A week passed after Mo Xing departed from the world. Villagers helped for the funeral and aftermath with all their might as they loved this innocent elderly man. There wasn't a single person in the village that didn't grieve over his loss.
But, no one can escape from death's grip. It bounded to human fate as soon as they were born. The only thing that remains for their loved ones is the memory of the deceased, which they have to cherish throughout their lifetime.
Yan Lou, Ning Bo, and even Lan Xi still couldn't wrap up the fact that their pal, brother, jolly old grandfather left them so fast. Xie Ra seemed to engulf into silence and crawled into his own shelf, distancing himself from others. This fact worried Yan Lou and the other duo, but they gave him some healing time without bothering him much.
After a week passed and the aftermath for the soul of his Bàba completed, Xie Ra asked others to return to home. He needed some alone time to grieve. And to plan what he should do after this.
So Xie Ra went back home. Yan Lou and Ning Bo told him they will bring him meals. But in reality, it was just an excuse to check how this boy was doing alone.
Xie Ra knew that as well, but he didn't prevent them from doing it. He didn't want to worry them more. They have their own burdens to carry. He wasn't going to add more to that burden.
Few more days passed. Everything slowly returned to its original place. Yan Lou and Ning Bo became busy with their patients. Lan Xi went from Yulong city to another city for his business.
Two days after AhLan's departure, Xie Ra visited Yan's residence to break important news to Yan Yi and Ning Bo.
"Um, I decided to leave the village," Xie Ra told them.
"After what happened, I don't want to stay here anymore. Please don't get me wrong. It's not like I don't love to stay with you two. But, it's just too hard for me to stay here, with all these memories." He explained in a sad voice.
Ning Bo seemed to be in shock but, Yan Lou had a calm expression on his face. From his expression, it seemed that he already expected this possibility. Maybe that's why he stopped his assistant when he tried to object to Xie Ra's decision.
Yan Yi Asked calmly, "What do you expect to do after leaving?"
Xie Ra was ready for that question, so he answered back quickly. "I like to search about my past."
With this reply, the other boy's challenging expression dissipated. He nodded and said, "I understand."
Xie Ra was grateful that the other two didn't give him a hard time and accepted his decision like grown adults. He smiled. "Thank you for understanding me." His voice filled with gratefulness.
However, before Xie Ra tries to go back, Yan Lou stopped him.
"Xie Ra, I wanted to talk to you alone." Ning Bo nodded silently and went away. Then Yan Lou softly grabbed Xie Ra by his hand and lead him to his small library. Then he locked the door.
"I was waiting to tell you this after you calmed down. I was observing you for few weeks, to know when is the right time. I think you are ready now."
Yan Lou told the other while opening a hidden chamber behind some books. It was a simple design but was a safe place to hide goods. There was a small wooden box inside it. Yan took it out.
The box didn't look anything special. It was so plain and cheap-looking, without any exterior designs. It was a horizontally flattened, rectangular-shaped small box which he carried with both hands, not because of its weight, but its width.
Yan Yi gave it to the young boy. Xie Ra looked bewildered. He looked at Yan Lou with a questioning look on his face.
"This box was given to me by Mo gege a few months ago. He told me to keep this safe and pass it on to you when he's dead. He told me to tell you that this is the only possession he had as something valuable. He asked you to keep these with you as you are his only family alive."
Xie Ra felt wetness on his face. He rubbed his eyes immediately. Then He looked at Yan Yi with a grateful look on his face.
"This values so much to me. Thank you, Yan Yi. I will come back before I leave the village. I will never forget your kindness towards me. I owe you." These words emerged from Xie Ra's mouth with utmost sincerity.
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Xie Ra stepped into home. It already became the evening. It filled with darkness as no one was there to lit up the oil lamp. He sighed and picked up the oil lamp to li.
After few minutes, the slight glow of the oil lamp emerged through the previous darkness. Its golden hue made illusions on the walls by creating different pattern shadows. Somehow this gave a holy feeling stirring with the quietness of the surroundings.
Xie Ra placed the oil lamp on its stand and took the wooden box Yan Yi gave him that day. He went to the corner where he used to sleep, sat on the floor, and slowly opened the box.
Few things were placed inside the box neatly; A tiny knife, a small pendant that had a shape of a bird, a stone, and finally, a short amount of money which should be the last savings of his Bàba.
Xie Ra looked at all things placed neatly on the floor silently. It was clear he was lost in old memories and emotions. Changes in his mood were visible through the golden glimmer of the oil lamp. After a moment, he started to pack his Bàba's miniature wealth into their original container carefully.
Knife, pendant, money,... everything went back to their original place. Lastly, he took the stone. He lifted it to check why his Bàba stored this as his possession. The stone shimmered in the light like a diamond. Then... It happened.