Song of the Sandworm

Lu Yuan woke up from his sleep in the early morning.

Sunlight streamed through the cracks in the window, casting a dry, desert-like scent on the ground.

At the edge of vision, gray and white text quietly emerged:

[Sanity: +12...38/120]

Looking at that number, Lu Yuan felt slightly relieved.

Once your sanity is fully restored, you can use the third ability of Time Bestower. Only then will you have sufficient ability to protect yourself.

Just then, there was a knock on the wooden door.

Lu Yuan's right hand instinctively gripped the Revolver beside his pillow.

"It's me, Karl," a boy's voice came from outside the door. "Grandpa sent me to bring you your medicine."

Lu Yuan released the Revolver and sat up.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open, and Karl walked in carrying a wooden tray.

On the plate were several rolls of clean bandages, a ceramic pot, and a bowl of thin porridge.

"Grandpa said your medicine needs to be changed." Karl placed the wooden tray on the wooden stool beside the bed, his curious gaze sweeping over Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan looked at him but didn't rush to take the medicine.

He knew perfectly well that he couldn't get anything out of Herman.

But this twelve or thirteen-year-old boy in front of me...

"Karl," Lu Yuan said casually, "I'm quite curious about Sandworm Town."

Karl blinked. "Curious about what?"

"For example, what about the Sandworm hunting that the mayor mentioned last night?" Lu Yuan leaned against the wall. "And how did your mayor become the mayor... and what is that musical instrument that can soothe the Sandworm?"

Karl's eyes lit up immediately.

"You want to know this?"

"Um."

Karl tilted his head and thought for a moment, then suddenly revealed a sly smile.

"Then you also have to tell me something about the Night Watcher."

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"Make a deal."

Karl sat cross-legged on the floor beside the bed, poised for a long talk.

"Hunting Sandworm isn't actually that difficult," he gestured. "First, you need to prepare a special food to lure the Sandworm over."

"Then, on the north side of the town, there's a place where stones are piled up."

"The only part that's sandy there is; it's surrounded by rocks."

Lu Yuan nodded.

Sandworm can only move in the sand; once they get stuck on rocks, they can't escape.

"After the Sandworm leaps out, the mayor will first soothe it with the Song of the Sandworm," Karl continued. "Once it climbs onto the rock, light it on fire."

"Ignition?"

"Sandworm are afraid of light," Karl said matter-of-factly. "If there's a little fire, they'll run around everywhere, but they can't land on the stones, so they'll just run until they die."

Lu Yuan recalled the system notification from last night.

Weakness: Any light (non-flammable Sandworm Oil).

So that's how it's used.

"And what about the town mayor?" Lu Yuan asked, "How did he become the mayor?"

"Not just anyone can be mayor," Karl said with a hint of pride. "Here, whoever controls and Sandworm best can become mayor."

He paused, then lowered his voice.

"Actually, my grandfather could also be the town mayor."

"Oh?"

"But he won't." Karl curled his lip. "I asked him why, but he wouldn't tell me."

Lu Yuan didn't press further; he simply kept the information in mind.

"One last question," he said, looking at Karl, "What's that instrument and its related music theory called?"

"I forgot the original name, it was too hard to pronounce." Karl scratched his head. "Now everyone calls it the Song of the Sandworm, it's been passed down from generation to generation here."

His eyes suddenly lit up.

"Do you want to learn? I can teach you!"

Lu Yuan recalled that when he heard Ancient Music Theory last night, his Forbidden Studies experience increased by 0.2.

"Good."

Karl grinned, then leaned forward, looking like he was looking for gossip.

"Now you."

"Ask away."

"What are you responsible for in the Night Watcher?" Karl's eyes sparkled. "Are all the Night Watcher extremely powerful? Do you have any special abilities?"

Three questions were asked in one go.

Lu Yuan looked at him, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Would a twelve or thirteen-year-old child ask a question like "special abilities"?

The first two questions could be attributed to curiosity, but the last one felt too deliberate.

Clearly, this was what Herman had asked him to ask.

However, Lu Yuan did not intend to hide it.

His combat techniques all rely on Time Bestower, and he's only at the First Order of the Transcendence, so there's nothing wrong with revealing them. On the contrary, hiding them makes it easy for people to become suspicious.

"I'm a doctor with the Night Watcher," Lu Yuan said calmly, "The kind who goes on missions."

Karl was somewhat disappointed. "The doctor..."

"Second question," Lu Yuan held up two fingers, "The Night Watcher are indeed very powerful; every full member is strong. However, those like me, the healers, or those in other support roles, are a bit weaker in combat."

Karl nodded, his eyes still filled with anticipation.

"The last one," Lu Yuan shrugged. "I don't have any special abilities, and I haven't been with the Night Watcher for long. I was sent on this mission, but things went wrong."

He paused, as if remembering something.

"Now that I think about it, it's almost time for the agreed-upon meeting, and I haven't reported yet. The Captain should be sending someone to find me soon."

Of course, this was just Lu Yuan talking nonsense. His main purpose was to convey to Herman or other people in the town that if he had been missing for a long time, someone would come looking for him. It was a kind of protection for himself.

Karl's expression changed upon hearing this, showing some disappointment; clearly, this wasn't what the child was concerned about.

"So, are you leaving soon?"

"Yes."

After Lu Yuan finished speaking, he reached out and took the pottery jar from the wooden tray.

I'll change the medicine myself.

He skillfully unwrapped the bandage on his left hand with his right.

The old bandages came off, revealing the wound underneath.

Lu Yuan was slightly taken aback.

The charred Flesh that was originally stuck together has now grown a layer of fine granulation tissue. Pink new flesh covers the surface of the wound, and although it is far from healed, the recovery speed is much faster than he expected.

The medicine Herman gave him was better than he had expected.

Or rather, it's abnormally good.

Lu Yuan showed no sign of anything amiss. He opened the earthenware jar and applied the brown ointment inside evenly to the wound.

A cool sensation came over me, and the faint burning pain was relieved a little.

He rewrapped the bandage, the movement swift and fluid.

Karl watched in utter disbelief.

"That's amazing..."

"As a doctor, I have these basic skills." Lu Yuan put the extra bandages back on the wooden tray. "The medicine is very good. Please thank your grandfather for me."

Karl snapped out of his daze and jumped up from the ground.

"I'll go get my instrument!" He ran towards the door. "I'll come back to find you later!"

The footsteps faded into the distance.

The room fell silent again.

Lu Yuan leaned against the wall, picked up the thin porridge on the wooden plate, and slowly drank it.

The Song of the Sandworm...

Last night I only listened to one part, and my Forbidden Studies experience increased by 0.2.

If you can learn it, you might reap unexpected rewards.