Mingchao: The Survival Journey of a Comedian

Chapter 90 Contentment

……

It still happened.

"I know"

Everything will happen again.

"will not"

【…】

This rain will not bury him.

That future will not come.

"Mo Wunian"

The destined moment was finally arriving. Standing at the camp gate, he could already feel the torrential rain that had appeared countless times in his dreams, and he could hear everyone's lofty ambitions.

"This time, we will surely overcome the long night and return victorious..."

"That beast killed my brother four years ago... This time I will definitely take my revenge..."

"Just do it... I'm going to slaughter them all..."

"..."

He could sense the frequency emanating from the sword tassel he had given to the man in front of everyone.

Under the influence of this rain, he could no longer vaguely distinguish other people's frequencies, but he could still recognize that frequency clearly.

He sighed, turned, and started walking back. The longer he lingered, the worse his headache became, and the deeper his unease grew, almost suffocating him.

At that moment, he felt a strange sense of relief at his blindness—at least he didn't have to face those unwavering and hopeful gazes.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to accept everything that happened afterward.

"Teacher, the improved formula for the anti-retrograde rain potion you made has been handed over to the research institute for production."

"The most basic medications have already been distributed."

Is there anything else you need?

"That's all for now, thank you."

Ji Yan approached slowly, his gaze falling on Mo Wunian's almost unconcealed exhaustion, a wave of pity washing over him. He was about to say something...

But at that moment, a deafening shout suddenly erupted outside the camp, interrupting his words.

"The entire army must hold the line!"

"Our target this time is—the Lord of the Formless Flame!"

"Repel the remaining elephants! Defend Jinzhou!"

"Repel the remaining elephants—Defend Jinju—"

"...Woo..."

He instinctively covered his head, squeezed his eyes shut, and his body trembled uncontrollably as he shook his head violently, trying to shake off the images that were invading his thoughts. But after a few seconds, he seemed to realize something and suddenly came back to his senses.

"...I'm fine."

"fine……"

"It's really okay..."

"Mo Wunian! If you really can't hold on, don't force yourself..."

"Go and rest if you're tired. You're not the only one here!"

"Stop pushing yourself..."

He abruptly pulled the still-struggling person into his arms, feeling the other's trembling body, and the undisguised tenderness in his heart grew even stronger:

He really wanted to know what kind of burden the other person was carrying, that they couldn't even have a moment of peace.

They could all overwhelm that person, making it hard for them to breathe... What kind of situation could it be?

"...I'm all alone."

"I'm all alone now."

"..."

"Sorry, I wasn't feeling well just now."

"Everything's fine now."

As his emotions gradually calmed down, and he confirmed that his inner turmoil would no longer disturb him, he pulled away from the other's embrace and patted his head—

He has already begun making final arrangements.

"...Ji Yan, are you free right now?"

Walking with Mo Wunian through the military camp, looking at the calm face beside him, a very bad premonition suddenly arose in his heart, unlike anything he had ever felt before.

This time, the feeling was so intense it was suffocating him, his heart aching with pain. He had barely managed to nod when the other person's next words nearly made him faint.

"Before leaving, Geshulin handed over command to me."

"Now I want to hand it over to you."

"?!!"

Those familiar words echoed through the air, leaving only the sound of raindrops. At that moment, Ji Yan seemed to see again the countless choices that person had made in the past.

Each time, he forgot himself.

A voice sounded from the terminal. Ji Yan tried to open it to stop it, but this time the command was forced. He was powerless; in his panic, all he could do was hold the person's shoulder and shake his head uncontrollably.

"Mo Wunian...this shouldn't be..."

"It doesn't matter who has command... and I'm not capable of taking on such a heavy responsibility..."

"I……"

No, they're not the same.

"And after I leave, that decision can only be made by you."

"!!!"

"What do you mean, 'after you left'?!"

"..."

Ji Yan stared into the man's lifeless eyes, but at that moment he seemed to see too much flashing in the man's pupils.

Heavy...it didn't seem like something he could carry.

"Ji Yan, do you believe me?"

"..."

The rain grew heavier, interspersed with the receding footsteps of the army. He gazed silently at the other man, the turmoil in his heart gradually subsiding with the patter of the raindrops until a stillness returned.

I believe you.

"Thank you"

"But it's a pity..."

"not enough"

Mo Wunian shook his head slightly, then suddenly turned around, tilting his head back to feel the torrential rain flowing against the current. He seemed to have completely let go of something, letting out a relieved sigh.

This lunar phase will enhance the ability of upstream rainfall.

"To make the illusory appear real."

"Everything from the past will come to light, including our comrades who died here."

"They will mimic their behavior in life and attack everyone indiscriminately..."

"Because of this rain, many, many people will never be able to go home again."

"!!!"

Sensing the sudden surge of agitation behind him, Mo Wunian could only manage a slightly bitter smile, unable to utter another word:

The memories flooding his mind gave him a headache; they were fragmented, like pieces, obscuring the complete past, yet they somehow instilled a sense of despair in him.

"If that's really the case, then wouldn't General Geshu's decision... kill us all?"

"It's cruel, but it's true."

"If we really stay here, we'll all be buried by this rain."

"..."

"Shouldn't we tell them this news?!"

"At least we should be prepared!"

Ji Yan didn't understand. Since they already knew what would happen in the future, why not prepare in advance to change everything?

But he forgot a very important factor.

"Ah...yes..."

"We should tell them..."

But I have no evidence.

"Except for this body that has witnessed everything..."

I have nothing.

He doesn't believe me.

The words, spoken calmly and casually, concealed untold sorrow and despair. Ji Yan was stunned. He watched as the person stood in the rain, not turning back.

It's like waiting for a predetermined ending.

"Ji Yan, by the time I realized all this, it was too late."

"I no longer have time to analyze and study those cold, hard data."

"And because I had no evidence, I didn't even dare to tell them the news."

"All of this can only be seen as undermining morale...and deserves punishment."

"do you know?"

"At that time, I really didn't know what to do?"

"I can only use my meager memories to hand over the formula to the research institute for some basic protection..."

"All I can do is gently advise those around me to be careful about all of this."

"But they didn't know, just like before, they smiled and reassured me..."

"But what if I had never seen all of this?"

"..."

"That must have been... the first time I ever thought about giving up, right?"

The rain poured down, and before anyone knew it, it had enveloped the entire military camp. Ji Yan was already confused by the words of the person in front of him: he could understand every single word, but why couldn't he understand them when they were put together?

"teacher……"

But just as he opened his mouth to call out to the other man, he turned around and saw a soldier returning home at night charging towards him with a weapon in his hand. Before he could sense anything was wrong, he only felt a cold glint flash before his eyes, and the sword had already pierced the soldier's chest.

Before anyone could react to what had happened, the returning soldier turned into a flash of white light and vanished on the spot.

"!!!This is……"

"The afterimages formed by the swirling rain have become real due to the increased intensity of the sound."

"If he really comes over, that weapon will probably pierce your body."

Mo Wunian had already turned around, summoned the sword back with his hands, walked to Ji Yan's side, and began to explain.

"And I still remember him."

"One of the men who died in a defensive battle a year ago."

"It was too late when I got there."

"He perished together with a giant wave-sized afterimage... What we're seeing now is his final desperate attempt."

"..."

Before they could grieve, their communication device rang instantly. The sharp, piercing sound echoed through the rain, sounding particularly shrill. Ji Yan didn't have time to think and quickly opened it. Sure enough, it was almost exactly as he had guessed.

"The general's communications are starting to go cold..."

"The afterimage tide is also converging on a large scale..."

"Infighting has also broken out in the army...it's true..."

"No need to lament anymore. Since it's already happened, let's be prepared."

He interrupted Ji Yan, explaining that although these scenes were the first time he had experienced them in reality, he had encountered them countless times in his dreams.

"Ji Yan, tell them the truth."

"With real examples, they shouldn't ask any more questions or object."

"Have everyone prepare for defense. The key to identifying the afterimage lies in the fluctuations in frequency..."

"Tell them not to hold back, no matter who it is who shows up."

"The general is probably facing the same situation... If the message can still be sent, then send it..."

"But for now, don't reveal the situation on General Geshu's side... After all, the morale of the army still rests on the enemy's shoulders..."

He methodically arranged what needed to be done, but his mind and body were already focused on the distant battlefield—

"And I... will go to the front lines."

"Waiting there for the destined moment."

"Enough! If... if that's really the case..."

"Wouldn't the best decision be to withdraw the troops?"

"Staying here will only increase casualties...increase the number of phantoms, and provide more weapons for the Lord of the Formless Blaze..."

"And... and..."

You really will die

Ji Yan was confused by what the person in front of him wanted to do. According to his analysis, the best way should be as he had just said.

They were fighting a recapture operation, not a defensive one.

They had already lost too many comrades on their way here...

If this rain really brings all of this back to life... what a chaotic scene it would be!

He didn't dare to think!

Mo Wunian wasn't surprised by Ji Yan's words, after all, this was indeed the best approach before the rain started—

But the rain has already started.

"Ji Yan, it's already raining."

"The decapitation operation on the general's side is not over yet."

"We're too late."

"Mo Wunian—Ji Yan—something terrible has happened!!!"

"Many afterimages suddenly appeared outside the camp...they appeared out of nowhere..."

"Many people were caught off guard...and..."

"You saw our fallen comrades... right?"

After quickly determining that the person in front of him was not an afterimage, he continued with the second half of his sentence. Seeing the other person's instant shock, his expression finally returned to complete calm:

Everything has begun to repeat itself.

"Tell them not to linger in the fight, to prepare for protective measures, and to take their anti-retroviral medications."

"I've already sent out the information about the situation... It's cruel, but I'm telling them not to panic."

All we can do now is wait.

After quickly giving these instructions, and sensing that the Night Return Army had departed, he drew his sword, and then, to Ji Yan's astonishment...

He cut off his long hair

"...It's a bit of a pity, we kept it for so long."

"But this thing will block the view."

He let his hair fall freely, still feeling a little unaccustomed to having short hair again.

"Ji Yan, you understand now, don't you?"

"The remnants of the upstream rain have already surrounded us."

"Without someone clearing a path, we can't get out, not to mention that the Lord of the Formless Flame still controls these things."

"Besides me, there's no one else who can get out of here..."

"Is that why you're going alone?!"

"Yes"

"..."

The man suddenly gripped his wrist tightly, the force so great that he involuntarily frowned. This was the first time the other man had treated him so roughly. However, he didn't try to break free; he simply stood there quietly, silent, as if waiting for something.

"The average age in the military is 26..."

"And Ji Yan, you're only sixteen this year."

"There are still many things I haven't experienced."

"Don't be so indifferent! You're only 22 years old this year!"

"She's only 22 years old..."

"That's enough, I've lived for so long..."

I am content.

Looking down, Ji Yan saw a glimmer of light flash in those previously lifeless eyes: it was relief, it was prayer, it was acceptance...

But strangely, there was no fear or pain.

That person is serious.

22 years is enough.

"Ji Yan, I believe in you."

You will emerge from the long night and usher in the dawn—with everyone.

"Let me go."

A gentle pat on the shoulder followed him. Looking at Mo Wunian, who was now taller than him, he felt as if he had returned to those days long ago.

Helpless, unable to do anything

"...Will we ever meet again?"

Yes, in the days to come.

"When the destined moment arrives... a red light will guide you in the right direction."

Trust me.

He released his hand once more, watching the man slung his sword over his shoulder and calmly step into the rain, never looking back.

Who knows when we'll meet again after this parting?