Desorock Highland.
"A bit hungry. Little Taoist, do you have anything to eat?"
"I happen to have some guokui here—take them all."
Facing Noah's sudden question, Jianxin was not stingy at all. She reached into her backpack and pulled out some flatbreads, handing them to Noah.
"This humble Taoist sees the scouting tower. Eh, why are there so many people up ahead?"
"They don't look like soldiers."
The trio hurried to the scouting tower, just in time to catch a group of "civilians" stealing parts from it.
After some interrogation, they finally learned the truth.
It turned out these "civilians" were short on supplies, so they were stealing valuable parts from the scouting tower to sell for money.
"If the scouting tower is damaged, it could cause a sudden invasion by a Tacet Discord wave in this direction."
Yangyang angrily explained the possible consequences of such actions:
"Have you ever thought that if something like this really happens, the soldiers on the front lines would be caught between enemies on both sides?"
"We can't worry about that much! If we don't steal parts to sell for money, we'll starve to death before the Tacet Discord wave even arrives."
The "civilians" argued forcefully, as if it were perfectly justified:
"We haven't eaten for days. If we don't get food soon, we'll starve."
"Our money is all gone too—we're so hungry we can barely walk."
"Don't arrest us. We only stole because we had no other choice."
Listening to the "civilians'" words, Yangyang and Jianxin couldn't help but feel moved. Their gazes involuntarily turned to Noah beside them.
They both knew that Noah had just received a bunch of guokui from Jianxin.
"How pitiful." Noah took out the guokui he had gotten from Jianxin: "Good thing I have flatbreads to eat."
Seeing the food, the exiles' eyes instantly turned red. They felt saliva secreting madly, their desire for food nearly breaking through their reason.
Exiles: Could it be that...
Seeing Noah take out the guokui, Yangyang and Jianxin inwardly praised him:
Truly worthy of being Jinzhou's hero—he's thinking the same as us. Next, he'll definitely share the guokui with these "civilians."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Noah performed a three-bite guokui on the spot, praising in a muffled voice:
"You know, eating guokui in the wild is quite a delightful thing."
Yangyang: Huh?
Jianxin: Huh?
Exiles: AAAAAAAAHHHH!
"Young hero Noah, how can you eat in front of a group of people suffering from hunger and thirst—and... and eat so deliciously? This humble Taoist has misjudged you."
Jianxin was so angry her willow-like eyebrows stood on end. A trace of disbelief also appeared in Yangyang's eyes.
Jianxin took off her backpack, about to dig out other food to distribute, but Noah stopped her:
"No rush, little Taoist Jianxin. I've only tasted one guokui—there's still plenty to eat."
Hearing this, expectation once again shone in the exiles' eyes.
Suddenly, a stack of flatbreads appeared in Noah's hand. The clear fragrance of food unreasonably drilled into the exiles' nostrils.
They unconsciously swallowed saliva, their gazes fixed dead on the guokui in Noah's hand.
Exiles: Could it be that...
Noah divided the flatbreads in his hand into two—one to Yangyang, one to Jianxin. The remaining flatbreads then vanished into thin air:
"I'm not the type to eat alone. Here, you two eat too. After you're done, I still have more."
Yangyang: Huh?
Jianxin: Huh?
Exiles: AAAAAAAAHHHH!
"Noah, is this right?"
Yangyang held the flatbread in her hand, her expression changing repeatedly. Finally, she couldn't help but ask.
"Of course this isn't right."
Noah shook his head slightly, raising a finger to point at the group of "civilians":
"Yangyang, look—there are so many hungry people, but we only have this little food. How could it be enough to share?"
Hearing this, Yangyang fell into brief thought.
It seems... indeed not enough! Then what should we do?
Seeing the confident look on the man's face, she suddenly had a flash of insight:
"Could it be you have a better way?"
"Exactly!"
Noah nodded frankly. Suddenly, a burlap sack appeared in his hand. As he shook his arm, the sound of countless Shell Credits clinking came from inside:
"I don't have enough food, but I have plenty of money!"
The exiles stared dead at Noah's money bag. They suddenly felt their legs no longer weak, their vision clear, strength surging through their bodies—they nearly couldn't hold back the impulse to rob him outright.
To them, money was far more important than food. With enough money, they could buy plenty of food.
And this person's actions clearly indicated he wanted to distribute the money to them.
Exiles: Could it be that...
"Young hero's idea is effective, but giving money directly—wouldn't that encourage them to get something for nothing?"
Jianxin couldn't help but object:
"Though this humble Taoist is foolish and ignorant of worldly matters, I still believe: if we give money to criminals, wouldn't that fuel this unhealthy trend?"
"Little Taoist Jianxin is right—so I won't give it."
Noah nodded appreciatively, and the money bag in his hand instantly disappeared.
Yangyang: Huh?
Jianxin: Huh?
Exiles: Clown.jpg
The "civilians" were filled with indignation, glaring viciously at Noah: "Kid, are you toying with us exiles?"
Noah shrugged, looking indifferent: "Yeah, aren't you exiles?"
"How did you know—"
The leader of the "civilians" was shocked. Realizing their identity was exposed, he flew into a rage:
"Since you know, obediently hand over all your food and money, or else..."
The exiles no longer hid it, pulling out daggers from their clothes, their faces full of menace.
Seeing this, how could Yangyang and Jianxin not know these people's true nature?
So-called exiles are criminal groups who committed serious crimes within Huanglong and are wanted by various cities. Thus, they can only survive in the wilderness.
Although in this post-apocalyptic era, when rebuilding civilization, it's impossible to care for everyone comprehensively, it's far from the point where people must break the law to survive. As long as one works honestly and diligently, there will always be food to eat.
But exiles resort to theft, robbery, trafficking—every trick in the book. Groups like this are universally despised across all of Huanglong.
And they had nearly been deceived by these exiles into helping them!
Thinking of this, Yangyang and Jianxin felt immense lingering fear.
If not for Noah, these exiles might have really gotten help from them, allowing them to scrape by a little longer.
And for every extra day exiles live, it might mean another group falls victim to them.
"Brothers, charge together—grab the food and we won't go hungry!"
The leader of the exiles shouted, raising his dagger and charging first.
Noah remained calm. The Undying Flame appeared in his hand, and he fired a shot into the sky.
Bang!
A piercing gunshot rang out across the wilderness. The pitch-black muzzle instantly calmed the leading exile.
"I was wrong—don't shoot!"
The exile decisively dropped his dagger, neatly hugging his head and squatting down.
Noah raised his hand slightly, pointing the Undying Flame at the larger group of exiles behind. Wherever it pointed, those people hugged their heads and squatted.
"A bunch of fish that slipped through the net. If you're hungry, it's better to eat prison food."