Shoi-Ming must ask his shixiong; he cannot leave this boy in this situation. He would like to tell him, 'We'll go visit her later' but if his mother is no longer alive... it would be cruel to give him false hope. For now, he just has to feed him, then he will create another bird and go to Zi Xuan. Go and mahjong are too complex games, right now he needs something simple.
"Look. You take the ball and put it under a cup. Then you spin all the cups, including the one with the ball under it. Don't take your eyes off it. I'll show you."
He starts gently, going slowly so that he stays focused on the one with the ball. Then he points his index finger at the one where it is and turns the cup over, easily finding it.
"With practice, you'll be able to find the ball no matter how fast it's mixed up. I can do it with my eyes closed."
Well, thanks to his luck. But hey, this might be the only time he can show off his "skills" to someone.
"Want to try?"
He slowly mixes again and stops, it's his turn to guess where it is.
The child watches every movement carefully, admiring him and his dexterity. With a mixture of excitement and concentration, he participates in the game, following the instructions.
However, despite his efforts and desire to succeed, he fails at every attempt to guess where the ball is. Each time the cup is turned over, he discovers that the ball is not where he had anticipated.
Indeed, it's no surprise that the protagonist has zero luck, as heroes in stories often face difficulties and obstacles along the way. It's as if they are constantly pursued by bad luck, which is an integral part of their journey.
Despite his repeated mistakes, he continues to play enthusiastically, never giving up. Like a true protagonist!
This little game at least had the advantage of putting a genuine smile on his face. For a brief moment, he seemed to forget his worries and fears, absorbed by the pleasure of the game and the kind attention of Shoi-Ming.
Shoi-Ming hesitates for a moment to slow down the pace, but... that would be like giving him an easy mode, which would hurt his ego.
Finally, a disciple arrives with food.
"Oh, before you leave, I'd like you to ask Zi Xuan-shixiong to come see me as soon as he can. I'd like to talk to him for a moment about something that's been on my mind. Thank you again."
He turns back to the child, taking the dishes and motioning to follow him to the table. Kneeling on the floor, he unpacks the various dishes. My goodness, perhaps he has taken a little too much? But he was hungry. Soups, fish, shrimp, noodles, rice, meat—there is truly everything. He hands him chopsticks.
"Well, take a little bit of everything and tell me what you like best. This dish is a little spicy, and that one looks pretty hot, so be careful not to burn yourself."
Just seeing all these dishes is enough to whet his appetite. He places an empty bowl in front of each of them so they can help themselves to a little of everything. Aaaaah, he feels alive again, that's it, he feels like he's already looking better. Life would have been hard away from the sect, he has to admit.
The child seems overjoyed at the prospect of eating. He quickly grabs a bowl and starts serving himself meat and shrimp with his chopsticks, but ignores the other dishes. He seems determined to feast on his favorites, much like a child who refuses to eat his vegetables and only wants the best!
Despite his selective choice, he eats with great appetite, savoring every bite with eagerness. His face lights up with satisfaction as he enjoys his meal, as if he were finding a little comfort and happiness through food.
He is pleased to see him eating heartily, noting what he looks to be enjoying most as he continues to feast on his own. Once he has finished, he finally puts down his chopsticks, satisfied. And smiles at him.
"Would you mind telling me your name now? It would be rude to leave me unable to put a name to this face, don't you think? I gave you mine, what's yours?"
Meanwhile, Zi Xuan does not visit. He is likely occupied with the large skeleton and will only come the following day. He will have to wait patiently until he can discuss this matter with him. It bothers him that he's still not there... Should he ask Jun Hie? No, he must be busy too.
The child looks up at him and answers timidly.
"Sakeru."
The name is rather surprising, as it doesn't have the usual Chinese sound. This raises questions about the child's origin and why he is here, far from home. Shoi-Ming remains pensive.
Sharing his name is a first step towards building trust.
The child continues to eat, probably more than Shoi-Ming, as he needs energy to grow. After eating, he begins to feel tired.
However, the big question that follows is: where will he sleep? Shoi-Ming has never had any disciples, so... In his bed would be inappropriate, even if his bed is very comfortable.
Hmm... there is another cabin not far from his pavilion, but it's more of a storage room than an actual bedroom. Zi Xuan had it set up for each master so that they could put a disciple there. Normally, masters have several small dwellings like this for each disciple, but Shoi-Ming gave up his, as he read in his files last time. He'll have to go clean it up. But putting a child there alone? He just can't do that.
Getting up, he lays a futon on the floor along with a pillow and a blanket. Well, it's not very luxurious, but for now, it's the best he can do.
"Sakeru-shidi—"
Whoa, whoa! He's not taking him on as a disciple! He's just looking after him for now.
"Xiao-Sakeru looks tired. Rest here. You'll be more comfortable."
He beckons him to lie down on the futon, then pulls the blanket over him once he's settled.