Peking Opera Cat: I Became A Zi's Brother

The sound was not loud, but it sounded like striking a bronze bell, causing the air to tremble slightly.

He suddenly threw the ball of light into the sky. The old injury on his arm was pulled by the force and it hurt badly, but there was no pain on his face, only a calmness that seemed to have settled everything.

The moment the ball of light exploded in mid-air, there was no earth-shattering roar, only a gentle yet irresistible golden light, like rising spring water overflowing a dry riverbed, instantly covering the entire chaotic space.

Wherever it passed, the dark purple chaos melted away at a speed visible to the naked eye, like the remaining snow in early spring meeting the warm sun, revealing the bluish-gray slate beneath, with half a piece of last year's sugar residue still stuck in the cracks of the slate.

The twisted monsters were like wrinkles being smoothed out in the light, gradually unwinding and dissipating, finally transforming into tiny specks of fluorescence that drifted off into the distance, like countless fireflies carrying their own dim lamps, rushing towards their respective destinations.

Even the lead-gray sky that had been suppressed for who knows how long was like torn old paper in the golden light, rolling into pieces, revealing the clear blue behind it.

“Crack—boom!”

The chaotic space finally collapsed completely. It was not a roar of destruction, but a crisp sound like an eggshell breaking, revealing the real world outside.

The sunbeams shot in like arrows that had broken free from their bonds, carrying with them the fragrance of the grass on the hillside and the moisture of the soil, and felt warm on my face.

The wind no longer carried the chaotic fishy smell, but was filled with the sweetness of the fallen leaves from the distant orchard. The dandelions that had just emerged from behind the broken wall were swaying gently, and the white fluff swirled towards his nose.

Bai Tang stood in the center of the light, the wounds on his body were healing at a speed visible to the naked eye. The charred fur faded away, revealing the snow-white fluff underneath. Even the bald tip of his tail was sprouting fine new hairs, like malt just breaking through the ground.

The fragments of the Justice Bell had automatically pieced together in his palm at some point, and the bell was emitting a golden and purple light, which was clearer than ever before. With a slight shake, he could hear the clear and crisp sound from the old stage in Dongqiang Town.

He looked up and saw the collapsing chaotic space transformed into a rain of light that fell to the ground. Wherever it touched the soil, tender green grass sprouts grew out.

Tiny purple flowers bloomed wherever they touched the broken wall, and even from the cracks in the stone slabs emerged vines wrapped with transparent sugar grains, crystal clear, as if someone had spread sweetness all the way.

The mist in the distance completely dissipated, revealing a familiar scene - the green tiles and white walls of Dongqiang Town glowed softly in the sun. By the stone arch bridge at the entrance of the town, several figures were looking over here, as if they had been waiting for a very long time.

"That light... is sugar?"

Xiaoqing's hand holding the handkerchief suddenly tightened, her fingertips dug into the fabric, and her voice trembled.

There was a freshly made sachet in the bamboo basket beside her, and the fragrance of mugwort mixed with a nervous atmosphere wafted out.

Wu Song suddenly took a half step forward, and his whistle stick stabbed the ground with a "dong". The corner of his red robe was lifted high by the wind:

"Who else could it be but him? This guy always loves to do something fancy!"

Although he said that he was disgusted, his eyes were surprisingly bright. He stared at the direction of the golden light, and his knuckles were gripping the whistle until it turned white.

"White sugar will definitely be fine!"

Da Fei put the basket in his arms on the stone railing. Two sweet potatoes rolled out of it, but he didn't bother to pick them up. He shouted in a rough voice,

"I've said it before, he can handle it better than anyone else! When he comes back, I'll give him half of this candied fruit—no, I'll give him all of it!"

Mo Zi gently turned the ice fan, and the fan bones collided with each other, making a crisp sound. She looked in the direction of the golden light, and the smile on her lips gradually deepened:

"He's grown up."

As soon as he finished speaking, a white figure jumped out of the golden light and was stumbling towards this side. The new hair on the tip of its tail swayed conspicuously in the wind.

"Look! It's really sugar!"

Xiaoqing suddenly laughed out loud, but tears started to fall. She hurriedly wiped them with a handkerchief, but the more she wiped, the more tears came.

Wu Song snorted, turned his head away and adjusted his clothes, as if trying to hide something, but the curve of his shoulders was obviously relaxed:

"Run so slowly, wait for him to come over, and I'll knock him on the head—for making us wait so long!"

Da Fei had already rushed out two steps with the basket, but then he stepped back as if remembering something, scratching his head and laughing:

"Let's wait until he gets here, so he doesn't accuse me of jumping the gun again."

Under the old locust tree not far away, Mo Yun leaned against the trunk, the hem of his blue shirt hanging down to the grass, stained with the green of the grass leaves, and swayed gently in the wind.

He was not holding a gun in his hand. The long gun that had accompanied him for many years was leaning against a tree. The cold light of the gun tip reflected the sunlight, as if it was hiding a handful of broken stars.

He just casually rested his knees, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the old scar on his wrist. The sunlight fell on his face through the gaps in the leaves, softening his usually cold and hard features, and even the curve of his eyebrows became warm.

"..."

When he saw Bai Tang looking at him, he raised his chin slightly, and the light in his eyes was like the surface of a lake blown by the wind, spreading out a layer of gentle ripples, as if saying "I knew it."

Bai Tang suddenly laughed, and as she laughed, tears began to fall, hitting the rosary on her chest with their hot tears. The wooden beads of the rosary became slightly shiny from the heat.

He ran in that direction. Moss grew on the stone slabs under his feet as he walked. Small purple flowers on the roadside bloomed all the way to his feet, as if someone had laid a purple carpet.

When he ran past Wu Song, the guy snorted and deliberately turned his face away, but quietly took half a step to the side, giving him the widest path:

"He still has some conscience and didn't kill himself."

"Sister Xiaoqing!"

When Bai Tang rushed over, Xiao Qing's sleeves had already wrapped around his shoulders, carrying her unique mint tea scent. Her fingertips wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, and her voice was a little choked and hoarse:

"I'm glad you're back. There's some sweet soup warming up on the stove, with your favorite rock sugar in it."

Da Fei stuffed a hot sweet potato into his arms, which was so hot that he almost let go. His simple and honest laughter made people's ears itch:

"I told you you could do it! I saved this sweet potato especially for you, the kind that's juicy! Try it now, it won't taste good if it gets cold!"

Mo Zi put away the ice fan and reached out to brush away the grass debris on his shoulders. Her fingertips were cool as the fan, but she gently patted his back:

"If Mo Yun saw you like this, she would be relieved."

Finally, he stopped under the old locust tree and looked up at Mo Yun.

The other person stood up from the tree, raised his hand and rubbed his head. The warmth of his palm came through the fur, familiar and reassuring, and the action was so natural as if he had done it a thousand times.

"It's a good journey."

There was a hint of laughter in Mo Yun's voice, and the ending tone rose slightly.

"Better than I was back then."

Bai Tang bit the hot sweet potato, the sugar core dripping down the corner of his mouth. He didn't wipe it off and said incoherently:

"That's... after all, I'm Bai Tang from Xingluo Class."

The wind blew through the leaves of the locust trees, making a rustling sound, as if someone was clapping gently.

The warm sunlight cast a long, overlapping shadow on them, making it impossible to tell whose was whose. From the distant Yuanchu Tower came the resounding sound of a gong, startling a few gray sparrows. They drew graceful arcs against the azure sky, their wings sweeping through the clouds like a moving painting.

The sky and the earth are clear, the grass is growing and the birds are singing, it is like the most gentle spring.

And all those who are waiting are here, with the light in their eyes brighter than the sun.