“Ah, I want want another one, a peach,” Shen Yu suddenly exclaimed out of the blue, longing for another bite. He savored the memory of the fruit’s sweetness, having already devoured its entirety. It was also admirable that until now he hadn’t gotten tired of eating sweets, resulting in him being more brazen.
“Excess of something isn’t advisable,” Kai’s deep voice took on a gentle tone as he stretch on the make shift ‘bed’, his voice hushed in the shadow of the night.
Fagun was very spritual, so even the insects were not loud when they made noises.
Between the sweet aftertaste of peaches and soft cascade of nightly whispers, Shen Yu settled more comfortably.
He pondered his solitude and imagined himself at his most vulnerable, he wondered what it would be like if he had no one to rely on during his lowest moments. What if he didn’t cross paths with Kai until the mission had progressed well beyond its initial stages?
Given the current circumstances, they hadn’t encountered any other transmigrators so far. Even if there were others, it was unlikely they’d recognise them, especially if they belonged to different species and races. Discovering fellow transmigrators was a daunting task unless individuals actively sought each other out.
Typically, after assimilation, transmigrators tended to congregate in renowned cities and towns as part of an unspoken rule for group missions.
Just like Shen Yu and Kai, it was highly probable that all of them were en route to the central city. Along the way, they might be in communication with their respective teams using communication arrays or gathering vital information for mission completion.
There existed a tendency among transmigrators to trade information, settle internal conflicts, and form larger teams for better outcomes. Those who ventured alone were often formidable individuals, while those in teams heavily relied on their teammates.
As Shen Yu contemplated this, he realized how outdated his clan’s approach had been.
Although Shen Yu had chosen his mission world relatively late, it wasn’t too late to contact others connected to the Shen Clan for support. Even if he was perceived as a weak link, having a team’s backing would greatly benefit him.
He had also looked over this situation extensively but refrained from directly asking to avoid incurring debts.
In the end, he had to accept responsibility for treating this entire mission as a reunion stage, relying solely on Kai.
If Shen Yu had more power and sources, this mission wouldn’t have been a very difficult obstacle to conquer.
Had he invested more effort in building connections with other team members and studying combat manuals, his situation would have been far more favorable. However, from an objective standpoint, having Kai’s unwavering support throughout this mission made his journey remarkably smooth.
At present, whenever issues arose, he could simply confide in Kai, and Kai would handle them.
Although not the healthiest of habits, Shen Yu found himself outperforming other newcomers in some aspects, despite his unfortunate dantian condition.
Cocooned within the warmth of his blanket, Shen Yu didn’t hesitate to gravitate closer to the other source of heat, finding solace in its strong presence, especially when his stomach grumbled in hunger.
“I’ve got some water,” Kai mumbled, his eyes closed, feigning exhaustion, though Shen Yu knew better; this entire arrangement was designed to ensure Shen Yu’s comfort. “Drink up and get some rest. Tomorrow morning, I’ll fetch you an assortment of fresh fruits.”
“Do you have the money for that? Or will you pick them,” Shen Yu asked childishly, his voice only loud enough for the both of them. “I don’t have a penny, and it seems you’ve been covering all the expenses.”
He felt very comfortable with Kai, so even after the long absence and time apart, he found himself being more talkative.
“Malcum was wealthy,” Kai chuckled, “he didn’t lack for silver. There are even a few gold pieces.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“But is it enough to get us to the central town?”
“Pa’r wbgf atjc fcbeut. Rbk, ufa rbwf gfra. Ktf nliijufgr glrf fjgis.”
“Lww, ubbvcluta.”
~
Vtfc Te gfwjlcfv byilnlber ab atf ojma atja Bjl tjv foobgaifrris fcrcjgfv atfw klatlc tlr lcaglmjaf rtjvbk mjuf. Gfrqlaf atf obgwlvjyif mjqjylilalfr bo atf ZQDV, atflg kbgiv tjv qiecufv lcab jc lwqfcfagjyif jysrr bo weooifv rlifcmf jcv vjgxcfrr, ugjcalcu nlrlylilas jcv jevlylilas bcis ja Bjl’r vlrmgfalbc. Ktlr wjrafgs lc fnjvlcu regnfliijcmf kjr cbatlcu rtbga bo fzmfqalbcji.
Even those viewers who were accustomed to experiencing complete sensory deprivation in Kai’s presence found themselves lingering in a realm of dissatisfaction, left to wallow in the obscurity he cast.
~
Shen Yu couldn’t pinpoint exactly when he had drifted into slumber, but upon waking, he realized it was already morning. The sounds of morning enveloped him from all directions. The villagers were remarkably noisy, with domestic animals joining in the chorus.
For a while, Shen Yu simply lay there, listening to the cacophony of morning gossip from spirited aunties, children’s cries and laughter, and occasional greetings that filled the air.
The atmosphere in the shed was a stark departure from the chilly, hushed mornings at the Shen Clan residence. Shen Yu gingerly rose from the makeshift bed and surveyed his surroundings.
Kai was conspicuously absent; he must have ventured out to keep watch and perhaps scavenge something for their- his meal.
Barely a minute later, the shed’s weathered door groaned open, and Kai slipped in soundlessly. In his grasp, he held a food package, an offering of sustenance.
“How’s the situation?” Shen Yu inquired.
“The shed’s owner didn’t seem to mind. In fact, she generously provided this when I mentioned I had a famished kitten waiting for me,” Kai replied with a sly grin, holding up the package for his ‘hungry kitten’ to accept.
~
A barrage of Ahhhs and Oooos flew past, as the viewers got excited just by listening to this conversation.
~
[Mianmei: I missed their silly convo, someone tell me what’s going on!!!]
[Shurabet34isagold_fish_black: Ahhhhh, 66666666666… I am so happy today]
[92+#(eeee): Just like Hunter has his Kitten, We have our Pup, join our program and venture into the world of Gaming!]
[Hakuna_meets_AA: I am just glad they are having fun]
…
[78floralWhiteBlack: If they keep this up someone from Shen Clan is going to pop a vein. Yesterday night Hunter closed off the session forcefully, it makes people wonder.]
~
Shen Yu accepted the package and peered inside, revealing a petite fruit cake emitting a delightful fragrance, its warmth still emanating. “It smells delightful.”
“Yeah,” Kai acknowledged, “she mentioned her cakes were renowned far and wide.”
Shen Yu gave an acknowledging nod before descending from the makeshift ‘bed’ to attend to his personal needs. “Is there a restroom nearby?” he inquired.
Kai responded with a scoff, “Restroom? Here, the villagers simply use the woods for that purpose.”
This revelation brought a not so rare expression to Shen Yu’s face, one of cold detachment. Growing up in a wealthy family, he had never been exposed to the idea of using an outdoor, open-air toilet. He had only ever heard of it or seen it in extreme wilderness missions.
For a while, he felt profoundly uncomfortable, but all viewers saw was his cold blankness.
They all watched as Shen Yu stiffly followed Kai, who had to guide him to an unoccupied, remote forest path because their shed was tucked away in a corner with fewer neighbouring houses.
In a somewhat awkward moment, Kai instructed Shen Yu on the proper technique for using such facilities, and Shen Yu couldn’t help but be grateful for his prior knowledge, or he would be confused on how to even sit.
By this time, a layer of shadowy mist converged around them and Shen Yu wa grateful that the MWBS session was cut off.
“So, I just sit here and move when necessary as it… accumulates,” Shen Yu reluctantly mumbled, his embarrassment evident as his face reddened.
Kai chuckled at Shen Yu’s complicated expression, nearly choking on his laughter. “I learned the hard way; you don’t want to go through that. Just relax. Here’s the toilet paper, use it to clean up—”
“I’m familiar with how toilet paper works, thank you, senior,” Shen Yu interrupted with a composed tone, though internally, he was too mortified to say more.
Kai reassured him, “I’ll keep strangers away; you take your time.”
Shen Yu sighed, replying simply, “…okay.”
After refreshing himself, Shen Yu finally indulged in the cake, and the two of them gathered some information from the villagers before departing from the settlement.
“So far, we don’t have many leads,” Shen Yu murmured thoughtfully, “but at least we’ve learned that the forest creatures don’t seem to attack this village. Could there be some kind of protective magic at play?”
Kai shook his head, idly gazing at the bright sky. “The village didn’t appear to be anything special. I even searched through their belongings all night, but I found no unusual gems or equipment.”
“Then…” Shen Yu was puzzled, “could it be…”
“They might be following the same pattern as that previous town,” Kai suggested solemnly.
“You mean… they’re sacrificing people?” Shen Yu inquired, a sense of unease settling in. If it wasn’t that, then why would the woman lie to them to lure them out?
Kai nodded grimly. “Setting traps, sending people to their deaths to ensure their own safety. It’s possible that not everyone in the village is aware of this, just like in the previous town. A few individuals might hold this dark secret while the rest remain oblivious.”
Shen Yu contemplated the implications. “So, the next town we’ll encounter…”
“Yes,” Kai affirmed with confidence, his demeanor relaxed but his expression serious. “I believe the entire forest region, from the first town to the two towns ahead, is engaged in this grisly trade for their safety. The stronger the individuals they sacrifice, the more time they buy to escape the clutches of those deranged elves.”
Shen Yu hummed coldly, “It’s no surprise they looked like they might suffocate when they saw me,” he remarked. “Except for the clothing shop owner and that peculiar gremlin, I couldn’t find anyone who truly welcomed me even normally.”
“The public might not have fully grasped the crisis at hand,” Kai talked gently as if aware of his little kitten’s mood, “so their reactions were driven by curiosity and fear rather than malice. However, those who have witnessed real elf attacks or are well-informed about the situation harbor an even stronger aversion to elves among them.”
“Take that stubborn guard, for instance. He outright refused to let me enter,” Shen Yu recounted.
Kai chuckled, a smile slowly forming on his lips as he spoke, “That woman was quite clever; she intended to offer me up and rid herself of you in the process. It’s becoming increasingly evident that the so-called ‘bad guys’ are the beings of light. Yet, if we’re to save them from extinction, who is the true culprit?”
Shen Yu added, “There was a hint in the mission details. It mentioned that history doesn’t repeat itself, or something to that effect. It seems to imply that things are not what they appear to be.”
“Mn.”
“Let’s press on; we’ll uncover more about this situation as we get more clues,” Shen Yu suggested, and Kai nodded in agreement.
~
[69.3 Trillion Viewer Count]. [Barrage Heat: warm]
~
[Lisa_wonders: We also have to add that the trail they are on feels like a circuit, I believe they are within some giant spellwork]
[RichikaBlack: I think they are going somewhere with this, it is quite different from what other people have gathered so far.]
[Mitikey_White: I feel as if the elves aren’t the villains here.]
[18Wulfer: Hunter’s judgement is always accurate, I am planning to see him face slapping others just because he was right.]
~
After they had crossed yet another meandering dusty road, Shen Yu retrieved a leftover piece of cake he had yet to enjoy and offered it to Kai.
“Have a taste,” he said, extending the warm treat to his senior, a gesture that always held a certain significance and never got old. Kai obliged, savoring the sweetness and responding with a simple “Sweet.”
Shen Yu, too, found solace in the unique sweetness of the moment as they continued onwards, enjoying the cake while walking together.
~
A/N:
[Next update will be tomorrow or day after tomorrow] Thanks for reading and leaving comments!! I will go through all the comments whom i didn’t reply to previously, there are bunch of them, I have been absent since long. 😅 But not today, ig through the week? Both my stories need some more love from me. 💕
Thank you for the chapter ❤️