Following the map, Qiao Suinian quickly arrived at Hefu City.

Just as Chang Yongxin described, this place is full of urban ruins, extremely dilapidated, with dried and congealed bloodstains, scattered rubble, and exposed steel bars everywhere.

As soon as Qiao Suinian stepped into Hefu City, a dozen dirty figures suddenly surrounded him.

Qiao Suinian remained secretly on guard, while Bei Daiku was even more prepared to take action.

At this moment, the dozen or so figures suddenly knelt down in front of Qiao Suinian.

"Kind sir, please give us some food! We've been starving for so long, please give us some food!"

They kowtowed repeatedly, and the group included men, women, the elderly, and children as young as five or six.

Everyone was emaciated, and their faces and bodies were filthy, as if they hadn't eaten or bathed for many days.

"Are you natives of Hefu City?" Qiao Suinian glanced around. These people all seemed to have awakened life skills and had no combat ability at all.

"Yes, we originally lived here. You must be an adult who has awakened a combat-type profession. Please, please give us some food!"

The old man at the head of the group squeezed out a few tears and pleaded with Qiao Suinian.

Indeed, the entire city was razed to the ground and reduced to ruins. Those with the strength could escape to other cities, but those without the ability to fight could only stay in these ruins and wait to die.

This group of people were clearly wandering around this area, and when they saw any awakened combat professionals passing by, they would come up to them asking for some food.

"Do you know Baili Pavilion?"

Qiao Suinian took out an expired chocolate from the backpack that Bedeku was carrying and calmly tore open the packaging.

The moment those starving people saw the chocolate, their eyes lit up like those of hungry wolves, and many of them were so excited that they swallowed hard.

But when they heard the name Bailige, their rationality seemed to take over instantly, and fear appeared on their faces.

"I...I've heard that Baili Pavilion is full of powerful figures like yourself." The old man at the head nodded fearfully.

Qiao Suinian smiled and handed the chocolate bar to the old man. Smelling the aroma of cocoa butter, the old man swallowed hard.

"I'll give you a chance. Take me to the entrance of Bailige, and this chocolate is yours."

Qiao Suinian decided to give the old man a chance. The energy provided by an expired chocolate bar was enough for him to live for three more days in this extreme environment. Qiao Suinian also needed someone to lead the way, otherwise he would have to search for a long time on his own.

But the old man was still hesitant, as if Baili Pavilion was an extremely terrifying place for him.

Qiao Suinian didn't force her, but instead held up the chocolate bar: "Whoever is willing to lead the way for me, this chocolate is theirs."

Those people were extremely excited, their eyes burning with desire, but not one of them dared to take a step forward.

Um?

Qiao Suinian was somewhat surprised. Was the reputation of Baili Pavilion really that powerful? Could it make people not even afraid of starving to death?

At this moment, the old man in the lead finally spoke.

"My lord, you don't need to waste your energy. They won't dare to lead you. Anyone who dares to lead you to Baili Pavilion will surely die."

The old man gave a bitter smile. He looked around at the dirty faces and seemed to have made up his mind. He gritted his teeth.

"My lord, I can lead you the way! I'll give you my life if you will, but I only ask one thing of you: can you spare their lives?"

"Give them a way out?"

"Yes! Old man, I've inquired. The nearest human city is Blue Ocean City. Can you find a way to send them there?"

After the old man finished speaking, his nerves were on edge. He knew very well that in the apocalypse, their lives were worthless.

If his demands anger Qiao Suinian, and Qiao Suinian kills them all, their deaths will be in vain.

Just as Qiao Suinian was about to refuse, he suddenly remembered the passive effect of the evil god's power and changed his mind.

"Is there only a dozen or so people? Are there any others?" Qiao Suinian asked, changing the subject.

"Huh? Are there any others?" The old man was bewildered by Qiao Suinian's question and stammered, "I do know of another group of homeless people not far away. There should be about eight or nine of them."

“Okay! Go and call them all together!” Qiao Suinian nodded.

"Call them all along? Where to?" The old man was stunned.

"Of course, I'm going to watch me show off... oh no, of course I'm going to Blue Ocean City!" Qiao Suinian said with a simple and honest smile.

"Really? Sir, you are such a kind person! May you have boundless happiness and longevity! Quickly, quickly thank the sir!" The old man was overjoyed and pulled the others to kowtow to Qiao Suinian repeatedly.

"You're welcome. With great power comes great responsibility. This is what I should do. No need to thank me!"

Qiao Suinian waved his hand and quickly helped everyone up.

Soon the old man called over another group of people. Qiao Sui also learned that the old man's name was Li Dan. When he was a child, because he wrote his characters too wide, everyone called him Li Kouyan. After a while, he just accepted it.

Another group of people were overjoyed to hear that a kind-hearted combat profession would take them to Blue Ocean City. As the saying goes, if one can be happy and stable, who would want to be wandering and displaced?

No matter what, once they went to Blue Ocean City, at least they wouldn't have to live a life of going hungry one day and having enough to eat the next.

"My lord, when shall we depart for Blue Ocean City?" Li Kouyan asked, rubbing his hands together with some anticipation.

"No rush. We need to find more people to escort you there. Otherwise, with alien races running rampant along the way, how will a group of ordinary people like you get there?" Qiao Suinian asked in return.

"Your Excellency is wise!" Li Kouyan was so happy that he almost kowtowed to Qiao Suinian again. "Then where should we find someone to escort us?"

"Do you even need to ask? It's Baili Pavilion!" Qiao Suinian said matter-of-factly, while Li Kouyan and the others turned pale instantly.

"Don't worry, look who he is!" Qiao Suinian pointed to Shi Yushan, who was standing to the side with a blank expression and covered in blood.

"He is... Lord Yushan!"

Li Kouyan's attention was entirely on Qiao Suinian, and he didn't notice Shi Yushan behind Qiao Suinian at all. As soon as he saw him, he was immediately stunned and knelt down to kowtow and beg for mercy. He then launched a series of incredibly smooth attacks.

"Lord Yushan, please forgive me. I was blind and did not recognize you. Please spare my life!"

"Oh, stop banging your head! I rescued Shi Yushan, and I'm just about to send him back to Baili Pavilion!" Qiao Suinian immediately started to deceive people.

"Huh? Really?" Li Kouyan was somewhat skeptical.

"Of course it's true. What good would it do me to lie to you? Lead the way."