Chapter 93: Preparation

Moon’s fingers dug into his back. "Don’t pull out yet."

"Wasn’t planning to."

Ugo kissed the damp skin under Moon’s jaw, still buried deep, still knotted, still feeding thin threads of wood essence into the new bud that had just taken root inside Moon’s core.

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The next morning came with a soft hum from the chimney in the side room.

When Moon came out, all exhausted yet full of vital Qi, he saw Nox was cleaning the well, and Axe was moving around Marina.

Oshan was nowhere to be seen.

Marina was busy teaching Axe how to cook porridge and fish stew.

A large clay pot was already boiling on the iron grate, releasing a savory steam of ginger, wild scallions, and dried mountain trout.

Marina carefully checked the seasoning with a wooden spoon, tapping Axe’s knuckles whenever he tried to throw in extra salt without measuring.

By the time Moon walked over, the two had just finished scooping the thick porridge into four ceramic bowls, setting them neatly across the low wooden table alongside a small plate of pickled radishes. The fish stew was almost done.

Moon yawned once, and then his eyes fell on Nox’s stealthy glare.

As soon as their eyes met, Nox turned to the other side, evading a direct gaze.

He went back to violently scrubbing the stone lip of the well with a brush, splashing bucket after bucket of cold water down the shaft to clear the moss.

At the side table near the small kitchen hearth, Axe was humming a song in amusement.

Moon shrugged his shoulders, then looked at the wall separating the courtyard from the outside mountain.

Suddenly, his stomach dropped.

He had made a grave mistake. He had totally forgotten about the protective array and formation, leaving the courtyard utterly unsafe.

He jolted up, and his yawning stopped.

He quickly went to the well and asked Nox hurriedly, "Did anything happen last night?"

"Many things happened last night," Nox grumbled.

"Oh? Did anyone come to attack?" Moon’s voice became urgent.

Nox didn’t look at Moon. He lifted a tub hooked with a rope and brought out water. At this moment, the well water was almost fresh.

"Nox?" Moon urged.

"No," he said curtly.

Moon became confused. "Then what happened?"

Nox tilted his chin slightly and looked at Moon with a side eye. "Don’t you have anything to say to me?"

"What?" Moon thought for a moment, then said hastily, "Right, Master Lupine said you can practice formation. You have to go in. Hurry up." He took the tub from Nox’s hand and pushed him toward the kitchen, where the stew was almost cooked.

"Just this?" Nox snapped.

"Or else?" Moon asked confusedly.

Nox looked at Moon for a moment, then turned into the kitchen. "Nothing, forget I asked anything."

Moon stood there in sheer bewilderment. Then his gaze fell on Axe. He suddenly remembered he didn’t see Axe when he came out of the Lupine Palace.

"Where did you sleep last night?" he asked.

"I didn’t sleep," Axe said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Then what were you doing?"

Axe looked at Moon, his smile spreading wide. "Are you worried about me, baby?"

Moon almost choked on his teasing tone. "Don’t joke around. We have no time."

"I went to check out the outside." he paused, then said again, "Oh yes, I went to the underground market here and found some antique manuals."

"What do you need antiques for?" Moon sat on a low stool and took a bowl. Marina also sat there, tasting what Axe made.

Axe suddenly fell silent.

His jaw hardened. "I want to see if there is a way to refine a blood-bonded weapon."

Hearing this, Moon’s expression softened. ’So, he is also worried?’ he thought.

"Axe. Nox," he called to both of them.

Both heads turned this time.

Moon coughed twice and stated slowly, "First thing. You’re going into the Lupine Palace with me. We have to set the outer protective array before anything else. No more delays."

"Can we go in?" Axe asked.

"We can. There are some good things," Moon smiled. Then his attention fell on Marina, who had no idea of the Lupine Palace, and he coughed once.

"Marina, we brothers have some work outside. You stay here with Oshan. Your mother will send a nanny for you soon. Is that okay? We will be back soon," he asked gently.

Marina nodded. "I will take good care of the courtyard," she declared proudly.

Moon’s heart warmed up.

"Hurry up, finish eating," he urged.

Then he looked around. His ear tips blushed slightly. He had not seen Ugo since he woke up. His clothes were changed, and the man was gone.

No responsibility at all.

"Don’t just stare at the empty seats, baby," Axe said, pointing his spoon toward a burlap sack resting by the kitchen door.

"I didn’t just spend our siki on old papers. I brought back two blocks of animal fat soap, three strings of dried garlic, and a whole jar of mountain honey for your bitter tea. We were out of salt too."

Moon glanced at the sack, his eyebrows lifting slightly. "You have siki?" he asked.

Then he found it was an absurd question. How could they not have some? It was just that they never brought it out, so Moon thought they had none.

Axe laughed out loud and took out a pouch. He threw the pouch up and caught it back down.

"We still have some," he said.

Nox from the side scoffed softly, "We have a lot. In fact, we stole a lot from the administrator when Leo started the fire..."

Ahem, ahem...

Axe interrupted him midway.

Nox’s ears turned red for blurting out about the stealing again. He looked at Moon once and stood up with his bowl.

"I AM EATING OUTSIDE!" He shouted and left the room.

Axe laughed, and Marina nodded.

Moon looked at the retreating figure, his stomach suddenly churning in uneasiness.

He felt a lingering sadness.

"What’s with him?" he asked Axe.

Moon could slightly feel every one of their feelings. He more or less suspected Nox was upset.

Axe shrugged his shoulders and hummed his wild song that Moon didn’t find a bit appealing to the ear.

"You and Nox go inside first. I will wait for Oshan and Ugo. Where did they go?"

"Oshan went to meet someone," Axe scoffed, tapping his spoon against the rim of his bowl.

He added, "Maybe that bitch again. And Ugo went to the mountain. He thought there was some plant fairy calling him." Axe chuckled.

Moon stiffened at once.

"Plant fairy?"