First Position

Chapter 2 – This World Has Never Believed in Tears

Due to the robbery and his unexpected fainting, Ren Xiaosu returned later than usual. He glanced at the sky, which was on the brink of being swallowed by darkness. It was a perilous time to pass through the market town with prey in tow. During the day, the enforcers from the refuge bastion still patrolled to maintain order. But once night fell, they withdrew behind the bastion walls. Not out of kindness, of course—they merely feared that chaos in the town would hinder the refugees' labor.

"Hey, Ren Xiaosu, quite the haul today, huh!" someone greeted him as he ran into town with a cast-iron pot slung over his shoulder. The man’s face was blackened with grime, as though he hadn’t washed since birth.

Many in the town looked the same. They toiled in nearby coal mines, trading coal for barely enough to survive—hard black bread or a few potatoes from within the bastion. It wasn’t just mining; all the filthiest, most exhausting tasks required by the bastion were assigned to those outside its walls. Even well water was rationed—each person allotted only so much a day. There were no clean water sources nearby, or if there were, they were too dangerous, teeming with beasts that lurked near watering holes. As a result, the entire town was shrouded in grime, and Ren Xiaosu was no exception.

Yet Ren Xiaosu never mined coal. He had his own means of survival.

He ignored the greetings and made straight for his hut, desiring nothing more than to return quickly. As he passed the narrow street, the towering walls of the bastion loomed nearby, so high that they seemed to erase the sky above—an oppressive sight.

Unlike the imposing bastion, the town had few stone structures—most were makeshift shanties. Though he had entered town with ease, Ren Xiaosu’s demeanor changed abruptly, turning wary. He drew a bone knife from his waist.

A tense air spread through the street. It was as if danger lurked within every hut. But the moment Ren Xiaosu revealed his weapon, those who had been ready to move grew silent once more.

The first lesson this town had taught Ren Xiaosu was simple: never trust anyone... except Yan Liuyuan.

From one of the huts came a whisper:“Ren Xiaosu caught prey again.”“That’s just a sparrow.”“It doesn’t look like any sparrow from the old textbooks. I bet this thing’s as big as an eagle used to be before the Cataclysm.”“Don’t provoke him,” a voice said, cutting the murmurs short—someone who evidently knew his past.

Ren Xiaosu lifted the curtain of his shack. Warmth greeted him, easing the stiffness in his limbs.

Inside, Yan Liuyuan was bent over his homework. When he saw Ren Xiaosu return, he lit up with joy."You caught a sparrow?""Why haven’t you lit the kerosene lamp?" Ren Xiaosu frowned.

Yan Liuyuan, not always obedient in front of others, became oddly compliant around Ren Xiaosu, the one he called “brother.”“I wanted to save some kerosene for the household.”“And what if you ruin your eyesight?” Ren Xiaosu scolded as he set the sparrow down.

Yan Liuyuan’s eyes sparkled. “Our teacher said there were things called glasses before the Cataclysm. He said they still exist now, inside the refuge. With those, even nearsightedness isn’t a problem.”

Ren Xiaosu scoffed. “I’ve seen people wear those. But in the wilderness, trusting your vision to something that can fall off at any moment is asking for death. Don’t buy into your teacher’s nonsense. Not everything he says is true.”“Oh…” Yan Liuyuan nodded. “Then why do you still send me to school?”Ren Xiaosu choked on his words. “Stop asking so many questions.”“When can I go hunting with you?” Yan Liuyuan pressed.

“You’re only fourteen. What would you know of hunting? If you study hard, you won’t need to hunt at all,” Ren Xiaosu said. “Learn accounting, physics, chemistry—anything. That’s better than scrabbling for survival in the wilderness.”“You’re only seventeen!” Yan Liuyuan protested.

Even in these barbaric times, people still understood the value of knowledge. That was why teachers could survive in the town. No matter what chaos occurred, no one dared to touch them. But tuition was expensive—otherwise, Ren Xiaosu would’ve gone himself.

As he set up the pot and expertly began gutting the sparrow, he asked, “What did your teacher talk about today? You’ll only get the innards—I'm selling the rest tomorrow.”

“You’re hurt?” Yan Liuyuan’s eyes locked on a wound at the base of Ren Xiaosu’s thumb—pecked open by the sparrow and still bleeding.

The large iron pot rested on sticks, its contents simmering over the hearth. Shadows danced across Ren Xiaosu’s face.“Just a scratch.”

Silence settled in the room. After a moment, Ren Xiaosu ladled out the bird’s innards and handed them to Yan Liuyuan.“Eat.”

Tears welled in Yan Liuyuan’s eyes. “I won’t. You need the nourishment—you’re hurt.”“I’ll just have some broth,” Ren Xiaosu replied. “I’ve got some black bread left.”“No, this isn’t just a scratch. I saw someone die just the other day in town from an infected wound. We don’t have medicine,” Yan Liuyuan said stubbornly, his voice trembling.

Smack.

Without warning, Ren Xiaosu struck him across the face.“Remember this: in this world, we’re not allowed to cry. This world does not believe in tears.”

He continued, “Look at the people around us. If you’re not strong, what happens if someone sneaks in at night and stabs me to death while I sleep? I send you to school so you won’t end up like me, hunting for survival. You have potential. If you study, you won’t need to live like this. I send you to school because I don’t want you to become one of those savages!”

Yan Liuyuan took the innards and devoured them, his tears refusing to fall. He knew he had to become strong—just like Ren Xiaosu.

“Cough, cough… Once you’re done, get me some clean cloth and dress this wound,” Ren Xiaosu said.“Okay,” Yan Liuyuan replied.

“You’re all clever and mischievous outside, but come home and turn into a timid little thing,” Ren Xiaosu muttered. “Did anything happen in town today?”“Oh, right,” Yan Liuyuan said as he searched for clean cloth. “A group from the bastion came out. They’re looking for a guide to take them to Refuge No. 112. They want to pass straight through Border Mountain.”“Refuge 112?” Ren Xiaosu paused and frowned. “And they insist on crossing Border Mountain?”“Do you think they’ll come for you? Everyone in town knows how familiar you are with the outside,” Yan Liuyuan said, blinking innocently. “I heard they’re a band and some singers from Refuge 113. They were invited to perform at Refuge 112. I’ve never seen a real singer before.”“I’m not going,” Ren Xiaosu shook his head. “Let whoever wants to risk Border Mountain go. Stay away from them. They seem suspicious.”

A strange emotion stirred in Ren Xiaosu.In this day and age… there are still people who sing? Who perform in bands?What kind of world lies behind the bastion walls?

For the first time, Ren Xiaosu felt… curious. Maybe even yearning.