Chapter 82: Night After

"It’s fine. What is there to be ashamed of stealing? You stole right in front of my eyes in the witch’s cavern," Moon said, his eyes flashing with amusement and lingering resentment.

’So that Leo didn’t really go to find his lost love?’ he thought.

"Who stole whose things? That flower and mantle were originally my mother’s. Ellen took them from her, vowing to God she would stay beside Leo and take care of all of us when my mother was degraded from Luna to 2nd Nova. She was the one who stole my mom’s trust first."

The ever-gentle Ugo suddenly grunted.

Moon looked at his enraged, red face and felt a little heartache.

He knew this feeling.

The feeling of watching one’s mother get pushed around, and the last person they trust betrays them.

"So?" he asked softly.

Ugo’s chest was heaving. He put down the cup on the table and stood up.

"So nothing, Mooney. Take a bath and relax. This Amomilla Moon Crest doesn’t just help in pregnancy. It’ll loosen up your muscles so much you won’t even feel the ache of twisting bones."

He left it at that and turned to make the bedding.

The bed was not suitable for four people to sleep.

The tea boy had already sent another set of bedding and a temporary cot. He just needed to adjust them.

Moon didn’t press further. He knew they didn’t want to talk about that.

But he was getting a little curious as to what these idiotic, selfish wolves were really up to when he was rotting in the Last Hole.

Nox from beside whispered, "When you were in the Last Hole, they were running to save money. Or more precisely, they were stealing things..."

"Nox...we can hear you," Axe called out.

Then he pushed Nox to the side and took the work upon himself. "I think you need some sleep. Go help Ugo," he said, waving Nox out.

Moon chuckled, "So, you guys really don’t believe me enough to tell me anything?" He laughed, though there was no humor in it.

"It’s just a shameful past. Let’s forget it and leave us some dignity," Axe mumbled.

He slowly pulled open Moon’s hair, soaked it in the water, and whispered, "Just relax for now... this will help your fatigue."

Moon nodded.

Axe leaned in to place a kiss, but in the end, refrained from doing so.

"Axe, you know I hate you so much," Moon said in an almost inaudible, sleepy tone.

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.

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The next morning, the bright winter sun broke through the paper windows, casting golden stripes across the room.

Moon woke up feeling light.

The deep fatigue that had plagued his bones was entirely gone, and his newly fused three cores were rotating steadily in his lower dantian, wrapping his spiritual sea in a calm, smooth warmth.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself trapped under a heavy layer of limbs.

Axe’s thick, muscular leg was thrown over his waist, Nox was snoring softly with his face buried directly into Moon’s collarbone, and Ugo’s arm was anchoring him from the opposite side.

"Get up," Moon muttered, his voice rough with sleep as he poked Axe’s ribs.

The three brothers stirred groggily.

After a short round of wrestling and complaints, they finally got dressed and adjusted their masks and bamboo hats to keep their disguises perfect.

They met Oshan and Marina downstairs in the inn’s dining hall. Marina had already washed her face, her two little braids swinging as she sat at a corner table.

As they were waiting for their food, the noisy footsteps on the wooden stairs caught Moon’s attention.

He peeked from under his bamboo hat and saw the group from yesterday coming down.

It turned out those arrogant young masters were also staying in this very same inn.

"What a rundown place. The bed sheets were so stiff, I couldn’t even sleep properly," Lyra whimpered in annoyance, walking down the steps with her red-ponytail friend and guards.

Beside her was walking the young master from the Vesper Moon Pack.

The moment her eyes landed on Moon’s group sitting near the stairs, her face turned sour. The memory of the 5,000 siki bill from last night was still fresh, making her jaw tighten.

"Oh, look who it is," the Vesper boy sneered, stepping toward their table and tossing his leather purse lightly.

"The beggars actually managed to sleep inside the same inn as us. Did you spend all your charity money on the room fee?"

Axe didn’t even look up from his teacup. He ignored such taunting.

Nox clicked his tongue, his hand instinctively moving to his belt.

"Yes, we spent it all. Want to contribute more?" Moon said calmly.

"You—!" The Vesper boy’s face flushed in anger, but Lyra pulled his sleeve.

"Let’s go. Don’t waste your breath on these commoners. They only know how to trick people." They gave Moon a stern glare before stomping out of the inn entrance, their silk robes rustling in annoyance.

After filling their bellies with grain and roasted meat, Moon’s group also headed out to the main market road.

The morning sun was fully up, and the shops on both sides were buzzing with traders and merchants.

"Let’s buy some clothes first. We need them urgently," Moon muttered, looking at the black clothes Nox had given him.

The brothers had grabbed what they could before fleeing, but since their storage rings weren’t spatial artifacts that could hold a mountain of things, they’d had to pack light.

So they had chosen clearly what to take with them. Their inventory was filled with the most important, rare, and much-needed items.

Marina led them straight into the grand, three-story Silk Weaver Pavilion. It was the largest clothier on the street, filled with premium silks and fine robes meant for high-status pack members.

The moment they walked inside, the young male attendant standing by the counter looked at their tattered, dirt-stained trousers and worn-out boots with disdain.

"Customers, if you want cheap cotton, go to the roadside stalls," the attendant said, blocking the aisle with a smile. "The robes here are made of fine fabrics. We don’t want common wanderers to stain them."