Chapter 20: A Tangled Past

After sitting in silence for quite a while, Xu Mingsong finally let go of the pillow.

Ming clicked his tongue in amazement—this kid, the moment he woke up, displayed two completely opposite states: one of vibrant energy, the other of utter lethargy. It was as if he had both fully rested and not rested at all.

“You’re a strange one, aren’t you?”

Ming lifted his hind leg to scratch his chin, speechless. “After you passed out last night, I went through the newcomer’s manual, then read most of the ‘Awakener’s Guide.’ It contains some descriptions about elements and awakening, but your case… it’s really quite novel.”

“What do you mean by ‘novel’?” Xu Mingsong propped himself up.

Ming rolled his eyes. “Of course, you passed out right in the middle of sensing the element.”

She jumped onto Xu Mingsong’s lap.

“But I guess there’s a possibility… the book mentioned that some gifted individuals can perceive an excess of elements during the awakening process. All those elements flood their senses, and since a newcomer’s capacity is limited, it naturally overwhelms them, making them lethargic.”

“I think you might be an advanced case of lethargy—you were overwhelmed to the point of passing out.”

She chuckled softly. “Young people really need to exercise some restraint.”

Xu Mingsong’s forehead twitched with exasperation.

“I didn’t pass out. I had a… strange dream.”

“You dreamt too?”

“A battle.”

Xu Mingsong ground his teeth. “In the dream, I fought in an arena. If you don’t fight, you can’t survive!”

“Huh?” Ming looked bewildered.

She waited a moment, but Xu Mingsong didn’t say any more.

She flicked her tail, clearly annoyed.

Xu Mingsong’s gaze shifted to the bedside table, where a thick book, almost the size of a dictionary, lay open. “You read all night?”

“Yeah.”

Ming glanced at the books, then said matter-of-factly, “I’m not tired, nor do I need to eat or rest. Since I have nothing better to do and you rarely find time to read, I figured I’d help by reading some for you. After all, you only ever ask me when you need help.”

If even I don’t understand, who else can teach you?

She didn’t say that aloud.

Ming slapped the spine of the book, closing it.

“But let me be clear: I’m just helping you bridge the gap. You’ll have to finish reading the book yourself eventually. Otherwise, if we ever get separated, how will you manage? You’d be utterly lost!”

Xu Mingsong’s lips twitched; he thought to himself that Ming the Cat had a surprisingly soft heart.

Thank you, Cat Squad.

Xu Mingsong got out of bed, his legs still trembling.

Ming hesitated, “So last night, about the elemental perception initiation…”

Xu Mingsong nodded slightly. “Water element.”

“Oh, it’s water?”

Before drifting off, Xu Mingsong had encountered an overwhelming amount of water elements—literally so much water element that it knocked him out and swept him into the dream, where he endured six hours of brutal punishment from Yan!

In the corner of the bedroom, the guitar lay silently.

After freshening up, Xu Mingsong glanced at it, his emotions complicated as he sat down and picked up the cheap guitar he had earned from part-time work, playing quietly for a long while.

He had been reckless and proud in his youth, loudly scoffing, “Why do I need to learn theory to play guitar? I just start playing ‘Fight Nichibana’! Can you play these if you just study theory?” Then he’d munch on fried rice and suddenly say, “Ah, chord construction is really interesting.” But those days were long gone. Now, he was just a foolish high school junior.

“Not bad,” Ming quietly said, listening.

“Really? I haven’t played this guitar in a while,” Xu Mingsong replied without looking up.

Ming teased, “Ha, I thought you played it every day, just hanging it on your wall.”

“I played more in elementary and middle school, studied a bit of music theory later, but in high school, who has the time? I barely have time to do practice problems…”

Xu Mingsong shook his head with a sigh, sounding a little wistful. “Hmph, I probably won’t have any time to play anymore.”

Ming remained silent. Xu Mingsong stopped playing, packed the guitar away, and hung it in the corner.

Only after finishing these tasks did Ming speak again. “By the way, I just checked your messages. Your test seems to have been delayed a bit. That guy named Yuan Jing told you to come tomorrow. It’s Saturday now, so you can rest a little. Anything you want to do?”

Xu Mingsong thought for a moment. “Actually, yes.”

He grabbed his phone and quickly typed a message to Zhu Ming, then sent a text to “Mei Qianyu” in his contacts, asking her out.

Ming squinted, frustrated. “You just want to chase girls?”

“It’s important!” Xu Mingsong retorted.

He admitted, “I told you, I’m experiencing auditory hallucinations.”

“You’re still hung up on that dream?” Ming sounded disinterested.

“You say it’s just a dream, but it’s a bit unsettling…” Xu Mingsong rubbed his chin, and as he thought, a certain female warrior came to mind, his expression subtly changing.

“Someone once told me I had auditory hallucinations as a kid. She said I used to say someone was calling me ‘brother.’ That matches up, right? But I don’t really remember it…” He paused, “So I want to ask her about it. What exactly happened?”

This guy—he might be lousy at many things, but his memory was surprisingly good, and he was a bit crafty too.

Upon hearing this, Ming’s eyes darkened with subtle meaning.

She looked coldly at this adolescent male in the throes of youthful infatuation—a so-called pubescent male ape—snorted with disdain, flicked her tail at him, and tapped him sharply to snap him out of it.

“If you’re still persistent, then go and listen.”

That’s what I thought!

Today, this kid was all about shaving razors and facial cleansers, not just washing up but even washing his hair… Seems like he’s waiting here for someone!

Just then, Xu Mingsong’s phone buzzed.

---

In the chat window, the audacious challenge from the little rascal got a reply from the female warrior. It was like a decisive battle atop the Purple Forbidden Peak—both sides sharpening their blades, thunder and fire clashing, the Tower Subduing River Demon, the air thick with gunpowder scent, eager to rush to the battlefield.

Ming watched the whole thing.

On the bus, he saw Xu Mingsong suddenly slap his head, muttering about “forgetting things as usual,” then pulling out his phone to reveal the shameful antics of an otaku playing a second-tier game.

That game was also about monsters!

Just seeing the login screen, Ming rolled her eyes. Damn it, it featured a few voluptuous monster girls as mascots. Clicking in, it was yet another gacha game, but with the theme of anthropomorphized monsters… No wonder he hesitated when asked about his XP! Turns out his wife really is a monster girl?!

And then…

“I’m here—”

On the phone, a girl’s excited shout came through. Ming’s eyes darkened as she looked over; Mei Qianyu was standing across the street, her high ponytail undone and replaced with twin ponytails… Oh, so she does know how to dress up and keep things fresh.

Even on weekends, the durable high school uniform remained the first choice for young men and women heading out.

They picked a fast-food restaurant to sit down. Xu Mingsong immediately faced Mei Qianyu’s relentless questioning. She was very displeased about his sudden disappearance two days ago and his absence yesterday.

“So, you came looking for me at my place?”

Xu Mingsong averted his gaze coolly.

He buried his head, sipping his watermelon juice, which tasted sweet.

This wasn’t right!

Old Xu didn’t even tell me!

Mei Qianyu propped her cheek with one hand and flicked his forehead with the other, hitting the exact spot between his brows before shaking her head in dissatisfaction.

The flaw was fleeting. This little rascal missed it, but the female warrior wouldn’t give him a chance to escape her pursuit!

As for Xu Mingsong’s recent experiences, he explained them under the guise of “acting bravely,” igniting the girl’s curiosity and gossip.

Luckily, he was a natural storyteller.

What monsters? I don’t know anything about that!

It was just a girl who fainted by the roadside. A considerate young man helped her and eased her headache, then got caught up in a series of complicated extortion attempts, finally escaping unscathed.

Mei Qianyu believed the story.

Until Xu Mingsong brought up “the past.”

“Your auditory hallucinations?”

The girl lifted her head, twirling strands of hair from her right ponytail around her slender fingers, showing a thoughtful expression.

“I told you before, and you didn’t believe me. Now who has the worse memory?”

“The little thief admits his mistake. I hope the female warrior will teach me.”

To recognize one’s errors is the greatest virtue!

She said, “But if you want too many details, you’ll be disappointed. You’re the one who had the hallucinations, not me. I just know because you told me… And you probably told others too. Some of your friends should remember.”

Xu Mingsong pressed, “Any other details?”

“Details… do you dream?”

“Yes! Dreams!” Xu Mingsong perked up.

“You said you often see a little girl in your dreams, holding your hand, calling you ‘brother.’”

“You told many people about this, not just me. If you still have contact with your elementary school friends, ask them; they might remember.”

So that’s it!

For some reason, Xu Mingsong’s heartbeat quickened. His throat felt dry as he said, “But I have no memory of this… until recently, I started hearing the voice again. She still calls me ‘brother,’ but I don’t see her… I only see fog.”

Ming glanced his way and frowned.

Mei Qianyu pondered, then suddenly looked displeased.

“Oh, I remember. You said—the little girl was very pretty.”

“Ah?”

Xu Mingsong felt a sudden sense of crisis.

She gritted her teeth. “Back then, we were in elementary school. You told me you had an adorable little sister who was cuter than me… Looking back, I really gave you face. You deserved a beating!”

Xu Mingsong dared not reply.

Mei Qianyu earnestly tried to recall more, but since she wasn’t involved, she couldn’t think of many details. Xu Mingsong’s biggest takeaway was one thing: the giant shadow in his dream definitely hid some secrets.

He murmured, “Even if she really is the demon in my heart, representing my beastly nature… she must have existed since elementary school, not something Ming awakened in me.”

Ming frowned. “You can’t really be an autonomous awakener, can you?”

He looked uneasy. “Haven’t they checked? My family’s been good citizens for three generations… Wait, is there a chance the demon blood could have resurfaced?”

“If you did, you’d probably have gone insane by now!” Ming rolled her eyes. “Great, I’m not the only one with amnesia. Looks like we’re in the same boat!”

She muttered, “We’re both unlucky with incomplete memories. Don’t think you can escape… You’ll have to add another side quest. Tch, you’ve made me curious about your past. Are you a cyborg? An experimental subject? An alien?”

Xu Mingsong was overwhelmed.

Their telepathic exchange didn’t disturb Mei Qianyu. She stirred her ice cream, noticing Xu Mingsong’s attention was elsewhere. Her lips slowly pouted until he noticed they were still hanging out. His gaze returned to her face, seeing a clear, bright smile.

“Daydreaming over?”

“Well, Fu-ge, time to pay.”

Oh, you mean the bill…

Out of gratitude, Xu Mingsong didn’t bring up splitting the bill with the female warrior. Sitting opposite her, she cupped her face with both hands, curiously watching his moves. She got to fully enjoy the transformation of the young man’s expression—from confident to startled, to sweating profusely, then calling friends for help, and finally desperate and helpless.

In the middle of his brainstorming, he suddenly recalled his complaint to Ming—his money had been completely drained!

Last time, he had to borrow some from Old Xu just to buy braised beef noodles!

“How about we start a battle royale?” He shifted his elbow forward, his gaze suddenly scanning the nearby waiter. “Whoever runs slowest pays. We settle the score and decide life or death!”

Just think—

If I grabbed this girl and ran, would I be caught by the police at the corner tomorrow and end up a trending headline?

---

Her smile gradually grew triumphant.

After leaving the ice cream shop, Xu Mingsong took care of this queen with the dedication of a perfect sycophant.

“You’re so unreliable!”

She waved her hand grandly, exuding dominance. Since Mei was paying this time, she naturally held absolute power. He had no choice but to smile and nod like a host at a hostess club, trying hard to please this high-maintenance lady.

Yes, the total bill was 26 yuan—enough to buy this sycophant about two hours of goodwill.

She declared boldly, “This time I treat you once. Remember, you owe me three times!”

She held up three fingers before him.

He muttered, “Triple payback, huh?”

When she lowered her fingers, the girl’s face shone brightly in the sunlight. “Otherwise, how could you have the nerve to let me pay? Three times is a bargain, you pretty boy.”

That complicated?

So he’d have to treat her three more times in the future?

That was going to cost him dearly!

Xu Mingsong’s lips twitched as he thought the crooked smile he’d seen in a short play had really influenced him. Lately, he often couldn’t help but smirk in that way, much to his own confusion.

“Is something bothering you lately? You always look so worried, your face is all creased up.”

On the street, Mei Qianyu walked ahead, her back outlined by the sun. Her summer short-sleeve uniform couldn’t hide her fair arms, which looked vibrant when raised.

She spoke with an old-soul seriousness, “Is the pressure to get into college too much? I’ve told you not to stress so much… You’ve heard about those students who jump off buildings because of pressure, right? Don’t be like those poor souls. Life is precious and happens only once, isn’t it?”

“So—” She raised her fist, forming a pose that made Xu Mingsong break out in cold sweat. “You have to live well.”

Xu Mingsong couldn’t help but ask, “Do I really look that dead inside?”

“You think I don’t know you? Your worries show too clearly!”

Mei Qianyu stopped and asked, “Won’t you tell me? I can be your tree hole—you can vent all your pressure to me.”

Was she underestimating him that much?

Xu Mingsong rolled his eyes. “You’re not my mom, and I’m not that fragile.”

“That’s good. Think about happier things.”

“Happy things lately…” Xu Mingsong thought.

“None?” She sounded surprised.

He pondered—there really weren’t any!

In just three days, he’d either been pushed forward or fighting for his life in an interrogation room, even getting beaten in dreams. Where’s the happiness?

Seeing his silence, she whispered and leaned in. Xu Mingsong immediately raised a defensive hand, but she brushed it aside quickly and pressed her thumb to his brow, rubbing gently.

“Does it hurt less now?”

Was she referring to her earlier finger snap?

Xu Mingsong coughed lightly and awkwardly brushed her hand away.

She smiled, “Well, now you do.”

That made him laugh.

Laughing, his mood suddenly lifted.

This girl was truly strange, like the unreasonable witch in children’s fairy tales—one spell from her and he was filled with joy and laughter.

Yes, this world was chaotic. Not everyone lived smoothly. He faced life and death crises, got beaten by a beast in his dreams, yet he still had a happy, harmonious family and a group of people who’d do anything to cheer him up when he was down.

He suddenly thought of that loser named Seiya. Whenever he fell, he needed Athena, the goddess, to save him. That loser was hooked—he even accepted Athena’s taunt, “Don’t you still have life?” and started to burn with cosmic energy.

But life was like a non-reversible matchstick. From the moment it’s lit, it burns—either it’s blown out or consumed.

Some matches burn longer, some shorter.

Some burn their whole lives without knowing what they’re burning for, while others are luckier, finding a reason to burn, smiling proudly and claiming, “My burning is meaningful!”

Of course, it’s meaningful!

Damn it,

It seemed this world absolutely needed saving.

He could only hope his matchstick was long and thick, not to die suddenly in his dreams just as it caught fire. A short, intense life would be a joke.

“Come on! You little bastard!”

That night, in the dream, Xu Mingsong raised his middle finger, flicking it at Yan. Shocked, Yan looked up as the youth’s deep eyes seemed to ignite with fire. The overflowing emotion was anger, like a volcano about to erupt, lava flowing from the cracks!

—Anger.

Yan seemed to feel it, silently donning a pure white mask. The ancient mask had layered scales that shimmered with faint blue light through the gaps, as if breathing.

Yan looked toward the reckless youth ahead.

This boy seemed to say:

“You really are a complete waste of space!

Don’t stand in my way!

What you failed to protect,

I will guard!!”