The End Times as a Song

Chapter 11 I'm hungry again

“Mother, Mother…”

As Huan Rugo stepped through the gates of Baicaotang, she ran, calling out as she went. But no matter how much she called, Xiao Yuanran did not appear before her. She stood in the very center of the Baicaotang courtyard, looking at the empty courtyard, which had lost all its former vitality. She continued to call out to Xiao Yuanran, but still no one answered her. The Baicaotang courtyard was eerily quiet.

"That's strange, where is Mother? Sister Kui clearly told me that Mother was at Baicaotang, so why haven't I seen her come out even after I've been calling for so long? Normally, Mother would appear immediately and stroke my face as soon as she hears my voice."

"Could it be that Sister Kui is lying to me...? No, that's impossible. If something happened to Mother, how come Sister Kui is acting like nothing's wrong? But why isn't Uncle Zhe here either? Did they all go out to gather herbs, or is Mother's poison still not cured...?"

Unable to find Xiao Yuanran, Huan Ruge was filled with fear and worry, her mind racing with wild thoughts.

"It's alright, it's alright. Even if Mother's poison hasn't been cured yet, I still have the Snow Lingzhi."

Huan Ruge gently touched the snow lingzhi on her chest to calm her uneasy emotions.

"If the poison hasn't been neutralized yet, then Mother must be in her own room. I'll go look for her again to see if that's the case. We have to be quick; so many days have passed, and if we don't hurry, Mother definitely won't be able to hold on."

Huan Rugo thought for a moment, then immediately lifted her skirt and ran towards the long corridor. She walked through the long corridor, past the fragrant herb garden, and entered the Fragrant Herb Pavilion.

"jump……"

A loud bang came from behind Huan Rugo. Huan Rugo stopped in her tracks, turned around and walked towards the herb nursery, calling out Xiao Yuanran's name repeatedly.

"Mother! Is that you?"

Huan Rugo thought it was the sound of Xiao Yuanran collapsing from poison while tending to the medicinal spirits, demon spirits, and beast spirits in the herb nursery. She called out anxiously, searching for Xiao Yuanran's figure.

A strange young man appeared behind Huan Rugo. The young man looked dazed and innocent, as if he had never seen the world. He turned his back to Huan Rugo, looked at his own body, and touched it.

"Mother, Huan'er is back...!"

Huan Rugo sensed someone behind her. Thinking it was Xiao Yuanran, she called out happily. Unexpectedly, her shout also attracted the attention of the unfamiliar boy behind her. The boy turned around, and Huan Rugo turned around as well. However, as she turned, Huan Rugo bumped into the boy and stumbled backward.

Upon seeing this, the stranger immediately reached out and grabbed Huan Rugo's fair hand, pulled her forward, and then wrapped his arm around her slender waist, turning her around gracefully.

What came into Huan Rugo's view was the face of an unfamiliar young man. His eyes were clear, innocent, and he was very tall and thin. He had his long hair tied up, looking clean and cheerful, and dressed simply in white gauze and white robes, appearing fresh, refined, and untouched by worldly affairs.

"careful……!"

The unfamiliar young man spoke in a hoarse, halting voice.

"Who are you...? Where is my mother?"

Huan Rugo stared in shock at the unfamiliar face before her. She only remembered that before she left home, there were only two men there: Tu Shanyan and Uncle Zheyi. How did a stranger end up in the house? She asked the boy, puzzled.

"I...? I don't know either...?"

The young man, startled by Huan Rugo's question, grew even more frightened. He felt this wasn't his home, and he couldn't even remember where he was. The place felt both familiar and strange to him, and the woman's voice was also familiar, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Who are you...? What are you doing in my nursery? You look so refined, why are you stuttering? You're not just pretending to lower my guard, are you?"

Huan Ruge questioned the unfamiliar young man warily.

"Me? I don't know why I'm here either?"

The unfamiliar young man spoke incoherently.

"What did you say? Are you suffering from amnesia? Or are you pretending to gain my trust?"

Huan Rugo circled around the unfamiliar young man, scrutinizing him closely.

"Me? I really don't know who I am or why I'm here. But this place feels familiar, and you make me feel safe. You still smell like her...?"

The young stranger, forced into a corner, uttered a startling statement. This demonstrates just how strong his learning ability is.

"Familiar? Safe? Her scent? Whose scent? Do I smell like that?"

"Do I smell? No! I can't smell anything."

Huan Ruge rolled up her sleeves and sniffed them.

"Mmm! Yes, it smells like her...!"

The unfamiliar young man nodded firmly.

"What's that smell? Is it the smell of sweat from not showering?"

"No, no, it's not a bad smell, it's a pleasant smell...!"

"fragrance……?"

Huan Rugo blushed with embarrassment; it was the first time someone had complimented her for smelling good even without bathing. She had searched for three days and three nights in the Chifeng Abyss without showering, her body covered in wounds. To get back, she had only changed her clothes briefly on the way. She guessed only Tu Shanyan didn't mind.

"Um……!"

The unfamiliar young man replied to Huan Rugo with certainty.

"Could it be that Mother picked up someone else while I was away? My Mother...where did she go...?"

"Picking up people...? Picking up what kind of people? Mother... what is that?"

"Ah...! Don't you have a mother? How come you don't even know what a mother is?"

"I don't know... I just took human form, and you're the first person I've ever met...!"

"Just transformed into human form...? Could you be a member of the demon race?"

"Yes, I am a demon, I am a member of the demon race! You don't seem to be a demon?"

"Yes, I am not a demon, I am a human...!"

"Human! I am a demon, aren't you afraid?"

"Don't be afraid. There are good demons among the demon race and bad people among the human race. We can't generalize from one instance to another. One night's fall reveals the whole world's autumn."

"You're absolutely right...!"

"Huan'er... Huan'er... are you back?"

Xiao Yuanran heard Huan Rugo's voice and groped her way towards it. Leaning on her cane, she staggered and called out Huan Rugo's name.

"Huan'er... Huan'er... where are you...? Come quickly to your mother!"

"Mother... Huan'er is here...!"

Huan Rugo turned her head and saw Xiao Yuanran appear at Fangcao Pavilion. She scrambled over and hugged Xiao Yuanran tightly around the waist.

"Huan'er, it's so good to see you back. Your mother couldn't find you when I woke up! Do you know how worried your mother was about you?"

"Mother, what happened to you? What happened to your eyes?"

Huan Rugo choked back sobs, a chill ran through her, and large tears streamed down her face.

"My Huan'er, I'm so glad you're back. I'm so glad you're alright."