Wan Boping wiped his tears dry with his sleeve before explaining the whole affair: his eldest son, Wan Tingchang, had been kidnapped.
Hu Xiaotian found this rather strange. It had certainly come out of nowhere. He had thought Wan Tingchang had already left Azure Cloud County, only for something like this to happen.
Wan Boping took a letter from inside his robe and said in a trembling voice, "Lord Hu, just an hour ago, someone suddenly delivered this letter. When I opened it, I found it was from the horse bandits of Heavenly Wolf Mountain. They've abducted my poor boy..."
Hu Xiaotian took the letter without a word and unfolded it. Its contents were very brief. Aside from stating that Wan Tingchang was in their hands, it laid down a condition: Hu Xiaotian was to go to Blackstone Stockade west of the city as soon as possible to treat Yan Boguang. After reading it, Hu Xiaotian understood everything. No wonder Wan Boping had come looking for him. The bandits' ultimate purpose in taking his son hostage was to use him as leverage to make Hu Xiaotian treat Yan Boguang. Has Yan Boguang's condition worsened again? he wondered. But something's odd here. Why kidnap Wan Tingchang to force my hand? Do they think his life matters that much to me? What kind of fucking logic is that?
Wan Boping said pitifully, "He's the only son I have left. Please, Lord Hu, help me rescue him."
Hu Xiaotian said irritably, "Isn't your second son alive and well?"
This prodded Wan Boping's sore spot again. Although his second son, Wan Tingsheng, had survived, he still could not remember anything from his past. As far as a whole, intact son was concerned, only his eldest remained. Wan Boping leaned toward Hu Xiaotian and lowered