Bai Ye always felt that a group of horse bandits plus a rampaging automaton didn't quite match the style of a hidden quest, especially with a group of chosen ones helping. Moreover, after the automaton went berserk, Bai Ye didn't even need to make a move; Kai and Mu Lan arrived directly and dealt with the thing.
However, if it were a chain quest, Bai Ye would understand, as the first part of a chain quest would surely be the easiest.
The problem lay in the subsequent difficulty, and how many links this quest had.
"Hey, Bai Ye!" Mu Lan called out, turning around. "What are you spacing out for? Let's go!"
Bai Ye snapped back to reality, replied, and quickly followed Mu Lan and Kai.
Back by the ancient road, the horse bandits had all been subdued. The chosen ones had no obligation to escort them, so they dispersed after the mission was completed.
Mu Lan called over a squad leader of the Chang'an soldiers and asked a few questions. Then, she went to the side of the giant flatbed cart and examined the damaged automaton.
A moment later, Mu Lan found Kai and Bai Ye and said, "I need to write a letter back to Chang'an. Something is not right about this."
Bai Ye asked, "What's not right?"
Mu Lan explained, "According to the Chang'an soldiers, that automaton had nothing to do with them. The horse bandits brought it. When the bandits appeared, they used over a dozen horses to drag that cart."
Bai Ye countered, "It wasn't from the supply convoy anyway. It belonged to the horse bandits. What's so unusual about that?"
Mu Lan continued, "But, on the hub of the cart's wheels and on the back of the automaton, I found the mark of Wan Xiang Tian Gong. This means that the automaton, and even the cart used to transport it, came from Chang'an."
Bai Ye and Kai exchanged bewildered glances.
The suspicious nature of the situation was lost on Bai Ye and Kai. Kai was an outsider adopted by Mu Lan in Chang'an, and Bai Ye was a newly arrived chosen one. Although he had visited the Heroic Area in his previous life, he had never been to the Great Wall. Therefore, neither of them knew what Wan Xiang Tian Gong was.
So, Kai patted his chest and said, "I don't understand any of this, and I don't 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.
"Man, you're awesome!"
Such a loyal declaration, wouldn't that totally sweep Sister Mu Lan off her feet?
From today onwards, please allow me to call you Dad Kai and accept me as your adopted son, teaching me the ways of wooing girls.
Then, Bai Ye glanced at Mu Lan. She showed no reaction, lowering her head and sinking into thought, seemingly pondering the mystery of the automaton.
Bai Ye smacked his forehead. He had forgotten she wasn't an ordinary girl. It seemed that Dad Kai's path to romance would be a long and arduous one.
They escorted the horse bandits back to the military camp. Shou Yue, exuding the full power of a wife, held up a tray with a smile and said, "You three have worked hard. Come and eat."
Shou Yue's cooking was as delicious as ever.
After eating, Mu Lan directly threw 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 a letter to Chang'an.
Bai Ye, meanwhile, continued to ponder the hidden quest.
The second part of the quest was to help Mu Lan find the ghost. However, one shouldn't judge a quest solely by its surface. Currently, the clue seemed to be the automaton, and since the automaton was related to the ghost, investigating it and discovering its origin might lead to finding the ghost.
Thinking this way, Bai Ye felt he might need to wait for a bit. Mu Lan had already started investigating the automaton, and the reply from Chang'an would likely contain new clues.
Meanwhile...
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, as large as a huge pouch.
Then...
Bai Ye saw a blurry black shape falling from the sky, growing larger and larger, and then...
*CRASH!*
Bai Ye's head was suddenly struck with a heavy blow, sending him and his chair crashing to the ground with a loud thud.
Kai and Shou Yue were startled and quickly helped Bai Ye up.
"Bai Ye, are you okay?" Shou Yue 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, holding his forehead. "Falling object from above, may you die a terrible 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 on it read: Big-Mouthed Gull Express, at your service.
"Your grandma's, it's actually a delivery?"
He then looked at the bottom, signed: Jin Sha.
"It really is my delivery?" Bai Ye couldn't help but twitch his eye. He said to Kai and Shou Yue, "It's my stuff, but the delivery method was a bit rough."
Kai shrugged, while Shou Yue 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 keep eating. I'm heading back."
After saying that, Bai Ye walked towards the camp with the cardboard box, muttering curses.
Back in the tent, Bai Ye drew his famous sword, Bloodthirsty, 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, and on the side, there was a rotary dial. In fact, the top part of the shell could be detached and was a receiver.
Den Den Mush (Item) (White): A magical creature used for communication, resembling a snail. It remains dormant when not in communication and awakens when in communication.
Bai Ye looked at the screen and muttered, "So, this is a telephone 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 unusual things in the World Battlefield. Even after a lifetime of experience, Bai Ye couldn't have seen everything, so it was normal to encounter unfamiliar items.
Just then...
"Poru poru, poru poru poru, poru poru..."
The snail's eyes suddenly opened, and its slightly parted mouth began to emit a "poru" sound, alternating between short and long, in a distinct rhythm.
Bai Ye tilted his head. Was this a phone call?
As Bai Ye pondered, he picked up the receiver from the snail's shell and said, "Hello?"
"Hi, Bai Ye, long time no see." Jin Sha's voice, filled with a smile, came through. "Did you receive my package?"
...