Hearing Tu Hu’s call, I quickly swallowed the meat in my mouth and looked up at him, cupping my fists.
“Great King, is there something you need?”
Tu Hu waved his hand, telling me not to be so formal. He loosened the belt around his waist, revealing his broad chest.
“Ada told me you’ve already visited the Wild Elder. How was it? Did you find the story you were looking for?”
I couldn’t quite tell if Tu Hu’s question was a probe or just casual conversation, so I answered cautiously.
“Thank you, Great King, for giving me this opportunity to fulfill a childhood regret. I have found the beast skin that records the story.”
Tu Hu didn’t press further, merely giving a simple acknowledgment and moving on to other topics.
“How is the Wild Elder’s health? Has he put on any weight?”
I looked at Tu Hu with a hint of surprise. His reaction was quite strange!
As Tu Hu spoke, his expression seemed a little tense, as if he had transformed from a leader into a child awaiting exam results.
Could it be that Tu Hu and the Wild Elder were very close?
Or perhaps the Wild Elder was Tu Hu’s biological father?!
I was making wild speculations in my mind, but my face maintained a somber expression.
“The Wild Elder is not in good condition. When he lies in bed, he is so still it’s as if he isn’t breathing.”
Tu Hu nodded and said nothing more. He simply picked up the wine cup from the table, tilted his head back, and downed it, his eyes watering from the burn.
Seeing this, my eyes darted around, and the image of the Wild Elder’s aged face surfaced in my mind for no apparent reason.
This old man was no ordinary person. When we were in the tent, he had given me the most crucial guidance.
Looking at Tu Hu’s current state, there was clearly something going on between these two.
The Wild Elder was a man with a past. I hadn’t felt comfortable prying into it before, but now that Tu Hu brought it up, it was the perfect opportunity to get some information!
“Great King, you don’t need to be too sad. Although the Wild Elder’s health is poor, his spirit is still strong. It’s simply due to his age. If he is well looked after, he can live for another ten years.”
I cleared my throat, offering comfort to Tu Hu, then casually steered the conversation towards the Wild Elder’s past.
“Great King, while I was looking at the beast skin in the tent, the Wild Elder offered me a few casual words of advice.”
“The Wild Elder is truly knowledgeable, he knows so much. A few casual remarks helped me understand many things.”
Hearing my words, Tu Hu burst into laughter, the sadness of moments ago vanishing. This also opened up his flow of conversation.
“Speaking of the Wild Elder, he was a legendary figure of the previous generation,” Tu Hu picked up his wine cup, a hint of wistfulness in his voice. “Don’t let his hunched posture fool you now; he was once on the verge of becoming the chief of the temple guards.”
“It’s just…”
Tu Hu stopped speaking at this point, instead continuing to drink by himself.
Observing Tu Hu’s reaction and combining it with his earlier words, I suddenly understood.
The Wild Elder and Tu Hu must have an extraordinary relationship; if not Tu Hu’s father, then close to it.
I wouldn’t dream of rubbing salt in someone’s wounds, so I remained silent. The tent fell into silence for a moment, broken only by the sound of tearing meat.
After a long while, Tu Hu spoke again.
“Badu, have you given it any thought?”
My hope of having the mark removed now lay with the temple, so I had already resolved to become the next chief of the temple guards.
Just as I was about to answer Tu Hu, the sound of someone entering the tent came from behind me.
I turned my head and saw the High Priest walking in calmly, followed by someone I absolutely did not expect!
It was Pan Lili!
Pan Lili wore a black robe, following behind the High Priest. Her beauty was undiminished, but her face was now adorned with many intricate, tattoo-like patterns, giving her a more alluring appearance.
I vaguely sensed something strange about her, but due to our respective statuses, I only glanced at her a couple of times before shifting my gaze.
The High Priest and Pan Lili took seats opposite me, smiling as they looked at me.
Tu Hu showed no surprise at the High Priest’s arrival, merely giving him a glance before ignoring him.
I knew this was the moment everyone was waiting for me to give my answer, so I spoke decisively.
“Great King, I am willing to become the next chief of the temple guards.”
“Badu, you?!”
As soon as I spoke, Ada, who had been eating heartily, nearly choked. He quickly beat his chest with his hand and managed to recover, looking at me with an expression of disbelief.
“Good!”