Chapter 17: Seeking Refuge from Chaos

Chapter 17: Seeking Refuge

The next day, Xia Zuo performed a fire-breathing act in the arena.

Behind the stage curtain, several pairs of eyes fixed intently on the figure spouting flames.

In Snake’s eyes, the firelight reflected brightly, his face full of astonishment:

“Boss, Xia Zuo’s fire-breathing skills are this advanced?! This kid has a natural talent for fire-breathing, far superior to Van Els who relies on breathing techniques. He’s leagues ahead!”

“Mm-hmm!”

The clown siblings covered each other’s mouths, only managing muffled sounds of agreement from their throats.

Every time Xia Zuo unleashed a three-meter-long flame, the siblings would jump excitedly, their eyes growing wider and wider.

If not for the towering strongman blocking their way, they would have rushed onto the stage to surround Xia Zuo long ago.

Popeye placed one arm in front of the clown siblings and scratched his creamy, coiffed hair with the other:

“Boss, hey, do you think this kid might be poisoned?”

At Popeye’s words, everyone turned simultaneously toward the boss.

Even the clown siblings quieted down, their faces etched with genuine worry.

Audrey gazed at Xia Zuo’s back, her eyes slightly unfocused as she recalled the boy’s words from last night.

“Rest assured.”

Audrey smiled at the group, producing a bottle of potion for them to see. “I bought this for him—a universal antidote.”

The universal antidote neutralizes or grants immunity to most poisons within one hour of ingestion.

“Xia Zuo uses a mixed fire-breathing potion containing fire-retardant oil. Before going on stage, he drinks a diluted universal antidote to mitigate the toxicity of the fire potion.

“With these two potions aiding him, his performance rivals Van Els’, though he earns less since potions cost money.”

Audrey looked again toward the stage, a joyful curve lifting her lips:

“Besides, you all know he keeps his money with me. He wouldn’t abuse addictive painkillers like Van Els did.”

“Boss,”

Snake hesitated, then after a moment’s thought continued,

“I want to help cover some of Xia Zuo’s antidote expenses...”

“Mm-hmm!” The clown siblings nodded behind their hands.

“Hey, I’m with you on that,” Popeye said, stroking the stubble on his chin. “We can’t let the new member pay for us old bones.”

“Alright then, it’s settled. I’ll make the arrangements.”

Audrey nodded with a beaming smile, pleased with the team’s response.

This is what a true team looks like—helping and supporting one another, working together to run the circus well.

In truth, even if Snake hadn’t offered to share the potion costs, Audrey would have done so.

Maintaining fairness among team members has always been her principle.

But that was only part of the reason.

Audrey placed the universal antidote back into her leather case, the six words Xia Zuo had said echoing in her mind:

“Acting requires the full set.”

Xia Zuo had decided not to reveal his extraordinary regenerative abilities to the others.

He had already discussed various countermeasures with the boss to avoid exposure, including how to handle others’ reactions.

One bottle of universal antidote, one bottle of diluted universal antidote, and one empty potion bottle.

These three would become the veteran actors of the future.

Before performances, Xia Zuo would take the diluted antidote from the boss.

In the dressing room, he would change costumes while pretending to drink the potion, then return the pre-prepared empty bottle to Audrey.

That was the general plan.

As for bookkeeping and faking coughs to cover potion expenses, Xia Zuo naturally took on that task.

The fire-breathing act on stage lasted a full five minutes.

At such a young age, he had already achieved about 60-70% of Van Els’ stage prowess.

Though much of it relied on flames, small fires, footwork, and hopping for transitions,

it was enough to puzzle Snake and the others.

Audrey, following their plan, decisively shifted the blame onto the universal antidote.

Though Xia Zuo’s antidote was diluted, its effects lasted at least five minutes; wasting it would be a pity, better to extend the performance.

Applause rose from the audience.

Xia Zuo had successfully roasted a raw chicken.

Audrey beckoned to the others and was the first to pull back the curtain and step onto the stage.

“The show has ended smoothly. Let’s go out and thank the audience.”

...

The circus performed three shows from morning until dusk.

By evening, Xia Zuo sat backstage, his arms trembling, the muscles around his cheeks twitching on the verge of cramps.

He only wished to return to the inn, take a soothing hot bath, and find a place for a hearty meal.

During the break, the boss arranged the minor tasks.

Xia Zuo no longer needed to cook for everyone; each member would handle their own dinner.

Everyone’s pay was distributed before dinner.

Without Van Els, the money box was honest now, no longer selfishly absconding.

Audrey counted out coins from the money box carefully, filling pouches and tossing them to each member.

“Boss, just keep my money for me.”

Xia Zuo waved his sore arm weakly to stop her from throwing the pouch.

“Alright~ I’ll hold it for you then. Three shows today, after deducting potion costs, a total of 310 copper coins.”

Audrey placed the pouch into her leather case, clapped her hands, and announced, “Tomorrow is a day off. The day after, we set off for the next location.”

She approached the exhausted boy and offered her arm.

“Little one, want me to help you back to the inn?”

Xia Zuo shakily rose, leaning half his weight on the boss’s strong arm. As they walked, he reviewed the information from his “golden finger” in his mind:

“Successfully completed today’s fire-breathing performance.

“Average fire intensity and duration per show:

“Flame flicker: 50 seconds

“Small fire: 40 seconds

“Medium fire: 30 seconds

“Strong fire: 15 seconds

“Average audience size per show: 40 people

“Average audience satisfaction: 85%

“Total experience gained from three shows: 30 points.”

[Level] lv.5

[Experience] 31 + 30 → 61 / 200

Each show averaged 10 experience points.

Normally, the audience size is about 25, corresponding to 6.25 experience points.

Assuming three shows per day for six consecutive days at each location, that yields 110 experience points per stop.

The circus spends half the month traveling, performing at two locations on average, totaling 220 experience points monthly!

A smile spread across Xia Zuo’s weary face. He was finally back to leveling up once a month.

...

The next day.

Before the caravan departed, Audrey’s old comrade, Wilson, a clerk from the fortress army, sent a letter.

Xia Zuo read the letter in the boss’s room and burned it in a basin.

Both felt the weight of mutual concern.

The intelligence Xia Zuo provided was not only accurate but vital.

With the help of a rotund fortress mage, the army successfully located the first underground alchemy chamber.

Unfortunately, the rogue alchemist conducting experiments inside was highly alert.

Upon hearing noises in the tunnels, he immediately poured volatile solvents into the crucible.

By the time soldiers breached the iron door, the chamber was a ruin, everything turned to powder—worse destruction than the tunnel Xia Zuo had been in.

Such self-destruction repeated in other locations.

Still, the fortress army was not without gains.

Wilson discovered that since the army started destroying the underground alchemy chambers, the marauders seemed to have ceased their village massacres.

Up until the circus was about to depart, more than ten days had passed without news of any village being wiped out.

There was clearly a deep, hidden connection between the rogue alchemists and the marauders.

Wilson’s letter burned to ashes, leaving only a wisp of smoke curling in the washroom.

Xia Zuo and Audrey discussed that the circus must adjust to cope with marauders who might strike again.

The armor and weapons hidden in the third carriage were now distributed to all members.

The staff handling the pack horses added Xia Zuo to their number, allowing others to focus more on emergencies.

Xia Zuo was glad.

Training with tiny elastic balls barely increased strength, requiring over 800,000 grips for a single power point.

Driving the carriage was different—a new endeavor yielding both experience and perception.

Following Audrey’s guidance, Xia Zuo took the driver’s seat, settling into the recessed leather cushion to minimize upper body jolts from bumps.

His hands gripped the reins wrapped in tough leather: the two reins on the left controlled the left pack horses, those on the right controlled the right horses.

The pack horses were strong and had decent stamina; to travel long distances, one must learn to observe their energy levels.

The circus’s pack horses were rented from Rosak Stables. Their manes were trimmed into regular horizontal stripes.

If more than eight stripes were soaked with sweat, it meant the horses were tiring quickly and the carriage should slow down, walking with breaks.

At such times, Xia Zuo only needed to wait for the horses to reduce their pace naturally.

To speed up rested horses, he would sharply flick the reins, making a “Hey!” sound repeatedly until the carriage picked up speed.

His “golden finger” calculated rewards based on continuous carriage driving.

Experience points per hour were minimal—only 0.005 points.

However, perception rewards were excellent.

Each time he skillfully maneuvered around large stones, he gained 0.01 to 0.03 perception points.

Avoiding animals darting from bushes or navigating around pits that could overturn the carriage earned even more—starting at 0.08 points.

Driving the carriage was like playing an exciting dodge game.

On the countryside roads through forests and fields, Xia Zuo studied the terrain, felt the cool breeze on his face, and concentrated fully on driving.

Audrey peeked out from the carriage, observed briefly, and directed the young driver toward the correct fork ahead in advance.

The caravan followed the boss’s plan, leaving the radiation zone of Piek Fortress and entering northern Rosak Province.

This would be the circus’s venue for the coming months.

(End of chapter)