Chapter One: The Suffering People of the Great Xia Nation

Year 230 of the Qingyuan Era.

Yanxi Prefecture, Black Earth City.

The setting sun cast slanting rays, illuminating a landscape of utter desolation.

Ye Feng walked home from school alone. He glanced at the filthy water flowing through the streets, the litter swirling in the wind, the sparse pedestrians and merchants, and the beggars weaving back and forth. His brows furrowed tightly.

Ten years ago, after the “Battle of Ding City” between the Great Xia Kingdom and the invading Myriad Demons Nation, when the main forces were nearly wiped out, the nation’s prosperity took a sudden downturn.

The monarch of Great Xia, Tan Yuanzongfu, entered into the humiliating “Ding City Pact” with the Myriad Demons Nation’s ruler, the Great Sage Golden Ape. To secure peace, Tan Yuanzongfu ceded territory, bowed in submission, and agreed to pay an annual tribute of three hundred million taels of silver, one hundred million bolts of colored silk, and two million stones of grain. This senseless burden fell upon the people, transforming a once bountiful land into a barren country.

Thus did the once-glorious Black Earth City fall into such ruin.

As he sighed at the sight, a small, pitch-black hand reached out before him.

“Big brother! Please spare some change! My little sister is hungry!”

Ye Feng looked down. A boy of about ten was blocking his way, holding the hand of a girl no older than three or four. Their clothes were tattered, their bodies thin and frail, and their faces sallow with malnutrition. Their eyes gazed up at him with pitiful hope.

Ye Feng’s heart ached. He gently patted the boy’s malnourished head, then crouched to meet the little girl’s large, watery eyes. He took out his handkerchief and wiped the dust from her face.

Seeing the girl shivering in the cold wind, he quickly took off his outer robe and draped it over her shoulders.

“Where is your home? Where are your parents?” Ye Feng asked softly.

At his question, the boy’s eyes filled with tears. He wiped them away with his sleeve and replied, “There was a famine last year. Mother and Father starved to death. It’s just the two of us left. We had no choice but to flee here to survive.”

Ye Feng’s heart tightened painfully.

“Big brother, my... my brother and I... haven’t eaten anything... for two days now...” The little girl’s timid voice was barely audible, her eyes full of pleading.

Ye Feng could have wept. He reached into his pocket—inside were three silver coins and two copper coins, all that remained of his living expenses for the month.

By rights, his family’s wealth meant he lacked for nothing, but his father had always been strict, never allowing him to waste even a penny. Even his school expenses were carefully managed; he was never given more than necessary.

So he hesitated for a long time before finally taking out the two copper coins. He placed them in the little girl’s hand. She thanked him with repeated nods, and the boy gave a deep bow before pulling his sister away.

Ye Feng watched the siblings run to a nearby vendor, hand over the coins, and buy a flatbread.

The boy broke it in half, handing the larger portion to his sister. She devoured it ravenously. Seeing her so desperate, the boy broke off another piece from his half and gave the remainder to her.

“Brother, why aren’t you eating?” the little girl asked curiously.

“I begged a big bun from someone this morning. I'm already full—go ahead and eat,” he replied, watching her eat with a contented smile.

Reluctantly, he nibbled a small piece of his bread, savoring it as if it were a rare delicacy. The rest he carefully wrapped in a filthy scrap of cloth and tucked into his chest. He sniffed the lingering aroma on his fingers, licked them, and smiled sweetly.

Ye Feng’s eyes grew wet as he watched. Orphaned, yet caring for each other so dearly—how precious such devotion was.

He rushed over and pulled the two children into a tight embrace.

The little girl, seeing Ye Feng’s inexplicable tears, reached out her tiny hand to wipe his face. In her childish voice, she said, “Big brother, why are you crying? I’m not hungry anymore. I won’t ask you for more money. Please don’t cry!”

Ye Feng, wracked with guilt, choked out, “I’m not crying. It’s just... I’m sorry, I can’t help you more.”

He reached for his last three silver coins, intending to press them into the girl’s hand. But with more than half a month left in the month, could he really leave himself penniless? Reluctantly, he put one coin back and handed over the remaining two.

The boy was stunned, staring at the coins in disbelief, then at Ye Feng, amazed by such generosity. He immediately knelt, dragging his sister down with him.

“Benefactor, thank you! We siblings will repay you in the next life, even if we must be oxen or horses!” With that, they kowtowed repeatedly, their foreheads knocking against the ground.

Ye Feng was about to help the boy up when a commotion erupted. Suddenly, a swarm of beggars appeared, surrounding Ye Feng so tightly that he could barely breathe.

They thrust out their bony, filthy hands, crowding forward like starving ghosts. Ye Feng stumbled back two steps, barely able to keep his footing.

“Good sir, spare some money!”

“Kind master, I haven’t eaten in three days!”

“Please, I beg you!”

...

“I have nothing left—nothing! I truly have no more money!” Ye Feng cried out in panic.

But the beggars only pressed closer, some kneeling and kowtowing, pleading with him.

Feeling trapped, Ye Feng shouted, “I only have one last silver coin—here, take it!” He flung the coin far away.

The beggars, seeing the silver fly, forgot all else and rushed after it, a chaotic scrum of shrieking, cursing, and fighting erupting in the street.

Ye Feng seized the moment to dash away at full speed, fleeing desperately from the scene. He ran until he was out of breath, finally slowing to a walk.

Reflecting on what had just happened, he could only shake his head and sigh with a bitter smile. How powerless he was to change the fate of these suffering beggars.

He patted himself down—he was penniless.

A heavy sigh escaped him. It looked like he would have no choice but to borrow living expenses from his teachers and classmates for the rest of the month. At least, when next month’s scholarship arrived, he’d be able to pay them back.

Thinking of the upcoming final exams, Ye Feng’s mood brightened. He had always taken first place in every subject, earning the envy of his classmates and the pride of his family. Even his uncles and aunts doted on him more for it.

Only his father remained stern, never smiling, always finding fault, and never offering a word of praise.

After today’s events, Ye Feng dared not breathe a word to his father, fearing he’d be scolded for being wasteful and extravagant.

Lost in thought, Ye Feng was startled by a sudden clatter. He looked up, fury rising within him.

Across the street, two demon soldiers staggered along. They were armored and helmeted, faces ugly, breath reeking of alcohol, stomping through the garbage as they cursed and lashed out with their whips at an old man who had failed to get out of their way quickly enough.

The old man, cradling his head, fled in panic and crashed into two street stalls, sending goods and wares tumbling everywhere. The pedestrians scattered in terror; chaos reigned.

Ye Feng’s fists clenched in helpless rage. If not for the Myriad Demons Nation’s cruel oppression, would his countrymen have been reduced to such poverty, forced to beg for their survival? Would he, for the sake of charity, have spent all his living expenses and now be forced into debt?

And now, seeing these demon soldiers bullying the people of his city—how could he possibly endure it?

He couldn’t help but shout, “Stop!”

He was about to rush forward to stop them when a low voice sounded in his ear: “Young Master Ye, do you wish to die?”

He felt strong arms hold him back. Turning, he saw it was Uncle Li, a neighbor.

“If you don’t fear for your own life, do you not care for your family?” Uncle Li’s whisper was sharp and sobering.

Ye Feng dared not act rashly. He was still stunned as Uncle Li pulled him away.

“Stop right there!” roared a voice, freezing them in their tracks.

“Damn it! Was it you yelling just now? Running through the streets like a dung-carrying fool looking for death!” One demon soldier, ugly and sneering, raised his whip and prepared to strike.

“Great sirs, he’s just a child—please, pay him no mind!” Uncle Li pleaded, forcing a smile.

A sharp crack rang out—Uncle Li had already been struck across the face, sent stumbling backward, blood at the corner of his mouth.

“You beasts!” Ye Feng shouted.

“Damn you, you lowly wretches aren’t worth as much as an ant when you die!” another demon soldier spat, reeking of alcohol, and kicked Ye Feng hard.

Ye Feng couldn’t dodge in time. The kick landed squarely in his stomach. With a cry, he staggered back and fell to the ground.

A whip lashed out, again and again.

Ye Feng was left with bloody welts, his whole body burning with pain.

“Great sirs, please, he’s just a child! Let me take him home and discipline him myself!” Uncle Li begged, not even pausing to wipe the blood from his mouth. Taking advantage of the soldiers’ brief hesitation, he helped Ye Feng up and signaled to him with his eyes, “Apologize—quickly!”

Ye Feng’s teeth clenched; his fists dripped with sweat. His eyes blazed with fury, but he kept his lips tightly sealed.

“Get out of here! Just wait until I deal with you at home!” Uncle Li, seeing Ye Feng’s stubborn silence, kicked him, urging him to leave.

But Ye Feng’s indignation surged. He stood ramrod straight, refusing to move.

The two soldiers laughed uproariously, preparing to whip him again—when suddenly their eyes locked in a daze on something.

Following their gaze, Ye Feng saw a graceful girl in a blue dress standing in the crowd. She was about fifteen or sixteen, with a jade-like face and a slender neck. Her bright almond eyes brimmed with compassion, and her lips, bitten in concern, looked all the more vivid, setting off her beauty.

“What’s this, little beauty? Feeling sorry for this boy?” the soldiers leered, approaching the girl.

She turned to leave, but they blocked her path.

“Don’t waste your time on this weakling. Come, join us for a drink instead,” they jeered, reaching for her.

With a flick of her sleeve, the girl shook off their hands, her brows arching in a cold smile. “You want me to drink with you, is that it?”

The soldiers, eyes glazed and drooling, grinned from ear to ear. “Exactly! Drink with us, and we’ll reward you handsomely!”

“Very well, follow me,” the girl replied with a slight smile, dimples appearing, a playful beauty mark at her lip.

She turned, gliding gracefully into a secluded alley. Her movements were so quick and light, she seemed to float ten meters away in an instant.

“Wait for us!” the soldiers called, stumbling after her.

Ye Feng’s heart leapt in alarm. Such a beautiful girl, going off with two demon soldiers—it was like a lamb entering a tiger’s den! “Miss, wait!” he shouted, ignoring his pain as he hurried after her.

Uncle Li tried to stop him, but Ye Feng was already gone, running far ahead.

———

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