Chapter 46: The Fairy Village and the Purifying Spring

Although the fairies had already gathered together, Nara remained silent, still waiting for the tribe's astrologer to arrive.

“Is the astrologer truly held in such high esteem?” Wang Chen asked, curious. In his view, the stargazing institution should fall under the chief's jurisdiction; it seemed odd that an elder would wait for him.

The other elders of the fairy tribe had hurried to the plaza upon hearing the bell, none daring to linger, all waiting only for the astrologer.

“He is indeed the astrologer, but he’s also the chieftain of our tribe,” Nara explained.

Wang Chen then understood that, according to the fairy tribe’s tradition, the chieftain was usually chosen from among the astrologers.

After a while, an elderly fairy with a mane of white hair and beard approached, leaning on his staff. The fairies parted respectfully as he passed through their ranks, dignified and unhurried.

He stepped up to the podium and spoke before Nara could explain, “The Fountain of Vitality has been recovered?”

Nara was astonished. “Yes, Chieftain, how did you know?” Neither of them had mentioned this to any fairy in the village.

The chieftain pointed to the glittering stars scattered across the night sky. “They told me.”

He turned to Wang Chen. “You have arrived.”

Wang Chen was bewildered; the chieftain spoke as though they were old acquaintances.

“You know me?” Wang Chen asked.

“One might say so. Your star sign appeared many years ago,” the chieftain replied.

Wang Chen knew astrologers could glimpse the future through the stars, but it still felt somewhat mystical and superstitious to him.

He reasoned the chieftain knew about the fountain simply because Nara had hurried back and roused the fairies in the middle of the night—clearly something important had happened. What else could it be for the fairy tribe but the Fountain of Vitality?

Yet the chieftain continued in that “I foresaw your coming centuries ago” manner, which, regardless of his abilities, struck Wang Chen as a bit theatrical.

Unexpectedly, the chieftain asked, “Has the Dark Plateau regained its vitality?”

Wang Chen was startled. “Did the stars tell you that as well?”

The chieftain smiled faintly. “It seems so.”

He suddenly tucked his staff under his arm and bowed deeply to Wang Chen. “Thank you, brave one, for enduring trials to recover the Fountain of Vitality and breaking the curse that has plagued my people for so many years.”

Wang Chen had just reached out to help the chieftain up, but Nara beside him also bowed deeply.

The fairies in the plaza, stirred by the chieftain’s words, followed suit, bowing in unison. The entire plaza was a sea of fairies bowing together; Wang Chen felt overwhelmed, unable to help them all up even if he wanted.

He produced a large bucket from his storage ring. “This is the Fountain of Vitality.”

The effect was immediate. Presenting the tribe’s most cherished spring, he had captured their attention—many raised their heads, gazing at the bucket with longing and excitement.

Their eyes brimmed with hope and emotion.

The chieftain was the last to raise his head, smiling. “Forgive us, brave one. Losing the Fountain of Vitality has tormented us for far too long, hence our reaction.”

Wang Chen waved off any concern.

The chieftain ordered a chair for Wang Chen and invited him to sit, then said to Nara, “Organize everyone to receive the holy spring and break the curse of the black spots.”

Nara nodded and, together with several young fairies tasked with maintaining order, arranged the tribe into a long queue before the podium.

“The curse of the black spots? What is that?” Wang Chen asked.

The chieftain explained, “If a fairy goes too long without the blessing of the Fountain of Vitality, they gradually lose energy. Their bodies age more quickly, and black patches appear. We call this the curse of the black spots.”

Wang Chen pondered; it sounded much like a fairy-specific form of sepsis.

He watched the fairies undergoing the “lifting of the curse.” One fairy whose face was marred by black spots wiped it with a towel soaked in the Fountain of Vitality. A vibrant green glow spread across his cheeks, erasing much of the blackness.

He then took a cup of spring water from a young fairy and drank it in one gulp; the black spots on his face vanished completely.

“Is it truly so miraculous? If it worked for the black spots humans get, it would surpass laser treatment for blemishes—pain-free, even,” Wang Chen mused internally.

Suddenly, he thought of something and asked the chieftain, “Why don’t you and Nara seem to have black spots?”

“The spots don’t always appear on the face; sometimes they form elsewhere on the body,” the chieftain replied, pulling up his wide sleeve to reveal his arm.

Wang Chen glanced at it and was shocked—the chieftain’s arm was entirely covered in black spots, so densely that it would be easy to mistake it for naturally dark skin.

“As for Nara, she is still young and hasn’t reached the age when the spots appear. Had you not recovered the Fountain of Vitality in time, she would have started developing them within a few decades,” the chieftain said.

“Nara is still young? Isn’t she already three hundred years old? And she’s an elder of the tribe.”

“Three hundred years is barely the equivalent of a young adult among fairies; in fact, you two are much the same age. She is an elder because her circumstances are rather special,” the chieftain replied with a smile.

He spoke no further on the matter, as if it were Nara’s secret and Wang Chen would have to ask her himself.

Wang Chen shrugged; he wasn’t particularly curious and had no intention of probing into another race’s affairs—it was merely idle chatter.

…

After a long while, all the fairies in the plaza had received the blessing of the Fountain of Vitality. Their listless appearances vanished, replaced by renewed vigor.

They gathered once more to thank Wang Chen.

It was the first time he had heard hundreds of voices expressing gratitude to him in unison, the wave of sound buzzing in his ears.

Afterwards, the fairies erected a bonfire in the center of the plaza and began their celebration. Wang Chen was invited to sit at the chieftain’s side at the main table.

The tribe’s unique wines and delicacies were arrayed upon the long table, free for Wang Chen to enjoy.

Fairies, their faces radiant with happiness, formed a circle around the bonfire, dancing their distinctive tribal dance.

The fairies seemed exceedingly skilled at dancing—even when joined hand in hand for what appeared to be a casual dance, their steps were coordinated and movements precise.

Wang Chen sipped the tribe’s honey wine, watching the dance flicker in the firelight, and suddenly let out a long breath.

Nara, sitting beside him, handed him a richly flavored pastry and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I just realized it’s been a long time since I’ve felt so relaxed,” Wang Chen replied, slowly closing his eyes.

All sorts of memories rose in his mind, even those from his previous life, swirling in and leaving him slightly disoriented.

He realized he had already been through so much.

The string in Wang Chen’s mind was always taut, so much so that he felt he could never tire. But when he finally let down his guard, exhaustion surged through him, carried on the tide of wine, rising from every vein in his body.