Watching the little girl run off, Xu Zimo shook his head and smiled.
In this world of deception and the rule of the strong, there are still some people or things that make you feel it’s all meaningful.
Xu Zimo finished dinner, but the little girl never returned. He set the flower basket aside. It was still afternoon, some time before dusk. Xu Zimo decided to go for a walk.
Fearless City was a large city, connecting the coasts of the Northern and Eastern Continents. As a result, both Eastern and Northern continent residents coexisted here in balance.
Walking along the city’s bustling streets, Xu Zimo saw many other races.
In this land, many races even lived peacefully side by side.
There were multi-horned races with three horns on their heads.
Winged races with two wings.
And ox-headed humanoid beings, the Bull Demon Race.
Of course, the most numerous in this city were members of the Slaughter Race.
They looked quite similar to humans, but had bronze skin.
Their teeth were much sharper, with only four fingers on each hand.
Their jawbones were more pronounced, and their noses were almost flat against their faces.
It was easy to tell their race at a glance.
As Xu Zimo walked down the busy streets, the winter weather was starting to warm.
After walking for a while, he noticed a crowd gathered to one side of the road, watching something unfold.
People were whispering among themselves. Xu Zimo walked over, curious.
“This girl’s already stealing at such a young age. What kind of person will she grow into? She needs to be taught a lesson.”
“I know that little girl. She often sells flowers in Fearless City. Lives with her grandfather. Doesn’t look like the type to steal.”
“Who knows? I heard her grandfather is sick. Maybe she’s desperate.”
Hearing the crowd’s talk, Xu Zimo immediately thought of the little girl who had sold him flowers at the inn earlier.
He squeezed through the crowd to see what was going on.
In front of him was a pharmacy, its dark signboard reading “Hall of Mercy.”
At the center of the scene, a little girl was on the ground, and beside her stood the shopkeeper and two assistants.
“You’re just a kid, I don’t want to be too harsh,” the shopkeeper snorted coldly. “Hand over the spirit stone and I’ll let you go.”
“You’re lying. That spirit stone is mine,” the little girl clutched it tightly, her voice full of grievance.
“Lying? Then tell me, where did you get that spirit stone?”
One of the assistants pointed to the crowd and shouted, “Everyone, judge for yourselves. My spirit stone went missing earlier. Before giving her the medicine, it was still in my pouch. Then she came in and bumped into me. Right after, my spirit stone vanished. If she didn’t steal it, where did it go?”
“That spirit stone was given to me by a big brother who bought my flowers!” the little girl insisted.
A bystander shook his head, “Little girl, you don’t even know how to lie properly. Who’d use a spirit stone to buy those pitiful flowers? Give it back already!”
Hearing that, Xu Zimo shook his head and stepped out of the crowd.
He walked over to the little girl and helped her up.
“Big brother!” the girl’s eyes lit up when she saw him. She was about to explain but Xu Zimo stopped her with a shake of his head.
“Is there something you want?” the shopkeeper asked, eyeing Xu Zimo cautiously.
“I gave her that spirit stone,” Xu Zimo replied calmly. “So what? You have a problem?”
The shopkeeper was stunned, clearly not expecting that. He chuckled and said, “Sir, please don’t joke. No need to cover for her like that.”
Xu Zimo ignored him and turned to the little girl.
“Go on, head back. I’d like to see who dares stop you.”
The girl hesitated, then began walking away.
One of the assistants quickly stepped forward to grab her, but a dazzling blade of light slashed out from space.
His arms were cut clean off.
“You think you can extort my spirit stone and I won’t react?” Xu Zimo said coldly.
The assistant fell to the ground, screaming in pain.
The shopkeeper broke into a cold sweat.
The surrounding onlookers all took a few steps back.
At that moment, a group of men in black uniforms came running over.
“What’s going on here?” their leader asked.
He was from the Slaughter Race, his eyes sharp like a hawk’s, nose hooked.
Seeing him arrive, the shopkeeper lit up with hope and quickly spoke.
“Lord Zesong, someone is causing trouble in our Hall of Mercy. He stole from us and cut off my assistant’s arms.”
Lu Zesong frowned and looked at the situation before turning his gaze to Xu Zimo.
“Is that true?” he asked.
Before Xu Zimo could respond, the little girl hurriedly explained, “They’re lying. They tried to frame me and steal my spirit stone. This big brother was helping me!”
Lu Zesong turned to look at her, stunned for a moment.
“So it’s you,” he said.
“You still remember me, sir?” the little girl asked, nodding quickly.
“Alright, let’s end this here,” Lu Zesong waved his hand.
The shopkeeper looked like he wanted to speak, but Lu Zesong’s sharp gaze instantly silenced him.
“Be sure to come to the city lord’s manor when the time comes,” Lu Zesong said to the girl, then led his men away.
“Thank you, big brother,” the girl quickly said to Xu Zimo once the crowd dispersed.
“What’s your relationship with that guy?” Xu Zimo asked curiously.
Given she knew Lu Zesong, it didn’t make sense for her to be living so poorly in Fearless City.
The little girl hesitated, then said softly, “I was supposed to keep it a secret. But I know you’re a good person, big brother. If you really want to know, come to my house and I’ll tell you quietly.”
Seeing her nervous expression, Xu Zimo couldn’t help but laugh.
Since he had nothing else to do in Fearless City, he agreed.
The girl lived in an old, rundown house in the southern part of the city.
All the houses there were shabby, clearly a slum.
When Xu Zimo entered, he saw a frail old man lying on the bed.
He was extremely thin, clearly very ill.
His skin was waxy yellow and he looked terribly weak.