Chapter 27 Aesthetics

The formation of a culture is an exceptionally long and complex process.

Historical background, social environment, and even geographical location… under the influence of various factors, every civilization, during each of its eras, possesses a unique display of cultural aesthetics.

The intricate and full-bodied use of luxurious and brilliant colors, laced cuffs, high-waisted pleated skirts, and court dances under the soothing sounds of string music—this is the 19th-century European Victorian style.

The rugged, wild, simple, and direct colors of nature, canine tooth necklaces, animal skin aprons, and campfire parties beneath baobab trees—this is the tribal style from the African savanna.

In his past life, Xia Nan was born and raised as a native of the Middle Continent, pasting spring couplets and growing up amidst the sound of firecrackers.

The flying eaves and bracket complexes of old buildings by the roadside, the black-and-white ink wash paintings hanging on company walls, and even the blue-and-white patterns stamped under porcelain bowls at dinner…

As just an ordinary person who, from birth, ran around for his future and livelihood under his family’s expectations, he had never actively paid attention to these scattered pieces of life.

Yet during those thirty-two years, the culture and aesthetics derived from a distant historical inheritance—which occupied almost every corner of his vision—had quietly seeped into the deepest parts of his bloodline, fusing with his soul.

Therefore, even with just a distant glance, Xia Nan keenly perceived that the pitch-black token in Haian’s hand possessed a unique style entirely disparate from this fantasy world.

“That piece of wood in your hand, could you let me take a look at it?”

With a hint of hesitation, he shouted across to the half-elf, whose expression appeared somewhat surprised.

“Here!”

Seeing that things seemed to take a turn for the better, Haian, who hoped Xia Nan would join the squad, didn’t hesitate for a single moment. The moment his words fell, he threw the token over.

Tap—

Catching it gently with both hands, his fingertips felt the characteristic touch of wooden material, combining hardness with flexibility. However, the surface wasn’t rough; it felt exceptionally warm and smooth to the touch.

Xia Nan carefully scrutinized the palm-sized piece of wood before him.

The whole thing was rectangular, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, about half an inch thick. The base was hollowed out, and along the edges, a delicate and fluid border of cloud patterns was carved in a grand yet simplistic style.

Hiss… It’s close. It really is a bit similar.

His DNA was reacting.

Whether in style or form, this wooden token almost perfectly matched the exhibits he had seen in museums in his past life.

But… there was only one thing. The most critical point that prevented him from determining whether the token currently in his hand came from another world just like himself—

The writing!

Xia Nan could clearly see that right in the dead center of the rectangular block of wood, a block character was squarely and correctly traced with a somewhat faded brownish-gold dye.

That traditional yet fluid stroke was something he had personally written countless times in his past life.

But… he couldn’t read it!

The character before his eyes was absolutely not the type of pictographic character he had studied or seen in his past life. It was clearly so familiar, yet upon closer inspection, it felt unfamiliar.

It was plausible yet wrong.

And it was precisely because of this that he was currently unable to make up his mind.

“I remember this world also has classes like ‘Monks,’ so maybe it possesses a civilization similar to the Middle Continent of my past life?”

With his thoughts churning, Xia Nan merely guessed wildly in his heart.

Under the turbulence of his emotions, his originally taut expression couldn’t help but reveal a few ripples. On the other side, Haian, who was constantly paying attention to him, naturally noticed the complex expression on his face.

With a bit of association, Haian knew it was related to the wooden token he had just thrown over. He immediately struck while the iron was hot, opening his mouth to say:

“Our squad’s mission objective is actually to investigate the origin of this piece of wood.”

“Based on the information we currently have, we have roughly narrowed down the location where it was discovered. We can reach it tomorrow.”

“If you’re interested, you might as well travel with us. I can also share some information related to it with you.”

Xia Nan was swayed.

In final analysis, whether to join the other party’s squad was nothing more than a balance of pros and cons.

Earlier, the other party had called out an offer of one hundred gold, but compared to the risks he might encounter, it wasn’t qualified at all, which was why he had refused so decisively.

But right now, when this side of the scale was weighted with “a chance to figure out the origin of the wooden token in his hand,” the situation changed.

To be fair, the four-person squad before him wasn’t so ridiculous that they were just here to court death. Although the fat guy and the blonde girl at the back didn’t look very reliable, the half-elf and Wood beside him, who was a “suspected professional,” looked the part.

Coupled with what the other party’s words had revealed just now—that the mission destination was only in the outer fringes of the Mist Forest—the risk could be lowered a bit further.

Besides… fine, he was just finding an excuse for his next decision.

As expected, I care too much about it.

An alternate world with a fantasy background, and a mysterious token possessing the aesthetics of his past life. If he didn’t take this opportunity to figure out its origin and missed the chance due to being overly cautious, he felt he might not even be able to sleep tonight.

Therefore…

“I’m in.”

Withdrawing his gaze from the wooden token in his hand, Xia Nan lifted his head and spoke to the half-elf.

…

…

One’s position determines one’s mindset.

Previously, Xia Nan had somewhat looked down on the half-elf’s squad due to its terrible composition and the unprofessional performance of certain individuals. But once he truly became a member of the squad, he found that the environment within the team wasn’t as bad as he had imagined.

They looked like wealthy young masters from the city traveling to the countryside, but in reality, the group maintained a fairly tidy formation along the way. They didn’t intentionally make noise, and necessary conversations were kept to a lowered volume as much as possible.

Xia Nan even saw a few instances where insects suddenly flying out from the roadside bushes startled the blonde girl so much that she nearly jumped out of her skin. Yet she still bit down hard on her own mouth, not daring to make the slightest sound.

Wood also displayed an exceptionally high level of professional competence.

Roaming at the very front of the squad, he would occasionally crouch down abruptly, pinch a bit of soil, and sniff it a couple of times before confirming that a certain magical beast’s territory lay ahead, directing the team to bypass it.

Or, he would unexpectedly take a tree branch he had picked up at random from the ground and sweep it twice through a patch of seemingly ordinary, dense grass, startling out a dangerous, venomous snake with a vibrant patterned design.

Rather than a guard, he resembled an experienced adventurer. It was just a pity that he didn’t say a single word, barely responding to anyone in the team except Haian. Otherwise, Xia Nan might have been able to ask him for some adventuring tips.

The most surprising one was the silver-haired half-elf, “Haian.”

Even though he was vaguely the core of the entire team and occupied the role of a marksman using a longbow as his primary weapon, he walked ahead of Xia Nan the entire way. To put Xia Nan at ease, he deliberately exposed his back to him without reservation.

Xia Nan could feel the half-elf’s friendliness and sincerity. Of course, this was on the premise of ignoring the wary glances Wood occasionally swept back from the very front of the team.

(End of Chapter)