Dandan comes to a conclusion…
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Ch. 15 | Street performers
In the end, it was thanks to Troy that they were able to find the doorway to the Anywhere Ladder otherwise they would have gone round in circles for ages. When they emerged from the doorway at the other end, Styx was already waiting for them and went up to support Song Lin, urging him, ‘Young Master, let me treat your wounds now.’
But Song Lin waved aside this offer and passed Troy to him instead, saying, ‘Treat his injuries first.’
Styx gaped, looked at Troy lying in his arms, then at Song Lin and after making sure that he wasn’t joking, carried Troy away.
All this was being observed by Dandan who happened to be hanging off the ladder and who now forgot to step off it. Twelve double-hours had passed so the ladder disappeared by itself and with an exclamation of surprise, he ended up sitting on the floor.
Song Lin turned his head and looked at him before holding out his hand.
After a moment’s hesitation, Dandan put his hand in Song Lin’s. The latter’s big hand closed firmly around his and with a tug, easily pulled Dandan to his feet who stumbled and pitched forward onto Song Lin’s chest. This close, Dandan could practically see every one of his eyelashes and those pale blue eyes.
Song Lin gazed at him impassively, then his lips parted but before he could speak, Dandan cut him off by stating, ‘I’m hungry.’
Song Lin was silent for a while before sighing and saying, ‘I’ll have the kitchen prepare something. Go back to the room and wait first.’
Dandan thus made himself scarce and headed towards the bedroom. On the way there, he walked down a very long corridor and reached a conclusion.
Everything that he had experienced together with Yu Huan belonged to Yu Huan’s era while Song Lin was not destined to be a second Yu Huan. He had his own new life and a new spirit beast to bear him company in times of adversity; Dandan had no right to insist that he and Song Lin be bound together. He did not know what Song Lin and Troy had experienced together while in the Fascinating Forest, but Song Lin had cradled Troy protectively throughout the journey back.
Dandan rubbed his eyes which were tingling and slightly puffy, opened the room door, climbed into his own bed and felt exhausted suddenly, both emotionally and physically. All that effort, what was he actually after…
Even after so many years, he had still refused to look for a new owner, only throwing his heart and soul into searching for Yu Huan. He had failed many times. He had also encountered people who resembled Yu Huan only to find in the end that they were not him.
Now, by a rare chance he had encountered this Song Lin whose blood tasted exactly the same as Yu Huan’s; using Yu Huan’s spell had sent him to Song Lin’s side.
If Song Lin were Yu Huan…
This realisation did not bring Dandan the slightest joy.
Because Song Lin was too much of a stranger. He had no feelings for Dandan, no memories of him and had even taken a liking to another spirit beast.
The crushing sense of loss made him feel short of breath. He rolled over, covered his head with a blanket and wished desperately that he could lose himself in sleep.
It’s time I left, he thought. After I’ve had my nap, I’ll go away, leave this place; go somewhere, anywhere.
Bi An was right: Yu Huan was already dead, he had died in a fire. It was Dandan who was too obsessed and that was why he was suffering so much. He alone was the architect of his own misery¹ and so deserved to be imprisoned within its walls all his life.
¹ 畫地為牢 huàdì-wéiláo. If you’re not reading this chapter at hiding in plain sight, it has been stolen and reproduced by novelscraping sites.
When he had first made the pact with Yu Huan, he had not thought much of this rather frail-looking man who was always wearing a light green changpao and a pleased expression, seemingly unconcerned about anything. He had never once mentioned a family and Dandan had no idea where he came from — he just seemed to have appeared out of the blue.
In the beginning, they had no place to stay and took shelter from the rain in a run-down temple at the mouth of a village. Dandan’s leg had been struck by an arrow dipped in Petrifying Potion so he was unable to move. Every day, Yu Huan would go picking herbs in the mountain and then make a paste from them to apply to Dandan’s wound. He was not offended by Dandan’s ignoring him and continued to talk to him with a genial smile, not minding when he received no response, seemingly quite happy to think aloud to himself.
For a while, Dandan thought that he was nutty as a fruitcake.
‘How did you injure your leg?’
In the end, worn down by Yu Huan’s indefatigably² awkward conversation, Dandan looked up lazily from under his eyelids and replied, ‘Shot by villagers from a nearby village.’
‘Why did they shoot you?’
‘Because I ate up all their fruits and livestock.’
‘…’ Yu Huan was silent for three seconds before commenting, ‘Oh, you deserved it then.’
‘…’
So Yu Huan said but his hands never stopped applying the medicine and Dandan couldn’t resist flicking him another glance.
‘But how did the villagers manage to hurt you when you’re so powerful?’
‘I was set up,’ Dandan gnashed his teeth. ‘Humans are treacherous and cunning.’
‘Now now, don’t tar us all with the same brush. Look at me, I’m also a human.’
‘Yeah, you’re especially cunning.’
Yu Huan: ‘…’
On the third day, Dandan was able to move his leg somewhat and Yu Huan announced with a genial smile that he had used up all his travel funds so they would have to go to the village to earn money, otherwise they would starve.
‘Why do we have to earn money?’ Dandan asked matter-of-factly. ‘We can just rob a village instead.’ He picked his teeth with a very sharp claw. ‘Do you feel like pigs or cows? I’ll bring ten back for you.’
Yu Huan’s slightly rigid smile did not waver as he said, ‘Shut up, get up, follow me, we’re going to the village.’
² 孜孜不倦 zīzī-bùjuàn. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
Dandan thus found himself inexplicably standing on a street corner. He was in his human form and an iron bowl had been stuffed into his hands.
‘…’ He took a deep breath. ‘You better not tell me that your idea of earning money is… begging?’
‘Of course not. We have too much strength of character to beg, don’t we?’ Yu Huan said, his eyes crinkling in a smile.
No, no, no… not good, not good, not good… this squinty-eyed fellow must be planning to set me up!
Dandan retreated a step only to hear Yu Huan say, ‘We’re here to make a living as street performers.’
As street performers…
Street performers?
STREET PERFORMERS!!!
‘How is that an improvement over begging?!’ Dandan flung the bowl down angrily.
Me, the grand Supreme Jade Rabbit whom the Guardians of this world would be falling over themselves to obtain. Every last one of them would be plying me with the best food and drink if they had me but you’ve got the damn nerve to ask me to perform in the streets? You think I have no pride, fool?!!
His hurling the bowl to the floor happened to attract the attention of the villagers walking past and everyone looked over at them with curiosity. The squinty-eyed one took the opportunity to shout, ‘Passers-by passing by, don’t let this pass you by: a once-in-a-lifetime performance of a special trick!’
Dandan: ‘…’ I’m going to kill him, I don’t care what anyone says…
‘What special trick can you all do?’ asked a villager.
‘Hmm…’ Yu Huan scratched his chin for a moment, ‘my little friend here can turn somersaults.’
‘What’s so special about turning somersaults?’
‘Ah, but he can turn a hundred non-stop,’ Yu Huan bragged unblushingly.
‘Wow! For real?!’
Dandan also turned round. ‘For real?’
Yu Huan shrugged and mouthed: ‘Dunno, you have a go at it.’
You have a go at it…
Have a go at it…
Go at it…
At it…
Dandan grabbed Yu Huan’s collar and snarled into his ear, ‘I have my pride too, I’m not doing such things!’ The words had just come out of his mouth when his stomach growled.
Yu Huan observed, ‘Your stomach’s growling…’
‘I know! No need to tell me!!!’
The audience was starting to get restless.
‘Oi… I say… are you all going to perform or not?’
‘If not, we’re leaving!’
Yu Huan held Dandan’s hand and said gently, ‘Isn’t life all about earning one’s bread? Which matters more — food or pride?’
‘Pride!’
‘Gululu³~’
And so five minutes later, Dandan had his very first experience of turning a hundred somersaults non-stop… While somersaulting, he heard thunderous applause and repeated cheering…
He was beginning to question the meaning of existence…
Another five minutes later and Yu Huan had a bowl full of coins. ‘See, this is how you earn money.’
Dandan however was already squatting by the corner of a wall, depression written all over his face. ‘Get lost… leave me alone…’
³ Onomatopoeia for stomach growling. Please consider reading from theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com rather than from novelscraping sites.
Much later, Yu Huan bought a roasted lamb leg for Dandan. It was the first time Dandan ate food that was cooked — he was astounded and, from that moment, in love with roasted lamb legs.
Yu Huan was also eating happily beside him. ‘Food that you’ve worked hard for always tastes better.’
‘When the deuce did you work hard?!!!’ Dandan demanded to know.
Having eaten and drunk their fill, they lay down with bulging bellies at the base of a wall to bask in the afternoon sunshine.
‘By the way, you don’t have a name yet, do you?’
‘A name? I don’t need one.’
‘Whyever not? Without a name, how will other people know who you are?’
‘I don’t care about other people. Anyway, I’ve always been alone.’
‘Things are different now.’ Yu Huan turned his head, those gentle green eyes gazing straight into his. ‘You have me, see.’
You have me, see. These words wafted into his ears on a gentle breeze.
It was a queer feeling.
‘How about calling you Dandan?’ Yu Huan suggested after much thought.
‘Sounds just awful…’ The youth was slightly red in the face — must be the sun, he thought.
‘Dandan.’
‘Mm?’
‘See, you’re already used to it,’ Yu Huan laughed and stroked his head. His touch was so kindly that Dandan almost felt out of sorts. It had really been far too long since he had felt that way.
(Approx. 1782 words)
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Translated and edited by 12
hiding in plain sight 
The story of Dandan’s first job! So that’s why the roasted lamb legs. I think this chapter was very sweet, if bitter in hindsight. I thought Dandan’s issues started with Yu Huan’s death, but it makes sense that he was alone even before they met. Thanks for the translation!
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Yes, and there’s a bit more in the later chapters about his life before meeting Yu Huan. 😃
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