Bangier

The flood season of the River of Wisdom arrived as scheduled, and countless blank pebbles were thrown onto the shore, where people frantically scrambled for them.

Lu Li stood by the river, holding up an umbrella that was still unnamed, and tossed some eager-to-grab individuals into the river. As for the consequences of falling into the River of Wisdom without protection, that was not something Lu Li should be considering.

Picking up an empty pebble that had fallen to his feet, Lu Li followed Professor Alice's instructions, tapping the Lu Li with his hand to create a transparent bubble that enveloped him, before jumping into the River of Wisdom.

Transparent bubbles, entering the colorful river, drift towards an unknown destination. The seven colors shimmer on the bubbles, making them exceptionally beautiful. Within the seven colors outside the bubbles, it seems that all the knowledge and magic of the world are contained.

Beneath the boundless starry sky, a certain star emitted its light, and Lu Li felt a tendril enter the bubble. Lu Li's task panel also changed within it:

[Sub-copy: The Candy House in the Forest]

Thirteen-year-old Bangier is the eldest son in his family. Early in the morning, before dawn, he got out of bed and put on his fur coat to protect himself from the cold morning fog and the biting wind.

Summer is slowly coming to an end, and before the sun comes out, the fog and cold wind will make you feel the breath of winter.

Bangier rubbed his slightly red hands, carrying a worn-out wooden bucket, and walked towards the river in the distance.

In this small village on the edge of the forest, unlike the bustling big cities, there is no well in the village. If you want water, you have to go to the river outside the village to fetch it. Then, whether the family is cooking soup, feeding the cattle, or cleaning, they all need to wait for this bucket of water.

Carrying his wooden Bangier arrived at the riverbank, carefully found a safe spot, and placed the bucket into the river to draw water.

He looked around warily, watching for any potential danger. Just last week, Helen from next door was carried into the forest by an unidentified wild animal passing by this very river.

Although wild animals in the forest generally don't leave, there are always a few exceptions. For the sake of his own life, Bangier was always very careful, not only in his own life but also in how he taught his sister.

Thinking of his sister Korandi, Bangier's heart sank. The people living in the small village outside the forest were all poor, struggling to even support themselves. After all, if they had the means, who wouldn't want to live in a safe town, even if it smelled a bit bad?

Families that struggle to support themselves will naturally do everything they can to do to survive. For example, Bangier gets up every morning to fetch water and cook, and then he has to cut grass to feed the cows.

Recently, neither his father nor mother had time, so Bangier had to travel all afternoon to carry the stored milk to town to sell and earn some money to buy some Black Face.

Then he would hide the Black Face and the wooden barrel, try to find odd jobs in town, and try to spend the night in town so as not to freeze to death, and then escape back the next day with the barrel and the Black Face.

Yes, he escaped back. The thugs in town love people like him. If they catch Bangier, they'll definitely plunder all the Black Face and stuff, and he'll get a beating too.

Besides the above, Bangier, who would return home, would also have to do a lot of housework. For people of this era, especially the poor like him, every day of their lives was a miracle.

Her younger sister, Korandi, is about 10 years old this year. It's estimated that she will be sold soon, and may become someone's slave or a prostitute.

Lifting the wooden bucket full of water, Bangier looked at the source of the river, which stretched out from the distant forest. The river, shrouded in mist, flowed through the forest, the mist seemingly turning black in the shadows of the forest.

A nameless panic arose in Bangier's heart, and the plans he had made long ago began to waver. People came and went, adults and children alike, all people struggling to make ends meet.

Bangier carried the wooden bucket full of water back home. Another young man gently nudged Bangier and gave him a wink. Bangier hesitated for a moment, then nodded and carried the bucket home.

The young man's name was Kor, and he was two years older than Bangier. It was he, another person, and Bangier who came up with the plan. Bangier understood Kor's actions just now: they would meet at their usual place when they found the time.

Korandi, the younger sister, had already gotten up and was tending the fire. When she saw Bangier return, Korandi gave her brother a smile on her innocent face, then continued to blow on the flames, her little face covered in soot.

Bangier felt a slight warmth in his heart. He quickly went over, set up the pot, poured the water he had brought back into it, and added a small amount of Black Face, some wild vegetables, and a small piece of dried meat that had been stored for an unknown period of time and had turned black.

With a creak of the wooden door, Bangier's father and mother got up. They needed to visit the village chief's house today to discuss some matters. Bangier tried his best to behave himself after his parents finished eating.

Bangier and his sister were eating the last bits of soup when they saw their father and mother leave the house with the only weapons in the house—the father's hunting bow and arrows. Bangier cursed inwardly.

Somewhat absentmindedly listening to his father's instructions about feeding the cows and buying milk, Bangier glanced at the bow and arrow that had drifted away from him, and his hesitation deepened.

"Perhaps Father won't sell my sister? After all, she's so adorable." Bangier made excuses for his decision to give up, carrying the dry grass towards the cowshed.

Those two cows were the family's biggest source of income besides their father's hunting. In fact, you could say that he and his sister weren't necessarily as important as those two cows. After all, sons and daughters could be born again, but once the cows died, they were truly gone.

"This afternoon I'll go and sell the milk for a higher price. I'll talk to Father properly when I get back tomorrow, and maybe my sister won't be sold." Bangier walked to the cowshed, preparing to put the dry straw in, when his face turned pale the next moment.

The color drained from Bangier's already sallow face, making him look like a dead man. In the cowshed, two cows lay on the ground, their skin bluish, foaming at the mouth, barely breathing; they seemed beyond saving.

In the corner of the cattle pen, there was a large, black Giant Snake, its tongue flicking, its small eyes fixed on Bangier.

Bangier sensed a cruel twist of fate in those eyes. The cow was dead, half the family's income had been cut off, his sister would surely be sold, and perhaps even he would be among the victims.

Bangier felt something choking his neck, making it difficult and heavy for him to breathe. Thinking of his sister's smiling face, Bangier threw down the dry grass in his hand without the slightest hesitation.

Everything is for protecting my lovely little sister.