerful warrior.

  From now on, Xu Hua is no longer the same Xu Hua as before. What's coming next may shock many people, but he is still the kind-hearted Xu Hua with a gentle and weak girl by his side who shares similar temperament.

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