Chapter 730: My Paradise

I don't want to ride my bicycle and dash around, and I don't want to shout at the top of my lungs.

I need to set out on a journey. I'm going to search for that "huge idea," to track down that "shocking scent," and to find Gu Yu gege. I have to find a way to save "Yu Cheng," but my time is running short. I've calculated that "Yu Cheng" now has only twenty-two people left, including me. If I don't act quickly, Si Wei jiejie and Gu Yu gege will have no home to return to.

So, in the next cycle, I shook off the subjects who kept chasing me and asking about "flying ascension," and I retrieved the equipment I'd hidden in advance. I put on my crown, fastened my sword, adjusted my cloak, and mounted my steed, setting off toward the place called "Dao Cheng."

Jiejie, I'll take this cloak with me as I go. I'll carry my broken heart and the swallow's body, and find the paradise that belongs to us. I also promise you I'll act like a real eight-year-old child—I’ll call all men "gege" or "shushu," and all women "jiejie" or "ayi."

I don't have any particular ambitions; I just want to become a true "hero."

This time, I'll embark on this journey alone. I won't trust anyone anymore, and I won't join any organizations. I'll do it all for the sake of finding a path to save us.

...

"Dao Cheng" is indeed a very strange place.

The living people here far exceed my expectations. The scents on them are all sorts of varieties, incredibly fascinating.

I've only been here a few hours, and I already feel my nose starting to itch.

But... are the people here all so enthusiastic?

That big guy behind me has been following me for a long time. His scent isn't unpleasant, but I really don't want to join any organizations. Why does he have to press me like this?

"Dammit!" the big guy said as he ran. "Kid, that's enough already! You've got a bicycle to ride, but I don't. So, are you joining us or not? Give me a straight answer."

I squeezed the bicycle brakes and stopped, turning back to look at him.

"Shushu, are you a... are you a 'Hui Xiang Zhe'?"

"Dammit... yeah, I am," the big guy said, bending over and gasping for breath. "What about it? Are you one too?"

"How long have you retained your memories? Do you know what happened twelve years ago?" I asked.

"Twelve years ago...?"

The big guy straightened up, scratched his head, and his arm muscles bulged, making him look even more formidable than Zhou Zheng Long.

"Yes," I nodded. "It seems something big happened here twelve years ago... Do you know about it?"

"Dammit... your 'Hui Xiang' has lasted way too long..." He paused for a moment. "I don't know anything about it... How about I take you back to ask our leader? He loves recruiting 'Hui Xiang Zhe.' Even though his memory doesn't last long, he probably keeps some notes or something..."

"Forget it," I replied. "I don't want to join an organization. Sorry, shushu."

"You're one stubborn kid..." he sighed helplessly. "Even though you have your memories, you're still just a child. Wandering around this place on your own is dangerous no matter how you look at it."

"It's okay, I’m not afraid," I said. "Thank you."

I've had enough of places where people gather in groups, and I've had enough of things like "leaders." Even without their help, I can rely on my own nose to find that person's scent.

I've smelled it once before, and there's no way I could forget it.

If I can really find him, no matter where he goes, I'll follow closely until he tells me why he called me.

I don't need anyone's help—I can do this on my own.

I got back on my bicycle and was about to head deeper into the city.

"Ah, dammit... Recruiting for 'Tian Tang Kou' is getting harder and harder..."

The big guy's voice rang out behind me again, and at that moment, I squeezed the brakes once more.

I slowly turned around and asked softly, "Shushu, what did you just say your organization is called?"

"'Tian Tang Kou,'" he said. "Why? Have you heard of it?"

"Heaven..." I clutched the cloak on my back.

Ever since I arrived in "Dao Cheng," this man has been chasing me to join his organization... Could he be the "angel"?

He's come to find the prince with the broken heart and the swallow's body, to take them both to heaven.

"Shushu, what's your name?" I asked.

"Zhang Shan," he said. "Do you know me from before?"

I furrowed my brow slightly: "Zhang San...?"

Before jiejie died, she told me, "Maybe the Zhang San or Li Si around us... or some unassuming person is the angel."

Is that what she meant? It seems like fate has a way of arranging things... This man is exactly the angel?

"What Zhang San...?" He furrowed his brow too. "Shan! As in the mountain!"

"I'll go with you, shushu," I said, looking at him seriously. "Take me to 'heaven.'"

No matter what, at least this man's scent isn't bad. Following him to check it out won't hurt.

"To 'heaven'..." Zhang Shan shook his head helplessly. "You make it sound like I'm taking you to your death. We call it 'Tian Tang Kou'!"

After saying that, he paused and added, "Though Chu Tian Qiu mentioned something... It used to be a two-word name, I think... What was it again..."

I turned my bicycle around and rode up beside him: "Let's go, shushu."

"Alright, finally got you to stick around, kid."

He reached out to pat my head, and I instinctively wanted to dodge, but after thinking about it, I held still.

"What a strange kid. Stay close."

I nodded and pedaled slowly beside him as we moved forward.

By joining "Tian Tang Kou," will I find that special scent faster?

If the owner of that scent is far more powerful than me, I'm even willing to remove my crown and kneel before him on one knee, just to beg him to revive "Yu Cheng" and bring Si Wei jiejie back to my side.

Maybe I'll have to keep pretending to be a child, but that's fine. I'll protect everyone.

I'm Zheng Ying Xiong from "Yu Cheng."

I'll carry this heavy scent on me and start telling lies.