Chapter 158: The Pitiful Ones Amidst the Ravages of War

A shout came from behind. Zhou Qing, who hadn’t walked far, stopped and turned to look back, seeing the man running to a tree not far from him.

Behind the man, his wife was slowly approaching, holding the hands of their two daughters.

“Brother, is there something else you need?” Zhou Qing asked curiously, seeing this.

“Sir, I can tell at a glance that you are no ordinary person. And from your words and actions just now, I could see that you are a good and kindhearted man,” the man said, having stopped Zhou Qing, for reasons Zhou Qing could not yet fathom.

Zhou Qing was puzzled by these words. He didn’t understand why the man would say such things. The only possibility he could think of was that the man wanted to ask him for something.

Just as Zhou Qing was wondering, the woman arrived at the man’s side with the two girls. Then, under the man's lead, the whole family of four knelt before Zhou Qing.

“Brother, sister-in-law, what are you doing? Please, get up, you mustn’t do this,” Zhou Qing hurried forward to help them up. “If there’s something you need, just say it. If I can help, I certainly will.”

“Sir, my wife and I are from Peach Blossom Village, not far from here. A year ago, as a rebel army passed through, they plundered and killed many in our village. Our family survived only because we lived at the edge of the village.

“For the past year, we have been hiding in the cave you just saw. As you can imagine, we have survived on little more than the flesh of the dead, and roots and bark.”

At this, the man stopped, his eyes brimming with tears. His wife, too, gently stroked their daughters’ heads, her own eyes filled with tears.

“When war breaks out, it’s always the common folk who suffer most. Who knows how many years this turmoil will last,” Zhou Qing responded with a sigh. “Please, continue.”

“Sir, the moment I saw you, I thought you must be someone of wealth and status. I have a request—please, promise me you will grant it,” the man said, kneeling again before Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing quickly reached out to help him up, nodding for him to go on.

“I imagine your family must be well-off, with servants and maids. Would you take my daughters with you to serve as maids in your household?”

Having been helped up, the man finally voiced the plea in his heart.

Zhou Qing did not immediately refuse, but instead studied the two girls, who looked to be about ten years old, and asked, “Brother, are you truly willing to entrust your daughters to me just like that? Aren’t you afraid I might be a human trafficker, that I might take them away and sell them to a brothel?”

“I am not afraid. From your words and conduct just now, I am certain you are not a bad man. And even if they were sold to a brothel, so long as they survived, I would have no regrets,” the man replied. At this, his wife pulled the girls to kneel again, sobbing as she pleaded.

“Is mere survival really all you wish for them?” Zhou Qing asked himself, unable to hide a bitter smile as he helped the family up once more.

After helping them, he gave no immediate reply. Instead, he walked to an old tree, resting his hand on the trunk and thinking for some time, until an idea took shape in his mind.

There are countless people who suffer in this world, Zhou Qing knew, and he could not help them all. Yet, having encountered the misfortune of this family, he resolved to lend his aid.

“Brother, sister-in-law, have you ever thought of leaving this place?” he asked.

“We haven’t, nor would we dare. With war and bandits everywhere, what could a family like mine, with no skills or money and no understanding of the world, hope to do? If we were careless, we’d be killed before we got anywhere. Better to…”

The man trailed off, but Zhou Qing understood. People raised in remote villages saw the world differently than those from towns; they were wary and hesitant to take risks.

“Would you be willing to leave here and settle in a safe place?” Zhou Qing asked.

The couple stared at him in astonishment. After exchanging a glance, the woman said, “Sir, is such a thing truly possible?”

“There’s nothing impossible about it. Go back and wait for me. I’ll make arrangements and come for you soon,” Zhou Qing replied.

With these words, he left with his hands behind his back. The family of four watched his figure disappear into the distance before returning to their cave.

Emerging from the roadside woods, Zhou Qing set off in the direction where he had met Cao Linliang the previous night.

Around midday, he arrived at the edge of a vast grassland. Across the plain, many army tents covered with black oilcloth could be seen.

“Halt! You reckless fool, what gives you the nerve to trespass in a military camp?” a soldier shouted.

As soon as he reached the edge of the grassland, Zhou Qing was spotted by a patrol.

“Gentlemen, may I trouble you to inform General Cao Linliang that Zhou Qing has a request and begs to see him?” Zhou Qing replied in a calm tone, not affronted by the insult, mindful of his acquaintance with Cao Linliang.

“Insolence! Do you think you can just demand to see General Cao? Brothers, seize this spy!” the patrol leader barked. Without waiting for an explanation, he thrust his spear at Zhou Qing.

The other soldiers followed suit, leveling their spears at him.

These green recruits were hardly formidable. Zhou Qing dodged their attacks with ease, and as he moved, he drew his sword and sliced off the sharp tips of their spears.

“He’s got some skill, that one. Just you wait!” the patrol leader roared, then turned and ran toward the distant camp, while the others stared at Zhou Qing in fear, shrinking back unconsciously.

“Don’t just stand there—go summon your General Cao. Tell him Zhou Qing is here, and he won’t blame you. In fact, you’ll be well rewarded,” Zhou Qing said, tossing them several pieces of silver from his belt.

The sight of silver delighted the soldiers. They scooped up the coins and huddled together, whispering. One of them turned to Zhou Qing and said, “Brother, wait here. I’ll fetch General Cao at once.”

With that, the soldier hurried away, while the others eyed Zhou Qing with curiosity. He smiled and nodded, then sat down on the grass, paying them no further heed.