Manual

The caravan moved slowly through the desert.

Three carriages lined up in a row, their wheels grinding across the soft sand, leaving two deep ruts. Soon, the wind and sand would smooth over these marks, as if no one had ever been there.

Lu Yuan sat next to the cargo in the first vehicle, leaning against a bundle of Sandworm skins, his eyes half-closed.

The sun was very strong.

Even with the hood of the cloak on, his face was still burning from the sun.

Herman sat at the front of the car, holding the reins in his hand, a cigarette holder dangling from his mouth, looking relaxed.

His skin was dark and rough, covered with traces of wind and sand erosion, clearly indicating that he had long been accustomed to this environment.

First time taking a long-distance trip?

"I suppose so," Lu Yuan said, squinting.

"You'll get used to it." Herman exhaled a puff of smoke. "It's hot during the day, cold at night, and midday is the hardest."

He raised his hand and pointed ahead.

"See that over there? There's a row of dark shadows on the horizon."

Lu Yuan looked in the direction he was pointing.

On the distant horizon, some blurry outlines could indeed be seen, resembling a row of uneven teeth.

"That's the Stone Forest," Herman said. "We'll camp in front of Stone Forest tonight and cross it tomorrow. Behind the Stone Forest is a forest; after crossing that forest, we'll reach Bronze City by evening."

"A forest?" Lu Yuan was somewhat surprised. "A forest in the desert?"

"It's not in the desert," Herman smiled. "The terrain changes after you pass the Stone Forest. That area is near Bronze City, with abundant water, and a large forest has grown there."

He paused.

"However, that forest isn't safe either. It's fine to walk through during the day, but forget about it at night."

Lu Yuan nodded without asking any further questions.

His gaze swept across the undulating sand dunes in the distance, looking up at the horizon.

Yellow sand stretches endlessly, the sky and earth blend into one color.

Apart from the occasional whistling of the wind and the crunch of wheels rolling over the sand, there was nothing else.

Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze, took out the ancient Ancient Music Theory Manual from his pocket, and began to read it.

The manual was a handwritten copy; the paper was yellowed and the edges were curled.

The handwriting is somewhat messy, but still fairly clear.

It contains more than a dozen pieces, each accompanied by detailed fingering diagrams and performance instructions.

At the same time, Ancient Music Theory was also categorized into different levels.

There are five levels in total.

The first three levels have detailed explanations.

Level 1 is about mastering various fingering techniques and skills, and being able to play a complete piece.

Second Level requires Transcendence talent and has even stricter requirements.

The descriptions for Level 3 are somewhat vague, and there are no records for Levels 4 and 5 at all.

Lu Yuan's gaze fell on one of the pages.

<The Song of the Sandworm>

The sheet music was very long, taking up three whole pages. The notes were densely packed, and the fingering was complex; just looking at it was enough to give anyone a headache.

There is a small note next to it:

"This piece must be played using Sandworm Bone Flute, and the Ancient Music Theory must be at least Level 1."

Lu Yuan frowned.

Level 1 or above?

He flipped through the pages and found that it wasn't just the Song of the Sandworm; most of the songs in the manual had similar requirements.

<The Wind-Calling Ballad> -- Requires Level 1 or above.

<Sand-Sleep Tune> -- Requires Level 1 or above.

<Broodmother's Lament> -- Requires Level 3 or above; use with caution.

<Abyssal Echo> -- Requires level 4 or above, and cannot be played solo.

Lu Yuan glanced at the gray text at the edge of his field of vision.

[Ancient Music Theory: 1.2/10]

According to the manual, reaching ten experience points should correspond to level one.

He's not even at level one yet.

Lu Yuan closed the manual and looked at Herman.

"There's a problem."

"Um?"

"The manual says that you need to be at least level one to play the Song of the Sandworm," Lu Yuan continued. "But how old is Karl? How can he play it?"

Herman chuckled upon hearing this.

You mean that kid?

He took the cigarette holder out of his mouth and flicked off the ash.

He wasn't playing the full version.

"What's the meaning?"

"There are several versions of the Song of the Sandworm," Herman explained. "The complete version is too long and complex, and it demands a lot from the player. So the older generation simplified it, taking only the beginning section."

"Simplified version?"

"Yes." Herman nodded. "The simplified version is harmless; even children can learn it. It's sufficient for calming Sandworm."

Lu Yuan paused for a moment.

"Where's the full version?"

"The full version?" Herman's expression became somewhat subtle. "That thing... nobody dares to brag about it."

"Why?"

Herman did not answer immediately.

He looked up at the sky, then down at the reins in his hand, as if carefully choosing his words.

"Do you have some notes at the back of your manual?"

Lu Yuan nodded.

You've seen it?

"I've read some of it," Lu Yuan said. "It mentions someone summoning something, and then going mad and dying."

That's what I wanted to say.

Herman exhaled a puff of smoke, his voice lowering.

"That guy's name was... what was it again? I forgot. I only remember he was the best hunter in town, and his Ancient Music Theory was at level four."

Level 4?

"Hmm." Herman nodded. "In Sandworm Town, that's already Legendary Level figure. Most hunters are lucky to reach Second Level; most are stuck at level one their entire lives."

Lu Yuan recalled the image of Karl playing the flute.

That kid studied for three years and still didn't pass the basics.

It seems that improving one's understanding of Ancient Music Theory is not an easy task.

What happened next?

"And then?" Herman took another drag of his cigarette. "Then he felt he was good enough and wanted to try the full version of the Song of the Sandworm."

"Result?"

"Nobody knows what happened that night," Herman's voice softened. "All we know is that he was found on the dunes the next morning."

"Dead?"

"Dead." Herman nodded. "Eyes wide open, mouth agape, expression... as if he'd seen something he shouldn't have."

He paused.

There were no wounds on his body, but he was already dead.

What was the cause of death?

"The autopsy doctor said his brain... was empty."

Lu Yuan frowned slightly.

Is your mind blank?

What's the meaning?

Has reason been drained? Or something else entirely?

"Nobody knows exactly what happened," Herman shook his head. "Anyway, since then, nobody in town has dared to play the full version of the Song of the Sandworm. The simplified version is enough; why take the risk?"

He glanced at Lu Yuan.

"I don't object to you learning Ancient Music Theory. But don't rush into those advanced pieces. If you force yourself to learn before you're at the right level, you'll run into trouble."

Lu Yuan nodded.

"I know."

He put the manual back in his pocket and didn't ask any more questions.

Some things are better left untouched right now.

The carriage continued its journey.

As the sun gradually sets in the west, the desert's color changes from golden yellow to orange-red, and then from orange-red to dark purple.

The temperature also began to drop.

The daytime heat subsided, replaced by a dry coolness.

Extreme temperature differences between day and night are a characteristic of deserts.

As evening fell, the caravan stopped at the foot of a sheltered sand dune.

The Stone Forest is not far ahead.

The massive rock pillars cast long shadows in the setting sun, making them look like a group of silent giants.

"We'll camp here tonight." Herman jumped off the carriage and stretched. "Tomorrow morning we'll cross the Stone Forest, then the forest, and we'll reach Bronze City by evening."

Several young people got to work.

Unloading cargo, setting up tents, digging stove pits, and starting fires to cook.

The movements were practiced, clearly not the first time.

Several Sandworm Oil Lamp were unloaded from the vehicle and hung on the wooden stakes around the campsite.

A pale white light shone, contrasting sharply with the warm yellow glow of the campfire.

Four lamps formed a circle, enveloping the campsite in Light Domain.

Lu Yuan found a flat rock to sit on and took out the Sandworm Bone Flute from his pocket.

Let's practice for a while before it gets completely dark.

He put the flute to his lips and gently blew a few notes.

"Beep--Beep beep--Beep--"

The sound of the flute echoed through the desert, distant and ethereal.

At the edge of my field of vision, grayish-white text danced gently:

[Ancient Music Theory: +0.1...1.3/10]

It went up.

Lu Yuan continued practicing.

Basic scales, legato, and breath control.

He has basically mastered what Karl taught him.

Next, we'll practice some more complex techniques: vibrato, glissando, and staccato.

The manual contains detailed instructions, but reading and doing are two different things.

Most importantly, simply mastering the instrument is not enough. When Lu Yuan plays, he can feel his rationality fluctuating downwards with each note.

It seems that there are many things that I have to figure out for myself.

The sky gradually darkened.

Night slowly descended from the horizon, swallowing the last glimmer of light.

Night falls quickly and completely in the desert.

The moon had not yet risen, and it was pitch black all around.

Only the light from the campfire and the Sandworm Oil Lamp illuminated a small circle in the darkness.

Lu Yuan put away the Bone Flute and sat down beside the fire.

He ate his dry rations while looking around.

Young people gathered in twos and threes; some were eating, some were chatting, and some were already wrapped in blankets, preparing to sleep.

The atmosphere was calm.

But Lu Yuan knew that the peace wouldn't last long.

Nights in the desert are never safe.

His gaze swept across the darkness at the edge of the camp, remaining vigilant.

Really.

At the edge of my vision, grayish-white text suddenly appeared:

[Environmental Perception: Numerous low-level suspicious activity detected approaching. Please move away.]

They've arrived.

Lu Yuan put down the dry rations in his hand and looked at the edge of the light circle.

In the darkness, a red light is appearing.

One point, two points, three points...

More and more.

Those are eyes.

They stand at the boundary between light and darkness.

Its charred appearance resembled a corpse burned by fire, with shrunken skin and twisted limbs.

The posture was bizarre, the spine was bent, and the limbs were braced on the ground at an inappropriate angle.

It's exactly the same as what I saw in Sandworm Town.

They stood there motionless, their scarlet eyes fixed intently on the people in the camp.

Stare at the light.

Stare at him.

Herman came over with a bowl of meat soup and sat down next to Lu Yuan.

"You saw it?"

"Hmm." Lu Yuan's tone was calm. "Same as last time."

Herman nodded and took a sip of soup.

"As long as the Sandworm Oil Lamp remains lit, they can't get in."

Lu Yuan remained silent.

He looked at those things again.

The quantity was greater than that night in Sandworm Town.

A dozen or so.

More than twenty.

Thirty-odd.

More and more charred figures appeared at the edge of the aperture, as if they were growing out of the sand.

"The Stone Forest area is relatively peaceful," Herman continued nonchalantly. "Further ahead, there are many more creatures in the darkness. They vary in shape, size, and habits, and some aren't afraid of the light."

"What about in the forest?"

"The forest is more troublesome," Herman exhaled a puff of smoke. "The things over there are different; Sandworm Oil Lamp are useless against them. So we can only cross during the day."

He paused.

"It would be good to get closer to the Bronze City. The material of that city is special; even the eerie ones dare not approach it."

Lu Yuan observed them for a while, confirming that those things would not cross the light circle.

Just like that night in Sandworm Town, the light from the Sandworm Oil Lamp could block them out.

Since that's the case, there's no need to waste energy.

He withdrew his gaze, found a sheltered spot to lie down, and closed his eyes.

If you like watching those things, then watch them.

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Yuan woke up from his sleep.

The sky was already turning a pale white as the first rays of sunlight pierced the darkness.

He looked at the edge of the aperture.

There was nothing there.

Those charred figures had vanished, as if they had never existed.

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

[Sanity: +12...80/120 (Total)]

After a night's rest, I've regained much of my composure.

Pack your things, get ready to leave.

Herman's voice rang out.

The young men began to break camp.

The tents were packed up, the Sandworm Oil Lamp were turned off, and the goods were reloaded onto the truck.

Everything was in perfect order.

Lu Yuan climbed onto the carriage and found a seat next to the goods.

He glanced back at the sand dunes behind him.

There was nothing in the sunlight.

It was as if those things from last night had never existed.

"Drive!"

Herman cracked his whip, and the carriage slowly started moving.

The caravan headed towards the Stone Forest.