The porridge bucket was still steaming and emitting the aroma of rice.

But to the people of Liushutun at this moment, the aroma carried a deadly allure and unknown danger.

The crowd gathered around the porridge bucket, looking at each other, their rough bowls feeling like hot potatoes.

“Village chief… this…” Wu Lao Er swallowed hard, his voice dry.

"Could it be medicine?" Old Wang stared at the porridge bucket, his voice weak. "This is from a temple..."

"In a temple? Wengjia Village doesn't look like a den of human traffickers!" These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head.

Yes, Wengjia Village looks like a proper village!

The village chief frowned as he watched the steaming porridge bucket gradually dissipate.

He was afraid too! The lesson from Wengjia Village was too profound! He looked around at everyone, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Chan in the corner.

Jiang Chan held Xiao Tao, watching everything coldly, showing no intention of going forward to get the porridge.

“Alright!” The village chief made up his mind, his voice low and leaving no room for argument, “Half of the people will eat first… the rest can eat tomorrow morning…”

"Mom...I'm hungry..." a child said timidly in a low voice.

These words were like the last straw that broke the camel's back.

A woman immediately stepped forward and got a bowl to try.

The porridge was warm and thin, with a hint of brown rice flavor. It tasted bland, but... it didn't seem to have any strange taste?

Time passed little by little.

Many people who had drunk the porridge clutched their stomachs, nervously feeling the effects.

Half an hour... a quarter of an hour... no dizziness, no nausea, and I didn't collapse!

"It seems... everything is alright?" Mrs. Wu said softly, with a hint of relief.

Aunt Zhao let out a long sigh of relief, her body going limp and she almost collapsed.

Upon seeing this, the others immediately stepped forward to distribute melon and porridge.

The fear subsided, but exhaustion returned.

It was getting late, and the courtyard was darkening.

"Alright, alright, it's good that you're alright! Quickly find a place to rest!" The village chief waved his hand, his voice weary.

There are three rooms in the courtyard. The men automatically gather in the two larger shared rooms, while the women and children gather in the smaller one.

Inside, there was a simple shared room with some moldy straw mats.

Aunt Zhao, Wu, and several other women were making beds with their children.

The moment Jiang Chan entered, the hushed conversation inside the room ceased instantly.

The air froze.

Aunt Zhao subconsciously moved to the side, her eyes darting away.

Ms. Wu even buried her head down, pretending to tidy up the child's clothes.

Ma unconsciously shrank back.

Their gazes fell on Jiang Chan, carrying lingering fear, a hint of barely perceptible gratitude, but more so a deep-seated sense of alienation and awe.

The bloodshed the night before, the indifference of the past few days, and the aura of unapproachability emanating from her made them instinctively fearful.

Jiang Chan was completely unconcerned about this invisible rejection.

She ignored Xiaotao and led her to the innermost corner of the dormitory, near the cold wall.

That's where the light is dimmest, and it's also the furthest out.

He lay down, his posture casual, yet carrying a wild, alertness.

Xiao Tao glanced at the evasive gazes around her, then at Jiang Chan with her eyes closed, and obediently lay down next to her, her little hands tightly clutching the hem of her clothes.

The room was completely silent.

The other women moved carefully, trying to get away from that corner, and squeezed into the other end of the communal sleeping area.

Occasionally, children would whisper, but adults would quickly stop them.

Jiang Chan, who was in the corner, opened her eyes.

Moonlight streamed through the broken window, casting cold, scaly patterns on the ground.

Xiao Tao, who was beside her, was breathing evenly and nestled close to her.

It's time to go.

I can't stay with this group anymore.

The massacre in Wengjia Village drew an invisible chasm between them and themselves.

Those fearful yet awe-inspiring gazes, the ever-present sense of alienation, constantly reminded her that she was an outsider.

Moreover, she needs to use the space freely and deal with the unknowns of this world undisturbed.

Continuing to travel together will only lead to greater hidden dangers.

She gently adjusted her posture to make Xiaotao more comfortable.

He quickly calculated in his mind: tonight he would use the detector to find out the situation, and tomorrow, no matter what, he would find an opportunity to take Xiao Tao away from the group.

The goal is to head east and find a stable water source.

The water purification system in her space allows her to survive as long as there is water.

Male lead?

Who cares about him! Compared to this messed-up world, he's nothing!

It was late at night.

Confirming that only monotonous breathing could be heard inside the room, Jiang Chan's mind stirred slightly.

The hummingbird probe reappeared, its pale blue light flashing briefly before silently disappearing into the night sky and soaring into the heavens.

The massive outline of Ciyun Temple appears as a cold, grayish-white block in night vision mode.

She maneuvered the detector, gliding like a ghost across the sleeping palace.

Passing through the core area, the monks' living quarters.

Um?

The probe hovered over a secluded courtyard where the lights were still on.

Thermal imaging mode activated!

Several distinct points of light sat around a stone table in the courtyard.

The detector lens zooms in for high-definition imaging!

On the stone table, several rough earthenware bowls and plates were prominently displayed! Inside were... large chunks of meat! Roasted until golden brown and glistening with oil!

Several bald men sat around, tearing into chunks of meat with gusto, their mouths glistening with oil!

One of them was the same old monk who preached "offering to the Three Jewels to eliminate karmic obstacles" during the day in the square!

At this moment, he looked far from being a dignified man, and was gnawing on a bone with great relish!

Jiang Chan remained completely unmoved.

All those rules and regulations, all that compassionate vegetarianism, it's all bullshit!

The direction of detector transfer.

Passing by several monks' quarters, the heat sources were sparsely distributed.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!