Chapter 132

After a bumpy three-hour ride, the truck finally emerged from the vast, uninhabited primeval forest, where signs of human habitation began to appear on the surrounding hillsides.

Alena, wearing sunglasses, rolled the car window all the way down, letting the wind whistle in and blow her messy hair into a tangled mess. Oblivious to the gust, she excitedly shouted, "Wenxing, look, those are all the people who came to participate in Jinlanna!"

Looking over, Jiang Wenxing saw several horses in the distant woods, which appeared to be only the size of ants due to their great distance.

Wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys, suggesting that people had just gotten up to cook breakfast. Judging from the carts and luggage, they were all Tanas people.

Alena folded her hands into a megaphone and shouted, and the people on the hillside could hear her and waved their hats in response from afar.

"Hahaha," Alena laughed heartily, put on her sunglasses, and started singing with Jiang Wenxing in her arms. The driver, Agus, also joined in the singing.

Jiang Wenxing couldn't understand it, but it felt somewhat familiar. It seemed like Ilya had taken him to the waterfall to sing this song that day. He clung to the chair and asked Ilya, "Captain, what are they singing?"

Ilya, who had been sleeping with his eyes closed, looked up upon hearing this, but without saying a word, he beckoned to Jiang Wenxing with his finger. Jiang Wenxing leaned closer and was lightly flicked by Ilya.

"Why ask so many questions? Go to sleep."

Jiang Wenxing touched his forehead, but Alena grabbed him and pulled him into her arms, her eyes sparkling: "Wenxing, Xing, why don't you braid my hair?"

Jiang Wenxing: "..."

The truck passed through the birch forest and then drove into Yebai Mountain, bumping along for more than two hours before finally reaching its destination.

It was a wide, flat area surrounded by mountains, with a large grove of pine, ginkgo, and red maple trees growing around it.

As the truck drove down the side road, a mirror-like blue lake gradually came into view. It was so blue it was almost transparent, set against the ivory-yellow grass. A gentle breeze rippled the water.

Colorful flags fluttered all around, and countless tents had been erected, covered with brightly colored blankets. The lively sound of the Thana's seven-stringed lyre could be heard from afar, accompanied by laughter and singing.

In the very center of the lawn, several young people dressed in formal attire surrounded a tall frame. With a loud thud, the sturdy wooden frame landed steadily on the ground, and the crowd erupted in cheers.

Agus and his team decided to park the truck in the woods and cover it hastily with leaves.

Alena jumped out of the truck and looked at herself in the rearview mirror from left to right. Agus stood behind Alena and adjusted his hat.

Alena immediately scoffed and shoved him, "Get away from me, get away from me! What are you so vain about, you grown man!"

Unable to speak, Aguz let out a soft hum as he approached Jiang Wenxing. Jiang Wenxing, who was discussing with Ilya what seeds to buy, glanced at Aguz upon hearing the hum.

The tall, strong sentry looked somewhat aggrieved, and like a child, he looked up at the sky and muttered, "How can Bewildek be so domineering?"

Jiang Wenxing chuckled, and Aguz's face instantly turned red. He quickly told Ilya, "Captain, I'm going to check out the market," and then slipped away.

Jiang Wenxing watched the direction Aguz fled in. The guy was like a butterfly flying into a crowd. All around him were brightly dressed young people from Thanas. Once he ran in, he disappeared from sight.

Jiang Wenxing chuckled a few times and showed the seeds he wanted to buy to Ilya: "Do any farmers around here grow these vegetables?"

Ilya looked serious and shook his head slightly: "It's not that there aren't any, but the people of Thanath call seeds differently than you. You need to describe what they look like to me so I can find them accurately."

Jiang Wenxing said, "Then I'll draw it for you."

As she was drawing, Alena, having tidied herself up, came running over, her little braids swinging back and forth. She had picked a few morning glories from somewhere and put them on her head, hands on her hips: "Jiang Wenxing, what do you think?"

Jiang Wenxing stroked his chin and looked up: "Captain, what do you think?"

Alena's heart skipped a beat when she saw Ilya. She laughed awkwardly twice and took Jiang Wenxing's hand, saying, "Come on, I'll show you around. As for seeds, the captain can handle it."

Without waiting for Jiang Wenxing's agreement, she grabbed him and ran.

She disrupted the work atmosphere that Jiang Wenxing had created, pulling him away from things that had nothing to do with excitement.

Jiang Wenxing kept calling out "Wait a minute!" but Alena ignored him and almost made him fall. Jiang Wenxing felt he should be angry, but he had a smile on his face.

He turned around, and Ilya was standing there, his beautiful robes fluttering in the wind. He looked at him with lowered eyelashes and a smile as pure as the snow-capped peaks of Mount Paektu.

Jiang Wenxing couldn't help but laugh along with him, then turned and ran down the hillside with Alena, disappearing into the crowd.

The air was filled with all sorts of fragrances, and there were young people of the Tanas ethnic group dressed in their finest attire everywhere.

Alena and Jiang Wenxing's military uniforms were incredibly striking and eye-catching, like two verdant green lilies blooming amidst a cluster of bright flowers.

Alena stood tall and proud, like a general, walking with long strides. Jiang Wenxing followed behind Alena. He couldn't understand Thana's language. There were young girls and boys around them, gathered in twos and threes, their eyes darting back and forth, watching him and Alena and whispering to each other with smiles.

The place is crowded with people and stalls selling goods, most of which are displayed on carpets, spread out in a colorful array.

The Tanas people, from all over and speaking in different accents, greeted each other and chatted amongst themselves. Jiang Wenxing went to look at them one by one; most sold food or decorations. Seeds and similar items were relatively scarce. Just as he was about to tell Alena that he was going to look elsewhere, someone gently bumped into him.

Jiang Wenxing turned around, and a young man wearing a sky-blue headscarf and a crescent-colored robe smiled at him.

Jiang Wenxing glanced at Alena, who was still tiptoeing into the crowd. He could only smile at the young man and wave his hand, saying, "It's okay."

The young man's pupils were dark and bright, his gaze clear yet cunning: "бйть vдлд ембвгд?"

Jiang Wenxing only understood the word "moon." He felt something was off and didn't dare to speak. He turned around and grabbed Alena: "Alena, can you listen to what he's saying for me?"

Alena was pulled back, pounding her chest: "Ahhh, Jiang! I almost squeezed in!"

At this moment, the young man spoke again, tilting his head slightly and staring intently at Jiang Wenxing.

The surrounding noise was so loud that Jiang Wenxing couldn't hear a single word clearly this time. He instinctively felt nervous and tugged hard at Alena: "Listen to what he's saying?"

Alena turned around, looked at the young man, then at Jiang Wenxing, and asked in Tanas, "Вvдготы бытьмейневтй ?"

The young man nodded and scratched his head.

Jiang Wenxing was completely bewildered: "What did he say?"

Alena put her arm around Liang Wenxing's shoulder, smiling and revealing eight teeth. She seemed unsure of what to say, chuckling for a while before scratching her chin: "Um, Jiang, do you know the story of the moon and snow mountain of the Tanas tribe?"

Jiang Wenxing shook his head: "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Alena: "Exactly, the moon is the wife of the snow mountain, but the moon is also Huazike, and the snow mountain is also Huazike. Do you understand now?"

Jiang Wenxing thought for a moment and then suddenly realized, "I understand. What did he just say? Did he say that he accidentally bumped into me? Can you tell him for me? It's okay."

Alena whistled, glanced at Jiang Wenxing from head to toe, and then said a few words to the young man. The young man looked disappointed and said a few words to Jiang Wenxing with a sad expression.

Jiang Wenxing was numb. He looked up at Alena, who said, "Well, he wanted to ask if you wanted to watch him climb the Chikesa."

Jiang Wenxing was completely bewildered; he also needed to buy seeds: "What is Chiksa?"

Alena said, "It's like touching the moon to show you his physique, hoping you'll change your mind or something."

Jiang Wenxing: "No, please thank him for me."

Alena quickly said a few words to the young man, who then gave Jiang Wenxing a deep look before reluctantly leaving.

Watching the young man's retreating figure, Alena suddenly realized something and hooked her arm around Jiang Wenxing's neck: "Jiang, do you like Zik or Uzik?"

Jiang Wenxing's neck ached from being strangled. He slapped Alena's merciless iron hand, and Alena laughed twice before suddenly standing up straight.

He looked up and saw that the white-clad Hua Zike walking against the flow of people was none other than Ilya.

Jiang Wenxing waved: "Captain!"

Ilya slightly raised the corners of his mouth, looking in the direction where the blue-clad Zik had disappeared. He turned around, raised his chin, and rolled up his sleeves: "Come on, I'll take you to see Chiksa."

He took Jiang Wenxing's hand and calmly led him towards the high platform, leaving Alena all alone, her mouth agape.

Alena glanced at the captain, then at the handsome young guide beside him, touched her chest, and muttered, "My lovely little Danzhu, let me introduce you to other sentinels instead."

Ilya led Jiang Wenxing to the high platform, where a large group of young men and women had already gathered.

Five bare pillars, each at least ten meters tall, were supported by wooden frames on the wide grass. They swayed and trembled in the wind.

Jiang Wenxing asked, "What is this for?"

Ilya turned around, his gaze lingered on Jiang Wenxing's face for a moment, he smiled slightly, and said nothing.

“дгбм!”

A young man wearing a blue headscarf walked over with delight, but was stopped by a pair of hands. He looked up angrily and was met with the cold and calm gaze of a young man in a white robe.

Ilya said a few words to him, and the young man retorted angrily, raising his arm and clapping it in defiance.

Ilya glanced at him, walked straight to the center of the platform, chose a pillar, and raised an eyebrow at the young man.

The young man snorted heavily, glanced at Jiang Wenxing, pursed his lips, ran over, and stood with his hands on his hips.

Jiang Wenxing noticed that there were many young people around him eager to try. After waiting for a while, several more people ran up to the field, including a Bewuzik.

A burst of good-natured laughter erupted from the people around her. The girl shouted into the crowd, and a slender young man in a black robe, his face flushed, waved to her.

Jiang Wenxing was puzzled. He looked at Ilya, who tied his robe around his waist and smiled at him.

A drumbeat.

People around him scrambled up the pillar, and the young man wearing a blue headscarf jumped high into the air, climbing up nimbly while keeping an eye on the white-clad Zik.

Ilya looked up, then lightly leaped onto the pillar without any hesitation.

The other pillars leaned precariously due to their height, but Ilya's pillar didn't even sway.

In the blink of an eye, the blue-turbaned youth had already climbed to the top, then slid down lightly and landed on the ground.

An eerie silence fell over the battlefield, followed by loud cheers.

Someone came across a large bouquet of white flowers and asked Elijah to choose one; the winner could choose the most beautiful one.

Ilya lowered his eyes, selected a flower, held it in his palm, and walked towards Jiang Wenxing. Laughter and whistles filled the air. He led Jiang Wenxing outside, looked down at him, his eyes like the clear blue water of a lake, stirring ripples in one's heart. He said, "There are others. Do you want to come with me?"

Jiang Wenxing didn't know whether to nod or shake his head, but he followed Ilya in a daze.

Ilya competed in archery, thanath sword fighting, fishing, and embroidery. When night fell, he received a large bouquet of flowers.

Jiang Wenxing felt he had smiled more than he had in his entire life; the festive atmosphere was so infectious.

He and Ilya sat by the lake, a cool breeze blowing in gusts. Alena and Aguz were nowhere to be seen, and the chattering sounds around them were gone. There were campfires on the shore, making the lake water look reddish.

Jiang Wenxing suddenly felt homesick, missing his cold, lifeless home.

I had no regrets when I left, but having lived two lives, I sometimes miss the elm tree downstairs, the bright sunshine of my hometown, and the sounds of my hometown.

He rested his chin on his hand, listening to the melodious singing of the Thanatos lyre, wondering when he could go back for a visit.

Ilya sat by the lake, where a silver moon reflected in the water.

He sat cross-legged, weaving the flowers he had received during the day into a wreath, one by one. Some of the flowers were withering, but their colors were still vibrant.

While Jiang Wenxing was lost in thought, he suddenly heard Ilya calling him.

"Jiang Wenxing".

Jiang Wenxing looked up, and Ilya stared at him: "Could you release your spiritual form?"

Jiang Wenxing was stunned: "A spiritual entity?"

Ilya nodded, and Jiang Wenxing closed his eyes. A moment later, a small mouse with a pink tail lay down on the grass, transparent ripples spread through the air, and a gray-white giant wolf appeared out of thin air.

Ilya gave the wolf a small folded wreath, then stood up and extended his hand to Jiang Wenxing: "Wenxing."

Jiang Wenxing seemed to have a premonition. He hesitated for a moment, then gently took Ilya's hand and stood up. Ilya suddenly smiled, like snow melting and spring flowers blooming. With a smile and shyness, he generously placed a woven flower wreath on Jiang Wenxing's head.

Jiang Wenxing's heart pounded, and he reached out with one hand to touch the cold flower wreath.

The sound of the Tanas seven-stringed lyre grew louder, and pairs of young Zike people by the lake stood up and walked in twos and threes toward the campfire.

Ilya held Jiang Wenxing's hand, her voice like the wind by the lake, like a softly humming zither: "Be my only moon."

Jiang Wenxing stared blankly at him.

The giant wolf crouched down, touched the little mouse's nose, and placed a tiny wreath on its head with its paw.

The little mouse tilted its head and squeaked—

Ilya leaned down, touched the guide's smooth forehead with her lips, and placed a tender kiss on his forehead.

Jiang Wenxing silently closed his eyes, then opened them again after a moment.

Feeling the feather-like kiss on his forehead, he lowered his eyes, a faint light gleaming in them. After a long while, he said, "Captain... Ilya, do you want to know what my pheromones smell like?"

Ilya gazed at him, smiled slightly, and said in a hoarse voice, "Yes."

As soon as she finished speaking, a wisp of pheromones as sharp as ice and snow brushed past Ilya's nose. Cold, sharp, and unapproachable, it attracted the lingering, alluring pheromones of the lilac flower.

Author's Note:

Alena (carrying a sack) (dazed): Aguz, why are we the two of us buying seeds?

Agus (Honest Man jpg): I don't know.