The sun had already set. Wu Niu and the fisherman had spent most of the day fishing together. On the ground beside them were two separate piles of stinking fish, respectively. The fish were much larger than the ones Wu Niu could ever catch with his rock trap.

The man sat his fishing pole down at his side and bellowed a sigh. In response, Wu Niu set his pole down as well.

“Welp! That was some good haulins’ if do say so.” The fisherman said with a telling look of acceptance and what may have been a hint of discontent.

The fisherman packed away his pile of fish into the wicker basket at his side, which he then swung around to wear like a backpack. Wu Niu followed suit by packing his fish into his hide sack.

“Thanks, fur’ fishin with me, kiddo. Hope to see you round these parts again, someday.” said the fisherman as he brushed away dust clinging onto his hind from where he sat.

As the fisherman walked away, Wu Niu turned swiftly to call out to him.

“Yeah! Thanks for teaching me how to fish, Uncle Jiang.”

Jiang chuckled and yelled back.

“You taught yur’ self, son! I been fly fishin’ fur’ 40 years. Yet you matched me in skill in one day. I reckon that’s sumtin’ to be proud of.”

Wu Niu was surprised to hear Jiang declare such a thing, and it most definitely helped him regain some of his lost pride.

It had been forever since Wu Niu last had human contact, and he was glad that it was the fisherman Jiang.

Jiang was a pleasant and real person. Wu Niu had only just met him, yet he showed such kindness without knowing Wu Niu or how weak or strong he was.

Jiang looked unapproachable, and yet he somehow turned out to might have been one of the most authentic people Wu Niu had ever met.

“Welp. See ya kiddo’!” fisherman Jiang called out as he turned to leave with basket and fishing rod in hand.

Wu Niu clenched his fist as bit his lip trying to desperately restrain his tears from flowing.

“U-Uh… yeah, see ya.”

Wu Niu turned away and relaxed his body. Looking up to the sky, he saw the orange thread-like cirrus clouds gently drift southward.

-If only more people in this world could be like Jiang. Then maybe things could've turned out differently.

Wu Niu let out a dismal sigh and whispered, “Oh well. I’d better get going while there is still daylight.”

Standing up, Wu Niu lifted his bag of fish and slung it over his shoulder. Walking downstream toward a road that was supposed to be a little ways away, he didn’t stop to look back. His future now lied within Silver Trout City and nowhere else.

Wu Niu flipped the bag over his shoulder and let it dangle down his back. It was heavy and filled to the brim with fish cadavers.

-I can’t wait to get to the city. I wonder if the people there are nice.

The fisherman Jiang told Wu Niu that Silver Trout City was only about a couple of miles down the road at the plateau's base. If he didn’t make any stops along the way, he would probably be able to get there by nightfall.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

***

Twilight befell the sky, and the plateau's edge had yet to come into Wu Niu’s view from where he stood.

“Hmm?”

-I wonder how much further it is.

The dusty road underfoot was hard against Wu Niu's bare toeless feet and very unpleasant to walk upon. Bumpy and sharp surfaces had accustomed him to the sensation of unpleasant walking experiences, but there was something about flat compact dirt that was causing aching pain in Wu Niu's feet as he walked.

Wu Niu found that he had come to a fork in the road. Three signs were pointed in three corresponding directions. The northmost pointed one had "Wu family" written on it and multiple other branch families of the region, the west pointing sign had nothing written on it, and the sign pointing to the south path had written on it “Silver Trout City” among its few southern subsidiary branch families.

“You lost, little boy?”

Suddenly, Wu Niu heard a raucous voice from behind him, that impeded him moving onward.

Turning around, Wu Niu saw a trio of bandits step out from behind the maples. Two tall guys stood behind a short chubby man. They didn’t look very fit, so Wu Niu couldn't assume that they were practitioners.

The chubby one had a smug look on his face as he approached leisurely with weapons in hand.

Wu Niu saw that the two at the chubby man's sides had clubs, whereas the chubby one had a fancy sword.

-So then I’m assuming he’s their leader.

The chubby man tapped the flat of his sword against his palm as he scoffed quite arrogantly.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t a little errand boy.”

The men at his sides harshly snickered.

-Real funny.

“Throw your little bag over here, and we’ll let you leave.” said the chubby bandit with a sardonic smirk.

Wu Niu shook his head and replied, “Nah. I think I’ll pass.”

The bandits’ confident sadistic faces converted to one of surprise. Momentarily speechless, the chubby man cleared his throat and admonished Wu Niu.

“W-What?! Do you want to die, little boy?!”

“Sure. But only If you die first.”

The bandits looked at each other with furrowed brows and burst into laughter, followed by wheezing.

“Is this kid serious?! Ha, alright then. Any last requests before we kill you?” The chubby man said as he wiped a tear from his eyes.

“Yes, actually.”, replied Wu Niu.

The bandits were once again, momentarily stunned.

“T-Then what is it, boy? Don’t waste my time.”

“Can you let me get ready first?” Wu Niu requested.

“Ready to die?! Sure, I don’t see why not.”

“Thanks.”

Wu Niu unstrapped the stone weights from his body and dropped them to the ground clunking on impact. The bandits, slightly confused, looked on quizically.

After having freed himself from the weights, Wu Niu shouted with a smile.

“Ready!”

“R-Ready?! Why are you smiling? Are you stupid or something?”

The fat bandit sighed and slowly stepped forward.

“Present your neck so I can make this as fast and painless as possible. Honestly, I almost feel guilty that I'm about to kill a retard.”

Wu Niu ignored the bandit’s mockery and shook his head.

“No, I don’t think I will.”

The bandits made a shocked expression for the third time.

“W-What?! But you sai—”

“No, I didn’t. I said, let me get ready. Not let me get ready to die. I told you that you would be dying before me, remember?”

Wu Niu smiled at the bewildered bandits.