Year-End, Warmth and Cold Known Only to Oneself

Chapter 40: Year's End, Warmth and Cold Known Only to Oneself

Pushing open the door to the quiet room, a sharp, fresh chill swept over him, tinged with the faint scent of gunpowder and the aroma of distant cooking. Snow covered the courtyard, and icicles hung from the eaves, glittering under the weak winter sun.

Li Yifan took a deep breath of the air unique to the year's end, feeling the ceaseless power surging within him, a sense of grounded peace washing over him. His cultivation nearing the peak of Muscle Tempering, the perfected Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique, and the minor accomplishment of the Nine Yang True Fire were the foundations of his existence.

Yet, with this sense of power came an unavoidable loneliness. The Xuntian Guard headquarters was adorned with festive decorations, and the distant laughter of his colleagues only highlighted the solitude of his small courtyard. The body he had transmigrated into was that of an orphan, with no home or family to rely on.

"Since I'm out of seclusion, I can't just stay cooped up in the courtyard," Li Yifan tidied his clothes, deciding to go for a walk, to embrace the festive atmosphere.

He first visited the residence of Zhao Kuangfeng, the Xuntian Envoy. Zhao Kuangfeng was known for his straightforward personality, and his residence was quite spacious, even boasting a small training ground in the courtyard. When Li Yifan arrived, Zhao Kuangfeng, dressed in casual clothes, was enthusiastically directing his personal guards in pasting Spring Festival couplets.

"Lord Zhao," Li Yifan cupped his hands in greeting at the courtyard entrance.

Zhao Kuangfeng turned at the sound, his tiger-like eyes brightening upon seeing Li Yifan. He strode over with a hearty laugh, "Hahaha! Young Li! You're finally out of seclusion! How was it? Judging by your spirit and energy, you've gained quite a bit!" He clapped Li Yifan firmly on the shoulder, sensing the mountain-like steadiness and the contained, surging power, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Good heavens! Late stage Muscle Tempering? This speed is truly enviable!"

"Thanks to the Envoy's blessings, I've made slight progress," Li Yifan said humbly, presenting a jar of fine shaodaozi he had bought from the market. "It's the New Year, just a small token. I wish you good health and further progress in martial arts in the New Year."

Zhao Kuangfeng accepted the wine jar without ceremony, sniffed it, and praised, "Good wine! You're thoughtful, young man! Come, come, let's finish pasting these couplets together, and then we'll have a few drinks at my place tonight! I'll have my wife cook a few of her specialties!"

Li Yifan felt a warmth in his heart but politely declined, "Thank you for your kind invitation, Lord Zhao. As I have just emerged from seclusion, I still need to report to Commander Wang. I also have prior arrangements for tonight, so I won't disturb your family reunion."

Zhao Kuangfeng was a married man, and Li Yifan knew that family reunions were most important during the New Year. It would be inconvenient for an outsider like himself to intrude. Zhao Kuangfeng didn't press further, nodding, "Very well, important matters come first. Go ahead, give my regards to Commander Wang. Feel free to come for a drink anytime after the New Year!"

After bidding farewell to Zhao Kuangfeng, Li Yifan proceeded to Commander Wang's office. Despite it being the New Year, Commander Wang seemed to still be attending to official duties. Upon seeing Li Yifan, he put down the scrolls in his hands, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

"Yifan, you're out of seclusion? It seems this period of closed-door cultivation has been very fruitful." Commander Wang's gaze was sharp; he immediately recognized Li Yifan's significant increase in cultivation and his far more condensed aura than before, nodding inwardly. This young man possessed excellent talent and disposition, with a promising future.

"Reporting to the Hundred Households, I have successfully emerged from seclusion and am here to report," Li Yifan bowed respectfully, then briefly recounted his seclusion, stating only that he had made a slight breakthrough and stabilized his realm, omitting details like the Nine Yang True Fire. He also prepared a gift, a box of high-quality tea. "It's the New Year, a small token of my respect. I wish you all the best and prosperity in martial arts in the New Year."

Commander Wang accepted with a smile and offered a few words of encouragement, "Very good. With the New Year and the shortage of personnel at the garrison, you'll likely be assigned tasks after the holiday. Rest well for a few days, spend time with... ah, arrange your affairs properly." He had intended to say "spend time with family," but realizing Li Yifan's background, he changed his wording.

"Yes, I understand," Li Yifan replied calmly, though a ripple of emotion passed through him.

Emerging from Commander Wang's office, Li Yifan strolled through the garrison. He encountered a few teammates who had joined the Xuntian Guard around the same time. They exchanged greetings and pleasantries. Most of these teammates came from ordinary backgrounds, but at the year's end, their faces were filled with the joy of reunion, discussing plans to return home for the New Year or to gather with friends and relatives. Li Yifan chatted with them for a bit before they parted ways. His relationship with them wasn't particularly deep, more of a camaraderie among colleagues.

As he walked, he arrived at the barracks where the members of the Seventh Squad resided. Qian Xiaoliu, Zhao Xiong, Sun Shi, and others were bustling in the courtyard, preparing the New Year's Eve dinner. Seeing Li Yifan, they rushed over with surprise.

"Captain! You're out of seclusion!"

"Captain, your aura... it seems to have grown stronger again!"

"Captain, perfect timing! We've prepared food and drinks, let's celebrate the New Year together!"

The team members enthusiastically invited him. Li Yifan looked at their sincere smiles, a warm current flowing through him. These were the brothers he had fought alongside. Although he was their captain and needed to maintain a certain level of authority, at this moment, this camaraderie felt especially precious.

He smiled and nodded, "Alright, I'll impose on you all then."

He didn't put on airs as captain but rolled up his sleeves and busied himself with the team members. Washing vegetables, starting the fire, helping to watch the stewing meat... Although his cooking skills were mediocre, the sense of participation filled the cold courtyard with a warmth of human connection and everyday life.

During the feast, they sat around, drinking heartily, eating generously, discussing their experiences over the past year and their aspirations for the new one. Li Yifan spoke little, mostly listening with a smile, savoring this rare moment of liveliness and warmth. Slightly tipsy from the alcohol, the atmosphere was warm, temporarily dispelling the loneliness in his heart.

"Captain," Zhao Xiong, his face flushed red, raised his wine bowl and said loudly, "I, Old Zhao, don't have much education, but I admire capable people! Following you is exhilarating! Wherever you point, I'll strike! Come, a toast to you!"

"Right! A toast to the Captain!" Sun Shi, Qian Xiaoliu, and the others also raised their cups.

Li Yifan was touched, raising his wine bowl to clink against theirs. "A toast to my brothers! In the New Year, we share life and death, wealth and honor!"

"Share life and death, wealth and honor!" everyone roared in unison, their spirits soaring.

This New Year's Eve dinner lasted until deep into the night. After settling the somewhat drunk team members, Li Yifan, alone, walked back to his quiet courtyard, treading on the snow.

The silence after the revelry was even more pronounced. But at this moment, Li Yifan's heart was no longer empty. He stood in the courtyard, gazing at the scattered fireworks rising into the night sky, his gaze firm.

Though he lacked family affection, he had martial arts as his companion, brothers to rely on, and the Xuntian Guard as his larger family. This path was not a lonely one.

Returning to the quiet room, he did not sleep but sat cross-legged, entering a state of cultivation once more. The Nine Yang True Qi flowed slowly within him, warm and fulfilling. The warmth of the New Year was worth cherishing, but the pursuit of martial arts was endless.

The new year would undoubtedly bring new challenges and opportunities. And he was ready.