Chapter 27: Aesthetics

The formation of culture is an extremely long and complex process.

Historical background, social environment, and even geographical location…… under the influence of various factors, every civilization, in every period of hers, has its unique cultural aesthetic display.

Cumbersome and full, luxurious and bright color usage, lace sleeves, high-waisted pleated skirts, court balls under soothing string music—this is the Victorian style of the 19th-century Europe.

Rough and wild, simple and direct natural colors, dog-tooth necklaces, animal-skin aprons, bonfire parties under the baobab tree—this is the tribal style from the African grasslands.

Xia Nan, as a native of Zhongzhou in his previous life, grew up pasting spring couplets and listening to the sound of firecrackers.

The flying eaves and wings of old buildings on the roadside, the black and white ink paintings hanging on the company wall, and even the blue and white patterns printed on the bottom of the porcelain bowls when eating……

Just an ordinary person, born and then running around for the future and livelihood under the expectations of his family, he had never actively paid attention to these scattered things.

But in thirty-two years, every corner that practically filled his sight, the culture and aesthetics under the long historical inheritance had already quietly seeped into the depths of his blood and merged with his soul.

Therefore, even if it was just a glance from afar.

Xia Nan keenly detected the unique style of the ink-black token in Haian's hand, which was different from this fantasy world.

"Can I take a look at that piece of wood in your hand?"

He shouted at the Half-Elf, who looked somewhat surprised, with hesitation.

"Here!"

Seeing that things seemed to have a turning point, Haian, who hoped Xia Nan could join the squad, didn't hesitate at all.

As soon as he finished speaking, he threw the token over.

Clack—

Catching it gently with both hands, his fingertips felt the touch of the wooden material, which was hard yet mixed with toughness.

But the surface was not rough and felt exceptionally warm to the touch.

Xia Nan examined this piece of wood the size of a palm carefully.

Overall, it was a rectangle narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, about half an inch thick, hollowed out at the bottom, and the edges were carved with a circle of delicate and smooth cloud patterns in an atmospheric and concise style.

"Hiss…… looks like it, really looks a bit like it."

His DNA moved.

This wooden plaque, whether in style or shape, almost perfectly matched the exhibits he had seen in museums in his previous life.

But……

Only one point.

That most critical point.

Made him unable to determine whether the token in his hand right now also came from another world like himself—

Text!

Xia Nan could clearly see that in the center of the rectangular wooden block, a square character was drawn upright and properly with somewhat faded brownish-gold dye.

That kind of traditional and smooth brushwork, he had written countless times in his previous life.

But…… he couldn't read it!

The text in front of him was definitely not the kind of pictographic characters he had learned or seen in his previous life.

Clearly so familiar, yet looking closely, it felt strange.

Seemingly similar, yet different.

It was precisely because of this that he couldn't make up his mind.

"I remember this world also has professions like 'Martial Monk,' perhaps it also possesses a civilization similar to the Zhongzhou where I was in my previous life?"

Thoughts surged, Xia Nan just guessed randomly in his heart.

Under the agitation of emotions, the originally tense expression couldn't help but show some ripples.

And on the other side, Haian, who was constantly paying attention to him, naturally noticed the complex expression on his face.

With a slight association, he knew it was related to the wooden plaque he had just thrown out.

Then he opened his mouth and struck while the iron was hot:

"The goal of our squad's mission is actually to investigate the origin of this piece of wood."

"According to the information we have obtained so far, we have roughly narrowed down the location where it was discovered, and we will arrive tomorrow."

"If you are interested, you might as well travel with us, and I can also share some information related to it with you."

Xia Nan was moved.

In the final analysis, whether to join the other party's squad was just a trade-off between pros and cons.

The other party had just shouted a quote of 100 gold, but compared to the risks that might be encountered, it was completely not enough.

He had also refused decisively.

But right now, when this balance had one end added with "the opportunity to figure out the origin of the wooden plaque in hand."

The situation changed.

To be blunt, the four-person squad in front of him wasn't to the point of just going to die.

The fatty and the golden-haired girl behind, although they didn't look very reliable, the Half-Elf and the guard "Wood" beside him were quite decent.

Plus the information revealed by the other party just now that the mission destination was only on the outskirts of the Mist Forest, the risk could be lowered a bit.

And……

Alright, he was just finding reasons for his next decision.

"Sure enough, I care too much after all."

An otherworldly fantasy background, a mysterious token with the aesthetics of his previous life.

If he didn't take this opportunity to figure out the origin and missed the chance due to being overly cautious, he felt he might not be able to sleep tonight.

Therefore……

"I'll join."

Withdrawing his gaze from the wooden plaque in his hand.

Xia Nan raised his head and said to the Half-Elf.

……

……

The butt determines the head.

The previous Xia Nan had been somewhat disgusted with the Half-Elf's squad because of the terrible configuration of the squad and the unprofessional performance of some individuals.

And when he truly became a member of the squad, he felt that the environment in the squad wasn't as bad as he had imagined.

It looked like rich young masters from the city coming to the countryside for a tour, but in reality, the few people maintained a quite neat formation all the way.

They wouldn't deliberately make noise, and necessary conversations were kept as low as possible.

Xia Nan even saw a few times when insects suddenly flew out from the bushes on the roadside, scaring the golden-haired girl in the squad so much that she jumped, practically losing her soul, yet she still covered her mouth tightly, not daring to make the slightest sound.

Wood also showed very high professional quality.

Wandering at the very front of the squad, he would sometimes suddenly squat down, pinch a few points of soil, smell it, and then confirm that the front was the territory of some magical beast, letting the squad detour;

Or he would coldly use a tree branch he picked up from the ground to sweep twice into a dense grass clump that looked plain and unremarkable, startling out a dangerous venomous snake with mottled patterns.

Compared to a guard, he was more like an experienced adventurer.

It was just a pity that the other party didn't say a word, and except for Haian, he practically didn't respond to anyone else in the squad.

Otherwise, Xia Nan might have been able to ask him for some tips on adventuring.

The most surprising was the Half-Elf "Haian" with silver hair.

Clearly vaguely the core of the entire squad, and also a shooter positioning with a longbow as the main weapon.

All the way, he walked in front of Xia Nan, deliberately exposing his back to him without reservation in order to let him rest assured.

Xia Nan could feel the Half-Elf's friendliness and sincerity.

Of course, that was on the premise of ignoring the vigilant gaze Wood occasionally swept from the front of the squad.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 28 =====