Years kept passing; Wuyi was ten this year, but he actually looked 13. He was growing faster than any kids in the fort. People believed it was his bloodline, but Wuyi knew with certainty that the cause of his developnt was his cheat, specifically the statue of valor, which actively supported Wuyi during his exercises, helping him develop muscles.
He was just more physically developed than other kids. To keep up with the growth, he ate a lot too. The good thing was now that he lived in the fort, he could go to the kitchen and eat anyti and as many tis as he liked. Even as a bastard, he was considered noble, so no one hassled him about his eating habits.
Still, he made sure not to show this trait of his in front of Boluo, or he would have been chided by Boluo for being a glutton.
As sumr arrived, it brought a hot desert climate to the Fortress of Lujingbao, accompanied by the influx of Nomadic Desert rchants from their desert and plateau territories. These visitors arrived bearing valuable goods like tals, precious stones, jade, and barrels of rare desert materials.
Alongside their wares, they shared tales of demons and beasts—stories that sent shivers down the spines of children.
The common folk regarded the newly arrived nomad rchants with suspicion, often believing them to be undercover agents of the demonics. Despite this distrust, their offerings were too tempting, and the gold taels they used for trade were substantial, enticing the local rchants.
The news that they brought was already being heard everywhere; it was nothing new, but what seed to be happening far away made the locals realize that it was happening closer than they had expected.
Demonics continued to roam the borderlands, avoiding direct confrontation with the Lujingbao Fortress warriors. They pillaged and terrorized the sa vulnerable villages they had targeted for years. The situation was like a complex and brutal ga, with the demonics seeking out undefended or poorly defended settlents.
To tackle this demonic problem, the fortress exposed so locations deliberately to lure the marauders, baiting them before finishing them with counterattacks. But it did not work out as there seed to be spies everywhere.
This season, the ga seed to tip in favor of the demonics. Every trip to the towns brought grim news of devastation and growing public unrest.
Within the Fortress, among the guards and warriors, a pervasive sense of incompetence lood. Wuyi noticed and felt their emotions but could not connect to them because he was still unclear about what these demonics were. Were they demons or humans? All he knew was that they were not good people—perhaps robbers or sothing similar , but more powerful.
The demonics deftly eluded the Scouting Parties sent from the fort and evaded their traps. They exploited the fortress's vulnerabilities, striking when least expected.
One morning, Wuyi made his way down to Boluo's Residence for what he sarcastically referred to as his "lesson." Usually, his mornings were spent tending to animals and ntoring young beasts, rather than receiving any profound wisdom. He had taken over Keben's previous duties in the Beast Pens, as Keben had moved on to beco Wangzhe's personal groom and beastmaster.
However, on this particular day, Boluo had different plans. He led Wuyi to his chamber and gestured for him to sit at an elegantly carved table, a hint of skepticism in his tone as he spoke. "Today, I will teach you the art of etiquette."
Wuyi couldn't conceal his surprise. "Etiquette for managing beasts?"
"No," Boluo clarified. "I trust you have a sufficient understanding of that. I am referring to social etiquette, particularly during feasts and tea ceremonies—the kind of decorum expected in the presence of people."
Wuyi was intrigued. "And why is that?"
Boluo furrowed his brows. "For reasons unbeknownst to , you will accompany young master Jianyu on a diplomatic mission to the city of Jingwan. Your task is to et Lord Qingzhu of the Lian clan, who has been accused by Lord Shenxi of negligence in fortifying the Mountain Gates and Observation Towers.
Shenxi claims that these are left unmanned, allowing beasts to breach the borders and launch attacks on Shenxi's settlents in the Shu Province. Jianyu is assigned to address these claims with Lord Qingzhu."
Boluo began teaching Wuyi the nuances of noble etiquette. He explained that in most noble clans, young n learn this by observing their elders. However, in larger clans, a special etiquette teacher is assigned to the younger generation.
Boluo started by teaching Wuyi how to greet people appropriately when eting them for the first ti, how to introduce himself upon entering a room, and how to show respect when conversing with elders. He elaborated on the complex rules governing the importance of individuals in various situations.
They then transitioned to alti etiquette, discussing where to sit, how to match the eating pace of the most important person at the table, how to make a toast, and how to engage in aningful conversation during dinner. In Wuyi's case, the focus was on listening attentively to others. The lesson seed endless, and Wuyi found his mind wandering after a while.
The good thing was that the Statue of Knowledge, his cheat, kept taking in all the knowledge. But Wuyi's boredom was not hidden from Boluo.
Boluo abruptly snapped Wuyi back to reality with a pointed jab of his finger, visibly frustrated. "You must avoid appearing absentminded; it makes you look foolish. Don't assu others won't notice. And refrain from showing resentnt when corrected. Maintain a polite deanor, not a vacant grin," he admonished.
Suddenly, Boluo began to murmur, "Wuyi, what am I to do with you? How can I ensure your safety when you seem to attract trouble? And why are they sending you away like this?"
His unspoken questions revealed deep-seated concerns. Boluo was puzzled as to why a ten-year-old like Wuyi was being sent away, marking the first ti he would be out of Boluo's protective watch.
He wondered, though he didn't say it out loud, if Wuyi was being sent away to make it easier for soone to discreetly eliminate him. Wuyi sensed Boluo's concerns but felt they were unwarranted. He was not being sent away for sinister reasons but quite the opposite. Because the Statue of Knowledge had already made a calculated guess, Wuyi was aware of what this journey was going to be about.
Wuyi offered a plausible explanation, suggesting that perhaps his skills in managing horses and dogs were being assessed by the Patriarch. After all, Jianyu never traveled without his loyal mountain hound, Linghu, and had recently praised Wuyi's handling of the animal.
This reassurance transford Boluo's expression from concern to relief and then to pride. He was, after all, the one who had taught Wuyi how to handle beasts. If the lord was assessing his skills, it ant he must have made an impression. Boluo's focus quickly shifted from etiquette to canine care—a topic as tedious as the forr.
When he finally allowed Wuyi to attend to his other duties, the young boy left with a newfound sense of lightness in his step.
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