Chapter 1141 - 378: Su Yue’s Inner Confusion

"I’m a rough man, and I probably can’t teach you much.

"However, I do feel that while some people can just lie back and plunder wealth that doesn’t belong to them, they simultaneously lose some sense of self-worth. Some fly too fast and miss a lot of the scenery along the way.

"As the saying goes, a person’s life is short. You can’t bring money with you at birth, and you can’t take it with you when you die. Living a wonderful life with a clear conscience is the greatest value.

"Accumulating wealth is just a game, and in this life of ours, there are many directions this game can take."

Wang Nanguo refilled Su Yue’s water and continued.

"Let’s take you for example!

"Look out the window. Back then, right in that neighborhood, there was a teleportation array where alien races landed. If you hadn’t turned the tide, that place might have been reduced to a living hell.

"How much are the lives you saved worth?

"No one can calculate that. The government can’t give you that money, and the common people certainly can’t. Even you yourself probably don’t need it.

"But you truly saved a lot of people. You have played a part in the joys and sorrows of every family in that neighborhood.

"Think about this again—were all your past hardships and risks really meaningless?

"You’ve saved thousands of neighborhoods like this. The common people might not know that you were the one who saved their lives, but you know, God knows, and your conscience knows!

"If it were me, I’d feel that this is more than enough."

Wang Nanguo and Su Yue stood by the window, gazing out at an old neighborhood alongside Yao Yao.

The neighborhood was bustling with activity. There were elderly people pushing strollers, delivery drivers on electric scooters, and a few salesmen posting loan flyers who had been caught red-handed by the security guards and were currently offering cigarettes to beg for mercy. It was a vivid picture of life, rich with the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Someone knocked on the door.

"Minister, there’s an urgent document, you..."

An investigator walked in, looking at Su Yue and then at Wang Nanguo. He knew he shouldn’t interrupt the minister’s conversation, but this document was exceptionally important.

"Uncle Wang, it was a pleasure chatting with you. I’ll go find my friends first; let’s get together again when we have time," Su Yue said, standing up to take his leave.

"I have too many messy matters to deal with here, so I won’t keep you for a meal. When you have some time off, you and Lu Feng should come over to the house and hang out. I’ll have your aunt make dumplings for you." Wang Nanguo smiled. He had hoped to give Su Yue some inspiration to help him quickly snap out of his period of confusion. Unfortunately, time didn’t allow for any more idle chatter. It was quite a pity.

"Alright, sounds good!" Su Yue turned around, ready to leave.

At this moment, the investigator mustered up the courage to speak to Su Yue. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; he couldn’t care less if the minister scolded him.

"Um, wait a moment...

"Are you really West Martial Su Yue? Could I get your autograph?

"You saved my brother’s life on the battlefield. He has always wanted to thank you in person, but your status is extraordinary, so he never had the chance. I’d like an autograph so he can frame it and hang it on the wall as a memento."

"Yeah, sure!" Su Yue paused in surprise for a moment before nodding. He borrowed a pen from Wang Nanguo, found a blank piece of paper, and scribbled across the entire page. The two massive characters were written with flamboyant, sweeping strokes and were exceedingly messy, ensuring that they couldn’t be used by criminals for fraud.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" the investigator thanked him repeatedly.

"No problem!" Su Yue nodded before leaving the office.

It turned out that quite a few people still remembered him. Unfortunately, he had saved too many people to have any idea who they were.

At the barbecue stall.

Su Yue, Flower Bear, and Old Zhao were drinking heartily. The other two were drinking beer, while Su Yue mixed cola and Sprite; he wasn’t used to the taste of beer, and moreover, a Martial Artist shouldn’t drink alcohol.

"Master Su, I never expected you to actually come back! I’m so happy, haha!" Flower Bear patted his chest.

Old Zhao smiled bitterly, feeling a headache coming on. He was most afraid of Flower Bear being happy. Whenever this guy was happy, he loved to waive people’s bills. Especially when news about Su Yue’s meritorious deeds appeared on the Martial Arts Network, Flower Bear wouldn’t just waive the bills; he would also give the diners a free bottle of soda before they left. If it weren’t for the diners showing them some respect and insisting on paying, this food stall would have gone out of business long ago.

However, Old Zhao was also genuinely happy. Not having seen him for so long, Su Yue had matured. The green youth from back then had gradually grown up and gained a manly air.

"Your business here is really booming as well," Su Yue said, chewing on a meat skewer and feeling happy for Flower Bear.

"We’re just riding on your coattails. Quite a few Martial Artists drive hundreds of kilometers specifically to sit on the stool you once ate on, saying they want to catch some of your martial aura. A bunch of superstitious fools." Flower Bear’s waist had grown three sizes; when he slapped it, his flab jiggled. "But over time, our food stall has become a landmark in Yu Liang City.

"It’s a shame that I’m already crippled. Otherwise, I would definitely follow you to the battlefield to slaughter the alien races. Sigh... It pisses me off!" Flower Bear chugged a glass of ice-cold beer, his stomach full of frustration.

"You’re making so much money now, you have lots of friends, and your life is so leisurely. Why would you want to go to the Wet Realm to suffer?" Su Yue smiled. This guy was also a bit dense. Wearing a gold watch on his left wrist and eating barbecue three times a day—this was a life many people could only dream of.

"If a person lives just for a leisurely life, what’s the difference between them and a pig?

"I just want to go to the battlefield. Back when I was in the fighting arena, I wanted to earn enough money to break through, so I could go to the battlefield to build a career and achieve great things.

"It’s a pity my luck was so rotten." Speaking of his sad past, Flower Bear was utterly heartbroken.

"It’s not like you don’t know, Su Yue. Every time Boss Flower Bear mentions the battlefield, he complains. A few times, he even wailed and cried out loud. I couldn’t even stop him; he insisted on donating money to the Military Department," Old Zhao said, teasing Flower Bear.

"Old Hua, why are you so obsessed with going to the battlefield? Is it really that interesting to risk your life for others?" Su Yue suddenly asked with a look of confusion.

"Of course it’s interesting.

"Looking back on the days of going through life and death with my comrades, our blood boiling with passion to defend our homes and our country—that is the true meaning of life.

"My life now is like a pig waiting to be put in a coffin. It’s truly meaningless.

"If I had a choice, I would rather die in the Wet Realm, so that my name could at least be carved in the Heroic Spirit Mausoleum." Flower Bear looked genuinely depressed.

"Is it worth dying for others? People really die in the Wet Realm; it’s no joke," Su Yue smiled with a look of self-deprecation.

"As if you won’t die eventually in this lifetime if you don’t sacrifice yourself for the country!

"You don’t want to die, and I don’t want to die, which means the end result is that we all die together.

"Besides, the Divine Land generally treats Martial Artists very well. Even Martial Artists who go down to the Wet Realm for missions get welfare benefits. Since you chose to be a Martial Artist, why talk about enjoying life?

"Being a pig is the most enjoyable, but no one wants to be a pig.

"Master Su, I truly envy you for being able to be so glorious on the battlefield. You are a hero, a hero destined to be remembered by the Divine Land."

Flower Bear’s large hand heavily patted Su Yue’s shoulder. Tears shimmered in his eyes, and his pupils reflected very sincere reverence.

"Haha, what’s there to envy? It’s just good luck!" Su Yue let out an awkward laugh.

After bidding farewell to Flower Bear, Su Yue took a trip back to Cengyan City.

Li Xingpei had been exceptionally lenient and granted Su Jianjun a day off.

The house had returned to its former liveliness. Su Jianzhou and Su Yue were watching TV in the living room, while Su Jianjun was in the kitchen cleaning a fish.

"Uncle, thank you for your item, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to get the Divine Soldier battle axe!" Su Yue said.

"What’s there to thank me for? I just gave you an opportunity. You were the one who truly risked your life for it.

"Su Yue, do you have something on your mind this time you came back?" Su Jianzhou asked.

"No, not really!" Su Yue smiled nonchalantly.

"Haha, others might not understand you, but I know that you must be troubled by something recently.

"If it’s convenient, talk to me about it. If not, forget I asked. I believe you can adjust your mood!" Su Jianzhou also looked at Su Yue and smiled.

"Uncle, it’s true, I’ve been a bit lost recently!" Su Yue sighed, ultimately admitting it.

"I don’t know what the meaning of my struggles and sacrifices is.

"I mean no offense, but I still want to ask: your leg became crippled—do you regret it?" Su Yue immediately asked.