Li Ping'an

While they were talking, Li Ping'an had already opened all the cages.

Eight people stumbled out of the cage, all looking unwell—their lips were cracked, their faces were pale, and their clothes were covered in grass clippings and rust from the cage. However, they didn't have any obvious injuries, so they probably hadn't been abused.

The two adults squatted on the ground for a while before standing up. Xiao Wu took out a water pouch from her Storage Soul Tool and handed it to them.

Several children were gulping down water from their water bags. Li Ping'an squatted down beside them, gently helping them hold the bags, as if he had cared for children even younger than himself.

After the two adults recovered, they quickly bowed to Wang Xingyu and Xiao Wu, their expressions excited, repeatedly saying thank you, Lord Soul Master, as they were about to slam their knees into the ground.

Wang Xingyu reacted quickly, grabbing both of their arms and managing to keep them upright.

"No need, no need, it's just a small matter."

"Sir, what's a simple matter for you is a matter of life and death for us!" One of the middle-aged men had tears in his eyes and his voice trembled. "We almost thought we were really going to die, that the city lord was going to eat us, and that we would never be able to go home again."

Xiao Wu frowned. "Ah, are we really going to be eaten?" Although Li Ping'an had mentioned it before, it was still hard to believe.

The two middle-aged men nodded, and the other said with a wry smile, "It seems you're not from around here, sir. The whole Longxing City area is abuzz with the news that the city lord eats people. People from several neighboring villages have been captured and taken to Longxing City, and they've never come out again."

Xiao Wu then asked, "Have you contacted the Spirit Hall?"

The Spirit Hall may not be good at other things, but it's generally not bad at maintaining order.

The two middle-aged men exchanged a glance, their wry smiles deepening. "This... how dare we go looking for them?"

Wang Xingyu chimed in, "So many people know about this, the Spirit Hall Branch in Longxing City must know too. Their inaction is most likely a setup."

Xiao Wu nodded; she was just too lazy to think.

Once the children had recovered enough, there was no need to wait any longer, so the group set off.

Xiao Wu kicked the cage away, leaving only two bare car panels.

Li Ping'an and two adults carried the children onto the cart floor one by one. Without the cages, the space on the cart floor was much more spacious, and the children could squeeze together without having to cramp their arms and legs.

There were still empty seats in the other car, but that's how kids are; none of them wanted to separate from their friends, so they squeezed together tightly, one after another.

The two adults had no choice but to each sit in the driver's seat of a carriage and hold a rein.

Wang Xingyu patted the carriage floor. Why not use a horse-drawn carriage?

They walked and talked. Wang Xingyu had noticed this when he unlocked the door earlier— Li Ping'an and the group of rescued people barely exchanged words or glances. It wasn't indifference; it was more like they didn't know each other at all.

He asked directly, "Li Ping'an, aren't any of your friends inside?"

Li Ping'an shook his head. "No. They're from a few neighboring villages; we might have met once or twice."

This answer surprised Wang Xingyu. He had sensed Li Ping'an's Soul Power before—it was only at the Soul Master level.

A young man at the Soul Master level chased the convoy for such a long distance all by himself, thinking that there were people he knew or relatives among them, or at least people from the same village. But none of them were true.

Aren't you afraid of encountering danger?

Li Ping'an thought for a moment and said, "Dad said that ordinary people should unite. If you don't help others today, no one will help you when you're in trouble tomorrow. One person's strength is not enough, so help each other, and mutual help will bring strength."

Wang Xingyu was stunned for a moment.

Are they really that ideologically conscious?

Li Ping'an added, his tone brimming with self-assured confidence, "Besides, if I get caught, Dad will come to rescue me."

Xiao Wu, standing nearby, immediately became interested. "Oh? What level is your dad?"

Li Ping'an pursed his lips and shook his head. "This is a secret. I can't tell strangers." His expression was serious, but after all, he was still a teenager, and his earnestness revealed a childlike quality.

Xiao Wu was immediately intrigued and chuckled, saying, "I'm a level 51 Soul King, you know. Is your dad even more powerful than me?"

"Soul King?" Li Ping'an's eyes widened slightly.

Among ordinary people, even Soul Ancestor is considered a master, and Soul King are rarely seen.

"Yes."

Li Ping'an opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

It seems his father didn't reach level 51.

Xiao Wu suppressed a smile. The two of them had traveled for so long without encountering a single person along the way, and being able to amuse the child made them quite happy.

Wang Xingyu ignored Xiao Wu's teasing and chatted with the middle-aged man for a few more minutes.

Based on their descriptions, the situation was more complicated than he had initially thought.

The first to be captured were adult Soul Master who had cultivated and had a certain foundation in Soul Power.

Later, as more people were arrested, the remaining ones became harder to catch, so the target was broadened. Now, even children who have just awakened their Martial Soul are being arrested. However, all those who are arrested have one thing in common—they all have Innate Soul Power. Ordinary people, on the other hand, are unharmed.

Therefore, it is speculated that this Evil Soul Master can most likely absorb the opponent's Soul Power.

But it seems unnecessary to capture even newly awakened children. They only have so much Soul Power when they first awaken; it's barely enough to fill a tooth gap.

I still don't quite understand.

Two hours later, the sky was beginning to lighten. The carriage finally reached the first village, and there was no need for the two to continue following it for the rest of the journey.

Two adults jumped down from the coachman's seat, pulled several children along, and bowed to the three of them, their backs bent lower than ever before. Wang Xingyu waved his hand, leaving both carriages to them.

After the others left, only Wang Xingyu, Xiao Wu, and Li Ping'an remained.

Xiao Wu turned to Wang Xingyu: "Should we go and see what's going on with the City Lord of Longxing City?"

Wang Xingyu didn't really want to get involved. After all, everything was unknown, and there was no script.

However, the original plan was to go to Longxing City to see if there were any clues about the Goddess of Life.

Let's find a place to stay first and get some rest.

Hearing this, Li Ping'an hesitated for a moment before inviting, "Sister Huo Wu, Brother Feng Xiaotian, you two can come and stay at my house for now."

His face flushed slightly, probably because it was the first time he had ever invited a stranger to his home. After he finished speaking, he didn't know where to look.

Wang Xingyu didn't hesitate at all; in fact, it was part of his plan. "Okay."

This is a good opportunity to see what kind of person his father is.

Xiao Wu stretched and yawned. "Great! At least I don't have to sleep on tree trunks and grass anymore!"