Shimo City.
It was a city situated in the desert, and compared to the cities inside the empire, it exuded a more unadorned and solid air.
The earthen walls, bathed in a constant assault of wind-blown sand over the years, looked mottled and desolate, bearing the marks of time.
At the city gate stood two figures—one old, one young.
The old man was dressed in plain blue clothing. His weathered, timeworn face was calm and unruffled, though a broad scar lent him a somewhat fierce appearance. The young man, clad in a black robe, had a handsome face, dignified brows, and an indifferent expression.
"Xiao Bai, what do we do next?"
Hai Bodong, his eyes murky, looked at Xiao Bai. Although he had drawn the map himself, he had only marked a rough area. The Tagor Desert was vast, and without a precise location or any special means, the two of them alone wouldn't know when—or even if—they'd find it.
"Let's find an inn to stay for the night. Tomorrow, we'll head in the direction you indicated and take a look," Xiao Bai said after a moment's thought. He reasoned that the matter could not be rushed. If Heavenly Flame were that easy to come by, he wouldn't have waited all these years for the chance to obtain it.
As for Xiao Ding and Xiao Li of the Mo Iron Mercenary Corps in the city, he had no intention of seeking them out. In the original story, it wasn't clear why they ventured out, but in this timeline, Xiao Bai knew all too well that their departure was entirely his doing.
Ever since he had given Xiao Yan a good thrashing, the two had come to Xiao Bai in a fury, intent on finding a fight in defense of their brother. Their personalities were somewhat complementary—one impulsive and ruthless, the other underhanded and cunning. Outwardly, one challenged Xiao Bai in the name of righteousness, but in reality, they merely wanted to beat him up. The other, even more vicious, schemed behind his back, accusing him of arrogance and of looking down on everyone in the family.
In the end, however, they were too immature in Xiao Bai's eyes.
Xiao Bai didn't suffer much from their schemes, treating it as a way to pass the time. But these two were stubborn. When one attempt failed, they immediately tried again. Xiao Bai eventually grew tired of their antics.
Finally, unable to tolerate it any longer, Xiao Bai staged a public scene in front of the entire Xiao family, portraying the family head's son as someone who couldn't tolerate those without Xiao blood. This nearly caused a rift between the Xiao family and their retainers and guards, severely damaging the family's cohesion.
Ultimately, with no other option, Xiao Zhan and the family elders had to send the two out of the family. One reason was to let things cool down, and the other was to quell the growing discontent.
They had promised to return after a few months, yet once they left, they never came back. It's been over three years now, hasn't it?
As Xiao Bai reminisced, he recalled how Xiao Li, before leaving, had confronted him with bloodshot eyes and hurled a string of threats. Xiao Bai shook his head, stroking his chin, and thought with amusement:
"Tsk tsk... I wonder if these two have grown at all after all these years away."
Walking along the streets of Shimo City, the originally bluestone-paved ground now showed only the occasional hue of stone blue, covered by a thick layer of yellow sand.
The passersby exuded a rugged aura, with a faint scent of blood lingering in the air. These mercenaries had seen blood and lived on the edge, making them seem even more formidable compared to the mercenaries from Qingshan Town.
"Ah!" A faint cry reached Xiao Bai's ears.
This was followed by a burst of angry shouting: "Get out of the way, you filthy wretch! A dirty-blooded little brat, how dare you block my way!"
Xiao Bai turned toward the sound and saw a burly man, shirtless and covered in scars, with a face full of hostility. He was holding a terrified little girl by the scruff of her neck like a chicken, about to toss her aside.
Just as the little girl's head was about to collide with a set of stone steps not far off, Xiao Bai took two quick steps, caught her, and gently set her down.
The little girl's fear had not yet dissipated. Seeing that she wasn't crashing heavily to the ground this time but rather feeling someone catch her, she felt a sense of panic mixed with curiosity. She couldn't help but glance at the man in the black robe beside her, her voice barely audible as she timidly said, "Thank you!"
After speaking, she noticed the disgusted gazes around her, along with the loud curses from the burly man, and instinctively crouched down, hugging her knees, burying her little head between her legs, bracing herself for the usual beating.
Looking around at the hateful and fearful stares from the crowd, and then glancing at the little girl crouched beside him, her frail body trembling incessantly, Xiao Bai vaguely guessed her identity.
"Heh~ It's this dirty little thing again, a cursed sinner. How dare she even live in this world!"
"Right! I heard her mother died six months ago because of the curse she carries. How dare she still wander around? Wouldn't it be better to find a quiet place and end it herself? She's just harming herself and others!"
"I'm curious how she's survived these past six months. No one in Shimo City would be willing to take her in!"
"I heard that Xue Lan from the Mo Iron Mercenary Corps felt sorry for her and let her do some sewing and laundry, giving her a few copper coins each time. Tsk, tsk, Xue Lan isn't afraid of the filth! Not afraid of being cursed to death by her!"
"What a shame, though. Xue Lan is so sexy and hot. If she were cursed to death like this, what a waste. If it were me... heh, heh, heh!"
The burly man, still not satisfied with his earlier actions, seemed to be preparing to approach and continue beating the little girl.
Hearing the discussions around him, Xiao Bai looked down at the little girl, who was still crouching, hugging her knees, and trembling. He sighed in pity.
He had noticed earlier that the little girl's movements were quick and practiced, almost like an instinctual response, which clearly indicated that this was not the first time something like this had happened.
"Get lost!" A voice filled with Soul Power echoed through the street.
The crowd, who had been watching and chatting, suddenly felt dizzy, their bodies trembling slightly as they turned toward the source of the voice—the white-haired, black-robed youth.
"Within three breaths, anyone still here will die!"
The murderous intent in the voice made everyone freeze. Their breaths caught in their throats, eyes wide with fear. The sheer power of the command was nearly overwhelming.
These mercenaries, who had spent their lives on the edge of death, were experts in sensing danger. Realizing they couldn't afford to provoke this man, they quickly scattered, almost growing extra legs in their haste to flee.
"Heh~ Looks like there really are some who aren't afraid of death. Since you seek death, I'll grant your wish!"
Xiao Bai sneered as he looked at the burly man who had been approaching the little girl.
The man stood frozen, unmoving, his originally fierce, broad face now extremely pale. Inside, he was on the verge of tears, unable to move even though he desperately wanted to. Just as he thought of turning and leaving after hearing the black-robed youth's command, he suddenly felt as if some heavy pressure had been placed upon him. His feet wouldn't budge even a single step.
Xiao Bai didn't pay him any more attention for now. He looked down at the little girl, who had cautiously lifted her head, peering around like a frightened little deer.
Bending down, he whispered gently, "Get up. As long as I'm here, no one will hurt you."
The little girl, hearing his words, glanced at him timidly. Seeing that his face was somewhat stern but his eyes were warm with a smile, and his voice soft, she immediately felt a sense of relief. She stood up slowly.
At that moment, Xiao Bai noticed that she was tightly clutching a paper bag in her arms, the opening of which was covered in yellow sand, as if she was holding something precious.