novelraw Chapter 1156: Jewels
Chapter 1156: Jewels
The first press conference began at 9 a.m. and lasted nearly three hours. It gave detailed explanations regarding the cause of the incident, the extent of the disaster, the rescue efforts, and more.
The elderly man who stood at the podium didn’t pause for a single moment, his face filled with sorrow throughout the entire event.
Many people had no idea what had really happened. The incident had occurred too far away. But now that everything was exposed, the entire nation was in mourning… By all accounts, this was the most devastating natural disaster in recorded history.
A nation united in grief and resilience.
…
At the newly reopened airport, cold wind blew steadily.
“That’s enough—any further and you’ll be walking me all the way home!”
Ren Ziling gave Leng Feng a firm pat on the shoulder.
Because of the recent catastrophe, the once-busy airport now felt eerily deserted. Most people had canceled their trips, unsure if another disaster might strike again.
Ren Ziling had only reconnected with Leng Feng the previous day. When he learned that she had gotten separated during the chaos and had hidden until the heavy fog cleared, he was relieved and glad.He had suggested she leave the area as soon as possible. Ren Ziling didn’t hesitate—once the airport resumed operations, she immediately booked a ticket home.
“If anything happens in the future, call this number,” Leng Feng quietly slipped her a card.
Madam Ren blinked and glanced at the card. It had only a number, no name. She asked curiously, “Oho, Er Lengzi, what kind of connection is this?”
“It’s a number for a staff officer in your regional military unit. A classmate of mine from my academy days. If something comes up that’s hard to handle, contact him. I’m in the capital—too far to help in time.”
Ren Ziling paused, then laughed. “I’m just a small-time journalist. What kind of unsolvable trouble would I run into? Besides, there’s still Old Ma... You’re really pulling strings for me, huh?”
Leng Feng said seriously, “The world might not be peaceful going forward… Better safe than sorry. Besides, having more connections isn’t a bad thing. I’ll find a chance to visit you all soon.”
“Fine,” Ren Ziling shook her head and grumbled, “All of you keep stuffing my cardholder full of numbers like this. It’s like I can’t even breathe without causing trouble.”
“Better safe than sorry,” Leng Feng advised sincerely.
After a bright smile and a big hug, Ren Ziling picked up her luggage and walked into the security checkpoint with Li Zi and Akiko.
After the screening, Li Zi handed Ren Ziling a new phone—a budget model.
“When did you buy this?” Ren Ziling asked curiously—her old phone had been lost somehow, and she’d have to get a new SIM once back home.
“Along the way,” Li Zi replied casually. She didn’t dare say she had accidentally left Ren Ziling’s phone behind while fleeing.
With no SIM, they couldn’t check for missed calls… but the social apps could still be accessed.
“Holy crap! My son’s home!!!”
…
Elsewhere in the airport—at the international terminal—another farewell was happening.
Zhang Qianrui of the Zhang family was seeing off the Song family. Miss Zhang had only suffered some fright in the disaster and had actually been evacuated from the foggy zone early on, observing the situation from a safe distance.
When the Song family requested to leave, the Zhang family gave full support. Owning one of the top three private airlines in the country, it wasn’t hard for them to arrange a discreet departure—even in these extraordinary times.
Zhang family’s southern patriarch, Zhang Li Lanfang, didn’t question Song Tianyou’s urgency. He personally arranged everything.
(Note: Changed Zhang Lilanfang to Zhang Li Lanfang)
Leaving were Old Master Song and his party. Song Haoran chose to stay behind—he didn’t even enter the airport, just saw them off from outside.
In the departure lounge, Song Ying grabbed the old man’s hand. “Grandpa, why did you let Song Haoran do what he wants again? That weird woman gives me a dangerous feeling!”
The old man patted her hand. “Mr. Blind said that kid has his own path—and knows how to walk it. If he’s staying, he has his reasons. Besides, your uncle’s not just standing by doing nothing.”
Song Ying tilted her head in confusion.
Song Tianyou looked out at the runway. “He’s taken some funds and plans to carry out humanitarian work under the group’s name. After this, I plan to expand some legitimate business operations here domestically.”
Song Ying opened her mouth to speak, then lowered her voice, “But Grandpa, aren’t we on the blacklist?”
Old Master Song chuckled. “Your uncle’s collected so many favors and tokens from powerful people—he’s bound to find some that’ll work. And besides, falling leaves return to their roots. The Song family’s roots are here.”
Song Ying whispered, “Grandpa, those people are still watching. I don’t think they’ll leave until we’re airborne.”
Song Tianyou frowned, then said calmly, “They did assist in the rescue, on Mr. Blind’s behalf. But recently their attitude has shifted. Something might have happened related to Mr. Blind… We’re just ordinary folks—we can’t interfere or fight back. Best to turn a deaf ear.”
“Still no contact from Master Blind?”
Song Tianyou shook his head. “He only sent me one message, saying all was well and not to worry. But a transcendent man like him—his actions are beyond our understanding. If he says leave, then we must trust he has his reasons.”
“Alright,” Song Ying nodded.
At that moment, Zhang Qianrui, accompanied by Mr. Ah Qi, walked up. “Old Master Song, everything is arranged. Please board the plane.”
“Much appreciated, Miss Zhang,” Song Tianyou smiled warmly. He had genuine affection for the well-mannered Zhang heiress. “Miss Zhang, Song Ying will be accompanying you this time. Please take care of her on the journey. This isn’t South America—if she causes any trouble, don’t spare her for my sake.”
Song Ying protested, but unlike when she scolded Song Haoran without restraint, she didn’t dare be too bold here—so she smiled awkwardly.
Zhang Qianrui gave a polite smile.
Soon, Song Tianyou boarded the plane, accompanied by Song Da and Song Er. Song Ying was left with a few bodyguards—but with Zhang family’s arrangements, there wouldn’t be any issues.
She quickly boarded Zhang Qianrui’s private jet bound for home.
Song Haoran stayed behind to help with civilian rescue efforts and also to re-establish Song family’s presence in China—and for other personal reasons.
As for Song Ying, her only reason for staying was to investigate Luo Qiu’s hometown using the Zhang family’s influence—to get to the bottom of what happened back then. The Song family would later send people to join her in the south.
“It’s finally wrapping up…” Song Ying rested her chin in her palm, staring out at the shrinking buildings. She suddenly turned to Zhang Qianrui and said, “Hey… did we forget something?”
Zhang Qianrui blinked. “Forget what?”
Song Ying smacked her forehead. “We forgot to get the medical report from the hospital!!”
Mentioning the report brought Zhang Qianrui’s mind back to the day she was trapped in a cave on the Song family estate’s mountain.
Her ears flushed slightly… she really had forgotten.
…
…
During the press conference, the True Dragon of Divine Land didn’t attend… What she needed wasn’t the content of the release—but the reactions that came afterward.
But that’s a matter for later.
After meeting Mo Xiaofei, the True Dragon of Divine Land, who didn’t want to show herself at the Croaching Dragon Estate, wandered alone through the Mount Tai region—until she unknowingly arrived at the place where "Hope" had once been sealed.
It was in front of the waterfall behind the Song family village… Though "unknowingly" wasn't quite accurate—rather, she had sensed something drawing her there.
Now that she had regained the power of the True Dragon and reestablished a close connection with the earth, her perception was once again on the same level as her once-invincible strength.
Frowning, she dove into the pool beneath the waterfall. After passing the Dragon-Sealing Stone, she entered the cave at the cliff bottom—Hope’s former dwelling.
At the end of the deep cave, before a wall covered in cracks, Long Xiruo stopped in confusion… She bit her lip and pressed her palm to the stone wall.
The wall instantly pulled her hand in—then her whole body.
Inside the wall was a new space, gray and misty, utterly silent. The trees were withered, the ground barren—like a land of the dead.
She had created this small realm for Hope to live in peace… While it couldn’t compare to a self-generating world fragment, it was still far better than the dark, gloomy cave outside.
But ultimately, this place had been destroyed… Hope’s mental state had been unstable and he had once gone into a rage, devastating everything here—during the most painful stage of his dragon transformation.
Flying down into the valley, Long Xiruo saw a small house built in the center of a pool.
In front of the house stood a hibiscus tree, now just bare branches. Beneath it hung a swing… and there, the True Dragon of Divine Land saw the one person she least wanted to see—Luo Qiu.
Boss Luo was tying the swing’s ropes under the tree. He appeared to be repairing it.
Even he seemed a bit surprised by her sudden arrival. Standing up, he smiled faintly, “I nearly forgot Lady Long’s senses have recovered.”
“You… you repaired this place?” Long Xiruo frowned.
Everything here looked just as she remembered—or rather, exactly how she had built it. Every detail, every object, she knew intimately.
“I’ve always liked beautiful things,” Luo Qiu clapped the dust from his hands and stood. Grabbing the swing’s rope, he gave it a casual tug and smiled, “Especially things made with great care… Like antiques. If a fine antique breaks, it’s a shame. If you can fix it, of course you’d want to. And doing it by hand—that’s part of the joy.”
He slowly spread his arms. “Even if something is buried in dirt or lost in history—covered in dust, rusted, decayed—if you're willing to polish it, it might shine again… Like this.”
At that moment, green buds sprouted from the hibiscus tree and rapidly grew into lush leaves.
From Luo Qiu’s feet, green grass began spreading outward like ripples, covering the barren earth and extending through the valley.
Bright light pierced through the gray skies, scattering golden sunlight.
As if a black-and-white film had suddenly turned into vibrant color.
The wind stirred, water flowed—silence gave way to serenity.
Flowers bloomed in full; wind lifted their petals into the air like a colorful rain falling upward.
Long Xiruo slowly turned in place, looking at the dazzling scenery.
Laughter and lullabies echoed from the house, where she had once sung.
At the door, she remembered herself frowning while chasing after a mischievous child.
On the swing, she had once sat cradling a child, telling stories of the outside world.
The drifting petals seemed to carry every memory she had of this place.
She extended her hand, and a petal fell into her palm. Gently closing her fingers around it, an involuntary smile appeared—one that outshone even the colors around her.
…
After a long time—
Luo Qiu raised his hands and released a glowing orb of light, sending it gently toward Long Xiruo.
When the light faded, a crude clay doll appeared. It was so simple that it barely resembled a human figure—ugly, even.
“This is…”
“That day, when you were anxious to leave the cave,” Luo Qiu said softly, “I found it by chance. It might’ve been made by Hope.”
She reached out and carefully cupped it in her hands, her lips quivering… After a long pause, the True Dragon of Divine Land looked up and said, “Sell it to me… the doll, and this place.”
“This has always belonged to you, Lady Long. You created this secret realm with your own hands,” Luo Qiu replied gently. “I only cleaned it up a bit… and it happened to be something I enjoyed. But if we really must call this a transaction, I’d say you’ve already paid me.”
Long Xiruo blinked. “When did I pay you?”
“Your happiness. Your smile,” Boss Luo said warmly. “To me, that smile made you more radiant than any jewel… Being able to witness that beauty is a reward in itself.”
Long Xiruo’s eyes opened a little wider.
Uh-oh… her mind had gone completely blank.
(End of Chapter)