Chapter 444 Bonfire

Beneath the brilliant starry sky, beside a flowing stream.

A bonfire blazed, its flames reaching high, crackling and popping, sending sparks flying outward.

Skewered on wooden branches above the massive fire was a huge Ghost Tiger, being constantly turned and roasted. Around the fire sat a circle of men and women in black combat uniforms.

This bonfire feast was much better than Jiang Xiao had imagined. Given the Night Watch’s nature, Jiang Xiao had naturally assumed they were a group of taciturn, quiet, and boring individuals.

Er Wei was a typical example. Back when she was leading apprentices in Mount Erye, she had also guided those two children in that direction. The Night Watch, after all, had to be able to endure solitude and withstand loneliness.

But perhaps it was because old friends were reunited, the atmosphere at tonight's bonfire feast was surprisingly lively.

It was said that those on leave, those switching shifts, anyone who could come, had come.

A tattered old guitar, a soldier who kept interrupting his strumming to drink, yet managed to evoke a sense of emotion in Jiang Xiao.

Jiang Xiao wasn't as sentimental as Fang Xingyun, but this scene was indeed remarkable.

Under the vast starry river, amidst the fireflies dancing in the sky, the bonfire light illuminated the soldiers' faces. Someone would always join the song, follow the singing, and there would always be someone lost in thought, head bowed in silence.

Jiang Xiao was like a person appreciating an oil painting, standing at a distance by the slowly flowing stream.

The soldier holding the guitar looked to be around 30 years old, slightly drunk, his eyes glazed. He raised his head and took a swig from the wine bag, only to have it snatched away by a companion.

He laughed heartily, wiping the moisture from his lips, and continued the unfinished song:

"Morning flowers picked at dusk in a wine glass, lonely me after the wind and rain, do you have a captivating smile, wild geese fly past, chrysanthemums adorn the head..."

At the bonfire feast of over 20 people, figures intertwined, but Jiang Xiao could still easily find Er Wei's figure.

At this moment, she was sitting on the grass, leaning back slightly, hands supporting her on the ground, one leg bent. Her narrow, phoenix eyes followed the passing wine skin, surveying each familiar figure.

The firelight illuminated her face. In the midst of this melodious and beautiful song, she vaguely sensed something and turned her head.

Jiang Xiao timely withdrew his gaze, only to see a soldier staggering towards him.

"The silhouette of time is so long, the past years come to mind again... Hey, meat, meat! Don't snatch it, haha!"

"Sing! Keep singing!"

"Hurry! Hurry!"

Amidst the distant cheers, the singing continued: "In the sea of people who come and go, people in the distance wave to you... Wine, bring the wine!"

Jiang Xiao silently watched the soldier approach. He recognized this person, Hou Zihou, a captain-level figure.

Hou Zihou held a wine skin in his left hand and a dagger in his right, with a large chunk of roasted meat freshly cut on it.

"Little brother, it's been three days, and you're wearing a mask," Hou Zihou said with a soft smile.

"Thank you," Jiang Xiao said politely, but held up his palm, indicating he wouldn't eat.

Hou Zihou blocked Jiang Xiao's path and whispered, "I know she's particularly strict, but on this occasion, it's okay to sneak a little."

Jiang Xiao silently shook his head and looked at the man holding the guitar, loudly asking for wine, changing the subject, "He's good, what's his name?"

"Him?" Hou Zihou held the dagger to his mouth, tore off a piece of roasted meat dripping with oil, and said, "Hou Yanhuan, the easiest person to be chosen."

Jiang Xiao: "Huh?"

"Hehe, the leader's here, we all know what that means," Hou Zihou said with a smile, "I've been partnered with Yanhuan for 6 years, and I know his capabilities. But I never knew he could sing, hehe. He borrowed this guitar specifically."

The intoxicating singing continued, even if it was a little out of tune, but the voice was truly infectious, entering the chorus:

"The roads of north and south you must walk, thousands of roads you must never look back, where do you roam in the vast wind and rain, let the waters of the Yangtze flow to the horizon..."

Jiang Xiao: "Because you have too few recreational activities, right?"

Hou Zihou: "Well, yes, ever since I joined the Night Watch, I haven't participated in a bonfire party... huh? Leader's calling."

Jiang Xiao turned to look and saw Er Wei sitting on the grass in the distance, raising her palm high, gesturing towards the two of them.

Hou Zihou smiled and said, "She's really strict, hasn't changed at all. To avoid you getting scolded, I'll leave. Oh, right..."

Jiang Xiao: "What?"

Hou Zihou stepped back towards the bonfire, but raised the wine skin in his hand, giving Jiang Xiao a slight nod: "World champion! Brother, make us proud!"

Behind the mask, Jiang Xiao smiled embarrassedly. His gaze swept past Hou Zihou's body, and Jiang Xiao saw Er Wei specifically point at him again and beckon.

Jiang Xiao raised his eyebrows slightly and walked over.

"Beyond the mountains, green mountains, beyond the building, more buildings, the green mountains and small buildings no longer exist, don't wait by the closed window, wild geese fly past, the fragrance of chrysanthemums fills the building..."

In the song sung by several people, Jiang Xiao came to Er Wei's side and squatted down: "What's up?"

Er Wei's cheeks were flushed, with a hint of alcohol: "You can eat the meat."

Jiang Xiao was speechless. This mask wasn't real, it was conjured. The soldiers present were all above the standard level in strength, so forget it.

Seeing that Jiang Xiao didn't respond, Er Wei looked to the other side and pointed with her chin at the soldier holding the guitar, "What about him?"

Jiang Xiao shrugged his shoulders and said, "Don't know, not familiar."

Er Wei: "Go test him."

Jiang Xiao: "Now? He's pretty drunk."

Er Wei leaned back again, supporting herself on the grass with her elbows, looking up at Jiang Xiao. In her drunken state, her hoarse voice seemed to soften a lot: "Then go easy on him."

Taking advantage of someone's vulnerability?

Tsk tsk... I like it!

"Listen, look, think, time flows by, cry, laugh, no need to say, how many rounds can there be in life..."

Hou Yanhuan dragged out a long lingering sound, singing a beautiful ballad, forcibly singing out a heroic and unrestrained feeling. In a burst of cheers and applause, Hou Yanhuan finally received the wine skin that had been passed around.

His eyes glazed over, he tilted his head back and took a big gulp, only to find that there wasn't much wine left in the skin. He tilted his head back, raising the wine skin high, waiting for the drops of wine to fall, but suddenly felt the surroundings become silent in an instant, leaving only the crackling of the bonfire.

Tzz!

A soft sound, the sound of a blade piercing into the earth.

Hou Yanhuan removed the wine skin and looked up, only to see a mysterious person wearing a circle mask.

This... is the leader's teammate, a regular member of the Tail Feather Team, Light Chaser · Nine Tails!

Before the bonfire party started, Leader Er Wei had strictly forbidden anyone from disturbing Nine Tails, and this Light Chaser had been silently standing by the distant river, standing beside the tent, without a word.

Hou Yanhuan crawled back half a meter, staggering to his feet, and looked at the still silent, mysterious Nine Tails in front of him.

Saying mysterious, it wasn't really mysterious. People knew what kind of youthful face was behind that mask.

It was this young man who, a month ago, wearing the national battle robe, had won the supreme honor for China.

In fact, many of the soldiers present were wondering how such a pride of heaven could shed this halo and arrogance, and quietly stand by the river, standing guard for everyone.

Hou Yanhuan threw away the guitar, brushed his neat buzz cut with one hand, looked into the distance, swept past Jiang Xiao's figure, and looked at Er Wei in the distance.

Er Wei's mouth raised slightly, and she nodded slightly.

"Haha, no problem!" Hou Yanhuan let out a hearty laugh, a laugh that contained the battle cry star skill of the gold rank.

In an instant, the emotions of the surrounding soldiers were agitated. A voice came from who knows where: "Fight!"

"Fight!"

"Fight!"

"Fight!" One voice, two voices... people shouted loudly, their voices powerful and united.

Hou Yanhuan tilted his neck left and right, striking a fighting stance.

Behind the mask, Jiang Xiao raised his eyebrows slightly, not intending to take advantage of the other party, he reached out and drew out the giant blade, rotating it and throwing it into the sky, also striking a fighting stance.

The rotating giant blade fell rapidly amidst the sounds of "Fight!" and stuck in the grass.

At this moment, the two seemed to have heard the bugle call to battle, their figures collided together.

"Whoop!"

"Ahahaha!"

Bursts of exclamations and occasional cheers swirled around the bonfire, resounding in the night sky.

Fists flashed, accompanied by the sound of hunting wind.

The fierce fight lasted for nearly three minutes, until Hou Yanhuan manifested his Star Power and gathered a star power ball in his hand. Jiang Xiao's offensive stopped, and he retreated backward.

Hou Yanhuan also immediately stopped his actions, each wrist surrounded by a star power ball.

He couldn't help but pick up the star power ball, annoyedly knocking on his head. Combat habits were terrible, especially when you encountered a real opponent...

He drank too much, got excited, and the fight almost escalated.

"Losing to the world champion isn't embarrassing! Haha!"

"Jiang Xiaopi! Wins!"

"Yanhuan manifested Star Power, he's trying to bully the kid, hahahahahaha!"

Hou Yanhuan listened to his comrades' teasing, couldn't help but laugh heartily, quickly walked a few steps, bent down and picked up the guitar on the ground, and shouted: "Don't talk! I'll sing you another one!"

"Yahoo!"

"Good!"

Hou Yanhuan plucked the strings hard...

Jiang Xiao smiled, drew out the giant blade, flashed, and returned to the stream not far away.

Under the starry sky, fireflies danced.

In the distance, Jiang Xiao looked at the faces of excitement and cheers. The so-called battle, the so-called result, at this moment, were no longer important.

Singing floated, drinking and talking happily.

Although the sky here would never light up, the party would eventually come to an end.

He didn't know how long it had been, Jiang Xiao carried the drunken Er Wei on his shoulders, and amidst farewells, walked towards the tent set up by the river.

She was too happy today, so... Jiang Xiao didn't plan to stuff her into a sleeping bag, he was going to let her sleep on the grass directly.

After Jiang Xiao threw her into the tent and turned around to walk out, the sound of Er Wei's low whisper suddenly came from inside the tent: "Someone asked me just now."

"Hmm?" Jiang Xiao turned around, squatted down, pinched the tent zipper, and pulled it upwards.

Er Wei's voice came from inside the tent again: "They asked, how did I convince someone who is the focus of the world's attention, someone who lives in flowers and applause, to willingly wear a mask, hide their name, and join this team."

Jiang Xiao smiled and said, "How did you respond?"

Er Wei sat up, looking at Jiang Xiao through the unzipped tent door: "My response was that I don't know. You know, you can tell me."

Jiang Xiao nodded solemnly: "We can use the process of elimination. First of all, it's definitely not because of beauty."

Er Wei: "......"