Mainland Martial Arts

Chapter 109 Helpless

Lin Feng sat across from him, his face equally etched with solemnity and helplessness. His brow furrowed slightly, his eyes filled with worry for Xu Tian. He took a sip of his wine from time to time, then silently looked at Xu Tian, ​​wanting to say something but not knowing where to begin. His heart was filled with bitterness, heartbroken for Xu Tian's plight and anxious about their current predicament.

On the stone table lay several opened jars of wine, their aroma lingering in the air, blending with the delicate fragrance of flowers and plants to create a unique flavor. On the nearby stone bench, a few empty bowls lay scattered, bearing witness to the drinks they had consumed. Xu Tian would sometimes stare blankly at the sky, where a few faint clouds drifted, like his erratic thoughts. Sometimes, he would gaze down at the wine bowl in his hand, the swaying liquid reflecting his sorrowful face, and he would mutter words that only he could understand.

Lin Feng sighed softly, picked up the wine bowl again, and said softly, "Xu Tian, ​​don't overthink it. Drink now, and get drunk today." His voice was particularly clear in the quiet courtyard, yet it seemed to be gently lifted by the breeze and gradually dissipated. Xu Tian seemed not to hear, still immersed in his own painful thoughts, just mechanically repeating the action of drinking.

The sun gradually set, its angles shifting, stretching their figures out like two lonely silhouettes. The two sat in silence, drinking glass after glass. The entire courtyard was filled with a deep sense of sorrow and desolation. The alcohol gradually took over, and Xu Tian's eyes grew hazy, while Lin Feng's face flushed slightly. They both seemed to be using the alcohol to forget their endless pain and troubles.

As time passed, more and more empty wine jars piled up on the ground, scattered here and there. Xu Tian and Lin Feng gradually grew tipsy, their words becoming slurred, but the sadness in their hearts remained clear. In this courtyard, they continued their journey of drowning their sorrows in wine, as if to drown all their pain in the endless flow of alcohol. The breeze rustled the leaves, as if lamenting their fate. The entire courtyard was shrouded in a thick sorrow and helplessness, leaving one feeling endlessly oppressive and dreary.

In the courtyard of Xu Tian's house, the moonlight shone coldly, adding a bit of loneliness to this place that was already full of sadness.

Xu Tian and Lin Feng were still sitting at the stone table. They had been drinking non-stop since the evening. Both were already drunken and stumbling, but they had never put down their wine bowls.

Xu Tian's face was covered in tear marks and wine stains, his hair was disheveled, and his eyes were blurry and painful. "Cheers!" he shouted incoherently, raised his wine bowl, clinked it with Lin Feng's, and then raised his head to drink it all in one gulp.

Lin Feng's condition wasn't much better than Xu Tian's. His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes showed a hint of fatigue and helplessness. But as he drank, he secretly circulated his Qi, gradually expelling the alcohol from his body.

"Dad... Zi Yan..." Xu Tian muttered to himself, holding the wine jar. His voice was filled with drunkenness and endless sadness, as if he was pouring out his deepest pain to the silent night.

Under the moonlight, Xu Tian's expression sometimes twisted in pain, sometimes brimming with happiness. In his hazy dreams, he seemed to be back in that familiar courtyard. Warm sunlight streamed down the ground, and his father sat on a bamboo chair in the yard, smiling at him.

"Dad!" Xu Tian ran over excitedly and threw himself into his father's arms. His father's arms were still so warm and reassuring.

"Son, you're back." The father patted his back gently, his eyes full of love.

At this time, Ma Zi Yan walked out of the house, holding the freshly made snacks in her hands, with a sweet smile on her face.

"Xu Tian, ​​you are finally back." Ma Zi Yan's voice was as sweet as a yellow oriole singing out of a valley.

Xu Tian looked at Ma Ziyan, his heart filled with joy. The three of them sat together, talking and laughing, and the warm scene made Xu Tian intoxicated.

They planted flowers in the yard together, and his father carefully taught Xu Tian how to take care of the flowers and plants; they cooked together, and Ma Zi Yan helped, occasionally playfully smearing flour on Xu Tian's face; at night, they sat in the yard watching the stars, his father telling ancient stories, and Ma Zi Yan leaning on Xu Tian's shoulder, everything was so beautiful.

However, good times are always short-lived. For some reason, the sky suddenly turned gloomy and a strong wind blew up. Her father's figure gradually faded, and Ma Ziyan began to drift away from him.

"Dad! Zi Yan! Don't go!" Xu Tian stretched out his hands desperately to grab, but he couldn't catch anything.

The cruel reality instantly brought him back, and the double blow made him burst into tears again.

"Why...why is it like this..." Xu Tian's crying voice echoed in the courtyard, the voice was full of despair and unwillingness.

Lin Feng looked at Xu Tian, ​​his heart filled with pity. He knew the pain in Xu Tian's heart and understood his indulgence at the moment. But he had more important things to do and couldn't continue to indulge in this.

"Xu Tian, ​​let's go back to the room and rest." Lin Feng tried to help Xu Tian up, but Xu Tian struggled and refused to get up.

"No! I want to drink more!" Xu Tian waved the wine bowl in his hand, and the wine spilled all over the floor.

Lin Feng sighed helplessly and lifted Xu Tian up. Xu Tian's body was limp, almost completely leaning on Lin Feng.

Lin Feng struggled to help Xu Tian into the room and gently placed him on the bed. Xu Tian lay on the bed, still mumbling incessantly, sometimes crying, sometimes showing a happy smile.

Lin Feng stood quietly by the bed, looking at Xu Tian like this, feeling a mixture of emotions. He recalled every moment he had spent with Xu Tian, ​​those days filled with laughter and hope, but now they were shattered by this cruel reality.

"Xu Tian, ​​have a good sleep. I hope you can cheer up again after waking up." Lin Feng said softly, reaching out to cover Xu Tian with a quilt.

Xu Tian seemed to have heard Lin Feng's words. His crying gradually subsided and his breathing became steady.

Lin Feng looked at Xu Tian for a while, then shook his head and turned to leave the room. His figure looked lonely and determined in the moonlight.

After leaving the room, Lin Feng looked up at the night sky. The stars twinkled, like the light of hope that never extinguished in his heart. He knew that one day he would avenge Xu Tian's father and help Xu Tian regain his happiness.

Lin Feng took a deep breath, then disappeared in a flash. The courtyard returned to peace, with only the empty wine jars and wet tear marks on the ground as witnesses to this sad night.