An Encounter: A Beauty Saves a Beauty

This trip to the Far-North Icefield was different from the last journey from Martial Soul City to Golden Ear City. Since the distance was not too great, Qian Mo and the other two decided to travel on foot.

It would also give Xiao Qi some exercise.

But just because they were traveling on foot did not mean the three of them moved slowly.

On the contrary, once one possessed soul power, every aspect of a Soul Master's physical abilities could be enhanced.

There had been a part in the original story where Tang San and the others first traveled together to the Star Dou Forest. They covered several hundred li in less than half a day.

Even so, compared to two pairs of long legs, Xiao Qi's two short little legs were truly no match.

Even though the two deliberately slowed down, it still looked as though her legs were about to start smoking from how fast she swung them.

Yet Xiao Qi had no complaints whatsoever. Her little face was filled with the determination to grow stronger.

Of course, Qian Mo was no demon. Whenever they passed through a city during the journey, they would stop briefly. He used Holy Light's Grace to ease Xiao Qi's muscle fatigue and also took her around to have some fun.

After spending time together like this, smiles gradually appeared more often on Xiao Qi's formerly expressionless little face, greatly comforting Qian Mo.

After all, children ought to grow up happily. What kind of life was it to be gloomy every day?

However, in contrast, the smile on Qian Mo's face gradually faded over the course of the journey.

What kind of place was Martial Soul City? Those who knew, knew. Though it was not the capital of a nation, its prosperity was beyond question.

When he had previously traveled from Martial Soul Hall to Golden Ear City, Qian Mo had barely gotten out of the carriage because he had been in a hurry.

So although he had expected feudal-era Douluo Continent to be terrible—

"I never thought it would be rotten to this extent."

Qian Mo sighed softly, then held out a small loaf of bread to a numb-faced young man by the roadside, whose eyes had gone unfocused from hunger.

"Little guy, do you want to come with me?

"I don't know what the future will hold, but I can at least guarantee you two meals a day."

As his words fell, the skinny little boy's empty eyes seemed like parched earth moistened by rain, finally gaining a trace of life.

Someone had suddenly promised him enough food without asking for any conditions, which was certainly suspicious.

But without the slightest hesitation, the boy nodded, accepted Qian Mo's bread, and began wolfing it down.

Because before extreme hunger and despair, people had no capacity to think.

And this was only the beginning.

City after city, Qian Mo took in more and more unemployed wanderers, hiring people to send them all to Golden Ear City.

Finally, after struggling with it for a long while, Ye Lulu could not help but speak to Qian Mo.

"Qian Mo, this is useless. There are far too many people like this across the entire Douluo Continent. You can't save them all."

Qian Mo was not surprised by Ye Lulu's question.

What surprised him instead was that this usually carefree big sister had held it in for so long before trying to advise him.

As he continued walking, Qian Mo's smile returned, and he said softly,

"I know. But we are angels who protect people. Just because we know we can't save everyone, does that mean we should do nothing?"

"Teacher is amazing."

Xiao Qi praised him at just the right moment.

Ye Lulu, however, stood rooted to the spot with a stunned expression, as though Qian Mo's words had deeply shaken her.

"That's right. How could angels who protect people be satisfied with merely slaying evil?"

At the instant of this realization, Ye Lulu felt her mind ripple, as though she had broken through some kind of shackle and reached an entirely new realm.

Then Ye Lulu broke into a smile. Without paying attention to her breakthrough in spiritual power, she took quick little steps and caught up with Qian Mo again.

"Qian Mo, whatever you're planning, count me in. I want to be an angel who changes others too~"

Qian Mo did not refuse.

There had never been any need to hide this plan. The more helpers, the better. He had not mentioned it earlier because he did not want to force anyone, but if Ye Lulu wanted to join of her own accord, that was another matter.

And so, because of Qian Mo's plan to gather up the drifters, the trio's pace slowed considerably.

Several days later—

"Hahaha! Little bitch, you can't escape our grasp! Just obediently let us brothers have some fun, and maybe we'll even let you hehehehe~"

Suddenly, a burly man's lewd laughter drifted from the forest against his will.

The unexpected disturbance brought Qian Mo and the other two to a halt.

At that moment, bushes in the distance were shoved aside, and a woman with vivid flame-red hair fled out of them. Her entire body was covered in countless tiny wounds of varying sizes.

Four Soul Rings—two yellow and two purple—surrounded her, marking her as a Soul Ancestor.

When she saw Qian Mo's group, the woman froze for a moment before hurriedly shouting,

"Run! A group of bandits is chasing me!"

The instant her words fell—

The woman was already less than twenty meters away from Qian Mo and the others, while the bandits she spoke of had also emerged from the bushes.

There were three bandits in total: one Soul King and two Soul Ancestors. They were all typical commoner Soul Masters, their first Soul Rings all being white ten-year rings.

Yet despite the enormous disparity in cultivation and numbers, they had still chased this red-haired woman—a Soul Master with the optimal Soul Ring configuration—into such a desperate flight.

Seeing this, Qian Mo immediately became interested and began teaching Xiao Qi beside him.

Of course, Qian Mo was not Yu Xiaogang. He would not teach Xiao Qi that fleeing in the face of powerful enemies was some theory about unleashing all one's rings, bones, and skills at once.

Instead, he taught her seriously,

"Xiao Qi, when you are outnumbered, running away is the most unwise choice.

"Unless you are an agility-type Soul Master or your Martial Soul itself has a talent for speed, doing so only exposes your weakest point to the enemy. It is a suicidal move; the only question is how soon you die."

Xiao Qi listened and nodded seriously, indicating that she would remember it.

The red-haired woman running toward them was somewhat angered. At a time like this, why were they talking instead of running!?

"What are you muttering about!? Bad people are coming! Run!"

The red-haired woman shouted anxiously and reached out, intending to scoop up Xiao Qi and flee with this little girl who clearly could not run fast.

But Xiao Qi was Qian Mo's precious disciple. How could he let a stranger hold her? He swiftly picked Xiao Qi up first.

The red-haired woman grabbed nothing but air. She froze at first, then flew into a rage and cursed inwardly.

At a time like this, he's still making trouble for me? Is this guy insane!?

But just as the red-haired woman stopped and prepared to snatch Xiao Qi again, a scene that shocked her unfolded.

"In broad daylight, you dare to forcibly abduct a woman, and you even dare look at us with such disgusting eyes.

"I pronounce you guilty!

"Death sentence! Execute immediately!"

As Ye Lulu muttered angrily, six optimal Soul Rings swiftly appeared. Then her fourth Soul Ring lit up, and a sword of light appeared in her hand.