Mountains and Oaks (5K, Please Keep Reading)

In a daze, Black Snake dreamed a dream.

A blurry dream.

Like a winter lens.

When stepping into a warm room, a thin layer of white mist would cloud one's vision.

He could see only colors, not outlines.

He saw a patch of golden yellow.

A breeze brushed past, making that color sway hazily before his eyes.

Until fiery crimson covered it.

Someone stood before him.

He tried to reach out and touch that blurred figure.

But the colors before him gradually drifted away.

So he started walking, trying to run back in front of her.

Yet he gradually realized that he himself was moving away from her.

He had never been so panicked before. Desperately, he called out to that lovely figure:

"Catherine!"

"I'm here!"

He heard that figure answer him.

Only—

Why had her voice become so shrill?

As if...

A man were pinching his throat and poorly imitating a woman's voice?

Black Snake jolted awake.

"Who!?"

Tang Qi noticed that Black Snake, who had been unconscious the entire way, had finally begun to stir.

First came a long exhale, followed by a teasing remark.

"What, having a wet dream? You'd better not poke me with anything, or that'd be pretty disgusting."

"..."

Black Snake found it hard to accept that the first words he heard upon waking from the dream had come from that rotten mouth again.

But he did not even have the strength to talk back.

He only felt that he was draped over someone's back, swaying with each step.

Pain flared in his back and abdomen, though the weakness from blood loss was gradually easing.

He looked up at the sky and found the same dim night, thin mist, and damp clothes from before he had passed out.

Only ahead of them, a short Kobold held a wand with flames burning at its tip, becoming the sole light in the quiet night.

Black Snake still felt dizzy. After recovering his senses, he weakly asked, "How long have we been walking?"

Tang Qi patiently explained, "A day just passed, and night has only just fallen, so about six hours."

"Without stopping?"

"I came all the way from the Tyron Empire, crossing mountains and rivers. I might not be fast, but I've got good stamina and a steady pace."

That was what he said, but Tang Qi's breathing was actually very heavy, and even his legs trembled slightly.

Because he was hurrying as quickly as he could.

Their current walking speed should have been much faster than a merchant caravan's wagons.

That had shortened what was originally a sixteen-hour journey by quite a bit.

After all, a caravan had many carts and horses, and had to maintain a relatively slow, steady pace to carry wagonloads of goods.

"Can we make it out?" Black Snake asked.

"Hey, I don't like hearing that defeatist talk! Can't we be a little more optimistic?

Here's some good news: the mist's hallucinatory effect ended a while ago—

That proves we've at least reached the outer part of the forest."

Once they reached the outer part of the forest, Star Plum Town was not too far away.

Jostled along, Black Snake felt a throbbing pain in his wounds and coughed twice. "You bandaged me?"

"Who else? Were we supposed to count on those Beastfolk to show mercy and hand us medical supplies and Healing Potions?"

Tang Qi sighed.

"I figured you went into shock from excessive blood loss.

But we didn't have any tools. So I had no choice but to cut up the clothes in New Star's dimensional bag into strips and bind them around you, trying to stop the bleeding with pressure—

But for some reason, it just wouldn't stop.

So I could only have Kuru use [Earth Shaping] to attach dirt to those 'bandages' and keep increasing the pressure.

There was no wound cleaning or disinfection, but at least you woke up. That means my guess was right, and this method did something."

Tang Qi had examined Black Snake's wounds.

Aside from the two axe wounds on his abdomen and back—

There were two sunken dents in his back, squeezing blood out of the wounds in steady streams—

To let Shivana win that gladiatorial match.

Black Snake had deliberately exposed an opening and let that horizontal slash strike his back.

He had controlled the distance with remarkable precision, preventing that axe blow from inflicting a serious wound.

But when Babaya suddenly rose up in resistance, he had no choice but to rush in front of Tang Qi and take the deadly blow in his place.

Yet it seemed that the wounds carried a trace of necromantic energy from an unknown source.

It had prevented the clotting factors from taking effect...

"Speaking of which, I'm pissed—

That mage bragged all the way about how rich he was.

But when I searched his dimensional bag, forget Healing Potions—I didn't even find a medical kit or herbs.

No wonder he died to a Kobold. He was stupid beyond belief!"

"Kuru smart!"

The Kobold responded to Tang Qi's insults.

What Tang Qi did not know was that New Star had made an agreement with Explosive Wolf before they set out.

He would only be responsible for casting spells, while Explosive Wolf would cover all expenses along the way.

As a result, he had not needed to prepare much for this merchant journey.

Anything he needed, even precious Healing Potions, could be obtained from Explosive Wolf whenever he wanted—

But Explosive Wolf had already fled with the surviving soldiers.

There was no point dwelling on that now.

"So aside from the wounds, do you feel unwell anywhere else?"

"My head's spinning. My body feels hot."

"Without wound cleaning, it's probably inflammation from an infection... Damn it, I need to walk faster.

Listen, you need to hold on! If I estimated correctly, we'll be back at Star Plum Town before long.

The church in town must have herbs for cleaning wounds. We'll have the priest save you then!"

"Those Beastfolk..."

"We left them behind. They seemed to spend some time scavenging around the camp. I stopped hearing those giant turtles shaking the ground a long time ago."

"Their destination is Star Plum Town..."

"I know, I know."

Tang Qi gritted his teeth, endured the soreness in his legs, and quickened his pace while pretending nothing was wrong.

"So I'm already hurrying back to town, so I can tell that sweetheart of yours and get her ready to take shelter!"

At the mention of Catherine, even Tang Qi could not help admiring him.

"But honestly, I never thought you were such a devoted guy.

I always thought you were the stereotypical scumbag who lusted after girls younger than yourself—you know?

The kind who had nothing better to do than slap a girl's butt when she brought drinks and food, then give some sleazy whistle...

But maybe I really misjudged you.

At least you're serious about Catherine. You even saved my life because of her."

Tang Qi could not think of any other reason Black Snake had shielded him.

It was simply because Tang Qi could see through illusions and find the direction to Star Plum Town.

It could not possibly have been because he had his eye on Tang Qi's hook.

"Of course, I'm not saying you saved me with an ulterior motive. Honestly, I really should thank you for stepping forward, or I wouldn't have been able to..."

"The best way you can thank me is to shut... that mouth of yours.

Right now, I just want... to rest quietly for a while..."

Black Snake felt his eyelids growing heavy.

But Tang Qi became even more alert and hurriedly said, "Rest my ass! Rest any longer and you'll be resting in your next life!

What you need now is to talk to me and stay focused—

I'm talking so much because I don't want you falling asleep, understand?"

"I'm fine..."

"Do you get to decide whether you're fine? You're human, not a troll that grows two heads after one gets chopped off!"

This was reality, not a game.

Becoming a high-level adventurer would not increase one's HP.

Refined skill made this rogue's body more flexible and his movements more agile.

But when he was truly injured, that unblessed flesh was no different from Tang Qi's mortal body.

"Don't you fucking want to see Catherine again?"

"Catherine..."

"Yes! Catherine, the girl you like!

Think about it. Who in all of Star Plum Town doesn't know you like her?

But she's always been cold toward you—isn't that because you lack the qualities she admires?

But this time, to get out of the forest and take her to safety, you nearly lost your life.

God, if I were Catherine and heard that someone would risk everything for me like this.

I'd want to wash up tonight, throw open the door, and get right down to it—"

"Shut up."

Tang Qi froze, surprised by his reaction instead.

"Fine, fine, I know you're innocent.

Then let's change the subject—

How about singing?

Most of the poems at Poet Academy are long and awful, but there are still plenty of decent ballads.

Do you want to hear about the romantic escapades of Tyron nobles, or knights bravely fighting dragons? If neither works, there are even romantic escapades of bards fighting dragons—

That song's actually not bad. It's just a little explicit, but maybe it'll get your blood pumping and improve your circulation?

Then I'm going to sing—"

"Don't fucking sing a funeral song. I'm not dead yet..."

Perhaps Tang Qi talked too much and was simply too noisy.

It somehow gave Black Snake a brief burst of strength, and a slightly more forceful curse erupted from his throat.

That reassured Tang Qi instead, and he laughed breathlessly.

"You think I'm noisy and annoying, huh? Fine, I'm tired too. I won't talk—I'll make you talk instead.

How about telling me about yourself?

You used to be an adventurer, one of the Minions of the Ebony Forest, right?

Then you must have been to plenty of places. Giant Valley Bottom in the north, Black Reef Port on the western coast, the Great Wall borderlands in the south...

Right, you must have been south too, since you came out of the Great Desert.

Why not tell me about those experiences? Maybe one day, I'll walk in the same footsteps as you."

Black Snake fell silent.

He had indeed been to those places.

But whenever he recalled that shattered party, the heaviness in his heart made it impossible for him to speak.

Still, his eyelids were unbearably heavy. There were people he wanted to see, and he did not want to fall asleep here.

So he spoke with difficulty, his tone seemingly carrying a hint of teasing.

"What... you want to be an adventurer too?"

The subject did not matter. The fact that he was willing to speak was enough.

Tang Qi did not actually care that much about his stories.

"An adventurer? I just want adventure, to let my songs accompany me to every corner of this world.

As for whether I take commissions and add 'adventurer' to the title... I don't really care."

Black Snake's eyelids slowly lifted at that.

He opened his mouth, then ultimately only asked:

"You just want to 'adventure'... why? Don't you care about your own life?"

"Of course I do."

Tang Qi smiled. He did not mind offering sincerity to the man who had saved him.

"But you might not believe this when I say it, but I've actually died once already. Just think of it as a [Resurrection Spell].

Death feels terrible. It is a little like becoming a drop of water, falling into water, and dissolving into it.

But in the final instant before I died, I suddenly realized something.

What terrified me most had never been death.

What I feared was that, even before dying, I could not remember a single brilliant moment from my life...

A dull and tedious life."

Thinking of his past, Tang Qi could not help shaking his head.

"So when I realized I had been given the chance to live another life, I did not care as much about life and death anymore—

Compared to living an unremarkable life, I craved a life filled with wonder far more."

"Dying wonderfully" would have made for a neat contrast, but it was far too ominous.

"Wonderfully..."

As the word echoed beside his ears, Black Snake found it strangely familiar.

So familiar that the corners of his mouth twitched faintly.

"But have you considered the price behind 'wonder'?"

"I have. Nothing in this world can give you everything.

But from the sound of it, you have already paid that 'price'?"

"Someone once asked me the same question—

'Why did you choose to adventure?'"

"And what was your answer?"

"Adventure is like a mountain. You never need a reason to climb it.

Because the mountain is there."

"What did that person say?"

"'I'll wait for you.'"

Black Snake gave a derisive laugh, though it was unclear what he was laughing at.

"So I left her behind and continued on my journey to conquer higher peaks.

I climbed one mountain after another and crossed one river after another.

Until, before that perilous mountain, I realized how small I was—

Only then did I finally feel fear."

Tang Qi hesitated. "The [Great Desert]?"

Black Snake did not answer him and merely continued speaking to himself:

"So, when I realized that my eyes were simply incapable of taking in all those distant mountains.

I ultimately chose to turn back.

'I'll wait for you.'

So I returned there, beneath that golden oak tree."

Only then did Tang Qi realize that Black Snake's attachment to this little town was apparently not as simple as he had assumed.

"Wait, 'I'll wait for you'—

How old was Catherine when you left this town?

No, that's not right.

The one waiting for you wasn't her!?"

Tang Qi suddenly recalled what Catherine had said on the eve of the Harvest Festival—

"Then perhaps I should thank my mother for passing all of herself down to me."

His eyes widened, and his mouth fell open as he barely managed to grasp everything.

At last, he understood why Black Snake had always behaved so restrainedly in the tavern.

Why his attitude toward that girl had always been so strange.

Why he could clearly have fought his way out and abandoned Tang Qi to flee alone.

Yet he had still chosen to take him away—

He needed to determine the way home.

So that the person he cared about could escape the Beastfolk's abduction.

And live safely and happily.

Black Snake did not respond.

The pupils beneath his messy black hair were faintly losing focus.

He merely smiled as he reminisced.

"When I returned to this land and witnessed how everything had changed.

When I saw that smile beneath the golden tree shadows, identical to hers.

I finally realized that, for those towering mountains, for that empty and laughable dream...

How much I had truly lost.

Having left that oak tree, I had no right to stand before her—

I did not dare tell her who I was.

When she passed away, when that child needed me most, I was never by their side.

Why should she acknowledge someone who abandoned them?

I could only watch her.

I only wanted to watch her...

Watch her live well, grow up well.

That was enough."

Hearing Black Snake behind him grow increasingly talkative, rambling on as though no one else existed, Tang Qi realized something was wrong.

Perhaps the man behind him had never been awake.

He was merely still clinging to his hope of seeing that person.

Using that final flicker of life to sustain his fading consciousness.

The fog ahead grew thinner and thinner.

Ignoring the soreness in his legs, Tang Qi quickened his pace.

"Wait, you bastard, quit talking nonsense! Wake the hell up—we're almost there!"

"Foul-mouthed Poet... I saved your life."

"Yeah, I know! I fucking thank you for it, so let me save yours too, all right!?"

Gritting his teeth, Tang Qi suddenly surged past Kuru, who was leading the way.

Ignoring the crushing pressure in his lungs and heart, he ran with all his strength.

"I need you to do me a favor..."

"Fuck you, I'm not helping! Whatever's on your mind—whether it's recognizing her or apologizing—you can do it yourself after you survive!"

He passed through the thinning mist and ran through the dark, damp forest.

Day and night had never changed.

Yet even in the darkness, he could make out the outline of that village town—

Defensive wooden palisades encircled the town's edge, with blazing torches planted along them, their light spreading out to illuminate the entire settlement.

A handful of village guards stood before the firelight with spears in hand, waiting in grim readiness.

Panic gripped the town. Every household had shut its doors tight, while candlelight flickered faintly through the window cracks like their uneasy heartbeats.

"Take her away from here. Let her... live."

"You bastard, are you even listening to me!?"

Tang Qi crossed the golden wheat fields and raced down the muddy country road.

The closer he came to the firelight, the clearer his vision became.

He could even see the worried, fiery-red figure standing before the palisade gate.

She saw the torch Kuru held high on the dirt road.

She saw the weak figure on Tang Qi's back.

She rushed out through the fence, letting mud splash over her boots and skirt.

Tang Qi pinched Black Snake's thigh and shouted himself hoarse:

"Hey, do you see her? It's Catherine! She recognized you long ago. She knew something might have happened to you—that's why she was waiting for you at the gate!"

As though he had heard the call.

Black Snake slowly moved his arm and gripped the necklace he had always worn against his chest.

"Wake up, wake up a little more! Open your eyes and look—she's right there—we're almost there!"

Never had the man felt his eyelids so heavy.

Yet he still raised his misty eyes.

Within his unfocused pupils was only that fiery-red color, drawing closer and closer.

"Ah, Catherine..."

My daughter.

I'm sorry. Along the path of your growing up.

Daddy could not be there for you.

You can blame me as much as you want...

I came too late.

The man's lips pulled into one final smile.

His rough hand slowly fell against his chest.

Yet he still clutched tightly to the most precious treasure of his life.

A silver ring hanging from a thin cord, set with a ruby that gleamed a wine-red color.

As dazzling as her hair.

But you know.

I want you to know.

I truly.

Truly—

"I really love you."