325 Rain (1/2)

”My name is Ye Qingxuan and it will not change. Food is free in the East so why can’t I hitch a ride?” The proud youth with mottled white hair and ragged clothes blocked a caravan. His clothes were ragged because he did not start off with much clothing. His hair was mottled because…his hair dye had faded.

Now, ‘Ye Qingxuan’ pointed at his fading white hair and said proudly, ”Do you see this? It’s the noble blood of a Deva! Hurry up and give me your best carriage. Otherwise, I’ll lose my temper.”

”Uh…” Donald gripped his sword as his expression twitched. With this situation, he could not fight the man but he could not not fight. Who knew if the man was a musician or not?

He looked to the carriage in the center of the caravan for help but the youth there just blew his whistle without a care. What was wrong with this trip? Why did he keep running into such weird things? Before he could react, a cackle sounded in the air.

”Ye Qingxuan? I’m looking for you!” A black shadow instantly descended from the sky and clawed ‘Ye Qingxuan’s shoulder, lifting him up. The three-footed eagle’s wing spanned a dozen meters. It was clearly a summoned phantom beast.

The musician on the eagle’s back played his flute and cackled. ”Going to Auschwitz is a death trap for a weak musician like you. Why don’t you form a team with me? You can try decode—”

Before he could finish, something whistled through the forest. A blinding beam of light flashed in the air. It sliced off one of the eagle’s wings and burned half of the Summoning musician’s body.

Yelping, the musician urged the handicapped eagle forward.

”You think you can get to Auschwitz?” A woman with a tattooed face rode a python. She beat her copper drum and chased after him. There were thunderous rumbles and booms. Melodies overlapped each other, creating dizzying and complex ripples.

One could faintly hear ‘Ye Qingxuan’s say indignantly, ”Psh, stop dreaming! Bring it on…”

The entire caravan seemed to be fossilized. The mortals always suffered when the gods fought.

”What…what’s going on?” The caravan leader was close to tears. ”Why do people keep fighting when they’re talking? They blocked our path!”

”Boss, be happy they aren’t drag racing!” The turbaned youth beside him munched on baked seeds as if this did not bother him. ”If I were you, I’d choose a detour. If they come back—”

Before he finished, the leader jumped. He almost bounced off of his horse. ”Detour! Turn around! Hurry! What are you still waiting for? For those unlucky b*stards to pay your salary?”

The long caravan turned around and carefully avoided the musicians’ battlefield after going in a big circle.

-

After ten days, Ye Qingxuan’s happy days of lounging around finally ended. He could only hitch a ride to here. There were no more after this. He had traveled slowly and casually for so many days but, according to the arrangement, Ye Qingxuan was still on time. It was good enough that he had arrived! He had already planned on whiling his days away like this. With his small physique, killing was not his thing. He should treasure his life!

”Sir, you’re leaving now?” At the fork in the road, the caravan leader bid farewell to Ye Qingxuan politely. ”You’re leaving so soon. Why don’t you stay a few days? We will treat you with hospitality.” He regretted his words as soon as he uttered them because Ye Qingxuan’s eyes brightened.

”Really?”

”Uh…” The leader wiped at his sweat and stammered, ”But we shouldn’t hold you back. Your time is precious. How can a small caravan like us waste your time?”

”Ah, no, not at all. And furthermore, you even dare to sell powerful things like the power armor. Your business is probably pretty big, right?” Ye Qingxuan glanced at him with a subtle smile. Moving from the topic, he lifted up his bag and spoils. ”Oz is up ahead. Thanks everyone for letting me catch a ride. Let’s part here.”

The youth turned to leave. After hesitating, Donald called out, ”Sir, can you…can you tell us your name?”

”Me?” Ye Qingxuan looked back from his horse with a strange expression. ”I’m…Simon! Right, Simon. Just remember me as a peace-loving Indian musician.”

”Simon?” Donald sounded out the unfamiliar name. ”Then, may we meet again, Mr. Simon.”

”Yes, may we meet again.” Ye Qingxuan whistled and patted the stallion’s neck. The horse neighed and galloped off.

Watching as the youth faded into the distance, the caravan leader sighed, ”What a miracle. I never expected to meet such a figure on the road. It’s a pity he left so hurriedly. Do you think he’s a Resonance musician from the legends with that power?”

”Maybe. I can’t tell,” Donald lamented. ”I didn’t know you’d be so generous as to gift him your horse.”