After helping Dugu Bo resolve his backlash, Qian Lingche had nothing else to do, so he decided to take a stroll.
He wandered through the streets of Nuoding City, where vendors' calls rose and fell along both sides of the road.
He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over the busy vendors and passersby. Their faces were lit with contented smiles, as though all the troubles of life had been cast aside for the moment.
Qian Lingche let out a soft sigh, a complex feeling stirring in his heart.
For people like them, this kind of life was too far out of reach.
Yet as he walked among these ordinary people, he suddenly felt a peace and warmth he had not known for a long time.
"So this is the happiness of ordinary people," he murmured, a faint smile lifting the corners of his mouth.
But the calm did not last. His gaze gradually turned distant, his thoughts drifting far away.
The two great empires were at war. Though the flames of battle had yet to reach a remote town like Nuoding City, who could guarantee that this peace would last?
Once the war spread, these ordinary people's happy lives would be destroyed in an instant, their smiles replaced by fear and despair.
Qian Lingche's attention was suddenly caught by a stall.
It was laden with all sorts of food, fragrant aromas filling the air. The rich scent of red chili oil and Sichuan pepper wafted toward him.
The sign read: Spicy Rabbit Meat, Spicy Rabbit Heads, Spicy Rabbit Legs, and Spicy Rabbit Skewers.
He raised an eyebrow, curiosity flashing in his eyes.
He had always been particular about his food and had never tried this kind of street snack.
But now, the rich aroma made it hard to resist.
He walked over to the stall. The vendor was a middle-aged man with a warm smile. As soon as he saw Qian Lingche approach, he called out:
"Young man, come have a taste! Our spicy rabbit is the best in Nuoding City. I guarantee you'll want more!"
Qian Lingche looked over the food at the stall and asked curiously, "Did you make all this yourself?"
The vendor thumped his chest proudly. "Of course! My family's been making it for generations. This spicy rabbit meat uses more than a dozen spices and a secret recipe. I guarantee you'll remember the taste!"
"And every rabbit is a Soft Bone Rabbit Soul Beast that's over ten years old."
Qian Lingche nodded, picked up a skewer of spicy rabbit meat, and took a small bite.
In an instant, the spicy flavor burst across his tongue. The kick of the chili and the numbing tingle of the Sichuan pepper mingled, waking his taste buds.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, satisfaction flashing in them. "Not bad."
Qian Lingche took ten Gold Soul Coins from his sleeve and tossed them to the vendor. "Keep the change."
The vendor caught the coins, his eyes widening as disbelief filled his face. "Th-this is too much! You've paid far too much. My whole stall isn't worth that much!"
Qian Lingche shook his head. "Your skill is worth the price. Take it, and say no more."
Seeing how pleased Qian Lingche was, the vendor beamed even more brightly. "Glad you like it! Want to try some rabbit heads, too? They're our most popular item!"
Qian Lingche glanced at the spicy rabbit heads on the stall, considered for a moment, then nodded. "All right. Pack up a serving for me."
The vendor quickly packed up a serving of spicy rabbit heads and handed it to Qian Lingche. "Take care, sir! Come again!"
Qian Lingche took the bag and turned away from the stall.
As he walked, he continued sampling the food in his hand, a faint smile on his lips.
Suddenly, a loud crash came from behind him, followed by an angry demand: "How could you kill these rabbits!"
Qian Lingche stopped, frowning slightly as he turned toward the sound.
The spicy rabbit heads, legs, and meat from the stall lay scattered across the ground. Pots, bowls, and ladles had been smashed and strewn everywhere, while broth and seasonings splashed across the street.
The vendor was stunned by the sudden turn of events. He asked in disbelief, "Young lady, what are you doing?"
A little girl in a blue school uniform stood before the stall, glaring furiously at the vendor, tears glimmering in her eyes.
From her clothes, she seemed to be a student at nearby Nuoding Academy.
She was still holding a fluffy white rabbit in her arms, clearly outraged by the appearance of all that spicy rabbit meat.
Taken aback by her sudden accusation, the vendor hurried to explain, "Miss, I caught these rabbits in the wild. They're Soul Beasts I hunted for ingredients, not domesticated rabbits!"
At this, the little girl grew even angrier, her voice rising several octaves. "So it's fine to kill Soul Beasts whenever you want? Rabbits are living creatures, too! They feel pain and fear! How can you be so cruel?"
Her outburst drew the attention of the passersby. Quite a few stopped to watch.
Her accusation left the vendor awkward and helpless. "Little girl, this... this is how we humans live. If you don't eat meat, does that mean no one else can?"
Just then, a little boy dressed the same way came running over.
The moment he saw what was happening, he stepped in front of the girl without a word, shielding her as he watched the vendor warily. His voice carried a trace of coldness. "What are you trying to do to her?"
The vendor was flustered by the sudden accusation and quickly waved his hands. "Young man, you've got it wrong! I haven't done anything. This young lady suddenly came over and demanded to know why I killed rabbits. I was just explaining!"
The little girl turned around, hurt and angry. Her voice choked slightly. "Xiao San, how could he do this? Rabbits are so cute. How could they bear to..."
Standing not far away, Qian Lingche had seen the whole thing. Even with his excellent upbringing, the corner of his mouth still twitched.
He walked over and looked calmly at the little girl. "This is how he makes a living. Why shouldn't he?"
At that, the little girl whipped around. "His way of making a living? Does that mean you can take other lives whenever you want, just to survive? Rabbits have feelings, too. They feel pain and fear!"
Qian Lingche froze for a moment at her words. Could a human actually say something like that?
"The strong prey on the weak. That's the law of this world. Soul Beasts prey on humans, after all. Isn't that simply the law of nature?"
The little girl was struck speechless by his retort. She could only bite her lip tightly, pain flashing in her eyes.
The onlookers began murmuring among themselves.
A middle-aged man frowned and pointed at the little girl. "Is something wrong with that girl? Making such a fuss over a few rabbits, and now she's stopped the vendor from doing business."
A woman nearby chimed in. "Exactly. The vendor's just roasting rabbits and selling the meat. It's a perfectly respectable business. What does she think she's doing, causing a scene like this?"
An old man beside them shook his head, a trace of helplessness in his voice. "Sigh, young people these days are so emotional. They never stop to think about other people's troubles."
Hearing the comments, the little girl's face paled, hurt flashing in her eyes. She opened her mouth to defend herself, but the little boy gently took her hand.
Qian Lingche was just about to help the vendor set the stall upright when he caught a fleeting glint of cold light in the little boy's hand.