"Young lady, my grandson hasn't eaten for days. Please give him some food. I'm willing to do anything to repay your life-saving grace."
"..."
The refugees looked on with hope, like demons from hell seeing the sun.
Holding broken earthen bowls, with outstretched, skeletal hands, they begged, pleaded, and wept incessantly…
If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, Qin Yuezhao would never have imagined that the people of Great Wei and Great Liang were also living a life worse than death.
Chen Wan'er stood closely behind Qin Yue Zhao, gripping her sword hilt warily, worried that there might be spies or assassins among the refugees.
Just then, an old man suddenly rolled his eyes and collapsed to the ground.
Qin Yue Zhao was startled and quickly grabbed his arm, urging Chen Wan'er, "Wan'er, hurry, give me the kettle."
Chen Wan'er cautiously examined the old man, and only after confirming that there was no danger did she take the water bag from her waist and hand it to him.
This deerskin water bag was a relic of General Huo, and it held great significance for Qin Yuezhao.
But she still opened the stopper without hesitation and brought it to the old man's mouth.
As if he had smelled moisture, the old man suddenly opened his eyes and eagerly drank half a bag of water.
When he regained his strength, he looked at the two of them with red eyes.
"Gentlemen, thank you so much for saving my life!"
Qin Yuezhao shook her head and asked with concern, "Old man, where did you come from?"
The old man's voice gradually choked up, and he sighed deeply.
"I came from Daliang. I came here as soon as I saw the notice posted by Princess Da Gan at the city gate. We traveled day and night for almost half a month."
"More than half a month? They went from Daliang to Dacheng in one go?"
Qin Yue Zhao frowned as she glanced at the old man's bloodied and mangled toes.
As the old man spoke, he suddenly burst into tears.
"We're not even that far yet, there's always someone further away, but most people die on the way..."
"Heavens above! What kind of world is this? It's so miserable! We beg all the way here, and when we can't get anything, we dig up tree bark and grass roots."
“There’s only one mountain, and they can eat it all up in half a day! My poor granddaughter was so hungry that she secretly grabbed mud to eat. When she died, her fingernails and intestines were full of mud.”
"Good! It's good to be dead. At least I won't have to suffer anymore..."
The old man cried until he was completely exhausted. Unable to sit still, he leaned against the tree trunk, panting heavily.
Chen Wan'er stood to the side, her eyes uncontrollably reddening, unaware that tears were streaming down her face.
She already knew that there was a severe drought across the land and that the nine kingdoms were all in dire need of help.
Unexpectedly, the lightheartedness of other countries was just as horrifying as the inferno.
Qin Yue Zhao looked at the old man and silently pursed her lips.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
