Chương 13: Azure Boar (Part III)

Lucian, Wang Chen, and Bai Xiaomeng sat around a bonfire, the orange sky signaling the late afternoon. After killing the boar, Lucian had dissected the beast, separating bone from muscle, skinning the hide, and discarding any organs or parts he deemed useless or inedible. Wang Chen's arm recovered faster than it had been possible days ago. While testing its movement, he searched among their gathered weapons for something more suitable to his fighting experience. Which was, in fact, almost none.

Bai Xiaomeng kept herself busy cooking and hunting small game for fresh meat. Now that the master of this territory was dead, she knew she could move more freely, at least for the day. Curiously enough, all animals were herbivorous, with azure fur, blending with the surroundings. Another fun fact was that Lucian had not eaten lunch with them. Only now, as the sun dipped toward the horizon, did he stop his work and bring a portion of boar meat for her to cook, making her believe that they would all dine together.

At this moment, all of them, sitting on logs, were watching a boar's shank roast over the fire. While Wang Chen and Bai Xiaomeng were lost in their thoughts, Lucian lowered the upper part of his robe and uncovered his face, breaking the silence.

"As I said before, I would like to speak with both of you." They looked at him, each forming different guesses about what he might say.

"Tell me," he continued, "You must be used to being robbed, to having family members murdered, or to surviving great traumas." Wang Chen frowned, confused.

"I do not think I understand what you're saying, Benefactor." Bai Xiaomeng waited for Lucian to elaborate. She was startled when Lucian pointed at her.

"From the scent of blood, your reactions, and the despair hidden in your eyes, you were almost deflowered by that cultivator." Wang Chen's teeth ground loudly. Bai Xiaomeng closed her eyes briefly and nodded.

"Yes. I passed out before anything happened," she said in a weak tone. Lucian then pointed at Wang Chen, ignoring the turmoil he caused.

"You lost your father and at least one uncle. Perhaps cousins, other relatives, and friends as well. The woman you seem to love survived, but she suffered, and you could do nothing."

"Why are you saying all this?" Wang Chen roared, rising to his feet, anger and grief twisting his face. Bai Xiaomeng grabbed his arm, trying to pull him back down. Though Lucian had not harmed them yet, she feared provoking him. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Lucian looked at the furious young man, uncaring about his reaction.

"You should be drowning in despair."

"What are you—""You should be lost in denial," Lucian continued, glancing at Bai Xiaomeng.

"And it would be normal for some of you to attempt self-destructive actions."

"Grand Cultivator, I do not understand," Bai Xiaomeng questioned, a scowl appearing on her face.

"This Lord wishes to know how two young mortals, who were not impoverished or outcast, can endure such events and speak with me as if nothing happened only a day later." Lucian said that not out of concern for them, but because if the people of the Golden Peng Empire possessed such resilience, dealing with them would be far too troublesome. Wang Chen opened and closed his mouth, struggling to find the right words. Once again, Bai Xiaomeng spoke first.

"Grand Cultivator, pardon me for saying this, but are you playing with us?" She asked, placing a hand over her racing heart and clutching her chest.

"Who among common people has never lost someone dear? Who has never suffered because of… Cultivators?" As she fell silent, Wang Chen felt compelled to answer as well.

"My mother's clan was wiped out because one of my cousins, who had only minor talent in cultivation, dared to disrespect a young master from a branch clan connected to the Imperial Palace." Bai Xiaomeng's eyes widened. She looked stunned that Wang Chen had revealed one of the Bai Clan's secrets so openly to an outsider.

"My father forbade me from speaking of my mother. Every Bai Clan elder behaved as if she had never existed." Lucian listened without interruption, and e ncouraged by his gaze, Wang Chen continued.

"Even though that happened years ago, it haunted me. And just a month ago, we had to leave our home with only a handful of clan members because another merchant clan, backed by a rogue cultivator, rose to power in the city. Father abandoned everything, leaving a small branch behind, and brought us to Three Feathers City so our Bai Clan had a chance of survival." Wang Chen met Lucian's eyes and gave a faint smile.

"It hurt to lose everyone. It did hurt to feel useless, locked inside that box, knowing something terrible was happening outside and that I could do nothing to stop it." He turned to Bai Xiaomeng, who watched him with tearful eyes.

"But should I give up because of that? Did my father give up when he lost my mother? Did he give up when he lost the family business? Even when attacked by four rogue cultivators, he chose to lock me in that sealed box so the Bai Clan would still have a future. So, yes, whatever challenge the heavens throw at me, I will handle it." Lucian hummed thoughtfully and shifted his gaze to Bai Xiaomeng. Under his cold eyes, she swallowed and spoke, a hidden sharpness deep in her eyes.

"The matter that I was touched by another man while unmarried disgusts you, Grand Cultivator? Is that why you ask such questions? What happened was not my fault, and I will not let one event define my life. If I could, I would erase that beast's face from my memory! He and his brothers can suffer in hell!" Both she and Wang Chen looked at Lucian, surprised by the faint smile that appeared on his lips. His expression was usually cold and unreadable, making it easy to forget how striking his features were.

"I am satisfied," he said.

"It is not your culture that grants you mental fortitude, but your experiences. What this land's culture spreads is fear of cultivators, who believe themselves above others." He paused, organizing his thoughts for a moment, before continuing.

"I have one final curiosity, Wang Chen. As a merchant clan, your caravan should have resources to hire cultivators. I know you possessed Spirit Stones, and that such things are valuable." Understanding the unsaid question, Wang Chen let out a short laugh.

"My father was frustrated by that as well. He said that because of a war on the northern side of the Empire, most cultivators were sent there. Even commoners in those regions were affected, so it was obviously hard to hire guards!" Lucian's eyes glinted as he remembered Xin Pang's final moments, nodding slowly.

"I thank you both for your honesty," he said as he rose to his feet.

"You may eat. I have much to consider."