The Sorrowmender

Chapter 69 – Mister has left

Xu Qingzhou laughed heartily, without a hint of hesitation, and immediately took the storage bag.

He weighed it in his hand, and though it was midsummer, his smile was like a spring breeze.

"I, Xu, am but a mortal, merely elevated by others who call me Mister. Ordinary items may not interest me, but money, I have always been fond of."

"I helped you, and I took your money. This matter is settled, and we owe each other nothing."

Xu Qingzhou's straightforwardness moved the death warriors and Meng Xiao slightly. They were chosen and survived until now, so naturally, none of them were fools.

They understood well that Mister said and did this only to give them peace of mind.

After all, a few pieces of silver could never compare to the grace of saving their lives.

However, since Mister said so, neither Meng Xiao nor the three thousand death warriors wished to disrupt his goodwill.

Meng Xiao could only bow respectfully and say, "Thank you, Mister!"

Xu Qingzhou held the storage bag in one hand and patted Meng Xiao's shoulder with the other.

He said calmly, "The past is settled, so there's no need to bow anymore. Besides, you all helped me too, didn't you?"

After speaking, he raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over each death warrior.

Suddenly, he clasped his fists and spoke loudly:

"My friends, it is my fortune to meet and work with you."

"I wish you all may receive flowers for yourselves and ride freely towards freedom."

"Farewell, until we meet again."

Without waiting for a response, he mounted his horse and shook the reins.

"Let's go!"

"You must know that a young man's ambition reaches the clouds, once promising to be the best in the world."

His bold voice echoed across the wilderness, resonating far and wide.

Meng Xiao watched the young man in white on a white horse and shouted loudly.

"Salute!"

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Three thousand death warriors knelt on one knee in unison, gazing at the receding figure, and chanted together.

"We respectfully see Mister off, Mister, take care!!!"

Their voices echoed under the sky.

The first ray of morning light fell at this moment, casting a golden glow on the ground.

It seemed like a broad avenue, with Mister walking towards the light.

Xu Qingzhou left, coming from the light and heading towards the light.

Mister illuminated them, and the sun illuminated Mister.

It was a scene of joy, yet it was tinged with the sentiment of parting.

"Commander Meng, did Mister really leave just like that?"

"Yes, he left—it's time for us to go too."

Xu Qingzhou's smile lingered at the corners of his mouth, and the night's deep sorrow was wiped clean by the wind and light at this moment.

"It's truly over now."

In the City Lord's mansion, Lin Shuo had regained his former demeanor, his thick eyebrows exuding authority. He sat in the City Lord's seat, writing with a brush.

Beside him, Xiaohua, who had recovered as before, was half-squatting, grinding ink.

Lin Shuo wrote sheet after sheet without stopping, the papers on the desk stacked, all in black and white ink.

He was writing the words left by Mister Forgetting Worries before he left.

"Xiaohua, how many times have I written this?"

"Reporting to the City Lord, this is the 900th piece."

"Well, write a hundred more..."

"Okay—"

Suddenly, footsteps were heard outside the door, and soon several generals and officials entered the hall one after another.

They lined up on both sides of the hall, clasped their fists, and saluted.

"We pay respects to the City Lord!"

"The humble general pays respects to the City Lord."

Lin Shuo continued writing without pause, his eyebrows not lifting, as he slowly said:

"Is everything taken care of?"

A general cupped his hands and replied, "Reporting to the City Lord, the military has been completely purged, the situation stabilized, and the Mo family's nine clans and confidants have all been captured and are now in prison, awaiting the City Lord's decision."

Another scholar stepped forward.

"Reporting to the City Lord, the tasks assigned by the City Lord have been completed, everything is as expected by the City Lord."

Another person spoke.

"The pardon for the death warriors has also been written as per the City Lord's request, and is currently being sent to various government offices for public announcement."

Lin Shuo never stopped writing, letting them report while he continued with his own writing.

He was writing the words of Mister, a thousand times, to clear his mind.

He was writing words, yet they were not just words.

In one night, power shifted, and with Mo Shengge's death and the death warriors' secret assistance, he regained control over the entire Linfeng City in just one night.

He avoided unnecessary turmoil and regained power, standing above thousands. He should have been overjoyed, but for some reason, he couldn't feel happy.

In a low voice, he asked, "Did the Mister I mentioned leave?"

"Reporting to the City Lord, that Mister left the death warrior camp outside the city an hour ago. By now, he should have crossed the Luo River."

Upon hearing this, Lin Shuo's heart tightened, his hand trembled, and the brushstroke went off track, ruining the character.

He stared at the character, the brush no longer moving, his eyes filled with complexity.

"Still left..."

The scholar seemed to see through his thoughts.

"City Lord, if we send someone to pursue him now, there's still time."

Lin Shuo was stunned, raising his head, his gaze passing through the hall, looking outside, towards the direction of the Luo River.

Pursue?

He indeed had such thoughts. With Mister's great talent, who wouldn't cherish it? Moreover, he owed Mister a great debt, akin to a rebirth.

But he dared not forget Mister's words, nor the promise he made to Mister.

Last night's events must not be mentioned.

Moreover, how could Mister be confined to the small Linfeng?

For Haoran, Linfeng is too small; for Mister, Haoran is too narrow.

"Mister is not a creature of the pond, a Flood Dragon in the clouds and rain."

"No need, let him be."

"Yes, City Lord!" the person responded respectfully.

Although the City Lord did not say what happened between him and Mister, they all knew in their hearts that Mister held extraordinary significance for the City Lord.

"City Lord, how should we deal with the remnants of the Mo clan? Please instruct us."

Facing the inquiry, Lin Shuo's gaze softened as he looked at Xiaohua, who was grinding ink beside him.

"Xiaohua, what do you think? What should we do?"

Xiaohua, though flattered and a bit flustered, quickly calmed down, pointing to the words Lin Shuo had written repeatedly on the desk.

"Listen to Mister!"

Lin Shuo instinctively paused, his eyes flickering, silently reciting in his heart.

"Those who cultivate virtue and establish a name are like building a house and planting fruit."

"In life, they reap its benefits; in death, they leave its legacy."

He then smiled calmly, "Alright, listen to Mister."

He put down the brush, sat up straighter, and looked at the officials in the hall, saying:

"Record!"

"Mo Shengge was the City Lord's wife. Her actions were my family's affairs. Since it's a family matter, it shouldn't implicate others. Therefore, release the Mo family's nine clans and others, restore their official positions, and cease further investigation."

The officials and generals were bewildered, not knowing why. Such an outcome was beyond their expectations.

When they looked at the City Lord, he seemed strangely unfamiliar, as if meeting him for the first time.

"Also, from today, reduce the taxes of Linfeng's people by thirty percent. Go and implement it..."

The generals were confused, while the scholars were delighted.

"City Lord, wise and brilliant."

Lin Shuo gazed at the dome, his eyes deep.

"Mister, do you see? I am doing as you said, learning to be a good person, a wise ruler."