Chapter 14

Standing alone in the sandy desert, Zhao Yang surveyed the empty expanse of sand. As the wind blew, the sand beneath his feet swirled up and dispersed. He had been here for a few days, trying to find a way into the Demon Kingdom, but luck had not been on his side. Unbeknownst to him, the kingdoms surrounding the Demon Kingdom were all deserts. All he could see in every direction was sand, leaving him desperate to find the path that would lead him to the Demon Kingdom before running out of water. If he failed, there might be no hope of finding his parents.

On the fifth day, desperation consumed Zhao Yang. He had run out of water, and the scorching weather made matters worse. Unable to locate any water sources, he continued walking in search of a portal or some other means of reaching the Demon Kingdom. Exhausted and dehydrated, he wandered in circles. His vision blurred, but he pressed on, until finally, his body gave way. Collapsing to the ground, his eyes remained open, yet his surroundings became a blur.

Suddenly, Zhao Yang felt his body being lifted by someone, but he was unable to turn around or resist. Panic surged within him as he feared for his life. The unbearable heat of the sun overwhelmed him, and he eventually lost consciousness.

When Zhao Yang regained consciousness, he found himself in a small, dirty, and cramped room. Despite the conditions, he refrained from complaining, grateful that these people had helped him. His body no longer felt heavy and strained, so he approached the room's door and opened it. Stepping into the main room of the small house, he was greeted by two males—a middle-aged man and a young boy, perhaps around ten years old. The middle-aged man stood up and walked toward Zhao Yang.

"You're finally awake. How are you feeling?" the man asked, showing concern for the young-looking boy. Zhao Yang smiled and replied, "I'm fine, thanks to you," expressing his gratitude with a respectful 90-degree bow. The man motioned for Zhao Yang to sit where he was before, but he declined and chose to sit on the floor. The meal served was simple, consisting of bread and porridge, yet Zhao Yang savored every bite. During the meal, he learned more about his whereabouts from the middle-aged man named Yu. Yu explained that they were now in the Demon Kingdom, a place not easily accessible without guidance or a map. Yu had found Zhao Yang in the sandy desert, observing him for five days and feeling sorry for his predicament, decided to bring him along. Yu also provided a brief overview of the kingdom's general rules and offered a quick tour of the village.

Zhao Yang stayed with the Yu family for a week, during which he got to know them better. He even celebrated his 18th birthday with them, enjoying a delicious meal prepared by Yu's father. At the start of the second week, the Yu family informed Zhao Yang that they would be relocating to the capital. In the capital, they would begin working at the palace, their specific roles to be determined by their employer. Although Zhao Yang wasn't part of their family, Yu's father insisted he accompany them to the capital. Zhao Yang saw this as an opportunity to search for his parents and gather information about them. Thus, the Yu family and Zhao Yang embarked on their journey, which took three days to reach the capital from the countryside. Upon arrival, they encountered difficulties navigating through the crowded city. Unbeknownst to Zhao Yang, the Emperor was returning from inspecting neighboring kingdoms, causing the capital to be overcrowded with people. After standing among the crowd for some time, the Yu family and Zhao Yang decided to move on, avoiding the congestion and not wanting to subject themselves, especially the young child, to such a crowded place.

As Zhao Yang and the Yu family were walking away, they heard cheers erupting from the crowd. They turned their heads to see a magnificent carriage, adorned in black and gold, passing through the streets. The sight of the carriage stirred sadness in Zhao Yang's heart, as it reminded him of the person who had consumed his thoughts for the past two years—Li Jun. He sighed and motioned for the Yu family to continue their journey. Unbeknownst to Zhao Yang, a pair of eager eyes from within the carriage had been fixated on him until he vanished from sight.

Moving forward, Zhao Yang and the Yu family left the bustling crowd behind. The Yu father led the way, while the young Yu son walked alongside Zhao Yang, both of them captivated by the shops and buildings lining the streets. Zhao Yang marveled at the unique and elegant architectural styles that distinguished this kingdom from others he had seen in his travels. He couldn't help but notice how clean the streets were and how the houses exuded a sense of novelty and sophistication. Most importantly, the people here seemed genuinely friendly and content. Zhao Yang wondered if they were aware of the kingdom's notorious reputation beyond its walls.

As they continued their walk, they noticed the houses becoming grander and more opulent. It was then that Zhao Yang spotted the palace—a sight that left him in awe. He had seen numerous palaces during his travels, but none compared to the magnificence of the one before him. It stood three times larger than any he had encountered, its complex yet elegant structure taking his breath away even from a distance. Unable to contain his amusement, the Yu father burst into laughter, drawing the attention of the boys.

"Papa, what's so funny?" young Yu asked, perplexed by his father's amusement. The Yu father waved them off, his laughter subsiding as he gazed at the boys. "You two should see your faces," he chuckled. The boys turned their heads back toward the palace, their eyes fixated on its splendor. With little time to spare, the Yu father urged them to follow him. As they walked closer, the boys grew increasingly shocked, realizing they were heading straight for the palace. The Yu father wore a wide grin, answering the unspoken question on their faces.

"I've found work at the palace. What do you guys think?" he asked, causing the boys' shock to deepen. The Yu father continued walking toward the palace gates, while the Yu son and Zhao Yang stood there in a state of disbelief. Zhao Yang quickly composed himself and they hurried to catch up with the Yu father, reaching the gate where four tall, muscular guards stood on post. As the Yu father approached the gate, two of the guards halted his progress.

The Yu father presented a badge to the guards at the gate, who carefully examined it before passing it to their fellow guard. After a brief exchange and nod from the Yu father, the boys were allowed entry. As they approached the palace, their awe intensified upon seeing its grandeur up close. The Yu father led them inside, giving them a tour of the magnificent palace. Once the tour concluded, the Yu father left the premises and guided the boys to a house just a few minutes away, where they would be staying. He explained that Zhao Yang should remain with them until he could gather information about his family. The house was larger than their previous one, with three bedrooms—two medium-sized and one small. The Yu father claimed one of the medium-sized rooms, the young Yu took the small one, and Zhao Yang was assigned the other medium-sized room. With minimal belongings, setting up their rooms was a quick process. They gathered in the dining room, where the Yu father addressed them.