Chapter 181: Stand Against Injustice

Wu Qingsong was braced for Daryl’s backlash, but surprisingly, despite his resentment, Daryl did what was required. He had never performed these tasks before, so he fumbled and caused minor issues. However, these tasks required little insight or wisdom. For a talented martial artist like him, they presented no real challenge, and he quickly adapted.

His compliance thwarted Wu Qingsong’s plans, but it also brought him some relief. It suggested that the boy wasn’t beyond help.

The group continued eastward, soon leaving the territory of the Silver Moon Wolf Clan and entering the lands of Baron Elyar. The road gradually saw more merchant caravans and travelers.

Due to its inland location without any mineral resources, this area’s level of prosperity was even lower than that of the Esola Hills post-insectoid calamity, and certainly much lower than the commercial cities on the southern coast. The travelers and merchant caravans on the road were few and far between. Large swathes of forest interspersed with impoverished villages dotted the landscape.

It was the season of robust crop growth, but conversely, it was also a period of scarcity. 

Hunger made the beastfolk laboring in the fields resemble lifeless zombies, dragging their heavy steps slowly, giving the impression they might collapse and die at any moment.

The villages along the road were eerily silent, almost entirely surrounded by barren mudflats. It appeared as if the rabbitfolk and mousefolk had devoured all the vegetation, sparing not even the leaves.

As they rode through, the area seemed deserted. However, whenever they stopped near a village, groups of children, skeletal as half-grown ghouls, would emerge from nowhere, extending their hands and pleading for something to eat.

Initially, Ling, Liuli, and Daryl couldn’t help but share their own rations with these children. However, they soon realized that such scenes were all too common, and their small group alone couldn’t address the widespread famine. Eventually, they took to hastening their pace through any inhabited areas and chose to rest only in uninhabited places.

The mood within the group became increasingly somber. Except for Wu Qingsong and Daryl, everyone else had experienced similar hardships before. The houndmen reminisced about their desperate days outside Bota City, while Ling and Liuli remembered their lives before meeting Wu Qingsong. Although their specific circumstances differed, the essence of their struggles was the same.

Baron Elyar’s lands were their homeland. Yet, as they returned, they felt no nostalgia or joy–only an overwhelming fear of the past and a deep appreciation for their present.

Ram asked Daryl, “Do you remember how many people died from illness the winter before last?”

Daryl nodded silently.

“Actually, many of those illnesses come from hunger. When people don’t have enough to eat, their bodies weaken, and they can’t survive the winter,” Ram said somberly. “My swordsmanship is far inferior to Nina’s and Alexis’. But why does everyone respect me so much? Have you ever wondered about that? Why has my family always held important positions within the Silver Moon Kingdom? Without smuggling goods from the mountains to exchange for food, the resources of the Tecks Mountains alone wouldn’t sustain everyone. And still, there’s always a huge shortfall every year, something Nina finds hardest to bear. How many died the winter before last? What about last winter? Do you know how many newborns we’ve had in our lands these past two years? Maybe Wu wasn’t a strong warrior when he first appeared, but the help he has given us is more than any strong warrior of the Silver Moon Wolf Clan could offer.”

Daryl remained silent, simply spurring his horse forward.

“We need to keep going. Strong military power is essential, which is why Nina always urges you to train hard in swordsmanship. But without money, food, weapons, or medicine, the Silver Moon Wolf Clan’s bloodline might survive, but its name would surely have vanished long ago.”

Wu Qingsong listened silently to their conversation, but he couldn’t bring himself to feel proud.

Having stayed in Orgrimmar for so long, he had nearly forgotten what the rest of the world was like.

This journey might have been a training experience for Daryl, opening his eyes to the world, but for Wu Qingsong, it also served as a reminder of the world’s true nature, urging him not to forget all that he had once experienced.

The gloomy atmosphere lingered over the group for the following days until they left Baron Elyar’s lands and began traversing the valleys of the Haldoge Mountains. As the scenery shifted back to the familiar mountainous terrain, the mood lightened somewhat.

Daryl gradually became more acquainted with Beck and the others. Although he still refused to speak to Wu Qingsong, he was slowly grasping the work involved in traveling and the responsibilities of being part of the team. Even Wu Qingsong had to admit that Daryl was quick to learn new things.

“I told you he’s a good kid,” Ram said, somewhat relieved.

“We’re just getting started,” Wu Qingsong replied, shaking his head.

As dusk fell, they set up camp in a wind-sheltered spot just off the main road, following their usual routine. After Daryl helped build a simple windbreak, he and Beck took their bows and headed into the nearby woods, hoping to return with some fresh meat for everyone.

But they hadn’t gone far when they began to faintly hear cries and shouts in the distance.

The two immediately stopped. The sounds were distant and muffled, difficult to make out clearly. Daryl wanted to investigate what was happening, but Beck pulled him back, and they quickly ran back to camp.

“Cries and shouts?” Wu Qingsong was slightly surprised. 

They were unfamiliar with this path, and from the tracks, there appeared to be no towns or villages nearby.

Could it be bandits?

If so, they too were in danger.

“Let’s go check it out,” he said, seeing Daryl’s eager curiosity. “Everyone, be careful and get ready for a fight.”

The three headed toward the source of the sounds. As they got closer, they could hear laughter mixed with the cries and even the howling of war wolves.

“It must be the guards,” Beck whispered.

Besides them, few could afford to keep war wolves, known for their large appetites.

Wu Qingsong nodded and led them forward. Minutes later, they came upon a makeshift camp. 

A large group of mastiff soldiers was forcing some ratfolk to build the camp using swords and spears. Nearby, another group of ratfolk were tied together, crying out in terror. Several mastiff soldiers were excitedly discussing something nearby, while four war wolves growled and tore at something on the ground, surrounded by a large pool of blood.

“How should we bet this time?” Wu Qingsong heard one of the mastiff soldiers ask loudly.

“These guys are completely useless,” another mastiff soldier said.

“Why don’t we grab two and bet on who gets caught first?”

“Sure, sounds fun!” the mastiff soldiers responded enthusiastically.

Two ratfolk were quickly selected at random from the prisoners. They wept and pleaded in terror, but only received kicks from the mastiff soldiers.

“Run that way, understand?” one mastiff soldier commanded. “Make it to that tree, and you’re spared.”

“Please, have mercy, sirs!” the ratfolk begged. However, the mastiff soldiers, unsatisfied, continued to kick and beat them while shouting curses.

The war wolves started howling. Then, a mastiff soldier walked over to the group of ratfolk and pulled out a young one.

“Are you going to run or not?” he asked with a sinister grin.

As the two ratfolk knelt and pleaded desperately, he tossed the young ratfolk toward the war wolves.

Daryl couldn’t contain a cry of horror. A nearby mastiff soldier, hearing his voice, stood up alertly and called out, “Who’s there!”