Do You Want to Come with Me?

"Where is this? Don't tell me I died again."

Qian Guang weakly opened his eyes, looking at the surroundings as dim as the underworld and wondering.

He tilted his head and noticed a beam of light not far away, with what seemed to be a human 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. He could not focus no matter how hard he tried, seeing only the light and the outline of a figure.

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

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

Thanks to how quiet the cave was, even ordinarily insignificant sounds were amplified.

"Hm? What was that sound? I haven't been here for so long that not only have little brats taken over the place, but mice have moved in too?"

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

As the voice drew closer, Qian Guang finally made out its owner. A figure about 1.3 meters tall, roughly the same height as Qian Guang now, came into view. He had thinning silver hair, a graying goatee, and a smoking pipe clenched in his mouth. The wrinkles of age covering his face could not hide his bright, spirited eyes.

"Yo, little brat. You're awake."

"You've got quite a tough life, kid. You actually dared to eat a Flying Poison Fish—and even ate the wings where it stores its venom."

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

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

Though his mouth was busy teasing, his hands were anything but careless. Green light emerged from his palm as he examined Qian Guang from head to toe, hovering a short distance above his body.

"Huh? Something's off. It hasn't been that long, but there's only this much poison left from the fish? I haven't treated Flying Poison Fish venom in years. Have I become this amazing now?"

"Alright, another bowl of medicine later and you might be fine. As expected of me! Hahahahaha!"

After finishing his examination, the old man clapped his hands with a broad grin and praised himself, never considering that Qian Guang's own body could have achieved this much.

After watching the elder's series of actions with a bewildered expression, Qian Guang asked the question of his soul inwardly.

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

Unfortunately, he truly had no strength left to open his mouth. He could only stare at the old man with a gaze full of thirst for knowledge. (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 that poisonous fish."

Idiot, my ass. I was someone who could crush American high school students in math with a multiplication table at nine years old! And I studied medicine!!! I'd never seen that kind of creature before! How was I supposed to know the poisonous creatures here had 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 protest, since he could not speak. (╬ఠдఠ)

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

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

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

Watching the slightly hunched back walk toward the fire, Qian Guang could not help thinking of his own grandfather. When he had been sick as a child, his grandfather had cared for him in the same way.

Though the two of them had wildly different personalities—one a kind and compassionate living bodhisattva concerned with the world, the other a carefree old rascal wandering the land—

At that moment, the grandfather in Qian Guang's memories gradually overlapped with the old man teasing him before his eyes.

"Grandpa."

Looking at the illusion before him, Qian Guang unconsciously murmured softly.

His voice was hoarse and faint; even in this silent cave, it might not have been heard clearly.

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

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

The old man returned to Qian Guang's side with a wooden bowl, still wearing that familiar smile and praising himself as usual.

Spoonful by spoonful, the old man fed Qian Guang the medicine. His movements were as gentle as if he were handling something precious and fragile.

The firewood continued to crackle, and the flames painted the silhouettes of a grandfather and grandson upon the cave walls.

"Crackle, crackle."

The familiar sound made Qian Guang, whose consciousness had returned, feel inexplicably at ease. He opened his eyes to the same familiar darkness.

He tried moving his hands and feet, finding that he was merely weak now rather than completely 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 take the shape of a bowl.

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

Hearing the movement, the old man did not raise his head, only silently quickening his hands.

"Thank you."

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

Perhaps afraid that Qian Guang would wait too long, the old man made a rough bowl and set down the knife. Lifting the lid off the pot over the fire, he said,

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

As he spoke, he ladled out a large, brimming bowl and handed it over.

Qian Guang took the bowl. The porridge inside was a dark purplish-black, and its pungent smell sent him into deep thought.

This thing had already lost in two out of the three categories of color, aroma, and taste. No, wait—thinking of snail noodles and stinky tofu restored his hope.

He cautiously scooped up a small spoonful and put it into his mouth. In an instant, bitterness, spiciness, sweetness, and all sorts of flavors exploded 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 flowing through his body, restoring its vitality.

Seeing that Qian Guang understood the effects of the Herbal Porridge, as well as his reluctant yet forced expression, the old man burst into laughter.

"Hahahahaha! Don't look so miserable. The herbs in there are incredibly valuable. This entire pot of porridge could buy a child like you."

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

Sure enough, it was still just as sinful.

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

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

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 again.

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, but he was still unwilling to look away.

The old man met Qian Guang's gaze for a while, then suddenly looked away. He exhaled and put on that uninhibited smile again.

"My name is Lei En. Lei En Meredith."

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