Simple and Honest A-Dai
“I’m Tian Ran. Were you the one calling me?”
“Yes. I’m A-Dai. Master said I’m dense and slow, so he named me A-Dai. You shouldn’t be here because it’s dangerous.”
Tian Ran sat down on a rock on a summit. “Where are we? Why are you here?”
A-Dai jabbed his two index fingers together repetitively and looked down. “This is Ancient Battleground. A-Dai doesn’t really know too much. A-Dai made a mistake, so Master told A-Dai to stay here and reflect. He told A-Dai that A-Dai could leave when he is fetched.” Tone switching to enthusiasm, A-Dai asked, “Are you the person Master referred to? Master sent you here for A-Dai? Can A-Dai leave now?”
Tian Ran and Qiao Xue blinked in bewilderment.
“A-Dai, how long have you been here?”
A-Dai started counting off his fingers. “One year, two years, three years, four years, five years, six y-”
“A-Dai, don’t worry about counting for now. Why did Dad tell you to stay here and reflect?”
A-Dai returned to jabbing his index fingers. “A-Dai was a bad boy. A-Dai destroyed the world in a fit of rage. They started it, however. They try to banish A-Dai, so A-Dai squashed them. Master said A-Dai was in the wrong, so A-Dai has to reflect here.”
“Wh-what was the name of the world you destroyed?”
“Mm… A-Dai can’t remember. A-Dai yanked out a black and white herb and then the world was ruined. A-Dai didn’t mean to destroy the world. A-Dai was just too angry.”
“Black and white herb? I think I heard Mu Yu mention something like that. A-Dai, did you destroy First Heaven?”
“A-Dai doesn’t know. A-Dai didn’t mean to destroy the world. A-Dai was provoked into ripping the herb out. A-Dai doesn’t like the herb. A-Dai ran as soon as he ripped it out. A-Dai just kept running and running like a naughty boy.” A-Dai smiled apologetically, scratching his head. “Master told A-Dai to guard something here. You want it? Can you get me out of here if I give it to you? A-Dai is bored in these barren lands. The beasts here are no match for A-Dai. A-Dai has counted countless stars already. A-Dai wanted to pluck them but couldn’t.”
“A-Dai, you should guard what my dad asked you to guard. You can’t come with me to Third Heaven as you might destroy it in another fit of angry.”
“Tian Ran, please get me out of here. A-Dai won’t be naughty again. A-Dai is so bored here. A-Dai likes playing with Master the most. Master used to take A-Dai along wherever he went until he was busy and left. That was when A-Dai made a blunder.”
Qiao Xue whispered, “Tian Ran, Third Heaven Palace’s threat looms. He might be helpful if we take him back. He’s not weak if he effortlessly flattened Yue Hansha.”
“… Okay. I don’t know if this is wise or not, but you better listen to me. A-Dai, what did my dad tell you to protect?”
A-Dai bounced twice then effused, “Yes! A-Dai can leave. Wait. A-Dai will grab it now.”
A-Dai turned around and counted off five fingers as he travelled over five. He went through the mountains’ bases until he found a golden circular compass with spinning black and white dots on it. When he moved the mountains back into position, the rocks and boulders returned to their original spots as though a mechanism was at work. He then passed the compass dozens of metres wide to Tian Ran. “This is it. Master said someone would know how to work it. A-Dai doesn’t know if you’re the person he referred to. Regardless, you’re Master’s daughter, and A-Dai likes you, so you can be it. Here.”
A-Dai spun the black and white dots as he cackled childishly.
“A-Dai, I can’t hold something so big. Also, you need to downsize, or you will give everyone a fright,” conveyed Tian Ran.
“Mm… A-Dai will downsize it, then.” A-Dai compressed the compass down to compass with a circumference of six centimetres in his hands without damaging it. Amazingly, the compass could levitate on its own. A-Dai then shrunk himself down to two metres tall. Next, he sat down and wrapped his arms around his legs. “A-Dai can’t see. A-Dai doesn’t like being too small; this will do.”
Tian Ran gingerly took the golden compass. “A-Dai, what’s the compass for?”
“Mm… Master said someone who knew how to operate it would come. The formation pattern on it is too advanced for A-Dai. Master told A-Dai to give it to Mu… Mu… A-Dai can’t remember his name… Oh, A-Mumu. A-Dai is supposed to give it to A-Mumu.”
“A-Mumu? Who?”
A-Dai beamed. “A-Dai doesn’t recognise him, either. Master just told A-Dai that A-Mumu would know how to use it and that A-Dai could leave with him. A-Dai has been waiting for one year, two years, three years, four years, five years, six years, s-”
“You don’t have to count A-Dai. Tell us what happened here. Why are there so many power primordial beasts here?”
A-Dai stopped himself when he went to speak, sniffing the two girls instead. He then faced north and sniffed the air. Eyes sparkling, he enthused, “A-Dai can smell Swordsword! Swordsword is also here! A-Dai wants to play with Swordsword! Do you want to catch up with Swordsword with A-Dai?”
The two girls turned to each other, expressing with their eyes, “Who is Swordsword, some strong primordial beast?” The two girls worried for their own safety owing to the innate hazards all around.
“Let’s go see Swordsword.” A-Dai sprang to his feet energetically. A-Dai enlarged himself into his titan form again and gestured for the two girls to climb onto his shoulder for a ride.
***
“You sure? I’m starting to distrust your nose given your track record,” Mu Yu rebuked, carefully circling around a beast’s territory.
Xiaoshuai sniffed the air again. “I’m sure. I know I’ve smelt it somewhere before. It’s in that direction.”
“And what smell is that?” Mu Yu surveyed the topography from his sword but only found ruin after ruin.
“Silly goose smell.”
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