The old woman stood at the door, blocking Lin Ling’s path.
“Child.”
Her voice was very low.
“Do not go.”
Lin Ling looked up at her.
“Why?”
The old woman fell silent for a moment.
She didn’t say, “Those people are not to be trifled with.”
Nor did she say, “You will get hurt.”
Because those words were too light.
Too light to describe the fear the people here had learned over the years.
She simply shook her head.
“Everyone here knows not to go looking for them.”
“It is useless to seek them out.”
“It will only make things worse.”
Lin Ling stood her ground, saying nothing.
Leticia stood on the other side of the room, her fingers still tightly clutching her tattered skirt.
She was also watching Lin Ling.
There was no particularly intense expression on Lin Ling’s face.
But the light on her body had not calmed down.
In the old woman’s eyes, that light was burning fiercely.
It was like a fire pressed beneath a thin layer of skin.
“Grandmother,” Lin Ling asked.
“What if I don’t go looking for them?”
The old woman was startled.
Lin Ling continued, “Will that child be labeled a Filthy One by them?”
“And then be disposed of on some unknown day?”
“And after that, everyone will just continue living as if nothing happened?”
The room fell silent.
The old woman’s lips moved slightly.
In the end, she only managed to say, “This kind of thing...”
“...is not something a child like you can handle.”
Lin Ling lowered her head.
She looked at her hands.
Her current body was very small.
Her fingers were thin.
Her arms had little strength.
If one only looked at her appearance, she truly was just a child.
But.
She didn't want to hear those words.
It’s not something you can handle.
Don’t go looking for trouble.
Just endure it, and it will pass.
She seemed to have heard many similar phrases before.
Back in the orphanage, before she transmigrated.
When someone snatched a child’s things.
When someone was bullied.
When someone cried.
Sometimes adults would come, and sometimes they wouldn’t.
Back then, she often thought: if no one spoke up for them, would those wrongs just keep happening forever?
Until finally, everyone got used to it.
Used to being bullied.
Used to bowing their heads.
Used to watching others get hurt, then telling themselves, “There’s nothing I can do.”
Lin Ling took a slow breath.
She wouldn't do that.
She looked up and gave the old woman a small smile.
“I understand.”
The old woman looked at her, her brow furrowing deeper.
“Child, you...”
Lin Ling said nothing more.
She turned and slipped past the door.
The old woman tried to reach out to stop her, but Lin Ling had already run out of the room.
“Lin Ling!”
Leticia instinctively took a step forward.
But as soon as she reached the door, she stopped.
She watched Lin Ling’s small figure disappear around the street corner, and her chest suddenly felt incredibly tight.
Lin Ling walked onto the street alone.
The dilapidated street was even quieter than before.
After those soldiers left, many people had closed their doors.
Occasionally, a figure would flicker behind a window.
Someone was watching her.
But no one came out.
Lin Ling knew they were afraid.
She only had 1 HP; she was afraid too.
But being afraid didn't mean doing nothing.
She walked along the street for a while, then suddenly stopped.
Behind a distant corner, a small head ducked back.
Lin Ling blinked.
It was the little boy she had just healed.
His shoulder no longer hurt.
But his face was still a bit pale.
He hid by the wall, looking as if he wanted to see her but didn't dare to approach.
Lin Ling walked over.
The little boy instinctively wanted to run.
“Wait.”
Lin Ling crouched down.
She tried to keep her voice gentle.
She also tried to suppress the anger that was almost burning out of her chest.
“Don’t be afraid.”
“I’m not here to cause you trouble.”
The boy stopped.
He gripped the corner of the wall, watching her warily.
Lin Ling looked into his eyes.
There was fear in those eyes.
Worry.
And a little bit of something she was very familiar with.
Just like the children in her old orphanage.
Even though they had been wronged, they had learned too early not to cry too loudly.
Lin Ling asked softly, “Do you know where those soldiers pass through at night?”
The boy’s expression changed instantly.
He clearly understood.
“Big sister.”
His voice was very small.
“Can you please not go?”
Lin Ling didn't speak.
The boy’s hand tightened on the wall.
“They are nobles.”
“We can’t fight them.”
He said those words fluently.
As if he had heard them many times.
And as if he had already said them to himself in his heart many times.
Lin Ling was stunned for a moment.
Right.
Even if she dealt with them, what then?
But.
She looked at the little boy in front of her, who was still trying his best to persuade her.
This child had been beaten until he was curled up on the ground just moments ago.
Now, he was advising her not to go.
Lin Ling suddenly smiled.
She held out her pinky finger.
“It’s okay.”
“Big sister just has some things she wants to ask those men. Besides, I’m not an ordinary person.”
The boy froze.
Lin Ling wiggled her pinky.
“Shall we make a pinky swear?”
“Big sister will be back tomorrow morning.”
The boy looked at her pinky and didn't move immediately.
“But...”
Lin Ling leaned in a bit closer, her voice turning even softer.
“Please.”
“Just tell me.”
The boy pursed his lips.
He looked at Lin Ling.
He looked for a long time.
Those pale blue eyes were very serious, filled with concern for them and a burning anger.
The boy slowly reached out and hooked his pinky with Lin Ling’s.
Lin Ling shook it gently.
“Pinky swear.”
The boy lowered his head and said in a small voice, “They take a carriage back to the Noble District at night.”
“They don’t come every day.”
“Coming here to patrol isn't really to keep order.”
“They just come to slack off, or... to have some fun.”
His voice dropped when he said “have some fun.”
Lin Ling didn't interrupt him.
The boy continued, “When they go back, they take the road to the west.”
“There’s a forest there.”
“Almost no one passes through at night.”
“Because people from the Noble District think that road is dirty, and commoners don't dare to go near it. Plus, sometimes magical beasts appear there.”
After he finished, he looked at Lin Ling cautiously.
“Big sister.”
“You really won’t go, right?”
Lin Ling was silent for a moment.
Then, she looked up and gave the boy a smile.
“Thank you.”
“For telling me this.”
She pulled an apple out from her clothes.
It was the apple from the shopping bag Uncle Somizo had stuffed into her hands.
Although the skin had a few scratches from her running with it, it still looked good.
Lin Ling handed the apple to the boy.
“Have some fruit.”
“That must have been very painful earlier, right?”
The boy took the apple blankly.
It was as if he hadn't held such a whole piece of fruit in a long time; he cradled it carefully with both hands.
Lin Ling stood up and brushed the dust off her skirt.
“Remember to hide well,” she said.
“Don’t let those people see you again.”
With that, she turned and walked toward the forest the boy had mentioned.
The light at the end of the street slowly dimmed.
Her small back grew more and more distant until she disappeared among the dilapidated houses.
Back in the house, only the old woman and Leticia remained.
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