NOVPUBWatching the little girl dash out, Xu Zimei shook his head slightly with a smile.
In this world, where deception is common and the strong are revered,
there are always certain people or things that make one feel it’s all worthwhile.
Xu Zimei finished dinner, but still, the little girl did not show up.
He set the flower basket aside, as it was now the afternoon, some time away from nightfall.
Xu Zimei decided to go out for a walk.
The City of Fearlessness could be considered a major city, lining the coast that connects the Northern Continent and the Eastern Continent.
As a result, people from the Eastern Continent and the Northern Continent both have a balanced presence within this city.
On the bustling streets of the city, Xu Zimei could even see people from various other races everywhere.
On this continent, many races even live together peacefully.
There are the Multi-Horns Tribe with three horns on their heads.
And the Winged Tribe with two wings.
There is also the Bull Demon Race with the heads of bulls and bodies of men.
Of course, the most plentiful beings within this city are from the Slaughter Tribe.
Their appearance is similar to that of humans, with skin of a tan hue.
Their teeth are much sharper than those of ordinary people, and they only have four fingers on each hand.
Moreover, their facial bones and jawlines are much more pronounced, with their noses almost flat against their faces.
One could almost instantly recognize the differences of their race.
...
Walking on the lively streets,
the climate of the winter began to warm.
After walking a while, Xu Zimei saw a crowd gathered by the side of the street.
It seemed they were watching some commotion.
Curious, Xu Zimei approached to take a look.
"This girl is so young yet she knows how to steal. What will become of her when she grows up?
She really needs to be taught a lesson now," someone said.
"I recognize this little girl, she often sells flowers in the City of Fearlessness.
She’s only got her grandfather to rely on, she doesn’t seem like someone who would steal!" another observed.
"Who knows, I heard her grandfather is sick, maybe she had no other choice," yet another suggested.
...…
Hearing the crowd’s discussion, Xu Zimei subconsciously thought of the little girl who had sold him flowers at the inn.
He squeezed through the crowd to see what was happening.
Ahead was a pharmacy, with a sign written in dark black bearing the name ’Saving All Beings Hall.’
At the center of the crowd, lying on the ground to one side, was a little girl.
Next to her were the shopkeeper of the pharmacy and two shop assistants.
"Little girl, considering your age, I don’t want to make a big fuss over this,"
the shopkeeper said with a cold snort.
"Hand over the Spirit Stone and I’ll let you go."
"You’re lying, this Spirit Stone is mine," the little girl said defensively, clutching the Spirit Stone in her arms.
"Lying?
Fine then, tell me, where did you get this Spirit Stone from?"
One of the assistants, addressing the onlookers, shouted,
"Everyone, please judge for yourselves. The Spirit Stone from my pouch has vanished.
Before I gave her the medicine, the Spirit Stone was still there. But when she came into our pharmacy,
she pretended to be in a hurry and bumped into me, then my Spirit Stone was gone.
If she didn’t steal it, where else could the Spirit Stone have gone?"
"This Spirit Stone was given to me by a big brother in exchange for flowers. I didn’t take your Spirit Stone," the little girl explained.
A passerby shook their head and commented, "Little girl, you don’t even know how to lie properly.
Who would buy your flowers and actually pay with a Spirit Stone?
Just return the Spirit Stone to them!"
Hearing these words, Xu Zimei shook his head slightly.
He stepped out from the crowd,
walked over to the little girl, and helped her to her feet.
"Big brother," the little girl’s eyes brightened at the sight of Xu Zimei, just as she was about to explain.
But Xu Zimei shook her head, stopping her.
"Does this young master have a matter?" the shopkeeper beside them sized up Xu Zimei and asked tentatively.
"The Spirit Stone she has was given to her by me," Xu Zimei replied indifferently.
"What? Do you have an objection?"
The shopkeeper was taken aback, apparently not expecting Xu Zimei to say such a thing.
He chuckled and said, "This young master, please don’t joke around.
No need to make such excuses for her."
Xu Zimei turned her head without paying any attention to the shopkeeper and spoke to the little girl.
"Go on, go back. I want to see who dares to utter a single word of objection."
The little girl paused for a moment and then walked away.
A clerk nearby, quick to react, stepped forward to grab the little girl.
But a dazzling blade light burst out from the void.
His arms were chopped off directly.
"Thinking of swindling my Spirit Stone, really thought I had no temper?" Xu Zimei said, snorting coldly.
The clerk fell to the ground, screaming in pain.
Meanwhile, the shopkeeper’s forehead started to sweat slightly.
The surrounding crowd stepped back a few paces.
Just then, a series of loud footsteps could be heard from the side.
A group of people dressed in black uniforms came running over from a distance.
"What’s the matter?" The leader of this group was a member of the Slaughter Tribe.
His eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s, with a hooked nose to match.
Seeing the arrival of this leader, the shopkeeper’s eyes lit up.
He let out a sigh of relief and said, "Lord Ze Song, someone is causing trouble in our Saving All Beings Hall.
Stealing things and even chopping off the arms of my clerk."
The man called Ze Song frowned slightly as he looked at the situation before him. 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓅𝓊𝓫.𝒸ℴ𝓶
Eventually, his gaze settled on Xu Zimei.
He said, "Is everything he’s saying true?"
Before Xu Zimei could speak, the little girl by his side hurriedly explained.
"They are lying; they wanted to frame me and seize my Spirit Stone.
This big brother was just helping me."
Lu Zesong turned his head and glanced at the little girl, pausing for a moment before saying, "So it’s you!"
"So you still remember me, Lord," the little girl quickly nodded her head.
"Alright, let’s stop here," Lu Zesong finally waved his hand.
Seeing the shopkeeper about to speak, his eyes flashed a sharp, threatening look.
It seemed as if there was a murderous aura!
The shopkeeper was frightened into silence at once.
"Remember to come to the City Lord Mansion on time," Lu Zesong said to the little girl before leaving with his subordinates dressed in black.
"Thank you, big brother," the little girl quickly thanked Xu Zimei after everyone had left.
"What is your relationship with that man just now?" Xu Zimei asked curiously.
Logically, if the little girl knew Lu Zesong just now, she wouldn’t have been living so miserably in the City of Fearlessness, right?
The little girl hesitated for a while before finally saying in a low voice.
"I was supposed to keep it a secret.
But I know you’re a good person, big brother. If you want to know,
come to my house; I’ll tell you in secret."
Seeing the little girl’s nervous appearance, Xu Zimei couldn’t help but smile.
Since she had nothing better to do in the City of Fearlessness, Xu Zimei agreed to go.
...
The little girl lived in an old house in the southern part of the city.
This area, all the houses were very rundown.
It seemed to be a slum.
Xu Zimei entered the house and saw an emaciated old man lying on the bed.
The old man lay there quietly, apparently suffering from a serious illness.
His complexion was sallow, and he looked extremely weak.
