Bloodstained

X776, Fairy Tail

Three years had passed since Lei En found Qian Guang. He had reached the age to attend middle school, but unfortunately, this world did not have middle school. How enviable—after all, middle school was when the pressure of studying began. He had shot up in height and was already five feet tall, completely surpassing the old man.

Over those three years, his magic power had steadily grown. Through books, Yang Qian was no longer a complete novice when it came to magic, and he had learned that the old man had merely been too stubborn to admit it. He was far more talented than the old man.

Still, the old man truly was an impressive mage. As for combat power... he might have only been better at using medicine.

But Qian Guang, who had studied traditional Chinese medicine in his previous life since elementary school, was no slouch either. Under the old man's guidance, he had learned to recognize most herbs. Some of his previous life's concepts of Chinese medicine had even astonished the old man, who kept saying, "You were born to study medicine. I really picked up a little monster."

"Brother Qian Guang!!!"

Qian Guang heard Roundy's voice from far away. Three years had passed, and the little girl had grown into a big girl. She was holding her sister Sweetie's hand and shouting in the distance. Hearing her energetic voice, the villagers all looked at her with fond smiles.

"Hey, little girl, you're so attached to your Brother Qian Guang. What'll happen when you grow up?"

"Hmph, Blacksmith Uncle, you talk too much."

After saying that, Roundy ignored the blacksmith's teasing and dragged Sweetie over to Qian Guang.

"Puff, puff, puff."

"Slow down. Why are you running so fast? Sweetie can't even keep up."

Seeing Roundy panting from running too quickly, Qian Guang fondly rubbed her little head and greeted Sweetie beside her.

Sweetie looked at the handsome Qian Guang. Her hands twisted together, her face flushed red, and she spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito's, "It's okay. I can do it." (u‿ฺu✿)

Ah, she was too gentle. She was exactly the sort who, even after being bullied, would look at you with reddened eyes and ask what she had done wrong, saying she could change.

"Brother Qian Guang! Are you going up the mountain?" Roundy asked, looking at the basket and small knife on his back.

"Yeah, I was just planning to gather some herbs."

"Brother Qian Guang! Did you forget what day it is today?"

"Uh..." Qian Guang was speechless when he heard that. He really had no idea.

"The third anniversary of you stopping wetting the bed?"

"Ah, I hate you! m9(｀д´)!!!!" Roundy's face immediately turned red at Qian Guang's teasing. Sweetie beside her could not stop herself from laughing. After all, the little girl had still wet the bed when she was four.

"Hmph, Dad, Mom, and I are going to the city to have fun today."

Hearing that, Qian Guang finally remembered. A merchant had previously passed through the village and gotten lost. He needed someone to act as both guard and guide, and he had taken a liking to Uncle Daina, wanting to hire him.

The village also happened to need some supplies from the city. Since Daina could take his wife and daughter along for a trip, he happily agreed.

"Oh, I remember now. So it's the little girl's anniversary of going to the city. When are you leaving? You won't be gone for too long, right? You won't forget your Brother Qian Guang, will you?"

Qian Guang pretended to be heartbroken and wiped away tears that did not exist.

The little girl immediately panicked. "No, no! I'll only be gone for a month, then I'll come back. I'll bring you gifts and tasty food."

A month? It seemed Uncle Daina planned to take his little tagalong on a honeymoon delayed by seven years. The merchant's city was not far away. Thinking that, Qian Guang looked at Roundy strangely.

Would anyone really take a little girl on their honeymoon? She must have insisted on going.

Seeing the excitement in the little girl's eyes, Qian Guang knew he had guessed right.

Qian Guang rubbed her head again. "When you come back, I'll make you Hundred-Herb Soup. It'll taste much better than Grandpa's."

The little girl swallowed. She had tasted it once before, and it was truly delicious. Sweetie beside her swallowed too, her face turning even redder.

Meanwhile, at Daina's house—

Daina cried as he packed his luggage.

"Waaah, waaah, waaah! Honey, my honeymoon! Why did that girl hear about it? I even asked Old Master Lei En to keep it secret."

"Come on, it'll be interesting too, won't it?" Buma looked at her husband gently from the side.

"Damn it!"

By the time Qian Guang returned to the cave from three years ago, the sky had already darkened.

Qian Guang lit a fire, took out his dry rations, and slowly ate.

Looking at the flames before him, Qian Guang's memories seemed to return to the black Hundred-Herb Soup he had eaten three years ago. It had truly been awful, even worse than the pancake in his hand.

Even so, Qian Guang's face was full of smiles, and his eyes were filled with tenderness.

After arriving in the world of Fairy Tail, it was not as if Qian Guang had never wanted to visit Fairy Tail. He had even asked Grandpa about it. Only then did he learn that Grandpa had once adventured with Makarov. Grandpa had said that if he wanted to go, he could even write him a letter of recommendation.

Did joining Fairy Tail really require a recommendation letter? Wasn't "human trafficker" Makarov always abducting people everywhere? In that regard, the two old men were exactly alike. Did all old people like children?

But Qian Guang had refused. One reason was that the plot had not begun yet, but more importantly, he wanted to spend more time with Grandpa. Even if he truly went to Fairy Tail someday, it would not be now. At the very least, he had to teach the old man how to cook first. How could the old man eat food that terrifying?

He really was an idiot. When he was young, he had probably been a hot-blooded idiot too.

"This is incredible! I never saw a colorful lingzhi in my previous life. I've really broadened my horizons."

Deep in the forest, Qian Guang found a Seven-Colored Lingzhi he had previously seen only in books. The deadly poison within it was simply essential for killing and poisoning. Even after being ground into powder, it remained colorful, and inhaling it would slowly corrode the target's magic power.

"Ah, I've already been out for three days. Roundy should have arrived in the city by now. I'll return to the cave and head home first thing tomorrow morning."

The empty basket he had carried out was now packed full with all kinds of herbs, along with a bear paw. The other one was already in his stomach.

"A little boy, with a basket on his back, goes picking herbs, unafraid of wind and rain..."

Qian Guang sang his altered lyrics as he skipped toward home.

In the village, the lively and peaceful scene of the past was gone. Only flames filled the sky, accompanied by the wild laughter of bandits.

The old man's small body lay in a pool of blood. One hand reached into his chest and tightly clutched a letter. His eyes were dull as he muttered, "Qian Guang, don't come back. Go... go as far away as you can. I'm sorry. Grandpa broke his promise. I can't stay with you anymore. You eat so much, so make sure you don't go hungry. Makarov, take care of my grandson..."

The old man's voice grew quieter and quieter. Though no sound came out, he continued giving instructions until the light in his eyes slowly faded.

Qian Guang's heart suddenly clenched. A terrible premonition surged through him, exactly like when his grandfather had left in his previous life.

"No, no, no! It can't be!"

Qian Guang clutched his chest and ran in terror.

Before dawn the next day—

Qian Guang stood there, panting heavily, at the place where he had once been. The distant village was still burning endlessly.

"Grandpa!"

Qian Guang's eyes nearly split apart as he ran toward the village like a madman.

Standing at the village entrance, there was none of the usual liveliness. There was only the roar of raging flames, and everything before his eyes was blood-red.

Qian Guang walked forward numbly. The expression on his face had already collapsed. Bloody tears ran from his eyes, yet he did not notice.

He saw Grandma Hua's most treasured flowers dyed crimson with blood. Blacksmith Uncle no longer had his usual booming voice and lay there quietly. If only the ground beneath him had not been red with blood. Sweetie, who usually greeted him gently with a blushing face, finally faced him with a pale complexion. But he still preferred that little girl with rosy cheeks.

In the end, Qian Guang stopped before a pool of blood. The blood on the ground had already congealed. A small body lay there, its mouth seemingly still trying to say something.

"Ah!!!!"

Qian Guang broke down.

"Oh? There's still a little brat who slipped away."

A strange, disgusting voice rang out.