Redemption

What is that?

Jing Hongchen pondered for a moment before it clicked; wasn't that the small town where they had stayed earlier?

Besides, it was the only place with any sign of human life in the vicinity.

Something had happened.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he said to Xu Lanqing:

"Your Highness, there is something wrong with the town we stayed in earlier. It seems an incident has occurred."

Xu Lanqing was startled. He looked ahead, but the world remained a vast, white expanse with no visible changes.

However, Jing Hongchen was a Title Douluo whose perception was far superior to his own; it was only natural that he couldn't see what the elder could.

He remembered that Juzi was likely still in the town, and his expression shifted. He said anxiously, "Hurry over there and take a look! Saving people is the priority!"

As for whether Jing Hongchen was telling the truth, he had no reason to doubt him; there was no benefit in lying.

Jing Hongchen and Zheng Zhan nodded, and their speed surged once more. Xu Lanqing almost lost his footing, showing that they were moving at full power.

"What exactly happened?" Xu Lanqing asked, puzzled.

Jing Hongchen kept his eyes fixed ahead, as if that would help him see the situation more clearly.

He shook his head: "I don't know, but looking at the situation, it seems to be something like a bandit raid."

"Bandits in this freezing weather? This is the only town for hundreds of miles. If there were really bandits here, they wouldn't survive the year, would they?"

Xu Lanqing's eyes were filled with skepticism, but then he suddenly thought of something:

"Could it be the work of Evil Soul Masters? Didn't two Title Douluo-level Evil Soul Masters escape earlier?"

"If it were Evil Soul Masters, there wouldn't be any commotion left behind; the people in the town would simply be dead," Jing Hongchen dismissed the idea.

Xu Lanqing's mouth twitched: "That's true."

However, he felt slightly more at ease. This meant Juzi's chances of survival were likely high; after all, her mother was a Soul King, so holding out for a while shouldn't be a problem.

"By the way, where are Elder Ye and the others? We haven't seen them for so long," he suddenly asked.

"His Majesty has already urgently summoned them to the battlefield. It seems the fighting on the front lines has suddenly intensified, and they are short on manpower," Jing Hongchen replied.

Xu Lanqing nodded. These matters were too far removed from him, so he didn't ask anything further.

He looked ahead, hoping they would be in time.

Ten minutes later.

As the distance closed, even Xu Lanqing could see the billowing black smoke rising into the sky.

His nose seemed to catch the faint, lingering scent of something burning in the air.

"Go straight to the Juzi Barbecue shop!" Xu Lanqing pressed his lips together.

"Understood!" Jing Hongchen raised an eyebrow and agreed without hesitation.

"Screech--"

Like a shooting star chasing the moon, their extreme speed was accompanied by a sharp, prolonged sound.

Flickering flames, thick black smoke, and dust—the peaceful little town had been reduced to ruins.

Corpses were scattered everywhere along the dilapidated streets, and hardly any living figures could be seen moving about.

Inside the Juzi Barbecue shop.

Tables and chairs had been overturned, the floor was splattered with fresh blood, and signs of destruction were everywhere; it was a complete mess.

In the kitchen, a beautiful woman stood covered in blood, leaning on an iron sword for support. She was gasping for air like someone drowning, her soul power aura weak as she glared coldly at the figures surrounding her.

There were three burly men with bloodthirsty auras, wearing identical uniforms that looked like military gear, though it was unclear which legion they belonged to.

Greedy, lecherous smiles plastered their faces as they looked at the woman, who was a rare beauty even to them. They licked their lips, their eyes filled with lustful glints.

"Never thought we'd run into such a prize, brothers. We're in for a treat today!"

"You said it. I've been bored to death. Let's have some fun today, heh heh."

"Hahaha!"

"This little lady is so delicate, don't go breaking her too soon. I still want to have my turn."

"Hurry up, I can't hold it in anymore."

Filthy words spilled from their mouths as they circled the woman like cats playing with a mouse, their faces twisted in mocking expressions.

"Pah!"

Lin Rou spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground, her eyes filled with disdain as she looked at them.

"A bunch of scum. You think you're worthy of touching me!"

"It seems you still don't understand your situation. Let me teach you a lesson, brothers—all together now," one of the burly men said with a sinister grin.

The three men pressed forward slowly toward Lin Rou, their white, yellow, yellow, purple, and purple Soul Rings manifesting. All three were Soul Kings.

Lin Rou gripped the iron sword in her hand tightly as five Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, and black—floated around her.

She cast a calm, sidelong glance at the ground not far away, her eyes filled with reluctance, before raising her sword and charging forward.

Underground.

Juzi was hiding in the cellar where ingredients were stored in the kitchen. Her small face was pale, and her palms were pressed tightly over her lips, not daring to make even the slightest sound. Her large eyes were fixed on the pitch-black, seamless door of the cellar, and tears slid down her face in silence.

She could faintly hear the sounds of fighting outside, along with the mocking voices that the devil-like men let out from time to time.

Her heart sank into endless panic, and she stood there motionless, like a beautiful, still sculpture.

What should I do?

What am I supposed to do?

Should I rush out and face this with my mother, or keep hiding here?

Is there anyone who can help me?

Her fingernails dug into her cheeks without her realizing it, and drops of scarlet blood began to flow, yet she seemed completely unaware.

She hated her own weakness, and she hated war even more. War had taken her father, and now it was going to take her mother, while she could only hide here in fear, not even daring to make a sound.

She wanted to rush out just like that, but her feet felt as if they were filled with lead; she couldn't move at all. Faced with death, she shamefully cowered in place.

Fear. Hesitation.

At this moment, her mind felt thick and chaotic, like paste.

"Ugh--"

A low groan of pain struck her mind like a thunderclap, and she suddenly snapped back to reality.

Without a second thought, she didn't even know how she had rushed out; she only knew that she was standing in front of her mother, her arms spread wide, her Martial Soul, the Orange, held in her hands.

"Why... why did you come out... didn't I tell you to stay there and never come out..." Lin Rou said bitterly.

"Because you are my mother. I have already lost my father, and I don't want to lose my mother too. Even if it means death, we will face it together.

If I just stood by and did nothing, I would never be able to forgive myself, and I would live in a nightmare forever."

Juzi turned her head to say this, a relaxed smile on her blood-stained face.

"You silly child..."

"Hahahaha!"

The lecherous glint in the eyes of the burly man in military uniform grew even more intense, and he couldn't help but laugh lewdly.

"I didn't expect a bonus. The little girl is quite cute; you two are truly mother and daughter."

"Boom--"

A loud roar echoed, and immediately after, a large hole suddenly appeared in the roof. White snowflakes drifted in, and following them came a voice that sounded slightly youthful.

"If you're so eager to mate, I don't mind finding a few sows for you. Wait, no, finding sows would be an insult to them. How about you just satisfy yourselves? What do you think?"

Juzi stared blankly upward at the large hole. The owner of that voice seemed to be stepping on golden light, like a god of salvation.