The cacophony of sounds continued for a long time. In the midst of it, Qin Fang tried to sit up, but his body was terribly weak. He didn't have an ounce of Strength, and his stomach started to rumble…
He was hungry again.
And why wouldn't he be?
He hadn't eaten a thing for several days straight. The only exception was a few bowls of thin sorghum porridge the night before last, after which he had collapsed from illness.
He hadn't had a single grain of rice or a drop of water all day yesterday.
His condition had been so terrible yesterday that the pain had overshadowed the hunger.
Now that he was feeling slightly better, the hunger came roaring back.
Though it was a struggle, he forced himself to sit up. The movement tugged painfully at the wounds on his waist and left shoulder, and he winced, his brow furrowed in a tight knot.
The simple act of sitting upright left him panting for breath, his forehead beaded with sweat.
The movement stirred up a foul, sour stench from his own body... Even Qin Fang himself couldn't help but wrinkle his nose in disgust.
He looked down. His hands were still caked in black grime. Clearly, while his rescuers had saved him, they hadn't bothered to wash him.
He had sweated profusely yesterday as well. It hadn't been so bad when he was lying still, but the moment he moved, the stench billowed up.
The stench coming off him now… you could probably smell it from thirty feet away.
His straw sandals were gone. He looked down, but there were no shoes under the bed. Just as he was frowning, the door creaked open.
"Holy shit, what's that smell?"
A young voice rang out.
Qin Fang looked up to see two young men entering the room. They were about his age and dressed in coarse-spun clothes.
One of them caught the scent the moment he stepped inside. His expression changed instantly, and he reflexively covered his nose and mouth.
The other, who seemed slightly older and more composed, simply frowned as they both looked into the room.
They immediately spotted Qin Fang sitting on the bed. The one covering his nose and mouth gasped, "A refugee?!"
Qin Fang said nothing, merely watching them, his own guard rising.
His eyes flicked to the tray one of them was holding, which held some food. 'They must be the ones Old Wu sent to bring me a meal,' he realized at once.
"Why is there a refugee in the hall?"
The youth with his hand over his mouth exclaimed again in disbelief.
The other youth seemed more composed, but his eyes, too, were filled with wariness and alarm.
Qin Fang remembered what Old Wu had said and immediately understood. 'This is the fallout from the refugee riots.'
'The situation must be serious… Otherwise, these two boys wouldn't have such an extreme reaction to seeing me.'
After their initial shock, their gazes settled on him, their eyes filled with undisguised wariness and loathing.
Qin Fang spoke, his voice hoarse. "Did Elder Wu send you to bring me food? Thank you both… I nearly died yesterday. I'm lucky Elder Wu was able to save me."
Qin Fang's sudden words startled them both.
'Nearly died yesterday and was saved by Elder Wu?'
'That means… he definitely didn't take part in the riots.'
'Besides, looking at the state he's in, it's not like he could have participated in anything.'
After exchanging a glance, the two still didn't show Qin Fang any kindness. They did, however, step inside and place the tray on a small table that held an oil lamp.
Then, without a word, they turned to leave.
But just then, Qin Fang spoke up. "Please, wait a moment."
The two youths stopped instinctively. Frowning, they turned back to Qin Fang. The more outspoken one made no effort to hide the disgust in his eyes. "What do you want now?"
"Elder Wu mentioned to me earlier… I heard some refugees caused a disturbance and that many people were hurt?"
Qin Fang had barely started the sentence when the youth cut him off with a cold snort, his voice dripping with venom. "You people suffer a disaster, you flee here, and we, the people of True Martial, kindly take you in. We didn't expect you to be ungrateful, that would be one thing, but to riot and injure our people! And you have the nerve to ask about it?!"
He was clearly furious.
The words died in Qin Fang's throat.
Still, Qin Fang understood the sentiment.
Even in his past life, there was plenty of regional prejudice.
It was even more to be expected in an era with such limited travel and communication.
The refugees had suddenly rioted for some unknown reason, throwing True Martial County into chaos and even causing casualties. As residents of True Martial County, it was only natural for them to loathe him, another refugee.
If he were in their shoes, a resident of True Martial County himself, he would likely feel the same subconscious disgust and wariness toward other refugees.
"I'm sorry. I truly didn't know," Qin Fang said, apologizing directly.
Seeing Qin Fang apologize so readily, both youths were taken aback.
Their expressions didn't soften, but they didn't say anything more to him either. With another snort, the two of them left.
They never did answer any more of his questions.
Qin Fang knew they wouldn't tell him anything anytime soon. 'They're too busy hating my guts to talk to me.'
'But first time strangers, second time acquaintances. If I keep talking to them, they'll eventually realize I'm not a threat and might be more willing to speak with me.'
His gaze fell on the tray on the table. Forgetting about his lack of shoes, he stepped onto the floor and walked over, his feet still wrapped in gauze.
A jolt of pain shot through the soles of his feet as they touched the ground… but it was much more bearable than before.
He let out a soft breath and reached the table. The food on the tray wasn't anything special—just a simple bowl of porridge with two steamed buns and a couple of small dishes of salted vegetables.
And yet, simple as it was, Qin Fang couldn't stop himself from swallowing hard…
'How long has it been since I've eaten solid food?'
He didn't hesitate. He snatched a steamed bun and began to devour it, alternating bites with mouthfuls of porridge and salted vegetables.
In no time, he had polished off every last scrap of food.
They had been thoughtful enough to leave water as well. He gulped down the entire pot. GLUG. GLUG. GLUG. Only then did Qin Fang let out a long, contented sigh.
'It's been so long since I've felt completely full.'
The commotion outside was still ongoing. Qin Fang hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided against leaving the room rashly.
'From the two boys' reactions, it's clear that the people of True Martial County have an extremely hostile attitude toward refugees right now.'
'And the shouting and wailing outside is probably all because of what the refugees did.'
'If I were to show my face out there right now, I'd immediately become a target for their anger.'
'I know the ways of those refugees all too well.'
'People driven mad by hunger are capable of a ruthlessness beyond the imagination of ordinary folk.'
'And once they've lost all their inhibitions, their actions become even more vicious than a normal person's, even when they're not starving.'
'Never mind the others… aren't I the same way?'
After his experiences as a refugee, the act of killing no longer stirred any ripples in his heart.
His mindset had shifted toward the extreme.
If it truly was a refugee riot, then the refugees would have been fighting to kill.
On the road, conflict is usually avoided. But once it starts… it's a fight to the death.
Because if you don't kill the other person, you'll be the one who ends up dead.
Once you get used to that way of thinking, you can imagine how vicious their attacks would be.
So, Qin Fang simply went back to bed, deciding not to leave the room.
After settling back down, he listened intently to the sounds from outside.
Before long, a wave of drowsiness washed over him.
'The hunger is gone, so the other symptoms are back.'
'Who knows how long it will take for this body to fully recover.'
He pressed his lips together. This was a dire situation.
Still, compared to his life on the run, this was undoubtedly far more stable.
At least he didn't have to be constantly on guard while also being constantly on the move. His situation was immeasurably better now.
The only problem was that his Dagger had been taken, probably tossed away somewhere by the members of the Iron Tiger Gang.
'I can't even practice my cultivation.'
A body like a willow catkin, a life like drifting duckweed…
That was the most direct and powerful feeling he had right now.
Filled with a heavy heart, he once again drifted into a deep sleep.