Ahead, a towering mountain range stretched across, its highest point reaching hundreds of feet.

As the man and the wolf climbed the mountain range, a new sight suddenly unfolded before their eyes. The vast land and mountains ahead were no longer barren; small grasses and trees were scattered about. However, most of them were wilting and yellow, already withered. It was hard to find any trace of green. Such a desolate place was unsuitable for human survival.

But surprisingly, right below the mountain range, they could clearly see some very rudimentary thatched huts. Livestock roamed freely in the mountain streams. In their field of vision, human figures could be seen—old and young, men and women. Without exception, they were malnourished and as skinny as matchsticks. They wore no clothes; instead, they were clad in garments woven from dried grass or tree leaves, mere loincloths for modesty. It felt like they had arrived at a primitive tribe.

"The people living here are really suffering," Qin Feiyang murmured.

This kind of environment and these conditions were something he had never encountered before. In his heart, an inexplicable sorrow welled up.

The Wolf King asked confusedly, "Isn't it said that people in the Ruined Lands are basically from outside? How can there be ordinary people here?"

Qin Feiyang replied, "The Ruined Lands have existed since the inception of the Great Qin Empire. Over all these years, a brand new civilization has proliferated here."

The Wolf King nodded and then asked, "How long has the Great Qin Empire been established?"

"According to ancient records, almost 10,000 years."

"That long?" The Wolf King's eyes widened in astonishment.

"It's not really that long. Once a Martial Artist enters the War Emperor realm, they have a lifespan of 500 years. And what about the emperors of the Great Qin Empire? The strength of each generation of emperor has reached a state of being omnipotent..."

Before he could finish, Qin Feiyang stopped talking and began to walk down the mountain range. It wasn't because he was afraid Lu Hong and Fatty would hear him. It was because there were too many memories here that made him sad, angry, and hateful. He was afraid that once he remembered, he would not be able to control his emotions.

As soon as they descended the mountain range, they encountered an old man and a child. The old man was hunched over, nothing but skin and bones. His turbid eyes, full of despair and helplessness, made him look particularly desolate. The child, about twelve or thirteen years old, was equally emaciated and unbelievably dirty. Children this age are generally very lively, but the child before them was listless, with vacant eyes and a mournful expression that wrung one's heart.

So pitiful. Even the savage Wolf King couldn't help but feel a pang of pity.

Such a place shouldn't exist! A cold light flickered in Qin Feiyang's eyes. If he had to choose, he would rather harden his heart and send these people from this world than watch them lead such a desperate life.

The man and the wolf continued onward. The people they met were in similar conditions to the old man and child. But gradually, their vacant eyes began to gleam with a hint of ferocity, as if a pack of sleeping jackals was slowly awakening.

"The atmosphere is a bit off," the Wolf King said, examining the crowd alertly.

"Let's go!" Qin Feiyang urged in a low voice.

But just then, a young, hesitant voice called from behind, "Big brother, wait a moment."

Qin Feiyang stopped and turned. He saw the child they had first encountered running toward them.

"Little brother, what is it?" Qin Feiyang asked with a smile.

The child ran up to him, looked up with a face full of longing, and asked, "Big brother, can you give me something to eat?"

An unknown ache pricked Qin Feiyang's heart. Such a simple sentence could touch anyone's soul. Unless one were a cold-blooded creature, no one could refuse the child's plea.

The Wolf King said, "Xiao Qinzi, didn't we kill many beasts when we were training in the Yan Pan Mountains? Why don't we give them all to these people?"

Even its heart was melted. One could imagine how miserably the people here lived.

Qin Feiyang nodded and took out the Qiankun Bag. With a wave of his hand, a large pile of beast carcasses appeared on the ground beside them. These beasts were all edible.

The moment they saw the carcasses, the people of the entire village flew into a frenzy, rushing toward them, their eyes filled with greed.

Qin Feiyang hastily said, "Don't crowd! There's enough food for everyone to share!"

But at this moment, they weren't listening. Food was the only thing in their eyes.

BOOM!

Suddenly, the Wolf King unleashed a terrifyingly fierce aura, its eyes becoming incredibly menacing. In an instant, everyone prostrated themselves on the ground, trembling uncontrollably. The child nearby was so scared he burst into tears.

Qin Feiyang squatted down, patted the child's shoulder, and said with a smile, "Little brother, you're a brave boy. Brave boys don't cry, understand?"

"Mm," the child nodded. Perhaps seeing Qin Feiyang's kind expression, he grew a bit bolder. A bamboo tube for carrying water hung from his shoulder. He took it out, offered it to Qin Feiyang, and said with a cheerful grin, "Big brother, thank you for giving us food. Please, have some water."

Qin Feiyang took the bamboo tube, removed the stopper, and sniffed it. A peculiar odor assailed his nostrils. This water... it isn't safe to drink. Yet, the people here drink it.

Sigh... Qin Feiyang inwardly sighed. He took two small sips and handed the bamboo tube back to the child.

But suddenly, his body trembled slightly as a surge of hot blood rushed to his throat. Poison! His eyes held a trace of disbelief. A murderous aura began to emanate from him. The people around them instantly felt as if they had been plunged into an icy, snowy wasteland, a chill running through their bodies.

Ultimately, Qin Feiyang suppressed his killing intent. He stood up, glanced at the crowd, and said with a faint smile, "Don't fight over it; there's enough food for everyone."

The child and the old man looked somewhat panicked.

Qin Feiyang looked at them, reached out to ruffle the child's hair, and smiled. "Little brother, life isn't easy. Cherish it."

The child nodded instinctively.

Qin Feiyang withdrew his arm and called out, "White-Eyed Wolf, let's go."

Just as the man and wolf turned to leave, the old man suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud. His voice was hoarse as he cried, "Young man, I'm sorry! I was the one who put poison in the water. Please, kill me!"

"It's alright," Qin Feiyang said with a smile.

"Thank you for your magnanimity," the old man said, kowtowing.

Qin Feiyang gave a faint smile. Such a desolate place couldn't possibly produce truly lethal poisons. The substance in the water was just a common toxin, enough to kill an ordinary person, perhaps, but it posed no real threat to a Martial Artist.

After they had taken a few steps, the old man called out again, "Young man, if you want to survive safely, you'd best change your clothes."

"Oh?" Qin Feiyang frowned, turning back to look at the old man in confusion.

"In the Ruined Lands, only two kinds of people can wear clothes as fine as yours," the old man explained. "One kind is the important figures from the cities. The other is people who have just arrived in the Ruined Lands. City bigwigs live in luxury and would never come to such a poverty-stricken place. So, the only explanation is that you've just arrived. If you don't change your clothes, you'll definitely encounter the same situation again."

"Thank you for the warning, elder," Qin Feiyang said, cupping his hands briefly. He then led White-Eyed Wolf away, quickly leaving the village.

"He gave us food and didn't hold a grudge even though I poisoned him. He's a good man," the old man murmured, his eyes filled with gratitude as he watched the two figures recede. The other villagers also watched Qin Feiyang and White-Eyed Wolf depart, their eyes brimming with tears of gratitude.

After leaving the village, Qin Feiyang took a Detoxification Pill. Within a few breaths, the poison was completely purged from his system.

White-Eyed Wolf quipped, "Letting them off so easily? What's gotten into you today? This isn't the Qin Feiyang I know."

"Sometimes, killing isn't the only solution," Qin Feiyang said with a laugh.

Just like earlier, killing them would only have incited more anger and madness among the villagers. However, handling it with kindness not only earned respect but also made those people realize their own mistakes. Besides, those people were only acting out of desperation.

In the past, he had always thought he was the most ill-fated person in the world. But now, seeing these people, he realized how relatively lucky he actually was. At least, when he had been destitute and alone, Uncle Yuan had been with him. Now, he had White-Eyed Wolf, Lu Hong, and Fatty. He wasn't alone.

Next, Qin Feiyang found a secluded spot, took out some old linen clothes he used to wear, and put them on. He even deliberately made them look torn and dirty. To think he'd have to cover himself with just dry grass and leaves like those villagers... He really couldn't bring himself to do it.

White-Eyed Wolf also deliberately made itself look disheveled. It now looked less like a wolf and more like a grubby wild dog.

Having disguised themselves, they set off again. They didn't neglect their training, constantly refining Qi Gathering Pills, and their cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds.

「Two weeks later.」

A dilapidated ancient city entered their line of sight. Above the city gate, three characters were carved: Tiger-Lying City. The city walls were riddled with holes. Inside, the buildings were also in a terrible state of disrepair. Combined with the gloomy sky, it looked like a sinister ghost town at first glance. The city gate was unguarded, giving it an air of utter desolation.

"HEH HEH!"

"Look, a wild dog is entering the city!"

"I've never tasted dog meat before."

"Young man, how about selling this wild dog to me? I'll give you a Body-refining Elixir for it!"

"Don't sell it to him! I'll trade you a Qi Gathering Pill!"

As soon as Qin Feiyang and White-Eyed Wolf entered the city gate, White-Eyed Wolf became the center of attention, quite popular in a sense, though this popularity had an ironic taste. The people on the street crowded around, their eyes gleaming with a hungry, covetous light as they stared at it; some were even wiping drool from their mouths.

Even White-Eyed Wolf, with its dauntless personality, couldn't help but feel its fur bristle. These people looked like reincarnated starving ghosts.

"Where's the wild dog?"

"Everyone, get out of my way!"

A young man in tattered linen, flanked by several brawny, bare-chested men, arrogantly blocked Qin Feiyang and White-Eyed Wolf's path.

"It's the young master of the Wang Family!"

"Quick, get back!"

"Or we won't get any dog meat, and we might even lose our lives!"

The crowd surrounding the man and the wolf nervously retreated at the sight of the young man in linen and his entourage.

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