I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

A powerful force blasted everyone who had surrounded them away.

The figure in blue quickly walked towards the small figure who was lying on the ground, curled up in a ball, and pulled him up from the ground.

"Sir...I'm sorry..."

She was never seen angry during the day.

Even when facing Banxia last time, she was only dissatisfied.

But this time, he saw it.

but……

Upon seeing the angry man... he felt... at ease.

With Mr. [Name] around, it's like duckweed has roots.

"Next time, don't come alone."

With the daylight draped around his waist, Xi coldly looked down at those who still hadn't given up.

Finally, Xi's gaze fell on the child.

"Go quickly, or the child will be beyond saving."

Xi patted Bai Zhou on the back, then picked up the water bottle and stuffed it into his arms.

"Ah."

Bai Zhou wiped the dirt off his face and ran quickly toward the mother.

Something seemed to fly overhead, but Bai Zhou no longer cared.

"Quick, water!"

There was nothing more to say.

During the day, he squatted down, carefully aimed the spout at the tiny mouth of the kettle, and watched the clear water flow in. Only then did the heavy weight in his heart lift.

The little one had no idea what was happening; she just instinctively sipped and swallowed until she was full.

"Thank you... thank you..."

The mother looked at the now dirty boy and wanted to say something, but she couldn't say anything.

She could only hold her revived child, laughing and crying at the same time.

"There's still some water left, have some too. The child is still young, she needs her mother's love."

Bai Zhou wiped his face and handed her the water bottle.

"Thank you... thank you..."

The mother took the water, gulped down several mouthfuls, and then lowered her head, wanting to feed the child some more.

Put away the empty kettle, stand up, and look ahead in the daytime.

Countless eyes, filled with anticipation, longing, and hope, were fixed on him.

After a moment of silence, Bai Zhou pursed his lips and returned to Xi's side.

"gentlemen……"

"Satisfied?"

Xi did not sheathe her sword. She looked at Bai Zhou, who had done a good deed but still had a bitter face, and a surge of anger rose in her heart again.

"..."

Bai Zhou shook his head.

“I saved them… but there are many more who haven’t been saved… They need water too, they need it too…”

Pitiful.

"Let's go. This is the best you can do. Don't think about anything else."

He put the straw hat back on Bai Zhou's head.

Xi held a sword in one hand and pulled him along with the other, walking step by step toward the gray-yellow city ahead.

Xi spared no one who stood in his way or tried to harm him.

Until they reached the city gate.

"Who goes there!"

The soldiers still guarding the city gates were pale and sickly. Although their situation was better than that of the refugees outside, they had not had water for almost two days in this desperate situation where water was as precious as gold.

"People from the imperial court."

Xi's words caused the soldiers to exchange glances.

"Go in, and hurry up."

They never intended to make things difficult for Xi.

The other party's clothing was completely different from that of the refugees; they had seen similar decorations several times today.

"It's troublesome."

Leaving behind a pot of water, Xi sheathed her sword and led Bai Zhou into the city.

"..."

The leading soldier gritted his teeth as he looked at the water jug ​​left on the ground, then bent down and picked it up.

"Hey guys, one sip each, drink sparingly. Anyone who dares to steal a sip, I'll fucking kill him!"

###

Where is your second uncle?

Upon entering the city, gazing at the desolate, deserted streets, Xi looked down at the daylight.

"Second Uncle...Second Uncle...should be at the post station...or maybe somewhere else..."

"Ugh... sir... I..."

In the past, it was always his second uncle who would take the initiative to contact him. But this time, he only knew that his second uncle would be waiting for him in Yongning, but he didn't know exactly where he would be waiting for him.

"..."

Xi raised her eyebrows and looked ahead.

What are you doing here?

"?"

Bai Zhou also looked up, and then a look of surprise appeared in his eyes.

"Mr. Magic Pen!"

Forty-six Heavenly Punishments, True Dragon

"It's not convenient to talk here, come with me. Ah Xi, Eleven."

Without saying much, Miaobi turned and walked towards a house.

Xi snorted and followed Bai Zhou.

Once inside the house, they went straight up to the second floor, and Miaobi found a seat by the window.

Evening sat opposite her, and daytime sat on the other side.

He took off his straw hat and surveyed the area in broad daylight.

Before it closed, this place seemed to be a teahouse, but now, only the three of them are left here.

"I don't need to say much, Eleven, you know why I'm here."

Miaobi took the teapot and poured a cup of tea for each of the three.

"This calamity of fire?"

Xi took the tea and sipped it.

"Yes. Because of the fire disaster."

Miaobi pushed another cup of tea toward Baizhou and rubbed his head.

"More than anything, I need to document this. It's my duty, isn't it?"

Miaobi took out a notebook and placed it on the table.

"This is my record of the disasters in Yongning, Antai and other areas over the past few days."

"..."

During the day, he quickly flipped through the notebook.

"In Guangde and Antai, more than twenty prefectures suffered from drought, and thousands died from famine, disease, and plague..."

"The city of Fuzu is deserted, with bones covering the fields; a single tael of gold can buy a bushel of millet..."

"Locusts swarmed over Jingmao, darkening the sky; hundreds of thousands of refugees were imprisoned... their bones exposed in the fields..."

"A severe drought has struck western Henan; the Yellow River has dried up... the Wei River has dried up... even the smallest fish can be seen..."

"Southern Hebei suffered a scorching heatwave, with no rain for half a year. Grass and tree bark were exhausted, food was depleted, children were sold... daughters were sold... and people were riddled with horrific ailments..."

After reading just one page, Bai Zhou's fingers, which were gripping the book, had already creased it.

"Stop looking."

Xi raised her hand and slammed the notebook onto the table.

"What's the use of knowing these things? They've already happened, and they can't be undone."

"gentlemen……"

He covered his head and face, weeping with overwhelming grief.

The young dragon lay on the table, its cry like the mournful cry of a cuckoo.

"Ugh."