Wayfarer

Chapter 846: Primrose

Chapter 846: Primrose

Outside the city, by a small stream, Xiao Nanfeng washed up in the cool water, scrubbing away the dirt on his face and changing into a set of fresh clothes. Only then did he step back onto the bank in satisfaction.

By the bank, Yanzhi had long since finished changing as well. She looked like a delicate little doll—an absolutely adorable one. However, she had smeared some mud onto her face.

"Why dirty your face again after washing it?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed in surprise.

"My sister said that I should do so."

"You're just a little kid! Who would care about your face? Your sister's being overly cautious." Xiao Nanfeng then frowned. "But if there are perverts around... Well, forget it. Do as you please, but don't just use mud. It's dirty. We can draw a few marks on your face with plant dye instead."

Yanzhi thought for a moment before she nodded fervently. "Alright!"

"Go wash up. It's time to eat," Xiao Nanfeng continued.

Yanzhi rinsed her face in the stream before returning to join him.

"With all that storytelling earlier, we raked in a decent amount in tips. Quite a few people were staring at our wealth greedily, but we managed to slip away. No one will recognize us tomorrow now that we have new clothes," Xiao Nanfeng began.

"Mmm," Yanzhi replied, still a little shy.

"Alright, let's dig in. I know you only had a drumstick on the way here, so you must be starving." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

He unwrapped a few packages of food as they began to eat together. Yanzhi, having gone hungry for so long, devoured her fill of chicken, beef, and roast duck.

Xiao Nanfeng watched her with a mix of amusement and sympathy. "You've really had it tough, huh? Chosen one or not, you're in pretty rough shape..."

Xiao Nanfeng himself wasn't all that hungry. He had her eat her fill before he asked, "How long has it been since you last ate?"

Finally full, Yanzhi blushed. Her cheeks turned slightly red as she realized just how much she had eaten.

"Go on. Have as much as you want," Xiao Nanfeng reassured her.

"I'm full," she replied.

"What's your name, then?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Yanzhi remained silent, reluctant to answer.

"You have to keep that a secret, too?" Xiao Nanfeng was rather surprised.

Yanzhi lowered her head, not daring to respond. She frowned.

"Forget it. If you don't want to tell me, that's fine too. Where's your family?"

At the mention of her family, Yanzhi's eyes welled up with tears, which fell silently down her cheeks like pearls.

"Ah, please don't cry. I won't ask about your family anymore," Xiao Nanfeng hastily added.

Yanzhi wiped at her tears and whispered, "They're all dead."

Xiao Nanfeng fell silent, then sighed softly. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"It's alright," Yanzhi replied, attempting to put on a brave face as she wiped her tears away.

"I'm... Well, I suppose you can just call me Nanfeng," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Nanfeng?" Yanzhi frowned.

"From the looks of it, I suppose you don't have any special abilities. You can just stick with me from now on."

Yanzhi was confused by his words but understood that he was offering to let her tag along.

They sat in silence for a while before Yanzhi finally realized that he was there.

"Nanfeng? Did I wake you up?" she asked, embarrassed.

He handed her a handkerchief. "Here, wipe your tears."

She took it and turned away as she dabbed at her tears, not wanting him to see her cry.

Xiao Nanfeng wanted to comfort her, but he didn't know how. Instead, he just sat there beside her.

Yanzhi didn't know what to say, either. She felt a bit lost.

"Shall I sing you a song? Maybe it'll help you feel better," Xiao Nanfeng offered.

"Huh?" Yanzhi looked up in surprise.

"It's called Primrose. It's a song from my hometown."

Curious, Yanzhi turned to him intently.

"The evening breeze stirs the bamboo, And the moon casts long shadows Fireflies flicker, bright and small, Like silver coins spread across the hills. ♪

"Primrose in two lovers' hands, The heartbeat I hear within my chest.

Secretly longing, quietly dreaming, That scent that is our love. ♪"

Xiao Nanfeng trailed off.

Yanzhi stared at him, wide-eyed. Nanfeng had appeared in her life suddenly, out of nowhere, but seemed to know how to do a little of everything. The song was beautiful.

"Are you feeling a little better now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Yanzhi did find herself less sad than she was before. She nodded, then asked, "Could you sing it again? I'd like to learn it."

"Of course." Xiao Nanfeng didn't hesitate at all.

He'd gone to karaoke quite often back on Earth, so it was no big deal to him. Given how heartbroken this little girl was, he didn't mind singing it a second time.

After another round of Primrose, Yanzhi had somehow managed to learn it herself.

"Alright, let's get some sleep. Tomorrow, we'll have to head back into town."

"Got it!" Yanzhi nodded.

The two of them returned to the worn-down temple, each lying by a side of the wall.

Yanzhi lay awake for a while and stared at her palm, which was clutching the handkerchief he'd given her to wipe her tears with. She tucked it carefully into her pocket and gazed at Xiao Nanfeng, who was sleeping peacefully. At that moment, the fear and unease that she had carried within for days began to fade.

Though she was young, Yanzhi found that she had far deeper and more mature emotions than would be expected of someone her age.

She had shut herself off from the world and avoided everyone, but when she was most desperate and alone, a single bun had brought Xiao Nanfeng into her heart.

She had noticed his nervousness while facing those beggars earlier, but he continued to stand firm like a god come down from the heavens to help her drive them away. After that had come their street performance and daring getaway.

Somehow, she still distrusted the world at large, but she couldn't help but want to trust Xiao Nanfeng.

"Father, Mother, Brother, Sister... Did you send Nanfeng to look after me?" Yanzhi whispered, her eyes clouding over with tears again.

A tear slipped down her cheek, but a gentle smile bloomed on her lips as she finally drifted into sleep.

Outside the temple, the night breeze blew. It mingled with the sounds of crickets and frogs, and fireflies danced in the moonlight. In her dream, there was no fear or sorrow—only the warmth of her loving family, with her father's wisdom, her mother's care, her siblings' laughter, and the gentle notes of Primrose that lulled her back into that world of safety and happiness.