Boom!
Boom boom boom!
A rolling heatwave was spreading outwards from the Old Blacksmith Pub, the faintly vibrating air buffeting ears. A scorching, slightly stinging sensation could be felt slowly spreading across the skin. The humid air of the late summer night carried the faint scent of alcohol, mixed with cigarettes and coffee, drifting like smoke and mist, bringing a tipsy laziness and comfort that made people want to sway gently in the breeze, lost in the moment.
What's that...?
Unbelievable!
This was the most ordinary and normal scene on Bourbon Street for the past fourteen hours. The Old Blacksmith Pub had been relentlessly radiating enthusiasm, igniting New Orleans. There was nothing strange about it. But if it appeared after five in the morning, it would immediately stand out like a crane among chickens—
Like a fireball burning fiercely as it streaked across the night sky, its brilliant light illuminating the entire firmament, instantly dimming the countless stars.
So, what exactly happened?
Duncan couldn't believe his ears or his eyes. Before he even realized it, his feet were already moving towards the bar.
And Duncan wasn't the only one.
"What's going on?!"
"Who's performing? It sounds really lively."
"Is there some big act on at this hour?"
"Well, the Full Moon Party does have its hidden gems. It's not surprising if a strong musician pops up at this time."
"I'm a little curious."
"What happened?"
"Let's go take a look."
In twos and threes, the few who still had energy began to approach. Even as the Full Moon Party was reaching its final stages, there were still many young people ready to keep partying until the end, to truly see what the end of the world looked like. So, now seemed like the perfect time to rejoin.
The crowd slowly began to flow back, full of anticipation, ready to welcome a new wave of volcanic frenzy.
At this point, there was no need to queue at the entrance of the Old Blacksmith Pub. The entrance and exit were empty, and the audience could freely come and go at any time. The leftover wine bottles, trash bags, fruit, packaging bags, and so on scattered all over the ground outlined the chaos of a night of madness, revealing a hint of desolation and loneliness after the noise.
The desolation of the fading fervor and the receding peak was scattered everywhere like the trash on the ground. A gust of wind blew by, and a red plastic bag began to dance a tango, without music or an audience, just twirling alone. But this scene only further highlighted the bar's boisterousness.
Duncan easily re-entered the Old Blacksmith Pub. A wave of humid and scalding heat rushed towards him, like stepping into a sauna. The misty steam rolled back and forth across his skin, instantly clearing Duncan's mind. Not in a shocking way, but rather—
"I must be crazy."
That's what Duncan thought. And he felt like his brain had completely turned to mush. He had no time or energy to make a correct judgment, so much so that he didn't know what he was doing or why he was doing it. All his actions seemed to lack a reasonable explanation.
Instinct controlled his body's movements, like a puppet on strings, but his soul had already left his body, looking down on everything from above.
Duncan was very sure that he was now completely exhausted. His steps were almost dragging on the ground. He really needed to go home and rest properly. How did he foolishly walk back in? How could he inexplicably not suppress his curiosity? What was going on?
Leave. He needed to leave.
Duncan's brain issued the command, but his reflexes seemed a bit sluggish, like a broken robot with no brakes. He continued to move forward, several beats behind. Only then did his limbs feel the pull of his nerves, stop walking, and prepare to leave the bar directly, putting an end to this absurd curiosity.
However, his ears caught a familiar voice. The clear and bright sound carried a hint of tenderness, and perhaps because of the special time in the early morning, it was also tinged with a faint magnetism, slowly resonating like the strings of a cello. The cool moonlight danced between the strings, its unique texture firmly grabbing his ears. Invisible threads easily pulled at the beating of his heart.
By the time he reacted, his gaze had already fallen on the stage.
It was them!
It was actually them!
"King for a Day."
Duncan still remembered their name, the band he had unexpectedly discovered at the "Noon" bar the night before last. They had indeed left a good impression on him.
Tonight, coming to the Full Moon Party, Duncan had actually been vaguely hoping that King for a Day would also perform, so he could enjoy their performance again.
Bar performances and stage performances were ultimately different.
In a bar, whether it's the dining environment or the state of relaxation, you can't really fully appreciate the charm of a performance—it's like background music, where the customers are the main focus. But a stage performance is a pure and genuine performance that allows the audience to fully immerse themselves, with the performers as the main focus.
These were two completely different settings.
Duncan was also curious about what kind of performance the band would deliver. This was also one of the highlights that Duncan was looking forward to at the Full Moon Party.
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Unfortunately, there was no performance list for the Full Moon Party, and the band's name wasn't printed on the flyers. It was entirely focused on creating a carnival for the audience. So, Duncan had never been able to find his target. In the end, he could only tell himself that maybe the band wouldn't even take the stage tonight, or maybe he just didn't have the chance to see their live performance again.
When the mountains and rivers end, and you doubt there's a road ahead, suddenly you find a new village bathed in willow shade and bright flowers.
Unexpectedly, a whim of curiosity had once again allowed Duncan to see the band he had been longing for. The regret hadn't become a regret; instead, it had illuminated the night.
His eyes lit up!
Duncan's mind instantly cleared, truly clear, completely clear. The emotions of excitement and agitation, because of the discovery he had been searching for, boiled over. They easily awakened his brain, and an irrepressible joy made his feet eagerly start moving forward.
The puppet seemed to have regained control of its body, and the coordination between the brain and limbs was smooth again. His light steps found their center once more.
Then, his figure blended into the surging crowd before him, moving towards the stage. A heartfelt smile flowed from the depths of his eyes.
One. Two. Three.
Ten. Twenty. Thirty.
Gradually, the Old Blacksmith Pub seemed to become crowded again. Not in a way that was obviously shoulder-to-shoulder, but with a gradual increase in numbers. The empty space at the back was slowly filled. The scorching air slowly solidified, and sticky, hot sweat continuously slid down his cheeks. The increasingly intense heartbeat was challenging the complete darkness of the darkest hour of the night.
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