Chapter 51

However, his condition seemed to have changed slightly since he left. His neatly styled silver hair looked like it had been deliberately messed up, and if you looked closely, you could see several teeth marks on his fair arms, neck, and even face, as if they were a declaration of sovereignty.

It was as if they had been attacked by some beast driven by desire, leaving them utterly disheveled.

"Uh, bro, are you alright?"

"It's nothing, just ran into debt collectors."

Boothill stepped forward to help Bai Jun up, noticed the teeth marks on his body, and asked with concern. Bai Jun weakly waved his hand, indicating that he was fine.

Tingyun didn't do anything immediately after pulling him away. Instead, she rubbed her fingers together with an unusually gentle smile and asked him to return the money he had borrowed to buy a gift last time. Bai Jun could only barely repay half of the money in his pocket, and for the rest he couldn't repay... he had no choice but to obediently let her bite him a few times as a small punishment.

The key point is that their actions were reasonable and even left him money for several days' meals, leaving no room for criticism.

Hearing this, Boothill suddenly gave a mysterious smile, put his arm around Bai Jun's shoulder, glanced furtively at the Guinaifen, looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, then mysteriously brought his lips to Bai Jun's ear and whispered:

"Hey bro, was that really pretty vixen you a perfect match for?"

"Pfft, cough cough cough--!"

Seeing Bai Jun nearly choking to death, Boothill seemed to have found the answer and nodded thoughtfully, "Oh~ I understand..."

"You don't understand anything! And why are you asking this?!"

Bai Jun asked in a flustered manner, while the latter responded to the approaching Guinaifen with a carefree smile, "Is the autograph session over, big star?"

"Yes, the autograph session actually ended six minutes ago. Thank you both for your hard work..."

The Guinaifen glanced furtively at Bai Jun, who was fixing his hair, its adorable ear feathers swaying gently. It hesitated, pursed its thin lips, and asked in a slightly embarrassed voice, "Mr. Bai Jun, are you alright?"

"Haha, brother, you're so strong, how could anything possibly happen to you? Anyway, now that we've finished with today's business, how about we go for a stroll around town? I haven't even had a proper look around here yet."

Boothill chuckled and answered the question for Bai Jun, glancing casually at Helen was observing from a distance, before asking a question before the Guinaifen approached.

"Hmm? Shall we go for a stroll in the streets...? I'm afraid I'll need to ask Ms. Helen first."

The Guinaifen's expression was conflicted yet expectant, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her skirt. Although she had a pretty good idea of the answer, she still mustered up the courage to approach Helen.

"Absolutely not." Helen coldly and rationally rejected the Guinaifen's request.

"Have you forgotten? After your fan signing event on that barren planet, you asked to go out and see the streets, only to be attacked a few minutes after you got there. For your safety, you should learn to proactively avoid such high-risk activities."

"According to the plan, what you should do now is go back to your accommodation as soon as possible to rest and take care of your health."

"Yes, Helen, you're right..."

Her lovely ear feathers drooped slightly, Guinaifen still wore the same smile. She nodded and gave Boothill and Bai Jun an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, I have other things to attend to. If you don't mind, Mr. Boothill, why don't you and Mr. Bai Jun go for a stroll in the streets?"

"What are you saying, big star? My brother and I are here to protect you. What's the point of leaving you behind and just the two of us men going out shopping?"

Boothill shrugged as if he had expected this, gave Helen a wry smile, and jokingly reassured the Guinaifen, "But as compensation for a hard day's work, I'll have to have a drink tonight, or I'll go crazy."

"If all goes well, let Mr. Boothill do whatever he wants," the Guinaifen replied with a nod.

"Everything went smoothly? Is there something else to do?"

Boothill picked at his ear, thinking there were other things to do later, Guinaifen just shook his head awkwardly, pointed to the door, and explained, "Well... not really, I'm just worried about how easy the way back will be."

"Uh, what are you talking about, big star? I don't understand at all!"

"The Guinaifen means there might be too many fans outside, and it could cause traffic congestion on the way back."

Upon hearing Bai Jun's explanation, Boothill thought he was joking and, disbelieving, pushed open the door.

Well, in fact, Boothill did underestimate the number of Guinaifen's fans. As soon as he left the fan signing hall, he was shocked by the crowd of people gathered outside the door in the afterglow of the sunset. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought he had entered a zombie movie.

Those were all enthusiastic fans who had failed to get tickets to the autograph session. In order to catch a glimpse of the Guinaifen, they were willing to wait outside the gate for an entire afternoon until the Guinaifen appeared.

"The gate is open, is the Guinaifen about to come out?"

The crowd of fans, which had been just a throng, suddenly erupted into a frenzy. They all stood up from the ground and waved excitedly Guinaifen enthusiastically at the robin standing on the steps, begging her to cast even a glance in their direction.

"Damn, there are just too many people! It feels like we can't even get out the door..."

Looking at the fans who had almost completely blocked the entrance, Boothill pondered to himself as he touched his revolver with his right hand, thinking that it would be better to fire a gun as a show of force to scare them away.

"I advise you to quickly discard this dangerous idea. The laws of Xianzhou stipulate that firearms are not allowed in the city. If you violate this rule, you will be detained even if you have a legal and legitimate reason. I don't want to have to bail you out later."

Bai Jun seemed to have seen through Boothill's thoughts and pulled Boothill back inside before he could do something foolish.

"Miss, please take this path."

While the two were pondering, Helen had already opened the safety passage at the back of the hall for the Guinaifen.

Helen had been a guard for many years and was used to this kind of thing. She was prepared for it. The main entrance was never on their itinerary. The back door, which led directly through the security passage, was the real way out!

As the clouds drifted slowly and the afterglow gradually faded, despite the efforts to keep a low profile along the way, a large number of paparazzi and enthusiastic fans, who had somehow heard the news, still managed to attract attention.

To avoid their sight, they spent some extra time on the way back to the villa amidst the chase and shouts.

The last rays of the setting sun had completely disappeared, and the sky was shrouded in the deep darkness of night. Stars adorned the night sky, and the villa was brightly lit, with lamps lit everywhere. Only the courtyard at the back of the mansion was quiet and still.

"Why would a cowboy like a lonely place? This isn't like you at all."

Hearing the increasingly cold voice approaching, Boothill poured himself an extra glass of red wine and shifted his position to the side. "Brother, have you finished eating?"

"I didn't see you while we were eating, so I came out to check. Where are you?" Bai Jun sat on the empty lawn next to Boothill and naturally accepted the glass of red wine he was offered.

"Ha, I'm used to being free and easy, I'm not used to the atmosphere in there. Rather than pretending to eat there, I'd rather come here and enjoy the view." Boothill shrugged and pointed to the distant night view with his wine glass.

Starskiff Haven is black, the sky is black, there are some stars in the sky, but most of them are not bright. Only the streets and alleys opposite are like a collection of thousands of stars. Sitting on this lawn, you can even see the concert venue in the distance, which is tinged with the festive joy under the dark night sky.

A cool breeze brushed against her face, swept across the lawn behind the mansion, and made Boothill's long hair flutter.

"I've been to many places and seen many sights, but the Xianzhou is very different from other places. It's not just that it's prosperous, but that it has a vitality that other planets don't have... Brother, you should be able to understand, right?"

Boothill lay back on the lawn, gazing at the bright stardust, and murmured, "Uncorrupted by the Path of Permanence, unswayed by all sorts of wisdom and wealth, this city has always retained a touch of humanity."

"If your goal was to change my opinion of you, I admit you've succeeded. Looks like I'll have to add another title to your name... How about 'Bard Cowboy'?"

"Haha, bro, you're such a smooth talker! You're sure to be a hit with girls!"

Boothill laughed heartily. From the first time they met, he felt that Bai Jun had a reassuring atmosphere around him, and being around him always made him subconsciously let his guard down.

That's why he made an impolite request.

"Brother, I want to ask you for a favor..."

Seeing that he didn't speak for a long time, Bai Jun finished the red wine in his glass, poured himself another half glass, and then put the red wine back on the ground. The bottom of the bottle made a thud when it touched the ground.

"Aeragan-Epharshel."

A word he had never heard before came out of the cowboy's mouth.

"That's the planet I grew up on. There were lush grasslands, dusty wastelands, endless forests, and wild, unruly cowboys who expressed their code of honor with their guns. Although it was barren and backward, I still thought it was a good place..."

He seemed to see the herdsmen and their adopted sons singing loudly beneath the dazzling clouds; he saw the cowboys earning status and respect through countless brushes with death; he saw the cowboys embracing new hope in the deep darkness of the night.

I witnessed how, driven by desire and profit, generations of nomadic peoples vanished after a great catastrophe, leaving only the elderly and children to live in ever-shrinking private plots.

When the cowboys stumbled back to the ranch, which had become a living hell, all they found was charred ruins; there wasn't even time to erect a tombstone for them.

Even today, that black mineral is still used extensively as a rare metal in the manufacture of high-powered weapons, and is transported to more and more planets by the company's cargo ships.

Bai Jun listened in silence, his thumb unconsciously stroking the bottom of the wine glass, his expression somewhat heavy.

"My daughter had only recently learned to walk. She loved the wooden guitar I made for her, often giggling while holding it. I thought she'd grow up to be a cowboy like me, but then I thought being a singer might be a good option too. Ultimately, I had no right to interfere with her dreams, so I could only hope she'd grow up and make her own choices. But she died, killed in the company's gunfire..."

Boothill sat up from the lawn, his face showing little change. Perhaps he had become numb to it over the long years, and those emotions remained in a heavy way.

"Sorry, I might be a little drunk, and I accidentally said some nonsense... Ahem, let's get back to the point. I can't stand the restrictions those guys impose on big stars. Nothing in this world can take away a person's freedom and ideals, not just those adorable girls in the company, but even the Aeon have no right to do so!"

"She should have her own ideals and her own freedom, instead of being kept in a cage like a pet. That's not care, that's arrogance!"

"I'm not very eloquent, and I'm not good at talking, but you're the complete opposite, brother. You're handsome, have a great personality, and most importantly, you have a convincing aura... So I'd like to ask you to try and persuade that big star, even if it's just a casual mention. I hope she—"

Boothill suddenly closed his mouth, and Bai Jun also noticed what was behind him. The two turned around at the same time, squinting at the newcomer.

"Hey? Why are you guys noticing me this time? I think I also used Harmony cancellation..."

The Guinaifen had intended to startle the two whispering lovers by approaching them, stopped in its tracks. Noticing their strange looks, its face flushed slightly.

The two remained silent, squinting as they pointed to the halo atop the Guinaifen's head, a symbol of the Halovian.

It wasn't that they heard footsteps, but rather that the halo above her head was like a flashbang in the dark, so bright it hurt their eyes. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought a light bulb had come to life.

"Oh, I see. I'm sorry."

The Guinaifen finally noticed the halo above her head, and then, under the watchful eyes of Bai Jun and Boothill, she cleanly and efficiently removed the halo symbolizing the Halovian... removed it... took it down...

"Ugh, that was terrifying! How could he so carefully remove that thing?!"

Boothill and Bai Jun simultaneously complained loudly.

Chapter 75 The Caged Bird (4k)

"Do you two really need to be so surprised? The Halovian can remove their halo all along, look—"

"He treasures it, I just find it very strange that the halo is just an ornament?"

Noticing the two's terrified and surprised gazes, the Guinaifen put the halo back on its head, puzzled. The sudden light from the dim and silent courtyard made Boothill squint, wipe the red wine from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, and quickly signaled her to stop using her powers.

The Guinaifen removed the halo, smiled, and shook its head. "It's not just a simple decoration. The halo helps the Halovian maintain direction and synesthesia during flight, probably... something like a balancer?"

"Oh, I get it, it's like the fins on a fish, right?"

"Yes, yes..."

The crude analogy, though seemingly harmless, made Halovian turn her head slightly away, pouting in dissatisfaction. Guinaifen then snorted and sat down next to Bai Jun, deliberately keeping her distance from Boothill.

With his carefree personality, Boothill naturally didn't notice Guinaifen's little dissatisfaction. Instead, he thought it was a good thing that she sat next to Bai Jun. However, Bai Jun didn't think it was a good thing. Instead, he moved to the Guinaifen and kept a certain distance from her.

"Is it alright? Can we sit here together?"

The Guinaifen sat on the soft, cool grass, her long, slender, white legs bent and tucked together in front of her, her hands tightly wrapped around her knees, curled up into a small ball. Upon hearing Bai Jun's question, she immediately put a finger to her lips and softly explained:

Shh, just don't let Helen hear. Actually, I snuck out quietly, and I have to go back in five minutes at most.

"Hey, I thought it was something serious. Big star, you don't need to sneak around at all. Just rest here. We're here to protect you, that's enough. Come on, have some drinks!"

Boothill was completely unconcerned. He was about to get another glass to pour some red wine for the Guinaifen, but then realized he had only brought two glasses with him. So he turned to Bai Jun beside him and said:

"Uh, bro, we're out of glasses. Why don't you lend your glass to the big star?"

"Why do you always talk nonsense? How can you lend a used cup to someone else? And I always feel like these words reveal a dark side hidden in your heart..."

"Oh, what's the big deal? Brother, you're just too petty in some ways. As a man, that's a big problem."

"The problem is clearly with you, you scoundrel cowboy!!"

The two of them bickered with each other like close friends. Just as Boothill shrugged helplessly and was about to get up to go back to the villa to get another wine glass, the Guinaifen stopped him in time.

"Really, there's no need. I appreciate Mr. Boothill's kindness, but drinking might irritate my throat. To avoid affecting tomorrow's schedule, let's skip it today."

"Oh? It's just a glass of wine... No, it's nothing. Since it's not convenient this time, let's save this glass for next time."

Boothill wanted to try to persuade the Guinaifen, but when he realized that he was no different from a drunkard, he cursed himself inwardly, waved his hand sheepishly, and poured himself a glass of red wine.

"By the way, big star, what kind of place is Penacony? I think it's called something like 'Baby Planet of Festivities'?"

Taking a sip of red wine, Boothill lay back on the lawn, idly counting the stars in the sky, when suddenly he asked on a whim.

This can be considered advance preparation; who knows, he might go there someday in the future, since nobody knows where the company dog is hiding.

"Penacony? Hmm, it's a wonderful place. In this Harmony family, there is no hierarchy, everyone can bask in the praises of the Thousand-Faced God, we share all suffering and happiness, and sing praises to the Harmony..."

The Guinaifen recounted the history of Penacony, enthusiastically listing the delicacies in the dream, as well as various dream-related landscapes.

Finally, after thinking for a moment and looking at the street outside the villa, she didn't simply praise the home where she grew up, but instead offered a more personal and subjective opinion:

"Penacony's dreamscape is renowned throughout the world. In this beautiful dreamscape in the void, everything impossible becomes reality in this wondrous Memory Zone. Wandering souls can find their refuge here. But... I think the scenery on the Xianzhou is quite beautiful too. It's completely different from Penacony. Compared to the dreamscape, it has a touch more reality, both vibrant and warm."

After a brief silence, the Guinaifen broke it again. "Sorry, did I say something strange...?"

"No, I completely agree with you. Dreams may be beautiful, but people still have to live in reality. Constantly pursuing the beauty of dreams is just deliberately escaping the misfortunes that have already occurred."

Bai Jun had remained silent until now, expressed a view similar to that of the Guinaifen at this moment. This was not a casual remark to appease the Guinaifen's mood, and the latter was well aware that Bai Jun was not lying.

"Thanks..."

Feeling this unprecedented recognition, Guinaifen's heart was filled with ripples. She gently buried her head in her arms and whispered to Bai Jun, "A fan once asked me, is singing to please those in power, or to gloss over suffering and give people false hope like a dream?"

The Guinaifen began to speak unilaterally, not to explain, nor even to seek approval. In Bai Jun's eyes, she was simply searching for her true self in a sea of words.

"I can't answer this question. I can't come up with an answer even if I rack my brains, so I chose to retire from the music industry and secretly went to many war-torn regions, witnessing countless poor people losing their lives under the ravages of gunfire and swords..."

She sighed and explained why she made that decision, "At that time, I increasingly felt unsure of what I was singing for. Faced with these real disasters, singing seemed utterly useless."