Chapter 069 – Good Life
......
A tombstone?
Matthew was slightly taken aback. This was not in line with the burial customs of the Ainduo civilization.
However, when he saw the note behind it, he understood.
In the information provided by Samantha, it was explicitly mentioned a port city called "Mingtan". It was located on the east coast of the Endless Ocean and was a very prosperous port city.
The city lord of that city was the King of Mingtan, who was also the leader of the Su people who were among the first to cross the ocean and settle in Ainduo.
"So there is an underwater tomb near Junliu Island, and it may have been opened by someone. Otherwise, this tombstone would not have been washed here by the sea."
Matthew reasonably suspected that the tomb of King Mingtan was not far from Junliu Island, and it might even be on Junliu Island.
Because this tombstone was obviously very heavy and could not drift with the waves for a long time.
Would there be a legacy of the Way of Balance in the tomb of the leader of the Su people?
Matthew thought it was very likely.
Unfortunately, his divination skills were terrible, otherwise, he could try to get more clues.
He picked up the tombstone and continued to stroll along the beach.
These days, he had been to many places on Junliu Island, occasionally making small gains. Although they were not significant, they were all interesting.
There were shells all over the beach, and from time to time, he could find a few stranded big fish.
Matthew couldn't distinguish their species, but he knew whether they were fat or thin. He put these fish in a bag and handed them all to Oleg when he returned to the village.
Oleg was friendly and skilled. The sea fish here were already delicious. After his processing, whether steamed, boiled, smoked, or grilled, it was a feast for the taste buds.
The beach was not big.
Unconsciously, Matthew had walked to the end.
The coastline in front suddenly became rugged, and the soft sand was replaced by huge rocks.
Oleg told Matthew that the seafood in the reef area was even better when the tide receded every day.
Unfortunately, it was high tide at the moment, and the sea water could surge at any time, making the reef area relatively dangerous.
Matthew just stood on a large rock and looked out for a while.
Finally, he headed towards higher ground.
Before long.
Matthew found a large area of abandoned building traces.
The architectural style here was the same as that of "Return Village", all composed of large stone houses.
The difference was that this place had been abandoned, and in the middle of a circle of stone houses, there were a few low huts.
This was an abandoned kiln.
From the traces left on the mottled stone wall, Matthew could easily know that the Su people had once fired kilns on a large scale here.
In the warehouse next to it, there were piles of colorful pottery. These potteries were printed with lifelike animals, pots, bowls, and pans, everything.
But Matthew turned around and saw only pottery, no porcelain.
He didn't know if it was because the porcelain was more valuable and had been taken away, or they simply couldn't reproduce the porcelain-making technology here.
Even so, the craftsmanship of the Su people was much better than that of the craftsmen in Rolling Stone Town.
Since it was an abandoned kiln, Matthew simply took two sets of pottery and walked away. He would ask Oleg later if he needed to pay for it.
Leaving the abandoned kiln.
Matthew continued to walk up the mountain, but after only a few steps, his footsteps suddenly stopped.
His perception was slightly disturbed.
Matthew looked back and found a low plant on the hillside behind the abandoned kiln.
The plant seemed to have been struck by lightning, its branches and leaves were charred, and it seemed to die at any time.
But Matthew felt a vigorous vitality from it!
......
"Prompt: You have found a tea tree (High Mountain Green Tea) (Lightning Strike State)"
......
Is it green tea?
Matthew was overjoyed.
He hurried over and found seven more tea trees behind the lightning-struck tea tree.
The last seven tea trees were full of tea leaves. Judging from their shape and texture, it was a bit too old to pick them now.
Matthew picked some tea leaves and brought them back to the village.
He boiled a pot of hot water with the newly acquired pottery, made himself a cup of steaming green tea, and after a while, he took a few sips.
A long-lost freshness surged to his forehead.
......
"Prompt: You have consumed a cup of blessed high mountain green tea, your temporary focus +1, learning speed and casting speed both increased by 15% (lasts 45 minutes)"
......
"Blessed green tea? Whose blessing?"
Matthew was a bit curious.
This enhancement effect was much stronger than the coffee he usually drank.
There was actually tea in Ainduo, but most of it was black tea, and there was very little green tea that Matthew liked.
After a cup of hot tea, Matthew had already started to plan for those tea trees.
In the afternoon.
Matthew found Oleg and talked to him about pottery and tea trees.
Regarding the former, Oleg said that they were made by the Su people in the village many years ago. For some magical reasons, their aging speed was greatly slowed down. Matthew could take some for free, but he could not use them for personal gain, otherwise, these potteries would soon be damaged.
This was also the reason why the young people on the island did not take these potteries when they left.
As for the tea trees.
Oleg's reaction was a blank face. It wasn't until Matthew took out the tea leaves to show him and described the exact location of the tea trees that he reacted:
"You mean those low trees? Are those considered tea leaves?"
Matthew nodded.
Oleg sighed and said:
"Sorry, I'm afraid even Pearl and the other old people in the village don't know the effects of these trees. Maybe the village chief knows, but he didn't take care of them when he was alive."
"The Su people on Junliu Island have forgotten too many things. At this rate, they will probably soon forget themselves."
"Perhaps it's because they don't belong here, and their drifting here was merely an accident—I'm grateful for this accident, though. Without it, I wouldn't have had the chance to meet my beloved."
He then suggested that if Matthew was interested and capable, he could transplant those trees.
The elders in the village wouldn't stop him.
Matthew was naturally delighted to get permission, but he quickly inquired about Pearl's condition.
He had visited the old woman occasionally over the past two days, and the conclusion he drew was not optimistic. She seemed to be on the verge of passing away at any moment.
However, Olgen's attitude was very positive.
He said with a smile:
"She's been in good spirits these days. I think she'll maintain this state at least until the Lantern Festival."
Matthew sensed other meanings in Olgen's laughter.
So he gently patted Olgen's back.
Then he went back to his room to study spells.
……
Two days later.
The Lantern Festival arrived as scheduled.
On this day, a red lantern was hung in front of every inhabited stone house on the island, adding a festive atmosphere.
Matthew noticed that even the old man who had ignored him on his first day here had hung a lantern at his door.
He went over to greet him, and to his surprise, the old man responded with a faint smile on his face.
You see, Matthew had greeted all the elders in the village over the past few days. Perhaps because he was one of the few young people in the village, the elders were all very kind to him, except for this one who had always ignored him.
Matthew had thought that the old man was mentally ill or mute, but he was surprised to get a response today.
He immediately started chatting with the old man, who responded even more enthusiastically.
The old man patiently told Matthew about their previous fishing trips. Later in the conversation, the old man even told Matthew that he would take him out to sea when the weather was good.
The entire conversation was logically sound, but the contrast between the old man's previous and current attitudes was surprising.
On the day of the Lantern Festival.
Matthew had both his meals at the old couple's house.
Contrary to usual, Pearl not only dressed up beautifully today, but her mood also seemed very high.
On the other hand, the usually enthusiastic Olgen was silent, and even cut his finger twice while chopping vegetables. The bleeding wouldn't stop, but luckily Matthew had some hemostatic ointment with him.
The minor incident quickly passed.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was harmonious.
But Matthew had already realized what was about to happen.
Sure enough, in the evening, Olgen found him:
"Let's go to the eastern beach. The real Lantern Festival is about to begin."
Matthew noticed that he was holding an oval pottery instrument with many holes in it.
It was a musical instrument called a Xun.
Matthew didn't say anything, but followed Olgen to the eastern beach. This place was adjacent to the easternmost cliff, where a large number of seabirds were hovering in the sky. They often built their nests on the cliffs to avoid attacks from enemies like snakes.
The two of them found a rock to sit on, with the tide gently lapping at the sand beneath their feet.
As dusk fell and twilight passed, bright lights began to appear in the forest by the shore.
Those were the elders, each carrying a large red lantern.
They looked frail, but their steps were firm.
They walked slowly, but their eyes were determined, and their faces bore calm smiles.
The first to walk was the old man who had always ignored Matthew, but had invited him to go fishing today.
The old man walked past Matthew with his lantern, and even smiled at him:
"I've finally waited for this day, haven't I? I'm about to return to my homeland, where the grasslands are full of fragrance. I can't wait."
With that, he was the first to walk into the sea with his lantern.
The sea lapped gently against the old man's body, and his steps began to falter, but his direction remained firm.
He was heading east, into the sea.
The waves roared, and the seabirds fell silent.
Gradually, the old man's figure completely disappeared from Matthew's sight.
He didn't know whether the old man was swept away by the sea, swallowed by the darkness, or, as he had said, able to return to his homeland.
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After that, one by one, the dying elders walked out of the forest.
Their expressions were calm, some with tears in their eyes, some with longing in their gaze, but all shared a deep yearning for the east.
One by one, they walked into the sea.
And like the first old man, they disappeared without a trace.
Not long after.
Pearl came over, dressed in her most dazzling clothes, with a faint smile on her face.
As she passed the rock, she put down her lantern, embraced Olgen, and nodded at Matthew.
"You don't have to be sad. For us, this is more like a release.
We were born with an infinite longing for our homeland, but the feeling of longing and not getting has tortured us for a lifetime.
I can't go back, I can't go back, I can't return to that continent in my lifetime.
But my father and mother, my grandparents, my brothers and sisters, they are all waiting for me there.
I'm going back, I'm going back, my hometown, my dream hometown……"
Pearl carried her lantern and sang an unknown tune in a dreamy tone.
Low sobbing sounds echoed on the beach, as if someone was crying out loud.
Matthew knew it was Olgen playing the Xun.
A faint sorrow welled up in his heart.
He watched as Pearl's figure also disappeared into the waves.
A wave of heat rolled in his eyes.
"Hey, Matthew, why are you crying?"
Ella poked her little head out of his chest and asked.
Matthew shook his head, not completely denying it:
"The sea breeze is too strong, it reminds me of home."
At this moment, he finally understood.
The decline of the wandering Su people was inevitable.
The young ones shed their burdens and integrated into the local life.
While the elders, unable to return to the other side of the sea, could only be buried at the bottom of the sea.
Facing the east until death.
In a few years, when the last elder walks towards the sea with a lantern, Junliu Island will become a deserted island, and the story of the Su people will gradually become a legend.
They don't belong here, it's time to leave.
The sound of Oergen's flute gradually faded.
But Matthew suddenly felt enveloped by a large mass of darkness, in the boundless space-time, he seemed to have lost control of his body.
For a moment, he broke out in a cold sweat.
But when he came back to his senses, he found that nothing had happened around him.
Only the data bar faithfully recorded everything.
……
"Prompt: You have witnessed the entire process of the Yuan Lantern Festival, your knowledge +50 (Su people);
You have received the imprint of the Yuan Lantern Festival, Su people's friendliness +10;
……
Warning: You have exempted the charm from the bottom of the sea, will +1.
After successfully exempting high-difficulty charm multiple times in a row, you automatically mastered a new ability: Immovable Rock.
Immovable Rock: After entering this state, you will gain a strong ability to resist any mental attacks (including charm, fear, deterrence, bluff, song, mental piercing, etc.).
At the same time, your thinking speed and speaking speed will become one-tenth of the usual, please use this ability carefully."
……
Before he had time to check his new ability, Matthew was taken aback.
He didn't expect that what Xuan Kunzi said was almost right, the Su people entered the sea not because of a curse, but because of charm!
Where does this charm come from?
What creature is hidden in the vast sea, calling the Su people?
What will the charmed Su people eventually become?
Matthew had no answers to these questions.
He was just a little scared, he didn't expect that participating in the Yuan Lantern Festival ceremony was so dangerous, fortunately, his ability to resist charm was full, and his calm mind and super high will were enough to give him a legendary resistance ability!
"I need to be more careful in the future, not only the ceremony, but also related to the festival."
"But why didn't anything happen to Oergen? He should have participated in the Yuan Lantern Festival several times, could it be that this charm only targets the Su people? Then what's going on with me?"
After some puzzling thoughts, Matthew finally couldn't help but glance at his new ability, and he was quite satisfied in his heart.
The excellence of the rock lies in the all-round enhancement of mental resistance.
A calm mind can only resist charm, and its application is still a bit narrow.
The only problem is that he has never tried to slow down his thinking, it seems that he needs to practice for a while, otherwise, if he uses it temporarily, he is likely to make mistakes.
At this time, Oergen, with tear stains on his face, came over with his flute.
"Child, you have witnessed the entire process of the Yuan Lantern Festival, in the tradition of the Su people, you are one of us from now on."
Oergen's voice was very low, and it was clear that he was forcing himself to speak:
"I'm sorry that the pearl deceived you before, the path of balance has not been completely cut off, the last balance messenger still has a relative in the world, his grandson, named Yu Lian. You can find him in the casino in Kordo City on the north shore. Take the letter from Li Witchy with you, he might be willing to help you."
Matthew frowned and asked:
"So, he's a gambler?"
Oergen's tone became a bit gentler:
"No, he's the boss of the casino."
……
Two days later, north of the Gold Coast, Kordo City.
"Good Life" Casino.
As night fell, the casino was bustling with people.
A dwarf wearing heavy armor that was clearly not in proportion to her body size, carrying a huge backpack, and wearing a beret, walked through the crowd of gamblers.
She was only a bit taller than the gambling table, and even if she stood on her toes, she might not be able to see all the contents on the table.
The waiters who were coming and going almost bumped into her several times.
But she magically resolved them all.
Despite her large size, she moved through the crowd as if she was stealthy, and no one noticed her.
The dwarf crossed the hall and came to a large black door guarded by guards.
At this moment, there was a line of people on the right front, and the receptionist was a slender woman with raised eyebrows.
She did see the dwarf, but quickly ignored her.
"Yu Lian, come out!"
The dwarf made a childish voice, she seemed quite angry, and started pushing the tall figure in front of her:
"Make way! Make way! Mage, I'm not cutting in line, I'm going to blow up this casino."
"If you can still take advice, either cast a few 'Explosion Protection' on yourself, or leave here immediately."
Although the dwarf's voice was childish, it was full of energy, and everyone near the door heard it.
Everyone was stunned for about three or four seconds, and then burst into laughter!
The tall man turned around, he didn't see anyone at first, and after a while, he followed the gaze of the people around him and lowered his head, only then did he find the target of his conversation.
"Uh, hello sir, are you talking to me? Huh? Are you a dwarf?"
The mage's eyes were full of interest, as if it was the first time he had encountered such a mini-sized race.
However, the dwarf's eyes immediately became very fierce.
She said expressionlessly:
"Mage! You are in great danger now, I can add you to the revenge list at any time!
To prevent you from dying inexplicably, I must inform you of a few things.
First, I'm not a sir, I'm a lady, is that hard to see?"Matthew was taken aback.
His gaze swept over the other's unremarkable chest, then followed up the neck tightly wrapped in iron.
Short hair, big eyes under the helmet.
Indeed, it wasn't easy to distinguish.
"Secondly, I'm not a dwarf, I'm just naturally short!
As a mage, you're unqualified and impolite.
If you don't know how to distinguish between humans and dwarfs, then I suggest you go study anthropology, and learn about human anatomy, to avoid embarrassing yourself or even causing trouble in the future!
Now, do you understand?"
The short person, though small in stature, spoke with great momentum.
Matthew realized his oversight and sincerely apologized:
"I'm sorry, I was short-sighted."
"It's okay, you don't have to apologize to me."
The short person still had a cool expression:
"Firstly, there are many shallow people like you, I encounter them almost every day.
Secondly, whether you apologize or not, you're already on my grudge list, and I might retaliate against you at any moment, so there's no need for you to apologize now."
With that said.
Her gaze began to shift to the group of gamblers and guards who were enjoying the spectacle.
"Lastly, you fools who take pleasure in other's misfortune, never underestimate the destructive power of a vengeful 'Mechanic'."
"I'm serious, Reaper, come out!"
The guards began to realize the seriousness of the situation.
As the gamblers retreated, they also surged forward.
A helpless expression appeared on the short person's face:
"I knew it, without showing some tricks, I always have to deal with these small fry."
"Make a fuss, show them some colors!"
With that.
Two clockwork birds quickly crawled out of the package on her back.
Chirp chirp!
The two birds automatically wound up, and suddenly flew towards the guards!
……
(End of the chapter)