The bright moon hung high and the sky was clear and refreshing.
Before it completely darkened, bonfires were lit all over Roland. The warm atmosphere of the celebration extended from day to night.
Players wore a variety of traditional clothing in the style of Roland’s major cities and walked through the streets and alleys.
In addition to Roland’s local special activities, there were also many smart players who had taken up positions early. They set up various stalls and sold snacks developed by themselves.
The snack business was particularly prosperous because the raw materials were cheap and sales weren’t expensive. They were very popular among NPCs. Today’s celebration alone had made many players earn a lot of money.
Of course, in addition to food stalls, there were stalls selling weapons, equipment, various handicrafts, and even jugglers.
People were walking on the street while holding lanterns in their hands.
It was obviously a Roland bonfire party full of exotic customs, but the players created an atmosphere of visiting a temple fair.
The small Doha Town had now become one of the most prosperous towns in Imperial City.
At this time, people were coming and going on the street. It was very lively.
Xu Sili was walking down the street, carrying a lantern in his hand that he had just bought at a stall.
These lanterns were made by players. They even hung lanterns all over the town to make this bonfire night more exciting.
When it came to eating, drinking and having fun, the Roland people definitely weren’t as good as this group of players.
Xu Sili felt the atmosphere of the town and looked at the lanterns held by the people. He felt as if he had returned to reality and was participating in a traditional festival in an ancient town.
Today was indeed a memorable day. The fruits of victory belonged to Roland and also the braves from another world.
Speaking more broadly, Roland had been living in the shadow of the interstellar beasts. They really needed such a grand event to dispel the fog and welcome a new life.
Speaking at a smaller level, it was only by combining work and rest that they could work harder.
At this time, gorgeous fireworks were shot into the sky, blooming into colorful flowers in the night sky.
Xu Sili looked up and felt that they were worthy of being players. There were so many tricks. They could even make time bombs, let alone small fireworks.
After watching for a while, Xu Sili turned to look at Si Sheng.
The man guarded him, preventing the passing crowd from touching him. It was just like the night when he first wandered around the inner city.
He lowered his eyes and saw the blue stone hanging on Si Sheng’s chest. It was obviously a very ordinary thing, but he always carried it with him and protected it well.
Xu Sili smiled softly, raised his head and pecked him on the lips. He said, “Let’s go to Twilight Frost City to eat hot pot.”
Due to the closeness, Si Sheng’s expression softened a bit. Then after hearing the words, he was a bit surprised.
He reminded, “It is still snowing in Twilight Frost City.”
Twilight Frost City was covered with ice and snow all year round. It only got a bit warmer in summer. Now that it was spring, it was still ice and snow over there.
Si Sheng knew about Xu Sili’s fear of cold.
“Don’t I have you?”
Xu Sili smiled and slipped into his arms, full of yearning. “I heard that the hot pot and barbecue restaurants run by the braves are particularly delicious, but I haven’t tried them yet.”
It was impossible for Si Sheng to refuse in the first place, let alone under his earnest eyes and smile.
“Okay, I’ll take you there.”
He hugged the young man back and disappeared in a flash. However, no one in the surging crowd noticed them or their disappearance.
There was a situation similar to theirs in another neighborhood.
The man with silver hair and purple eyes was standing on a noisy street, looking up at the gorgeous fireworks in the sky. The light of the fireworks reflected on his face, making his bright eyes shine.
Xenos saw the colorful light and said with some novelty, “Fengqing, what is that?”
The black-haired man standing next to him took a lantern from the vendor. Hearing this, he looked over and replied, “Haven’t you seen fireworks?”
Xenos shook his head. He was busy studying and training when he was a child. When he became an adult, he went to the front line and lived on the battlefield for a long time. Even if he came back to report on his work, he was extremely busy. He didn’t have many opportunities to participate in the folk bonfire parties.
These fireworks… in his opinion, it was indeed a rare thing.
“It is just for fun… something made by the braves. Apart from looking good, it doesn’t have much use.”
Xu Fengqing said this while stuffing the handle of the lantern into Xenos’ hand.
“But listening to the sound of the fireworks and watching the colorful flowers blooming in the night, I feel that all the worries in my heart have dissipated with the blooming lights.”
Xenos smiled and looked down at what Xu Fengqing had given to him.
“This was made by the braves again?”
The shape of the lantern resembled a long-eared beast, but it wasn’t so ferocious. It looked soft and cute. It might be childish, but it was indeed very cute.
“These braves are really an interesting bunch of people.”
He raised his head and smiled at the man. “Thank you, Fengqing.”
Xu Fengqing glanced at him and reached out to help him put on his hood.
The cloak Xenos was wearing was a treasure he obtained from the ruins, which could hide the wearer’s physical features.
After all, with Xenos’ popularity among players, he would probably be surrounded by players if he was recognized. It would be almost impossible to leisurely stroll around and watch the fireworks like now.
“Let’s go. Don’t you want to go to the hot springs?”
Xu Fengqing looked at the map and pulled him toward another street.
He had promised Xenos that he would go to the hot springs with Xenos after the beast wave was over. Unexpectedly, Xenos always remembered it. When Xu Fengqing went online to find him today, he heard Xenos talk about it.
Xu Fengqing was so obsessed with work that he rarely had time to rest, let alone go on vacation to soak in the hot springs.
These days, there were holographic games with 99% realism which was much more convenient. They could experience all types of things they couldn’t usually do at home.
This also made Xu Fengqing better understand the concept proposed by his second brother—Starry Sky Age would become the second world of humanity in the future.
Of course, they still had a long way to go before reaching this goal.
Xenos followed him and was led by the man by the wrist.
Since Xu Fengqing was there, Xenos didn’t put his mind on walking at all. His eyes fell on the surrounding street scene and he inexplicably fell into a trance.
He might’ve grown up in Imperial City, but he was trained as a prince. Therefore, studying and training took up most of his life. He didn’t have much time for fun.
After going to the front line as an adult, he had no chance to hang out in Imperial City. In his memory, he only participated in bonfire parties like this two or three times.
But what he saw tonight was so different from what he remembered that Xenos felt dizzy.
The people around him were laughing and making noise. They were full of joy. It was a joyful, hopeful and energetic atmosphere that Xenos had never experienced before the beast wave.
He was immersed in it, always feeling like he was in a dream.
Xenos couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Did I really come back?’
Could it be that he was still in the underground cave, rotting in the dark like a waste with an impossible dream…?
The person walking in front suddenly stopped. Xenos bumped into him unexpectedly, accidentally knocking his nose sore.
It was this pain that brought him out of his trance.
“Are you okay?”
Xu Fengqing looked back at him and frowned when he saw the system notification that he had caused 10 points of physical damage.
Xenos touched his nose and looked at the lively scene around him that hadn’t changed at all. He laughed and said, “I’m fine.”
He looked at Xu Fengqing and said, “Fengqing, thank you.”
Xu Fengqing looked at him helplessly. He didn’t like Xenos saying thank you all the time, especially when he didn’t do anything.
“Let’s go.”
Xu Fengqing led him through the crowd again, this time more carefully. At the same time, Xu Fengqing didn’t forget to say, “Watch the road carefully.”
Xenos sighed, but still couldn’t help looking around.
He really liked the current Roland. He couldn’t help taking a few more looks.
There might be many things that seemed strange to him, but he could feel the flourishing vitality. This was something that he had never felt before in his life.
Xu Fengqing looked back at this person and finally sighed in his heart. He looked away, not talking to Xenos again or letting the crowd affect him any longer.
Finally, they left Doha Town and came to the hot spring resort located near the town.
The hot spring resort did good business on weekdays. It was also good today, but people might’ve been attracted by the bonfire parties. This meant there weren’t as many customers as before.
Both of them were sensitive people. It was naturally impossible for them to go to an open-air bath. Fortunately, Xu Fengqing wasn’t short of money.
After paying, a staff member led them to a relatively secluded cabin on the mountain.
Once they opened the courtyard door and walked in, they could see a steaming private hot spring pool. There was a small wooden cabin next to it where they could change clothes.
“All independent hot spring pools in the resort are marked with anti-peeping magic circles. People without door cards can’t enter. Once someone breaks in, the alarm will be triggered.”
“The two guests can feel free to soak in the bath without worrying about…”
The staff member paused and didn’t continue, but Xu Fengqing probably understood what he meant.
It was estimated that in the early days of the establishment of this hot spring resort, many players came to cause trouble. So many preventive measures were added later.
“These two guests, please use it slowly. If you need anything, you can use the communicator to contact us.”
After the staff member left, Xenos took off his hood. He looked at the private hot spring pool and nodded with some satisfaction.
“It is no wonder that it has become a pillar industry of Doha Town. This hot spring resort is indeed doing well.”
He looked like a big leader who came out with a private interview.
Xu Fengqing shook his head. Although he couldn’t help thinking of some business plans, he was out here for fun. Thus, there was no reason to think about such business matters.
“Let’s go inside.”
He pushed Xenos into the wooden house. Once they came out again, both of them only had a bath towel wrapped around them.
Soaking in the steaming hot spring pool and looking up at the bright moon in the night sky, Xu Fengqing couldn’t help sighing comfortably.
In comparison, Xenos was a bit more reserved.
He watched Xu Fengqing soak in the water, and slowly reached into the water, moving to the other person’s side carefully.
Xu Fengqing looked sideways at him.
He had always known that Xenos was very white, but with a sickly pallor. Now, under the steam of the hot spring, his snow-white skin showed a faint pink color that was much more pleasing to the eye.
The hot spring water at the edge wasn’t deep, probably only reaching a man’s calf. As he got closer, it slowly spread to his waist and made the slender waist curve more conspicuous.
Once he sat down, the water reached his chest. This was just right.
Xenos sat down next to Xu Fengqing. Compared to Xu Fengqing’s tall and wheat-colored healthy skin, Xenos looked much thinner.
He wasn’t meant to be like this.
Xenos remembered that in the past, he also had a strong physique. Now he…
He closed his eyes. Compared to having no hands and feet, his current state was a gift from God. What did he still need to ask for?
Next to him, Xu Fengqing browsed the system mall, ready to buy some snacks and a bottle of low-alcohol wine.
Drinking wine while admiring the moon was the perfect way to soak in a hot spring.
However, after he selected something and clicked to buy it, he didn’t have time to take it out when he felt Xenos tilt his body and rest his head on Xu Fengqing’s shoulder.
Xu Fengqing froze and lowered his head. He saw that the man’s face was red, his eyes were closed and he seemed to have fainted.
He was stunned for a moment. Then he thought of something and quickly picked up Xenos.
Xu Fengqing left the hot spring pool and entered the house. Finally, he placed Xenos on the bed for people to rest in the room. He wiped Xenos’ body with a bath towel and called him anxiously.
“Ah Xe, wake up.”
At this call, Xenos woke up leisurely and looked at him with confused purple eyes.
Xu Fengqing sighed with relief.
“Ah Xe, how are you feeling?” He asked.
“What’s wrong with me?”
“You fainted. It was probably caused by a lack of oxygen after soaking in the hot spring for too long. You will be fine after taking a rest.”
Xenos blinked and murmured, “It turns out that I really will faint…”
He was now so weak that he would faint while taking a dip in the hot springs.
Xu Fengqing frowned. “What do you mean? You know you will faint when soaking in the hot spring, so why did you still come?”
Looking at his stern expression, Xenos pursed his lips. He lowered his eyes and said softly, “I just… hope you can forget my ugliest appearance.”
Proofreader: Purichan
Any support on Patreon will be appreciated and you will also get access to advance chapters.
https://www.patreon.com/rainbowturtle
If you just want to support or buy me a coffee, you can consider Ko-fi:
https://ko-fi.com/rainbowturtle
Awoooo *crying and crying more* poor Ah-Xe gege 😭😭😭 he wants to look beautiful in his future hubby’s eyes! Don’t worry! You were nothing but beautiful in this dumb big bro’s eyes!
Thnxxxx for the chap! (ﾉﾟ0ﾟ)ﾉ~✨💜