Exiled!? Ha! I have An Infinite Space-Chapter 79 -

"You really don’t listen, do you?" I said gently, looking at Bai Ming.

"What do you mean?" Bai Ming asked, her brows knitting together slightly in confusion.

"I am not telling you to depend on a man," I said slowly. "And I am definitely not telling you to go into another painful or unhappy marriage. That is not my point at all. What I am saying is simple... you should not close your heart completely before life even gives you another chance."

Bai Ming lowered her eyes for a moment before speaking again.

"I don’t trust it," she said honestly. "Men... marriage... all of it. I don’t trust any of it anymore."

"That is okay," I replied calmly. "You don’t have to trust it now. No one is asking you to suddenly believe in something that hurt you before. But life is long, and people are different. Not everyone you meet will be the same as the one who hurt you."

Bai Ming stayed quiet after hearing that.

I continued speaking, my voice softer this time.

"You don’t need a man to survive," I said. "You are already strong enough to live on your own and take care of your children. No one is denying that. But having someone reliable beside you... someone who truly cares... that is not a weakness."

Bai Ming took a slow breath.

"I have lived my whole life tied to a man who only gave me pain," she said quietly. "Now that I am finally free, I don’t want to go back into that kind of life again."

"I understand," I said with a small nod. "And no one is forcing you to go back. You have the right to choose your own life now. But choosing to stay alone forever out of fear... that is also a kind of burden."

Bai Ming looked at me again, her expression slightly shaken.

"I am not saying you must remarry," I continued. "I am only saying... don’t close the door completely. If one day you meet someone good, someone who respects you and treats your children well, then at least give yourself the chance to consider it."

Bai Ming’s fingers tightened slightly on her sleeve.

"I will think about it," she said after a long pause.

"That is enough," I replied with a faint smile. "You don’t need to decide anything now."

The silence between us became calm.

After a moment, I spoke again.

"It is getting late," I said. "You should get some rest. Tomorrow will not be easy."

"Thank you... for talking to me," Bai Ming said softly.

"Don’t think too much about it," I replied as I stood up. "Just focus on what you can do for now."

With that, I turned and walked back toward the camp.

When I returned, everything was already quiet.

I lay down beside Fu Sheng and pulled the blanket over myself, adjusting slightly to get comfortable.

Just as I was about to close my eyes—

"Goodnight," Fu Sheng said softly.

Before I could react, he leaned closer and gently kissed my cheek.

I froze for a brief moment, surprised by him.

"...You were awake?" I asked quietly.

He did not answer, but I could feel a faint warmth from him as he stayed close.

A small smile appeared on my lips.

"Goodnight," I whispered back softly.

I pulled the blanket closer around myself and closed my eyes, the warmth from his kiss still lingering on my cheek as sleep slowly took over. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

.....

"Everyone, wake up! Get ready to move!"

"Line up and collect your food!"

The loud voices of the guards broke the quiet of the morning.

"Move faster! No one should be left behind!"

I slowly opened my eyes as the noise spread through the camp. Around me, people were already waking up, packing their things, and preparing to leave.

I sat up and adjusted my clothes, the cold morning air brushing lightly against my skin.

Beside me, Fu Sheng was already awake.

"You’re up," I said softly.

"I have been for a while," he replied.

I gave him a small look but said nothing more.

Not far away, the head guard stood with a few others, handing out dry buns to everyone.

"Take one and keep moving!" he shouted. "We don’t have time to waste!"

People quickly lined up, each receiving their share.

Then the head guard raised his voice again so everyone could hear.

"Listen carefully!" he announced. "Before evening, we will arrive at the barren lands!"

A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.

"This is your last warning," he continued coldly. "Once we arrive, there will be no time for slow walking or resting. Life there is harsh, and no one will wait for you."

He paused before adding,

"If you are not married, then get married quickly. It will make things easier for you. Out there, no one cares about your past—only whether you can survive."

The crowd became restless after hearing that.

Some people looked worried, while others whispered among themselves.

"Did you hear that?" Fu Tong said, his tone slightly uneasy. "We are already struggling now. Who knows what it will be like there?"

Fu Teng frowned. "Complaining won’t help. We just have to be prepared."

Madame Fu sighed. "As long as we stay together as a family, we will manage somehow."

Fu Fei nodded. "Yes, we cannot panic now. We should focus on getting through today first."

I quietly moved toward Master Fu, who was sitting nearby.

"How is your leg?" I asked.

"It feels much better," Master Fu replied.

I carefully checked the injury.

The swelling had gone down, and the wound was already closing. After only a few days of treatment, it had improved a lot.

"It is healing well," I said. "If we continue like this, it should be fully healed in two to three weeks."

Master Fu looked relieved. "That is good to hear."

I nodded slightly.

"But after it heals, you will need to start moving more and slowly return to walking," I added.

"I understand," he said.

I then turned to Fu Sheng and Madame Fu.

"His leg is recovering well," I told them. "Just a few more weeks, and he should be fine. After that, he will need to start learning how to walk again little by little."

Madame Fu’s expression softened with relief. "That is good... very good."

Fu Sheng nodded. "We will make sure he takes it slow."

At that moment, Fu Li walked over, holding several dry buns.

"I got food for everyone," She said, handing them out.

"Take yours," She added.

I accepted one and held it in my hand.

"Thank you," Madame Fu said.

"Eat quickly," Fu Li said. "They are already telling us to move."

Around us, people were finishing their food and getting back into line.

"Everyone, start moving!" the guards shouted again.

"Keep the line straight! No stopping!"

I took a bite of the dry bun and stood up.

"Let’s go," Fu Sheng said.

We all nodded.

With our things packed and food in hand, we joined the moving crowd once again, heading toward the barren lands.

...

"Keep moving! No stopping!" the guards shouted as the line began to move again.

Everyone walked in silence at first, their steps slow and heavy.

After a while, Fu Teng let out a breath. "We have been walking for a long time already."

Fu Tong wiped the sweat from his face. "And it feels like it will never end."

"Stop complaining," Madame Fu said. "Save your strength."

"I am not complaining," Fu Tong muttered. "I am just saying the truth."

Another hour passed.

Then another.

Someone suddenly fell.

"Ahh—!" a woman cried as she dropped to the ground.

"Get up!" a guard shouted. "No stopping!"

"She can’t stand!" another voice said.

"That is not our problem. Keep moving!"

More people began to stumble.

Fu Fei looked worried. "If this continues, more people will collapse."

Fu Sheng frowned but said nothing.

After some time, Fu Teng pointed ahead. "There is water!"

"A river?" Fu Tong said, his eyes lighting up.

A few guards quickly went to speak with the head guard.

"Sir, everyone is exhausted," one guard said. "There is a river ahead. Let them rest for a moment."

The head guard frowned. "They are too weak."

"If we don’t stop, more will collapse," another guard added.

The head guard clicked his tongue. "...Fine. Five minutes."

He turned and shouted,

"Everyone, stop! Five minutes only! Drink water and rest!"

Relief spread through the crowd.

"Finally..." Fu Tong said as he quickly moved forward.

"Don’t waste time," Fu Sheng said. "Go."

They all headed toward the river.

Bai Ming carried her sons and set them down by the river.

"Stay here," she told them. "Do not move around."

"Yes, Mother," they said together.

"Good. I will be back soon."

Not far away, Fu Tong’s mother spoke sharply.

"Li Manman, go and fetch water."

Li Manman frowned. "Me?"

"Do you want to argue?" she snapped.

Li Manman clicked her tongue softly. "...Fine."

She took the container and walked toward the river.

As she reached the riverbank, she slowed down.

Her eyes moved to the side.

Bai Ming.

Li Manman’s lips curved slightly.

"...I will teach you a lesson," she whispered under her breath.

At that moment, Bai Ming looked up.

"Han Fu Ji..." she called softly.

She quickly stood and picked up a water container.

Turning to her son and daughter, she said,

"Stay here. I will be right back."

"Yes, Mother," they replied.

Li Manman watched as Bai Ming walked away.

She waited.

Then she slowly stepped closer to the two children.

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"Such obedient children..." she said softly.

The boys looked up at her.

"Where is your mother going?" she asked.

"She said she will be back," one of them replied.

"I see..." Li Manman said.

Her eyes darkened slightly.

"...then you should come with me."

The boys hesitated.

"But Mother said we should stay here," the younger one said.

Li Manman smiled gently.

"I know. But she asked me to take you to her."

The boys looked at each other.

"Really?" they asked.

"Of course," Li Manman said calmly. "Do you think I would lie to you?"

They slowly stood up.

Li Manman’s smile deepened slightly.

"...Good," she said softly.