Chapter 7: Red Candle

Ge Heizi lay on the ground like a dog eating feces, unable to get up for half a day.

After Hu Sandao left, his bloodshot eyes stared gloomily at Jiang Xiaomu.

Lines of subtitles instantly lit up inside the system.

【Ding—】

【The system grants you two Heaven's Mandate Points.】

【You once again helped the army protection resolve a problem, gaining even more trust from the army protection leader.】

【But your actions aroused the jealousy of Ge Heizi and others; they bore a grudge, joining forces with Shapozi's people to sneak‑attack you in the dead of night.】

【Because you were unprepared, you were beheaded on the spot, blood spilling everywhere, and Jiang Xiaoyu was also kidnapped by Shapozi's people……】

Jiang Xiaomu's face turned ashen instantly; he never imagined that his proactive performance would bring deadly disaster upon himself and his sister.

His gaze toward Ge Heizi also became sharp.

Feeling a chill down his spine under that stare, Ge Heizi staggered to his feet and fled in a hurry.

Returning to the tent, Jiang Xiaomu saw Hu Sandao's subordinate bringing him two pieces of cured meat; the meat's aroma filled the tent, making his stomach churn.

"Brother, we have meat to eat."

Jiang Lüzhu spoke excitedly, her large black-and-white eyes bright and lively.

She couldn't even remember how long it had been since she last ate meat; living day to day without enough food had made her frail as a blade of grass, ready to snap at the slightest breeze.

And meat was something she dared not even dream of.

"Hurry up and eat."

Jiang Xiaomu stroked his sister's soft, silky long hair and spoke with firm eyes.

With just these two pieces of cured meat, his performance today was not in vain, even if he would later face a life‑threatening danger……

"Brother, you eat first."

But Jiang Lüzhu was especially sensible; she carefully cut a piece with a small knife and handed it to Jiang Xiaomu with hopeful eyes.

In this chaotic world, it's fortunate to have her brother's protection; otherwise she would have long been snatched by slave traders and sold into a brothel to serve men.

She looked gratefully at Jiang Xiaomu, her voice soft and gentle yet firm, vowing to protect her brother when she grew up.

Jiang Xiaomu didn't refuse; he took the cured meat and stuffed a bite into his mouth.

Before, he never realized how delicious meat could be, but since coming to this world, meat has become something he can only long for, never obtain.

The siblings feasted heartily, their mouths full of oil, before finally stopping.

Jiang Xiaomu suddenly remembered that the system had granted him two more Heaven's Mandate Points today, and hurriedly entered the system.

Sure enough, it was the same scene as yesterday, the colorful cabinets seeming to beckon.

Jiang Xiaomu gazed at his two Heaven's Mandate Points, feeling rather helpless, for the items on those colorful cabinets often required hundreds or thousands of points.

"I'm afraid I'll never be able to exchange for them in this lifetime."

Jiang Xiaomu shook his head, sighed, and walked again to the cabinet that emitted the faintest light yesterday.

Where he had taken the white square jade yesterday, a red candle now appeared.

On it was written: "Lighting it causes short‑term dizziness and vomiting, requiring only two Heaven's Mandate Points."

Jiang Xiaomu's eyes lit up; he directly grasped the red candle in his hand—exactly what he needed now.

After leaving the system, Jiang Xiaomu felt somewhat reassured; with this red candle, tonight's killing plot should be easier to handle.

Night fell, the wind outside the tent was cold and bleak; tonight was destined to be another sleepless night.

Jiang Xiaomu instructed his sister: no matter what happens at night, do not come out, and do not make a sound.

"Brother, you must be careful."

Jiang Lüzhu seemed to have guessed something, looking at Jiang Xiaomu nervously.

"Don't worry, brother will be fine."

After comforting his sister, Jiang Xiaomu lit the red candle; its faint light instantly illuminated the whole tent.

A faint scent of wax instantly spread through the tent.

Jiang Xiaomu pretended to sleep, quietly waiting, for Ge Heizi and Shapozi's people would surely come tonight.

Until the deep of night, there was still no movement outside the tent.

Jiang Xiaomu was not in a hurry; he continued to feign sleep.

"We still can't move—dawn is almost here!"

"What time is it now? That kid is surely asleep; just go in and stab him to death with one blow."

Faint footsteps and the voices of several people came from outside the tent.

"Come on, charge straight in."

Ge Heizi could wait no longer; he took a big step and strode into the tent.

All that could be seen inside the tent was the faint candlelight, with Jiang Xiaomu lying in the middle, sleeping soundly.

The few exchanged glances, their eyes gleaming with greedy smiles, and hurried toward Jiang Xiaomu.

However, before they reached Jiang Xiaomu, Ge Heizi felt his intestines churning, began vomiting a mass of black‑green liquid, and could barely stand.

This sudden change left the others stunned.

"Ge Heizi, what's wrong with you? If you're going to vomit, go outside—this stench is awful……"

Before he finished speaking, that person also began to vomit, his symptoms even more pronounced, and collapsed with a thud.

Shapozi's people turned green‑faced; "What's going on? Are one or two of them just joking with us?"

Originally, they cooperated with Ge Heizi because he promised to hand over Jiang Xiaoyu to them later.

But now, as soon as they entered, both of them fainted—this is too strange.

Yet soon they discovered that their own stomachs were also churning, their heads feeling heavy and dazed.

Not good, this tent has definitely been drugged.

Shapozi's people shouted loudly, but it was already too late; everyone who had entered showed symptoms—first vomiting, then immediately collapsing unconscious.

Jiang Xiaomu, without losing a single soldier, knocked them all out.

After a few more minutes, making sure everyone was down, Jiang Xiaomu slowly got up and coldly walked over to Ge Heizi's side.

This Ge Heizi really thinks highly of him, actually bringing so many people in, and even holding a spear.

The spear gave off a cold silver gleam; at a glance it was clearly a top-quality weapon.

Among these refugees, a good weapon is worth a fortune, after all, a weapon can increase a person's combat power.

Only those with high combat power can survive here.

Jiang Xiaomu gripped the spear, feeling wistful, wishing it were his.

But he still relies on Hu Sandao…

Jiang Xiaomu finally sighed, then had someone hand the spear to Hu Sandao, after which he began waiting for dawn.

Time passed second by second, and finally the east began to lighten.

Hu Sandao came over holding the spear, looking at the chaotic tent, his eyes icy as iron.

Especially seeing Ge Heizi actually colluding with Shapozi's people made him fly into a rage.

"You damn Ge Heizi, you once made me believe in you, and this is how you show your loyalty?"

Hu Sandao stepped with one foot on Ge Heizi's chest; for such a traitor, he never shows mercy.