As Kai and Lu Bu hurried away from the area near the city gate, Kai cursed under his breath, his heart heavy with anger and disbelief. He had known things were dire, but he hadn’t anticipated encountering such barbarity in Wuyuan City. To murder an innocent person in broad daylight was a shocking display of cruelty that left him reeling.

  Kai understood that the world was ruthless, and such brutality was likely more commonplace than he cared to admit. Yet, he couldn’t help but compare this scene to his experiences in territories governed by the Righteous Sects. There, even if their actions were far from civil, they at least maintained a facade of decorum, offering empty platitudes and hollow reassurances to mask their true nature.

  But this was Zan—a place devoid of cultivators, let alone Righteous ones. Here, there was no need for pretense. While it might have appeared that civility governed the behavior of the people, those in power seemed all too willing to abandon any semblance of decorum. The brutality he had just witnessed was proof.

  While witnessing a man die before him was far from pleasant, Kai found that he could mentally compartmentalize it. Some of his empathy had been beaten out of him during his rigorous training as a cultivator, and his heart had hardened over time. Yet, as he glanced down at Lu Bu, a wave of concern washed over him. The child was just that—a child—innocent and vulnerable in a world that could be so cruel.

  Kai noticed that Lu Bu appeared a bit nervous, but it was clear that the boy's anxiety stemmed more from Kai's own demeanor than the gruesome scene they had just witnessed. Lu Bu was perceptive, picking up on the tension radiating from Kai and reflecting it back.

  Kai had expected Lu Bu to be more visibly shaken by the death he had just seen, but then he recalled the boy's tragic circumstances. Lu Bu had lost his parents in front of him, and the Faceless Judges had executed a group of bandits right before his eyes. At just seven years old, Lu Bu had already been exposed to death.

  Oh no, has his heart already hardened? Kai thought, a sense of sadness settled in.

  He had been deeply concerned about preserving Lu Bu’s childhood innocence, but it seemed that innocence might have been stripped away long before their paths had crossed.

  Kai led Lu Bu away from the chaos of the tent city, seeking a moment of privacy behind a large canvas tent that flapped gently in the wind. He bent down, bringing his gaze level with Lu Bu’s, his expression serious yet compassionate.

  “Listen, Lu Bu,” he began, his voice low and earnest. “What you witnessed back there...I need you to promise me something. Never let yourself become like that. Don’t turn a blind eye to the suffering of others, and don’t take lives carelessly. Every life has worth, even those we may not understand. Promise me you won’t let this world harden your heart and become cruel.”

  “O-OK,” Lu Bu replied, his voice barely above a whisper as he nodded, the weight of Kai’s words settling heavily on his young shoulders.

  Kai straightened up, his gaze drifting over the makeshift camp that sprawled before them. The tent city was a patchwork of sorrow, with countless refugees moving about, their faces etched with worry and loss. It pained him to see such despair, a stark contrast to the vibrant life he once knew. He turned his attention to the imposing walls of Wuyuan City, their stone surfaces cold and unyielding. The city lord’s orders echoed in his mind—the ruthless decree to kill anyone who dared approach the gates. Such cruelty was unfathomable to him.

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  “I was already doubtful that I could find a safe place for you here,” Kai continued, his brow furrowing with concern. “But after witnessing that brutality, it’s clear this place is not safe for you. Let’s find that merchant, get the map, and then get out of here.”

  Lu Bu looked apprehensive at that comment but nodded. He reached for Kai’s hand, gripping it tightly as they began to navigate through the crowded tent city. Kai scanned the area, searching for the markers he had been told about—the signs that would lead them to Sato, the merchant who might have that map he needed.

  “Stay close to me,” Kai instructed gently, his eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of danger.

  They meandered through the sprawling tent city, a labyrinth of makeshift shelters that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction. The air was thick with the mingled scents of smoke, sweat, and desperation, a stark reminder of the plight of those who called this place home. As they walked, Kai kept a watchful eye on Lu Bu, ensuring the boy stayed close amidst the throngs of weary refugees.

  After about twenty minutes of navigating the maze, they finally arrived at a well, a central hub of activity where a line of weary refugees patiently drew water, one by one. The sound of creaking buckets and murmurs of conversation filled the air, punctuated by the occasional cry of a child. Kai observed the faces around him—hollow eyes, furrowed brows, and expressions that spoke of exhaustion and despair. Each person seemed to carry the weight of their own story, a testament to the hardships they had endured.

  Kai scanned the area around the well, searching for the distinctive yellow tent he had been told about. And there it was—a vibrant splash of color against the muted backdrop of the camp, its fabric fluttering gently in the breeze. The tent stood out like a beacon, but as he approached, a sense of unease settled in his stomach.

  Despite its bright exterior, the tent seemed to exude an air of exclusivity. He noticed that none of the refugees were approaching it; instead, they kept their distance, casting wary glances in its direction. Kai’s brow furrowed in confusion. If this Sato was indeed the only merchant in the area selling food and supplies, he would have expected a throng of desperate souls lining up or at least begging for assistance. The absence of activity around the tent raised a red flag in his mind.

  Kai approached the tent and stepped inside. The interior was dimly lit, the flickering glow of lanterns casting long shadows that danced across the canvas walls. As his eyes quickly adjusted to the low light, he quickly understood why the refugees kept their distance.

  Standing inside was a guard, clad in full armor that gleamed dully in the lantern light. He wielded a spear with a practiced ease, his posture rigid and alert. The guard’s expression was a permanent scowl, a mask of intimidation that seemed to radiate an unspoken warning to anyone who dared to approach. His presence was a formidable barrier, clearly designed to deter the desperate and the needy from casualty entering the merchant’s domain.

  The guard’s cold gaze swept over him, assessing him with a mixture of suspicion and disdain. It was clear that Kai was not the first to enter this place.

  “If you’re here to beg, then get out,” the guard barked, his tone dripping with annoyance.

  Despite the unpleasantness of the situation, Kai didn’t flinch. He held his ground, maintaining the same calm demeanor he had walked in with. “I’m here to trade,” he replied, his voice steady and confident.

  The guard’s eyes narrowed, scrutinizing Kai with a blend of skepticism and curiosity. His gaze flicked briefly to Lu Bu, taking in the boy’s small stature and wide-eyed innocence, before returning to Kai. The guard’s posture remained rigid, the spear gripped firmly in his hand, yet there was a subtle flicker of intrigue in his expression, as if he were weighing the potential of this unexpected visitor.

  After a tense moment, the guard let out a low grunt—an ambiguous sound that could have been interpreted as either a warning or a reluctant acknowledgment of their presence. With a slight shift of his weight, he stepped aside, allowing Kai and Lu Bu to proceed further into the tent.

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