A person lay on the long bench in the yard, basking in the sun. The sunlight filtered through the locust leaves and shone on his face, and he closed his eyes, enjoying the moment of comfort.
"Take things as they come." These days, he could only console himself in this way. What else could he do if not basking in the sun? What was that secret after all?
Ever since the meeting with 0, that question, that secret had been lingering in his mind, refusing to leave. Later, he found 22, the brown-haired man, who claimed to know nothing about it.
"Sir, you wouldn't be deceiving me, would you?" He looked at 22 with a pitiful expression.
"No need for that. I am not a native descendant of Anunnaki. Relax, I believe that since 0 said so, when the time comes, you will definitely know what that secret is." The bewildered look on the brown-haired man did not seem like a lie.
22 led him to a residence, a small house located behind a bar. The decoration in the house was very simple, with a single bed and a lace quilt folded into a square shape on the bed. The bedsheet was adorned with several bright Persian chrysanthemums.
Apart from a lonely energy-saving light hanging from the ceiling, there was a coat rack near the window (it seemed they did not intend to provide extra clothing for guests). The house also had a separate bathroom with a ceramic toilet and a shower head on the wall. (Fortunately, at least he didn't have to worry about his body getting moldy, enduring stuffy days.)
Behind the small house, resembling a prison cell, there was a small courtyard enclosed by high walls (which made the boy feel even more like he was serving a sentence), isolating it from the bustling and noisy street behind the thick walls. However, despite this, the lively noise from outside still managed to penetrate the thick walls and reach the boy's ears.
The boy did not dislike this liveliness, in fact, he quite liked it. Having been in solitude for too long, he had almost forgotten what the civilized world looked like. There was a small door on the wall near the street, and he had several times restrained the impulse in his heart to open the door and see the outside world, but 22 had a completely different opinion.
"Your identity is very noble. I think, without someone accompanying you, at least until you are familiar with this world, you should not wander around." Every time the brown-haired man visited, he would twist a bottle of wine in his hand. His drunken appearance was truly infuriating, especially the alcoholic breath he exhaled every time he spoke. He would take a sip after every sentence, causing the alcoholic breath to become stronger and stronger, forcing Wu Fan to move further away from him.
"Hey, come closer, I say, I can hardly see you."
Let's talk when you are more sober. The boy thought, "I am really foolish, to think that this drunkard would accompany me outside."
There was a locust tree in the yard, seven or eight meters tall, flourishing and verdant. Every leaf seemed to carry a sense of vicissitudes, whether it was the new growth on the branches or the fallen leaves on the ground, overgrown with weeds. Some ivy climbed up the wall corners, resembling lace decorations in a picture frame. Besides the ivy, although the ground plants looked good, their height seemed to have been carefully trimmed, roughly the length of his palm. Under the locust tree, there was a reclining chair woven from bamboo and rattan, and a stone table leaned against the side. Additionally, under the table, there were four round stone stools, like four little dwarfs with big bellies, and every time 22 came, he would lie down and doze off on them.
Since returning to this place, 22 had few sober moments, and the conversations between the drunkard and Wu Fan were rare, usually just two sentences, one being, "Have you eaten?" He had an exact grasp of meal times, and whenever he said this, as expected, the waiter would appear with a food cart in front of the two.
In this world, only beauty and food should not be let down. As for the former, this statement did not seem to apply. The waiter was a shy and delicate-looking boy, not particularly pleasing to the eye. A few days ago, when Wu Fan arrived in this unfamiliar city with 22, it was he who took charge of their mounts.
As for the food, in the past few days, Wu Fan had indeed feasted. He had eaten many delicious dishes that he had never eaten before, only heard of, or never even heard of.
Breakfast for him would consist of milk, deer blood (the first time he saw steaming fresh red blood on the dining car, he was startled, but after taking the first sip, he immediately fell in love with the taste), dragon-bird milk (a hybrid of pterosaur and a certain type of bird, dragon-bird milk is a deep green color throughout, looking unappealing like swamp mud, but tasting refreshing like a milkshake).
He would have oatmeal, corn porridge, ostrich eggs, swan eggs, and dragon-lizard eggs (dragon-lizard: a hybrid of dragon and monitor lizard, the eggshell is the size of a ping-pong ball, with a hard, horn-like outer shell resembling gray-brown rock, shaped like a small pineapple or large pine nut, with petal-shaped scales on the shell that require a special sheller to crack open. The interior is rich in protein, consisting of two thick, pasty liquids, one milky white and the other a burnt red color like a branding iron. Initially, there is a strong spicy sensation in the mouth, like pouring a pot of chili-infused broth into the mouth, but it does not harm the skin. With time, the taste buds emit a sweet, intoxicating flavor).
Compared to breakfast, lunch is more lavish. He has had black truffle with steak, a medium-rare prime steak drizzled with mushroom sauce, foie gras with red wine, caviar with drawn chicken in red wine, chewing on a couple of mint leaves or two pieces of beetroot. Carrots, seaweed, tomatoes, and cabbage made into a salad with roasted suckling pig in chili sauce, sliced duck with goose, dipped in sweet bean sauce, baked snails with broccoli, and nothing beats a sip of white wine to make one feel comfortable. He enjoys oysters with tempura and braised prawns, washed down with a refreshing fruit vine.
Steamed pearl chicken with cherries and chestnuts, dipped in pepper sauce, followed by a sip of dark beer, is also a very nice way to enjoy it. Pizza with beef bacon and peanuts, grilled lamb chops, crispy and then drizzled with golden custard, sprinkled with a little cumin and black pepper, looks very appetizing. Vegetable grilled quail, tiramisu, sushi, teppanyaki, sashimi, hot pot, among this array of foods, he loves a particular stone, called the "Hundred Flavors Stone."
As the name suggests, this food is a type of stone, so when the dull-colored pebble is brought to the table, no one can understand the boy's conflicted feelings. The young waiter, the self-proclaimed nameless, with keen observation, proved with practical action that the food he brought was absolutely fine. He picked up a stone and put it in his mouth, then swallowed it.
Seeing that he had no problem, Wu Fan couldn't help but try it, but when the stone slid into his throat, he felt a choking sensation. The smiling face of the boy made him shiver, a feeling of being deceived arose as the stone slid into his stomach. For a moment, he thought it was a conspiracy, as 22 had said that not everyone wanted him to exist, and there were always people trying to get close to him and then hurt him.
His stomach was heavily compressed, and the stomach wall contracted tighter and tighter. He wanted to vomit it out of his belly, but he only dry heaved, his throat felt dry. This painful feeling did not last too long, probably about ten seconds. When his stomach began to function again, he felt something slowly digesting, like the snow on a winter mountain suddenly receiving the warmth of the spring sun.
The taste buds first emitted a hint of bitterness, then a little spiciness, a slight tingling on the tip of the tongue, as if being shocked by an electric current. Then came the taste of yogurt, beetroot, and salt. Soon he felt more and more flavors. "The taste is quite good, isn't it?" The waiter boy smiled with narrowed eyes, leaving only two unnecessary slits.
"Really wonderful," he sincerely exclaimed.
Delicious food would temporarily make him forget the pain, but another sentence from N 22 would make the pain continue.
"It's time for the check-up." Yes, since coming here, he had to undergo a check-up every day like a patient. The examination room was in a small room under the wine cellar. Every time before passing through the wine cellar, he would wear several layers of masks. He also had to make sure that he didn't have too good an appetite that day, or eat too much. This was from experience. On the first day, when he went for the check-up after eating and drinking his fill, the moment he smelled a pungent wine smell, the delicacies he had just eaten and drunk left his mouth like a landslide from his mouth, which was reluctant to leave his stomach.
The examination equipment was very simple, like a tall silver refrigerator. However, unlike a refrigerator, the door of the refrigerator could open towards the front, but the iron thing he was facing showed no sign of a door in front. Secondly, the top of the refrigerator did not have an infrared light, which was like the lens of a camera, as if it could peek into the mystery of the human body. The boy needed to stand about three meters away from the lens so that the machine could scan his whole body. When he stood still, he would be asked to take a side photo, a front photo, and a back photo, trying to capture himself from all angles, which made him feel like a criminal, or as if he was exposing a secret that should not be seen by others.
"This is for your safety. We cannot be sure that the people of the Empire have left any hidden dangers in your body," Wu Fan would always hear 22 say when he was most impatient.
"Oh my, why not give me a roll of tape? I really want to seal his mouth forever," he would think fiercely. It couldn't be helped; sometimes 22 was more annoying than a nagging aunt.
The check-up didn't take too long, about ten minutes, and then it was his boring but comfortable time. He would return to the recliner, a chair made by someone unknown, comfortable, sturdy, and beautiful, much better than 22's craftsmanship. He would close his eyes but not fall asleep, just enjoying the sun kissing his face, the breeze carrying away the beauty of his hair, and the tree shadows swaying in front of him. A warm current would also sway in his heart, like an excellent piece of music.
When he was free, his stomach was full, and his mouth couldn't hold any more, so his brain would start to work frantically. He couldn't figure out the difference between a servant and a slave.
"A slave is the private property of its master, deprived of personal freedom, while a servant only sells his labor to his master."
"But what about the slaves in the dinosaur base?"
"This is a long story. Those people have committed many unforgivable sins and can only serve as slaves of the Empire."
"Slaves of the Empire, are they the slaves of the emperor, right?"
"No, the slaves of the Empire and the slaves of the royal family are two different concepts."
He wanted to continue asking something, but 22 buried his head on the table and started snoring, drool flowing from the corner of his mouth.
"Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions," Wu Fan would say angrily.
If he saw the boy who called himself nameless, he would take the initiative to chat with him, and after a while, the two became acquainted, although most of the time it was Wu Fan doing the talking, and the boy would smile and listen. "Nameless is not really a name. How about I give you a new one?" But when he saw the boy shaking his head, his chubby face full of a deep smile, he could only vent his pent-up anger on 22, grabbing his messy brown hair and cursing, "Get up, you damn drunkard." But the drunkard never paid him any attention, only answering his complaints with rhythmic, clear, and heavy snores.
The fact that Nameless was a servant and not a slave made him happy; at least he was free. This mixed-race boy, who looked a lot like an Algerian, not only took care of pets and mounts (in fact, they were the same thing, dinosaurs), but also took care of his daily life as a noble guest. Although sometimes he felt strange, Wu Fan was still very grateful for the boy's meticulous care, perhaps because they were of the same age, or perhaps because the boy's appearance in his eyes seemed a bit malnourished. He had pitied the boy countless times in his heart.
He felt more and more sympathetic towards the boy, and more and more disdainful towards the boy's master. Even though 4 often wore a hearty smile, giving people a sunny and trustworthy feeling, Wu Fan just couldn't bring himself to like him. He always felt that the former Amerind had a very dark heart, as if he was hiding something.
"Congratulations," although Wu Fan didn't know what the boy meant by "pegasus," he still showed a happy expression for him.
"Pegasus is a kind of horse, sir. They are very intelligent creatures, with a pair of wings covered in pure white feathers, a symbol of nobility and purity."
Suddenly, an image flashed in Wu Fan's mind, the legendary mount of the elves. "But that's a fictional creature," he couldn't help but say.
"Sir Wu Fan, Pegasus is not fictional. They are real. If possible, I mean if one day, I will take you to see them."
"Thank you for your kindness," he said, pulling at the corners of his mouth, never very good at lying.
He had thought he would always be like a carefree caged canary, until one day, 22 didn't show up as usual, and 4 sat on the wall, looking down at him with a smug smile.
"Good morning," he said. The Amerind man flashed a set of bright white teeth.
"Good morning, sir," although he didn't like him, he still politely greeted him.
The tower-like man leaped down from the wall, and the boy couldn't help but worry if there would be a big hole suddenly smashed into the ground.
The man, as strong as an ox, kept approaching him. He instinctively stepped back, but then realized he had no reason to step back, so he stood upright. After all, he was the one they needed, the savior of this world, the Starof Wish.
He walked up to him, a large hand resting on his shoulder, a slight pain made Wu Fan involuntarily cry out, "Don't think you'll be treated specially here." The boy was so scared by the man's bell-like eyes that he almost cried.
"But here, you will receive the respect you deserve, as long as you are willing to abide by the rules of this place and adapt to the local customs," 4 laughed heartily again, and patted his shoulder at random. "How about a hug?" Wu Fan couldn't understand what the man was thinking, and he refused the warm embrace.
"Well, someday, I will make you accept it."
"Accept? Impossible!" Wu Fan firmly believed.
"Have you ever seen the beautiful scene of locust flowers in full bloom? It's truly breathtaking," 4 pointed to the locust tree behind Wu Fan, "White as snow, some say it's the feathers of angels scattered on earth."
The boy glanced at the locust tree, the greenery on the brown branches was compelling, the dry bark was like the wrinkles at the corners of an old person's eyes, with some irregular bumps distributed on it, the holes where insects came in and out, like birthmarks on an ugly girl, or hemorrhoids on the buttocks of a middle-aged man. He shook his head, unable to understand 4's intentions.
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"Unfortunately, you arrived at the wrong season, you missed the good times and beautiful scenery."
"Is that so," a sudden anger flared up in his heart, I shouldn't have come here, but what came out of his mouth was, "That's a pity."
"Do you know the special meaning of the locust tree?"
"I'd like to hear more about it, sir."
"According to its owner, I mean the person who planted this tree in the yard decades ago," he raised his eyebrows and made a very ridiculous expression, "The locust tree seems to be called the tree of homesickness in China, its pronunciation in Chinese is the same as that of yearning."
The boy suddenly bit his lip, a fleeting bitterness appeared at the corner of his mouth.
4 walked straight past him, picked up a piece of dried branch from the ground covered with yellow leaves, the two faded brown leaves on the branch were like the wings of a withered leaf butterfly, symbolizing aging and death.
However, that was not his original intention, "There's a word I quite like, called 'fallen leaves return to their roots'."
The boy's emotions surged, like a huge whirlpool suddenly appearing on a calm sea.
"Come on," 4 smiled and opened his arms again towards him.
"No, stop, you can't do this, stop."
But his body gradually disobeyed him, an irresistible voice came from his mind, "Embrace me," the man's embrace in front of him made him feel comfortable and warm.
"No, stop, you shouldn't do this," he shouted in his heart again, but with gradually moistened eyes, a faint sadness, he longed for that embrace.
He opened his arms, like a dog long suppressed in a cage, and threw himself into 4's strong chest.
"My child, you have endured enough, now, cry, let the torrential rain of tears release the long-standing anxiety and fear in your heart."
He gently patted his back, as gentle as stroking a cat, "Everyone carries fear and anxiety when they come into this world. We are far away from our families, friends, those we love, and those who love us. Perhaps one day in the future, we will forget them, forget the important people and things. Anyway, this is a new world. A new beginning, which means we can write a new life on this new land."
No, I don't want all this new, I just want to go home, I don't want to forget, I can't forget the important people, those important things are my everything, my life. The little dinosaur man cried even louder.
Electricity ran through his body, and his cognition was refreshed once again.
4 pushed him away from his embrace, grabbed Wu Fan's shoulder with one hand, and placed the dried branch in front of the boy, " 45, Wu Fan. Grab it, hold it tight."
The boy groaned in pain as he grabbed one end of the branch, and the Amerind man slowly let go, "Grab it, hold it tight, this is hope, the hope of going home." He was so solemn that Wu Fan felt like he was holding not a piece of a branch, but a key to another world.
"Grab it, hold it tight," 4 repeated, "Don't forget who you are, where you come from."
The boy firmly grasped the branch and nodded heavily, "My name is Wu Fan, I come from the human world."
Together, they opened the wooden door, revealing a new world behind it.
The street seemed livelier than a few days ago, with colorful lights hanging from the trees on both sides of the road. At the top of the trees, yellow stars were placed, and red ribbons fluttered in the wind, with some slogans and logos posted on them.
"Is Christmas coming soon?" he wondered.
The atmosphere on the street was festive, with every pedestrian wearing uniquely shaped masks, some were ghosts, some were animals, and he even saw someone with a large flower face, resembling a Peking Opera mask.
"Or is it Halloween today?"
He looked at 4 with an inquiring gaze.
Peddlers carried goods through the streets, and shop owners were holding big promotions. Wu Fan watched as a dinosaur shop owner placed a sign in front of his stall, "In honor of the great hero king, all items in this store are 10% off."
Many young people (although they mostly looked the same age, according to the prompts from the intelligent brain, Wu Fan understood that it was just an illusion, as the lifespan of the dinosaur people was very long, and aging features were not as obvious as in humans) gathered in front of statue stalls or mask stalls. There was a short mixed-race man wearing a black top hat, sporting a goatee, and dressed in a neat black suit, promoting his goods to passersby, a string of pure white pearl necklaces.
"Come and take a look, top-quality pearls, in honor of the great hero king, buy a string, trust me, it will bring you good luck, whether worn around your neck, ankle, or wrist, it will dispel all misfortunes for you. Beautiful ladies, buy a string, it will bring you good luck, just look at the hero king statue in your hand, how beautiful it is, I swear it's a perfect match with my pearls." He grabbed the hand of a pure-blooded snake person, but the other person quickly shook it off with a displeased look, and naturally, his gaze turned to Wu Fan and 4, who were watching the excitement.
"I'll tell you about it later, let's stay away from trouble for now," 4 whispered to the boy, as the short man was walking towards them.
After turning two corners, they made sure they had shaken off the salesman. 4 looked around mysteriously, and then let out a sigh of relief.
"What happened, sir?" Wu Fan's eyes were full of confusion.
"Nothing, nothing at all," his slightly flustered tone was not very convincing.
Feeling the boy's skeptical gaze, he quickly straightened up and let out a hearty laugh, "I think you have a question for me, don't you? Go ahead and ask!"
I do have many questions, sir, such as what are you avoiding. But he didn't ask that question. "What day is it today? Why are there no vehicles on the road?"
"The Hero King Festival is coming soon, and all this is in preparation for it," 4 looked around, "The first king of the country, who was the last descendant of the Anunnaki, fled here and founded the country. His subjects call him the Hero King."
"You will soon learn more about the legend of the Hero King," he smiled mysteriously and tapped the cobblestone ground beneath his feet. His deep eyes seemed to be filled with tranquil springs, "This city has been established for over ten thousand years. Ten thousand years are enough to turn the sea into mulberry fields, to dry up rivers, and to level mountains. Life has changed back and forth over ten thousand years, even the longest-lived plants have only survived for a few thousand years. What can be preserved? Inheritance, and some inorganic substances with strong resistance to erosion. Every stone and brick here is a witness, witnessing the history of generation after generation of people. Although they are strong, they are also fragile, depending on how you treat them. Therefore, for over ten thousand years, there has been a law stipulating that except for the royal family, ordinary people are not allowed to use vehicles on the city roads."
"How do they usually get around then? Don't they need to go to work?"
4 burst into laughter, which made the boy blush, thinking he had asked another foolish question.
"Sir, did I say something wrong?" His timid appearance was truly that of a timid little animal.
"No, you didn't ask anything wrong, relax. I just remembered that I also asked 0 the same question when I first came here."
"How did he answer you at that time?" Wu Fan couldn't help but be a little curious. 0, the man who looked like a tiger, was someone he feared, but also someone who fascinated him.
"Do you know how electric current is generated?"
"By the directed movement of electrons," Wu Fan answered without hesitation.
"Yes, but when 0 asked me this question, I had no idea at all, after all, the concept of electric current did not exist in the era I lived in." His eyes, full of stories, did not look as young as his appearance, "I almost fell for his trick again, forgetting his true age." Wu Fan looked at 4 and thought of 22.
"A stone falling into a lake can spread ripples to a distance of hundreds of meters. Can you say that this is caused by the quality of the stone itself?"
"It's the water waves," Wu Fan answered, still not understanding 4's meaning.
"Energy is transmitted in the form of waves, and waves create fields. Fields are everywhere. The formation of electric current seems to be caused by the directed movement of electrons, but how much mass and energy do the electrons themselves have?" Wu Fan scratched his bangs, 4's words had completely confused him.
"The reason why electric current can be born is that there is interaction between electrons, creating a field, and the field can gather a large amount of energy. The trajectory of the field is not unique, and the electric current spreads in all directions. The metal conductor restrains the interaction between electrons, allowing them to move along a predetermined path. The more electrons there are, the greater the interaction between them, and the more obvious the electric current." He finally understood what 4 meant to express, but he still didn't understand the difference between the dinosaur people's travel and electric current.
Seeing the boy's puzzled expression, he laughed heartily and explained, "The essence of the field is actually the essence of motion. Only motion can bring energy. The energy has little to do with its emitter."
He looked at the boy's raised brow bone and decided to use a different approach, "If electrons have no mass and no energy, does that mean that the interaction between electrons will not produce electric current?"
"No," but he glanced at the smile at the corner of 4's eyes and suddenly felt a little unsure, "Maybe not, probably not."
"The dinosaur people discovered a kind of particle many years ago, which had no mass itself, and they called it a original particle. Interestingly, when these particles start to interact, they create a motion field, which brings energy and also gives these originally massless original particles mass."
"That's impossible!" the boy was greatly shocked, "Objects without mass cannot produce energy."
4 did not immediately deny his words. He pointed to the sky, and Wu Fan looked at the azure sky, cloudless for miles, with the sun hanging in the blue sky, warming people with a friendly smile.
"We are being protected by original particles," 4 paused and continued, "The force field composed of original particles can prevent most threats, and it can also create the weather that best suits people's moods."
"Not only that, the dinosaur people also discovered that these original particles with zero mass, when they generate huge energy as they flow, can achieve spatial travel, and anyone or anything close to the teleportation gate will be transported to the destination."
Wu Fan suddenly remembered the strange doors emitting white light when he was in the dinosaur base.
4 seemed to feel that his explanation was not detailed enough. He took a deep breath, pondering the vocabulary in his mind. His eyebrows pressed down on the bridge of his nose, the wrinkles on his nose resembled undulating grooves, and his eyes moved closer to each other, like the eyes of a hawk searching for prey.
"The dinosaur people discovered that by placing a positively charged original particle in one location covered by a force field, and a negatively charged original particle in another location covered by the same force field, a passage would be generated between them. It's like placing positive and negative charges at any two ends to generate a field. Of course, the energy transmitted between them is chaotic and aimless, just like positive charges emitting energy that is eventually absorbed by negative charges."
"The dinosaur people created a kind of panel, on one of which a large number of positively charged original particles were placed, and an equal amount of negatively charged original particles were placed on a panel of the same size. Through certain techniques, the movement trajectory between the two was constrained to an invisible straight line, just like the flow of electricity in a metal rod. This can maximize the transmission power and standardize the destination of the transmission."
Wu Fan nodded as if he understood, "No wonder we (he and 22) had to travel so far. Can I understand it this way, that spatial teleportation can only be achieved under the protection of a force field?" The white teleportation doors were moist, and as he passed through them, every inch of his skin felt as if it was being gently caressed.
"Yes, without the protection of a force field, the control of the original particles cannot achieve the stability people desire. I once read in an ancient book about spatial teleportation gates that someone conducted a teleportation experiment in an area without a force field. The result was that the experimenter's body was torn apart. Can you imagine that? His half head was transported to a position about 5 meters from the destination, his right foot and left chest were stuck together, and other parts of his body were like a piece of bent iron."
Wu Fan couldn't help but feel a tingling sensation on his scalp, and he felt a sense of horror at his previous foolish thoughts.
"Don't worry, under the protection of the force field, teleportation is not dangerous. I have lived here for hundreds of years and have never heard of a teleportation mishap."
This reassured Wu Fan, "But where are they? I mean those teleportation doors, I haven't seen them yet." The milky white light of the teleportation doors was still fresh in his memory.
"You will see them. But before that, as your professional guide, I need to introduce you to this great city."
"A professional guide," 4's words made Wu Fan smile.
"22 had to go out temporarily, and he thought that without his company, you might feel bored, so he asked me to help."
"Well, I really appreciate that," without 22's constant chatter, Wu Fan had indeed felt a bit uncomfortable lately. Fortunately, 4 proved to be equally talkative.
"About this city, Reya Ye City, can you guess its origin?"
"I think it's named after a person."
"Yes," 4 nodded at the boy's cleverness, "According to legend, this city was founded by the first king, the Hero King Reya Ye. There is a legend about the city's founding called 'One Night City.'"
"When the last descendant of the Anunnaki came to this world, people went through hardships and long journeys, and more and more people died. When they arrived at a plain, an uneasy gloom shrouded every living being. All Anunnaki thought they would perish here, but when they gave up struggling, one person left the group that night to seek the turning point of fate. No one knew what happened that night, but the next morning, when the dawn lit up the earth, he returned exhausted and told everyone that he had created a city, a home for the continuation of the Anunnaki race. This person was Reya Ye."
"One Night City" sounded like a fairy tale. Wu Fan propped his chin with his right hand, and his furrowed brow immediately earned him a heavy slap on the back from 4. He patted his back, and the sudden slap almost made the pensive boy stumble. He grabbed his right shoulder and steadied him, "No one can say for sure what happened, after all, this belongs to a legend from over ten thousand years ago. Young man, you can't let your thoughts weigh you down. Stand up straight. You should be like a sky tree, not a twisted willow."
"This city is divided into four areas by two main roads, with the palace at the center. The area surrounded by the Princess Gate and the Golden Gate is called the Trade District. It is the lifeblood of the city, with countless business opportunities like blood vessels, connecting the heart and controlling the operation of the kingdom. The area surrounded by the Princess Gate and the Prince Gate is called the Political and Cultural District. It is the brain of the giant, where countless policies are formulated and promulgated, storing the past and contemplating the future, the future of the kingdom and the people. The area surrounded by the Prince Gate and the Hero King Gate is called the Martial Competition District. The dinosaur people build their nation through martial arts, and they carry the blood of warriors. Here, there are various martial arts halls, combat rooms, and arenas. Most men may love beautiful women, but in this world, there is no one who does not love heroes, brave warriors. It is the backbone of any country. If a person has no backbone, no courage to fight against the crappy world, then they are no different from a corpse."
Wu Fan subconsciously swallowed, feeling that he sometimes lacked courage.
"The descendants of the Anunnaki, 0, are not warlike people, but entering this world requires following its rules, and inheritance is very important in this world. But as I said earlier, this is a new world, and no one will care about your past, or treat you differently because of your former status. At least everyone has basic freedom. The first thing you need to learn is to adapt to the local customs and accept the traditions of this world. Otherwise, you will find that this world is against you at every turn."
"Under our feet, the Hero King Gate, surrounded by the Golden Gate, is called the Living District. Nearly half of the city's population lives here, including commoners, nobles, merchants, politicians, and even members of the royal family. They are the muscles and soul of this city, and of course, so are all the citizens of the kingdom. Without the people, there is nothing in this country."
"You should be grateful that 22 lives in this area, not the Martial Competition District. You can enjoy fine food and wine, rather than being punched to your heart's content." 4 flashed an Amerind smile, "Talking is just wasting my energy. I feel more energetic after a good meal to continue the journey."
"By the way, this place is called Little Hundred Street. Here, you can find everything you need for your daily life. Everyone knows that this street is famous for its delicacies, and I think you have already experienced its taste over the past few days. The food on Little Hundred Street in the Living District, the wine on Favorable Wind Road, I don't mean to criticize 13, but you should know that the Hero's Fire at the Flame Bar is indeed more famous than the Blue Moon at the Moon River Bar. Do you know that you are currently staying at the Moon River Bar?"
Wu Fan shook his head. He had never paid attention to the name of the bar. In the past few days, apart from checking his meals and sleep, the rest of the time was spent either daydreaming or being curious about the secrets 0 had mentioned.
"Well, the food on Little Hundred Street, the wine on Favorable Wind Road, the beautiful scenery at the Front Beach of the Holy Water, and the Golden Road in the Business District are collectively known as the four major features of Reya Ye City. If you have time, I will take you to see them all. I think 22 may have recommended some of them to you before?"
Wu Fan scratched his bangs, suddenly remembering, "The Long River, he said I could enjoy the scenery of the Long River here."
"22 and I are on the same page. The scenery at the Front Beach of the Holy Water is indeed worth seeing. Well, I'll go after I finish my meal."
He led him towards the restaurant.
Suddenly, a girl blocked their way, "Gentlemen, please take a look at this." The girl handed them two posters.
She had fair skin, a head of brown wavy curls, clean eyes with deep eye sockets, a delicate round face that revealed two sweet dimples when she smiled, a high-bridged nose, narrow nostrils, and white teeth. She was wearing a loose blue and white dress with white lace trim on the cuffs and hem, white knee-high socks wrapped around her slender legs, and a pair of small leather round-toe shoes. She exuded a faint fragrance, and her voice was as sweet as her appearance. Wu Fan dared not look directly at her, and the shy boy lowered his head, not daring to say a word. His head buzzed, and his heart pounded. The girl found him amusing and let out a chuckle.
"May the prophet and the Hero King be forever well, may the Golden Road of the King's Avenue shine again." 4 drew a circle on his chest and clasped his hands together. Wu Fan had seen this gesture before, when 22 was bowing to a sky tree.
The girl stopped laughing and drew a circle on her chest, clasping her hands together, and said the same words. She glanced at the boy with lowered eyebrows, then covered her mouth and laughed, like a charming nightingale, and then left.
4 smiled at him without saying anything. The boy's face suddenly turned red, and it took him a while to let the warmth fade from his face. He was someone who lacked experience in communicating with the opposite sex, especially when facing a beautiful woman. He always felt awkward and blushed, just like many years ago.