Chapter 586
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Chapter 586: His Choice
Zhou Ping’s body trembled slightly as he looked into Zuo Qing’s eyes.
Zuo Qing cleared his throat and, using Ye Fan’s tone, slowly said, “Zhou Ping, you don’t need to feel guilty or think you owe me anything. Swapping lives was a decision I made on my own; you don’t have to bear any responsibility for it.
After I die, Zuo Qing will seal off the news of my life swap and claim it was a self-immolation. No one will know you are still alive, no one will pay attention to you, and no one will force you to fulfill any so-called duties.
You have already died once for me and for the Great Xia. Now I return my life to you; you can choose to be yourself and live the life you want.
In this life, you are no longer the Sword Saint of Great Xia; you don’t have to live for anyone else.
Whether you stay at that local restaurant and work as a waiter or find a kind and gentle woman to marry and start a family, you can do anything you want…
If one day, Great Xia truly faces a catastrophic crisis, perhaps you can step in and help within your means… if you are willing.”
As Zuo Qing’s words fell, Zhou Ping lowered his head, falling into silence.
Zuo Qing said no more, quietly finishing his meal. Once he had cleaned his bowl of food, he left a few bills on the table and slowly stood up.
“I’ve already brought Ye Fan’s words to you. I won’t disturb you again. Goodbye.”
With that, Zuo Qing turned and pushed open the door of the restaurant, disappearing into the alley.
Zhou Ping stared at the empty plate and bowl in front of him, not getting up to clean up, just sitting there quietly, lost in thought.
He never expected to return in this way, nor did he anticipate that Ye Fan would sacrifice her life to save him.
After hearing the details from several heroic spirits, his mind felt like a muddled mess, and he couldn’t express the discomfort in his heart… Sacrificing Ye Fan to regain his life was not what he wanted.
But everything had already happened.
Zhou Ping’s mind was in chaos.
The fragrant aroma of the dishes suddenly wafted into his nostrils, pulling his scattered thoughts back. He turned his head and saw his third uncle standing beside him, holding two dishes and a soup.
“Third Uncle…” Zhou Ping said blankly.
Unhurriedly, his third uncle placed the dishes on the table in front of him, handed him a pair of chopsticks, and then sat down across from him, gently blowing on the steam rising from his old cadre’s teacup.
“Eat up. You’ve been away from home for so long; you must be missing the home-cooked meals, right?” he said with a smile.
Zhou Ping gazed at the steaming dishes in front of him, feeling a bit dazed. He picked up the chopsticks and nodded slightly.
“Mm.”
“Eat more.”
“Okay.”
Zhou Ping picked up a few dishes and began to eat quietly.
The familiar environment, the familiar person, the familiar taste… For a moment, Zhou Ping even felt as if he had returned to a few months ago, to that peaceful time.
“You’ve been busy outside for so long; are you tired?” his third uncle asked, looking at Zhou Ping.
“…Tired.”
“The outside world is always more tiring than home,” his third uncle paused, “So, do you want to go back?”
Zhou Ping’s hand, which was holding the chopsticks, paused slightly.
“I… don’t know,” he said bitterly.
His third uncle held the teacup, looking at him for a long time before breaking into a grin.
“Actually, I’ve already planned your future path.
You don’t like to talk, and you’re clumsy in the kitchen. It seems you won’t inherit this restaurant… I’ve thought it through. Once I earn enough money and this place is about to close, we’ll sell the restaurant and buy two small apartments of about a hundred square meters in the suburbs.
One for you to marry and start a family, and one for me to retire.
With a house, you can work wherever you want or change jobs to be a waiter; it doesn’t matter. We don’t need to earn too much money. Xijin isn’t a big city; as long as we earn enough to live and for you to get married, that’s enough.
By then, I’ll find a few matchmakers from our village to set you up with a wife. She doesn’t need to be too beautiful, but she must be virtuous, able to take care of you, and be filial. After all, I have no children, and when I grow old and alone, I can only rely on you two.
In a few years, when I’m at home with nothing to do, I can cook a couple of dishes, bring some roast chicken and beer to visit you two, have a drink, chat, and help take care of the kids. Isn’t that nice?
We don’t aim to make a fortune or stand out; we just want to live our lives steadily…”
As Zhou Ping ate, he imagined the future his third uncle described, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.
His third uncle took a sip of tea and continued, “Young people often feel lost when facing challenges; that’s normal. It takes time to settle and think things through. But the most important thing is to ask yourself what your true heart desires.
What I’ve just said is merely my own fantasy. You’re already grown up; you don’t have to be bound by my thoughts. Your future path must be walked by you.
If you want to stay and live a stable life, I can guarantee you won’t be wronged in this city;
If you want to leave and venture out, I might not be able to help you, but if one day you get tired of wandering and come back here… I can still arrange everything for you properly.”
His third uncle, holding the old cadre’s teacup, spoke confidently, as if at that moment he was no longer just a small restaurant owner but a significant figure in Xijin City.
Zhou Ping finished all the food, put down his chopsticks, and for some reason, his eyes felt a bit moist.
He raised his head and looked at the sky outside the door, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.
True heart…
He extended his hand and gently placed it on his chest, as if asking himself what kind of life he truly wanted.
To live steadily in the suburbs, marry, have children, and pass his life peacefully,
Or…
At that moment, numerous images flashed through his mind.
In the dim underground parking lot, several people stood behind him, bowing deeply and saying in unison, “Please, Sword Saint of Great Xia, slay the gods”;
In the mist, Lin Qiye and others rode clouds, traversing between the dual gods, smiling and telling him not to doubt or fear, for he was the one walking at the forefront of humanity;
In the grand and majestic Buddhist hall, the golden Buddha sitting on the ground gazed at the black coffin, smiling silently…
His chest, that glazed heart, beat powerfully. This body, crafted for him to bear the power of the laws, gently trembled with the heartbeat of the glazed heart, as if anticipating something.
After a moment, Zhou Ping’s eyes gradually brightened.
His heart, his body, his laws, and his sword… all of this existed not for him to hide away in the suburbs and quietly spend the rest of his life.
Everything about him was born to slay the gods.
If he buried his head in the ground, ignoring the imminent crises around him, wanting to preserve himself and live out his life… what difference would that make from escaping reality?
His sword heart and his body meant for slaying gods would never agree to that.
