Book 5 Chapter 28 – Heaven’s Punishment Against Protective Formation

　　"You saved my life," Eyegla.s.ses said after a long silence and left the room, somewhat frustrated by Li Yiming's immovable att.i.tude.

　　Liu Meng stood up and hugged Li Yiming from behind. Her thought process was simple. If she had to choose between saving the world and herself, she would undoubtedly sacrifice her own life. However, it was a different story when Li Yiming's life was at stake.

　　Xu Yurong prepared a sumptuous meal with three plates full of food, a big bowl of soup, and a wok full of white rice. After Lin Lu had woken up, Eyegla.s.ses went to check up on her, concluding that she was doing fine, aside from losing her memories. As for Chen Quan, the latter followed Eyegla.s.ses wherever he went, like a helpless child, and from time to time, he would stare at the sky with a confused expression. As for Shen Jianming, he seemed to have completely settled into his role as the husband of Xu Yurong, and he would show that happy smile that made even Li Yiming envious whenever he looked at Xu Yurong.

　　Li Yiming stuffed his face with rice, almost like a machine. If it was not for Liu Meng, who added some vegetables into his bowl from time to time, he would not even have noticed the other plates on the table.

　　Xu Yurong noticed that her guests were quite unhappy. Her own mood sank as she wondered whether it was due to to her lacking politeness by preparing a meal which was too simple. 'I'll try to go get a chicken or a few fishes from the neighbors tomorrow, this should work.'

　　As dusk settled in, the Xu sisters busied themselves with putting the dishes away, while the men idled in the backyard, admiring the crimson clouds in the sky.

　　Li Yiming took out a pack of cigarettes and gave one to Shen Jianming. The latter reached out for it before having a second thought and brought it to his mouth. He only snapped out of his habit a second later, seemingly confused to why he was so familiar with the gesture.

　　Li Yiming shook his head, took out his lighter, and lit the cigarette up for Shen Jianming. He looked on as Shen Jianming took a puff and exhaled a mouthful of smoke.

　　"Are you happy right now?" Li Yiming took a deep puff himself and asked Shen Jianming.

　　“What?" Shen Jianming did not pay attention to Li Yiming's question, since he was fully engrossed by the cigarette he was smoking.

　　"Are you happy with the life you have right now?" Li Yiming asked again.

　　"Of course. With a wife like Yurong, what more can I hope for?"

　　"Maybe… just maybe… if you had a choice. Would you want to be a general that rides on the battlefield for his country, or a peasant that works the field quietly?"

　　“You've said it. The work of a general is to protect this life, isn't it?" Shen Jianming suddenly laughed and answered in a way that Li Yiming would have expected him to.

　　"Yes… you're right." Li Yiming also smiled. He looked at the clouds, which were beginning to turn from pink to purple, and gradually firmed his resolve.

　　"It's begun." Li Yiming extinguished his cigarette, nodded at Liu Meng, and glanced at Eyegla.s.ses apologetically. "Take good care of them." Li Yiming tapped Shen Jianming's shoulder and walked toward the main entrance to the backyard.

　　"It's going to be night soon, where are you going?" Shen Jianming said hesitantly.

　　"I'm just going for a quick walk. I'll be back soon," Li Yiming answered with a smile.