Do You Want to Come with Me?

"Where am I? Didn't I die again?"

Qian Guang weakly opened his eyes, staring at the surroundings, which were as dim as the underworld, and wondered to himself.

He tilted his head and discovered a beam of light not far away, with what seemed to be a figure beside it. He forced his eyes wider, trying to see clearly, but his head felt as though it had been struck by a heavy hammer, leaving him unable to focus. No matter how hard he tried, all he could make out was the light and the figure's outline.

"Did they switch people? Why does my head hurt so much this time? Bad review. Absolutely terrible."

Feeling the pain in his head and afraid that he might fall asleep and never wake up again, he used what little strength he had to keep moving his fingers, trying to make enough noise to draw the figure's attention.

Fortunately, the cave was quiet, so even ordinarily insignificant sounds were amplified.

"Hm? What was that? I haven't come here in so long that it's not only been occupied by little ghosts, but it's grown rats too?"

An aged yet vigorous voice entered Qian Guang's ears.

As the voice drew closer, Qian Guang finally saw its owner clearly. A figure around 1.3 meters tall, roughly Qian Guang's current height, came into view. He had thinning silver hair, a graying goatee, and a smoking pipe clenched between his teeth. His face was covered in wrinkles carved by time, yet they could not hide his lively eyes.

"Well, little ghost, you're awake."

"You're one tough kid. You actually dared to eat a Flying Poison Fish—and even ate its venom-storing wings."

"Good thing this old man happened to come up the mountain to gather herbs today. Otherwise, you'd have lost your body for good."

Seeing Qian Guang awake, the old man was relieved and began teasing him.

Though he was joking, his hands were not careless in the slightest. Green light glowed from his palm as he examined Qian Guang from head to toe, hovering a short distance above his body.

"Huh? Something's not right. How long has it been? There's only this much poison left from the fish. I haven't treated Flying Poison Fish venom in years—have I gotten this amazing already?"

"Fine, have another bowl of medicine later and you might be all better. As expected of me! Hahahahaha!"

After finishing his examination, the old man clapped his hands with a broad grin and praised himself, completely unaware that Qian Guang's own body could have reached such a state.

After watching the old man's string of actions with a baffled expression, Qian Guang asked himself a soul-searching series of questions.

Who am I? Where am I? Who are you? What are you doing? Are your hands X-rays?

Unfortunately, he had no strength left to open his mouth. He could only stare at the old man with a gaze full of curiosity. (o∆o)

(๑•̌.•̑๑)?

"Kid, what kind of look is that? Don't tell me you're an idiot. It's possible. No normal person would eat a poison fish."

The hell do you mean, idiot? I was someone who used the multiplication table to crush American high school students in math when I was nine! And I studied medicine!!! I'd never seen a creature like that before! Who knew the poisonous creatures here came in such plain, unremarkable colors? Make it a different color and see if I'd still eat it!!

Unable to endure this "insult," Qian Guang could only open his eyes as wide as possible to express his protest, since he could not speak. (╬ఠдఠ)

"Alright, alright. Keep glaring and your eyeballs are going to pop out. Young people these days really can't take a joke."

"Seeing how lively you are, this old man can bring you some medicine to drink."

With that, he turned and walked toward the source of the light. Qian Guang's vision had recovered a little by then, and he finally saw what it was: a campfire with a small pot set over it.

As he watched the slightly stooped figure walking toward the fire, Qian Guang could not help thinking of his grandfather. When he was sick as a child, his grandfather had cared for him in the same way.

Though their personalities were worlds apart—one was a kind-hearted living Buddha who worried for the whole world, while the other was a carefree old rascal wandering through life—

At that moment, the grandfather in Qian Guang's memories and this old man teasing him began to overlap.

"Grandpa."

Staring at the illusion before him, Qian Guang unconsciously murmured.

His voice was hoarse and soft. Even in the silent cave, it might not have been heard clearly.

The old man's hand paused for a moment as he held the wooden ladle. He said nothing and merely continued scooping the medicinal broth from the pot.

"Alright, kid. Drink this medicine, sleep for a while, and you'll basically be fine. This is this old man's exclusive secret recipe—really powerful stuff! Hahahahaha!"

The old man returned to Qian Guang's side with a wooden bowl, wearing that same familiar smile as he boasted.

Spoonful by spoonful, he fed the medicine to Qian Guang, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a fragile object precious to him.

The firewood continued to crackle, and the flames painted the silhouettes of an old man and a child on the cave walls.

"Crackle, crackle."

The familiar sound gave Qian Guang, whose consciousness had returned, an inexplicable sense of comfort. He opened his eyes to the same familiar darkness.

He tried moving his arms and legs and found that he was merely weak now, no longer as powerless as before.

Forcing himself upright, he saw the old man holding a small knife and carving a piece of wood that had already begun to resemble a bowl.

"You're awake. Wait a little longer and we can eat."

Hearing the movement, the old man did not even raise his head, merely quickening the motions of his hands.

"Thank you."

After replying, Qian Guang braced himself against the wall and walked toward the old man to see if there was anything he could help with.

Perhaps afraid that Qian Guang would have to wait too long, the old man gave the wood a rough finish, put down the knife, and lifted the lid of the pot over the fire.

"Heh, kid, you're in for a treat. My Herbal Porridge is famous for being nourishing and fragrant. Even if others beg me, I won't make it for them."

As he spoke, he ladled out a large, heaping bowl and handed it to Qian Guang.

Qian Guang accepted the bowl. The porridge inside was dark purple-black and gave off a pungent smell, leaving him deep in thought.

This thing had already lost in two of the three categories: color, aroma, and taste. No—thinking of luosifen and stinky tofu, hope rose in him again.

He cautiously scooped up a small spoonful and put it into his mouth. In an instant, bitterness, spiciness, sweetness, and every other flavor erupted across his tongue.

Qian Guang's complexion was immediately assimilated by the porridge, but his body's instincts made him reluctant to spit it out.

After swallowing it with difficulty, he felt a warm current coursing through his body, restoring his vitality.

Seeing that Qian Guang understood the effects of the Herbal Porridge, as well as the reluctant expression that said he resisted it but had no choice except to eat it, the old man burst into laughter.

"Hahahahaha! Don't make such a bitter face. The herbs in there are incredibly precious. One pot of this porridge could buy a child like you."

Hearing the old man's words, Qian Guang reexamined the bowl of porridge.

Sure enough, it was still just as wicked.

With no other choice, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and began gulping it down.

Seeing Qian Guang's appearance, the old man burst into laughter again.

After laughing enough, the old man looked at Qian Guang and said, "Kid, I still don't know your name. How did you end up in this forest?"

Hearing the old man's question, Qian Guang put down his bowl and observed him once more.

There was no difference from before, except that his eyes seemed even brighter under the firelight.

"My name is Qian Guang. I don't remember either. I only know that when I woke up, I was already in the forest."

Looking into the old man's eyes, Qian Guang felt inexplicably guilty, yet he was unwilling to look away.

The old man met Qian Guang's gaze for a while before suddenly looking away. He let out a breath and put on that unruly smile again.

"My name is Rain. Rain Meredith."

"Kid, if you have nowhere to go, do you want to come with me?"