Wanderer of the Zerg

Chapter 65 : Needle Grass Festival

That night, Xi Tian developed a high fever. Cody, as usual, was battling away in the lab, so Ellis had to go to the mercenary guild’s bar for help. He found a doctor, who, after examining Xi Tian and asking the feverish male how he felt, instructed Ellis to help him cool down physically and then left after collecting the consultation fee.

Ellis stayed up half the night taking care of Xi Tian. Only when he could no longer stay awake did he finally collapse into bed and fall into a deep sleep.

Xi Tian felt like he was standing in a dark void, with wind swirling around him.

He wandered aimlessly, the wind following him closely, never leaving his side.

Suddenly, a scene flashed before his eyes: a young female was crouching in the grass, using the surrounding plants as cover. The young one was intently watching ahead.

Ahead, several adults in white coats were throwing a securely tied burlap sack into a well. The sack’s surface was constantly bulging and twisting, with blood seeping from the edges. All the adults wore masks, their eyes calm and emotionless. They poured a large bucket of transparent liquid in, and agonizing screams echoed from the bottom of the well.

Xi Tian was startled by the sound, and he stepped back, wanting to distance himself from such a bloody scene. However, the wind was gentle yet firm; it trapped him, insisting he not retreat.

The wind even led him to the edge of the well. Xi Tian resisted, not wanting to look, but as he glanced around, the adults in white coats had disappeared. He felt compelled to peer into the well, as if under a spell.

At the bottom of the well was fine yellow sand, with a few dry leaves scattered about. Sitting atop the sand was a young child dressed in old-fashioned clothing. Xi Tian instantly knew the child’s gender—it was a male. This realization rose from deep within him, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The child wore a school-style white shirt with a black vest and red bow tie, paired with shorts that didn’t reach his knees. His polished shoes gleamed. He swung his feet leisurely and played with dry leaves in his hands while singing a nursery rhyme, his clear, childish voice ringing out:

“The wind gently blows, the birds chirp,
The dog barks, the cat quietly laughs,
The house is silent, the baby is sleeping.”

The child’s soft and melodious voice seemed to carry a hint of fluidity, making it sweet and captivating.

Suddenly, the child looked up and saw Xi Tian at the top of the well.

Xi Tian finally saw the child’s face clearly—it bore a striking resemblance to his own childhood face!

Strangely, Xi Tian did not find this scene eerie. Instead, it felt perfectly natural and warm.

The child opened his mouth, speaking in a soft dialect, “I’m waiting for you to find me~”

The darkness cracked open, allowing orange light to seep through the gaps. The orange light was domineering, dissolving the darkness completely.

The orange was like the sun, like a cradle, like the nurturing pouch of a mother.

In a daze, Xi Tian felt as if he were an egg, with external light penetrating the white shell, casting everything in a warm orange glow.

His terminal vibrated on schedule, and morning light washed over him like a stream, covering him entirely. His limbs felt lazy, sinking heavily into the soft mattress, with a blanket draped over him. His body felt as if it were floating in the air, not wanting to move at all.

Outside, the loud sound of fireworks exploding could be heard.

Xi Tian was fully awake now. As he turned his head, the folded towel on his forehead slid off, reminding him of the fever he had the night before.

Ellis was lying beside him. Upon hearing the fireworks, he pulled the blanket over his head, revealing the deep blue-striped fabric of the clothes he had worn the previous day.

A basin of cold water sat on the bedside table.

Last night, Ellis must have been exhausted, so much so that he fell asleep without changing his clothes.

Xi Tian felt a mix of gratitude and heartache.

They had been together for so long, and it was always Ellis who busied himself taking care of him, yet he had given Ellis nothing in return.

Xi Tian pulled down Ellis’s blanket and planted a kiss on his forehead.

He got dressed and went outside to see what was happening.

When he had returned last night, it was already dark, and he hadn’t noticed the new decorations on the street.

The local houses were adorned with green banners, inscribed with “Happy Needle Grass Festival” in two languages.

The streets seemed suddenly crowded with people, all wearing green tops, yellow bow ties, green top hats, green clown pants, and thick-soled black shoes. They roamed in groups, laughing and celebrating.

In the distance, a crowd dressed in green gathered around an elderly man with gray hair. He was short, his beard dyed green, and he was rapping fluently. His speech was rapid, with the rhythmic intonations of the local dialect. Xi Tian squeezed into the crowd and heard the old man, who had switched to a normal pace, explaining the origins of the Needle Grass Festival and thanking the gods for their protection, which had helped the planet out of poverty, and wishing for continued prosperity this year.

Xi Tian recalled what Buma had said about the festival yesterday, and understood, but he didn’t want to join the festivities. He just wanted to go back home.

As the old man continued his blessings, Xi Tian turned to leave. He was saying, “May the deceased rest in peace, their souls united with the sun and moon; may the truth be revealed, your perseverance will be remembered by the gods; may lovers always be together, your love eternal…”

Xi Tian was about to listen further when he was interrupted by a voice behind him.

“Hey, sir, good morning!”

Buma, dressed in the same comical green outfit and hat, his hair dyed green, held a bottle of beer.

“What’s going on? I woke up this morning to find everything like this.”

“Sir, I’m sorry I forgot to tell you. Today is the annual Needle Grass Festival. Everyone will be celebrating wildly.” Buma raised his beer bottle to Xi Tian in a toast. “Today, everyone wears green clothes, forgets past grievances, and makes peace. It’s a special day on our planet. Young and old come to the streets to sing, dance, and in the evening, there’s a big lantern show, local food, and iced drinks.”

“There are lots of single young people here every year. If you’re looking for a romance, you can find your other half here.” Buma winked. “Those who already have a partner can join the wishing ceremony. It’s said that lovers who cut off the tips of their hair and put them in a Needle Grass pouch, then give it to each other to wear, will have a long-lasting relationship.”

Buma suddenly called out to someone and ran off, telling Xi Tian not to miss the Needle Grass Festival.

Xi Tian hadn’t been interested, but hearing about the lovers’ wishes made him curious.

Following some advice, Xi Tian bought two green tops, though he couldn’t tolerate the hats and clown pants.

When he got home, Ellis was still asleep, but it was almost time for him to wake up.

By the time they were both ready, the local high school band was already marching down the main street.

All the young males were dressed in green, wearing white gloves. Some played bagpipes, others violins, and some beat the hand drums. The combination looked odd, but the sound was harmonious.

Behind them were floats decorated with various flowers, on top of which were six or seven gymnasts performing routines. The parade participants constantly applauded and cheered, throwing bright flowers onto the floats.

Influenced by the joyous atmosphere around them, they couldn’t help but follow the parade.

Halfway through, Xi Tian suddenly remembered his original purpose. He pulled Ellis out of the parade and ran to a small stall crowded with people. A flag above the stall read “Needle Grass Pouch,” and its description matched what Buma had described.

The small stall was packed with people.

Xi Tian spent a long time selecting at the stall and finally chose a relatively delicate green pouch adorned with Needle Grass. The pouch was small, only about the size of a silver coin, and looked very cute.

Ellis had already chosen a pouch decorated with a shamrock. Using scissors provided by the vendor, he cut a lock of his hair and carefully placed it inside the pouch.

Xi Tian’s hair was too short for him to reach, so Ellis helped him cut a lock and put it in the Needle Grass pouch.

They exchanged pouches and put them on each other.

May you and I have a future as enduring as this moment.