Chapter 93

"With utmost sincerity, we proclaim to the rivers, lakes, and seas..."

As Liu Yumei’s voice rang out, although Li Zhuiyuan was still standing inside the room, his consciousness had drifted into a strange daze.

In his vision, the lamp with the golden dragon lifting its head seemed to come alive all of a sudden.

The dragon's body detached from the lamp, twisting and spiraling. The wick burned like fire, and its breath carried a surge of warmth.

It rose from the ground and hovered in front of him, then began to circle around him.

Something was clearly burning, yet there was no scent of charred flesh—only thin trails of smoke and faint crackles brushing past his ears.

If he had to draw a comparison, it was like gauze.

A veil of gauze spread beneath his feet, covering the path ahead and obscuring his fate.

The gauze was thin, letting light through.

Just like more than a year ago, when Li Zhuiyuan had first unearthed the Strange Records of the Jianghu from the basement of his great-grandfather’s house.

In this book, Wei Zhengdao had cataloged every Dead Sinker he’d encountered in his lifetime—it was an encyclopedia of death and the uncanny.

That set of books had been Li Zhuiyuan’s awakening.

From that moment on, he had charted the path he would take.

Return to high school, choose the right university, compete in math olympiads, and secure early admission.

Even his relationship with Luo Gong had been built to ensure future participation in major hydraulic engineering projects.

His path forward was only lightly veiled.

But even the faintest opacity meant there were still turbulent undercurrents below.

Yes, he had started walking the rivers early. But he hadn’t done it with clarity, decisiveness, or grace.

The river-walking rite and Liu Yumei’s proclamation had swept away that final layer of mist.

This river would be a hard one. Treacherous and full of hazards. Prone to capsizing at any moment.

And yet, it was here.

He preferred objective problems with defined conditions over open-ended ones. No matter how difficult the former might be.

Now, the problem was laid out before him. All that remained was to take up the pen and solve it.

With that veil of confusion gone,

He felt utterly at ease, body and mind unburdened.

Even the little golden dragon still fluttering around him now seemed cute—clumsy, even. Like his pet Xiaohei.

In reality, the lamp was still the same. The golden dragon hung from it, the flame flickering from its mouth.

Most people in the room couldn’t see the strange vision Li Zhuiyuan had just experienced.

To Runsheng and the other two, Li Zhuiyuan simply looked more relaxed.

They too had offered tribute to the Dragon King and understood the significance of the second lamp. But the depth of comprehension or resonance—they couldn’t possibly match it.

A moment ago, they had sensed unease in the reactions of Liu Yumei and the others. But seeing their little brother’s state now, they felt just as relieved.

Even the gravest matters, seen through a different lens and with a steadier heart, could become: Hah, it's not that big a deal.

Whatever else was in Uncle Qin’s eyes had faded. Only solemn admiration remained.

He thought back to when he had lit the second lamp. The matron had still been young then.

Facing those rows of memorial tablets, burdened with the duty of reviving the Qin and Liu Clans, he had gritted his teeth and borne the weight in silence. His heart full of dread and uncertainty.

But now, the same scene—plus an unexpectedly fitting arrangement of fate—had fallen upon the boy before him. And what it revealed instead was a kind of unburdened grace.

This wasn’t a front. In such an atmosphere, no one with the capacity to fake it would ever feel the need.

When you see someone better than yourself, you suddenly understand—maybe your failure was inevitable.

Aunt Liu’s impression was simpler: Little Yuan looked like he had gained a new aura. Already good-looking, he now seemed even more so.

In that way, he and A Li looked even more alike in spirit. And when they stood together, they simply fit.

Right now, Aunt Liu desperately needed this bit of sweetness to balance out the bitterness that Yin Meng was about to personally cook up for her.

Liu Yumei looked at Li Zhuiyuan and gave a small wave of her hand.

The boy didn’t move, still caught in his own reflections.

Uncle Qin stepped outside.

Aunt Liu tried to take A Li’s hand and lead her out, but A Li didn’t budge, eyes still fixed on the boy.

She didn’t like painting.

She only liked painting Li Zhuiyuan. And in this moment, he looked beautiful—including the little golden dragon swirling around him in the background.

Aunt Liu looked to Liu Yumei. Liu Yumei gave a faint nod.

The rites of initiation and river-walking were complete. Next came the elders’ guidance. A Li, standing in for the Qin family today, could stay—though she wouldn’t speak.

But Liu Yumei knew well that for this brat, a single look from her granddaughter was worth more than a thousand words from herself.

Seeing this, Runsheng and the others also quietly exited.

The room was now empty save for Liu Yumei, A Li, and Li Zhuiyuan.

At last, the golden dragon drifted away from him and returned to the lamp.

In reality, the flame died.

To most, it had been a strangely kindled and abruptly extinguished light.

But to Li Zhuiyuan, that flame had completed a full circuit through his body. He now felt thoroughly warm inside.

He couldn’t help but turn toward the window. The thunder had ceased, but wind and rain still raged on.

Right now, he wanted nothing more than to throw open the window and let in the breeze and rain—just to savor a moment of cool relief.

“Squeak…”

A hand pushed open the window. The wind and rain came in.

A cool breeze rushed in. Moist air caressed his face. Li Zhuiyuan came fully to his senses.

Only then did he realize everyone else had left.

Turning around, he looked at Liu Yumei standing by the window and apologized.

“Sorry, I drifted off.”

Liu Yumei, gazing at the looming storm clouds outside, smiled and said,

“It’s a good thing to think ahead about how you plan to walk the river. Far better than diving in headfirst like a damn fool.”

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