OFTLHFRO C148

Chapter 148: Amnesia?

After bringing the boy back to Hancheng, Luo Mingchen and Huo Yan went to have breakfast, sending for Hua Yaoyue to check on the boy.

Huo Xiang curiously pulled Huo Yuhui to look; there were still many gold and silver treasures laid out on the table.

After watching for a while, Huo Xiang whispered, “Brother, do you think he’s a thief?”

Huo Yuhui replied, “No.”

“Huh? Why not?”

Huo Xiang didn’t understand why her brother was so certain.

A boy about their age, carrying so many treasures, and pulled out of a big pit by Little Daddy himself—she had automatically imagined a drama of a thief being chased but was directly contradicted.

Huo Yuhui lifted his chin. “Look at the blue-green tattoo on his neck; it’s probably a half-lotus. He’s from Wolf King’s Fort.”

Seeing the faint tattoo on the boy’s neck, Huo Xiang frowned, confused. “Brother, how do you know so much?”

Huo Yuhui just asked, “How much of the strategist’s book have you read?”

“Uh…” Huo Xiang scratched her head awkwardly and stuck out her tongue.

Huo Yuhui sighed in helplessness, “There’s a book recording customs and traditions all over; it’s good to read more.”

Seeing her brother unangered, Huo Xiang cheerfully said, “I will next time for sure!”

After giving the boy a pill, Hua Yaoyue turned to the two brothers. “If you don’t have anything else, watch over him for a while. I’ll go brew some medicine.”

The brothers nodded obediently.

However, the boy lay unconscious for two full days and nights.

When Huo Xiang came running, Luo Mingchen had forgotten to bring the boy back.

Huo Yan was absent; Luo Mingchen asked while walking, “Did he say anything?”

“No. He came to find Little Daddy as soon as he woke up.”

Having lain so long, the boy finally woke, making Huo Xiang a bit excited.

When they entered the room, they saw Huo Xinyue had somehow climbed onto the bed, holding a plate of pastries and feeding the boy—there was a brief silence.

Hong Xing watched; the boy ate with his brows furrowed, his ears reddened—probably shy.

Honestly, Huo Xinyue had recently become obsessed with feeding Xiao Bai, but Xiao Bai was a cat with many things it couldn’t eat and a small appetite.

From this, it seemed she was feeding the boy like a cat.

“Cough! Xinyue.”

Hearing the voice, Huo Xinyue happily put down the plate, jumped off the bed, and pounced on Luo Mingchen. “Daddy!”

Luo Mingchen rubbed her little head, embraced her, pulled over a chair to sit by the bed, and asked, “Do you remember where you came from?”

The boy pressed his lips slightly, shook his head after a moment.

Luo Mingchen’s kind smile stiffened.

Was this… amnesia?

Or simply forgetfulness?

“Then… you must remember your name, right?”

A kid about Huo Xiang’s age!

It was unreasonable not to remember that.

The boy shook his head again.

Luo Mingchen, feeling conflicted, said to Huo Xiang, “Xiang, go invite Uncle Hua over. Tell him the boy has amnesia.”

“Oh, okay.”

Thus, Huo Xiang ran out again.

During this time, no matter what Luo Mingchen asked, the boy kept shaking his head.

When Hua Yaoyue arrived and examined the boy, she said, “His head isn’t injured; why doesn’t he remember?”

Luo Mingchen was puzzled too. “Could it be from severe shock?”

Hua Yaoyue gave him a glance and chuckled lightly, “Perhaps.”

Not understanding her attitude, Luo Mingchen could only convince himself. He told the boy, “Rest well here. If you still can’t remember tomorrow, we’ll take your token to Wolf King’s Fort to ask.”

Hearing this, the boy, with lowered eyes, clenched his fist slightly and nodded obediently.

Luo Mingchen patted his shoulder. “Good boy, eat some first.”

Huo Xinyue happily gave him another pastry, “Brother, eat some cake.”

Luo Mingchen helplessly stopped her, “Xinyue, brother needs real food to recover faster—no more sweets.”

“All right then.”

Huo Xinyue put the pastry down again.

The boy only glanced at them.

Though awake, he still needed medicine.

Besides remembering nothing, he ate and drank as he should, and his wounds had mostly healed.

“Do you think he escaped from Wolf King’s Fort?”

The more Luo Mingchen thought, the more uneasy he felt. If the boy had escaped and then, due to amnesia, was returned to them, how tragic the child’s fate.

While flipping through accounts, Huo Yan heard Luo Mingchen and said flatly, “Not likely escaped. He has a tattoo, and his pupils shine blue under light. He’s unquestionably from the Sand Tribe. They’re very united, so ‘escaped’ might be a misread for ‘lost.’ More believable.”

“Sand Tribe?”

Luo Mingchen couldn’t help but say, “How do you have so many strange tribes?”

“The Sand Tribe was the first to build Wolf King’s Fort. It’s said they never get lost in the desert. Even if wandering, they instinctively find the quickest path out, possess immense strength, can see at night, and command wolf packs.”

Huo Yan put down the ledger. “It’s the people who are strange.”

Luo Mingchen laughed, “All hearsay.”

“There are many legends about Wolf King’s Fort. When escorting caravans, I heard many stories. Caravan guards love to visit Wolf King’s Fort—it’s a place where a basket of gold and gems can make a fortune. I don’t know about anything else, but this should be true. Remember, Xiaolin has lots of gold and gems.”

Luo Mingchen’s eyes lit up. “If we send him back, can we bring back a basketful too?”

Huo Yan stared at his face for a while. “Maybe more than a basket.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. Tomorrow, Xiaolin will take the token and visit Wolf King’s Fort.”

Honestly, if not for uncertainty about Wolf King’s Fort’s attitude, Luo Mingchen was truly curious to see that legendary place.

Seeing Luo Mingchen’s dull mood, Huo Yan said, “The Sand Tribe’s abilities—aren’t they far from ordinary compared to the powers you mentioned?”

“That’s true.”

Luo Mingchen excitedly said, “If I had a gold affinity, we wouldn’t worry about gold. We could even forge iron blocks from thin air.”

Sadly, he had a water affinity.

Useful mostly during droughts.

Huo Yan smiled gently, tapping his forehead lightly. “The accounts over the years don’t quite add up.”

“Are they short?”

Luo Mingchen tilted his head looking at the bundle of ledgers, about six years old.

“No,” Huo Yan said with a half-smile, “They’re more.”

“Ah?”

Luo Mingchen didn’t understand, “You mean the empire gave less money to Huo Yuntao, but the money increased?”

“Yes.”

Huo Yan paused and said, “Looks like many secrets still hide within the Huo Family Army.”

Luo Mingchen nodded.

Though these people now appeared obedient, each harbored their own schemes.

Others perhaps less obvious, but Xue Kang completed every mission successfully while secretly sending letters to Huo Yuntao.

Of course, those letters were intercepted.

The letters sent by Huo Yuntao were also in their hands.

Those letters were written by Xiao Chen, imitating their handwriting, filled with misleading and highly deceptive content.