The Bard's Story

The faded gold paint lines have peeled off, and the unknown magic circle is worn so badly that its exact shape is no longer discernible. In the center of the black and tattered cover is a large circle resembling a magnifying glass, with a Bard in the center.

This is the cover of "The Collection of Greedy Poet's Stories," and the ever-present Bard always has a faint, eerie smile on his lips, which makes people feel uneasy.

"The Collection of Greedy Poet's Stories" records many strange and inexplicable fables, fairy tales, and songs. When you open the cover, the words on the title page have not been erased by time, but have become even more vivid red.

——

Then I saw a great black throne and a person sitting on it. From his presence, heaven and earth fled, and there was nowhere to be seen.

Then I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before the throne.

Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.

——

The preface made Sean frown. He had never liked such mystical remarks, nor did he like this kind of thing that resembled a religious inquisition.

However, since this thing is placed in the Restricted Section, it probably isn't anything respectable.

When Sean turned to the page of "The Poet and the Greedy Wisdom Snake," he immediately concluded that the jewel held in the hand of the strange Bard in the illustration was the Obsession Entity!

Of course, the Obsession Entity may not be unique, but just looking at that bizarre and inexplicable illustration, Sean almost instinctively believed that the thing the poet was holding was the Obsession Entity stored in his ring.

He read it quickly, his brows furrowing more and more as he read, until he finished reading it all, Sean brows were completely furrowed.

Stephanie watched him quietly until Sean looked up from his book before asking, "How was it?"

Sean nodded uncertainly. "It should be the Obsession Entity I'm looking for, but the story itself is very strange... no, very bizarre... Have you read any similar stories before?"

As he spoke, he handed the book over.

Stephanie took the Collection of Greedy Poet's Stories," unfolded it gently, examined it for a moment, and then began to read it aloud softly.

"Once upon a time, there was a brave and witty Bard who loved adventure and exploring the unknown. One morning, he set off on a journey to a distant place."

Along the way, he saw many different landscapes; he witnessed many things that were beautiful, ugly, unique, ordinary, strange, or dark...

"He learned a lot and achieved a lot. People cheered his name and welcomed him with great fanfare wherever he went."

"But the happy Bard abandoned all the good things in the world and continued on his way, hoping to see more."

"One day, while passing through a forest, the Bard encountered a kind snake."

"Oh, isn't this the famous Bard? It's a pleasure to meet you. Where are you headed?" the snake said to the Bard.

"The Bard told the other that he was exploring more of the world's mysteries and hoped to find treasures that no one had ever discovered before."

"Oh, what do you want to do with the treasure?" the snake asked curiously.

The Bard smiled and shook his head. He simply enjoyed the process of exploration and the sense of accomplishment from acquiring treasure. He didn't care at all what to do with the treasure.

"The kind snake believed the adventurous Bard and told him to go in that direction. When you pass through the mist, you will see a new world. At the end of the world, there is a beautiful bird. If you can pass its test, you can obtain a rare gem."

The Bard thanked the snake happily and then walked briskly in that direction.

"'You're welcome!' the snake said."

"After the Bard had gone far away, the snake revealed a triumphant smile. It turned out that it was the master behind the mist, and it had its eyes on the Bard's soul, wanting to take it away."

"The Wisdom Snake does not believe anyone can pass the test behind the fog."

"The Bard walked and walked in the direction indicated by the Wisdom Snake, crossing mudflats, rivers, valleys, plains, graveyards, and forests..."

"One day, he stepped into a thick fog. He couldn't see the way in the fog, but the Bard didn't hesitate at all. He walked in one direction and finally walked out of the fog."

"Beyond the mist lies a beautiful world, with mountains, lakes, palaces, and forests, all in peace and tranquility."

"The Bard looked around the new world with great joy. He went to a lake and washed his face. Fish and birds made a commotion, Bard laughed happily."

Just then, a little bird hopped onto his shoulder and said to him, "Welcome to the new world!"

"So this is a world beyond the world, and this little bird is the soul of the Bard."

The Bard burst into laughter, 'How can my soul be a Sparrow?'

But the Sparrow said in a beautiful voice, "I can give you everything you want!"

"And so, the Bard set off with the Sparrow."

"The Bard was walking along when he accidentally fell into a cave."

"The cave was filled with countless treasures of gold and silver, and all kinds of dazzling light came into the eyes of the Bard."

"The little Sparrow hopped out: 'I can help you take all this treasure! Then you'll be the richest person in the world! Even the king has never seen such vast wealth!'"

The Bard shook his head firmly, "I don't need wealth, enough money is enough."

"He walked out of the cave and continued on his way, and then he came to a beautiful field of flowers."

"At this moment, many beautiful women, laughing and jumping, surrounded him. Each of them was so charming that they were more attractive than any of the women the Bard had seen during his travels around the world."

"The women surrounded the Bard and sang beautiful songs and danced gracefully."

The little Sparrow said, "I can take all these beautiful women with me! They will all fall passionately and devotedly in love with you! Even the king's harem isn't as vast as yours!"

The Bard smiled and shook his head again. He resolutely broke through the women's encirclement, striding forward amidst their disappointed and aggrieved gazes. "Beauty is fleeting; I will eventually meet one woman I truly love. One is enough."

He continued walking, and this time, he entered a dark forest, where there were no animals, only towering black trees.

"The Bard had been walking in the forest for a long time, and he had not found anything to eat or drink. He was almost starving and thirsty."

Finally, he emerged from the dark forest and encountered a group of hospitable locals who invited him to dinner that evening.

"In the distance, a campfire had been lit, and the food emitted a wonderful aroma. The Bard almost fainted from happiness after just one sniff."

The little Sparrow said, "The most delicious food in the world is right before your eyes! These locals are all the best cooks. You can have a wonderful meal, and then I'll take it all with me! Even the king doesn't have this many top-notch cooks!"

The Bard shook his head, suppressing his hunger. He walked to the roadside, drank some water, and picked two unripe fruits. 'Food is enough to fill my stomach,' he thought.

"He continued walking and soon came upon a powerful tribe, where everyone possessed terrible magic and was stronger than any enemy the Bard had ever defeated."

"Those people mocked the Bard, hurling insults at him with all sorts of vile and filthy words, and even children threw rotten flesh and excrement at him, then laughed."

The little Sparrow said, "These Haughty Gaze fellows! They're infuriating! Come, I'll tell you the secret to their power, and you'll gain even greater strength. Then go and kill them! Even the king's entire army combined wouldn't be a match for you!"

The Bard swatted away the Fly that swarmed over him, shook his head, and said, 'Their rudeness stemmed from ignorance, and they should not have been killed by my anger either.'"

And so, he left again.

"After traveling a long way, the Bard encountered another group of people, but this time it was different. All of them were gentle and polite, and they greeted the Bard."

"This group of people, like Bard, loves adventure. Each of them has countless novel experiences, and each of them carries treasures that Bard have never seen. In fact, they always have like-minded companions when they go out on adventures."

This time, the little Sparrow simply whispered in his ear: 'Are you Envy? I can give you everything better...'

The Bard laughed heartily, 'This is exactly the better version of myself I want to be, why should I be Envy?'

"His steps became more and more firm, his pace quickened, and he exuded a charming aura, so much so that even birds would circle above his head."

"But this time the Bard traveled for a very, very long time."

"So long that he even forgot how many years he had been gone, only knowing that he had never stopped."

"Finally, the Bard reached his limit. His legs felt like they were tied to two giant mountains, his lungs felt like they were filled with magma, and his clothes were soaked with sweat."

The little Sparrow, who hadn't spoken for so many years, suddenly uttered, "Why don't we take a break?"

The Bard was exceptionally determined: 'The explorer's steps will never cease!'

"He dragged his weary body and finally arrived at the foot of a snow- Bard's eyes shone with light; this was the place the snake had spoken of!"

"Large snowflakes fall on the world, but the Bard's steps never stop."

"'Help me, help me—' Suddenly, he heard a faint cry for help."

The Bard went over and took a look, and found a snake lying in the snow that was almost frozen stiff. It was the same snake he had seen before!

"It turns out that the Wisdom Snake had been watching the Bard. It thought that the bard would succumb to the little Sparrow's spell during those trials and fail, so that it could take away the bard's soul—but the Bard did not waver at all."

"The Wisdom Snake could no longer sit still. The final test lay ahead. It chased away the last test and then lay down. In fact, to make everything more real, the Wisdom Snake almost froze to death."

"It believed that the Bard would definitely save it, so that once its body warmed up, it could directly bite the annoying poet to death with its venomous fangs! But if the bard didn't save it, then the Bard wouldn't pass this final test, and its goal would still be achieved!"

"What a flawless plan," the Wisdom Snake thought smugly as it shivered in the snow.

"Oh, renowned Bard! I'm freezing to death, please save me!"

The little Sparrow didn't speak this time.

The Bard nudged the other person gently with his foot, saying, 'You're freezing to death.'

"'Yes, save me,' the Wisdom Snake pleaded."

"'But I fear that if I revive you, you will bite me to death,' said the Bard."

"'No, how could that be? You're my savior.'"

The Bard thought for a moment, then took out a bag. 'Here's what I'll do: I'll put you in this bag, and to prevent you from biting me, you'll have to pull out your fangs for me.'

"The Wisdom Snake hesitated, but finally nodded—it could secretly hide a venomous fang..."

"The Bard put the nearly frozen Wisdom Snake into a bag and pulled out its fangs."

"The Wisdom Snake felt the warmth and was secretly pleased, because its hidden fangs had not been discovered by its opponent."

"The Bard climbed the snow-capped mountain with a bag in his hand and finally came to a big tree."

"The closer one gets, the warmer the climate becomes. When the Bard reaches the big tree, he feels as if he is bathed in a spring breeze, and all his fatigue and hunger disappear."

"The great bird that the Wisdom Snake spoke of appeared, its breast feathers so red; oh, it was a giant Robin."

"The Robin sang a beautiful song: 'Good, steadfast, and courageous poet, you have seen me; you are worthy of my treasure.'"

The Bard bowed happily, then looked up and asked, 'Beautiful Robin, may I come and see you before I obtain my treasure? Please forgive my intrusion, but I have the deepest longing for all things beautiful.'"

"The Robin generously granted the Bard's request; she was always willing to bring a beautiful fairy tale to a perfect end."

"The Bard came to the Robin and praised him loudly."

The Robin closed its eyes contentedly, enjoying the compliment.

"'Pfft,' it suddenly felt a stinging pain and weakness."

"The Bard plunged a long, venomous fang into the Robin's chest! Blood flowed freely, Robin struggled helplessly."

"The Robin died in agony, Bard laughed with glee."

He took out the bag containing the Wisdom Snake —'I've warmed up, thank you for letting me out...'

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

"The Bard's face was smeared with Robin's blood, and he picked up a stone and smashed it against the bag with all his might."

"The Wisdom Snake also died painfully, Bard laughed with great delight."

"I am truly an unparalleled genius!"

I don't know how this chapter will turn out, I hope you can give me some feedback... I've been writing it for almost four hours...