33: Chapter 27 Aesthetics 33: Chapter 27 Aesthetics The formation of culture is an extremely lengthy and complex process.

Historical background, social environment, and even geographical location…

Under the influence of various factors, every civilization, in each of its periods, showcases its unique cultural aesthetics.

Intricate and rich, luxuriously resplendent use of colors, lace cuffs, high-waisted pleated skirts, and court balls accompanied by soothing string music—this is the Victorian style of nineteenth-century Europe.

Rugged and wild, natural simplicity, the directness of earthy tones, fang necklaces, beast-skin aprons, and bonfire evenings under the baobab tree—this is the tribal style from the African savanna.

Xia Nan, in his past life as a native of Zhongzhou, grew up with spring couplets pasted and firecrackers sounding.

The curved eaves and corners of old buildings by the roadside, the black-and-white ink paintings hanging on company walls, and even the blue-and-white patterns printed at the bottom of porcelain bowls during meals…

Just an ordinary person, rushing for the future and livelihood under his family’s expectations after birth, he never actively paid attention to these scattered things.

Yet over thirty-two years, the culture and aesthetics from that long-standing historical heritage, almost filling every corner of his sight, silently seeped into the depths of his blood, becoming one with his soul.

Therefore, even with just a distant glance.

Xia Nan sharply noticed that the inky black token in Hai’an’s hand differed from the unique style of this fantasy world.

“Could I take a look at that piece of wood in your hand?”

He hesitantly called out to the Half Elf, whose expression seemed somewhat surprised.

“Here!”

Seeing a turn of events, Hai’an, hoping for Xia Nan to join the team, did not hesitate for a moment.

As soon as the words left his mouth, he tossed the token over.

Tap—

Xia Nan gently caught it with both hands, feeling the unique blend of rigidity and resilience characteristic of wooden materials against his fingertips.

The surface, however, was not rough, feeling especially smooth and warm to the touch.

Xia Nan carefully scrutinized the palm-sized piece of wood in front of him.

It was a rectangle that narrowed at the top and widened at the bottom, about half an inch thick, hollow at the base, with a border engraved in a dignified and simplistic style with a delicate and smooth cloud pattern.

“Hiss…

it’s like, really kind of like it.”

DNA tingled.

The style and form of this wooden sign almost perfectly matched those artifacts he had seen in museums in his past life.

But…

Only one point.

The most crucial point.

Which made it uncertain for him whether the token he held now was from another world, just like himself—

Text!

Xia Nan could clearly see, in the center of the rectangular wooden block, a square character was neatly drawn with slightly faded bronze-gold paint.

The traditional yet fluid strokes, he had written numerous times in his past life by hand.

But…

he couldn’t understand it!

The characters before him were absolutely not like the pictographic symbols he had learned or seen before in his previous life.

So familiar, yet upon closer inspection, felt strange.

Seemingly similar yet different.

This is why he couldn’t make up his mind now.

“I remember this world also has ‘Martial Monk’ professions, maybe it possesses a civilization similar to Zhongzhou in my past life?”

Thoughts surging, Xia Nan was merely speculating wildly in his heart.

Amid his emotional agitation, the originally tense expression unconsciously revealed a trace of ripple.

On the other side, Hai’an, who was watching him intently, naturally noticed his complex expression.

With a slight association, he knew it was related to the wooden sign he had just thrown over.

Then he seized the moment to strike while the iron was hot and said:

“The target of our team’s mission is actually to investigate the origin of this piece of wood.”

“Based on the information we have so far, we’ve roughly pinpointed the location where it was discovered, we can get there tomorrow.”

“If you’re interested, you could accompany us, and I could share some information related to it with you.”

Xia Nan was tempted.

Ultimately, whether to join the other team or not, is merely a weighing of pros and cons.

Earlier, the other side had called out a price of 100 Gold, but compared to the potential risks, it was entirely inadequate.

He made a decisive refusal.

But now, when one end of this scale is increased with “the opportunity to learn the origin of the wooden sign in hand.”

The situation changed.

To be honest, the four-person team in front of him was not wholly ridiculous to the point of being merely a suicide mission.

The fat guy and the blonde girl seemed unreliable, but the Half Elf and the “suspected professional” Wood by his side were quite presentable.

Additionally, the mission destination disclosed earlier was only at the periphery of the Mist Forest, reducing the risk somewhat.

Moreover…

Alright, he was just finding reasons for the decision he was about to make.

“I am indeed too concerned.”

A mysterious token with past-life aesthetics in a fantasy-background Otherworld.

If he didn’t take this chance to find out the source, he might lose sleep from missing the opportunity due to excessive caution.

Therefore…

“I’ll join.”

Retracting his gaze from the wooden sign in hand.

Xia Nan raised his head and said to the Half Elf.

…

…

Where one sits influences their thoughts.

Xia Nan earlier despised the Half Elf’s team for its poor configuration and the unprofessional behavior of some members.

Yet once he truly became a member of the team, he found the team environment was not as bad as he imagined.

It looked like young masters from the city touring in the countryside, but in reality, they all maintained a relatively tidy formation along the way.

They didn’t make deliberate noise, and necessary conversations were kept to a whisper as much as possible.

Xia Nan even saw that several times when a bug suddenly flew out from the roadside bushes, the blonde girl in the team was so frightened that she jumped, almost losing her soul, but still she tightly covered her mouth, not daring to make a sound.

Wood also displayed very high professional standards.

Roaming at the forefront of the team, sometimes he suddenly squatted down, pinching a bit of soil, smelling it under his nose, then confirmed it was the territory of some kind of Demon ahead, guiding the team around;

Or suddenly grabbed a branch from the ground at random, swept it in a seemingly ordinary dense bush, startling a dangerous snake with colorful patterns.

More like an experienced adventurer than a guard.

It’s just a pity he didn’t speak a word, responding to hardly anyone in the team except Hai’an.

Otherwise, Xia Nan might have asked him for some adventuring skills.

The most surprising was the silver-haired Half Elf “Hai’an.”

Seemingly the core of the whole team, with a shooter position using the Longbow as the main weapon.

Yet he walked in front of Xia Nan the entire way, deliberately exposing his back without reservation to make Xia Nan feel at ease.

Xia Nan could sense the Half Elf’s friendliness and sincerity.

Of course, provided he ignored Wood’s occasional wary glances from the front of the team.