Bai Ye had always felt that a group of horse bandits plus a rampaging mechanical golem didn't quite match the grandeur of a hidden quest, especially when a group of chosen ones were there to help. Moreover, after the mechanical golem went berserk, Bai Ye didn't need to lift a finger; Kai and Mulan arrived and dealt with it.
However, if it were a chain quest, Bai Ye could understand. After all, the first part of a chain quest was bound to be the easiest.
The problem was the subsequent difficulty, and how many stages this quest had?
"Hey, Bai Ye!" Mulan called out, turning around. "What are you spacing out for? Let's go!"
Bai Ye snapped back to attention, replied, and quickly followed Mulan and Kai.
Returning to the ancient road, the horse bandits had all been subdued. The chosen ones had no obligation to escort them, and dispersed immediately after the mission was completed.
Mulan called over a squad leader from the Chang'an soldiers and asked a few questions. Then, she went to the giant flatbed cart and looked at the damaged mechanical golem.
A moment later, Mulan found Kai and Bai Ye and said, "I need to write back to Chang'an. Something is not right about this."
Bai Ye asked, "What's not right?"
Mulan explained, "According to the Chang'an soldiers, that mechanical golem had nothing to do with them. It was brought by the horse bandits. When the bandits appeared, they used over a dozen horses to tow that flatbed cart."
Bai Ye replied, "It wasn't from the supply convoy anyway, so it must have belonged to the bandits. What's so unusual about that?"
Mulan continued, "But, on the center of the cart's wheels and on the back of the mechanical golem, I found the mark of 'Wanxiang Tiangong.' This means that the mechanical golem, and even the flatbed cart used to transport it, came from Chang'an."
Bai Ye and Kai exchanged glances.
Bai Ye and Kai couldn't grasp the suspicions in this matter. Kai was an outsider adopted by Mulan and brought to Chang'an. Bai Ye, as a newly arrived chosen one, had visited the hero region in his previous life but had never been to the Great Wall. Therefore, neither of them knew what Wanxiang Tiangong was.
So, Kai patted his chest and said, "I don't understand what you're saying, nor do I want to. All I know is, wherever your sword points, that's where I'll charge with my blade."
Bai Ye's eyes widened, and he secretly gave Kai a thumbs-up.
"Amazing, big brother!"
Such a loyal declaration, wouldn't it sweep Sister Mulan off her feet?
From today onwards, please allow me to call you Father Kai and accept me as your adopted son, teaching me the ways of wooing women.
Then, Bai Ye glanced at Mulan. She showed no reaction and lowered her head, lost in thought, seemingly pondering the mystery of the mechanical golem.
Bai Ye slapped his forehead. He had forgotten that she wasn't an ordinary girl. It seemed Father Kai's path to love would be long and arduous.
They escorted the horse bandits back to the military camp. Shouyue, radiating the power of a devoted wife, held up a tray and smiled, "You three have worked hard. Come and eat."
Shouyue's cooking was, as always, delicious.
After eating, Mulan immediately put down her chopsticks and went to find Li Xin. As the current commander of the Great Wall, she had to go through Li Xin to write to Chang'an.
Bai Ye, meanwhile, continued to ponder the hidden quest.
The second stage of the quest was to help Mulan find the ghost. However, quests shouldn't be judged solely by their surface. Currently, the clue seemed to be the mechanical golem, and since the mechanical golem was related to the ghost, investigating the mechanical golem and uncovering its origin might lead them to the ghost.
Thinking this way, Bai Ye felt he might need to wait. After all, Mulan had already started investigating the mechanical golem, and the reply from Chang'an would likely provide new clues.
At the same time…
A bird's cry suddenly interrupted Bai Ye's thoughts. He looked up and saw a large white bird flying overhead. It looked like a seagull, with a very distinctive beak, quite enormous, like a giant pouch.
Then…
Bai Ye saw a blurry black mass falling from the sky, growing larger and larger, and then…
*Thud!*
Bai Ye's head was suddenly struck with great force, sending him and his chair crashing to the ground with a loud bang.
Kai and Shouyue were startled and quickly helped Bai Ye up.
"Bai Ye, are you alright?" Shouyue checked Bai Ye's head and said, "Your head is red, but it's not bleeding. You should be fine."
"Damn it!" Bai Ye cursed, clutching his forehead. "Falling object from above, may you die a horrible death!"
Kai picked up a cardboard box and handed it to Bai Ye. "What is this? There's a note on it."
Bai Ye took it and was instantly speechless.
The first line written on it read: Big-Mouthed Gull Express, at your service.
"Your grandma's! It's actually a delivery?" Bai Ye's eye twitched. He said to Kai and Shouyue, "It's my stuff, it's just that the delivery method was a bit violent."
Kai shrugged, while Shouyue asked, "Do you want to put some medicine on it?"
"I can do it myself," Bai Ye said, picking up the cardboard box. "You guys continue eating, I'm heading back."
After speaking, Bai Ye walked back towards the camp with the cardboard box, muttering curses.
Back in the tent, Bai Ye drew his famous sword, Blood Drinker, and sliced open the cardboard box. He stared at the contents, stunned.
"This thing?" Bai Ye exclaimed. "A snail?"
The box contained a snail. However, compared to ordinary snails, this one was a behemoth among snails, about the size of two palms. Its shell had spots, a dial for a phone number on the side, and even the top part of the shell could be removed, revealing a earpiece.
Phone Bug (Item) (White): A magical creature used for communication, resembling a snail in appearance. It remains dormant when not communicating and awakens when in a communication state.
Bai Ye glanced at the screen and said speechlessly, "So, this is a phone that looks like a snail?"
This thing was quite magical. Bai Ye was well-traveled, but in his previous life, he had never seen such a communication tool.
However, there were many strange and peculiar things in the world battlefield. Even if Bai Ye had roamed for a lifetime, it was impossible for him to have seen everything. Therefore, it was normal for him to encounter something unfamiliar.
Just then…
"Pururu, pururu, pururu, pururu…"
The phone bug's eyes suddenly opened, and its mouth, split into a thin seam, began to emit a continuous "puru" sound, short and long, in a distinct rhythm.
Bai Ye tilted his head. Was it ringing?
As Bai Ye thought this, he picked up the earpiece from the snail's shell and said, "Hello?"
"Hi, Bai Ye, long time no see." Jin Sha's voice came through with a smile. "Did you receive my delivery?"
…