Burdenbeast Tales

Amazing. The burdenbeasts really like this kid. If it were me, they would be chasing my butt out of the pens.

T-that's not true. Lifeng is just a bit more popular with the animals.

One at a time. There are enough snacks for everyone. Now listen up, we got a visiting VIP today to take a good look at you.

Endmin?

My... My apologies, I must've missed your arrival. Allow me to introduce all the burdenbeasts taking part in the Farmers' Meet.

Well... I think it's better if you take a look at everyone. We gotta make the voting fair, right?

But I'm pretty confident you'll be voting for her.

The elderly get respect. The youths get tender loving care. And those in between get the brutality of life.

Endmin, this is Mr. Ouyang. Ace rancher of our industrial and agricultural production unit.

Hmm...

Greetings. Meet Lil' Tote. Raised him myself.

So, can you introduce your unique livestock raising approach?

"Flying" is my secret of burdenbeast raising. These creatures don't feel free when they're always stuck on the ground. Gets them depressed, you see.

Take a look. He's obviously much happier than the other burdenbeasts.

So, I installed magnetic levitators on my burdenbeast pens, and give Lil' Tote a bit of "air" time every day.

This one here is Miss An. She's also really good at raising burdenbeasts. Next to her is Miaomiao.

Pleased to meet you, Endmin.

When Miaomiao came into this world, I acquired the Eight Characters of Birth. The readings showed that she lacked water in her life, so I gave her a name with six water characters.

Hold on. I'll need your Eight Characters of Birth as well. Gotta make sure that the two of you match.

When it comes to raising burdenbeasts, I focus on both the scientific approach as well as the metaphysics.

In addition to wholesome feed mixes and comfortable pens, I also pay great attention to their horoscopes.

I also painted over her entire pen with an aquatic blue.

There's one more right here, Endmin.

Er, this one is Shasha, actually...

Hey you! You the one called the Endmin?!

Alright, little one. You gotta be more polite than that. This one here is our VIP.

Sorry... I really am... But something really bad happened and I'm super desperate.

I'm Wu, the herdsboy in charge around here. I was cleaning the pens, then I noticed one of the burdenbeasts went missing.

He's really old ... and sick... I couldn't find him anywhere...

Everyone says you're the best, Endmin! HELP ME! PUH-LEASE!

Then what about the Farmers' Meet...

Heheh... I'm not a Farmer by trade, so I'm not that professional...

Makes sense. We should find the missing burdenbeast quickly.

Somewhere near the farms over there. But it's got many farmhouses ... who knows where he ran off to.

Hey! STOP! Stop raising your butt! You can't poop at this place!

So this is where you went! That's why I couldn't find you anywhere! TIME! TO! HEAD! BACK!

Take a break, kiddo... The world is my pasture. I go anywhere I want. No little kid is gonna order me around.

Checked the heights of the tomato plants? Group three seems shorter than the rest.

Substrate water content might be a little low. I found a small leak in the irrigation valves yesterday.

Ugh. Stop mooing nonsense! You're coming with me, whether you like it or not!

MOOVE ME?! NEVER!

JUST! GET! MOOOVING!

*Hoo*... *ffff*... I'm super pissed... FINE! Do whatever you like! I ... I'm not putting up with this nonsense anymore!

You. Why are you in my way? Are you also trying to get me penned?

Scabrous runt. I'm talking to you!

Back to my pen? Try and make me.

And I wasn't just missing. I was searching for the farm where I once toiled, back when I was young and strong.

Ahem. In any case, I feel happy when I'm at that special farm of mine. And I get grouchy when some little kid tries to keep me in a tiny pen.

Ugh. My eyes can't see that well no more, and my mind is getting slow. I don't think I know where the farm is...

Want me back in the pen? Sure. But you better find that farm for me. All I need is a good look at it and I'll agree to head back.

Do I look like someone who lies to young people? The Wuling farms are just nearby. Take me there.

Back then, I felt happiest when I pulled the plows. No. It's when the sprouts emerged... Not quite. I felt happiest during the bountiful harvest.

Is it...? Hmm. Feels familiar ... and foreign... Maybe I was here... Wait. Was I?

There is only one way to find out.

No... Not quite feeling it... We should check the next farm.

MOOOO —

Hngh... My damn legs... Hrruugggh... I'm out of breath. Gotta take a breather.

I can't move no more. My knees are creaking and my throat is parched. Just ... go and find me some water.

Hmm... Let me think. Not going along with your choice. Purified water from the main Xiranflow sluice. That's the only thing I drink.

Hrrrmmmph. If you refuse, I'll poop all over your shoes.

I'm getting old. Hrrnnngh... There was a time when I remembered every map in the city.

Yeah. The city's changed. Nobody knew what Xiranflow was... And there was nothing but Blight Tides that swept everything aside. Killed plenty of fellow beasts. Good beasts, all of them...

Of course. We burdenbeasts could reach places and carry loads that the Tianshi couldn't even dream of.

Harrumph... I am now fully rested. Let us be off.

NOT ONE MORE STEP!

Were you...?

I WAS NOT! What are you talking about? I hate following you! And I'm NOT worried at all!

I don't think I said anything, kiddo... Stop giving everything away.

Stop making things hard for me! Head back! NOW!

Make things hard for you? Did I ever make things hard for anyone?!

I couldn't even finish my work today! And it's all your fault! You ran off, and I had to chase you down!

Oh, hoho. First time in my life! Some snotty brat thinks I'm making life difficult for them!

No! That's not what I meant...

I still got life in my legs, so I won't be troubling you anymore. I can look for that farm on my own, thank you very much! And quit tailing me!

And you're a real eyesore. Out of my way!

That's a very good question. Why am I even here... Someone probably led me here. Or was it a kite? I think I was super thirsty...

*Sigh* My memories are failing. I can't even remember what happened a second ago.

He's never been this upset... I just want him to head back and rest in the pen.

What if he refuses to be my friend anymore? I ... I can't just leave him wandering around like this... What should I do, Endmin?

Should we head in and look for him?

Ugh... I smell it too... Follow me.

Oh, dude... That old boy left a big pile for us!

Ugh. That's why he did all that loitering around the Academy entrance! He was looking for a place to dump his cake.

Oh ho. Left, baby, left! Feel the shaka-laka. Move those hips. Right, baby, right! Work those shoulders... Ah one, two, three, four! One more round, people.

Hmph. Here you are. I thought you'd be off fuming in some secret place. Never expected you to be dancing around in the plaza.

Fuming? Ridiculous. I don't fume at kiddos. Not for too long, anyway.

Hmph. I brought some fruit punch. For someone.

Fresh fruit punch? Ugh. This is my outdoor getaway. Can't an old boy get something proper? Like BAM-BOOM Fizz soda?

No. You're too old to chug functional energy drinks all day!

We got metric tons of work back then... Needed all the functional energy drink we could to get things rolling.

That's because you refused to rest and kept working the farm. I tried to get you to stop, but you NEVER listen!

Enough with the blame game. I learned my lesson and did my workouts properly. Remember this jig? Used to do a routine every time I got back from the farm.

Of course I remember. They called you the Dancing Beast of Wuling. Every burdenbeast was trying to copy your move.

Let's not dwell on my legendary past. All I wanna say is true heroes would shine anywhere. What do you say? Think I still got my moves?

Yeeahhh... Smooth as ever, heartbreaker.

Hoooo... That's good to hear... I guess.

Oh, I see you have a camera. Wonder if you can take a photo of me right here. I don't know if I'd ever get another chance to dance again.

Endmin, can you take a few steps back? Get me in the picture as well.

I say you should back up all the way! Take a photo of the entire crowd in the plaza!

SHOW ME!

From what I'm seeing ... he's headed for the city outskirts. Why? That's not where his farm is.

Are you trying to show me something?

What?! Where did that old boy go...? Did he just run off again...?

Ugghh... Where did he go? He didn't even leave footprints this time...

Experimental farms of the Science Station. Everything was abandoned after the accident ten years ago. Burdenbeasts usually go there to graze.

Maybe he got hungry... Ugh. We've gotta head over there right now — people saw waterlamps lurking around.

We got really lucky... None of the burdenbeasts were hurt.

Uh...

Moo?

Moo...?

MOOOO —

This isn't appropriate, young bro! I'm too old for this!

MOO! MOOOO!

MOO!

Not a step closer, kiddo! Listen to this old pooper. You can't force love!

Hey! YOU TWO! Stop gawking and shoo this pesky little calf away!

Ugh. That young blood finally agreed to give up. It was on me the instant I arrived... Hmph. Go ahead and laugh your butts off. It's unhealthy to pent it up inside.

Hah. Never knew someone like you could get a mate.

Whatchu mean by that? I was the hottest thing around back then. Got a massive queue of bulls and heifers stretching across the city just to get a piece of me! If not for the farm, I would have... I would...

...Stop worrying already. You'll find new farms, till new fields, and see new crops grow.

So ... what happened to that farm...?

I just wanna know if it's doing alright. Imagine if I actually got there... I'll just end up making trouble for everyone...

No. Everyone will be super happy if you show up... I really need one more favor, Endmin.

Help me take this old boy to his farm.

You would not end up all alone in a cozy pen, with a snotty brat as your only friend.

Romance is overrated anyway. Rather spend time on the farm with my two-legged rascal. Roses? Fffft. Golden heads of grain. That's what I wanna see.

Yeah, yeah, whatever. We got no idea why someone went running to burdenbeast matchmaking central without warning...

Do you know how worried I was when you suddenly disappeared again?

That's because ... I suddenly remembered something back at the plaza. I gotta get over to this place before my memories fail again.

Nothing but a blur... I think I saw the Blight washing over my farm... I was right next to it... Couldn't do anything...

Getting ready for the harvest, that's what.

Good... Very good... We should head back now.

That's not true. Everyone misses you.

Hrrrrgh. I'm useless and grouchy. Can't do nothing for the people no more.

Little Wu, you didn't agree to let me come here ... because you knew... The farm's ... already gone, right?

Goes without asking. Burdo-muck. Best fertilizer ever.

Just let me lie for a while. I'll get better soon.

I'm sorry...

Stupid brat getting emo again. What's there to apologize for?

I kept ignoring you and kept you in the pen...

Ugh. Sod off. Got no ears for sniveling nonsense. We should try to piss each other off again. That's what I like.

Boy, think of it this way. This tiny farm is a fount of life. Plenty of seeds will grow out of it. And people will plant those seeds in places further away.

Boy... Someone's tending to the farm and the crops. But what about you? Who's gonna carry you around when I shuffle off this mortal pen?

I ... I'll be okay... I'm tall and strong now. I can reach faraway places without riding... Like, really faraway places.

Okay. That's good to hear. Very good.

Don't be picky with food. Have your meals on time. And work out, dammit. That's the secret to being big and tall.

Mmmhmm... Sweet, sweet release!

Suck it all up, my tender little plants! Grow faster, taller, and fruitier... That's right!

Hooo... Oh my goodness. All this bowel action is really exhausting.

You gave your life to this little farm. And you're still caring about it after retirement. I just...

I just ... it's really not worth your while. You've done more than enough. It's time to move on...

Those tiny seeds have explored the world outside the farm already. They did it for me.

And when I saw this farm, the crops, and their beautiful ears, I should have no regrets.

Is there something you still want to do?

Another burden off this beast.

Hmm...

Good boy... Oh, by the way...

Yes?

Stop adding ginger to the fresh fruit juice... It's disgusting.

......

Take good care of yourself...

Absolutely! This is the old boy's farm.

Ah, yeeees, this is it... AHHHH... I remember everything.

CAN'T BELIEVE THIS! First thing you do at the place you missed the most ... is to poop on it?

Why are you sleeping on the lawn? You'll catch a cold!

Academy? I guess you're still blurry from your nap. This is the industrial and agricultural production unit.

You probably dreamed it all up. We got a pro taking care of the burdenbeasts and keeping them safe here.

That Old Burdenbeast in your dream... You probably saw him in real life. Describe him to me. I know all the burdenbeasts here. Maybe I'll find him for you.

That's a little too vague for me. I can't start my search with that...

So...

The Farmers' Meet actually ended early. Shuang and Yan Ning have already left.

An old Tianshi of the Academy suddenly passed away. Shuang and Yan Ning went to pay their last respects.

Endmin! Wake up! Come on!

They say ... the old man was still very much attached to his experimental farm.