Every item of value in the Pegasus Caravan's store had been taken—completely cleaned out, as if someone had scraped the place three feet deep. Liu Weian, now dressed in a black robe and his face hidden behind a black scarf, entered the He family's store. Such a bandit-like appearance didn't faze the shopkeeper in the slightest. As long as you weren't there to rob them, they didn't care how you looked. And most people who came sneaking around like this were there for serious business.
The shopkeeper had a feeling this was going to be a big transaction—but when he saw the goods, he was still stunned.
Tens of thousands of flesh sacs.
All exchanged for strength seeds.
The He family's entire stock of strength seeds was wiped clean.
Then Liu Weian went to the Plum Blossom Chamber of Commerce. Aside from setting aside 1,000 gold coins, he used all his remaining money to buy strength seeds. Their store was one of the best in Stone City, and even so, they were nearly emptied out. The elder shopkeeper, who had weathered many storms, felt his heart skip a beat after receiving two massive orders in one night.
Eighteen thousand gold coins—more than most people could earn in several lifetimes.
Last stop: the courier company.
This time, Liu Weian played it smart. He transferred all the strength seeds into a one-cubic-meter spatial ring. Then, thinking twice, he also included the Tamu Bow and 500 arrows. He carefully sealed the ring and wrapped it securely. Before logging out, he retraced all his steps that night to make sure he had left no loose ends. Once satisfied, he finally logged off.
That night, as usual, he ate a few strength seeds and cultivated in silence.
—
The next day, the sun was blazing overhead.
Mars rarely had acid rain; most days were sunny. Even though it was farther from the sun than Earth, the lack of an ozone layer made it feel even hotter.
The commercial district bustled with crowds.
"Whoa, so many people!"
"Wow! What is that? A frog?"
"Oh my gosh, that dog is huge!"
"Haha! A spotted deer! I wanna take a picture with it!"
"Why does that mouse have such a huge tail?"
...
"That's a squirrel," Liu Weian said, caught off guard. Zhao Xin stuck out her tongue, a little embarrassed.
Liu Weian had sensed that World of Beasts would be particularly lively today and wisely chose not to log in. He had been under constant pressure for days. Now that he finally had a moment to breathe, he wasn't sure what to do with himself. He remembered Zhao Xin had been begging to go out and play, and he had always turned her down, saying he didn't have time. So here they were now.
The little girl hadn't seen the sun for over a month. For a child her age, that was torture—cooped up in a ten-square-meter basement with no daylight, no entertainment, no toys, no friends. Only recently had she gotten a tablet to pass the time.
Even Liu Weian found it hard to bear in hindsight—let alone a lively young girl.
Now, she was like a bird released from a cage—chirping nonstop, hopping along happily, marveling at everything she saw, asking about unfamiliar things, wanting to stop and explore anything interesting. She was no longer the frail, scabby-faced girl with messy hair and tattered clothes from a few months ago. Her hair was now neatly combed, her clothes clean and tidy. With proper nutrition, her body had begun to fill out, and most surprising of all, the red, pus-filled sores on her skin had faded. What were once red bumps the size of soybeans had shrunk to sesame-sized specks, now a light pink that looked more like freckles than anything alarming.
She had remarkably fair, smooth skin—a miracle considering her life on the streets. Her delicate features clearly came from Zhao Nannan's genes. Though still a child, she already had the makings of a beauty. Someday, she'd grow into a stunning young woman.
Cute kids always have an advantage. She touched this, picked up that, and no one said a word. Normally, unless you were planning to buy something, shopkeepers wouldn't allow people to touch merchandise. But today? No one stopped her.
Shopping was in her blood. Even at age eleven, she couldn't resist. When they passed a clothing shop, she froze in her tracks, her eyes fixed on a princess dress, a T-shirt and jeans set, and a floral sundress. Clutching the three outfits in her arms, she blinked her big eyes up at Liu Weian, full of hope.
Liu Weian ruffled her hair, then picked out two dresses for Zhao Nannan before heading to the cashier. When he checked the time, it was nearly 11 a.m., so he steered them toward the food section.
Roast suckling pig, roast duck, roast chicken—he stuffed them one by one into their bags. Lately, Liu Weian's body had been weak, and he needed high-energy foods. Zhao Xin would eat anything, as long as it tasted good. Zhao Nannan, now fully recovered, had begun cutting down on meat and switched to veggie buns and plain bread. Too bad their home had no kitchen or space—otherwise, Liu Weian would've loved to cook some real vegetables. But produce had become a luxury. He realized, with a wry smile, that it had probably been over a year since he last ate vegetables.
He also bought two crates of milk. Zhao Xin was still growing and needed the nutrition—though truth be told, he needed it too. He was seventeen by the lunar calendar but actually sixteen—born in February, now it was April. He stood at 173 cm. With better nutrition, he still had room to grow.
He had always loved basketball as a kid and admired those tall athletes who easily broke 1.8 or even 1.9 meters.
Loaded down with shopping bags, the two of them headed home. The farther they walked from the commercial district, the more desolate the buildings became. The roads cracked and crumbled, and the environment turned grim. Beggars and slaves lined the streets. Zhao Xin had fallen silent, drawing close to Liu Weian. In those people's eyes, she saw something dangerous: greed.
"Don't be afraid," Liu Weian said, patting her shoulder. It was still broad daylight. Slaves wouldn't dare try anything in public. Robbery in broad daylight left no place to run—anyone caught would be executed on the spot.
He had just spoken when a group of people appeared around the corner, blocking their path. Turning around, he saw another group behind them. Dozens of people, clothed in filthy rags that hadn't been washed in who knew how long, gave off a putrid stench. Their faces were sallow, their hair stiff with grease, their bodies nothing but skin and bones.
They were unmistakably slaves.
Zhao Xin screamed and grabbed his arm, trembling with fear.
"Don't be afraid. We mean no harm," came a voice from the front. The crowd parted to reveal a tall, sturdy man—by slave standards, practically a giant. Though his clothes were also torn, they were clean and well-kept. Standing among the others, he stood out like a crane in a flock of chickens.
His thick beard made it hard to guess his age, but judging by his voice, he couldn't be over thirty. His eyes were sharp and clear. Liu Weian noticed the man's hands—broad, calloused, with thick joints. His heart tightened. A trained fighter.
The man, seeing Liu Weian silent, spoke again. "I'm sorry we frightened you. On behalf of the Lion, I offer my apologies."
"You're the Lion?" Liu Weian finally asked.
"That's me," the man nodded.
"And what exactly is this?" Liu Weian swept his gaze over the crowd.
"Some of my brothers haven't eaten in days, so—" The Lion looked sheepish, trailing off.
"So you're here to rob us."
"No," the Lion said quickly. "To beg."
A flicker of shame passed through his eyes.
"You beg like this?" Liu Weian scoffed, pointing at the blockade.
"If you're willing to help, we'd be grateful. The Lion owes you a favor. If you refuse, we won't force you. You're free to leave." The Lion raised a hand. The slaves behind them stepped aside. The ones in front opened a path.
Liu Weian stared at the Lion, his intent to fight fading.
The Lion held his gaze, saying nothing.
"Let's go, brother," Zhao Xin whispered, tugging at his arm.
Liu Weian stepped forward. As they passed, some of the slaves stirred—but one look from the Lion, and the crowd fell still.
Just before they disappeared around the corner, the Lion sighed faintly. His face darkened.
The world's a dog-eat-dog place. There aren't many good people. In the end, you can only rely on yourself.
"Hey—remember, you owe me one," Liu Weian suddenly called out. With a flick of his wrist, a beam of golden light shot into the wall. The Lion looked closely—a gold coin, embedded perfectly in the concrete.
His heart skipped. That kind of precision required strength equal to his own. Lucky they hadn't fought.
He pressed the coin—it popped out into his hand. When he looked up again, Liu Weian and Zhao Xin were already gone.
A debt of gold will not be forgotten, the Lion vowed. To others, this coin might mean nothing. But to him, it could save lives.
—
Back home, Zhao Xin was cheerful again, eagerly trying on her new clothes. The attempted robbery was already forgotten. In fact, back when she lived with her mother, she had gone through worse—beaten more times than she could count. To her, this kind of encounter was practically routine. She even pulled out Zhao Nannan's new outfits like a treasure and insisted she try them on.
Zhao Nannan glanced at the thigh-high miniskirt, her face blank. She gave Liu Weian a look. His heart skipped. He quickly stuffed a whole roast pig into his mouth to avoid further questioning.
So life went on. With two beautiful girls at home, Liu Weian lived contentedly.
Meanwhile, in World of Beasts, the Pegasus Caravan was in chaos. Six hundred guards under Stone Demon Hand were dead, wiping out their combat power in Stone City. Their store had been robbed, with losses exceeding sixty thousand gold coins. Even for a wealthy caravan like theirs, it was a painful blow.
With their guards gone and shop looted, their foothold in Stone City was essentially erased. Only a few caravans remained—and without protection, they couldn't take big contracts. In other words, they were finished.
Their young master was dragged from a woman's bed and beaten half to death. By afternoon, thousands of Pegasus men poured into Stone City, hunting for the store's raider—and for Liu Weian and Lu Yan in particular.
They killed many. But found nothing.
That afternoon, Liu Weian's phone buzzed.
The courier had arrived.