Chapter 646

Chapter 646: Intimidation

Lu Chao Chao was still not yet six years old, a child in every sense.

Even the great Sword Sovereign Sunshine could not defy the needs of the human body.

As Zhu Mo and Windchaser packed their things, Lu Chao Chao and Shan Shan returned to their room to rest.

In the middle of the night, Lu Chao Chao suddenly sat up.

“Shan Shan, I remember you can’t even walk straight. How did you help the old madam cross the street?”

Shan Shan’s small face stiffened. Mai Feng had held his hand while he barely managed to place a supporting hand on the old madam’s shoulder. He had crossed the street three times back and forth, irritating the old madam to the point of cursing him loudly.

“Mai Feng is a good boy. You’re not allowed to lead him astray,” Lu Chao Chao said sternly, leaning in close.

“Forget it. If you can’t even walk steadily, expecting you to perform good deeds might be asking too much.”

“Fine, I won’t demand you be a good person, but my bottom line is this—you are not allowed to commit senseless killings or wrongdoing.” Lu Chao Chao kept a close watch on Shan Shan, fearing he might stray from the right path.

Shan Shan secretly sighed in relief, flashing a toothy grin in an attempt to be endearing.

“Finding treasure… Shan Shan, help!” He pounded his tiny chest with enthusiasm.

“Help! Shan Shan will help!”

He had overheard Lu Chao Chao mention searching for a cave dwelling. If he assisted her, she would remember his great deed and perhaps spare his life in the future!

[I am such a clever little thing.]

Listening to his sister’s even breathing, Shan Shan finally drifted off to sleep.

…

Before dawn, Windchaser and Zhu Mo had already finished packing.

Lu Chao Chao, her two small tufts of hair curling at the ends, groggily got up. The meal that morning was unusually simple.

The wet nurse steamed an egg for Shan Shan and fed him spoonful by spoonful. “The city is running out of food, both inside and outside the walls. We must make do, Princess.”

Though she called it a hardship, it was still a rare treat for ordinary families, merely lacking in luxury.

Lu Chao Chao cradled her small bowl and sipped her soup gratefully. “It’s not a hardship at all. This is already very good. Many people outside don’t even have anything to eat.”

A-Man sighed. “There was a battle outside the city last night.”

“More and more refugees are arriving. Originally, Lotus City allowed them inside, but in the past few days, some have started looting and injuring people in groups. Security has deteriorated, and the Great Priest has forbidden them from entering. Instead, disaster relief shelters have been set up outside the city, providing porridge twice a day for them to survive.”

“On the road to Eastern Ling, we should minimize our use of fire as much as possible. There are too many refugees, and we must avoid unnecessary trouble.”

The world had descended into chaos.

“I have already prepared enough dry rations and arranged additional guards. We must reach Eastern Ling safely.”

“If this turmoil isn’t quelled soon, even greater disasters will follow,” Windchaser said, fully prepared for the journey.

Zhu Mo had already laid soft cushions inside the carriage and set up an array to reduce jolts and maintain warmth.

“There are also two jars of candied fruit and some pastries inside. Don’t worry.” He helped A-Wu into the carriage before having the baggage checked once more.

Lu Chao Chao stored most of the luggage in her space, keeping things inconspicuous.

As the first light of dawn broke, they set out.

The Great Priest had been waiting at the gates early, bowing deeply to Xie Yu Zhou without saying a word to persuade him to stay.

As the carriage rolled out of Lotus City, Xie Yu Zhou finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“That was terrifying. I thought they were going to make me a monk here.” He clutched his golden alms bowl, prayer beads in hand—only his hair remained unshaven.

…

The convoy headed east.

The further they traveled, the more desolate the scenery became.

“How is the drought in Eastern Ling this severe?” Rivers had dried up, the earth cracked, and the once-lush fields had turned barren. The paddies lay abandoned, their soil crawling with the lifeless husks of locusts.

“Heavens, are you trying to kill us?”

“A drought followed by locusts—why not just end us outright…” Along the way, despairing cries filled the air.

Refugees, dressed in tattered rags, their lips cracked and parched, gazed at Lu Chao Chao’s convoy with hunger and desperation hidden beneath their weary eyes.

Even though the soldiers wore armor and held great blades, some of the refugees still eyed the carriages like wolves.

Inside the carriage were plump infants, clean women and children—surely they carried food and water…

Windchaser, arrogant and fearless, led the convoy, riding at the front.

Zhu Mo guarded the rear.

Suddenly…

The crowd stirred. Windchaser gripped his sword tightly, his sharp eyes flashing with killing intent as he looked ahead.

But from among the refugees, only a young woman and her child were pushed forward.

The woman’s face was sallow, and in her arms lay a baby too weak to cry.

“Who dares block our path? Move aside at once, or don’t blame my sword for being merciless!” Windchaser’s fiery red hair blazed under the sun, his voice cold and threatening. The woman flinched slightly.

“Noble sirs, I beg you, please save us.”

“Please, just some food, just some water. Noble sirs, my child hasn’t eaten or drunk anything for two days…”

“I can go without, but my baby won’t last… Please, have mercy…” She fell to her knees, knocking her forehead against the ground again and again.

The infant in her arms barely managed to open its dry lips, its tiny face gaunt and skeletal.

A-Man pursed her lips tightly. Through the curtain, she could make out the pitiful scene.

“Should we give them some food? A jug of water, at least?” Mai Feng, terrified of starvation himself, always kept a spare flatbread hidden in his clothes, afraid of returning to the days of hunger.

A-Man gently shook her head, stopping his hand.

“This is no longer the world we once knew.”

“Can you save one? Can you save them all?”

“If you give away a single piece of bread today, the refugees will fight us to the death for the rest.” Food and water were more precious than gold now.

To take them meant a higher chance of survival.

In the face of death, everyone wished to be the lucky one.

No one dared to gamble with human nature now.

Windchaser alone could slaughter the crowd, but why add to the carnage? These people were driven from their homes by disaster, grasping at the last straws of life.

They were merely pitiful souls.

“Moreover, giving them food will only speed up that mother and child’s deaths. A treasure in the open invites disaster.”

Mai Feng immediately pulled his hand back, watching the scene outside with tense eyes.

The refugees’ eyes gleamed like starving wolves, waiting for an opportunity to pounce.

Windchaser sneered from atop his horse, looking down upon the desperate crowd. “Save you? Do I look like some benevolent saint?”

“Get lost! Block my way, and you’re dead!”

“Scram!”

“No extra food here! Get out of my sight!” His fierce expression sent the woman stumbling back with her child.

“If you think your child suffers too much, I have a way to help. Do you dare to try?” Windchaser’s voice was mocking, laced with dark amusement. His unhidden killing intent made the crowd wary.