Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“It’s snowing!” Ren Baqian walk out of the bus terminal and stretched out his hand to welcome the falling snowflakes. He had a very strong affection toward snow.
It snowed five months a year in Northeast China.
Many of the memories of his youth were related to snow.
That included building a snowman with Ren Wannian, though Ren Baqian eventually pushed him into the pile of snow that he gathered.
That was how a snowman was made.
However, he had very rarely seen snow during the past few years. He only saw it once when he returned home for the New Year two years ago and didn’t even see it last year.
“What’s this?” Lin Qiaole finally woke up after sleeping the entire journey and felt curious after seeing countless snowflakes scattering all over.
However, the passersby got even more curious after seeing her.
She was still wearing that short-sleeved T-shirt that Ren Baqian gave her.
From below her knees, her skin was completely exposed. On top, she was simply wearing a T-shirt.
No matter how one looked at her, she didn’t seem like a normal person when wearing an outfit like this in this season.
“What is this? It looks like the ice in the palace!” Lin Qiaole looked very pleased as the snowflakes fell on her face.
“You are pretty innocent and naive, Miss Lin!” Yang Sen laughed.
Ren Baqian looked at her, nodded, and said, “You can say that.”
Both the empress and himself were wearing jackets that Yang Sen brought.
Lin Qiaole had one too, but she didn’t really like it.
Ren Baqian tossed a White Rabbit Creamy Candy to her, waved his hand, and said,” Let’s go!”
There were three cars with unique license plates waiting for them. There were two valiant looking men standing in front of the first and the last car while the trio boarded the middle one.
As the trip progressed, night began to fall. Their destination was a courtyard in the capital city. Outside the place was a large metal gate. Inside was a two-story building with bright lights shining from the first story.
A young man brought the trio to the door before pressing the doorbell.
An old man with jet-black hair opened the door, smiled and said, “Welcome. It was inconvenient for me to fetch you personally—did you face any neglect during the journey?”
“You are too kind, boss,” Ren Baqian immediately replied.
“Boss? Haha!” The old man instantly burst out laughing before putting his hand out toward Ren Baqian and saying, “It has been a few years and I finally get to meet you in person!”
It was a little inappropriate to say that the old man was giving respect for the wise, but it was indeed very placid to completely treat Ren Baqian as if he was someone of equal status.
The old man’s hand was very steady and forceful, which was very unexpected to Ren Baqian.
After all, it was indeed very unexpected for someone of the old man’s age to actually have such strong hands.
“Have you practiced the [Ninth Set of Initial Stage Cultivation], boss?” Ren Baqian immediately realized that it was the basic set of martial arts derived during the earlier days that was suitable for ordinary people to practice.
“It’s already at the 11th set now! Let’s make some introductions before we chat further. Miss Qi, I’m not quite sure what your etiquette is like over there?”
“It doesn’t matter what our etiquette is like. I couldn’t care less about that,” the empress replied casually.
“In the paradise, you hold an eminent status and indeed do not concede to men!” The old man laughed and added, “I said it wrong—that should only be used to describe normal women. I definitely can’t say that about someone of your stature.”
Even though the empress didn’t reveal her status, after hearing what Ren Baqian had said back then when he was holding a weapon and also receiving information from a few sources, he guessed that the empress held an important position in that paradise. He simply couldn’t deduce what her exact title was.
“And this is?” the old man asked as he looked at Lin Qiaole who was battling very hard to keep her eyes open.
He hadn’t heard any information about her before.
“Lin is her surname, but you can simply ignore her existence.”
“Please come in, my guests.”
The place was decorated with a Chinese style and most of the furniture was walnut and vermillion in color.
Even though Ren Baqian couldn’t tell if they were made from real wood, such a high ranking leader shouldn’t be using laminated wood, right?
“This is my wife and this is Mr. Ren and Miss Qi, whom I’ve mentioned before, as well as Miss Lin,” the old man introduced them to a lady in the room.
“I have seen madam on television many times, but never did I expect to have this opportunity to see you in person.” Ren Baqian smiled.
The old madam served them tea after they sat down. Afterward, the old man said, “I have heard about you guys for a few years. You were always out and about back then, and you were only willing to come back after I contacted you.
I have wanted to meet you for a long time, but I haven’t had the opportunity to do so. It was either I didn’t have the time or I couldn’t locate you! Meeting today is finally a wish-come-true for me!”
“Opportunities are aplenty. You are in good health and practice that set of skills. There will be plenty of opportunities for us to meet in the future.” Ren Baqian smiled.
After both of them exchanged a few words, Lin Qiaole couldn’t keep her eyes open anymore. She lay toward the side and immediately fell asleep.
Ren Baqian noticed her and acted as if he didn’t see anything.
After all, the old man was magnanimous and wouldn’t find fault with someone her age.
He didn’t know who she was and acted as if he didn’t notice either.
“At this age, I have resigned myself to fate. Who knows what will happen in the future? Besides, I have already stepped down from my position and no longer hold any duties. There’s not much for me to worry about anymore!” The old man laughed.
“You have stepped down?” Ren Baqian was stunned.
The old man was stunned upon seeing his reaction. Then, he shook head and started laughing.
Even though him stepping down wasn’t a major event, Ren Baqian actually knew nothing about it.
“I stepped down last year! At long last, I have handed over the last bit of responsibility. Now, I’m able to relax,” the old man explained.
Ren Baqian came back to his senses after hearing this.
Last year was 2023 and he indeed should have stepped down.
This also meant that there was a different person in charge now.
Exactly like what the empress said, subordinates would change along with a different leader. Earth’s leaders changed once every eight to ten years, so there would definitely be a few cycles of change over the next few decades. By then, there was no telling how they would treat Ren Baqian.
Only a few years had passed, but nobody had actually notified him of the change in leadership.
Ren Baqian wasn’t trying to say that he was some kind of a bigshot.
After all, he had an extraordinary identity and backing him was the entire paradise.
He was a little shocked that nobody had actually informed him about the change to a new leader.
“However, you don’t have to worry. With your identity, you will not be affected no matter who the leader is. We actually wanted to inform you about this change long ago, it was just that there were still some matters that I hadn’t finished handing over yet. Besides fulfilling my personal wish, I’ve invited you guys over to refer you to someone.”
The old man added this as he seemed to understand what Ren Baqian was thinking about.
“Could it be that since I’m no longer the leader, you guys aren’t willing to sit down with me for a chat?” The old man chuckled.
“How could that be!” Ren Baqian laughed. “Having a chat with the boss is something that many people can’t even dream of doing!”
“That’s great! Don’t call me boss anymore, just call me sir,” the old man replied.
“Sir.” Ren Baqian nodded.
“I have long been curious about this paradise. I’m wondering if you can tell this old man more about it?
Listening to your previous conversation, it somehow made me feel as if many aspects of the paradise are very similar to our world.
Like how Miss Qi addressed herself imperiously, we also had such a way of addressing in our ancient past. During the Qin Dynasty, the emperor made that the official and unique way of addressing the ruler under the recommendation of Li Si. I wonder if it’s just a form of referring to oneself in that world or if it’s that same official and unique way?
My wife is a professor of literature. After so many years, I have also become pretty interested in such stuff.”
Ren Baqian vision flickered. Was he really just curious?
Or was he trying to make a judgement out of this?
Speaking with someone like the old man, Ren Baqian didn’t dare to overlook anything that he said. Furthermore, what he said was related to the paradise.
“It’s a form of addressing oneself and not that unique and official way,” Ren Baqian responded after pondering for a bit.
The old man sensed something from Ren Baqian’s words. He laughed it off before shifting to another topic.
