Eating it was out of the question. Whether the meat was bad or the dish itself had been drugged, eating it would definitely lead to trouble.
But if he didn't eat, he might not be able to get on that ship.
So, he shot a look at Tatyana beside him, picked up the lunchbox, and began to eat.
Tatyana: "..."
At least, in the soldier's eyes, Bai Luo and his companion ate everything in the lunchbox.
Seeing the clean lunchbox, the Shogunate soldier nodded in satisfaction and took it away.
Meanwhile, Bai Luo discreetly pressed his foot into the sand beneath him, making sure what was hidden was well-covered before entering the tent.
Unlike the starry sky in Bai Luo's memory, the stars in Teyvat's sky rarely twinkled. Though the galaxy was brilliant, it lacked a certain vibrancy.
After the refugees finished their meal, they either returned to their spots to sleep soundly or gathered in small groups to discuss what kind of life they would lead after reaching Inazuma City.
Some even quietly snuck off to an secluded spot, planning to welcome their first newborn after arriving in Inazuma City.
One old man leisurely took out a treasured musical instrument and began to play.
This stringed instrument, called a shamisen, was similar to Liyue's sanxian and was an important symbol of Inazuman traditional culture.
As the old man played the shamisen, some of the onlooking women began to move their bodies to the music.
Unconsciously, this dancing ignited everyone's spirits. Many who were just watching also began to dance to the sound of the shamisen, and it almost seemed to be developing into a bonfire party.
The nearby soldiers did not stop them.
As long as these refugees didn't try to escape or cause trouble, they wouldn't make things difficult for these pitiful people.
Bai Luo's gaze was not on the crowd, but rather on the area beside the old man.
Perhaps this old man loved his instruments dearly. While everyone else fled with their families and belongings, he carried not valuables or clothing, but a wide variety of musical instruments.
There was a full range of instruments: from Natlan, Fontaine, Liyue, Mondstadt, Inazuma...
More than a dozen instruments, large and small, were placed on a dilapidated wheelbarrow, carefully wrapped in oilcloth.
Curious, Bai Luo walked over, wanting to see what was there.
But he was met with a slap on the back of his hand from the old man.
"Young man, these are not things you should be touching. Don't touch them."
Although the old man's shamisen had stopped, the atmosphere in the refugee camp had already been lifted. Even without music, everyone remained immersed in the rather ungraceful dancing.
"Is that an erhu?"
Bai Luo didn't try to snatch anything. He pointed to one of the instruments and asked.
Although it was wrapped in oilcloth, Bai Luo could still barely recognize it from memory.
After all, he had learned to play the erhu once.
He still remembered the old gentleman with a goatee and sunglasses who had once showered him with praise for his talent with the erhu.
"Your child is too gifted. I have nothing more to teach him. It's best to find another master."
It was said that that very night, the old gentleman closed down his own training class out of shame. Unfortunately, Bai Luo had paid for half a year of tuition but had only attended for three days.
"Oh? You know of this?"
To be able to name the erhu proved that Bai Luo must have some knowledge of it.
At least in Inazuma, besides himself, only the elf woman who called herself an adventurer and had gifted him this instrument knew its name.
It was said to be an instrument from Liyue.
Unfortunately, he had studied it for a long time but had never mastered how to play it.
"Would you like me to play a tune for you?"
The moment Bai Luo saw the instrument, his fingers began to twitch uncontrollably.
He felt it was necessary to let these ignorant Inazumans experience what was known as one of the three "hooligan" instruments.
"You really know how to play?"
The old man looked at him suspiciously, because he felt that this kind of instrument didn't seem like something a man dressed as a wanderer like Bai Luo would be able to use.
"I do!"
Bai Luo said with great certainty.
In any case, he was the man who made his erhu teacher quit. He had to have some skill.
And his confidence also influenced the old man.
"Fine. If you can play decently, what's the harm in giving this instrument to you?"
The old man immediately put down the shamisen in his hands and took out the well-maintained erhu.
Before handing it to Bai Luo, he lovingly wiped away the traces left by the rain.
It was clear that he truly cherished this collection of instruments.
Bai Luo didn't rush to take the erhu. Instead, he moved a wooden barrel over to use as a stool, then took the erhu from the man and placed it on the base of his left thigh.
Regardless of his playing, just his posture for holding the instrument made the old man's eyes light up.
That's right, that should be how it's held. This kid wasn't lying, he really knows this instrument!
With the old man's experience with musical instruments, he could tell at a glance that Bai Luo's posture was the most correct one.
No wonder he could never produce a good sound before; it turned out his posture was wrong.
Taking a deep breath, Bai Luo drew the bow in his hand.
A long, drawn-out sound traveled far across the beach. Melancholy, desolate, and wispy notes intertwined, even seeming to quiet the sound of the ocean waves.
The faint notes floated, churned, and rolled like light clouds...
"Stop, stop, stop! Didn't I say so? No carpentry work allowed in the refugee camp! Who the hell is using a saw?!"
Bai Luo was jolted from his world by a furious shout.
He looked closely, and the old man had actually fled several meters away with his cart. The refugees had also stopped their dancing and were huddled together, looking over here with terror in their eyes.
Even Tatyana, who had been following behind him, had inconspicuously retreated by more than half a meter.
Because she couldn't see, her hearing was far superior to that of an ordinary person.
To only retreat half a meter... was already quite a feat.
"Ahem, this... this is an erhu. It's an instrument, not a saw."
Bai Luo cleared his throat, trying to explain.
But the soldier was clearly unconvinced.
"Let me tell you, I was a carpenter before joining the Shogunate. You think I can't recognize the sound of a saw?"
"..."
Forget it, forget it.
*A tune that breaks the heart, where in this world can one find a soul who understands?*
It was these commoners' loss that they couldn't understand his music.
He remembered there was a small grove in front of his house. Every time he practiced the erhu, birds would flock as if paying homage to a phoenix. Many birds would even land beside him, listening to his performance.
After a piece was finished, the birds would linger for a long time, unwilling to leave, even showing their admiration by lying on their backs with their feet in the air or prostrating in worship.
Even the cat that loved to catch birds the most would lie prostrate on the ground with them, forgetting to even catch birds.
Humans, eroded by the various desires of the world, had long since lost their understanding of what art and true music were.
On the contrary, it was these creatures of nature who could better enjoy this rare and ethereal celestial music.
Oh well, when he had time, he should go play at the Asase Shrine. The cats there would surely appreciate the charm of his erhu more than this crowd of philistines.
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