King of Worlds'

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At this moment, the six-thousand-strong force moved like a relentless tide, their blades cutting down their enemies without hesitation. The weaker ones had no chance to resist— their fates were sealed the moment they crossed paths with this overwhelming force.

In numbers and strength, these enemies were mere insects before the disciplined might of the advancing army.

Within half an hour, the entire street had been purged. Bodies lay motionless, blood pooling in the cracks of the stone roads, forming small rivulets that reflected the crimson dusk.

Leading the charge, Fang Lan moved like a storm, sweeping through any remaining resistance, ensuring not a single hostile force remained standing.

"Your Majesty, rest assured. General Fang Lan is a veteran in warfare. We need only wait for his report." Qin Lin spoke with a calm smile.

"Mm." Qin Yi nodded, though a lingering unease gnawed at his heart.

The waiting reminded him of standing outside a room while a loved one gave birth— anxious, uncertain, yet unable to look away.

Just then, the sound of shuffling feet drew their attention. Children, huddled in corners and alleyways, peered out at them with wide, curious eyes. They had noticed that Qin Yi and his group had not followed the rest of the army.

Unlike the battle-hardened warriors, these newcomers did not radiate the same fearsome presence. Their expressions were softer, their demeanor almost kind.

"Uncle, did you come to get rid of the bad people?" A small girl, no older than five or six, hesitantly stepped forward, her voice trembling with both hope and fear.

Before Qin Yi could answer, an older boy— perhaps ten years old— grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Yemuzi, be quiet!" His voice was sharp with panic. Then, without hesitation, he knelt on the ground, pressing his forehead against the dirt.

"Forgive her, sirs! She didn't mean any offense! Please spare her!" His entire body shook, fear gripping him so tightly it was painful to watch.

Compared to powerful shinobi and warlords, they were nothing— rootless leaves drifting in a storm, ants before giants.

Yemuzi had spoken without thinking, but to the boy, her words could have cost them everything.

A pair of feet stepped into his line of sight.

"What's your name?" The boy flinched and slowly looked up. Before him stood a young man, his expression neither cruel nor indifferent but gentle, almost reassuring. His face wasn't much older than his own, yet there was something about his presence that felt... steady.

"Sumi." For some reason, the boy found the courage to answer, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Sumi?" Qin Yi repeated the name thoughtfully, glancing at the others huddled around the boy— equally frightened, equally curious. A small smile tugged at his lips.

"Do you have a home? Which village are you from?"

Sumi stiffened, then shook his head. "No. My parents died in the war long ago."

"And as for a village... No land claims us. No one wants people like us."

"I see."

Qin Yi's gaze darkened slightly. Then, with a quiet sigh, he reached out and ruffled the boy's dirt-covered hair.

"You've been through a lot."

Something inside Sumi cracked at those words. His throat tightened, his vision blurred. They—these war orphans, these unwanted children—were treated like pests, barely acknowledged as human.

No one had ever spoken to him like this before.

"T-thank you..." he choked out, trying to hold back tears.

"I want to build a nation here," Qin Yi continued, his voice steady. "A home for everyone."

He paused, then looked directly into Sumi's wide, disbelieving eyes.

"Would you like to be part of it?"

Sumi's entire body stiffened.

There was no deception in the man's voice, no empty words meant to pacify them. Sumi had spent his whole life learning to distinguish between kindness and lies.

This—this was real.

"Are you... telling the truth, sir?"

This time, Yemuzi spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sumi did not stop her. Instead, he too waited, yearning for a confirmation.

They had no roots. No home. But if... if this man's words were true—

"Of course it's true." Qin Yi grinned. "My word is my bond. I never lie."

To their surprise, he even pulled a silly face at Yemuzi, trying to coax a smile.

"There's no need to be afraid. The ones fighting ahead are my people. They're making sure the ones who hurt you, who hurt this village, can never do so again."

His voice rose slightly, carrying through the empty streets where weary villagers still lingered, uncertain and wary.

"Once the battle is over, we will all work together to build a home—one that belongs to us."

A flicker of life returned to the villagers' eyes. They turned towards him, some filled with doubt, others with hope. For so long, all they had known was suffering.

Could this truly be real?

"That's amazing, sir!" Sumi's voice rang out, full of raw excitement.

Qin Yi smiled. "Don't worry. Soon, you'll have a real home."

He helped Sumi and Yemuzi to their feet. Their clothes were ragged, their faces smeared with dirt, but beneath it all, they had bright eyes and strong features—children who, given the chance, would grow into remarkable people.

"Qin Lin, do we have any rations left?"

At his call, Qin Lin stepped forward without hesitation, retrieving a small bundle from his pack and handing it over.

Qin Yi placed it in Yemuzi's hands. "Eat. It's been a while since you've had a proper meal, hasn't it?"

Yemuzi did not move. She simply stared at him, unmoving, silent. Sumi, growing anxious, fidgeted beside her.

Then, after three long seconds, Yemuzi's eyes filled with tears. She let out a wail and sobbed.

Qin Yi blinked, startled. Then, without hesitation, he knelt down and embraced her.

He understood.

This wasn't just about food. It was about kindness—something they had forgotten even existed.

"It's okay now," he whispered. "Everything will get better."

"From this moment on, I promise you— no one will suffer alone anymore."

This was not the empty promise of a ruler. It was a vow, as unshakable as the foundation of a great village.

These children, these lost souls— they were now his people. They mattered.

Beside him, Yang Yi, Gandalf, and Qin Xiyao silently stepped forward, offering their own rations to the other children.

Then, without another word, Qin Yi and his group continued onward.

Behind them, Sumi and Yemuzi broke into a run, shouting through the streets.

"The grown-ups are here to save us!"

"From now on, we're safe!"

"Everyone, don't be afraid! They'll stop the bad ones! They'll protect us!"

Their small voices carried through the village, igniting something in the hearts of the weary people.

"Are we... really saved?"

For the first time in a long while, hope blossomed anew.

(End of Chapter)