Chapter 5 — Praying for Tham Yen Tri Binh A

Tham Yen Tri did not know where she went, did not know whether she was alive or dead. He only knows one thing: So Lang Yen is not with Tong Truong Uyen. But he won't go find her, and won't even dare to ask. People with hard mouths often have the softest hearts. Stubborn people are also the most cowardly. A few days passed and new news came from Bac Canh. Not military intelligence, just rumors brought back by the caravan. It was said that outside the city of Bac Canh, there had just been a fierce battle, many people died, the bodies were piled up in the city, there was no time to clean them up. Tham Yen Tri heard about it in the tea room. He came to teahouse not to drink tea, but because the palace was too quiet. He sat on the second floor by the window, holding a cold cup of tea in his hand. Below there were people talking, their voices were not loud, but each sentence and each word still resonated. "I heard that the battle was very miserable, General Song almost couldn't resist..." "A lot of people died, only the generals lost a few..." Tham Yen Tri put down the tea cup, called the second lieutenant to pay, then stood up and went downstairs. When he left the tea room, he stood in front of the door for a moment, just for a moment, then walked away. So Lang Yen followed Tham Yen Tri. His steps were a little faster than when he arrived, but not chaotic at all. Returning to the palace, he went straight into the study and closed the door. Don't sit down, don't take out the bunny lamp. Tham Yen Tri stood in front of the table, both hands resting on the table top, bowing her head. So Lang Yen did not dare to move, hovering in front of him, seeing his eyelashes tremble. A long time later, Tham Yen Tri stood up straight, pulled out the desk drawer and took out the map. He found the ink dot, pressed it with his finger, and held it for a long time. Then he picked up the pen and wrote a word next to it in ink—“Still?” Just one word. He was asking if So Lang Yen was still there? Still in Bac Canh? Still in this world? After writing, Tham Yen Tri stared at that word, suddenly turned the paper over, and wrote another word on the back - "Return". One word "still", one word "return". So Lang Yen raised his hand, wanting to touch Tham Yen Tri's finger, but it still passed through. "Tham Yen Tri." She said, "I'm no more, I can't go back." He didn't hear, just left the study and went to the backyard. So Lang Yen followed behind, watching Tham Yen Tri scoop a bucket of water from the well and bend down to wash her face. The water was very cold, so cold that he shivered. He raised his wet face and looked at his reflection on the water. "So Lang Yen." He said, "If you are dead, what should I do?" His voice was very low, half covered by the sound of the wind. But she heard it. So Lang Yen's heart felt like it was being squeezed. Tham Yen Tri has never said such words. He always said "it has nothing to do with me", "your death has nothing to do with me", but today he said "what should I do". Tham Yen Tri's steps were a bit unsteady as she returned to the study room. After sitting down, he took out a piece of paper and wrote "Peace". The paper was slightly wrinkled, the corners rolled up. He smoothed it out, placed it on the table and looked at it for a long time. Then Tham Yen Tri took the pen and wrote an additional line above the words "Peace". So Lang Yen stopped to look. He wrote — “Are you finally at peace?” She was both angry and funny. Tham Yen Tri, why are you comparing with a piece of paper, paper cannot answer you. Tham Yen Tri put down her pen, leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes. So Lang Yen thought he was tired, but his lips moved, very lightly, as if he was reciting something. She leaned closer to her ear. “…Peace, peace, peace…” Is he chanting for her? Did he think that by reciting it many times, So Lang Yen would truly be at peace? She stood next to Tham Yen Tri, watched him chant about ten times before stopping and opening her eyes. He looked at the paper on the table, turned it over, and wrote a line of words on the back. Finish writing immediately

Again, So Lang Yen had not yet had time to look. Night falls, moon rises. Tham Yen Tri stood in the middle of the yard, looking up at the moon. The moonlight shone on his face, there was light in his eyes. "So Lang Yen." He said, “If you are still alive, blow a wind to me.” She waited a moment, but there was no wind. He said again: "If you die, then blow a wind to me." So Lang Yen waited again, there was still no wind. Tham Yen Tri stood for a long time, so long that she thought he would stand until morning. Then he bowed his head and said the last sentence. "It seems you don't want to pay attention to me." He turned around and returned to the study, closing the door. So Lang Yen hovered in place, looking at the closed door. He was waiting for the wind, but she was just a ghost who couldn't move the wind, not even a gust of wind could shake him... She flew into the study room and saw Tham Yen Tri lying down, facing the wall. So Lang Yen stopped by and just happened to hear him say an upset sentence. "...If you don't pay attention, that's it."