Ch 453: Without Him, You Truly Are All Alone

After drinking and having dinner with Norman, Bal sent Norman back to the Architects’ Guild. After sending him back, he left to find Nirvana.

“What are you doing here?”

Nirvana opened the door. Since the success of the Heiterian Revolution, Nirvana hadn’t gone to work at the guild’s bar. He had been staying home tinkering with something.

“What are you busy with? I haven’t seen you for days. Even to have a drink, I have to go somewhere else.”

“Didn’t Ems and Williams send you a lot of fine wine? Do you still need me to make you a cocktail?”

“You don’t understand. The wine they gave is good, but it’s boring to only drink red wine. Your special cocktails are more exciting.”

“Humph, I think your wife gave you a drinking ban.”

“Tsk… Even if you know, don’t say it out loud.”

“Forget it, come in. It’s not convenient to talk outside.”

Nirvana led Bal into the house. Originally, Nirvana’s place should have been a dimly lit tavern, but now the bar counter was filled with alchemical equipment.

“What? Have you become an alchemist?”

Bal picked up an empty glass bottle and said to Nirvana. Nirvana snatched the empty bottle away and put it back in its original place.

“You’re so clumsy! Didn’t your sister tell you not to touch the alchemical equipment randomly?”

“No, because sometimes I’m the guinea pig.”

“You’re quite proud of it?”

“No way, I have to pamper my own sister and wife.”

“Don’t spoil them.”

“Don’t worry, they won’t be. They’re adults.”

“Hard to say.”

Nirvana, leaning on his cane, walked behind the bar. He took out a bottle of wine that looked quite high-end.

“Do you have any coffee beans?”

“Why would I carry that stuff around?”

“Tsk… If not, I can only serve you this directly.”

“Serve it directly then. I haven’t tried this wine before.”

“Alright.”

Nirvana placed a wide-mouth cup on the table, took an ice ball from a nearby insulated box containing ice cubes, and put it into the cup. Using a stirrer, he swirled the ice around the cup a few times, then poured the wine in. Bal picked up the wine cup, took a sip, and the taste was pretty good.

“What kind of wine is this? It’s quite delicious.”

“Whiskey, old stock left over from the Kingdom a long time ago.”

“When I was in the Kingdom, you didn’t give me this wine.”

“Nonsense, I only have this one bottle left. It’s something where every sip counts. Could I just give it to you casually?”

“Then why are you suddenly willing to take it out?”

“I need your help, or rather, I need the help of your sister and your wife.”

“Is it about Wu Xian?”

Nirvana was silent for a while, then nodded.

“Yes, when I went to Heiteria, I was thinking about how to treat Wu Xian. His condition is getting worse.”

“And now?”

“Although he can still move, he loses consciousness more and more often. I’m very worried about him.”

“Are you worried that he can’t make you money anymore?”

“I think you’ve eaten too many red beans.” （This is a pun in Chinese）

“What do you mean?”

“You’re thinking of dying.” （Another pun in Chinese）

“Pfft, hahahahahahaha, I didn’t expect you to tell jokes using puns, hahahahahahaha!”

“Okay, stop joking, let’s be serious.”

Nirvana raised his cane and pointed it at Bal, Bal raised his hands above his head.

“I surrender, I surrender. I will talk to Nia and Phia.”

“Does that look like a soldier to you?”

“The circumstances are different, you’re an acquaintance.”

Nirvana put down his cane. He poured himself a glass of whiskey too. After they clinked glasses, they took a sip. Silence filled the space. After a long while, Bal spoke.

“If, and I mean if, Wu Xian can’t be cured, what should we do?”

Nirvana looked up. After thinking for a while, he said,

“Then I’ll have to kill him, I’ll do it myself.”

“Can you do it?”

“Humph, you should know what kind of person I am.”

“It’s because I know you that I think you can’t do it. How many years has he been with you?”

“Hard to say. Since I started mixing with the underworld, he’s been by my side. He’s probably my oldest subordinate.”

“Yeah, when I was in school, the first time I saw you, Nirvana was already there. So much time has passed. It’s impossible to say there’s no affection.”

“But what can I do? The children are innocent; I can’t gamble with their lives. I’m his boss, he made a mistake, and he must be punished. That’s my principle, you know.”

“Sigh, I hope he can be cured.”

“Me too.”

“But do you have any means to control him?”

“That’s none of your business. I have a way.”

“Alright, remember to call me if you need help.”

“Hard to say, I don’t want you to see me kill someone.”

“That’s true, I’ve never seen you do it before.”

Nirvana finished the whiskey in his glass, then he put the glass away and placed it in the sink.

“You should go home early too.”

“Hmm.”

Bal finished the remaining whiskey in one gulp. He put the glass on the bar and walked towards the door. When he reached the door, he stopped.

“If you need any help, come find me. Don’t bear it alone. We are friends.”

Nirvana was stunned, then he waved his hand.

“Go home quickly.”

“Yeah, I’m going.”

Bal walked out of Nirvana’s house. It was still afternoon. Although it was autumn, the summer heat hadn’t completely subsided. The sun hung high in the sky, baking the earth.

“It’s so hot, I hope it cools down soon.”

Bal glanced at the sky, then walked towards his home. On the way, he saw several children playing by the roadside. The adults were either walking on the road or managing the goods on the shelves in their shops. Looking at the peace in front of him, Bal let out a long sigh.

“Peace is so good.”

Back home, Phia was drinking tea on the sofa. Seeing Bal return, she moved over to make room for Bal to lie down.

“You’re back?”

“Hmm.”

“What did Norman say?”

“Because the underground palace of the school collapsed, the Council Hall plans to conduct a safety assessment of all the old houses in town. So, for now, there’s no way to repair the school. We have to wait for the core to repair itself.”

“Okay, it’s also for safety reasons. It’s understandable.”

After Phia put down her teacup, Bal embraced Phia and lay down with her.

“What are you doing?”

Phia didn’t struggle, because she could see that Bal had something on his mind.

“Wu Xian’s condition is very bad. He’s unconscious for longer and longer periods. Nirvana wants you and Nia to help make medicine.”

“I can, it depends on Nia.”

“I’ll talk to her later.”

“You’re worried about more than just this, right?”

“Yes, I’m worried about Nirvana. I asked him what to do if Wu Xian can’t be cured.”

“What did he say?”

“He said that if he can’t be cured, he’ll do it himself and send Wu Xian on his way.”

“Can he do it?”

“He seemed serious, so I’m worried. He’s already lost his former subordinates, and now he’s about to lose Wu Xian. I’m a little worried about him.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Hmm.”

Bal hugged Phia and lay on the sofa. After a while, Bal fell asleep. Phia looked at Bal’s tired sleeping face and sighed.

“You’re so tired, and you’re still worried about others. Now I’m more worried about you, Husband.”

Phia hugged Bal and kissed his forehead. Bal’s furrowed brows smoothed out, and Phia fell asleep beside Bal.