Praise (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets)

The island wasn't small, and there were lots of houses. There was a bonfire by the roadside, and on the other side, some women were beating their wash

ing

clothes with wooden sticks. A few little children were playing naked by the water.

It looked like a paradise, cut off from the world.

An island this size could house three or five hundred people with room to spare. It was surrounded by water on all sides, so it was no wonder they could live in such tran

quility.

The whole village had a very leisurely atmosphere. Some people were weaving nets, which suggested that they fished, too.

Every now and then, I spotted groups of elderly people sitting on logs, chatting with one another. Some were even playing chess.

Seeing this, I almost felt like I'd arrived in another world.

"Clap, clap, clap~"

The man walked over and clapped three times. Right after that, everyone in my line of sight began to gather over here. Soon, dozens, then hundreds, had crowded onto the beach, until the whole motley

crowd had filled it. Only then did the man smile and point at Bai Chi and me.

"These two are travelers from the desert. They'll be staying here for a while, starting today. Let's give them a warm welcome."

"Clap, clap, clap~"

The applause made me feel a little awkward. Bai Chi looked embarrassed, too, but smiled and returned the greeting.

"Alright, alright~"

The clapping went on for about a minute before the middle-aged man raised his hand and pressed it down, signaling for everyone to quiet down.

The noise soon died away, and I was surprised by how much influence the man had here. It was truly extraordinary.

"Here's the situation. While we were talking on the shore just now, our