152: Smoke from a deserted village

Horseshoes trod on the somewhat desolate official road, kicking up fine dust. Leaving the relatively prosperous West Lake Prefecture, the further north they went, the more dilapidated the scenery along the way became. Ruined walls and broken eaves were visible from time to time, abandoned fields were overgrown with waist-high weeds, and many villages were mostly empty, with only a few wisps of cooking smoke rarely seen.

The barbarian invasion that swept through the border a year ago, though eventually repelled, left wounds on the Great Qian Northern Border that were far from being healed in a short time. The war had consumed countless young men and destroyed production; famine and displacement remained the daily reality for many people on this land.

“Sigh...” Xiao Chun looked at a woman by the roadside holding a thin, weak child with numb eyes, and couldn't help but let out a soft sigh. The child was so hungry they didn't even have the strength to cry, just staring at the sky with wide eyes.

Qin Feng reined in his horse, his gaze sweeping over this ravaged land, his brow furrowing slightly. He came from another peaceful world, and although he had experienced many killings in this martial world, the respect and pity for life deep within his heart had not been extinguished.

“There seems to be a small town ahead, let's go buy some grain.” Qin Feng turned his horse around and said to the two women.

At the town's rice shop, Qin Feng bought out almost all of the shopkeeper's stock, and dozens of heavy bags of grain were loaded onto a temporarily hired flatbed cart. The shop owner was so happy he couldn't close his mouth, bowing repeatedly.

After leaving the town and reaching a sparsely populated area, Qin Feng said to Ji Ruxue, “Sister Xue, I'll have to trouble you. If you see any families along the way who really can't make ends meet, leave a bag of rice and some dry rations, no need to show yourself.”

Ji Ruxue glanced at him, an imperceptible ripple flashing through her icy eyes. She didn't ask much, just nodded faintly: “Okay.”

Thus, in the next part of the journey, many “miracles” unexpected by families shrouded in suffering began to appear.

“Mother... I'm so hungry...” In the dilapidated thatched hut, a sallow and emaciated child curled up in their mother's arms, their breath as thin as silk.

The woman in rags looked at the empty rice jar, her eyes full of despair, as she pleaded with the passersby outside the door: “Kind sir, please have mercy, lend us some grain, the child is almost gone...”

However, the passersby were in a hurry, their faces showing difficulty as they were barely able to take care of themselves.

In the evening, the woman dragged her exhausted body back home, only to find a heavy bag of white rice on the stove, and next to it was an oil-paper-wrapped meat bun that was still warm!

“Mother! Look! There's rice! There are buns!” The child, not knowing where the strength came from, cried out in surprise.

The woman was stunned, then with a “thud,” she knelt on the ground, bowing incessantly toward the door, her face covered in tears: “The gods have appeared! Thank you, gods! Thank you, Living Bodhisattva!”

Similar scenes were quietly happening near desolate villages and in front of abandoned mud houses. Ji Ruxue's movement was like a ghost, always leaving behind a chance for life when no one noticed, and then quietly departing amidst tears of gratitude... As night fell, the three of them set up camp by a clear stream.

The campfire crackled, and the wild rabbit roasting on the rack sizzled with oil, its aroma filling the air. Xiao Chun was carefully washing wild vegetables picked along the way, preparing to cook a pot of hot soup. Ji Ruxue leaned against a large tree with her sword in her arms, her figure almost merging with the shadows, her spiritual sense spread out, guarding the surroundings.

Qin Feng picked up a water skin, walked to Ji Ruxue's side, and handed it to her: “Hard work for you.”

Ji Ruxue took it, took a sip, her cold gaze looking at the dancing flames, and whispered: “It's nothing. It's just that in this world... there aren't many ‘good people’ like you.”

Her tone was flat, yet it carried a hint of desolation from having seen through the ways of the world. In her career as an assassin, she had seen more of the strong preying on the weak, and the ugliness of doing anything for personal gain.

Qin Feng smiled and sat down beside her: “I was just thinking of letting you accumulate some Karma while we're at it. After all, you were an assassin before... doing more good deeds is always beneficial.”

Hearing this, the corner of Ji Ruxue's mouth seemed to twitch ever so slightly, and she made an almost inaudible sound: “Heh.”

[Ding, Ji Ruxue favorability +5]

[Current favorability: Su Yuchun 120, Ji Ruxue 75 (High trust, growing rapport)]

Qin Feng laughed inwardly: “What a tsundere.”

He looked at the starry sky, and suddenly a thought occurred to him. He asked silently in his heart: “System, do you think me accumulating Karma like this will be of any benefit for refreshing intelligence? For example... better luck?”

He thought the System wouldn't respond to such a metaphysical question, but to his surprise, after a brief silence, the mechanical voice actually gave an answer:

[Ding. In the Xuanhuan world, the struggle for the Dao is fierce, and the paths are diverse.]

[They can mainly be divided into: Dao Cultivators and Evil Cultivators.]

[Dao Cultivators accumulate good causes, comprehend heaven and earth, harmonize with nature, and have a solid Foundation, but their progress is relatively gradual.]

[Evil Cultivators accumulate evil consequences, plunder all things, and go against the heavens. Their Cultivation speed is rapid, but Heart Demons arise frequently, tribulations are numerous, and every step is perilous.]

[Both can rely on the System to absorb the necessary ‘resources’ and Cultivate to the extreme to perceive the Dao. The path chosen by the Host will affect certain intelligence tendencies and acquisition methods.]

Evil Cultivator?

Qin Feng was slightly stunned. To improve rapidly through slaughter and plunder? As a Firefighter in his previous life whose duty was to protect life, he instinctively rejected this path. Perhaps the System had the ability to transform evil into power, but that was definitely not what he desired in his heart.

“Dao Cultivator... accumulating good causes?” He thought thoughtfully. Perhaps these seemingly insignificant acts of kindness along the way were not just comfort for the soul.

“The soup is ready! The roast meat is also ready to eat!” Xiao Chun's cheerful voice interrupted his thoughts.

The three sat around the campfire, enjoying a simple dinner. The wild rabbit was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the wild vegetable soup was refreshing and warming. In this wilderness night, it had a unique flavor.

As the zi hour approached, Qin Feng's mind sank into his Sea of Consciousness.

[Ding! The zi hour has arrived! Daily intelligence has been refreshed!]

[Today's Intelligence:]

1. [White Intelligence]: Fifteen li away from here, an Earth God Temple that has long been abandoned has recently seen mysteriously flourishing incense offerings. Nearby villagers all rumor that a god has appeared and bestowed grain and rice. (Note: This may be related to the Host's recent actions)

2. [White Intelligence]: In the mountain forest eighteen kilometers from here, a small pack of Gale Wolves is entrenched. The alpha has Martial Master strength and often harasses lone travelers passing by.

3. [Yellow Intelligence]: Twenty kilometers away at Luoshi Ridge. Star South City Lord's eldest daughter, Xia Ya, is leading a team of the City Guard in a fierce battle with outer Disciples of the “Corpse Demon Sect.” The situation is critical!

“Corpse Demon Sect?” Qin Feng's gaze narrowed. One could tell just by hearing the name of this Sect that they were definitely not good, exuding an aura of evil and death.

“Xia Ya?” He was even more surprised. The eldest daughter of Star South City Lord, City Lord? Why would she appear here and get into a conflict with such an evil Sect? He was familiar with Xia Xue, but this eldest daughter Xia Ya seemed to have been training outside all year round and was not well-known.

Qin Feng stood up abruptly, his gaze sharp as he looked in the direction of Luoshi Ridge.