OFTLHFRO C173

Chapter 173: Legends

Inside the carriage.

Luo Mingchen stared at Da Bai, who was curled up beside Huo Yuhui, and felt a headache coming on.

“Why did you bring it along too?”

As if understanding Luo Mingchen’s words, Da Bai let out a displeased cry. “Meow—”

“…You’re still complaining? That’s such a long journey. What if you get abducted along the way?”

Luo Mingchen poked Da Bai’s soft, fluffy backside with no small amount of irritation.

Huo Yuhui smiled. “Little Daddy, I’ll keep an eye on Da Bai.”

“Then are you even going to enjoy yourself?”

At this point, Luo Mingchen paused, then suggested, “How about tying a rope around it?”

Da Bai immediately straightened its little head, its eyes filled with profound resentment. “Meow!”

Seeing this, Luo Mingchen pressed his lips together, his mood complicated.

“Da Bai, tell me the truth—are you a cat demon? Don’t worry, even if you turn into a human, it’s fine. My psychological endurance is extremely strong.”

Huo Xiang and Huo Xinyue actually believed him and waited expectantly for Da Bai to transform.

However, Da Bai did not turn into a human.

Huo Yuhui gently stroked Da Bai and said, “Little Daddy, don’t worry. Nothing will happen to Da Bai. I promise I’ll bring it back safely.”

Huo Xiang nodded. “Little Daddy, I’ll watch it too. We’re all going out—how pitiful it would be to leave Da Bai behind alone.”

Huo Xinyue chimed in, “Daddy~ Da Bai is very well-behaved.”

“…Alright then.”

Luo Mingchen mainly felt that bringing along a cat was troublesome. If they weren’t careful for even a moment, such a plump cat might get caught and turned into a dish.

Not many people ate cat meat—but it wasn’t unheard of.

Still, since it had already been brought along, sending it back would be just as troublesome. Keeping it posed no great harm; they would simply have to watch it more closely.

After crossing the river, the terrain turned into desert. They traveled for an entire day, then found a spot at night and set up tents. It wasn’t particularly warm inside, but it wasn’t cold either.

Once the fire was lit and the three children had fallen asleep, Luo Mingchen walked over and sat beside Huo Yan. Seeing him drinking something, he asked, “Is that wine?”

He could smell alcohol, mingled with a sweet fragrance.

Huo Yan handed him the water pouch. “Want to try?”

It smelled pleasant enough. Luo Mingchen took a cautious sip—only to be met with a sharp, spicy burn. He grimaced and handed it back.

“Terrible.”

Hua Yaoyue and the others sitting nearby stared at him in shock.

Hua Yaoyue said, “That wine is very expensive.”

“Expensive doesn’t mean it tastes good… Besides, I don’t drink alcohol.”

Luo Mingchen liked dishes cooked with wine, but disliked drinking it straight—unless it was fruit wine.

Li Yunde asked in confusion, “Lord Luo doesn’t look like someone who couldn’t afford wine in the past.”

It truly puzzled him—how could a man not like drinking?

Luo Mingchen asked in return, “Then why doesn’t Deputy General Li cook?”

Hua Yaoyue said, “That’s not the same thing. What man doesn’t drink?”

“In my view, it’s exactly the same. Everyone eats—so why don’t you cook?”

Everyone: “……”

Huo Yan habitually pulled Luo Mingchen closer, shielding him from some of the cold wind. “It’s simply a matter of different preferences.”

Luo Mingchen did not pursue the topic further and instead asked, “Strategist, about how long until we arrive tomorrow?”

Unaccustomed to long carriage rides, he felt restless—too uncomfortable to sleep, yet too drowsy to stay awake.

Ji Bowen replied, “If we travel quickly, about an hour and a half. If slower, we should still arrive by midday.”

“…Mm.”

After assigning night watch duties, Luo Mingchen returned to the tent with Huo Yan to sleep.

Once they lay down, Luo Mingchen could still smell the faint scent of wine clinging to Huo Yan.

Seeing his husband sniffing like a little dog, Huo Yan chuckled and gently brushed his nose against his.

Luo Mingchen murmured, “Strange… it smells so fragrant, yet tastes so spicy.”

“Want to try again?”

“No more. I feel dizzy.”

Just one sip and he was already lightheaded—what an experience.

Huo Yan spoke almost against his lips. “Have another taste.”

Only then did Luo Mingchen belatedly realize he meant tasting from his mouth. His face warmed slightly.

To Huo Yan, lack of resistance was consent. He gently captured those soft lips.

Such tender kisses were rare between them—soft, lingering, and strangely addictive.

Huo Yan lightly nipped his earlobe and asked, “Still spicy?”

Dizzy-headed, Luo Mingchen wrapped his arms around him. “Want to taste again?”

“Alright.”

Outside, the cold wind howled, the firewood crackled, and someone stood guard through the night.

Going all the way was impossible—but doing something else was feasible. After all, there was water nearby for washing…

They set out early the next morning. Yesterday’s excitement had vanished from Huo Xiang, who now felt sore and listless.

Huo Yuhui could only entertain him by telling stories—legends about Wolf King Fortress.

Even Luo Mingchen, who had been bored, listened along.

“People say there are sand wraiths in the desert. At night, they come out to devour humans. The people of Wolf King Fortress have guarded the desert for generations, hunting those sand wraiths.”

Huo Xiang’s eyes widened, his voice dropping instinctively. “No way…”

Huo Yuhui did not say that this was likely a rumor. Instead, he replied, “If you want to know, why not ask Lan Fei once we arrive?”

Hearing this, Huo Xiang found it quite reasonable.

Huo Yuhui went on to tell more amusing tales—for instance, that anyone who arrived at Wolf King Fortress covered in dust would not be allowed entry, and had to wash clean before entering the gates.

Distracted by the stories, Huo Xiang felt time pass unusually quickly.

Eventually, the group halted.

Luo Mingchen stepped out to take a look and asked Huo Yan, who was on horseback, “What’s wrong?”

Judging by the time, they hadn’t arrived yet—and there was no city gate in sight.

Huo Yan lifted his chin slightly. “There’s a sandstorm barrier below. It seems we’ll have to stay here for the night.”

“We can’t enter even this afternoon?”

Luo Mingchen climbed down from the carriage and looked from a high slope—and was stunned.

In the distance stood a vast city, encircled by seven sand tornadoes twisting like dragons.

These seven vortexes remained fixed in place, but anyone who dared approach would be torn to pieces.

“The people of Wolf King Fortress have activated the mechanism. It usually stays open for a full day and night. There’s a merchant caravan ahead—Xiao Chen has already gone to inquire.”

Not long after Huo Yan spoke, Xiao Chen hurried back.

“Masters, the merchants say it was activated this morning. It won’t stop until midnight.”

Luo Mingchen looked helplessly at Huo Yan. “We’re really unlucky.”

“Then we rest here for the night.”

The caravan was large. Though it wasn’t especially dangerous to stay here, remaining nearby would allow them to watch out for one another.

After setting up camp, a man around thirty years old approached with two guards and presented them with a leg of lamb.

“You’re from Cold City, aren’t you?”

Luo Mingchen glanced at the lamb leg. Gifts offered without reason always felt ominous.

After a brief exchange between Huo Yan and the man, it became clear that he, too, belonged to a Great Yan merchant caravan. Since they would be resting here overnight, he had come to make acquaintances and suggested mutual support.

Once the man left, Luo Mingchen frowned at the lamb leg.

“He brought so many people, and we’re fewer than them. Why would they need us to look out for them? Is this meat poisoned?”

Hua Yaoyue said leisurely, “The lamb isn’t poisoned—but whether tonight will be dangerous is another matter. They’re definitely hiding something. Think about it: how do they know the mechanism was activated this morning? If Wolf King Fortress activates its defenses, they always use wolf packs to drive people away from nearby areas. There’s no reason they’d let people stay so close yet refuse them entry—unless there’s another reason for sealing the city this time…”

At this point, Hua Yaoyue looked at the two of them.

“It’s not too late to turn back now.”

Luo Mingchen glanced at Huo Yan—his expression clearly saying: Should we… go back?