The night deepened, and the cold wind cut like a knife.

Even though the wounds all over her body were splitting with pain, Chu Qiao forced herself to stand up and run around the small firewood room in circles, occasionally stopping to rub her skin with both hands to prevent freezing to death in this dilapidated shed.

Just after the third watch drum had sounded, a faint noise suddenly rang out. The child froze and stopped, turning her head with vigilant eyes toward the source of the sound.

A window as tall as a person slowly opened, and then a small head appeared. The newcomer had bright eyes and cautiously scanned the firewood room. Upon seeing Chu Qiao standing on the ground, a flash of joy passed across his face. He quickly raised his finger in a gesture of silence, then nimbly flipped into the firewood room.

The cold air from outside immediately rushed in. The boy ran quickly forward, extended his arms, and embraced Chu Qiao. His voice carried a hint of choking emotion, but he reassured her firmly: “Don’t be afraid, Yue’er. Fifth Brother is here.”

The boy was very thin and not very old, around eight or nine years old, wearing earth-gray clothes that didn’t fit him well, making him appear even smaller. He had not yet grown to his full height, only half a head taller than Chu Qiao, but the contours of his face revealed a mysterious kind of resilience. He hugged the child in his arms tightly, continuously patting her back, comforting her again and again: “Don’t be afraid, Fifth Brother is here.”

For some reason, Chu Qiao’s eyes suddenly became wet. It seemed to be an involuntary reaction of this body. Large teardrops fell uncontrollably, wetting the boy’s rough clothes.

Bright moonlight shone through the slightly open window, illuminating the two small children. The world around them was ice-cold, with only a tiny bit of warmth between their hearts. The boy’s small body was like a resilient mountain. On this cold night, even though he might tremble slightly with fear, he still firmly embraced his sister, strongly tightening his arms.

“Yue’er, are you hungry?”

The boy released his hold, extended his pitch-black fingers to carefully wipe away the tears on Chu Qiao’s face, and pulled out a handsome smile, saying with a grin: “Look what Fifth Brother brought you?”

Taking out a small cloth bundle from behind his back, the child sat down on the ground and deftly unwrapped it. The pleasant aroma of food immediately wafted out. He raised his head to see Chu Qiao still standing, raised his eyebrows in confusion, and said: “Sit down.”

A rough ceramic bowl, its blue and white pattern worn away to lose color, with several small chips along the edge. It was filled with white rice, topped with some green vegetable leaves. There wasn’t much oil, but the smell it gave off was so fragrant. The boy handed over a pair of chopsticks, placed them in Chu Qiao’s hands, and urged: “Eat quickly.”

Chu Qiao lowered her head and put a mouthful of rice in her mouth. Her mouth tasted salty, with the flavor of tears. Her throat felt blocked as she mechanically chewed, then softly sobbed once. The boy gazed at her eagerly. Each time Chu Qiao opened her mouth to take a bite, the boy would also slightly open his mouth, as if teaching her how to eat. Seeing her swallow, he would happily narrow his eyes.

The chopsticks stirred in the bowl, suddenly hitting something. She picked it up—it was a piece of red-braised pork still steaming hot.

A piece of meat about the size of a thumb, a bit charred from cooking, half fat and half lean. In this pitch-black, ice-cold night, it appeared so tempting.

A loud gurgling sound suddenly rang out. Chu Qiao raised her head to look at the boy, who was embarrassedly rubbing his stomach, deliberately appearing nonchalant as he said: “I just finished eating. I’m not hungry at all.”

Passing the chopsticks over, Chu Qiao said: “You eat it.”

The boy immediately shook his head: “We ate very well tonight. Fourth Young Master gave us extra dishes—red-braised carp, sweet and sour ribs, vinegar-fried tenderloin, and white duck. So many dishes! I ate until I felt like vomiting. I can’t eat anything more now.”

Chu Qiao stubbornly held up the chopsticks: “I don’t like fatty meat.”

The boy paused slightly, looked at Chu Qiao, then at the piece of red-braised pork, unconsciously swallowing his saliva. After a long while, he finally extended his hand to take Chu Qiao’s chopsticks, carefully opening his mouth to bite the fatty part of the meat, then handed back the remaining lean meat, chuckled, revealing a set of white teeth, and smiled: “Yue’er, now you can eat it.”

Her nose suddenly felt sour. Chu Qiao quickly lowered her head, tears rolling back and forth in her eyes, but she persistently held them back.

After a long time, she slowly raised her head, smiled at the boy, and opened her mouth to eat that piece of meat, chewing while grinning.

“Yue’er, does it taste good?” The child’s eyes were bright, like dazzling stars in the sky.

Chu Qiao nodded vigorously, her throat choked, her voice sobbing: “Fifth Brother, it’s delicious. This piece of meat is the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten in my life.”

“Silly girl,” the boy reached out to stroke her head, his expression carrying a trace of melancholy, and said: “How old are you to be talking about ‘in my life’? Let alone the future, just think about when we were little. We ate so many delicacies. You were small then, so perhaps you don’t remember. But don’t worry, someday in the future, Fifth Brother will let you eat your fill and dress warmly, bringing you all the good things in this world to eat. Not just red-braised meat, but also ginseng, abalone, bird’s nest, shark fin, elephant trunk—whatever you want. By then, no one will dare bully us again. Yue’er, do you believe Fifth Brother?”

Chu Qiao nodded, lowered her head, and tried hard to put all the rice into her mouth. The taste was bitter, but so warm.

“Yue’er, don’t be afraid.” The boy took off his outer coat and draped it over Chu Qiao’s shoulders. His voice was childish but firm, emphasizing each word: “Fifth Brother will protect you. I’ll stay here with you. Don’t be afraid.”

The moon was desolate, and shadows moved. Light shone through the gaps into the firewood room, creating large patches of brightness. Under the frosty moonlight, the two children’s small bodies clung closely together, so tiny yet so cozy.

In the distance, lights blazed brilliantly, music played continuously, and the aroma of wine and meat wafted everywhere. The sleepless Zhenhuang City had finally arrived at the climax of its grand evening banquet. Under the magnificent lights, no one remembered the girl who had miraculously survived on the hunting grounds earlier that day. The howling wind made the fierce flame flags of Great Xia flap violently.

When she woke up the next day, the boy had already left. On the ground was written a row of neat small characters: Fifth Brother will come again tonight. There are steamed buns under the firewood.

Chu Qiao dug through the dry branches in the corner and found two slightly yellowed steamed buns wrapped in oil paper. She held them, her expression calm, but her eyes gradually softened.

For three days, no one came to check on her. The boy brought food every night to accompany her, then quietly left the next day. On the third day, the door of the firewood room was thrown open with a crash. Zhu Shun looked down at Chu Qiao, who had survived three days in the firewood room, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter. Finally, he ordered the servants to release her.

The moment she stepped out of the firewood room, Chu Qiao stood at the door, taking one last look at this dilapidated house. The corners of her mouth pressed together, and then she resolutely turned away.

Zhu Shun, Zhuge, Jing, Mu, Jue, Che, Yan…

The child slowly closed her eyes and lifted her face. The sunlight shone on her forehead, creating a bright halo, golden and brilliant as if a phoenix in flight.

The further they walked, the more dilapidated the houses became. Everywhere, groups of children carefully hid behind tree branches and corridors, secretly watching her. After arriving at a small courtyard, as soon as the managing servant left, a large group of children suddenly rushed forward, immediately embracing her.

“Little Six, you’ve finally returned.”

“Sixth Sister, we thought you wouldn’t come back.”

“Sister Yue’er, wuu…”

The children shouted in a jumble of voices, crying loudly without hiding their emotions. Chu Qiao was startled, momentarily stunned in place as they surrounded her, enduring the tears and snot of this group of little carrot heads.

“Alright, stop crying, all of you.”

A male voice suddenly sounded. The children turned their heads and immediately exclaimed joyfully: “Fifth Brother!”

The boy ran in from outside, carrying a cloth bundle. After running just a few steps, everything spilled out with a crash—it was a bag of melon seeds. The children immediately cheered, all releasing Chu Qiao at once and running forward.

“Don’t fight, everyone will get some.” The boy, acting like an adult, said: “Yue’er has just escaped death and is seriously injured. Don’t disturb her. In the coming days, everyone must help with her work.”

The children nodded repeatedly. A girl with two small braids raised her fair face, smiling as she said: “Fifth Brother, don’t worry, we’ll help Sixth Sister.”

The boy said: “Little Seven, has your injury healed? Why are you out of bed?”

“Fifth Brother, it’s all better.” The child smiled, raising her face and pulling up her sleeve to reveal purple and blue whip marks all over, with flesh turned over in some places, not yet fully healed. Little Seven smiled and said: “The medicine you brought works very well. It doesn’t hurt after applying. Little Eight was kicked in the waist by Jifeng while feeding the horses yesterday, so I need to help her.”

“Lin Xi, come in, I have something to tell you.” A little girl suddenly came forward and took the boy’s hand.

The boy looked back at Chu Qiao and said: “Yue’er, it’s windy outside. You come in too.”

The dilapidated small house had a large kang bed with more than ten sets of bedding neatly arranged on it. The boy named Lin Xi said: “Sister Zhi Xiang, what’s the matter?”

Zhi Xiang wasn’t much older, around ten years old. She crouched down, opened the dark kang hole, took out a small box, and said: “In five more days, it will be the anniversary of the Jing family’s extermination. The incense, candles, and paper money you asked us to prepare secretly are all ready.”

Lin Xi nodded: “Be careful, don’t let the managers discover it.”

“Yes, don’t worry, no one will come to our area. But you should be careful serving by Fourth Young Master’s side. The day before yesterday, I heard Si Tao from the laundry saying that the Fourth Young Master had beaten two little attendants to death in his room. With the master not at home and Young Master Huai not in the inner residence, they’ve become even more unrestrained. Last month, the old master killed more than twenty little female slaves. The Du family, who were bought in with us, is already extinct. I’m worried that one day it will be our turn.”

Just as they were speaking, a sharp cry suddenly came from outside. Then a shrill voice shouted: “Well, well! You lowly slaves dare to steal things? Don’t you want to live anymore?”

Lin Xi frowned and was about to go out when Zhi Xiang grabbed him, whispering: “Quickly go from the back. Don’t let people see you here. Fourth Young Master will beat you to death.”

“I…”

“Go quickly!”

Such a simple house had a back door. After pushing Lin Xi out, Zhi Xiang grabbed Chu Qiao’s arm and said in a stern voice: “Don’t come out no matter what happens.” Then she hurriedly ran out.

Screams and the sound of whips immediately rang out. A woman with a belly full of fat, swinging her arms fiercely, shouted: “Aren’t these the young misses of the Jing family from back then? How have you fallen into such a state today? Your sisters are working as prostitutes in Shi Hua Fang, and you’re here being little thieves. Truly a nest of lowborn offspring!”

“Aunt Song, we know we were wrong. We won’t dare do it again.” Zhi Xiang stood in front of the other children, her face struck by several lashes, bloody with whip marks. She knelt and grabbed the woman’s skirt, pleading loudly: “We won’t dare do it again.”

“Know you were wrong? I think you won’t learn without a beating!”

Whip after whip fell mercilessly on the children’s bodies. Little Seven, who was already injured, fainted after a few lashes, her eyes rolling back. The children immediately burst into tears, but the woman became even more energized with each stroke. She yelled and raised her whip high once more.

With a swoosh, there was no intense scream. Aunt Song looked down and saw a small girl in tattered clothes standing in front of her. Though small in stature, her eyes were cold. A pair of pitch-black small hands firmly grasped her whip. With a gloomy expression, she said in a deep voice: “That’s enough.”

Aunt Song was furious: “You little wretch, are you asking for death?”

“Yue’er, Yue’er, let go quickly!” Zhi Xiang crawled forward on her knees, desperately pulling at Chu Qiao’s clothes, crying and shouting: “Quickly apologize to Aunt Song!”

Chu Qiao remained unmoved, only coldly looking at the woman, saying icily: “Try hitting them one more time.”

Aunt Song raised an eyebrow and shouted: “I won’t hit them, I’ll hit you!” With that, she swung the whip fiercely. Chu Qiao sneered, grabbed the woman’s belt, and tripped her with her foot. The woman’s fat, massive body fell heavily to the ground with a thud!

A pig-like squeal immediately rang out. Chu Qiao slowly walked to the front of the woman, bent down, and said with a cold smile: “Why not hurry and report this?”

Aunt Song jumped up and shouted: “You just wait!” Then she rushed out of the courtyard.

Zhi Xiang ran forward worriedly, so anxious that tears were about to flow: “Yue’er, you’ve caused big trouble. What should we do now?”

“You watch over them.” Chu Qiao instructed briefly, then turned and followed the woman out.

Having just passed through, she had already memorized the route. After turning past two corridors, she saw the woman hurriedly running on a stone bridge. She was obese and was already panting after running such a short distance. Chu Qiao crouched in the grass, looked around to ensure safety, then picked up a stone, narrowed her eyes, and threw it swiftly at the woman’s ankle.

With a smack, the stone hit Aunt Song’s ankle heavily. The woman cried out in surprise, her foot slipped, and she immediately fell from the bridge!

It was already deep winter, and the lake’s surface was covered with a thick layer of ice. After she fell, the ice layer didn’t break. She just lay there spread-eagled, crying out in pain.

Chu Qiao stood up from the grass, slowly walked onto the stone bridge, and looked down at her from above, shouting: “Hey, do you need me to call someone for help?”

The woman turned her head and immediately said kindly: “Good child, quickly go help Auntie call someone. Oh, it hurts so much.”

Chu Qiao smiled, her smile radiant. She bent down, picked up a huge stone, and laboriously lifted it over her head. Seeing this, the woman was immediately alarmed and shouted: “You, what are you doing?”

Before she could make a big fuss, Chu Qiao gently released her grip. The stone crashed onto the ice layer with a thud. The ice immediately shattered, and the woman screamed as she was completely covered by the cold lake water. After just a few bubbles, she sank, never to surface.

Chu Qiao stood on the stone bridge, her expression calm, her eyes peaceful, showing no trace of emotion.

This was a world that devoured people. To survive, one had to be the first to swallow the man-eating beasts whole.

Without any lingering attachment, she turned and walked back. Just as she stepped into the courtyard, the children all rushed toward her, each bearing wounds, with tear-filled eyes. Chu Qiao extended her arms to embrace Little Seven, who had just awakened at the front, took a deep breath, and said softly: “Don’t be afraid, everything is all right now.”

In the lowest slave quarters of the Zhuge residence, a group of little female slaves living like pigs and dogs finally couldn’t hold back and burst into tears.