Just as I signaled the shopkeeper to "wrap him up" for me to take away, I turned back to find the man staring at me, motionless, his eyes wide and clear.
So he wasn't sleeping after all.
The Night Walk had a set of registration procedures that were quite a hassle; they even confirmed my intent with me countless times. Once the official business was concluded, I beckoned to the man.
"Let’s go."
The gazes of the people around us were filled with surprise. I heard someone mutter, "He’s so heavily injured and has been lying there for so many days; how can he just get up and walk? What a heartless master he’s encountered..."
The man wobbled as he used the wall for support to climb to his feet. He moved toward me with staggering steps, his progress even more difficult than mine. He took two steps and paused for one; I tucked my hands into my sleeves and waited for him with great patience.
It took the time it takes to burn a stick of incense just to walk out of the inn.
It took the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to pass the storefront of a snack stall.
It took another fifteen minutes to reach the city gate.
Even for someone as extremely slow-tempered as I am, I was starting to feel a bit of a literal pain.
"Can't you walk any faster?" I asked.
The shadow guard’s body jolted, and he sank tremulously to his knees. "This subordinate... is incompetent... I beg Master for punishment."
His voice was hoarse, every word squeezed out with difficulty.
Could it be?! A sudden flash of inspiration hit me, and I asked cleverly, "Are you in pain?"
"I wouldn't dare," the shadow guard took a deep breath.
"Then let's keep going." I guessed wrong... I rubbed my nose sheepishly and watched as he took a long, long time to stand back up and continue walking.
After he crawled forward two steps like a snail, I stopped.
I didn't actually know where I was supposed to go or what I was supposed to do.
The letter only mentioned one thing: buying a shadow guard. Now that I had bought one, I suddenly felt as though my life's goals had been achieved and I was free of all worldly concerns.
While I was meditating on this, I rubbed my abdomen. Waves of pain made me frown.
"Master... are you unwell?" The shadow guard keenly sensed something was wrong.
"I’ve been plotted against. My life is nearing its end," I sighed despondently.
The shadow guard looked horrified. He whispered, "This subordinate offends," and reached out to take my hand.
Hey, why is a grown man touching my hand?
The shadow guard gripped my wrist and stared blankly for a while, then lowered his head. "This subordinate is incompetent... I cannot detect Master’s ailment."
I don't blame you; this martial world is simply too treacherous.
I cast an expectant gaze toward the shadow guard, hoping he could provide some direction for my life. Stared at by my eyes, the shadow guard looked utterly bewildered and didn't speak for a long time.
Sigh, what use are you?
"What should we do now?" I asked leisurely.
The shadow guard suddenly became tense. After pondering for a good while, he said cautiously, "I await Master’s orders."
I'm asking you because I don't know, ugh...
I thought about it and changed my phrasing: "What would an ordinary person do at this time?"
The shadow guard went through another internal struggle. "For ordinary households, it would be time for the evening meal."
Oh, right, right, that’s it. I remembered now—people with physical bodies do indeed need to consume food daily. I said gratifiedly, "I leave it to you."
"Yes," the shadow guard responded, yet there was no movement for a long time.
The shadow guard waited a while, then looked up at me.
I looked back at him.
He looked at me again.
The shadow guard’s expression became a bit complicated. He spoke hesitantly, "This subordinate... this subordinate has just left the Night Walk and does not have... any..."
"I know." Didn't we come out together? Do I look like I have amnesia?
"..." The shadow guard looked at me with that complicated expression for a while longer before finally saying, "Yes. This subordinate understands."
Then he slowly shuffled away.
Is it just my imagination, or is he walking even slower than a regular pedestrian? I really should take him to a physical body manipulation class.
I crouched by the river, silently waiting until the sun dipped below the horizon. I gradually felt the "lethal poison" in my body acting up even more severely... It hurt so much. Oh my god, I’m dying, I’m dying, I’m dying.
"Master." I finally heard a call. I turned my head to see a staggering figure approaching, carrying a cloth bundle. Once close, he slowly spread the bundle on the ground.
I watched him by the light of the setting sun. Huh, why was there so much water on his face? And there was a lot of a mysterious red liquid seeping out of his clothes.
I reached out a finger and poked one of the little fountains.
The shadow guard sucked in a sharp breath, his face contorting. He looked to be in great pain.
I didn't understand what he was hurting about.
"Does it hurt?" I looked at him with a kind smile.
The shadow guard gritted his teeth. "No."
Sigh, I guessed wrong again. How disappointing.
This disappointment was very brief, because I was immediately distracted by the aroma coming from the cloth bundle. That scent seemed to have a magical quality, making one itch with anticipation.
This smell—I had smelled it during the orientation class!!
This... could it be... the legendary... FOOD!!!
"I am... deeply sorry... I could only find one wild pheasant and some wild fruit. I have prepared them crudely, you..."
In our civilization, it is said that gourmet food is addictive, an existence similar to drugs—very dangerous. Once you touch it, you can't quit. Because one needs a physical body to eat, and maintaining a physical body is a very luxurious activity, let alone controlling one to consume food.
Yet my hands, as if bewitched, reached out uncontrollably.
The shadow guard had just turned back around, holding two tree branches he had snapped off. He stared at my eating manner in astonishment and whispered, "Master, the chopsticks..."
Chopsticks? Heh, don't tease me. How could I possibly manage such high-difficulty operations?
I cleared away the roasted chicken and wild fruit like a whirlwind sweeping away clouds, shedding tears of emotion.
Ancient times are the best! Physical bodies are the best! Waaaah.
After finishing the sweep, I saw the shadow guard staring at me in mute shock. I coughed awkwardly. Oops, I forgot to leave some for him. He’s a human too; he needs to eat as well...
"Are you hungry?" I asked.
The shadow guard shook his head solemnly.
Oh, not hungry... Why do I keep guessing wrong? How frustrating.
So shadow guards don't need to eat. How impressive, truly badass.
It was only then that I realized the intermittent pain in my stomach had vanished, replaced by a comfortable sense of satisfaction. It dawned on me—the shadow guard must have secretly put the antidote in the food.
I looked at him sincerely.
The shadow guard fell to his knees with a thud. "Master, forgive me! This subordinate could only find this...!"
Sigh... am I really that scary?
I helped him up. Returning to the situation of not knowing what to do, I had no choice but to ask, "I ask you, what do ordinary people do at this time?"
"Master, forgive me!" Another thud as he knelt. "It is time for Master to retire for the night. This subordinate deserves death."
Why do you have to die just because I’m going to sleep? I frowned in confusion. "Where do we sleep?"
"This subordinate is ignorant. I do not know Master’s..." He hesitated for a long while. "I do not know which manor Master belongs to, or how to return."
I thought about it. "I don't belong to any manor, and I have nowhere to return to."
"...My apologies, this subordinate has overstepped." The shadow guard’s face turned pale. He asked with uncertainty, "Then tonight... shall we stay at an inn?"
"Let’s go then."
The shadow guard walked ahead with a complicated expression and labored steps, while I followed behind leisurely humming a little tune.
It was just that oil kept dripping from the corners of my mouth, which was a bit annoying. I used my sleeve to wipe it. It was still sticky and uncomfortable, but much better than before.
For some reason, the way the shadow guard looked at me became even stranger.
In the inn’s lobby, guests were seated in small groups having dinner. I looked at them, recalled the people I had met today, and then looked at the shadow guard.
Hmm... I always felt... the shadow guard was a bit different from the others.
Other people's clothes were made of whole pieces of cloth; even if the styles were simple, they were neat.
Why were the shadow guard’s clothes in strips with frayed edges, and all blackened?
I remembered from my history of fashion classes that in some eras, people would specifically take jeans and cut them or distress them to make them look old; it was the trend at the time.
The shadow guard must be a fashion trendsetter of this era.
No wonder people were always pointing and staring at him.
Although I didn't particularly like his tattered post-modern fashion style, it was his own business after all. I have no right to interfere with others' preferences; I, the Creator God, am truly very democratic.
The innkeeper came forward, looking my outfit up and down. His gaze lingered on the jade pendant at my waist several times, his eyes crinkling into slits as he smiled. Then he saw my face, and the corner of his mouth seemed to twitch.
"Uh, guest, staying the night? What kind of room would you like? How many?"
I felt a bit complicated and didn't know how to respond. I had to look at the shadow guard.
"One." The shadow guard’s tone was also a bit hesitant. "...A premium room... I suppose."
Wait, could it be that he hasn't stayed in an inn before either?
"Right away~" The innkeeper responded, then looked at the shadow guard with a beaming smile.
The shadow guard looked at me.
Eh, why are you looking at me?
After waiting a moment, the innkeeper reminded us in a low voice, "Guest, perhaps a deposit first...?"
...Oh! I understand! He wants money! However, that realization was useless; I didn't have any money.
The shadow guard looked me over with a complicated expression, then took a deep breath as if making a major decision. He turned back and said, "Shopkeeper, bring paper and brush."
Hearing this, the shopkeeper provided them. After the shadow guard finished writing, the shopkeeper looked at it and his body jolted. His expression immediately became extremely respectful.
"So you are that Lord’s... Boy! Quickly, show these two honored guests upstairs!"
Eh! Writing can be used as money! My shadow guard is amazing!
I gave the shadow guard a couple of approving looks, intending to praise him properly once we reached the room. However, when the shadow guard noticed my gaze, his face instantly became very unsightly.
After arranging the room, the innkeeper looked at the shadow guard and clicked his tongue. "Young master, your attendant is quite badly injured. Shall I go fetch a physician?"
I frowned at the shadow guard. "Who told you he was injured?"
To my surprise, as soon as the words left my mouth, the innkeeper knelt in terror. "This lowly one spoke too much! This lowly one deserves death! Please spare my life, Young Master!"
...What is wrong with all of you? Why do you all insist on acting like I’m some kind of homicidal maniac...
I entered the room gloomily and saw a bed like the ones I’d seen in museums. In our civilization, consciousness source files needing to hibernate are stored in network containers, yet a simple wooden board like this could achieve the effect of restoring physical strength. It was truly miraculous.
Do I just have to lie on it...?
"I am deeply sorry for resorting to such a tactic. It can probably only last for two or three days... Please punish this subordinate."
I frowned. "You did well. I was actually going to praise you."
The shadow guard’s face turned deathly pale.
I sat on the bed and bounced a bit; the bedding was quite soft. I looked at the shadow guard, who was consciously crouching in the corner. "What are you doing over there?"
"...My apologies. As a shadow guard, I should be guarding from a place where Master cannot see me, so as not to offend Master’s eyes. However... my body is truly inconvenient, and I lack the strength to leap onto the rafters..."
Oh, so my shadow guard was born with a disability.
To still engage in such a high-risk profession as a guard despite a disability—he truly has a strong will despite his physical limitations.
I gave him an approving smile. The shadow guard stumbled in terror.
"Aren't you coming up?" I patted the quilt.
"...No." The shadow guard’s mouth twitched.
He probably likes crouching in corners and dislikes sleeping in beds. I never force people to do what they don't want to do, so I let him be, pulled over the quilt, and lay down.
The pendants and jade on my body were clinking... they were actually quite uncomfortable to lie on.
Recalling today’s situation, I felt things weren't looking good. I am the Creator God of this world, having come here with cheats, thinking I would become an all-powerful hacker. Yet, unable to find the switch for my golden finger, I am just a pathetic loser, worse off than a mortal.
I don't know what can sustain my survival in this treacherous martial world. I have no relatives, I have nothing, I only have... my... beauty... sigh.
At this thought, I couldn't help but feel a deep, somber melancholy.
***
