Another hour went by until the beauty finally opened his eyes. The whole time, Hou Dong hadn’t let him out of his arms and had kept his gaze trained on his face. When the beauty’s eyelids fluttered, his heart sped up and he couldn’t help but hold his breath, eagerly anticipating what he would see.

Finally, a pair of eyes was uncovered that wasn’t as dark as Hou Dong had expected. Instead, it was of a warm brown, an earthen tone that made his heart settle down and feel warm. He hummed and brushed the beauty’s black hair back as if they were familiar with each other.

The youth blinked in confusion, his gaze brushing Hou Dong’s face. He didn’t know what to think and could only stare blankly at this stranger. After a moment, he looked away, taking in the palm tree that was shielding them from the merciless light of the sun and the pond next to them.

"Did he wake up yet, Master?" one of Hou Dong’s men called out.

Hou Dong didn’t answer and just continued to brush through the beauty’s hair. These guys, couldn’t they see that this was a special moment? Something like this shouldn’t be disturbed by outsiders. After all, the first impression was important.

"You —" The youth tried to speak but his voice sounded raspy.

Hou Dong didn’t even stop to think. He took a handful of water into his mouth and leaned down, pressing his lips onto that of the youth. The beauty’s eyes widened and he tried to push the man off him but didn’t succeed. Even under normal circumstances, somebody as thin as him would’ve been hard-pressed to throw off a muscled warrior like Hou Dong, even more so now that he had been wandering through the desert without a drop of water or food. His resistance didn’t even tickle Hou Dong.

Hou Dong leaned back when he had delivered the water to the youth’ mouth and even gave a small smile. "Better?"

Even though the youth wasn’t happy with the treatment, he still gulped down the water. Unfortunately, he also had to admit that his throat did indeed feel slightly better. He nodded his head but also tried to scramble out of Hou Dong’s arms.

Hou Dong wouldn’t have it. He pulled the beauty right back and even made sure to hug him tighter. "Oi, where do you want to go? Is this a way to thank your savior?"

The youth paused and his gaze returned to Hou Dong’s face. "You saved me?" His voice still sounded hoarse but it wasn’t as bad as before.

Hou Dong’s brows rose. There was a melodious lilt to the youth’ words as if he wasn’t used to speaking this language. Well, it wasn’t too strange considering how he looked. Obviously, he was from some foreign land. "I did. I was the one who found you collapsed here at the oasis. I carried you to the pond, gave you water, had one of my men take your pulse and wave some leaves for you. Who else should have saved you if not me?"

The youth looked around and indeed spotted a man waving a big leaf. Now that this man had mentioned it, he could also feel the slight breeze. In that case … He lowered his head and folded his hands in front of his body. "Thank you." He didn’t know what else to say. In this kind of situation … What was he supposed to do?

Seeing his submissive look, Hou Dong couldn’t help but want to tease him. "What? I’m merely getting a thank you? That couldn’t be. So where’s my reward?"

The youth looked back up, his eyes widening in fear. "I … I don’t have anything with me. I didn’t even have food or water in the desert. I hope that you can be merciful and not demand anything."

Hou Dong deliberately ignored the last sentence and put a finger under the youth’ chin. "What do you mean? You don’t have anything? Actually, I’m seeing that you have a lot to give."

The youth looked at him blankly and then looked down at himself. There was nothing but the robe on his body. The things he had had with him originally, had been long lost. He looked back up at Hou Dong, his brows slightly drawing together. "I’m sorry, I don’t understand."

Hou Dong stared at him in a daze. He had wanted to tease him but how come the other person didn’t understand at all? Did he have to be even more obvious? He looked down at the youth’ chest and imagined pulling at the lapel of his robe. His throat felt dry and his blood rushed downward. Oh, as enticing as that sounded, he would still feel awkward. It hadn’t been too much of an effort from his side. Saving somebody if it didn’t demand anything of you was hardly a heroic feat. And obviously, this beauty really didn’t understand. He wasn’t just playing dumb to escape any disagreeable fate.

Hou Dong cleared his throat and finally loosened his grasp around the youth’s body. "Well, never mind. What happened to you?"

The youth lowered his gaze and looked away, not answering the question.

Hou Dong raised his brows. "What? There’s no reward in it for me and now you won’t even tell me how you got into this situation? I’m feeling a little under-appreciated here."

The men around them hurried away when they heard their Master talk like this. However they looked at it, this seemed a little too much like playful banter. Obviously, their Master hadn’t given up on his plan to seduce the beauty even though he hadn’t used the fact that he saved him to his advantage. They didn’t have to be around when he succeeded. No, it was still better to find another place in the shade and get some rest before those bloody merchants forced them to continue.

Hou Dong ignored them and just focused on the youth in his arms. "Is it some secret you can’t tell me?"

The youth glanced up and shook his head. "No, that’s not it."

Hou Dong once again grabbed his chin and made him look up. "Since it isn’t a secret, what’s the harm in telling me? If you’re in trouble, I might even be able to help you. My men and I are currently escorting a group of merchants. Maybe we could bring you back to where you came from."

The youth seemed to think about this proposition. At the very least, he didn’t say no outright this time.

Hou Dong sighed. "Is it really that hard?" He couldn’t help but wonder just what had happened to this youth. If he didn’t want to talk about it at all, then it should be something bad.

The youth looked away but still opened his mouth. "It is just … You will probably find it strange."

Hou Dong gave a laugh. "Whether I find it strange or not, isn’t that my problem? If you can still get my help, then wouldn’t it be better to tell me?

The youth nodded his head. "Actually, I’m living on the other side of the desert." He vaguely pointed in the direction, making Hou Dong raise his brows.

This wasn’t where the caravan was headed. In fact, he hadn’t even known that people lived on that side of the desert. Hadn’t all the expeditions that went there returned empty-handed?

"The kingdom isn’t very big and foreigners only seldom come there. But a while ago, a group of bandits somehow happened upon our town."

Hou Dong felt puzzled. If a group of bandits attacked them, then why was he feeling that the reason he was here was strange? Wasn’t it normal to run away if you couldn’t fight? At the very least, he had seen lots of people do so and with how he looked … Hou Dong blinked. He took another look at the youth and his brows couldn’t help but twitch. "So one of the bandits took a fancy to you."

The youth looked up and couldn’t help but blush. "I said you would find it strange."

Hou Dong didn’t feel that it was strange at all but he kept that to himself. "So you were afraid he would do something to you and ran away?"

The youth hesitated but finally nodded his head. "Yes, that’s about right."

Hou Dong nodded his head. "It’s not that strange. Things like that happen all the time. It’s just your bad luck that there’s a desert here. Without any preparation, you naturally didn’t stand much of chance. It’s a wonder you made it this far."

The youth nodded and glanced around. "Then … you …" He stopped talking again, not sure how he should continue.

Hou Dong felt awkward. The youth had fled because some bandit coveted him and the first thing that happened when he opened his eyes was some stranger hugging and kissing him. Of course, he hadn’t been able to do anything but panic. Hou Dong sighed and finally let go of the youth. "That’s not the direction we’re going in but I guess I could send you back when we return."

The youth looked at him gratefully. "You’re really a good person. Thank you very much. Unfortunately … I’m afraid I can’t do that. If I return, then wouldn’t I be in the same situation again?"

Hou Dong sighed. Of course, there was that problem. Who could say for sure that those bandits would’ve left? "How many men were there?"

The youth looked at him in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"The bandits. How many were there?"

The youth still didn’t understand what he wanted but he still tried to think back. "I’m not sure but it should have been about two or maybe three dozen?"

"I see. Well, don’t worry about the bandits for now. You can come with us to the city first. We’ll see about everything else after that."

The youth hesitated but then nodded. "Thank you." Even though he would have loved to return home, there was no way to do so, was there? After all, the bandits might still be there and he didn’t want to bring trouble to his family either. As long as he didn’t come back, things might go well. But if he did … No, he couldn’t do that.