Morning arrived quietly in the village.
Mist floated between the hills, and the air smelled of soil and cold grass.
Leo stood outside a door and knocked.
Knock. Knock.
The door opened halfway.
Yuna stood there in a tracksuit, hair slightly messy, eyes half-awake.
"…Why is there chaos this early in the morning?" she muttered.
Leo smiled.
"Get ready. I'm taking you to see my village."
Inside the room, Chen Wei was still lying on the bed, wrapped in a blanket, staring at the ceiling like a defeated philosopher.
"You don't even let us sleep peacefully at sunrise," he complained.
"But fine… let's go."
🌾 Fields of the Past
They walked through open fields.
Golden wheat swayed gently in the wind.
"This year's wheat," Leo said.
"It grows well here."
Villagers passed by, smiling.
"Morning, Leo!"
"Welcome back!"
"You've grown taller!"
Leo nodded politely to everyone.
Yuna watched quietly, then asked,
"You said everyone in the village is the same family.
What did you mean by that?"
Leo slowed his steps.
"My first grandparents," he said softly,
"cleared this land alone."
"Just the two of them.
They made these fields with their own hands."
He pointed ahead.
"They had five sons.
Those sons had children.
And generations kept growing."
He looked around.
"So yeah… this entire village is one family."
Yuna smiled.
"…That's beautiful."
🌳 The Sacred Tree
They climbed higher toward the upper side of the village.
A massive tree stood there—
far larger than any normal tree.
Beside it was a structure that looked like a small house.
Yuna tilted her head.
"That's… a house?"
Leo shook his head.
"No. That's a temple."
She noticed the red and white flags fluttering around it.
"Those flags," Leo continued,
"are symbols of the Hindu gods."
He looked at the tree.
"People believe gods don't live in buildings.
They live inside humans."
"And sometimes," he added,
"they choose priests as vessels."
He paused.
"But no god has chosen someone who can protect this place forever."
He placed his hand on the bark.
"This tree is big because a god resides within it."
Silence followed.
Even Chen Wei didn't joke.
🍲 A Simple Meal
Back at the house, they cooked together.
Simple food.
Warm plates.
Quiet laughter.
After eating, Yuna stood up and stretched.
"Well… I should go."
Leo frowned slightly.
"It's only been one day."
Yuna smiled sadly.
"Idiot. I'll come again."
She looked at him seriously.
"But first, I need to return to Japan."
"To take care of Lily."
"So she can wake up again.
Laugh again."
She turned toward the door, then added,
"And by the way…
you still don't know when your son will be born."
Leo froze.
Yuna waved lightly.
"I'm leaving."
🚌 Goodbye, Again
They stood near the same terrifying bus.
Cracked. Rusted. Loud.
Chen Wei's eyes watered.
"So… you're really leaving me alone in this cold weather?"
Yuna snapped back,
"You think I'm not scared?"
"Getting on this broken bus?"
They argued while boarding—
"Don't die."
"You better not cry."
"Come back safely."
"Don't flirt with mountain goats."
Leo watched quietly.
The bus started moving.
Dust rose.
The bus crossed New Pul again.
Yuna looked back once.
Leo stood there, still.
The village returned to silence.
And so did his heart.
END OF CHAPTER 40