Chapter 1227: Sleep

Chen Ling glanced at the dilapidated stone shovel in his hand, then looked at Sun Buming, whose life force was slowly fading, and an unspeakable sorrow welled up in his heart.

He knew very well that Sun Buming wouldn't truly die; he was merely falling into a deep slumber, and they would meet again in some future era. Yet, at this very moment, the loneliness and desolation in Sun Buming's eyes made Chen Ling's heart tremble.

Sun Buming had never treated any of his lives casually just because he could reincarnate; every one of his lives was lived earnestly and meticulously. He wanted to taste the most delicious food of each era, witness its happiness and prayers, and leave his mark with gold in every age. When he fell into slumber, everyone he knew in that life would be gone when he awoke next, and all traces of his existence would vanish, becoming ephemeral legends.

As Chen Ling looked into Sun Buming's eyes, he realized that for Sun Buming, this was never merely "slumber," but true "death."

He didn't want to fall asleep, didn't want to die, and didn't want to bid farewell to everything in this era.

But he was already close to death...

"What's with that look?" Sun Buming forced a light smile. "What, for you, shouldn't our reunion be instantaneous? Why are you acting as if this is a final farewell?"

Sun Buming was right; as long as Chen Ling left the archive, he could immediately see Sun Buming again. For him, reunion was effortless.

But for Sun Buming, how many long years would that be?

Chen Ling suddenly felt like a cunning cheater. He could easily traverse between two eras using the archived timeline, but for Sun Buming, Yang Xiao, Lu Xun—for everyone within those times—who knew how much pain and hardship they would have to overcome to meet again?

Chen Ling didn't answer Sun Buming. He simply tightened his grip on the stone shovel and plunged it deep into the soil.

Then he shoveled the heavy soil aside.

Dust billowed as Sun Buming sat quietly amidst the ruins, watching the red-robed figure busily digging a grave for him in the deep pit, lost in thought.

Air raid sirens and the roar of fighter jets echoed overhead.

The two performers remained silent.

"That's about enough."

After an unknown period of time, Sun Buming slowly stood up.

He gestured to indicate the size of the pit, then measured his own height. "This will do. I'll lie down, and you can bury me."

"Can I just bury you directly?"

"Just bury me directly."

Sun Buming finally raised his hands, stretched lazily to loosen his muscles and bones. Then, holding his cherished lion dance headpiece, he slowly stepped into the deep pit.

Chen Ling had dug the pit very deep, so deep that Sun Buming's head didn't show when he stood in it. Sun Buming solemnly placed the lion dance headpiece aside, then took off his small round sunglasses. He lay flat on the soil, hands folded across his chest, like a well-behaved youth about to sleep, slowly closing his eyes.

Chen Ling stood at the edge of the pit, taking one last look at Sun Buming, then began scooping the freshly dug soil back into the pit, handful by handful.

The yellow earth gradually covered Sun Buming's sunglasses, then his body, and finally the exquisitely carved lion dance headpiece. Chen Ling's movements were gentle, and he was ready to stop at any moment, but from beginning to end, Sun Buming remained silent, allowing himself to be buried deep underground, as if truly asleep.

When Chen Ling finished filling the last handful of earth, the world fell silent once more. The large red opera robe stood atop the flattened grave, swaying gently in the wind.

After an unknown period of time,

Chen Ling let out a long sigh.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, a muffled voice suddenly came from under the soil: "Chen Ling."

Chen Ling was startled. "What is it?"

"I can't sleep."

Chen Ling looked at the filled grave with a strange expression and asked again, "You can't sleep? What then? Should I let you out again?"

"I want to die amidst the clamor of gongs and drums," Sun Buming said again. "Without the lively and joyful noise, I can't fall into slumber. How about you beat a drum for me, strike a gong, or just perform something?"

Chen Ling was speechless.

Chen Ling's mouth twitched slightly. He even began to suspect Sun Buming was playing a trick on him, but recalling Sun Buming's appearance just moments ago, he hesitated, then spoke: "Then, how about I sing an opera for you?"

"Sure."

Chen Ling cleared his throat, and in his large red opera robe, he began to sing clearly over the ruins: "Advise the Emperor not to utter the word 'kill'; this old minister will speak to His Majesty from the beginning. Liu Bei is originally a descendant of Prince Jing, a line left by the Han Emperor's great-grandson..."

This aria Chen Ling sang was "Advising the Emperor," a classic segment from *Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Prosperity*, which depicted the grand wedding of Liu Bei and Sun Shangxiang. Since Sun Buming wanted to fall asleep amidst noise, this was undoubtedly an excellent choice, being cheerful and festive.

Chen Ling's singing skills were naturally excellent. Even without any instrumental accompaniment, he created a lively and joyful atmosphere. Moreover, fearing that Sun Buming might take too long to fall asleep, he sang the entire "Advising the Emperor" once before stopping.

After finishing the song, Chen Ling looked down at the earth of the grave beneath his feet and tentatively asked, "...Are you asleep?"

"No."

"No, though you sang very well, I don't feel any festive cheer at all... You're not happy inside!"

"How can I be happy? Is this something you can just decide to be happy about?" Chen Ling was somewhat speechless. He truly felt that Sun Buming was playing a trick on him, yet he had no evidence.

"I don't care, I just can't sleep."

Chen Ling was about to say something else when a painful cough came from underground. Sun Buming's body had reached its limit, yet he couldn't fall asleep; all that remained was pain.

Chen Ling swallowed what he was about to say. After a moment of thought, he looked towards the Mid-Levels Hotel, and an idea surfaced in his mind.

He glanced down at the time, then walked straight towards it.

"Cough, cough, cough... Where are you going?" Sun Buming asked.

"Don't worry," Chen Ling replied calmly. "I will make you fall asleep."

Chen Ling left.

The entire ruin fell silent once more, with only Sun Buming's weak cough occasionally rising from underground.

Time passed minute by minute. As Sun Buming's coughing became more frequent, until it was almost non-stop, a faint sound of firecrackers approached from a distance.

Crackle, pop, pop—!!

The smoke from the firecrackers, like auspicious clouds, slowly drifted through the desolate ruins.

Several figures, wearing ill-fitting, cheap formal wear, raised firecrackers high. They carried rattles, small trumpets, and a pile of plastic toys, playfully making their way towards him...

Brother Pao held Xiao Yu's hand, walking amidst the smoke and noise. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he shouted with all his might: "Big Brother!!!" "We're here to see you off!!!"