Chapter 4: The Circus
In the forest, the night posed more challenges than daylight.
Mosquito bites were just surface-level troubles.
Sounds of small creatures in the thickets continually disrupted any attempts at deep slumber, turning fitful sleep into a parade of nightmares.
Xia Zuo dreamt he was still in a prison cell.
He struck the iron bars in fury until his hands stung, only to realize he was throwing punches at a young sapling.
Golden dawn seeped through the treetops, signaling a new day.
【Health】15/20 (Hungry, slightly dehydrated)
The dark bread was finished, the freshwater in his pouch dwindling fast. With troubled sleep at night, his recovery rate plummeted.
His tangled insides numbed, yet it didn't compare to the torment of dehydration.
Xia Zuo touched the dwindling water pouch – it was his last drop...
The evening sun descended once more.
【Health】12/20 (Moderate thirst, losing 2 health points per hour.)
Recovery rate plummeted into negative numbers... death by hunger in six hours...
Xia Zuo, dizzy with thirst, hallucinated. It seemed he could smell the aroma of grilling – the kind that crisped the surface, rendering the meat juicy, seasoned with fragrant spices.
He closed his eyes, saliva rushing into his mouth rapidly.
It wasn't a hallucination! The scent was real and wafting closer!
Xia Zuo's eyes snapped open, emitting a mournful cry, channeling the last ounce of strength through the thickets.
Someone! Someone was grilling! A rescue!
Xia Zuo arrived at a muddy road in the woods, a three-carriage wagon parked nearby.
"Help..."
Xia Zuo reached out to the people beside the wagon.
Suddenly overwhelmed by heightened emotions, draining him physically and mentally, an endless darkness surged before him.
He collapsed with a thud, completely powerless, only faintly catching some voices.
"Hiss... a snake slithered by, hissing near his ear. The chilling snake head nudged Xia Zuo's head, revealing a youthful face buried in the soil.
"Boss, it's a young boy," a middle-aged man with a gentle voice spoke several meters away.
The snake wriggled into Xia Zuo's clothes, traversing every nook, finally emerging from a cloth bag.
The middle-aged man lowered his voice, "Three 1-yuan silver coins, no food or water, and a broken extendable cane. This little guy doesn't seem like he could afford the cane, and those coins... Boss, should we save him?"
A sharp male voice chimed in, "Save him, poor little lad. Kekeke."
A clear female voice asserted, "We'll take him along for a stretch, drop him off at the next settlement."
Xia Zuo felt himself being lifted by large hands, a few drops of lukewarm water moistening his parched lips.
After greedily sipping a few mouthfuls, he drifted into a deep sleep.
Truly saved...
...
Inside a humble guest room, sunlight brought warmth upon him.
Xia Zuo regained some consciousness, finding himself on a soft bed. His eyelids felt unusually heavy, unable to open even slightly.
【Health】17/20 (Moderately drowsy, moderately exhausted)
A person pushed the door open, tiptoeing to the bedside. Amidst a faint medicinal scent lingered a hint of alcohol.
This person searched the boy, then rummaged through a nearby table. After a thorough search, they found what they sought.
A pouch containing three silver coins.
"Fan Er Si," a clear female voice called from the doorway.
The thief seemed startled, dropping the pouch onto the table with a crisp sound.
The clear female voice was cold, "We saved him; we can ask for payment once he's awake. But that's for after he wakes. I'm the boss here, and my word is final. Leave now and let him rest."
"Hmph," Fan Er Si grumbled slightly but still obeyed the boss's command, trudging heavily out of the room.
The boss tucked the pouch under the boy, using a damp cloth to wipe his forehead and neck.
Xia Zuo wanted to express gratitude but couldn't open his eyes or voice a sound.
"Another nightmare?" A warm palm rubbed his forehead, its touch somewhat calloused, soothing Xia Zuo back into slumber.
...
"Little one, are you awake?"
Hiss... the sound of a snake.
The middle-aged man with a gentle voice sat at the bedside, producing a small bottle emanating a cool fragrance. He uncorked it and waved it in front of the boy's nose.
"Wake up, little fella. Our performance here is ending; we have to leave by early tomorrow at the latest."
Xia Zuo's slumber wasn't deep, and the pungent, refreshing scent fully roused him. He didn't feel as weak as before.
"Cough... hello..."
Before him stood a man with dusky skin.
He was clad in a brown, long robe embroidered with peculiar patterns. Atop his head sat a tall hat sewn from thick fabric, from which a green snake poked its head out like a silkworm emerging from its cocoon.
"Good to see you're awake," the middle-aged man stroked his upturned beard, chuckling lightly.
"Thank you for saving me."
Xia Zuo glanced at the snake eyeing him, "Thank you too, little serpent."
The serpent curved its head, slipping back into its master's high hat.
"Little one, now that you're awake, tell us where you come from. It's rare to find a child as young as you wandering in the woods."
The middle-aged man brought a cup of water and placed it in the boy's hands. "By the way, I'm Sneck. What's your name?"
"I am Xia Zuo."
Xia Zuo drank the water, its warmth soothing his parched throat.
"Xia Zuo..." Sneck pinched his chin, frowning in thought. "Keep talking, lad. Your name rings a bell somewhere."
"I was captured by a rogue alchemist and kept in an underground cell for experiments... After escaping, I wandered north for two days and nights until I encountered you."
Xia Zuo recounted his awakening but did not disclose the existence of his unique ability to outsiders, and he never intended to.
Sneck's eyebrows shot up. "I remember now. I saw your name on the notice board. There are missing person notices in the villages south of Rosak. Your parents posted a reward, seeking you everywhere."
Sneck's face lit up, his goatee pointing skyward.
He leaped from the bedside, striding quickly to the door. "Stay here for now. I'll discuss this with the boss."
Xia Zuo surveyed the modestly arranged room, securing his purse and finding his cloth pouch on the table, while a broken cane leaned quietly in the corner.
Before long, Sneck returned, followed by the boss.
She stood even taller than Sneck, likely measuring about 1.9 meters.
Curvaceous and tall, she possessed a robust yet feminine figure.
Her skin had a healthy wheat tone, her face beautifully shaped, lips plump like vibrant flower petals. Her expression seemed stern and serious, but the gaze directed at Xia Zuo was surprisingly gentle, exuding a charming blend of wildness and affability.
She wore a dark brown sleeveless leather armor on her upper body. As her arms moved, faint muscle lines were revealed. Below, she sported tight leather pants with a skirt, adorned with a loop of small throwing knives on each thigh.
"This is our boss, the circus leader, Audrey."
Sneck's joyful expression faded, replaced by concern as he said somberly:
"Kid, I've got some bad news... after you went missing, your hometown and surrounding villages were raided by marauders... no survivors. When rescue cavalry arrived, there were only charred houses and bodies."
Xia Zuo felt an unexpected pang in his heart, tears streaming down. A sorrowful sigh echoed within him, followed by something leaving his being entirely.
"Thank you for saving me, but... where should I go next?" Xia Zuo wiped his tears, the strange melancholy dissipating rapidly.
"What are you good at, Xia Zuo?"
Audrey crossed her arms, studying the boy. "In this town, there's a tavern, a blacksmith's shop, and a stable. If you're diligent, finding a job won't be difficult."
Having lived alone in a past life, Xia Zuo had picked up quite a few skills.
He wiped away the tear marks with his sleeve, counting on his fingers. "I excel in cooking, frying, boiling, grilling, sautéing—proficient in all. I'm good at math and bookkeeping. I'm nimble and quick to learn."
"Oh? You're good with numbers and accounts?"
Audrey retrieved a crumpled paper from her pouch. "Can you spot any issues with these bills for me?"
Xia Zuo spread the paper on the bed, scanning through the contents.
It detailed the circus's daily expenses and income.
The records primarily noted the costs of supplies—from fabric to repairing the carriage with wood planks and nails—to the various props consumed by performers during their acts, all these trivialities casually jotted down.
As for income, it merely listed the coins in the money box after each performance.
"Boss, the prices for these supplies seem fine, but the discrepancy lies in the mismatch between income and expenditure."
Holding the problematic paper, Xia Zuo stood before Audrey, taking considerable effort to make her realize where the issue lay.
"Of course, Boss. You should know, this problem might stem from irregular bookkeeping."
Looking up at Audrey, towering over him by at least three or four heads, Xia Zuo pleaded, "I'd be willing to help with odd jobs for the circus. And if you allow me to manage the books, I promise not to touch any coins."
His decision to stay with the circus was not made lightly.
During his coma, Audrey and Fans' conversation revealed her kindness and principles, one of the reasons.
Secondly, his hometown, devastated by marauders, while this roaming circus remained unharmed, indicating its members possessed real skills.
Not to mention Sneck's ability to control the green snake, Audrey's imposing stature, and the glinting throwing knives on her legs—all providing a sense of security.
Travelling with the circus, gaining experience, and learning skills that could both protect and sustain him seemed far better than toiling away in a small place.
Settling down could wait until he found a place he liked in the future.
Audrey hesitated but with a glint of agreement in her eyes. "Go to the inn's kitchen and prepare a table of your specialties. I'll discuss this with other members."
"Sneck, I'll take him to the kitchen."
Pulling the boy's arm, Sneck whispered after they exited the room, "Can you cook vinegar-braised pork? Prepare a portion for the little green snake too."