Chapter Seventy-Four: Stray Bullets

Thank you to Wuwu No Name for the reward and to the brothers for the likes. The Half-Immortal will keep working hard!

Many people had gathered in the square. Although the town's square wasn't particularly large, it was spacious enough to hold everyone from the town. Bright lights illuminated the area, and Qiu Fengyu blended into the crowd.

His Minion costume was so striking that everywhere he went, people would jokingly pat him on the back. Nicole and Danny recognized Qiu Fengyu and stayed with him from then on.

Nicole was dressed as a little fairy, complete with wings and a magic wand. She looked every bit the beautiful child. Danny, on the other hand, wore a Batman outfit, his cheeks puffed out as he mimed riding a motorcycle, making "vroom vroom" sounds as he circled around Qiu Fengyu.

"Roar—" Suddenly, a person dressed as a zombie, tongue lolling and eyes askew, appeared before Nicole, startling the little girl so much that she hid behind Qiu Fengyu with a shrill scream, shedding any fairy poise.

Danny took on the role of protector, mimicking Batman and challenging the zombie-costumed figure, but the person ignored him and went off to join the revelry.

A large screen in the square broadcasted the annual bull-riding contest live from Texas. A group of people crowded around it, all betting on the outcome.

Now Qiu Fengyu found himself the guardian of two children. Nicole and Danny clung to him. He hoisted Nicole up with one arm, attempting to take Danny's hand with the other, but Danny, restless as ever, darted around Qiu Fengyu.

Nicole was thrilled to be carried, her vantage point offering a wider view.

"Over there, over there..." Nicole excitedly tugged at Qiu Fengyu's cheek, pointing to a spot not far ahead. Qiu Fengyu followed her gesture.

He saw another little girl dressed as a fairy with a magic wand appear in the square.

It was a case of matching costumes.

Nicole was ecstatic, wriggling in Qiu Fengyu's arm, eager to get down. He set her down, and she dashed toward the other fairy. However, as she neared within a meter or two, she hesitated, stopped, but still happily asked, "Can we play together?"

The other fairy widened her eyes at Nicole, shook her head, her innocent confusion utterly adorable. Qiu Fengyu couldn't help but laugh. This little fairy was Minami Mikura from the Mikura family. But why was she here all alone?

Qiu Fengyu walked over, glanced around, and indeed saw no sign of her family.

"Hey, hello, little fairy!" Qiu Fengyu crouched before her. Though this little girl was already ten, she was shorter than Nicole, with a petite, delicate charm that made her even more endearing.

The fairy widened her eyes at Qiu Fengyu's Minion costume, mouth agape in astonishment, a glint of drool appearing at the corner of her lips. She quickly sucked it back in, her eyes sparkling with delight. Unable to resist, she reached out and hugged the cylindrical Minion costume.

She murmured something under her breath, making Qiu Fengyu stare in amazement. Then she pressed her face against the costume, uttering a sound of utter satisfaction, "Ah—"

Qiu Fengyu nearly fainted; this girl seemed as if she'd stepped right out of a Japanese manga, a miniature bundle of cuteness. He stood, searching for her family, but saw no one. Worried she might get lost, he ended up wandering the square with the two little girls in tow.

Despite the language barrier, the girls shared a love for beautiful costumes. Their matching outfits gave them something to bond over.

After a few laps, the two girls were holding hands, running everywhere. Qiu Fengyu felt like a babysitter, constantly reminding Danny not to stray too far.

"Wow—" Suddenly, someone cheered loudly.

Qiu Fengyu looked over at the big screen. The representative from El Paso, the tall black man who had bested Qiu Fengyu, was on display.

The timer showed his score: eight seconds and thirty-three. He'd broken the record he set in El Paso and currently held the highest score. The townspeople cheered, having all bet on his victory. Beer glasses were raised and clinked in celebration.

If El Paso produced a bull-riding world champion, it would be a tremendous source of pride. Smiles spread across every face.

After a while, the crowd began to thin.

Qiu Fengyu finally spotted the Mikura family. Ryoko Mikura was anxiously searching the area. Qiu Fengyu approached, and Minami Mikura saw Ryoko, squealing as she ran over.

The little girl with Qiu Fengyu seemed to miss her family as well.

"Thank you!" Ryoko Mikura bowed to Qiu Fengyu.

Qiu Fengyu grinned and nodded, then patted Minami Mikura's head. Minami smiled up at him, then went to Nicole, chattering away.

Unexpectedly, Nicole nodded back.

With that, Ryoko led the little girl away. Qiu Fengyu turned to Nicole, "What did she say to you? Can you understand Japanese?"

"I can't, but I know what she meant—she wants to play with me!" Nicole laughed, "I'll go find her to play next time."

Children's worlds are indeed simple. Without effortful communication, they instinctively understand. Qiu Fengyu felt a bit embarrassed by this.

The square was nearly empty, except for the group gathered around the big screen. Britt, having handed the children over to Qiu Fengyu, was fully absorbed in the broadcast.

"Oh—****!" Someone shouted, tossing a drink bottle into the crowd, sparking greater commotion and angry exchanges.

Soon, the shouting escalated into a physical brawl.

Britt scrambled out of the crowd, spotted Qiu Fengyu with his two children at the edge, and hurried over. "Damn it, we lost."

"Daddy—" Nicole protested, "You swore, you have to pay a fine."

"Alright, I'll put a dollar into our piggy bank, I swear!" Britt quickly raised his right hand to Nicole, then turned to Qiu Fengyu, "Two people have already beaten him. Damn, are these guys all on drugs?"

Nicole was about to say something.

"Sorry, sweetheart, I'll put in another dollar..." Britt hurried to appease Nicole, then looked at Qiu Fengyu, "If you'd gone... maybe there would have been a miracle. We shouldn't have let him represent El Paso..." Britt was referring to the wiry black man.

Chances were, tomorrow, that guy wouldn't make it out of Texas alive.

"Are you trying to set me up?" Qiu Fengyu chuckled, "I bet a lot of people want to kill him now, just like you."

No sooner had Qiu Fengyu finished speaking than several gunshots rang out.

People immediately dropped or crouched in fear.

During the brawl, someone finally couldn't restrain themselves and pulled a gun, though they fired into the air rather than at anyone.

"Damn—" More anger erupted, and others drew their guns.

The square was soon filled with the deafening sound of gunfire.

"Oh, this is bad, we need to leave now!" Britt beckoned to Qiu Fengyu, grabbing Nicole, while Qiu Fengyu picked up Danny, and they hurriedly withdrew from the square. Who knew if a stray bullet might hit them? After all, Texas was a state where carrying guns in public was perfectly legal!

Laughing and running all the way home, Qiu Fengyu dropped Danny at the door. He and Britt said their goodbyes, and Britt specifically urged Qiu Fengyu to be careful and not go near the square again.

Indeed, Britt was absolutely right. Soon, sirens and ambulance lights could be heard. Someone had finally run out of luck.

Concerned for Officer Coffin, Qiu Fengyu headed back toward the square.

With the arrival of the police, the troublemakers had already scattered. Only a few patrol cars remained, their lights glaring in the darkness, as someone was hurriedly loaded onto an ambulance.

Officer Coffin was standing guard, securing the scene. She turned and saw Qiu Fengyu approaching.