Simple Ken returned from a night of fishing with nothing but a pile of rocks and wood.
“Simple Ken, you’re too gullible! All your hard-earned catch got swindled by those little rascals the whole night,” a passing old man said, chuckling and shaking his head.
“Oh, by the way, there was a big wind last night. The roof tiles on my house got blown off. Get some in town and fix it for me, will you?”
With his trademark silly grin, Simple Ken remained silent.
“Ah, what a fool. Go back quickly. Your missus is waiting for you to have breakfast,” the old man waved him off.
Serene Village wasn’t large, totaling just over a hundred residents, and Simple Ken was a unique character.
Nobody knew where he came from. In everyone’s impression, Simple Ken was just a fool who never uttered a complete sentence. Whether he cheated or was bullied, he always wore a foolish smile.
Walking from the village entrance to the end, he entered a plain cottage with a fenced yard. Though it was small and somewhat shabby, it was neat. Inside the fenced yard, some chickens and ducks roamed, and an old brown dog lay at the door, dozing.
As he approached, the dog stirred, wagging its tail in welcome.
“Simple Ken, you’re back?” A middle- aged woman came out, frowning at the sight of him. “It’s rock and wood again. Where are the fish and shrimp? Have you been tricked again?”
Simple Ken didn’t say a word. He just grinned and scratched his head. Seeing this, the woman felt annoyed and helpless. She patted the mud on his shoulder and said, “Quick, take off your clothes. I’ll wash them for you. Look at how dirty you are. It’s like you fell into a mud pit.”
As he undressed, the woman continued, “By the way, breakfast is ready. Eat while it’s hot. Remember to wash your hands before eating.
“Also, I’m going to town to sell vegetables later. Don’t run around at home. When I come back, I’ll bring your favorite pastry.”
Simple Ken was grinning even more foolishly upon hearing it.
“What are you standing there for? Go eat.” The woman rolled her eyes and carried a basin of dirty clothes out, heading toward the stream.
He watched his wife leave. When she was out of sight, he went back inside to have his breakfast. The meal was sumptuous, including a bowl of oatmeal, meat pies, two eggs, and a pot of homemade pickled cucumbers.
Simple Ken relished his meal with a hearty appetite, delighting in every bite. At that moment, the dog at the door suddenly started barking.
He looked up and saw a white messenger pigeon fluttering its wings, landing on the table. It remained motionless. As he took the paper from the pigeon’s leg, his eyes showed a complex expression when he read the contents.
After a long silence, he sighed lightly and mumbled, “It’s been ten years, and the inevitable has finally come.”
Quietly standing up, Simple Ken burned the paper. He released the pigeon, tossed a meat pie to the dog, and went to the yard, retrieving a long wooden box. Upon opening the box, a rusty iron sword lay inside.
“Old friend, it’s been a while. Please accompany me on this final journey,” Simple Ken said, gently stroking the blade. He then flicked his finger.
The iron sword began to vibrate wildly, shedding rust bit by bit until it revealed a menacing edge.
There was a subtle resonance between them. This sword was unmistakably the number one sword in the world, Dragon Sparrow!
