Chapter 1542
The Lone Wanderer
For the next few days, Yang Jun stayed at home.
He wasn't in a hurry to return to the southern shelter and planned to stay in Yanjing to handle matters. Actually, he didn't have much to do, since he had retired to the second line and had more free time.
During this time, he had people keep an eye on Shi Tou's movements, and at the very least, he wanted to wait until Shi Tou's matter was resolved before making any plans.
Stone's death was scheduled for half a month later. He wanted to see if it really happened at that time to verify if Stone truly had a system. Ever since Stone left his house, he had been secretly keeping track of the time.
Fourteen days have passed, and there are only two hours left until the day Stone leaves.
Early in the morning, Yang Jun and Yi Qiushui set off in their car.
After driving for more than half an hour, the car stopped in front of a manor villa in the suburbs.
"Old Yang, what brings you here to see Shi Tou today? I asked you what it was about, but you wouldn't tell me," Yi Qiushui asked, puzzled.
She was called away by Yang Jun early in the morning. When asked where he was going, he wouldn't say anything until they arrived at Shi Tou's house. Only then did she realize their destination for the day.
“Shi Tou is leaving, and we, his godparents, have come to see him off.”
Yang Jun sat in the car, lit a cigarette, and sat there. He didn't let the driver drive the car in; he just stopped in front of Shi's house.
Stone's time is running out, and he doesn't want to waste his last moments because of his own reasons. He just hopes that Stone can spend some quality time with his family.
"Shi Tou is going on another business trip? He used to go on business trips all the time, and I never saw you come to see him off..."
At this point, Yi Qiushui paused, seemingly realizing something, and hurriedly asked, "You mean Shi Tou is... going to die?"
Yang Jun didn't speak, but nodded heavily.
"How...how could he be dying? He was always in good health, how could this happen suddenly..."
"Old Yang, you..."
Yi Qiushui suddenly realized something and looked at Yang Jun in shock.
Stone was healthy and without any illness or disaster, so it was impossible for him to die suddenly. The fact that she could accurately predict the time of his death meant that, apart from Yang Jun wanting to harm him, she couldn't find any other reason.
What are you thinking about?
Yang Jun glared at him and said, "Even if I were ruthless, I wouldn't lay a hand on my godson, would I? Besides, I have no reason to touch Shi Tou."
"Then...how did you know he was about to die?" Yi Qiushui asked.
"He said it himself."
Yang Jun thought for a long time but still couldn't figure out how to explain it to her, so he could only say that it was Shi Tou who said it.
No matter what, he would never tell anyone the secret of being a time traveler; he was like that, and presumably Stone was too.
"He was perfectly healthy, so how could he have predicted when he would die?" Yi Qiushui was still puzzled.
"Don't ask anymore. If you keep pressing me, you'll only hear my lies."
Can't you just tell me the truth?
"I can't say...and I can't say."
Yang Jun waved his hand and said, "Don't ask anymore. Asking will only force me to lie."
"Are you sure you don't want to hurt him?" Yi Qiushui asked, still worried.
Yang Jun didn't say anything, but glared at her.
"No, I need to go in and see him."
After thinking for a moment, Yi Qiushui decided to go in and take a look at the stone.
"do not go."
Yang Jun grabbed her arm and said, "Let him spend his last moments with his family."
After saying that, Yang Jun glanced at his watch and said, "Forty-two minutes left."
Ever since Shi Tou told him about the countdown to his life that day, he had calculated it precisely. Shi Tou's time of death was exactly 12 o'clock today, and there are still 42 minutes left until 12 o'clock.
In other words, the stone can only live for a maximum of 42 minutes.
"Are you sure you don't want to hurt him?"
Watching Yang Jun solemnly recount the precise time, Yi Qiushui became increasingly convinced that Yang Jun was the one who wanted to move the stone. If it wasn't him, how could he possibly know the exact time down to the second?
There are very few people in this world who can move stones, and Yang Jun is the only one most likely to be able to do so.
Although she couldn't figure out why Yang Jun wanted to move the stone, she firmly believed that it must be related to Yang Jun.
"Old Yang, no matter what, Shitou is our godson. We watched him grow up. There's no deep-seated hatred between you two, so why are you..."
"Shut up."
Yang Jun scolded, "You're always so suspicious. I've already said it wasn't me, why don't you believe me?"
“My feelings for Shi Tou are not limited to him being our godson, but rather... the only person in this world who understands me.”
"Forget it, I can't explain it to you. Don't keep asking. Anyway, it has nothing to do with me."
Yi Qiushui wanted to say something, but at that moment a car sped by from not far away, and a sudden braking sound came. Before the car had even come to a complete stop, a portly middle-aged man jumped out of the car.
This person was none other than Ishida, the eldest son of Ishi. As soon as Ishida got out of the car, he rushed into the yard. Because he was too fat, he didn't step over the threshold and fell straight to the ground. After falling, he ignored the pain and hurriedly got up and ran inside.
"The house is on fire? I've never seen him so efficient before?" Yi Qiushui muttered to herself.
Ishida is a child whom Yang Jun and Yi Qiushui have watched grow up. He has been fat since he was a child, twice the size of his peers. No matter what he does, he always looks slow and sluggish with a big belly. Seeing him so agile and fast today is something they have never seen before.
"It's not a fire, it's a funeral procession," Yang Jun said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Yi Qiushui rolled her eyes at him.
"Can't you just hope the stone will turn out well?"
Yang Jun didn't speak, but silently thought to himself, "If the King of Hell wants you to leave at midnight, you definitely can't delay until dawn. No matter who comes, it won't make a difference."
No sooner had Yi Qiushui finished speaking than another car sped towards them.
Just like the first car, before the car had even come to a complete stop, a dark figure jumped off. This person was none other than Stone's second son.
Immediately afterwards, a series of cars drove up in the distance...
These people were none other than Stone's children and his grandchildren.
As soon as they got off the bus, they rushed into the courtyard in a great hurry, looking just like they were attending a funeral.
Yang Jun could even faintly hear the crying coming from the yard while sitting in the car.
It seems that Stone did not tell his children about his impending death, but only informed them at this final moment, because he did not want to cause them grief too early.
Now that he is about to leave, he is informing them at the last moment, just to say a final goodbye.
"Old Yang, why don't we go in too?"
Hearing the crying coming from the courtyard, Yi Qiushui realized that Shi Tou was really going to die. She thought that since they had known each other, she should go in and see him off on his final journey.
"do not go."
Yang Jun shook his head and said, "Let him spend some time with his family."
"Aren't we his family too?"
Yang Jun glanced back at him and said, "Let's not go."
Upon hearing this, Yi Qiushui was deeply saddened. To be honest, over the decades, she had truly regarded Shitou as her own son; that feeling was impossible to hide. Now that Shitou was leaving, she, as his godmother, couldn't even be there for his final journey, which was truly regrettable.
However, she also knew that Shi Tou's closest relatives were his own family, and at this moment she did not want to disturb their farewell too much.
"Hey!"
Yi Qiushui sighed, her eyes gazing unfocusedly towards the courtyard, her eyes glistening with tears.
"Godfather!"
Just as Yang Jun and Yi Qiushui were distracted, the sound of stones suddenly came from the direction of the courtyard.
His voice was clear and resonant, full of energy, showing no signs of illness; it was hard to believe that this was the voice of a man on the verge of death.
"Godfather, Godmother, I know you're outside, so I won't come out to see you. I...I..."
Upon hearing the sound of the stone, Yang Jun and Yi Qiushui both got out of the car and stared at the direction of the courtyard gate.
“Stone, we’re here.” Yi Qiushui said, choking back tears, towards the courtyard. “Your godfather and I are both here.”
"Godfather, godmother, please don't come in."
Stone's voice choked with emotion as he said, "There's no such thing as parents watching their children die. So please don't come in. I appreciate your kindness."
The courtyard was quiet for a moment, then the sound of stones could be heard again.
"Godfather, godmother, I'm entrusting the family to you."
His voice grew softer and softer until it became somewhat choked up, indicating that Shi Tou was already overwhelmed with emotion.
Yang Jun, who hadn't spoken until now, suddenly replied, "Godfather, I've got it."
"Thanks, godfather."
Then the sounds grew fainter, as if Stone and the others had returned to their bedroom from the yard.
At this moment, Yang Jun raised his wrist to check the time; there were still five minutes until twelve o'clock.
"Hey."
"How much longer?" Yi Qiushui couldn't help but ask.
Only then did she truly believe that Yang Jun had no intention of touching Shi Tou, and from their conversation, it was clear that Shi Tou had entrusted Yang Jun with his final affairs long ago.
Yang Jun didn't say anything, but instead stretched out his wrist for her to see for herself.
Yi Qiushui glanced at the time, her face instantly turning ashen.
At this moment, he remembered what Shi Tou had just said: there is nothing more sorrowful in this world than parents watching their children die. Although they were only godparents, Shi Tou did not want his elders to watch their juniors leave.
If it were your own son, you'd probably be heartbroken.
Five minutes can feel short, but it can also feel long. If you're focused on waiting, it can feel like an eternity. Yang Jun lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and then paced back and forth in place...
I don't know if five minutes is a long time or if the cigarette is too short, but it was gone after two puffs, so I lit another one. Just as I lit it, I heard a sudden burst of crying coming from the yard.
Hearing the heart-wrenching cries coming from the courtyard, Yang Jun stood frozen, staring blankly in the direction of the courtyard. He glanced at the time on his wrist; it was exactly twelve o'clock.
"Hey!"
He sighed, finally believing that the stone truly had a system.
At the same time, I am amazed that the system is like the King of Hell, deciding when you die, down to the second.
"hiss!"
A sharp pain shot through his hand, and Yang Jun quickly flicked away the match that had just gone out.
At that moment, a shadow flashed past her, and Yi Qiushui, who had heard the crying, had already rushed into the courtyard.
Seeing this, Yang Jun threw the cigarette he had just lit on the ground and followed closely behind him inside.
The closer they got to the living room, the louder the crying became.
Knowing he was about to die, Shi Tou had prepared the living room and set it up as a mourning hall early on. The hall was covered with white cloths inside and out. At this moment, the empty hall only had a small wooden bed on it. Shi Tou, who was already dressed in his burial clothes, was lying straight on the bed without moving.
He crossed his arms over his lower abdomen, a smile on his face, as if he had left peacefully, seemingly without any regrets.
"dad!"
"grandfather!"
The mourning hall was filled with weeping. Shi Tou's descendants knelt around him, wailing inconsolably. Only in one corner of the hall sat a woman quietly. This woman was none other than Shi Tou's wife, Cai Xiaowan.
At this moment, Cai Xiaowan was calm and showed no emotional fluctuations. It seemed that she had known about Shi Tou's departure for a long time. Although she was mentally prepared, she still couldn't help but feel sad when the time came.
After all, they had been husband and wife for decades, through thick and thin. How could she not be heartbroken to suddenly lose her husband?
Yi Qiushui walked to Cai Xiaowan's side, silently took her hand, and stayed with her without saying a word.
At this moment, Cai Xiaowan doesn't need comfort, but companionship.
Yang Jun came to the stone's side and looked at him, who seemed to be fast asleep. He felt a mix of emotions.
The only person in the world who shared his language with him has left. From now on, he is all alone in this world, and he is at a loss as to what path to take in the future.
"farewell."
Yang Jun murmured to himself, thinking, "Go in peace. I'll take care of the family from now on."
Then he left the living room.
He plopped down on the steps at the entrance to the living room and lit a cigarette.
He took a couple of puffs of his cigarette, then called Sun Zhaocai over to give him some instructions.
About ten minutes later, the crying in the mourning hall subsided. After everyone had calmed down, they began to discuss the funeral arrangements for Shi Tou.
"Grandpa".
Shi Tou's son, Shi Tian, appeared beside Yang Jun at some point and plopped down on the steps.
"Yes, Ishida, please accept my condolences."
Yang Jun patted the chubby Shi Tian and comforted him, "You are the eldest son in the family. You have to be strong. This family will still need you to support it in the future."
"I understand, Grandpa. I'll take care of things in this family."
Ishida wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes and continued, "My father told me before he died that no matter what happens in the future, we should consult with you and support you."
"Yes, I'm your godfather, I'll take good care of you," Yang Jun said.
"Your father's funeral arrangements..."
“My dad seemed to know he was going to leave today, so he entrusted his affairs to my mom early this morning. My mom will arrange everything,” Ishida said.
"Ah That's good."
As they were talking, Yang Chengdao arrived, accompanied by Bang Geng, Wang Xiaoxiao, Yang Yu, Sun Zhaodi...
They were all Yang Jun's godsons, and grew up with Shi Tou since they were little. Shi Tou was older than them and was considered their senior brother. In addition, Shi Tou took care of them a lot, so they got along very well.
Now that the stone is gone, they've come to see it off on its final journey. (End of Chapter)