The pain and agony of the small smile that Zhan was showing him were visible to Yibo after all he was going through the same.

"Not yours anymore?" Yibo scoffed, "Really? you really think that I don't care for you anymore."

Zhan sighed and rubbed his temple, "I don't wish to talk about the past with you anymore duke."

"That's the problem you know we never talked, about anything, we just thought that the other person would understand how we feel, I guess that's where we were wrong."

"There is no use crying over spilled milk," Zhan said and Yibo wanted to say something to argue but Zhan just refused to listen he blew his whistle and his horse appeared, he gave one last glance to Yibo before he sat on his horse and rode away.

Leaving Yibo drowning in feelings of frustration and anger.

~~~

The day if the hunt arrived soon.

After Simon went to the Marquis residence to train Yibo also departed for the hunt.

"Duke are you sure this is the right idea?" Haoxuan asked again.

" Just stay by my side, we are not going to stay there for long, just show our face and greet the duke before leaving."

Haoxuan nodded.

Soon the two reached duke Callum's residence where they were welcomed by Callum himself.

"Welcome duke of the north, welcome to my humble abode."

"My heartiest gratitude for having me here, Dule Callum, the arrangements seem to be quite good."

The duke of south smiled proudly, "Duke of the north, we have to go to the woods, I hope you don't mind traveling a little bit more."

"Of course not."

On their way to the woods, the Duke of Callum discussed many things about politics and several other things.

"The lower caste villagers are experiencing food shortages and bandits attack what is your thought on that Duke Callum?" Yibo asked.

The duke of south rubbed his chin and thought, '"We are trying our best to provide for everyone but our priority is the army and then the business, the merchants and then farmers."

Haoxuan rolled his eyes and scoffed with disbelief, 'bastard, " he murmured.

While Yibo spoke, "So in simple words, you mean that the life of lower case people does not matter?"

Callum smiled, "Please think about what you spoke duke, those people's lives do not matter that's why they are lower caste, those people have done nothing to contribute to the economy."

Yibo bit the insides of his cheeks, "Maybe because the upper caste took all their resources and chances to contribute."

"Well, not our fault to be favored by the gods and born into an upper caste." Callum said and suddenly stopped, "We are here."

Yibo also stopped his horse, "What are we hunting?"

Callum smiled and clapped his hands, a few minutes later the soldiers bought several humans tied with the rope in front of them Haoxuan's eyes widened with disbelief.

While Yibo also frowned, "what's the meaning of this duke of the south."

Callum smiled, "We are hunting slaves today."

Yibo was glaring at Callum his eyes were red with anger, "Duke of the north, do you have no regard for the human life at all?"

Callum smiled, "These slaves, were captured while they tried to rob uppercase farmers. And the other because they took after form the normal well, some others because they disrespected their masters."

Yibo looked at the slaves who were crying and shivering, "Duke of north my family was hungry that's why we had to steal with not a job or any source of earning there was nothing we can do."

A man said, "Now they have even taken our land and house and bought my wife and child here."

The other spoke, "The well for the lower caste had dried and we were too this my child was dying duke... please forgive us.. please..."

"We didn't disrespect our master's duke we just politely declined their request when they asked us to curse at our religion."

Yibo looked at them and felt pity for all of them however Callum waved his hand and the slaves were whipped.

Yibo clenched his fist and spoke, "I am sorry duke but I think I cannot take part in this hunt."

Callum looked at him, " why are you so soft-hearted duke the lives of these people really don't matter."

Yibo looked at them, "You know what else doesn't matter for me, Duke Callum?"

"What?"

"Showing you any more respect. In reality, you really disgust me."

He said and was about to turn his horse and go away but duke Callum stopped him yet again, "Why are you in a hurry duke? let's do this, let's get down from our horse and go to the woods at the same time I will release these people in the woods as well.

While I try to hunt them you have to protect them and after two hours if I am not able to get even a single slave then I will set them free."

Yibo looked at Haoxuan who was clearly again this and whispered, "You don't have to go that far Duke, I think this guy is clearly planning something."

Yibo then looked at the slaves and sighed, "There is nothing wrong in trying."

He then turned to Callum, "Fine."

Callum smiled and got down from the horse and so did Yibo, Callum's right-hand man Amias bought two bows and Callum gave one to Yibo and took the other.

"You see those two targets right?"

Yibo nodded.

"Whoever hits the bullseyes gets to enter the forest first." he said and then turned to Amias, "Release the slaves to the forests."

Amias did as he was told and the slaves ran to the forest as they were whipped

"Alright." Yibo said, "But what if we tied?"

"Then we both get to enter the forest. Also, the slaves that you save or the ones you found first will be sent outside the forest."

Yibo nodded, while Hoaxuan still didn't like this but he was beside Yibo.

The two took their position and took the arrows and stretched the strings, Yibo focused on his goal and was about to shoot but before he can the string of the bow broke injuring him in the process.

Haoxuan grabbed his bleeding and while Callum looked at Amias and smirked, "Duke are you alright?" Callum asked.

Amias came back with water, "Duke please wash your hands."

Haoxuan took the water bowl from Amias and washed Yibo's hands on his own after that Amias gave them a bandage to tie on his hand.

"I apologize for this duke Yibo." Duke Callum spoke but Yibo didn't mind him.

"It would be good if you can get me another bow."

Amias nodded, "Sure duke."

While Haoxuan whispered, "Duke I am saying this again, we should leave."

Yibo shook his head, "No, not now."

Yibo's bow came soon and soon he and Callum took their positions and shot their arrows both of them hitting the bullseyes and then running to the forest.

The game had begun.