Chapter 4: The Circus

Chapter 4: The Circus

The forest at night was far more challenging than during the day. Mosquito bites were merely a minor annoyance. The sounds of small creatures rustling through the underbrush could jolt one awake countless times in the dead of night; even when sleep came, it was plagued by nightmares.

Xia Zuo dreamed he was still locked in a prison cell. He slammed his fists against the iron bars until his hands ached, only to realize he had been punching at a young sapling. Golden morning light filtered through the canopy, signaling the start of a new day.

[Health] 15/20 (Hungry, mildly dehydrated)

His black bread was gone, and the water pouch was nearly empty. His poor sleep at night slowed his recovery to a crawl. His troubled stomach had gone numb, but the thirst was far more agonizing. Xia Zuo pressed on the small bulge of the water pouch—it was the last drop...

The sun set once again.

[Health] 12/20 (Moderate hunger and thirst, losing 2 health points per hour)

His recovery rate had turned negative... in six hours, he would starve to death.

Dizzy and delirious from hunger and thirst, Xia Zuo thought he caught a scent—barbecue. The aroma of meat roasted until the skin was golden and crisp, juicy and seasoned with spices. He closed his eyes and stood still as saliva flooded his dry mouth.

It wasn’t a hallucination! The smell really was drifting from ahead!

Xia Zuo opened his eyes and let out a whimpering howl, summoning all his remaining strength to crawl through the bushes. Someone! Someone was barbecuing! He was going to be saved!

He reached a dirt path through the forest where a three-carriage wagon was parked at the roadside.

“Help...” Xia Zuo reached out toward the crowd by the wagon.

The sudden surge of emotion drained his strength and energy completely, and darkness overwhelmed his vision. With a thud, he collapsed onto the ground, unable to move, only faintly hearing voices.

A hiss... a snake slithered near his ear, flicking its tongue. Its cool head nudged Xia Zuo’s face, revealing a young, dirt-smudged visage buried in the earth.

“Boss, it’s a little boy,” said a warm-voiced middle-aged man a few meters away.

The snake wriggled inside Xia Zuo’s clothes, exploring every corner before slipping out of the pouch.

In a low voice, the middle-aged man said, “Three silver coins worth one yuan each, no food or water left, and a broken collapsible cane. This kid doesn’t look like he could afford a cane, and those coins... Boss, should we save him?”

A sharp male voice chimed in, “Save him, such a pitiful little guy. Heh heh heh.”

A crisp female voice replied firmly, “We’ll take him partway and leave him at the next outpost.”

Xia Zuo felt strong hands lift him, warm water dripping onto his cracked lips. He greedily drank a few sips before slipping into a deep sleep.

He was truly saved...

...

In a simple guest room, sunlight warmed his body. Xia Zuo gradually regained some awareness and found himself lying on a soft bed. His eyelids felt unbearably heavy; he couldn’t open his eyes at all.

[Health] 17/20 (Moderately drowsy, moderately weak)

Someone quietly opened the door and tiptoed to the bedside. The faint scent of medicine mixed with alcohol filled the air. The person searched Xia Zuo’s body and then rummaged through a nearby table, finally finding what they wanted—a pouch containing three silver coins.

“Faunce,” a clear female voice called from the doorway.

The thief appeared startled, dropping the pouch onto the table with a sharp clink.

The crisp female voice was cold: “We saved him; we can ask for a reward. But that’s after he wakes up. I’m the boss here; I make the decisions. Leave now and let him rest.”

“Hmph,” Faunce grumbled but obeyed the boss’s command, leaving the room with heavy footsteps.

The boss pressed the coin pouch under Xia Zuo, fetched a damp towel, and wiped his forehead and neck.

Xia Zuo wanted to thank her but couldn’t open his eyes or utter a sound. His lips moved feebly.

“Bad dreams again?” The warm palm gently stroked his forehead, its calloused touch comforting him back to sleep.

...

“Little one, are you awake?”

A hiss... the voice of the snake.

The warm-voiced middle-aged man sat at the bedside, holding a small bottle with a refreshing scent. He uncorked it and waved it near Xia Zuo’s nose.

“Wake up, little one. Our show here is over; we must leave by tomorrow morning at the latest.”

The cool, pungent smell fully roused Xia Zuo. He felt less weak than before.

“Cough, cough... you... hello...”

Before him was a man with dark skin, wearing a brown long robe embroidered with strange patterns. On his head was a tall hat sewn from thick cloth strips, from which a small blue snake poked its head like a silkworm emerging from a cocoon.

“Good, you’re awake,” the middle-aged man said, stroking his curled mustache with a light laugh.

“Thank you for saving me.”

Xia Zuo glanced at the blue snake staring at him. “Thank you too, little snake.”

The snake’s head curved in an arc before disappearing back into its owner’s tall hat.

“Since you’re awake, little one, tell me where you come from. It’s rare to see a kid your age wandering in the forest.”

The man, named Snake, brought a cup of water and placed it in Xia Zuo’s hand.

“I’m Xia Zuo.”

Xia Zuo drank the water, its warmth soothing his throat.

“Xia Zuo...” Snake pinched his chin, frowning in thought. “Keep talking, little one. I feel like I’ve heard your name somewhere.”

“I was caught by a villainous alchemist and locked in an underground cell for experiments... After escaping, I walked north for two days and nights and finally met you.”

Xia Zuo recounted his story without revealing any special abilities, nor would he ever.

Snake raised his eyebrows high. “I remember now. I saw your name on the bulletin board. There are several missing person notices from villages south of Rosak. Your parents put out a reward and hired people to find you.”

Snake’s face brightened, his goat-like beard twitching upward.

He jumped from the bedside and hurried to the door. “Sit tight. I’ll discuss this with the boss.”

Xia Zuo scanned the sparsely furnished room and carefully tucked the coin pouch away. On the table, he found his cloth bag, and the broken cane leaned quietly against the wall.

Not long after, Snake returned, accompanied by the boss.

She was taller than Snake by a head, probably around 1.9 meters. Curvaceous and statuesque, somewhat sturdy yet retaining feminine grace. Her skin was a healthy wheat tone, her features fine, lips full and vividly colored. Though her expression was stern and serious, her gaze toward Xia Zuo was gentle, radiating a wild yet approachable charm.

She wore a dark brown sleeveless leather armor that showed faint muscle lines on her arms when she moved. Her lower body was clad in tight leather pants with a skirt-like hem, and on each thigh was strapped a ring of small throwing knives that gleamed coldly.

“This is our boss, the circus leader, Audrey,” Snake said.

The joy vanished from Snake’s face, replaced by worry as he spoke in a low voice.

“Little one, I have bad news. After you disappeared, your hometown and the surrounding villages were ravaged by bandits... none survived. When the rescue cavalry arrived, only burned houses and corpses remained.”

A sudden, inexplicable pain stabbed Xia Zuo’s heart. Tears streamed down his face as a sorrowful sigh escaped him. Then something inside him seemed to leave completely.

“Thank you for saving me, but... where should I go now?” Xia Zuo wiped his tears, feeling the strange sadness quickly fade.

“What skills do you have, Xia Zuo?”

Audrey crossed her arms and studied the boy. “This town has taverns, blacksmiths, and stables. If you’re diligent, finding work won’t be hard.”

Used to living alone in his past life, Xia Zuo actually had quite a few skills.

He wiped his tears with his sleeve and counted them off on his fingers. “I’m best at cooking—frying, boiling, pan-frying, roasting, stir-frying, braising—I’m good at all of them. I’m also good at math and bookkeeping. I’m quick and nimble and learn fast.”

“Oh? You can do math and keep accounts?”

Audrey pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from her pouch. “Take a look at these accounts—see if there’s anything wrong.”

Xia Zuo unfolded the paper and spread it on the bed.

It recorded the circus’s daily expenses and income, mainly the cost of supplies—from cloth to boards and nails used to repair the wagon, to props consumed during performances. These trivial details were carelessly noted.

The income side simply counted the coins in the cash box after shows.

“Boss, if the prices on these bills are correct, the problem lies in the mismatch between income and expenses.”

Xia Zuo held the problematic paper and stood before Audrey, struggling to make her see the issue.

“Of course, boss, this could be due to sloppy bookkeeping.”

He looked up at Audrey, who stood three or four heads taller, his eyes pleading.

“I’m willing to help with odd jobs around the circus. If you let me manage the accounts, I promise not to touch the money.”

He had thought this through.

During his unconsciousness, Audrey’s conversation with Faunce revealed her kindness and principles. That was one reason.

Second, his homeland had been ravaged by bandits, yet this wandering circus remained unharmed, proving its members were truly capable.

Not to mention Snake’s control over the blue snake, Audrey’s imposing presence and physique, and the deadly throwing knives at her thighs—all gave a strong sense of security.

Traveling with the circus would broaden his horizons and teach him skills to protect himself and make a living—far better than being stuck doing odd jobs in some small town.

If he found a place he liked someday, he could consider settling down then.

Audrey hesitated but her eyes shone with approval. “Cook a specialty dish in the inn’s kitchen first. I need to discuss this with the others.”

“Boss, I’ll take him to the kitchen,” Snake said softly as he linked arms with Xia Zuo and left the room.

“Do you know how to make sweet and sour pork? Make some for the little blue snake too.”

(End of chapter)