"Mother!" Su Lan shouted the moment she saw the boy open his eyes.
The boy felt as though his eyelids weighed a thousand catties. He struggled for a moment before finally managing to open them.
His vision was blurry at first, but it gradually cleared. He slowly took in the unfamiliar surroundings—the wooden ceiling above him, the simple furnishings around the room, and the faint fragrance of medicinal herbs lingering in the air.
His wandering eyes eventually met Su Lan's curious gaze.
"Who… are you?" he struggled to ask, his voice weak and groggy.
Su Lan blinked at him but did not immediately answer.
The boy frowned.
Where am I?
The question suddenly appeared in his mind.
Then another followed.
Who am I?
His expression froze.
He desperately searched through his memories, trying to recall his name, his family, or even how he had arrived in this unfamiliar place.
There was nothing.
His mind was completely blank.
He tried harder to remember, but the moment he attempted to dig deeper into his memories, an excruciating pain suddenly tore through his head.
It felt as though countless needles were piercing directly into his skull.
"Ahhhh!"
He screamed in pain, clutching his head with both hands.
His body trembled violently for several breaths before he fell limply back onto the bed.
"Mother!" Su Lan cried anxiously.
That was when Su Mei, who had been quietly observing him from the side, finally spoke.
"It seems that you've lost your memories."
The boy did not respond.
He simply stared blankly at the ceiling, breathing heavily as he tried to endure the lingering pain in his head.
Before he could say anything, Su Mei walked toward the bed and placed her hand against his forehead. A faint strand of spiritual energy entered his body as she carefully analyzed his condition.
Remembering what had happened the last time she attempted to probe too deeply, she deliberately avoided approaching his dantian.
After confirming that there was nothing immediately life-threatening, she withdrew her hand.
She picked up a cup of water from the bedside table and carefully helped him drink.
The cool water soothed his dry throat, and some strength gradually returned to his body.
"You're almost recovered," Su Mei explained. "However, you are currently suffering from amnesia. It could be due to the venom of the Blue-Eyed Water Python, coupled with you hitting your head against a rock."
"Blue-Eyed… Water Python?" the boy repeated weakly.
The name sounded completely unfamiliar to him.
Su Mei nodded.
"You were fortunate to survive."
The boy lowered his gaze.
Survive?
He could not even remember nearly dying.
Before he could ask another question, the door opened.
Su Lan entered the room carrying a tray filled with food. The delicious aroma immediately spread throughout the bedchamber.
"You're finally awake!" she exclaimed happily.
She placed the tray beside the bed.
Su Mei helped the boy sit upright before feeding him spoon by spoon until he regained enough strength to eat properly by himself.
The food tasted foreign to him, yet surprisingly delicious.
At first, he was hesitant. He cautiously took a few bites, uncertain whether his weakened stomach could handle the food.
However, after savoring its delicious taste, his hesitation completely disappeared.
He began eating as though the food before him might vanish at any moment.
"Slow down," Su Mei reprimanded him softly. "No one is fighting you for it."
The boy slowed down slightly, although his eyes remained fixed on the food.
Su Lan could no longer resist chiming in.
"The food isn't going to disappear," she teased. "Unless you think I'm going to steal it from you."
The boy immediately pulled the tray slightly closer to himself.
Su Lan stared at him in disbelief.
"You really think I would steal your food?"
The boy looked at her suspiciously.
"You said it yourself."
"I was joking!"
"How am I supposed to know that?"
Su Lan puffed out her cheeks.
"You're annoying."
"You started it," he retorted.
Su Mei shook her head helplessly as she watched the two children bicker.
After finishing the meal, the boy leaned back comfortably.
"Burrrp!"
A loud burp suddenly escaped his mouth.
The entire room became silent.
The boy froze.
His face immediately turned red with embarrassment. At least he still had the decency to blush.
Su Lan stared at him for several breaths before bursting into laughter.
"Hahaha! What was that?"
The boy's face became even redder.
"Stop laughing!"
"But that was so loud!" Su Lan continued teasing him. "I think even the people outside heard it!"
"They did not!"
"They probably did!"
"Stop it!"
Su Lan laughed even harder.
Unable to tolerate her teasing, the boy immediately began retorting, and before long, the two were bickering like children who had known each other for years rather than strangers who had only just met.
Standing nearby, Su Mei quietly watched them.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
At least the mysterious boy seemed healthy enough to argue.
Seeing this, Su Mei decided to leave the two youngsters to play and become acquainted with each other.
There was something more important she needed to do.
The boy had finally awakened.
Senior Yu Ze needed to know.
Su Mei quietly left the courtyard and headed toward the Town Head's residence.