The Spring Festival, with its long history evolving from ancient New Year's prayers and sacrifices, is the most important festival in the Dragon Country.
Every Spring Festival, people go to great lengths to return home for the holiday and reunite with their families.
In the days leading up to the Spring Festival, Jiang Wuming gave Qin Xiaozhi and the others time off, while he remained at the base, cultivating in seclusion daily.
Li Linyi was also busy, working at the God of War Pharmaceutical Research Institute every day.
Racing against time.
This was the true portrayal of the two of them.
The former strove to improve his own strength; the latter made every effort to develop better blood qi pills, gene drugs, and so on.
On New Year's Eve, it was already evening when Jiang Wuming and Li Linyi returned to Su City.
At the Su family ancestral home, apart from Su Yuanshan, Liu Guifang, and the mother and daughter Su Shiyun, all other Su family members had gathered, waiting for Jiang Wuming and Li Linyi's arrival.
At six o'clock, Jiang Wuming parked the car at the entrance of the Su family ancestral home, then got out and took out the items from the trunk.
These were gifts prepared by Li Linyi for Liu Guifang, Su Shiyun, and Su Yuanshan.
"They're here, Brother Wuming brought Sister-in-law Linyi!"
Su Qiang had specifically waited at the entrance of the Su family ancestral home. Upon seeing Jiang Wuming and Li Linyi get out of the car, he first shouted towards the house and then went to help carry the items.
Inside the Su family ancestral home, everyone had been waiting for a long time. Hearing Su Qiang's words, they all got up, walked out of the hall, and into the small courtyard to welcome Jiang Wuming and Su Shiyun.
"Wuming, Linyi!"
As Jiang Wuming and Li Linyi stepped into the courtyard, everyone's gaze fell on them. Su Yuanshan, in particular, took the initiative to greet them.
At the same time, the other members of the Su family wore enthusiastic smiles, smiles tinged with flattery.
Seeing this scene, Li Linyi felt a moment of daze.
She vaguely remembered the situation the first time she visited.
That day was Su Yuanshan's birthday. The young man was isolated, squatting alone in a corner of the small courtyard, out of place with the lively Su family ancestral home, until Qin Linhai and his son Qin Xiaozhi appeared. Only then did the young man stand up, straighten his back, and become the focus of everyone's attention.
Later, she arrived with bodyguards to wish Su Yuanshan a happy birthday, leaving the Su family members stunned.
That day, a dragon emerged from the Su family, becoming famous throughout Su City and even the entire Jiangnan region.
Those businessmen who had schemed against the Su family in business, one by one, came to apologize. In the end, under the young man's forceful presence, they kowtowed in admission of guilt and paid a huge sum of money!
"Grandpa Su."
While Li Linyi was in a daze, Jiang Wuming spoke first and said, "This is Linyi. She came when you had your birthday."
"Happy New Year, Grandpa Su. Happy New Year, Auntie, Sister."
Li Linyi spoke with a smile, her gaze sweeping over Su Yuanshan, Liu Guifang, and Su Shiyun in turn. She ignored everyone else.
She only cared about the people Jiang Wuming cared about. What did the other members of the Su family have to do with her?!
"I remember Linyi. You've become even more beautiful after so long."
Su Yuanshan said with a smile, feeling a sense of emotion.
He hadn't expected the young lady of the Li family, who had been like a dragon in front of the Su family members back then, to visit the Su family ancestral home again, and this time as Jiang Wuming's girlfriend.
However, when he thought about Jiang Wuming's current identity and status, he felt relieved!
In Su Qiang's words, Jiang Wuming was definitely destined to lead the Martial Department in the future!
That was the Martial Department...
The most powerful department in the Dragon Country!
Afterward, Jiang Wuming and Li Linyi went directly to the restaurant to dine with the Su family.
Su Yuanshan and Jiang Wuming walked at the front, followed by Liu Guifang, Su Shiyun, and Li Linyi.
Li Linyi uncharacteristically linked arms with Liu Guifang, like a young bride visiting her in-laws for the first time. Her face was beaming with a smile, radiating warmth and closeness.
And when she received the heirloom, a jade bracelet, from Liu Guifang, her smile became even more radiant.
Although with her status, she could obtain the most expensive bracelets in the world if she wished, to her, the bracelet given by Liu Guifang was the most precious and priceless.
Because she knew that in Jiang Wuming's heart, Liu Guifang was like a birth mother, and therefore, his future mother-in-law.
The other members of the Su family watched all this with obsequious smiles.
They really wanted to take the opportunity to chat with Jiang Wuming and Li Linyi, but remembering the past events, they felt guilty. They could only regret their past actions while forcing smiles, their facial muscles almost cramping by the end of dinner.
After dinner, Jiang Wuming did not stay to chat with Su Yuanshan, Liu Guifang, and Su Shiyun about family matters. Instead, he took Li Linyi to tour the ancient city of Su City.
Jiang Wuming and Li Linyi strolled through alleys and arrived at the foot of the ancient city. He sprang up with Li Linyi, leaping onto the city wall, and finally reaching the roof of the tallest building in the ancient city, from where they could overlook the entire night view of the ancient city.
Every household in the ancient city was decorated with bright red lanterns and couplets. Children, in groups of three or five, roamed the streets and alleys, some stealthily setting off firecrackers, others comparing the amount of red envelopes they received. The entire ancient city was filled with the atmosphere of happiness and reunion.
"The ancient city of Su City at night is like a scroll painting, so beautiful."
Li Linyi sat on the roof, leaning against Jiang Wuming's shoulder, looking at the night view of the ancient city below. Without reason, she thought of the "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" painting.
"When I was young, every year during the New Year, my sister would take me to climb onto the rooftops. Not to see the night view of the ancient city, but to watch the stars."
Jiang Wuming put his arm around Li Linyi's shoulder, enjoying the rare time alone, and shared his childhood memories.
"The starry sky is also beautiful."
Li Linyi looked up at the starry river and said involuntarily, "In this life, I will accompany you to see the brilliant starry sky, with a picture in my heart."
Jiang Wuming's heart warmed, and he felt an urge to kiss Li Linyi.
Just then, Li Linyi continued to ask:
"Wuming, if there were no extraterrestrial wars, would you want to live a simple life like ordinary people, or would you diligently cultivate and reach the pinnacle of martial arts?"
"Living a life of family reunion and peace was the life I once yearned for, but unfortunately, that dream was out of reach," Jiang Wuming said with a wry smile.
"Although you cannot fulfill that dream, it is because of people like you that this world is so peaceful, and people can live and work in peace – you are great!" Li Linyi said.
Jiang Wuming remained silent.
He thought of the battle at Hanshan Temple.
If he hadn't arrived in time for that battle, the ancient city of Su City would likely have become a dead city, and he and Li Linyi would not have seen the beautiful night scenery and the happy smiles of the children tonight.
"My mother wrote me a letter back then. In it, she said that she, my father, and those uncles and elders defended the ancient city of Loulan, fighting bravely on the battlefield, wanting to subdue and frighten the enemy, and to fight all the wars. This way, our generation could grow up happily in an era of peace and prosperity."
Jiang Wuming thought of the letter his mother had left behind.
"Did you change your mind because of this letter?"
Li Linyi's heart stirred, recalling what Jiang Wuming had told her before.
All along, Jiang Wuming had never cared about being a hero, nor did he want to be a hero. He had even resisted joining the Martial Department at first. It was not until his trip to the ancient city of Loulan that he changed his mind.
"No, I'm not as great as them."
Jiang Wuming gently shook his head and said, "When I joined the Martial Department and fought against extraterrestrial enemies, it was initially to help them fulfill their unfinished wishes from that year, avenge them, and protect those around me. Later, after I fought against extraterrestrial enemies, there was another reason."
"What?"
"In the eyes of the extraterrestrials, our world is a native world, and we are like livestock they raise. With arrogance and prejudice, they invade this world, treating killing and war as a form of game – they deserve to die!"
Jiang Wuming said in a low voice.
"Wuming, neither you nor your father intended to be heroes, but you are destined to become heroes. Because heroism flows in your blood." Li Linyi sighed softly.
This time, before Jiang Wuming could speak, a little girl in new clothes below called out, "Brother, Sister, don't stay up there. It's dangerous up there, come down quickly."
"Okay, we're coming down," Li Linyi replied with a smile.
Hearing this, the little girl turned and ran towards the other children.
Then, the children, bouncing and skipping, began to sing a song that was currently popular among children.
"Go? Go! With the humblest dream.
Fight? Fight! With the proudest dream.
To the whimpers and roars in the dark night.
Who says only those standing in the light are heroes?"
The innocent singing echoed through the alleys of the ancient city at night.
Hearing the children's singing, Jiang Wuming asked softly:
"Linyi, when we have children, will they be as happy and joyful as them, right?"
"Definitely!"
Li Linyi seemed to sense something and hugged the young man tightly, whispering four firm words into his ear.
The young man's eyes brightened.
He dispelled the haze in his heart and continued to move forward.
...
At the same time.
In the northwest of the Dragon Country, the Himalayas.
A terrifying vibration, centered on Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, spread across the globe, as if a magnitude twelve earthquake had erupted!
In an instant, Mount Everest broke apart, and snow cascaded down like a flood.
Under the night sky, a vast curtain suddenly appeared, spanning miles across the mountain range.
Within the curtain, an endless extraterrestrial army, fully armed, stretched as far as the eye could see.
On New Year's Eve, full-scale war commenced!
...