What Lu Wuming truly desired was something no one understood better than Liu Buli.
Just as now, upon hearing his words, Lu Wuming's reaction immediately returned to his usual cheerful state.
It had to be said, their big dog was far too easily appeased.
Sighing softly in his heart, Liu Buli steered the conversation back. He didn't know how long this communication could last, but as long as they could still hear each other's voices, he wanted to learn more about Lu Wuming's current situation.
It was slightly different from what he had imagined. According to Lu Wuming's account, after being captured that day, he hadn't suffered any abuse. Instead, he had been well-rested in the Ghost King's palace. Not only had all his injuries healed, but knowing that he constantly thought of Liu Buli, the Ghost King had even arranged for his subordinates, the ghost tribe, to impersonate Liu Buli and visit him.
However, the result was obvious.
Just as Lu Wuming had said from the beginning, a fake was always a fake.
Especially when it came to his master, he could see through the fakes at a glance. After doing so, he would only feel more enraged and annoyed. He hated people impersonating his master, whether they were convincing or not; he considered it an insult to his master.
It was precisely because of this that the final outcome for any ghost tribe member who approached him was a fight.
The Ghost King did not prevent their battles, nor did he show Lu Wuming excessive favoritism due to his identity. Therefore, the outcome of these fights was usually a mutual defeat. Fortunately, Lu Wuming's own physical condition meant he was incapable of dying, so no matter how intense the battle, he never felt there was anything amiss.
Listening to his words, Liu Buli grew increasingly bewildered. What was the Ghost King trying to achieve? Was he really just seeking the joy of raising a son, as he claimed?
That was absolutely impossible.
The thought was dismissed by Liu Buli himself the moment it arose. He would never trust the Ghost King, and he knew that Lu Wuming surely held the same opinion.
However, after a moment of silence, Liu Buli asked with a hint of worry, "But Wuming, since the Ghost King is so kind to you, do you have any different feelings towards him? I mean, do you really believe, because of his attitude towards you, that he intends to treat you well and wants you to see him as a good father?"
In truth, Liu Buli felt a certain unease when asking this question.
He genuinely wanted to believe his big dog.
But Lu Wuming's intellectual capacity was such that it was difficult to be completely convinced.
Fortunately, upon hearing his question, Lu Wuming responded with a displeased snort. He said, "Master, how can you doubt me on this matter? In the eyes of everyone else, I am an ungrateful dog! Even if he genuinely means well for me, I have no intention of fostering a relationship with him! The only one important in my eyes is you, Master. Those ghost tribes under him almost injured you right in front of me; I remember all these things clearly! Having done something so unforgivable, no matter how friendly he appears to me, how could I possibly forgive him?"
Listening to Lu Wuming's words, Liu Buli was momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
It had to be said, his foolish disciple's self-assessment was incredibly clear. So clear that Liu Buli found it somewhat helpless and didn't know what else to say.
However, maintaining the current situation wasn't a bad thing.
After all, Liu Buli himself didn't believe the Ghost King was a good person.
No matter how friendly the other party appeared, and no matter what their current attitude was, Liu Buli saw the Ghost King as their enemy, and that would never change.
Since his big dog also agreed with this point, it saved him the trouble of lecturing too much, which made him feel somewhat satisfied.
After another period of silence, Liu Buli spoke again, "Besides his attitude towards you, are there any other aspects that feel off? You're not the brightest, and you can't figure out many things. So, tell me about anything that feels even slightly wrong. I'll help you analyze it, whether it's right or wrong, and I'll make the judgment."
This was their daily interaction, their consistent mode of communication.
Lu Wuming had never placed much trust in his own intelligence. When faced with problems, he habitually delegated all the thinking to Liu Buli.
Their lives had always been this way, and neither of them felt anything was amiss. Originally, after this separation, Lu Wuming thought he would finally have to put his almost rusty brain to use and properly consider the situation himself. But now, reality proved that his master could always appear when he was needed. And the task of thinking would, as always, never fall upon him.
After carefully considering all the events of the past period, Lu Wuming quickly provided his answer. He said, "Actually, for most of this time, I've been recovering from injuries. Because those beasts were too brutal, from the moment I arrived to every fight I had with them, I was practically covered in wounds and needed several days to recover. But Master, you're right, that Ghost King is indeed a bit strange. He said he doesn't leave the great hall because his spirit has merged with it. But I don't think that's the case. He has indeed merged, but that doesn't seem like an excuse for him to stay in one place permanently, does it?"