His numb taste buds came roaring back to life as meat juices soaked through dry hunger. Hot tears welled without him noticing.
"Good… so good…" Chen Xiu chewed hard, swallowing down thick white flour.
This was the first time since being sold into slavery that he'd eaten meat and fine grain—rather than a tiny chunk of moldy, rock-hard black bread tossed to him like he was a dog… or nothing at all.
A meat bun bigger than an adult's fist disappeared in a few bites. He choked from swallowing too fast, coughing hard, but his stomach finally had something in it.
He hooked the plastic bag around his wrist, twisted open a bottle of water, and drank half. After starving for so long, his gut barely had the strength to move—water first, to wake it gently.
Four meat buns were left in the bag. If he forced them all down at once, he might punch a hole in his stomach.
In other words: he might literally eat himself to death.
People who've starved for too long can't just gorge.
Maybe Sarkaz physiology was different, but Chen Xiu decided it was smarter to be careful.
Lin Yuxia studied the young beggar in front of her—filthy hair, tattered clothes. The smell made her nose wrinkle for a brief instant, but she recovered immediately.
He was thin, weak, and clearly exhausted, but his limbs were intact. His age looked close to hers. Several horns rose from either side of his head. No tail was visible. His ears were long and pointed…
"A Sarkaz," Lin Yuxia concluded. "Smarter than most idiots, at least."
She glanced toward the noisy mess where vagrants were still shouting and shoving against Grey Tail's men. She didn't get angry—there was no point.
Tonight's distribution had two goals: stabilize the vagrants recently driven into the slums, and select a portion of them—those with decent conduct—to be absorbed into Grey Tail Hall.
Lin Yuxia had recently begun taking over part of the Rat King's affairs. Rather than relying solely on veterans, she preferred building her own team.
Otherwise, why would she personally show up just to hand out relief food?
But the vagrants from the city were, frankly, disappointing. Only this Sarkaz youth stood out as remotely worthwhile.
"Shame he's Sarkaz," she thought. "Nine out of ten wandering Sarkaz are Infected. The remaining one is on the way to becoming one."
Lin Yuxia held no personal prejudice against Sarkaz—but Grey Tail Hall did not recruit the Infected.
That was one of the Rat King's rules.
"Here." Lin Yuxia took two bags of supplies from a subordinate and handed them over.
A pair of dirty hands reached up to take them—quick, almost desperate, yet carrying a bone-deep courtesy.
"Thank you," he rasped, his voice hoarse and dry. He dipped his head slightly.
Lin Yuxia paused.
That small, unconscious display of manners left her with an unexpectedly good impression.
Most Sarkaz were infamous for being uncultured, rude, and wild. A different kind of Sarkaz was… rare enough to make her look twice.
Then she watched him bite into a meat bun—and start crying.
"How long has it been since he ate…?"
He stuffed his cheeks like a hamster, chewing fast. Any bits of meat or crumbs that fell were scooped up in frantic motions and shoved back into his mouth—anything dropped on the ground was picked up and eaten immediately.
For a moment, Lin Yuxia even wondered whether some distant place had fallen into famine.
Chen Xiu wiped at his tears with his forearm. In doing so, he accidentally rubbed away some of the grime the original owner had smeared on his face to look less noticeable—revealing handsome features like jade newly freed from its rough stone.
Lin Yuxia went still, surprise and a flash of admiration crossing her eyes.
She had to admit: this was the first time she'd seen a man so striking that he forced you to look.
"Miss Lin—today's meal is a debt of life. Chen will repay it tenfold in the future!"
He clasped his fists, wearing a polite, practiced smile.
It was such a pure smile—like snow on a high mountain, like clear spring water.
Lin Yuxia hesitated… then made her decision.
In principle, each person should receive only one share. But this one really did look pitiful beyond words.
Still, giving only him extra could get him targeted.
"Not necessary." The Grey Tail Hall young mistress waved her hand, her authority returning as she swept her gaze across the crowd as order slowly reformed.
"It seems some people didn't take my words to heart."
"I announce this: everyone who has already lined up properly will receive a double share. Consider it a reward for those willing to follow rules."
Chen Xiu's eyes lit up.
Double share—did that mean he'd have nine meat buns now?
If storage wasn't an issue, he could ration them for days. Miss Lin really was beautiful and kind.
"Long live Miss Lin!" the crowd roared.
Chen Xiu raised his fist high and shouted the loudest at the front:
"Beautiful and kind—Lin Yuxia! Loyal to the heavens—Grey Tail Hall!"
Lin Yuxia frowned slightly, trying to see who was shamelessly flattering her.
When she realized it was Chen Xiu… the words suddenly didn't sound so bad.
In fact, they felt… oddly good.
Soon, others picked up the chant—because it did sound better—and shouted along.
Lin Yuxia stood with hands on her hips, her slender mouse tail swishing with obvious satisfaction.
Inside Grey Tail Hall, the Rat King—sitting in a grand chair—heard the unified chants and raised a brow.
He knew what his daughter was doing, but he hadn't expected her first attempt to cause such a commotion.
A senior member laughed. "Boss, looks like Miss Yuxia's got real leadership. You can rest easy handing your legacy to her one day."
"Don't say that in front of her," the Rat King said, smiling as he tapped the man lightly. "She'll get cocky and her tail will point at the sky. She's still young—she's got a long way to go."
He said it like that, but he clearly enjoyed hearing it. What father didn't like praise for his daughter?
Well… except maybe the first son-in-law to show up at the door.
Another senior member looked uneasy. "Should we quiet things down? Loyal Righteous Hall's been rubbing against us lately—don't let them think we're making a move."
The Rat King considered, then leaned on his black, gold-tipped cane. "No need. Let them be startled a little."
Before long, the noise outside faded.
After the vagrants collected their supplies, they scattered. Chen Xiu vanished early.
Lin Yuxia flipped through a list her assistant had compiled—names of people she found acceptable, though she still needed to investigate them before recruitment. Anyone with rotten character or criminal history was out.
"Add the Sarkaz who collected first," she decided at last. "He looks like a smart one. Maybe he's useful."
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