Chapter 167

Chapter 167

"What do you mean by 'acting'? Do you believe I won't kill one of you right now?"

The Squidman was enraged and thrust his sharp spear at Ji Xinghai, who rolled away in panic, narrowly avoiding the attack.

Oh, how pitiful and innocent, yet so weak.

"Then kill him," the people on the mountain sneered.

Both sides used Ji Xinghai as an excuse to confront each other. In the midst of their mutual accusations, he finally understood what had happened.

The Squidmen in Egret City launched a coup on the third day of the instance, but it failed. The retreating Squidmen burned several warehouses storing food, poisoned the only water source, and set fire to the medical shelters. They also pushed large amounts of firewood used for heating over the cliffs.

After doing all this, the Squidmen and the Bluefire people they led surrounded the area.

So now, the people of Egret City were poisoned, lacked food and water, had no doctors or medicine, and were short of firewood for winter. This situation had persisted for eleven days.

Water was still manageable; there was snow on the roadside that could be melted and boiled. But where would they get firewood? The buildings in the city were made of stone, and there were hardly any trees.

Even if they could endure the cold, the poison was a different matter. The doctors were dead, and there were no herbs left. Many people in the city had already died. The only fortunate thing was that it was winter, so the bodies wouldn't rot and attract pests, preventing an outbreak of disease.

Moreover, there wasn't enough food. The city's setting was such that households didn't store more than three days' worth of food. So the residents had been starving for several days and were now eating roots dug from the ground.

Despite these difficulties, Egret City remained steadfast under the Squidmen's threats and inducements, keeping its gates closed. No matter what tricks the Squidmen used, they never wavered. Even when the Squidmen claimed a new king had ascended and that it was now a Squidman kingdom, the people of Egret City said that if the country fell, they would die with it.

They preferred to die standing rather than live kneeling.

No wonder the students said Egret City couldn't be taken; everyone here was made of stern stuff.

Understanding the background, Ji Xinghai realized his current predicament.

The Squidmen were using his life to test Egret City, hoping to force a weakness. And Egret City thought the two were putting on a show to find a way into the city.

From the sound of it, the officer guarding the city seemed like a good person, but he dared not take the risk, so he would watch Ji Xinghai die here—assuming the Squidmen really intended to kill him.

Ji Xinghai lay on a pile of snow for a while, staring blankly at the sky. After a moment, he stood up, brushing off the snow particles clinging to his clothes.

"The weather is so nice, perfect for going to the sea," he thought, opening the book in his hand and selecting a page.

Going to the sea wasn't possible, but looking at it was.

"Hey, human, what are you doing?" the Squidman noticed Ji Xinghai standing up first.

"I can't bear this reputation without reason," Ji Xinghai stood amidst the snowy mountains, still looking ragged but with a glow around him, giving him an indescribable sense of resilience.

The Squidmen and the viewers in the livestream were momentarily stunned. What reputation? They belatedly remembered the earlier claim that he carried a plague and should be left to fend for himself on the mountain.

Hiss.

The Squidmen hadn't realized the severity of the situation when a massive flood suddenly rushed down the mountain, carrying the familiar sea scent mixed with an unfamiliar stench.

Ji Xinghai held the book, calmly watching the water flow around trees and rocks, rushing toward the Squidmen at breakneck speed.

It was like the heavens pouring down, nothing less.

This city had only one road, and countless Squidmen were crowded below, unable to escape. They tumbled like bowling balls in the seawater, colliding with each other.

Strangely, the seawater only swept away the Squidmen, leaving not a single drop on the trees or rocks. Even the thick snow remained mostly dry.

Once the Squidmen below were thrown into chaos, Ji Xinghai closed his book.

Wasn't he supposed to carry a plague?

Then let them see what a plague truly was.

He understood the "understanding" of these social beings, but when he wanted to be willful and had the ability to be willful, he didn't want to follow their rules.

For him, the idea of "what goes around comes around" was a luxury; he rarely lived long enough to see it happen.

Ji Xinghai turned around, startling the humans watching him. Their hands holding weapons were steady, but their hearts pounded.

Although the Squidmen were being washed away, the humans were happy, but that didn't mean they considered this mysterious human an ally.

But as long as he wasn't an enemy...

"Resources for firewood, deal? Food, wood, water, medicine, and weapons are available." Ji Xinghai asked directly.

He added after a moment, "The firewood is for personal use and won't be given to anyone else. We are enemies with the Squidmen, and there's no possibility of reconciliation.

If I lie, may the entire Squidman clan be wiped out."

That direct?

There was even more direct. Ji Xinghai threw a pile of supplies he had taken from the Squidmen at the city gate. He sincerely said, "These are for you first, whether we make a deal or not, let's be friends?"

"..."

"Boss, he's really sincere," a soldier couldn't help licking his lips, seeing the pile of supplies covering the slope.

"I have eyes," the officer guarding the city quickly accepted the miraculous event of a human waving away a flood and producing supplies, but he couldn't immediately decide to trade firewood for these resources.

Was this really not a Squidman trick to steal their firewood?

While the officer hesitated, the Squidmen rolling below began to wail in agony.

The contaminated seawater started taking effect. Whether Squidmen or Bluefire people, their skin that came into contact with the seawater began to blister and swell, covered in transparent blisters and itchy red rashes.

Something appeared in the transparent bubble, like an insect egg. The creature inside hatched quickly and began gnawing at the skin.

All of this happened within minutes.

"Ah—" The squid creature pulled out the parasite from the burst abscess, writhing on the ground in pain, several tentacles breaking due to the violent thrashing, showing just how much agony it was in.

Although the humans on the mountain couldn't see everything clearly, they could hear the genuine cries of pain and vicious curses.

If this were just for a show about the fire seed, it wouldn't have gone this far—the sacrifice would be too great.

"What do you want the fire seed for?" asked the officer guarding the city.

They needed the fire seed to maintain the four seasons in the city and for the future. But if people died and the city fell, what use would there be for the future or the seasons? So the officers guarding the city were already swayed but still had some doubts.

"Of course, it's to take it to the Holy City and light the fire seed," Ji Xinghai said matter-of-factly.

Wasn't collecting fire seeds all for this purpose? He was a player, not an NPC. If it weren't for the fact that squids were on the menu and siding with the human forces aligned with moral standards, he wouldn't even bother meddling in their affairs.

But this answer made the eyes of the soldiers and officers light up.

"The capital is already occupied by mutants. Can you get in? I have one request..."

The viewers in the live stream thought the next plot twist would be Ji Xinghai rallying everyone to become the lord of Egret City and lead the survivors in a counterattack.

...

"I refuse," Ji Xinghai frowned. "No matter what you want me to do, I refuse. I can earn this fire seed through my own abilities; I don't need your charity, nor will I accept any other conditions. What you choose to resist is your own business."

"I know this is difficult." The officer pondered for a while, then suddenly waved his hand, signaling someone to lower a rope ladder. "Brother, can we discuss this further inside?"

Ji Xinghai agreed. He gathered the supplies on the ground and entered the city via the rope ladder.

The scenario was accelerated, so although these people had only been hungry for a few days, they now looked gaunt and pale, with only a few looking slightly fuller, but swollen from hunger.

He thought for a moment and, without anyone saying anything, sent over a pile of supplies, including many medicines.

Making friends requires sincerity; helping in times of need is better than adding flowers to a brocade. Indeed, the officer's expression softened upon receiving the supplies, and he instructed someone to distribute them while leading Ji Xinghai to the city lord's mansion.

In the city lord's mansion was a boy, around seven or eight years old, with a mature gaze despite his youthful appearance—a noble air of arrogance, deeply ingrained.

Ji Xinghai understood something but kept silent, pretending to be unaware.

Sure enough, the officer introduced him to the boy and told him that this was the only remaining heir to the throne without mixed blood, the hope of humanity.

Ji Xinghai smiled, his expression gentle but his eyes cold.

He observed the boy's smooth, white skin and perfect teeth, which had never chewed on hard food, and laughed.

Because of the squid-controlled chamber of commerce, prices outside had skyrocketed, but it seemed to have little effect on this naturally 'noble' 'hope.'

Did this pampered prince understand the world outside? Did he know how hard ordinary people lived?

With those ignorant 'pure' eyes and hidden arrogance, he did not deserve to represent the hope of a race, no matter how much like an 'orphaned prince' he might be.

The officer didn't know why he was laughing.

Ji Xinghai didn't explain either; he simply told the officer, "After getting the fire seed, I'll go to the capital. Even if it's a fortress, I'll break through. Whether I live or die afterward is my own concern. I won't interfere with others, and they'd better not interfere with me."

He cut off unnecessary expectations right from the start, seeing the officer's hesitation.

The officer understood, and disappointment showed on his face.

This human could destroy a squid army with a wave of his hand,

his strength making them desperate, yet they hardly knew him. They wouldn't trust him with the prince.

So the officer quickly adjusted his mindset: "How much supplies do you have?"

"Enough to keep your city secure for ten days," Ji Xinghai said.

He had emptied so many warehouses controlled by the squid's chamber of commerce that ten days was an understatement; the entire city could survive for half a month. After all, the people here ate only two meals a day, with minimal requirements to survive.

The officer's eyes lit up: "That much?"

He wasn't good at negotiation, revealing his bottom line, but Ji Xinghai was kind and simply nodded. "We each get what we need. However, I doubt the squids will give up easily. Are you going to hide forever?"

"No more hiding," the officer said, as if convincing himself. "No more hiding."

Exchanging the fire seed for supplies wasn't a decision one person could make, so Ji Xinghai was temporarily invited to rest in the inner quarters while the officer called others for discussion.

Ji Xinghai walked away but heard the boy's unhappy voice through several walls: "Without the fire seed, how can I gain recognition?"

"Your Highness..."

Ji Xinghai didn't care how the city's people deliberated, as long as the outcome met his requirements.

Thirty minutes later, the officer came to see him. They were willing to exchange the fire seed for supplies. Although restoring the kingdom was important, survival was more crucial when everyone was on the brink of death.

Ji Xinghai followed him to the most secret place in Egret City, where a golden fire seed awaited him.

It wasn't his first time seeing a golden fire seed, but this one was purer and more intense.

The wizard said the fire seed was the condensed willpower of people. Perhaps this golden fire seed was the collective will of Egret City. Was it because of its proximity that it grew so well?

Ji Xinghai took the fire seed and left the agreed-upon supplies behind.

There were so many supplies that several empty rooms couldn't contain them all. In the end, they were piled up on the platform in front of the city lord's mansion, towering like a mountain, causing onlookers to gasp in amazement.

"So much wheat, so much dried meat. Even so much firewood. Where did all this come from? Is he a wizard?"

Season Xinghai returned to the city lord's mansion after storing the supplies. Out of the 108 dowry boxes, most were already empty, leaving only salt and personal items, along with two fire seeds.

The red fire seed was now as large as a house, while the golden one, having fused with the new one, remained the size of a dinosaur egg.

He had a premonition that these two fire seeds would react in a special way if they touched, so he kept them separated.

He was curious about what would happen if they fused, but for now, he had to wait. This was someone else's territory, and he would have to wait until he left before attempting the fusion.

Perhaps he still needed to find the wandering poet; the wizard wouldn't have mentioned this person without reason.

As soon as half an hour passed, the seawater below the mountain dispersed on its own. However, the squid people who had come into contact with this seawater could not recover. These squid people did not dare to approach the front lines; instead, they let the blue flame people block their path between them and Egret City, forcing the humanoid beings to fight each other.

The people of Egret City also had a method to deal with the blue flame people: salt.

Indeed, this substance not only countered the squid people but also the blue flame people with their blue flames atop their heads, preventing their resurrection.

With the soldiers defending the city receiving supplies and growing stronger, and the squid people suffering heavy losses and becoming fearful, the tide turned. After fighting for a day and night, the human soldiers finally carved out a path.

The officer guarding the city escorted Season Xinghai down the mountain and said, "The alien race has been driven away, and we will be heading to the capital. The forces we repelled were just a small unit; there is still a fierce battle ahead there. It's a two- or three-day journey from here to the capital, so if you plan to go, you should make your preparations early."

Season Xinghai thanked him for his concern and then mentioned finding the wandering poet: "I'll try my luck in other cities first. If I can't find him, I'll head to the capital in time." By "in time," he meant "before the new king is officially crowned."

To his surprise, the officer responded with confusion: "Does it have to be the wandering poet you encountered before? Would our city's wandering poet work?"

"…Huh?"