A Waste of Time-Chapter 31: Dry Wells

Little Mei looked at the wooden basket with a few articles of dirty clothes, then around the perfectly tidy tent, then asked herself:
What am I doing here?
She took the basket to the nearby creek to wash the clothes.
While doing so, she watched this second-version of Da Niu performing harsh exercises with heavy stones her four big brothers couldn’t carry together!
Once she’d hung the clothes on a rope tied between two wooden poles—perfectly positioned to catch the sun all day—the little girl gathered plates and bowls, washed them, wiped the table, and cleaned the pots and pans too.
But another round of the camp confirmed there was indeed nothing left to do, so Little Mei shrugged her tiny shoulders and did just what Da Niu said she could do in this situation.
Hang around.
She found a cool, dew-damp patch of grass in the shade and sat, watching "Ippo," who looked like Da Niu’s twin, switch between weapon drills, strange forms, and painful physical training in endless variations.
"Do you want some water? This looks really hard." Finally the kind girl offered.
"No need," Ippo replied, never breaking form.
Mei pouted. "How come I’ve never seen you before when I played with Da Niu? Are you one of Auntie Hoa’s children? Who’s older—you or him? Aren’t you tired? You’ve been training non-stop for almost an hour!" She peppered him with questions, but he stayed silent, which only annoyed her more.
"Ru and Xia are back. Go help them or take a nap… Kids your age need to grow."
That well-meant reply struck a nerve. Mei’s face flushed. A few mean kids in the village always whispered she’d stay flat forever, unlike other girls with prettier faces and rounder curves.
"You jerk! I was just trying to be nice since you’re Da Niu’s twin! Who do you think you are? How dare you call me a kid? You’re not older than me—stupid! Meh! Bleh!" Mei scolded him thoroughly, patted her backside for emphasis, stuck out her tongue, then stomped off with her head held high, convinced she’d won the battle of words.
Ippo paused, smiled sheepishly, and shook his head before resuming his drills like nothing happened.
Ru and Xia, returning with fresh supplies, witnessed the whole thing and watched this little firecracker huff her way toward them.
The Swordsman was reminded of his sister at that age—back when Jia had the same innocence. Xia, on the other hand, found the whole scene delightful and made Mei repeat every detail while they prepared the meal. Xia snickered and patted Mei’s head when she heard the whole story.
Ru settled into a lotus position under a nearby tree. From time to time he’d open his eyes to correct Ippo’s form, then return to his silent meditation.
Meanwhile, Daemon and Jia pushed deeper into the forest, sweeping predator lairs for any treasures or Spirit Resources like those he’d found two days ago.
Oddly enough, none of the predators—driven out by the violent girl—had anything worth taking! The few that did only protected some medicinal herbs useful for healing cuts, fevers, and mild poisons.
Reluctantly, Daemon dug them up by the root and stowed them in a leather bag.
How come there was such precious Spirit Resources next to the spot where I was sent by that mysterious person, yet deeper in the forest it’s almost barren? Did he leave them there on purpose? Was it a test—would I find them if I survived?
"Probably," Ippo’s voice echoed in his mind.
It could be a coincidence too. Anyway, that little Mei is feisty! She thinks I’m your twin now—an upgrade from just your clone. Can’t wait to see her face when Jia tells her the truth. Kekeke… Things are getting interesting.
Daemon smiled at the memory of Mei’s dramatic departure but stayed focused on the hunt.
Sniff
Grunt
Oink
Long before he heard them, he smelled them. And the smell was awful.
Jia smirked when she saw her young master’s cute frown. She knelt next to him, leaning in to whisper, "Want to go somewhere else?" Her warm breath tickled his ear. He shot her a warning look to stop teasing.
She liked that about him—he always kept her within the line. In this world, plenty of young masters his age already indulged freely in pleasures every night, sometimes with a dozen partners.
She’d seen it herself in towns she’d visited with her brother. The elders said, "Better taste forbidden fruit early so they aren’t led astray later." Yet the same logic didn’t apply to girls. Jia cursed that unfair double standard—girls of rich families were expected to stay "pure" until they were married off to strengthen family ties. And poor girls? They suffered worst, with no servants, no fine clothes, no teachers to read or play music—nothing.
Ru’s voice echoed from her memories, wicked and dry:
"These are the lucky ones. Poor girls suffer from start to end."
Jia shook off the thought. She looked at Daemon’s young face—he clearly knew about men and women, and he could indulge anytime if he wanted. She’d tested him more than once. He’d push just far enough to taste her but never truly took a bite or even showed a sign of willingness to cross the line.
It annoyed her. It excited her. She knew deep down: whenever this young master crooked his pinky, she’d come running, tail raised like a feline in heat.
Ever since she’d first seen him stand tall like some mortal god, she’d catch herself daydreaming—salivating shamefully over him. And not just at the mouth.
"No," Daemon whispered, eyes fixed on the forest clearing. "But I’m going to make sure old man Lou pays extra—on top of the extra he promised." He watched the massive furry shapes—bigger than a mature Earth bull—rooting through the undergrowth.
A family group. The largest boar caught his eye—its curving tusks made it the clear target.
Would you look at these miniature mammoths! All they’re missing is the trunk. And the color—never seen a black mammoth before.
Keeping his distance—pigs had sharp noses, after all—Daemon signaled Jia to follow. She’d spent half the walk staring dreamily at him, which he found more than a little unsettling.
How could I forget about that? This just got easier.
He watched one piglet oink happily and dig beside a tree. A plan formed instantly. He gestured for Jia to move quietly into position. The hunt was on.
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