boyutpedia Chapter 172 Dancing in the Fire
Chapter 172 Dancing in the Fire
"And then what? What happened to that friend you mentioned?"
Paimon, engrossed in the story, asked anxiously when Wendy didn't reveal the next part of the plot.
Wendy's expression turned serious as she looked at the overly curious Paimon.
"Paimon, do you want to know what happens next?"
"Of course, of course! Don't keep me in suspense, just tell me!"
Courtney glanced at Wendy's sad expression, then looked at Paimon speechlessly and scolded, "Idiot Paimon, why did you have to be so curious at a time like this?!"
"Eh?"
Paimon, bewildered after being called an idiot by the usually quiet Courtney, let out a bewildered "Eh."
Seeing this, Courtney pretended to be angry and said, "Hmph... I'm angry. Go catch me a fish, or I won't forgive you."
"Ah? Why?"
Looking at the bewildered Paimon, Ying smiled slightly and said, "I'm actually hungry. Paimon, go and get me one too."
Paimon looked bewildered and turned his head away helplessly.
"Ugh... I just can't do anything with you guys!"
After saying that, Paimon floated away and went into the water to catch fish.
After Paimon left, Wendy let out a long sigh and said to Ying, "Ah—sometimes I think you're a little too clever. But perhaps it's best for friends to understand each other implicitly. Fine wine, a gentle breeze... moments like these always remind me of... that song I heard from him..."
Upon seeing this, Ying listened attentively.
Wendy closed her eyes and began to chant.
"Fly, fly. Like a bird. See the world for me...fly to the highest heavens for me."
After the song was finished, Wendy didn't say anything more.
The figure, concealed by a green cloak, remained unusually silent.
The gentle breeze can sometimes become heavy... though it's only for a fleeting moment that's hard for mortals to notice.
After Paimon returned, Courteney silently stood up and was carried by Firefly off the giant statue.
It was getting late, and little Courtney was starting to feel sleepy.
After being taken back to the hotel by Ying and Paimon, Courteney climbed into Huiyuan's bed and fell fast asleep.
At night, the wind blew open the window and caressed the sleeping Courtney.
A man with an ominous face and no lower body gently stroked the girl's face.
He is Courteney's imaginary friend, and also the last image of her brother in Courteney's memory.
At the same time, Huiyuan woke up from her dream and stretched.
"Sister Tongzi, what time is it?"
"Congratulations, host, you have achieved the accomplishment 'Slept from morning until the next morning'."
"Huh? I slept for so long? I can't use Lingling Skin next time I sleep, it's really poisonous."
"Never mind that for now, host. The 'The Bard's Sidekick' quest has entered a special phase. Shall we proceed to the next step?"
Looking at the task progress bar in front of her and the suddenly appearing confirmation button, Huiyuan was somewhat confused.
"Huh? What happened? I just took a nap, how did the mission get to 99%???"
The system did not answer the question; it simply enlarged the confirmation button by a factor of two.
Huiyuan was completely bewildered and had no choice but to press the button.
"Execution order confirmed. Entering target 'Courtney's' dream."
......
After a gust of wind, I opened my eyes again and found myself in an unfamiliar place.
Before them stood an impenetrable iron fence, and behind them were their own compatriots.
The air was cold, making my toes shiver.
The pain emanating from my furry ears was suffocating.
Blood dripped down her hair, but the cat-tailed girl dared not utter a single tear.
A heavy touch came from above her head; it was her gentle older brother comforting her.
"Everything will be alright..."
Hidden footsteps could be heard ahead.
A debt collector, entirely red and wearing a Fool's Mask, examined the items being traded inside the cage.
The group of thieves rubbed their hands together, eagerly awaiting the other party's offer.
"How about it, Brother Fool? This batch of goods is pretty good, isn't it?"
The debtor didn't speak, but just snorted and kicked the cage.
Fearful screams rang out, from both boys and girls.
The debt collector's gaze swept across the room, then settled on Courteney.
"Hmph...Aren't you afraid? Your perception is quite good; you even heard my footsteps... She's mine. The others..."
After the debt collector made a throat-slitting gesture, the treasure-hunting gang bowed and scraped obsequiously.
The uncle from the treasure-hunting gang took out a key... opened the cage, and pulled me out.
A force came from my other arm; it was my brother trying to pull me back.
Suddenly, the sound of blood splattering filled the air, and at the same time, the force from his right hand gradually disappeared.
When they turned around... the fire had already set the cage ablaze.
The person closest to me was my brother. Only his upper body was outside the cage; his lower body was nowhere to be seen.
A sharp pain shot through my heart, as if insects were crawling on it.
The heart-wrenching screams were met with a heavy punch from the treasure-hunting gang.
When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in an unfamiliar bed.
The vibration coming from beside my ears was the muffled voice from behind the mask of the eldest brother of the Fools.
"Who told you to hit her?"
There were also the sounds of the treasure-hunting gang members begging for mercy.
"I'm sorry... I..."
A loud "smack" rang out in the air, and blood splattered onto my face.
At the same time, the curses of the foolish brothers came over.
"Disgusting... I didn't want to do this business in the first place. If it weren't for the Executive's request, I would have killed you long ago. Hmph... What a pity for such a good cat, ruined by your punch. Oh well... I'll give it to that Doctor."
Cool water droplets slid down my cheeks.
The heavy feeling on my head did not follow.
That warm hand is no longer by my side.
It's so cold, so cold...
It's so hot, so hot...
I closed my eyes helplessly, and the image of my elder brother appeared in the fields in my memory.
"Little Duna, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
Little Duna is my original name.
Hearing this name always evokes feelings of love and warmth.
"Brother, I am the most talented bard of our time!"
"My brother's bragging again..."
"Hey, don't be so skeptical, let me play you a song."
Fingers lightly touch the strings, and cold snow covers the whole body.
The melodies produced by the strings were no longer pleasant; they had turned into the rustling sound of the iron mesh.
The carriage gradually came to a stop.
The beautiful melody suddenly sank to the bottom.
The blood of my loved one is flowing before my eyes...
My name is Duna. I like my name. It was given to me by my older brother.
My name is Courtney, and I like it. My brother gave it to me.