Back then, he had thought these people were nothing more than the most insignificant cannon fodder in troubled times.
Now that he looked again, they were just a group of starving children.
Saina sat atop her horse, looking at the youngest, Snotnose.
"Su Li, they're starving."
Su Li said nothing.
Elena finally lowered her head to glance at them, snorting through her nose.
"A bunch of beggars."
Su Li swung down from his horse.
His movement startled the little brats, and they all took two steps back in unison.
Skinny Monkey held his wooden stick across his chest. His fingers were trembling badly, but he didn't run.
Su Li crouched down, meeting Skinny Monkey's gaze at eye level.
"Robbery isn't a job for you."
"None of your business!" Skinny Monkey craned his neck defiantly.
Su Li took a cloth bag from his Space Ring and opened it. Inside were several coarse flatbreads left over from noon, along with two salted dried fish.
Snotnose's eyes instantly glued themselves to the cloth bag.
Su Li set the bag on the ground.
The children stared at the food, their throats bobbing up and down, but none of them dared reach for it first.
Skinny Monkey stared hard at Su Li.
"What are you trying to do?"
"They're for you." Su Li stood up. "Take them and eat."
Skinny Monkey hesitated for three seconds before snatching up the bag. He retreated several steps before opening it and peeking inside.
After confirming that it really was food, he tore off a piece of flatbread and stuffed it into his mouth, passing the bag behind his back at the same time.
The children pounced on it, fighting over the food like a pack of starving wolves. Snotnose grabbed a dried salted fish and clutched it in