Chapter 27: Aesthetics

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

Historical background, social environment, even geographical location... under the influence of various factors, every civilization, in each of its periods, presents its own unique cultural aesthetics.

Ornate and full, with the lavish use of colors, lace cuffs, high-waisted pleated skirts, and courtly balls set to soothing strings—this is the Victorian style of nineteenth-century Europe.

Rugged, wild, and possessing a simple, direct natural essence, with canine-tooth necklaces, animal skin aprons, and bonfire parties under baobab trees—this is the tribal style from the African savannah.

In his previous life, Xia Nan was a native of the Central Plains, growing up amidst the sound of firecrackers and the pasting of Spring Festival couplets.

The upturned eaves of old buildings by the roadside, the black-and-white ink wash paintings hanging on company walls, even the blue-and-white patterns printed on the bottom of porcelain bowls during meals...

As an ordinary person born into the expectations of his family, spending his life rushing for his future and livelihood, he had never proactively paid attention to these scattered things.

But over thirty-two years, the culture and aesthetics derived from long historical traditions, which had filled almost every corner of his vision, had quietly seeped into the depths of his blood, merging with his very soul.

Therefore, even with just a distant glance.

Xia Nan keenly perceived that the ink-black token in Haian's hand possessed a unique style, vastly different from this fantasy world.

"That piece of wood in your hand, could you let me take a look at it?"

With a hint of hesitation, he called out to the half-elf, whose expression looked somewhat surprised.

"Here!"

Seeing a potential turning point and hoping Xia Nan would join the team, Haian did not hesitate for a moment.

As soon as the words left his mouth, he tossed the token over.

*Tap—*

Catching it gently with both hands, Xia Nan felt the characteristic texture of wood—a hardness interspersed with a certain suppleness.

Yet the surface was not coarse; it felt exceptionally smooth and warm to the touch.

Xia Nan examined the palm-sized piece of wood closely.

It was generally rectangular, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, about half an inch thick, with a hollowed-out bottom. The edges were carved with a ring of delicate, flowing cloud patterns in a grand yet minimalist style.

"Hiss... it's like it, it really is a bit like it."

His DNA was reacting.

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

But...

There was only one thing.

The most critical thing.

The one thing that prevented him from being certain whether this token in his hand also came from another world, just like himself—

The script!

Xia Nan could clearly see that in the very center of the rectangular wooden block, a single square character was drawn precisely using a somewhat faded brownish-gold dye.

That traditional yet fluid brushstroke was something he had personally written countless times in his previous life.

But... he couldn't read it!

The characters before him were definitely not the pictographic symbols he had studied or seen in his past life.

They were clearly familiar, yet upon closer inspection, they felt strange.

A sense of being almost, but not quite, right.

It was precisely this ambiguity that made him indecisive.

"I remember this world also has professions like 'monks'; perhaps it possesses a civilization similar to the Central Plains of my previous life?"

His thoughts surged as Xia Nan made wild guesses in his mind.

Under the agitation of his emotions, his originally tense expression could not help but show a flicker of turbulence.

On the other side, Haian, who was constantly watching him, naturally noticed the complex expression on his face.

With a little deduction, he knew it was related to the wooden plaque he had just thrown.

Immediately striking while the iron was hot, he spoke up

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

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

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

Xia Nan was tempted.

Ultimately, whether to join the other party's team was merely a calculation of pros and cons.

The other party had just offered a quote of 100 gold, but compared to the potential risks, it was completely inadequate.

That was why he had decisively refused.

But now, when one side of the scale was tipped by the "opportunity to figure out the origin of the wooden plaque in his hand."

The situation changed.

To be fair, the four-person team before him wasn't so ridiculous as to be nothing more than a suicide squad.

Although the fat man and the blonde girl behind him didn't look very reliable, the half-elf and the man beside him, Wood—who appeared to be a "professional"—were quite competent.

Furthermore, based on what the other party had just revealed, the mission destination was only on the outskirts of the Misty Forest, which lowered the risk somewhat.

Besides...

Fine, he was just making excuses for his upcoming decision.

"I really am too concerned about this."

A fantasy world, and a mysterious token possessing the aesthetics of his previous life.

If he didn't take this chance to figure out its origin and missed the opportunity due to excessive caution, he felt he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.

Therefore...

"I'll join."

Withdrawing his gaze from the wooden plaque.

Xia Nan looked up and spoke to the half-elf.

...

...

One's position determines one's perspective.

Previously, Xia Nan had felt somewhat disdainful of the half-elf's team due to their poor composition and the unprofessionalism of certain individuals.

But once he truly became a member of the team, he actually felt that the environment within the group was not as bad as he had imagined.

They looked like wealthy young masters from the city on a countryside tour, but in reality, the group maintained a fairly disciplined formation throughout the journey.

They did not make unnecessary noise, and they kept their essential conversations to a low volume.

Xia Nan even saw a few times when insects suddenly flew out from the roadside bushes, startling the blonde girl so much that she nearly lost her soul, yet she still only managed to tightly cover her mouth, not daring to make a sound.

Wood also displayed a very high level of professional conduct.

Wandering at the very front of the team, he would sometimes suddenly crouch down, pinch a bit of soil, and sniff it twice to confirm if the area ahead was the territory of some kind of monster, prompting the team to detour;

Or, quite unexpectedly, he would take a random stick picked up from the ground and sweep it across a seemingly ordinary, dense patch of grass, startling out a dangerous, patterned venomous snake.

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

It was just a pity that he didn't say a word, and except for Haian, he hardly responded to anyone in the team.

Otherwise, Xia Nan might have been able to ask him for some adventure techniques.

The most surprising person was the silver-haired half-elf, "Haian."

Despite clearly being the core of the entire team and an archer whose primary weapon was a longbow.

He walked ahead of Xia Nan throughout the journey, and to put him at ease, he deliberately exposed his back to him without reservation.

Xia Nan could feel the half-elf's friendliness and sincerity.

Of course, that was assuming one ignored the wary glances occasionally swept from the front of the team by Wood.

(End of Chapter)