Freedom and Peace

Wuyi's gaze drifted from one pleased face to another among the freed prisoners.

Freedom, that's all everyone wanted, but the price is always steep. These fools thought they were in luck, but luck had nothing to do with their freedom or peace. They didn't know it, but instead of the dungeon, they were going to be his prisoners. In this world, peaceful coexistence was a rarity; everyone had to pay the price for freedom and peace.

Thinking about peace and freedom, for some reason, triggered memories of life in Lujingbao.

A life filled with the care of Boluo and Chao. The horses, the hounds, mutable truths, gentle guidance, and smiles for their own sake. He hadn't realized how deeply he was attached to Boluo and Chao until they were gone. Sometimes he would dream of them speaking to him through the statues, saying they were with him. Boluo would frown at Wuyi, trying to make him righteous, while Chao would just giggle at the power Wuyi had given him.