第八十六章 旧巷吊英灵不堪回首 寒林埋客恨何处招魂 (Chapter 86: Mourning the Hero in the Old Lane, Unbearable to Look Back; The Cold Woods Bury the Wanderer's Sorrow, Nowhere to Summon the Spirit)

On that day, Yang Xingyuan once again arranged to meet with He Jianchen and Wu Bibo to mourn Chen Ruokuang at the Old Lane in the Southern City. The lane was originally a remote place, and now it was even more desolate. They saw only desolate woods and withered grass, a scene of utter bleakness.

They came before a new grave. Yang Xingyuan could not help but shed tears, recalling all the things from Chen Ruokuang's life as if they were just yesterday. He Jianchen sighed and said, "Life is like morning dew. The days gone by are filled with bitterness. We, the living, should learn to let go."

Wu Bibo however said, "The old lane remains the same, but our old friend has passed away. In these cold woods, where can we summon his spirit? Truly, it is 'too painful to look back.'"

Yang Xingyuan remained silent. He only bowed deeply to the grave, his heart filled with boundless sorrow and melancholy.

After the mourning was over, they slowly walked out of the old lane. The afterglow of the setting sun shone upon the cold woods, adding to the desolation.

Yang Xingyuan looked back and sighed, "From now on, we part. Who knows when we will come again?"

He Jianchen said, "Xingyuan, you need not grieve too much. The dead are gone, and the living must carry on." Wu Bibo also nodded in agreement.

The three of them went their separate ways. Yang Xingyuan returned alone to the Guild Hall, but his heart could not find peace for a long time.

He recalled the several years he had spent in the capital. All his experiences in the capital over the years-all he had seen and heard-had now vanished like mist and smoke. He could not help but feel a myriad of emotions.

That night, Yang Xingyuan tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. It was not until dawn was about to break that he drifted into a fitful slumber.

The next day, Yang Xingyuan packed his belongings and decided to leave Beijing and return to his hometown.

He informed He Jianchen and the others of his intention. Though reluctant to see him go, they understood his choice.

Before leaving, Yang Xingyuan went to the old lane once more to bid farewell to Chen Ruokuang's grave. Offering a silent prayer from the depths of his heart, he then turned away with resolve.

The cold woods stood unchanged. The old lane lay empty. Nothing remained but the endless Wanderer's Sorrow, drifting on the wind-a spirit with nowhere to be summoned.