Chapter 673 Breakfast

After calming down the excited customers in the bar, Bai Ye slowly stood up. His eyes showed both helplessness for this unexpected admiration and a deep understanding of the responsibility on his shoulders. He nodded slightly to the surroundings to show his gratitude, then turned around and walked towards the exit of the bar with firm steps. The lights in the bar gradually dimmed behind him, as if foreshadowing the end of a journey and the beginning of another unknown journey.

Pushing open the heavy wooden door of the bar, a gust of night wind blew towards him, bringing a bit of coolness and the unique smell of the wilderness. Bai Ye took a deep breath and let the fresh air wash away some of the irritability in his heart. He looked up at the night sky, a bright moon was hanging high, and the silver light was all over the earth, covering this quiet night with a mysterious veil.

Without stopping for too long, Bai Ye walked towards the huge iron gate not far away, which was the only way to the edge of the city. On both sides of the iron gate, the soldiers guarding had already noticed his figure. There was a flash of surprise in their eyes, but more of awe. In front of Bai Ye, they seemed to have become silent statues, just standing quietly, without making any sound, and without any intention of stopping.

Bai Ye slowly approached the iron gate, his steps were light and firm, and every step seemed to be saying goodbye to the city. When he stood in front of the iron gate, a soldier quickly stepped forward and opened the chain of the iron gate with trembling hands. The iron gate slowly opened, making a heavy creaking sound, which was particularly harsh in the quiet night.

Bai Ye did not look back, he walked straight through the iron gate and set foot on the road to the wilderness. The city behind him gradually faded away, the lights faded, and finally turned into a blurred light and shadow, disappearing from his sight. He knew that this walk was to leave his familiar umbrella and step into the wilderness where the unknown and danger coexist.

In the wilderness, the wind was more violent and the moonlight became colder. Bai Ye walked alone on the rugged path. In addition to the sound of the wind, there was the occasional roar of wild beasts, which seemed particularly desolate and lonely. But he did not stop, but instead quickened his pace, as if he was escaping from something, or looking for something.

Under the moonlight, his figure was very long, in sharp contrast with the surrounding scenery. There was no expression on his face, and his eyes were deep and complex, as if hiding countless secrets and stories. In this wilderness, he was no longer the hero admired by everyone, but just a lonely walker, a soul lost between himself and reality.

He walked for a long time until his feet began to feel tired, and finally stopped on a relatively flat grassland. He found a big stone to sit down, leaned against it, and looked up at the moon in the night sky. The moon was still bright and full, but it did not seem to bring any warmth and comfort to the white night. On the contrary, the cold silver light made him feel more lonely and helpless.

He closed his eyes, and various images emerged in his mind: the hustle and bustle of the city, the sacrifice of his comrades, the expectations of the people... These images flashed quickly in his mind like a movie, making him feel dizzy and tired. He tried to grab something, but found that he could not grab anything. He was like a lone boat, drifting in the vast ocean, unable to find the direction or see the other side.

"What am I living for?" Bai Ye asked himself silently in his heart. He asked this question many times, but he never got a satisfactory answer. He knew that he was responsible for protecting the city, but this responsibility seemed to be getting heavier and heavier, making him feel unbearable. He longed for freedom and peace, but reality pulled him back to the cruel reality again and again.

He opened his eyes and looked at the moon again. The moon was still bright and indifferent, as if laughing at his weakness and powerlessness. He smiled bitterly and shook his head. He knew that he couldn't just give up. No matter how difficult and long the road ahead was, he had to stick to it. Because he knew that in this city, there were countless people waiting for him and needing him.

He stood up, patted the dust on his body, and set foot on the road ahead again. Although the road ahead was unknown and full of dangers, he was ready. He was no longer the confused and helpless walker, but a warrior with firm faith and determination. He wants to use his own strength to protect this city and those who need him.

The night wind is still blowing fiercely, but Bai Ye's heart is full of strength and courage. He believes that as long as he does not give up and abandon the people and things he cares about, he will be able to overcome all difficulties and challenges. In this wilderness, he will continue to move forward, continue to explore, and continue to fight until he finds his own sky.

Bai Ye fumbled out a slightly old pen and a slightly wrinkled paper from the inner pocket of his clothes. This has been his habit for many years. No matter where he goes, he never forgets to bring these two things. For him, painting is not only a way to relax, but also a means of recording life and expressing emotions. In this desolate and mysterious wilderness, he felt unprecedented inspiration and impulse, and wanted to capture everything in front of him, whether it is scenery or mood, on paper as much as possible.

He first looked around and determined a general composition. The wilderness under the moonlight is a world of silver and shadows. In the distance are rolling mountains with blurred and deep outlines, as if they are the breath of the sleeping earth; nearby are sparse trees and weeds, which sway gently in the night breeze, making rustling sounds, adding a bit of vitality to this quiet night.

Bai Ye took a deep breath and began to paint. His brushstrokes seemed hesitant at first, as if he was testing this unknown canvas. But as time went on, his movements gradually became smooth and powerful, and each stroke was full of emotion and vitality. He first outlined the contours of the mountains, using lines of varying depths to show the layering and three-dimensionality of the mountains; then, he carefully depicted the forms of trees and grass, using delicate brushstrokes to capture their light and shadow changes under the moonlight.

In the process of painting, Bai Ye seemed to merge with the surrounding environment. He forgot about fatigue and loneliness, the burdens and responsibilities on his body, and only focused on the painting in front of him. His mind gained unprecedented peace and satisfaction, as if all the troubles and worries disappeared with the flow of brushstrokes.

However, as time went on, Bai Ye also began to realize the limitations of the painting. Although he tried his best to capture and express the scene in front of him, the picture on the canvas could never fully restore the reality and grandeur of the wilderness. He realized that some things cannot be depicted with a brush, such as the touch of the wind, the silence of the night, and the freedom and vastness that makes people feel relaxed and happy.

So, Bai Ye began to try to incorporate more emotions and imagination into his paintings. He was no longer limited to the description of the scenery, but incorporated his feelings and thoughts into every stroke. He imagined the stories and legends behind this wilderness, the creatures and people who had lived on this land, and their laughter and tears, hope and despair. These imaginations made his paintings richer and more vivid, and also touched and felt his heart more deeply.

As time went by, Bai Ye's paintings gradually took shape. It was no longer a simple landscape painting, but a work full of emotions and stories. Every detail in the picture contains Bai Ye's thoughts and emotions, allowing people to feel his inner world while appreciating it.

When the last stroke fell, Bai Ye breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at his work with satisfaction, and his heart was full of a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. He knew that this painting was not only his record and expression of the wilderness, but also an exploration and discovery of his inner world.

He carefully folded the drawing paper and put it in the inner pocket of his clothes. Then, he stood up and looked at the vast wilderness again. The moonlight was still bright and cold, but Bai Ye felt an unprecedented ease and comfort at this moment. He knew that no matter how difficult and long the road ahead was, he would continue to move forward with this love and pursuit of life. And painting will always be the purest love and persistence in his heart.

Bai Ye put away the pen and paper in a hurry, even with a hint of imperceptible annoyance. He looked down at the work he had just completed, and an indescribable emotion surged in his heart. The painting was originally his most sincere depiction of the wilderness, and every stroke carried his emotions and thoughts, but at this moment, it became blurred because of water droplets accidentally stained, losing its original color and charm.

A trace of determination flashed in Bai Ye's eyes, and he sighed softly, as if he was saying goodbye to a corner of his heart. Then, he stretched out his hand without hesitation, slowly unfolded the drawing paper, and then, with force, he tore it into pieces bit by bit. Those fragments carrying his hard work and emotions drifted gently in the night wind and eventually turned into nothingness.

After tearing up the painting, Bai Ye did not feel relieved, but a heavy sense of loss. He looked up into the distance, and the wilderness that he had tried to capture with his brush seemed even more distant and unfamiliar at this moment. He knew that he could not stay here any longer, so he turned around, took heavy steps, and set foot on the road back to the city.

It was already dawn, and the first ray of sunlight penetrated the clouds and sprinkled on the earth. Bai Ye was walking on the way back to the city, and everything around him gradually became clear. He walked through fields and saw farmers had already started their day's work; he passed by villages and heard the sounds of chickens crowing and dogs barking; he passed by rivers and saw the river water glittering silver in the sun, as if countless stars had fallen into the mortal world.

However, these beautiful scenes did not make Bai Ye's mood better. His heart was still full of loss and confusion, as if shrouded by an invisible haze. He didn't know why he had to return to the city full of constraints and responsibilities, and he didn't know how to face those expectant and admiring eyes.

When he finally walked into the gate of the city, the scene in front of him made him slightly stunned. It turned out that as the sky got brighter, breakfast stalls in the city had been set up one after another. Steaming buns, fragrant soy milk, golden and crispy fried dough sticks... The aroma of various delicacies intertwined to form an attractive taste. People sat or stood in front of their stalls, enjoying their first meal in the morning, with smiles of satisfaction and happiness on their faces.

Bai Ye looked at this scene, and a sense of bitterness inexplicably surged in his heart. He remembered that he was once a member of this city, busy with work and life every day, and had no time to take care of these simple and beautiful moments. But now, when he stood here again, he found that he had lost the happiness and peace that belonged to ordinary people.

He walked slowly through each stall, his eyes lingering on each busy figure for a moment. He saw the hardworking hands of the stall owners, heard the cheerful conversations of the customers, and felt the unique life atmosphere of this city. However, all this seemed so strange and distant to him.

Finally, Bai Ye stopped and stood in front of a small stall selling soy milk and fried dough sticks. He looked at the steaming soy milk and the golden and crispy fried dough sticks, and an urge to taste them surged in his heart. He knew that this might be a way for him to temporarily escape from his inner confusion and loss.

So he walked up and said to the stall owner in a low voice: "Give me a portion of soy milk and fried dough sticks." The stall owner looked up at him, a flash of surprise in his eyes, but soon regained his calm and quickly prepared breakfast for him.

Bai Ye took the breakfast and found a corner to sit down. He slowly tasted the sweetness of the soy milk and the crispness of the fried dough sticks, feeling the warmth and satisfaction brought by the food. However, this satisfaction did not last too long, and was soon replaced by his inner confusion and loss. He looked at the food in his hand, his heart full of helplessness and bitterness.

This soy milk reached its peak at the moment of boiling. The stall owner carefully controlled the heat to prevent it from boiling too much to maintain its delicateness and smoothness. When the first pot of soy milk came out of the pot, the whole stall was surrounded by this rich aroma, attracting the eyes and footsteps of passers-by. It was steaming hot and exuding an attractive luster, like the rising sun, warm and bright.

And fried dough sticks are the best companion to soy milk. They are made by repeatedly pulling and folding the dough, cutting it into strips, and then gently frying it in hot oil. As the oil temperature gradually rises, the fried dough sticks expand rapidly in the oil pan and become golden and crispy. In the short moment they are soaked in water, they absorb water and become softer, forming a sharp contrast with the smoothness of soy milk, but complementing each other.

The fried dough sticks are golden and crispy on the outside, soft and porous on the inside, and every bite is the ultimate temptation to the taste buds. They are placed in a bamboo basket, exuding an attractive aroma, waiting for a perfect encounter with soy milk. When diners hold the steaming soy milk in their hands, and take a bite of a freshly fried dough stick, the crispy and tender taste interweaves a beautiful melody in their mouths, which makes people linger.

He knew that he could not escape the troubles in his heart forever. No matter where he went or what he did, those problems would follow him like a shadow. He had to face them and solve them in order to find his own path and answers.

So he finished his breakfast, stood up, and set out on the road again. This time, his steps were more firm and powerful. He knew that no matter how difficult and long the road ahead was, he would bravely face and overcome all difficulties. Because only in this way could he find his own light and hope.