Lujingbao

Wangzhe snorted derisively. "He could have taken care of them and hidden them, but that time has passed; now it's a matter for his clan and sect. The time for prudence was before his affair. Thanks to Zhenli's lack of discretion, everyone in the desert knows that one of the young masters who came for meteorite iron did more than just open the path to it. Since the whole desert knows, and given that the Yuanjing is a major clan, the word will spread to those who care, especially since the Sacred Sword Sect is one of the leading sects of the north. There's no use hiding him now. And regarding illegitimate offspring, none of us can afford the luxury of sensitivity, Boluo. Leaving the boy here is like leaving a sword poised over the Yuanjing clan's neck—anyone could exploit him. Even a stableman like you should recognize this. If anything goes wrong, it will be our heads on the line. And if you can't see it, Zhenli, you surely should. So, move the boy to Lujingbao Castle. Boluo, you will accompany him to watch over him. Father has decided to assign you as head of all the stables in the castle. The stable hands have worked for you in the past, so there should be no issues."

A chilling sternness pervaded Wangzhe's words, making even Boluo recoil—an act Wuyi had never seen him perform before. The statue's feedback indicated that Wangzhe was serious; Wuyi's presence was not so simple for their whole clan. Seeing Boluo rattled, one of the hounds growled. Whether this caused Wangzhe to retreat, Wuyi couldn't say for sure, but Wangzhe took a few steps back.

The men soon exited, and if they spoke further, they were out of his hearing range.

Weeks drifted by—two or perhaps three—until Wuyi found himself gripping Boluo's tunic belt and awkwardly wrapping his small legs around a horse. They left the hot, sandy village and embarked on what felt like an eternal journey toward a more temperate castle, supposedly located at the edge of the desert near the sea.

Wuyi imagined that at some point, his father must visit to see the child he had fathered, perhaps to pass judgment on his own actions concerning him. It would be a lie to say Wuyi was not curious. Even if he was a reborn man and perhaps had nothing to do with this father in this world, he was curious about what kind of man he was. They all talked about him, his clan, and his sect with so much respect, as if he were the heavens himself.

After days of traveling, Wuyi found himself in Lujingbao Fortress. The Fortress was a major center in the desert, built at the location where the sea met the desert.

Boluo was given living quarters above the animal pens, close to the aviary. That was where he took Wuyi, along with the pack of desert hounds and raptors they had brought with them.

Boluo first attended to his raptors, who were clearly distressed from their travels. The canines, on the other hand, seemed thrilled to be here, brimming with energy that was utterly exhausting for someone as worn out as Wuyi.

Haowen, the pup, knocked Wuyi over repeatedly before realizing that the young boy was too tired and slightly ill to entertain his antics. Like any young pup, Haowen went off to find new playmates, instigating a noisy scuffle until Boluo's voice cut through the clamor.

Now assigned as the head beastmaster at Lujingbao Fortress, Boluo was the supreme authority when it came to managing beasts, birds, and horses. After ensuring the well-being of his animals, he toured the stables, scrutinizing what had or hadn't been done since his departure. Stablehands, caretakers, and bird-trainers materialized as if summoned, eager to justify themselves wherever Boluo went. Wuyi had to admit that they all held Boluo in high reverence.

Wuyi did his best to keep pace with him but finally gave in, collapsing onto a mound of straw. Only then did Boluo notice him, a fleeting look of annoyance and then profound fatigue crossing his features.

"Keben, take young Wuyi to the kitchens for a meal, then bring him back to my quarters," he commanded.

Keben, a petite, dark-skinned lad around ten years old, had just received Boluo's praise for managing a litter of newborn hounds. His smile wavered as he looked at Wuyi skeptically. They watched each other as Boluo moved on with his anxious entourage.

Finally, Keben bent slightly and said, "Hungry, Wuyi? Shall we find something to eat?" His tone was the same as the one he'd used to coax his pups and hounds. Expecting nothing more from Wuyi than from his pups, Wuyi nodded and followed.

Keben kept glancing back to make sure Wuyi was following. As they stepped out of the stables, Haowen rejoined them, bounding happily. His obvious affection for Wuyi seemed to elevate the boy's status in Keben's eyes. He continued to encourage them both, using brief, uplifting phrases like, "Food is just ahead," and "Come on, let's go, no chasing after that cat, keep moving, you're doing well."

The stable area was a hive of activity, with warriors stabling their steeds and stashing their equipment. Boluo was going around, pointing out what hadn't been done to his liking while he was gone. But as they ventured closer to the inner fortress, the crowd seemed to swell. People of all sorts bustled around them: a young lad shouldering a large cut of pork, a group of giggling maidens carrying bundles of aromatic herbs, a grumpy elder toting a basket of wriggling fish, and a trio of spirited women adorned with jingling bells, their laughter echoing like their ornaments.

Wuyi's nose told him they were nearing the cooking quarters, but the throng around them only grew thicker. As they approached a doorway, a mass of people moved in and out in a chaotic dance. Keben halted, and both Haowen and Wuyi waited, sniffing the air. In this world, food had always been Wuyi's priority and his source of pleasure.