Stranger Danger

Chapter 600: Welcoming A New Spring

The Age Ender loved to appear when it was time for the new to replace the old. It eliminated the old filth tainting the human world and welcomed the new age. It enjoyed basking in that one vigorous, hopeful moment where the old faded into the past, and the new entered the present.

Therefore, the Age Ender didn’t hurt humans unless they hurt it first. In fact, most people couldn’t see the Age Ender unless they possessed an exceptionally strong spirit.

The Age Ender would gladly eliminate the old filth, misfortune, darkness and more inauspicious things polluting the human world. This allowed the humans to welcome a new year clean and refreshed. This was why the saying, “Out with the old, in with the new. A bright new year awaits us all,” existed.

Any location where the Age Ender visited would usually experience a smooth, prosperous new year. The people would enjoy a healthy, peaceful and happy life.

This was why most people viewed the Age Ender as an auspicious beast.

Of course, the Age Ender itself was a Stranger full of taint and corruption. It was a bad idea to look at it directly. That was why Ye Qing took a mental blow earlier.

“Why would the Age Ender appear in Bei You?” Ye Qing asked curiously.

Yi Pin shrugged. “Who knows? It’s not like I can read its mind. You though, I can tell you dislike this place. Your face says it all. You think it’s beneath you, don’t you?”

“Why are you slandering me?” Ye Qing rolled his eyes. Did he eat something wrong today? He’s been attacking me every two or three sentences!

Yi Pin was right though. The Age Ender was a powerful, mysterious Stranger. No one except the Age Ender itself knew why it had appeared in Bei You.

“The Age Ender started appearing in Bei You three years ago. Since then, it had not stopped appearing during the moment when the old year passed, and the new year arrived. No one knows when it’ll leave.”

Yi Pin explained even though Ye Qing hadn’t asked anything. “By the way, the moment is almost upon us. Don’t blink, or you’ll surely regret it!”

A short while later, the Age Ender suddenly waved its hands, and the clouds in the sky soundlessly dissipated into nothing. As the night sky cleared, it felt as if a gentle breeze was passing through Bei You. Ye Qing’s demonic thought told him that some sort of darkness had been lifted from the city, and he felt unburdened even though he couldn’t tell exactly what he was relieved from.

It was at this moment countless bizarre images began appearing in the sky. It looked like a reflection of the mortal coil. It was blurry, indistinct, and shrouded in darkness, however. It also gave off an old, almost rotten feeling.

Suddenly, the sound of a drum broke the night’s silence.

It was loud and crisp as if it had taken place right next to one’s ears and heart. And yet, most people couldn’t hear it at all.

The sound reached all the way to the sky and awakened the good in humanity.

The blurry, indistinct images in the sky abruptly shattered, and a single ray of light cut through the pitch black sky like a sword.

It was a stunning sight. It was a sight filled with beauty, hopefulness and life.

The light slowly spread apart and became intertwined with the darkness. It seemed to symbolize the cycle of yin and yang; life and death.

Exist in darkness, but yearn for the light.

When light replaced the darkness and enveloped the Age Ender, it began emitting dazzling, rainbow light from its whole body. It was more colorful than fireworks and brighter than the sun itself.

Rainbow light filled the sky and descended onto the world, dyeing it in fantastical dream-like colors.

“It’s spectacular!” Ye Qing murmured. It was a true shame that the average person couldn’t see this.

“The new replaces the old, and all things are renewed. This is the mortal vigor and numerology of all things when the Age Ender basks in this moment,” Yi Pin said distractedly.

The unusual phenomenon in the sky lasted a dozen or so breaths before it finally disappeared.

The Age Ender stood in the sky and gazed downward on humanity when the light faded completely.

Then, white snow the size of goose feathers began falling earnestly.

The snow wasn’t particularly huge or cold, but it was most celebratory.

“It’s snowing!”

“It’s snowing!”

Delighted cheers and happy cries erupted from outside the courtyard.

“They say that a timely snow promises a good harvest.”

Yi Pin looked at Ye Qing and raised his wine cup for a toast. “Happy new year, brother. I wish you safe tidings on your journey.”

Ye Qing returned the gesture. “I wish you a healthy life as well, brother. Happy new year.”

Out with the old, in with the new.

A new year begins, and spring warms every heart.

May your friends prosper and thrive,

May your family be safe and healthy,

And may humanity enjoy peace for years to come.

......

“We’ve arrived at Celestial Spring. Please have a good rest, everyone. We’ll be home once we’re through here.”

A dark-skinned, muscular man looked at the oasis in front of him, a relieved smile spreading across his dusty face.

It was mid winter, but the man was only wearing a thin singlet. His arm muscles oozed with strength and vigor.

“We’re finally home... This trip took over half a year, didn’t it? It’s been a long time since I had a taste of our local wine. I can’t wait!”

“Wine? I think you really miss the women of our brothels!”

“Hehe. Like you don’t?”

“Of course I do, but I miss my wife even more. I wonder how she’s been in the past year?”

“Hehe... Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Yao Chong, but if your wife ran off with another during the half a year you were gone...”

“Fuck you! My wife is as loyal as she gets! Besides, she’s old and faded. Who on earth would set their sights on her?”

“You did, didn’t you?”

“Fine! I’m blind! You happy?”

“Well, you’re a wealthy man now. You have the option to get a new wife if you want to.”

The brawny man leading the group immediately looked back with a stern expression. “Sun Bo, I don’t care that you’re an amoral man, but don’t you dare corrupt Yao Chong. Yao Chong, Yue Gui is a good woman. Her looks may be average, but she’s gentle, wise, kind, hardworking, and filial to boot. While you were gone, she had to take care of your mother and the house all by herself. It’s no easy task. You better not let her down, or you will regret it.”

“I won’t, boss. You know how I am. We made it big this time, and this trip was quite tiring. I’m definitely going to stay at home and keep Yue Gui company for a while,” Yao Chong replied while scratching his head.

The brawny man nodded and looked at Sun Bo, the guy who tried to tease Yao Chong earlier. He was a scrawny guy with a handsome, almost feminine face, though his years on the road had toughened his skin and given him a bit of manliness.

“Sun Bo, you’re getting on the years as well. Stop frequenting brothels and wasting away your life and money. Now that you have some ingots in your pockets, you should find yourself a wife and lead a proper life.”

“I want to, but if I’m wed, then what will happen to my Little Red[1], Little Green, Chun Xiang and Piao Xue? They’d be heartbroken!” Sun Bo shrugged with a “What can I do?” expression.

“Oh, you...” The brawny man shook his head. There was nothing he could say that could change the young man’s mind.

Sun Bo urged his horse to move next to the brawny man before asking, “What about you, boss? Home’s just a stone’s throw away. What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking about my Niu Niu. It’s been over half a year since we met. I wonder if she ate well and how much taller she’s become since I last saw her... and I wonder if she’ll still recognize me after so long.”

The brawny man’s tough, hardened features softened as he spoke of his daughter. There was a hint of worry and fear as well. “She was just a wee girl when I left her. She couldn’t even walk properly at the time.”

Yao Chong consoled him, “We made a lot of money this time, boss. You can stay at home and keep Niu Niu company for a long time to come.”

“Yeah, boss,” Sun Bo echoed in agreement.

A middle-aged man with a weary expression sighed sorrowfully as if the talk of family brought up memories he didn’t want to recall. “Sigh... I can’t believe that only we returned from this trip. Old Zhong, Old Wang, Young An... they’re gone forever.”

The easy atmosphere immediately turned somewhat heavy and sorrowful.

1. Little Red secretly the MC of this novel. Her wiles spread far and wide. ☜