A Fine Melodrama of Misery

At dusk, the rain stopped. The air filled with the fresh scent of earth, leaving one feeling refreshed.

"Brother Wu, you solo-killed a High-level Soul Elder. You've already exceeded the requirements of the training mission. You should receive an extra reward when we return. So, have you decided what you want?"

Wu Qi shook his head. "Cultivation is for self-improvement, not for rewards."

"We haven't made any contributions to Spirit Hall. We've merely benefited from the glory of our elders, and we've already received more than enough."

"Besides, this matter was nothing worth mentioning to me. There's no need to claim credit for it."

Listening to his humblebragging, Qiangu Changkong couldn't help rolling his eyes.

If it had been him, he definitely wouldn't have been so modest. What was the point of having strength if he didn't show it off?

If Wu Qi knew what he was thinking, he would surely reply, "Kid, you haven't been beaten down by society yet."

What had Spirit Hall become internally?

Did he really think Bibi Dong wouldn't dare make a move if he flaunted himself everywhere?

For them right now, keeping a low profile and steadily growing stronger was the best choice.

Before they possessed sufficient strength, wandering around in front of Bibi Dong was practically asking to die.

After entering the Inner City, the two of them encountered no inspections.

Following the intense battle earlier, they urgently needed to replenish their strength.

As they entered a restaurant, Qiangu Changkong couldn't help asking, "By the way, where does the food here come from?"

Logically speaking, Death Canyon's environment wasn't suitable for growing crops, nor were there many soul beasts.

Yet the restaurants could provide plenty of rice and meat. It was worth thinking about.

Wu Qi was somewhat helpless. Qiangu Changkong seemed particularly fond of conspiracy theories.

Wasn't the situation here obvious? Spirit Hall must have supplied the food.

And wasn't the environment in the City of Slaughter even harsher than this? Didn't they still have food and drink there?

Spirit Hall provided food for such places precisely to maintain stability and prevent these criminals from harming the continent.

Before long, the Shop Assistant brought their dishes over.

After only a few bites, they heard someone begging outside.

Turning around, they saw a mother with her mute child, tearfully praying for the charity of passersby.

Qiangu Changkong was somewhat moved. "A mother raising her child alone in a place like this can't have it easy. What are those people in the hall doing? Could they have made a mistake?"

As he pondered, the other diners in the restaurant began discussing it.

What they mentioned most was that Spirit Hall had wrongly judged the mother and son, resulting in their exile here.

To survive while waiting to be vindicated, the mother could only take her child out to beg.

Wu Qi tilted his head and carefully examined the mother.

She appeared flawless, no different from an ordinary beggar.

Yet her mute son behind her had panic and fear written in his eyes.

His intuition told him there was something wrong with the mother and son, but he couldn't see what it was for the moment.

Holding out her bowl, the mother approached their table. Qiangu Changkong directly emptied a plate of meat into her bowl.

"Thank you, benefactors."

As she spoke, the mother kowtowed to them.

Qiangu Changkong helped her up, while Wu Qi remained unmoved.

A few minutes later, the mother and son left. Qiangu Changkong couldn't help asking, "Brother Wu, what's wrong? You seem distracted. Did you think of something?"

Wu Qi frowned. "Do you think a female beggar could live safely for so long? And judging by what the other diners said, this mother and son have been begging here for quite some time."

Qiangu Changkong didn't understand. "Isn't that normal? Aren't there female beggars in Spirit City too, entering the city to beg because of famine?"

Wu Qi shook his head. "How could that be the same?"

Spirit City was, after all, a city with sound laws, and Pope Hall was located there. Ordinary people wouldn't dare act recklessly within the city.

But what kind of place was this?

Death Canyon was a paradise of sin.

If he wanted to, he could rape a woman in the street and no one would care. Some might even applaud. Of course, that was assuming he wasn't killed by the woman instead.

Besides, the current Spirit Hall's power had not yet fully fallen into the hands of the madwoman Bibi Dong. How could wrongful convictions so easily happen to a mother and son?

If they hadn't been wrongly convicted, then they had to be putting on an act.

Once all the wrong possibilities had been eliminated, whatever remained, no matter how absurd, was the truth.

Even after hearing his analysis, Qiangu Changkong still didn't believe it. He lowered his voice and said, "Forget it. Let's go back and ask about it later."

After their meal, the two had barely stepped out of the restaurant when the mother approached them on her own.

Qiangu Changkong froze. "You didn't eat enough? How about I order another portion for you to take back?"

The mother hurriedly said, "No, no, no. Benefactors, you must have only just arrived here, right?"

"If you don't have anywhere to stay, I can recommend an inn for you."

"Please don't misunderstand. The innkeeper is a good person. He has me help bring in customers, and he rewards my child and me with food."

"Two benefactors, would that be alright?"

Qiangu Changkong seemed convinced that the mother and son had been wronged. Since he could help them, he naturally stepped in.

The Woman led the way ahead, passing through several alleys until they reached a secluded area.

Not far from them stood the signboard of an inn.

Along the way, they heard sounds of fighting within the city. Yet on the route the Woman led them through, they had encountered almost no danger.

Just as they were about to reach the inn, Wu Qi suddenly stopped. "What a fine melodrama of misery. Too bad you gave yourself away."

The Woman turned around and asked blankly, "Benefactor, what are you talking about?"

"What's going on?" Even Qiangu Changkong didn't understand what he meant.

Wu Qi sneered. "In this paradise of sin, a mother with a child wouldn't survive half a day here."

"I'm guessing plenty of people have lusted after you. Too bad those fools underestimated you. You've probably scattered even their ashes by now."

Now that he had exposed her, the panic on the Woman's face instantly vanished, replaced by a cold smile. "Since you're so clever, leave behind your Gold Badges and I'll spare your lives."

Qiangu Changkong's mouth fell open. Everything seemed to have unfolded exactly as Wu Qi said.

"Tell me, how did you figure it out?" Wu Qi asked instead.

The Woman sneered. "Those exiled here can barely look after themselves. Who would have the spare thought to give charity to others?"

"Heh. You're so fearless. Other than Trainees, what other identity could you possibly have?"

Just as I thought.

She had staged a melodrama of misery to select targets from the crowd.

He had to admit, this woman had some brains.

If he hadn't remained vigilant, he would probably have fallen for it long ago.

Wu Qi spread his hands. "Too bad you guessed wrong."

"We sneaked in to search for certain Medicinal Herbs. We don't have the badges you mentioned."

"Clearly, you don't believe me. So I suppose a fight is unavoidable."

Refusing to admit they were Trainees was the bottom line. Who knew how many ears were listening in the shadows?

Once they admitted it, wouldn't they face pursuit every day for the next twenty-nine days?