Chapter 672: Steadfast as a Rock!

Everyone is not ignorant of the people's hardships; they know that in this world many people truly live in water‑deep, fire‑hot conditions.

But hearing a tiny child call their own fate worthless still makes them feel uncomfortable.

What kind of living environment could bury her personality into dust?

Even Xiaohu Xiaocheng is somewhat surprised.

"A Diao, it's not like that. Mother told us that everyone is born equal. Every life is a special existence and deserves respect," Xiao Chen said.

This is still A Diao's first time hearing such words, contrary to her previous understanding, leaving her momentarily bewildered.

Is every life special? Including her?

Not only A Diao, but even the disciples of the Renxu Class were moved by Xiao Chen's words.

In this world, people are divided into three, six, nine levels, and strength reigns supreme.

And Xiao Chen being able to speak these words in this strictly tiered world is undeniably a refreshing current, worthy of admiration.

One must know that their status could be the most prestigious on the continent!

"So, we are all the same people; why don't you have the right to be our friend?"

"Really? I really… can I be friends with you?" A Diao's eyes showed hope.

"Of course!" Xiao Hu said cheerfully: "As long as you don't despise us for being from elsewhere, that's fine!"

A Diao spread her hands, "No, we DaYuCun are the most warm‑hearted and hospitable!"

"That's good! From now on, we are friends!"

A Diao, bewildered, doesn't know how she ended up befriending these two noble young men.

Nevertheless, she still followed her heart and nodded, "Alright…"

She must hurry back to tell the village chief grandfather this news.

A Diao led the group to DaYuCun, and along the way she kept introducing DaYuCun to Ye Qingran and her party.

As the name suggests, DaYuCun is a fishing village that makes its living from catching fish, belonging to Donghai Cheng's ShitouZhen.

The village has dozens of households; men fish, women weave and tailor.

A special cotton‑linen grows here; its soft texture is warm in winter and cool in summer, and once woven into cloth or made into garments, it sells very well in Donghai Cheng.

From afar, A Diao looks like a tour guide, while Ye Qingran's party appears as tourists.

As Ye Qingran imagined, the so‑called DaYuCun is really a cluster of ramshackle thatched huts, foundations of stacked stones, roofs of dry grass, looking quite harsh.

DaYuCun is extremely remote; normally few visitors come, but suddenly a crowd arrived, each exuding uncommon nobility, causing every villager to gather around, full of curiosity.

"A Diao, who have you brought here?"

A middle‑aged woman asked cautiously.

"AFengAunt, they are out‑of‑town guests, also my… friends."

When A Diao mentioned friends, she sounded a bit unnatural.

This is still her first time making friends with such noble people!

"Friends?"

The villagers were all stunned.

How could such noble people be friends with A Diao?

"A Diao, come here." AFengAunt pulled A Diao aside, lowered her voice and asked, "A Diao, they are all nobles; they cannot be friends with you. Don't be deceived by them!"

What AFengAunt didn't know is that even though she lowered her voice, Ye Qingran and the others had already heard it clearly.

"No way!" A Diao felt a sudden surge in her heart, but recalling what Xiaohu Xiaocheng had just said, she instantly became resolute.

"AFengAunt, they won't deceive me!"

AFengAunt was stunned by A Diao's resolute attitude, "This child, why is she so incomprehensible…" She had been to the town, where nobles never gave her a proper look; these nobles are ten thousand times more noble than those in ShitouZhen, would they be friends with A Diao?

"A Diao, you finally returned; the village chief grandfather is calling to see you!"

A boy of about ten rushed over.

"Village chief grandfather!" A Diao's heart thumped, her face turned pale.

"Fairy sister, I want to go see the village chief grandfather!"

As A Diao said this, she ran toward the village; Ye Qingran and the others stared briefly, then followed.

The villagers each looked at them curiously, yet dared not intervene.

The nobles of ShitouZhen say DaYuCun belongs to them; whenever they wish, they can drive the villagers away at any time.

Therefore, they dare not offend any noble.

The "village chief grandfather" A Diao mentioned, i. e., DaYuCun's chief, lives in an inconspicuous thatched hut in the village.

Even from a distance, the scent of medicine wafts out.

"Village chief grandfather!"

A Diao fell beside the bed; the elderly man's hair was ash‑gray, eye sockets deep, gaunt, so weak he seemed about to expire at any moment.

"A… A Diao…"

The old man extended his emaciated hand, trembling, trying to stroke A Diao's cheek but failing.

A Diao grabbed the old man's hand and rubbed it with her cheek, tears wetting his skin.

"Grandfather, it's almost over… you must… live well…"

"No… Village chief grandfather, Sister A went to collect medicine for you; she'll be back soon!"

Ye Qingran and the others stood outside the thatched house.

Hong Wu asked Ye Qingran anxiously, "Instructor Ye, A Diao's grandfather…"

"Multiple organ failure, illness beyond cure."

The crowd fell silent.

The Pill Emperor's diagnosis was, of course, absolutely certain.

But, is it truly beyond saving?

Inside the house, the old man gently shook his head, knowing his time was up.

"You sisters, you must, you must live as tenaciously as a rock..."

Fate is woven like a thread; every life is the same.

Especially the lives of this seaside fishing village, under blazing sun and relentless hurricanes, they must be as tough and unyielding as a rock, fearless of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning.