I'm in Mota, and they all want me to confess my feelings!

boom!

The explosion, like a beast breaking free of its cage, instantly tore the entire pilgrimage ship to pieces. Blazing flames licked the night sky, and shockwaves swept outwards with overwhelming force.

Duanmu Yan's pupils flashed with golden light once more in mid-air, freezing the impending death at the last second.

The destructive energy hovered almost touching the tip of his nose; he could even see the wood chips swirling in the flames.

He lightly touched a floating wooden plank with his toes, and with the momentum of a swallow, he sped off towards the safe sea in the distance.

Behind them, the temporarily halted explosions resumed, turning the night sky a poignant orange-red.

Until he fell into the deep sea.

……

……

"I found him, here he is."

Brant's voice pierced through the mist, and the ship quickly changed course to approach the figure floating on the sea.

Several sailors hurriedly pulled the unconscious Duanmu Yan onto the deck. He was soaking wet and pale.

“Lord Duanmu? Can you hear me?” Brandt patted his cheek, but received no response.

Xia Kong knelt beside him, her fingers trembling as she checked his breath: "Could it be... he's drowning?"

“It seems we need to take emergency measures.” Brandt made a quick decision. “Miss Xia Kong, you do artificial respiration, and I will take care of chest compressions.”

"CPR?!" The girl's antlers trembled slightly in shock, and her cheeks instantly flushed a sunset-like blush. "Should I do it?"

"Should we send Rococo?" Brandt glanced at the little girl standing quietly to the side, then helplessly spread his hands.

"Alright then, let me do it..."

Xia Kong took a deep breath, closed his eyes as if heading to battle, and slowly bent down—

Just as she was about to touch those pale lips, Duanmu Yan suddenly coughed softly, his eyelashes trembling slightly.

Under everyone's surprised gaze, he slowly opened his eyes.

"Ah..." Xia Kong suddenly sat up, pointing helplessly at the awakened Duanmu Yan, "You...you're awake!"

Looking at the concerned faces before him, Duanmu Yan slowly propped himself up on his arms and sat up. A faint smile appeared on his lips: "It seems I've missed an important step? If I had known, I should have pretended to be asleep a little longer."

"Ugh—" Xia Kong turned her face away as if she had been electrocuted, her red hair swaying gently with her movement, her gaze frantically falling on the patterns on the deck, but she dared not meet his eyes.

"It was just a joke." Duanmu Yan softened his tone when he saw the girl's ears turn red. "After all, with Brant's strength, if he really pressed down, he might break a few ribs."

"Are you...are you really alright?" Xia Kong asked softly, clutching the hem of her clothes, the worry in her eyes not yet completely gone.

Duanmu Yan waved his hand, causing a string of water droplets to form: "Of course I'm fine. I used to be a sports student in school. The reason I'm in such a sorry state is because when I fell into the sea, my posture wasn't right, and I swallowed several mouthfuls of seawater. Oh no, my mouth feels so dry right now. Do you have any fresh water?"

The girl breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest, saying, "That's good. Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to explain it to the Second Miss."

"Eh, Second Miss?" Duanmu Yan paused, blinked, and looked at Xia Kong. "The Second Miss you're talking about, could it be...?"

Xia Kong finally raised her eyes, the water droplets on her hair reflecting sparkling light under the lamplight: "Hmm, otherwise, who else could it be?"

"Please allow me to reintroduce myself—I am Xia Kong, Miss Koleta's friend, and the one who can help you at this moment."

Volume 1: Chapter 164 The Girls Are Different Every Time

Lamenting the island of graves.

Legend has it that this is the holy site where Imbrathod first descended to earth.

But time changes everything. Over the course of a thousand years and with the erosion of the first Kuroshio Current, the once pristine land has long since become a desolate wasteland shrouded in death.

But on this scorched earth abandoned by the world, those “fools” exiled by the religious order miraculously built their own paradise.

After a day and a night of sailing, the fleet of ships carrying exiles finally arrived at this coast shrouded in gray fog.

If the religious order hadn't planted bombs on the pilgrimage ship, this would still be the final destination for these sinners.

However, what awaits them is another form of death—being devoured by wandering afterimages, or becoming food for dragons.

Brandt stood at the bow of the ship, arms outstretched, introducing the park to the terrified people.

"Welcome to the Fools' Theatre Company—our promised land that we have built in this wasteland."

Duanmu Yan stood quietly by the ship's side. Although it was not his first time in this place, he was still moved by the scene before him—this was a flower of hope cultivated by the hands of people exiled by fate in the soil of despair.

"So, we really... can't go back to Laguna?"

Someone knelt on the deck, their choked voice filled with homesickness.

Rococo stepped forward lightly, her small hand landing like a feather on the man's trembling shoulder: "It's alright. Everyone here comes from Laguna. Wherever we are together—that is the new Laguna."

Brant took over the conversation in a loud voice, his gaze sweeping over every uneasy pair of eyes: "Of course, if anyone does not wish to stay, we will escort you to wherever you wish to go—Seven Hills, Lililand, the Rijoli Islands."

"I only hope that you all understand that leaving your homeland does not mean losing everything. In the Fools' Theatre, every tomorrow you can find a new meaning to live for."

"You have been adrift at sea for a long time and must be exhausted. We have prepared food and temporary camps, so why don't you rest for a while? In the meantime, you can take your time to think about where you are headed."

The people on deck looked at each other, and finally, as if their last bit of strength had been drained, they silently followed the guide toward the shore.

Their steps were still unsteady as they stepped over the gangway, as if they had not yet recovered from the aftershocks of the raging waves.

Just as Duanmu Yan was about to leave with the crowd, he suddenly heard a timid voice behind him.

"Thank you so much for your help earlier."

He turned around and saw a handsome young man standing awkwardly.

"Hello, my name is Rock, and I'm a novelist." He bowed slightly as he spoke, like an apprentice who had not yet completed his apprenticeship.

“Rock?” Duanmu Yan asked thoughtfully. “Is that the author who was convicted for his chivalric novels?”

The young man's ears turned slightly red, and he said with a wry smile, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh. The plot in the novel is just artistic fiction, but who knew that the religious order would actually interpret it as a blasphemous metaphor..."

His voice trailed off, like a sigh carried away by the sea breeze: "But I will never give up writing. One day, my works will spread to every corner of Linasite."

"Is that so? Then I sincerely look forward to that day." Duanmu Yan smiled.

"Thank you." As if suddenly remembering something, Rock hurriedly took out an object carefully wrapped in oilcloth from his pocket.

A simply bound book was revealed under the tarpaulin, its cover depicting a silhouette of a knight holding a sword.

Rock gently stroked the spine of the book, as if touching his child for the last time.

"This is the novel that was banned by the religious order... Almost all the original manuscripts on the market have been burned, but this one is different." As he handed over the book, his fingertips trembled almost imperceptibly. "It may be the only complete copy in the world, and it is also the original manuscript. Although it is not a precious gift of thanks, please accept it."

Duanmu Yan was slightly taken aback, his gaze falling on the book the other party had handed him. The kraft paper cover was worn, but the corners had been carefully repaired, clearly indicating that it was a treasured item.

"This gift must mean a lot to you. Why don't you keep it for yourself?"

Rock laughed heartily: "This is nothing compared to what you've done at sea. Just as you said before, calling yourself a wandering knight. I also hope to give this novel to a true knight."

"A knight?" Duanmu Yan paused for a moment, then smiled slightly and accepted the book from Rock's hand without further hesitation. "Alright then, I'll take it. It just so happens that someone I know will like your novel. And you may have heard of this person."

"Huh? I've heard of him?" Rock looked puzzled. "Excuse me, who is it?"

“Yes, who is it?” Duanmu Yan turned around and said in a meaningful tone, “You will know when the story spreads far enough. She is a true knight.”

……

……

Duanmu Yan returned to his resting place.

After a day and a night of wandering, exhaustion washed over my limbs like a tide.

He planned to rest for a while before setting off back to Laguna.

"Speaking of which, shouldn't only the second young lady and Floro be living at home now?"

"Those two... they shouldn't start arguing, right?"

"It's not that bad..."

"If I'm not there, the Second Miss probably won't go back on purpose."

"That means Floro is now the only one at home looking after the house."

In that case, it's alright.

I just hope that when I get back, Floro won't have made a mess of the kitchen.

Although he didn't know anything about Floro's cooking skills, for some reason, he felt uneasy.

"Abu."

The sound trace flickered slightly, and the little guy leaped out in response, gracefully somersaulting in mid-air.

"What's wrong? Do you need my help? By the way, where are we now? Why do I always wake up in different places... And it's strange that you're not surrounded by girls this time."

"...Looks like I let you eat too much." Duanmu Yan lay down on the bed and sighed. "Abu, those books you 'ate' before, they should be well preserved in your stomach, right?"

"What stomach! That's called a belly!" the little guy protested, puffing out his cheeks and slapping his belly with his paws. "Of course it's well preserved. Do you want to see it now?"

"No." Duanmu Yan picked up the novel in his hand, flipped through it, and handed it to Abu. "I just wanted to ask you to keep this book safe as well."

Abu's lips twitched slightly: "...You don't mean to think of me as a walking bookshelf, do you?"

"Actually, it's a storage box."

"unacceptable!"

"Kidding."

"Even if it's a joke, I'll still get angry!" Abu turned around angrily, clutching his little paws, but secretly observing him. "Unless you treat me to a big meal."

"It's as if I've ever mistreated you."

"No, not at all... Okay, I forgive you, Dad!"

Just then, a knock on the door broke the silence inside.

Xia Kong's clear voice flowed in through the crack in the door.

"Duanmu, are you asleep?"

Abu cast a meaningful glance toward the door, shook his head, and sighed, "Hey, what did I tell you? Every time you wake up, all sorts of girls always appear around you."

"I'm already looking forward to seeing who I'll be when I wake up next."

Volume 1: Chapter 165 Abu: The Sun Rises and He Has Forgotten

"Could this be the legendary Abu? He looks so soft and squishy, ​​he must feel amazing to the touch?"

Inside the room, Xia Kong observed Abu with curiosity, leaning slightly forward to examine the fluffy outline.

She subconsciously raised her hand, her fingertips pausing slightly in mid-air, as if she had suddenly remembered something important. She then turned to look at Duanmu Yan, her gaze filled with cautious inquiry.

Duanmu Yan nodded: "Sure, please go ahead."

"Wait a minute! What do you mean, 'please'?" Abu's fluffy fur bristled instantly, like a startled ball of fluff. "Why do I need his permission to touch me? I'm not anyone's possession, this is too insulting. No, it's too insulting to Mukuro!"

Xia Kong was slightly taken aback, then gave an apologetic smile: "I'm sorry, after all, this is the first time I've seen someone who can coexist with Sheng Hai, and I've unknowingly come to regard Duanmu as your master."

"We're not master and servant! We're partners, we're best friends!"

Xia Kong had heard from Koleta before that Duanmu Yan and Sheng Hai were symbiotic, but this was the first time he had seen it, so he was a little curious.

"Abu, don't resist so much." Duanmu Yan looked at Abu and teased, "The reason everyone wants to touch you is because it makes you look cute, isn't it?"

“That’s true—” Abu tucked his two little paws in his arms, but his ears twitched involuntarily, “but I, Abu, also have my dignity!”

"How many meals are your dignity worth?" Duanmu Yan looked at it. "Phoebe even bribed you with a few slices of pizza before."

Abu, clutching his little paws, snorted, "That's all in the past! After the sun rises, Benbu will forget everything from yesterday. In short, the current Benbu can't be bought off with a few pizzas!"

Where did you learn these phrases?

"Learned it from you."

Xia An sat quietly to the side, watching the two bicker back and forth, and couldn't help but chuckle softly: "It seems your relationship is really good. By the way—"

She suddenly remembered something: "I wonder if it would be convenient for me to take a look at the stone slab that Koleta mentioned before?"

"of course."

Duanmu Yan nodded, picked up the small handbag on the bed, and handed the stone slab to Xia Kong.

Ever since Koleta agreed to give him the stone tablet, he had kept it with him so that he could resonate with it at any time.

Xia Kong carefully took the stone slab, his fingertips gently tracing its cool surface.