Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Bing Lie lowered his head, the wide-brimmed hat casting a shadow over most of his face, revealing only a pair of cold, clear eyes. His cloak billowed in the mountain wind, making a faint tearing sound. He walked along the winding forest path, the stones crunching underfoot. He rarely traveled through such places, yet the bustling activity on this mountain trail surprised him.
People came and went in a steady stream, their hurried footsteps suggesting they all had clear destinations. Vendors, porters, villagers, and even poorly equipped mercenaries mingled together, forming a flowing tide. Bing Lie slightly raised his head, scanning the surroundings and observing the expressions and directions of these people. He wondered where so many were headed.
Unfamiliar with the area, he slowed his pace. He considered asking someone for information but then noticed a peculiar scene ahead on the path.
An elderly man was frantically pushing a heavy mechanical bull. The machine was old and patched up, with various welding marks visible on its metallic surface, showing signs of multiple repairs. The bull lay stiffly on the ground as if it had lost power, yet its tail flicked back and forth animatedly, as if silently mocking its owner.
“Damn you, stupid bull! Move already!” The old man’s face was flushed with anger as he cursed while pushing against the bull’s rear and occasionally swinging a wooden stick to hit its hind legs. “I spent so much money fixing you for you to throw a tantrum here!”
The old man’s shouting drew the attention of several passersby, but no one stopped to help. They merely hurried past with indifferent expressions, as if this farce was just an unremarkable incident on the mountain path.
“Damn piece of junk! Are you waiting for me to take you apart or are you planning to get up by yourself?!” The old man’s face turned red with rage, veins throbbing on his forehead. He reached out and slapped the bull's rear in frustration, trying to get it to move. The mechanical bull remained motionless, even flicking its metal tail dismissively as if swatting away flies, pushing the old man’s hand away.
Bing Lie stood by quietly watching this comical scene; the corners of his mouth seemed to lift slightly before he quickly regained his composure. He stepped forward a couple of paces and spoke in a low voice that carried a hint of gentleness: “What’s wrong with this bull?”
Hearing the voice, the old man paused his actions and turned to look at Bing Lie. For a moment he was taken aback by the stranger in the hat but quickly huffed in irritation and helplessness: “This damn bull is lazy! I’ve repaired it several times, yet it keeps breaking down! Look at it now; it’s just lying there without moving at all!”
Bing Lie’s gaze fell on the mechanical bull as he examined it closely. Its eyes were two dark red lights lazily blinking as if expressing fatigue. The cargo strapped to its back didn’t seem too heavy but certainly wasn’t light either.
“Perhaps it’s just tired,” Bing Lie said calmly, his tone devoid of mockery—more a statement of fact.
“Tired?!” The old man exploded again at this remark, slapping the bull's rear once more. “This thing is a machine; what does it know about being tired?! This is its job!”
The mechanical bull flicked its tail, the metal tip slicing through the air with a faint whistling sound, as if protesting the old man's accusations. Bing Lie observed this scene, a meaningful glint flashing in his eyes. He extended a hand from beneath his cloak and gently patted the bull's neck, causing the metal surface to quiver slightly, as if responding to his touch.
The old man looked at Bing Lie with dissatisfaction. "What are you doing? Do you think it will get up?"
Bing Lie did not respond to the old man's curses or confusion; he simply lowered his head quietly, leaning slightly forward to rest his head against the side of the mechanical bull. His movements were gentle, as if he were listening to a sound that only he could understand. The metal casing of the bull creaked softly in the breeze, and some of the old seams were slightly loose.
The old man stood by, his brow furrowed tightly, his face clearly displaying a "Is this person crazy?" expression. He scratched his white beard, his eyes filled with bewilderment and impatience. "Hey! What are you really doing? Stop playing tricks with this broken bull!"
Bing Lie continued to ignore the old man, eyes closed, seemingly immersed in his own world. After a few seconds, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze becoming deeper. He straightened up without speaking and gradually crouched down beside the bull's right hind leg, carefully inspecting its foot.
The old man was taken aback, his brow furrowing even tighter. "Hey! You can't seriously think this broken bull can understand you, can you?" His tone was thick with disdain and confusion.
Bing Lie gently ran his hand over the mechanical bull's hind leg; the metal felt cold and rough against his fingers. However, he paused at a small gap where his fingertip slipped inside. His expression shifted slightly as he gently probed further and discovered a long iron thorn embedded in the bottom of the bull's foot.
"I see," Bing Lie murmured softly, almost inaudibly. He raised his hand and lightly patted the bull's leg as if to soothe it. "Hang in there."
Bing Lie pinched the iron thorn between his fingertips and applied slight pressure at its base; it began to loosen. His movements remained gentle, yet determination shone in his eyes. He took a deep breath, then suddenly yanked it out with a swift motion, accompanied by a faint metallic sound.
"This... how did you know it had this problem?" The old man finally spoke up, astonished and perplexed. "You can't possibly be some kind of... machine communicator?" His voice turned comical and mocking as he uttered the last few words.
Bing Lie did not answer; he simply tossed the iron thorn aside and stood up, gently patting the bull's back. The mechanical bull shook slightly as if completely relaxing, then steadied itself on all fours and emitted a low mechanical sound that seemed to carry a hint of gratitude.
The old man stared in disbelief at this scene, mumbling to himself, "I... I've never heard of any machine communicator... but this is really damn amazing!" His gaze darted back and forth between Bing Lie and the mechanical bull, filled with incredulity.
Bing Lie gently brushed off the dust from his cloak and then raised his head, his gaze calm as he looked at the old man. "It didn't want to move because it was in pain. Now it's fine."
The old man beamed with joy as he patted the metal back of the mechanical bull, producing a crisp "ding ding" sound. His hand trembled slightly with excitement as he spoke, "This is amazing, truly amazing! This stubborn bull has tormented me for an entire day, and you figured out the problem in an instant. Young man, thank you! I owe it all to you!"
Bing Lie nodded slightly, his expression composed, seemingly indifferent to the old man's gratitude. His gaze shifted toward the winding mountain path in the distance, his voice calm yet laced with curiosity. "Where does this road lead? Why are so many people heading in the same direction?"
The old man paused for a moment upon hearing this, then burst into hearty laughter, doubling over as if he had heard the greatest joke. He laughed while slapping his thigh, his eyebrows raised in mirth. "Young lad, you can't possibly not know! This is the road to Yi Yu Town!"
Bing Lie furrowed his brow slightly but continued to look at the old man with a steady gaze, waiting for further explanation.
Wiping away tears of laughter, the old man caught his breath and spoke with a hint of pride in his tone. "Yi Yu Town is currently celebrating the Heavenly Deity Festival! You couldn't have come at a better time. Every year during this period, everyone gathers in Yi Yu Town to give thanks for the protection of various deities. You see, this land has been ravaged by war; people fight fiercely against one another daily. But during the Heavenly Deity Festival, it's different. On this day, everyone sets aside their grievances for a common purpose—to seek a moment of peace amidst chaos."
His tone softened slightly, and a rare glimmer of sentiment flickered in his eyes. However, this gentle emotion lasted only a moment before he shifted gears, a shrewd glint returning to his expression. "But you know what? Crowds mean money! I'm not heading to Yi Yu Town for the Heavenly Deity Festival; ha ha! I'm going to sell noodles! It's been bustling these past few days—people are everywhere celebrating with drinks and spending money like there's no tomorrow. This is a great opportunity for business!"
As he spoke, he patted the side of the mechanical bull with pride and added with a grin, "With this stubborn bull helping me transport goods, I can take even more noodles to sell. This trip is sure to be a huge profit!"
Comment 0 Comment Count