It’s really over!
The rain has stopped! The surroundings have changed drastically, as if they have suddenly entered another world. It’s no longer the dense willow forest it used to be, but rather a few willow trees sparsely scattered around.
Under the starry sky, shining upon this small willow forest, it’s clear and refreshing!
The eerie feeling that weighed on everyone’s hearts before has disappeared without a trace, even the air they breathe feels fresh.
Looking around, the ground is wet, and the willow trees are covered with droplets of water, dripping down to the ground. It’s a scene after the rain, but at most it was just a light rain. Where are the traces of the heavy rain just now?
Moreover, the sky is clear with no clouds for miles, it must be an effect accompanying the strange disaster.
However, it ended just like that, yet Ah Xing still feels a hint of unreality in his heart.
He approached the pile of Source Stones, collected them, and then turned to look at the willow branch next to it, which is the whip in the hands of the Aunty Monster.
“This should be the legendary Source Instrument! The power it contains should be consistent with the effect of the willow branch. As long as it’s whipped, the organs in the body will flee in fear!”
Su Hao and Ah Wang curiously approached to take a look, Ah Xing quickly said, “Don’t touch it randomly! Triggering something strange accidentally would be disastrous! Moreover, the association stipulates that the Source Instruments of strange disasters must be recovered. Let’s wait for the association to send someone to handle it!”
Although Su Hao was curious, he wouldn’t act recklessly. Just as Ah Xing said, it would be ridiculous if they accidentally killed themselves by being careless.
Moreover, even if he got the Source Instrument now, he didn’t have the corresponding research tools and couldn’t study the principle of the Source Instrument. At his current level, he didn’t even know where to start researching the Source.
Furthermore, bizarre disasters are not uncommon, and there will be plenty of opportunities to obtain Source Instruments in the future!
This experience of bizarre disasters has indeed broadened his horizons.
Sure enough, in the vast universe, there are all kinds of wonders.
Before coming here, he wouldn’t have believed it even if he were beaten to death, that such strange things could happen.
“The Source is even more amazing than I imagined.”
At this moment, there was a soft sobbing from the side.
Ah Xing and Ah Wang turned their heads to see Xiao Tang kneeling on the ground silently crying. Ah Xing pushed Ah Wang and gestured, “Go over there.”
Ah Wang nervously walked over and sat down beside Xiao Tang, also remaining silent.
…
The three of them hadn’t waited long in place when people from the Origin Mage Association found them.
In fact, the moment the disaster was resolved, those who were constantly monitoring strange disasters knew about it and immediately arranged for personnel to come in for rescue.
“Shua! Shua!”
Several figures flashed out and stopped in front of Su Hao and the others. Among them, a burly man with a full beard spoke first, “Sir, I am Tingzuo, a senior Origin Mage of Weeping Willow Town Source Mage Association, and also the vice president. I am responsible for this strange incident.”
Ah Xing immediately paid his respects, saying, “President Tingzuo, we belong to the Huai Shui Town Origin Mage Association, Yangwangxing Team. I am Ah Xing! These three are my teammates, Ah Wang, Ah Yang, and Xiao Tang. We are at your service.”
Tingzuo nodded, glanced around, and exclaimed, “Are there no others?”
Ah Xing shook his head and said, “I don’t know. After we resolved the strange disaster, we’ve been waiting here and dared not wander around casually.”
Tingzuo was surprised and asked, “Was it your team that resolved this strange disaster?”
Ah Xing nodded calmly, “Yes.”
Just then, someone appeared beside them and approached, saying, “President Tingzuo, there are no other living people within the area. We found a total of seventy-six bodies scattered around, along with various organs, all belonging to the teams that entered the disaster.”
Tingzuo’s pupils contracted upon hearing this. Based on the data, he immediately realized that these four people in front of him were likely the only survivors of this strange incident.
His expression became exceptionally serious as he said, “Master Ah Xing, please briefly explain the events that occurred.”
Ah Xing then recounted the events that happened to them after entering the disaster, emphasizing the terror of the heavy rain and how they were extremely lucky to encounter the core and successfully shatter the ‘trigger,’ thus ending the disaster.
He deliberately avoided mentioning Su Hao’s ability to ‘counter spatial barriers,’ both to minimize trouble and to conceal this extraordinary ability from his teammates.
Solving strange disasters was just a matter of luck, right? It would be safe to attribute everything to luck.
After listening, Tingzuo didn’t find any major loopholes and didn’t doubt him. Instead, he pointed to the small willow branch on the ground and asked, “Is this the Source Instrument of this strange disaster?”
Ah Xing nodded, “Yes!”
Tingzuo waved his hand, and immediately someone came forward to inspect. Holding a stick-like object in his hand, the person swept it over the willow branch. With a ‘drip,’ a green light flashed at the tip of the object. The person turned to Tingzuo and nodded, “It’s indeed the Source Instrument.”
Tingzuo let out a long sigh of relief, patted Ah Xing on the shoulder, and said, “You’ve done a great service. Tonight, we will host a banquet in Weeping Willow Town to celebrate for you!”
Ah Xing didn’t hesitate, as they deserved it. He simply smiled faintly and said, “Thank you, President Tingzuo, for your hospitality.”
Meanwhile, Su Hao was more interested in how the association personnel would handle the Source Instrument, that is, the willow branch.
He observed as a bald Origin Mage carried a huge box, which he opened and placed beside the Source Instrument. The box was made of layered stones and filled with thick sand.
Another person used a special clamp to gently pick up the willow branch and placed it on the sand, covering it with another layer of sand before closing and locking the box.
Su Hao watched the entire process with great curiosity.
The bald Origin Mage stood up and said, “President Tingzuo, it’s done!”
Tingzuo nodded and said, “Collect the bodies of the mages who died in the disaster. They are all heroes. Let’s go!”
……
Su Hao wasn’t particularly interested in such banquets, but he didn’t want to dampen Ah Xing and Ah Wang’s spirits. Symbolically participating and enjoying the praises from others, he quietly slipped away to indulge in the buffet.
During the event, various girls, young women, even ladies, and young men invited him to dance, but he politely declined all of them.
For no particular reason, he just felt out of place in such a lively atmosphere. He was lonely by nature, and what did the hustle and bustle of the world have to do with him?
Gentlemen enjoyed their own pleasures, young women enjoyed their own happiness, Ah Xing and Ah Wang enjoyed the attention and praise as heroes, while Xiao Tang immersed herself in the sorrow of losing her teammates…
Everyone found their place amidst joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, and then enjoyed the emotions that belonged solely to them, which was fine.
Now, Su Hao was just like this, a passerby in this world, quietly observing the customs and scenery unique to this world, participating in their ideals, their beliefs, acting together with them, gaining knowledge, leaving behind traces of his presence…
When one day in the distant future, after experiencing countless wonders of the universe, he could recall the experiences as a passerby, reminisce…
It’s good!
He thought of Yashan and Feng Cheng again, but he didn’t know if they could follow him to the end of this long journey.
The banquet came to an end.
Ah Xing approached Su Hao and whispered, “Ah Yang, do you think Xiao Tang will be with Ah Wang?”
Su Hao chuckled, “You’re asking the wrong person. You should ask Xiao Tang.”
Ah Xing nodded, “That’s true.”
Taking a sip of wine from his cup, he gestured, “Want some?”
Su Hao raised the juice he had on hand and said, “I prefer this.”
Ah Xing remarked, “That’s a pity… Ah Yang, why do I feel like you’re deeply troubled tonight?”
Su Hao said, “You’re quite perceptive. It’s not that I’m deeply troubled, it’s just that I, as a person, am least accustomed to lively scenes. The more lively it is, the more uncomfortable I feel. I feel most relaxed when I’m alone.”
Ah Xing shook his head, “I don’t understand! You don’t seem like the type who would be lonely and withdrawn. You’ll get used to it in the future.”
Su Hao smiled lightly, “I’ve already gotten used to it. That’s just how it is! There’s nothing wrong with it, sometimes it’s a kind of enjoyment.”
He had experienced who knows how much, and actually knew the root of this loneliness long ago.
After all, the teenager he was now was different from the teenager he used to be.
After a moment of silence, Ah Xing drank up the wine in his cup in one gulp and sighed deeply, “Ah Yang! I’m truly sorry!”
Su Hao was puzzled, “Why are you sorry?”
Ah Xing said, “If it weren’t for you this time, Ah Wang and I might have died. It was me who put you both in danger.”
Su Hao said, “Without me, you and Ah Wang wouldn’t have participated.”
Ah Xing shook his head, “Not necessarily. If there’s another strange disaster next time, I’ll still go. Ah Yang, do you think I, as the team leader, am too willful and arrogant?”
Su Hao said, “You’re a bit reckless like a young man. But Ah Xing, being willful is the greatest freedom! Being able to be willful is actually quite good.”
