Simon lowered his eyes, surveying the fourteen tiny souls.
They did not arrive in the cycle of reincarnation at the same time.
Ben You and Sun Lichai were among the last to arrive, while the previous twelve bound souls floated alone on the surface of superior affinity, reluctant to reincarnate.
They sensed Simon; they did not want to leave.
Pity that some were already losing their minds.
Simon gently blew a breath of superior affinity upon them, and they all became lively, growing solid bodies, floating about, and beginning to spontaneously develop.
With substantial bodies, the fourteen beings gained higher-level senses, allowing them to observe their surroundings in detail, and they immediately noticed the heavy shackles on Simon.
Countless ribbons wrapped around Simon's body, their ends extending into the void, like a gauze garment fluttering in the wind.
Sun Lichai asked, "Lu Yuan, what's wrong with you?"
Everyone else was well-behaved and dared not speak much; only this rebellious little girl from before remained spirited.
"It's not a big problem.
Delving deep into reincarnation means enduring such treatment, but I'm close to understanding the laws of reincarnation.
I'll be reincarnating soon.
Do you want to go first, or wait for me?" Simon spoke in a calm tone, as if inviting a friend to dinner.
"Together!" everyone clamored.
"Alright."
...
Quan Suhuan, wrapped in a heavy mink coat, curled up in a Grand Tutor's chair in the courtyard.
It was the twentieth day of the first month.
The festivities had mostly ended.
In the neighboring large courtyards, there were still a few sporadic, quiet small banquets, where the younger generation ate and drank, having nothing to do but enjoy good food and scenery, passing their days leisurely.
It was during such a time.
Everyone was bustling, enjoying the lingering joy of the New Year, but Quan Suhuan was too weary to participate.
After all, an old woman in her seventies had truly detached from social circles.
One could even say she was on the fringes of society.
Ten years ago, the position of family head was smoothly handed over to her eldest son.
The legitimate eldest son.
Quan Suhuan smiled.
Small snowdrifts accumulated in the courtyard, and the clouds in the sky were sparse.
Last night's gale was fierce, blowing these unruly high-altitude clouds into thin strips and patches.
They seemed like living creatures in the atmosphere, their curling edges like limbs.
They grew by eating light, and this food of light would flow through their simple intestines, passing through their bellies, and then out.
Some clouds were fully bright, some half-bright and half-dark.
Did this mean the latter were fatter, and the light couldn't penetrate their thick backs, making them appear dim?
Quan Suhuan was lost in thought; she enjoyed this leisurely time.
The brazier was warm, while the outside scenery was icy cold.
Her body was comfortable, and her mind was peaceful.
She didn't think too much now; the older she got, the more she felt powerless in many things, such as thinking.
Often, she couldn't even comprehend what was in front of her, even if it was the faces of her sons and daughters, but she just didn't quite understand their expressions.
Fortunately, there was still the Pure Land, and many good friends in the Pure Land.
For many ordinary people, the Pure Land was a social platform.
Of course, its other functions were also diverse, but primarily it was for communication.
People could easily transmit messages in the Pure Land, across vast distances with zero distance, which also led to the development of huge commercial channels, and even something called "Pure Land Shopping."
Parties would agree on a price in the Pure Land, and the goods would be delivered to their door.
Of course, education also became convenient; if students lived far away, they would attend classes in the Pure Land.
Such examples made it quite like an internet.
In addition, a profession called "Face-Changers" emerged.
They were responsible for traveling between the Virtuous Path and the Evil Taoist, delivering important and special intelligence.
These people broke the Pure Land's restrictions on temperament.
It was said that they achieved this change in disposition through self-hypnosis.
They were rampant for a while, but after being suppressed by the Saint Path Venerables, they became cautious, though they never truly disappeared.
Perhaps this was originally permitted.
Quan Suhuan thought about what to chat about with her old sisters in the evening, and she felt a little sleepy.
The butler's footsteps clacked as he walked to her side, asking in a low voice if she wanted him to help her back to her room to rest.
"Old Dog, go make me a cup of tea." Quan Suhuan almost blurted it out, but her gaze fell on the butler's face.
"Oh, not Old Dog.
That's right, Old Dog died long ago.
Who are you again?"
"Madam, I am Old Dog's grandson." The butler showed no sign of being insulted.
A dog is a loyal animal; his grandfather was Old Dog, so he considered himself Little Dog.
"What's your name?"
"Quan Gong." This was a surname bestowed by the master, signifying a trusted status.
"Good, go make me a pot of tea.
Mingqian Guanyin will do."
Quan Suhuan had once served a few cups of tea to the Buddha's Son, which was the proudest moment of her life.
Whenever she mentioned it, listeners would show envious and respectful expressions.
Thus, she also loved to drink a few more cups of tea.
Before long, a cup of clear tea, served in a white porcelain bowl, was brought before Quan Suhuan.
The old woman took it, lifted the lid, and stared at the floating and sinking tea leaves.
She suddenly thought that the clouds in the sky actually resembled tea leaves more...
But such whimsical and strange thoughts had not occurred to her for a long time.
The last time she would think such things, well, she naturally couldn't remember.
Quan Suhuan felt a certain innocent childishness returning to her decaying body, which pleased her greatly.
As she aged, many rules became less important, so she, like a child, waved and swayed her right hand in the air, moving through the clouds as if she were a flying bird.
"Huanhuan."
Quan Suhuan was startled.
How could a stranger break in?
In such a large Quan Manor, were these house guards all idlers?
Looking around, the maids and servants were all gone.
Quan Suhuan, summoning a burst of courage from somewhere unknown, stood up.
Whoosh—! This easy?
She looked doubtfully at her aging body.
This old shell was already very sluggish, so why was it so energetic today?
"Huanhuan, big brother will take you to play." A man's voice came from the corridor.
Quan Suhuan's face darkened.
The content of those words reminded her of some uncomfortable past events.
That person had died long ago; who was playing tricks now?
Quan Suhuan angrily walked towards the direction of the voice—she was at an age where she had nothing to fear.
She now cared more about her own honor and disgrace, and the affairs of the Quan family.
How could outsiders comment on them, or even turn around and make fun of the Quan family?
When the old woman rushed out of the corridor, she found herself in a patch of overgrown grass.
This was the outskirts of the capital.
Quan Suhuan knew she had been subjected to an illusion, but she was still momentarily stunned.
A little girl followed her older brother closely.
The young eldest son, dressed in a brocade robe, plunged into the grass.
The autumn clouds, even in the afternoon, were golden, as if reflecting the wheat fields on the ground.
"Here, Huanhuan, take it and play."
It was a small, dull creature.
Did the little girl know what was good or bad?
She did, but she still smiled, "Thank you, big brother."
Quan Suhuan blinked.
"Big brother, what are the clouds in the sky?"
"Clouds are just clouds."
"No, I'm asking you, what do they look like?"
"Like little bugs, eating the sun, like Huanhuan, lazy."
Quan Suhuan murmured, "Like little bugs, like Huanhuan..."
"Big brother is lying!"
"Hahaha, even a little dummy has smart moments."
The boy laughed, walking step by step towards the suburban woods.
The woods were dark, and the sunlight couldn't penetrate them.
Quan Suhuan suddenly felt a sense of fear.
Don't go.
Wanting to speak but unable to, the old woman stared at the little girl, hoping she would stay.
But the little girl turned around, and she had grown up, becoming an elegant woman, a distinguished family head.
The two Quan Suhuans looked at each other.
The old woman watched Quan Hongming grow up little by little, entering the deep forest, disappearing into the darkness.
The woman murmured softly, "Big brother, how can someone like you change?"
The old woman sighed.
She had forgotten all enmity.
Now, her hatred for Quan Hongming was merely a simple inertia, a habit of hatred.
A piercing scream came from the woods.
Birds startled and flew up; they were a flock of crows.
Birds of death.
Big brother, I hope everything is well for you in your next life.
"Thank you."
Quan Suhuan suddenly turned her head.
The clouds in the sky were like a Bodhisattva, and her big brother, standing on a lotus seat, waved gently at her.
"Goodbye."
...
No matter how many words.
Ultimately.
Never to be seen again.
-------------------------------
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