Dian Dian snatched the water bottle and stuffed it into her arms.
She held it tightly, her big eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.
In a low voice, she said to Chu Tian, “Big Brother, are you out of your mind?”
Chu Tian was puzzled by her words.
The little girl’s mother naturally noticed the scene.
She came over and whispered, “Dian Dian, give it back to Uncle right now!”
Then she turned to Chu Tian and said, “Here, even a single drop of water could make you a target for countless people. Hide it and don’t take it out again!”
Only then did Chu Tian understand why Dian Dian reacted so strongly.
He waved his hand and said, “It’s for you!”
But Dian Dian’s mother shook her head and said, “Dian Dian’s father is gone. No one can protect us. This… this could get us killed!”
With that, she discreetly took the water bottle from Dian Dian’s arms and slipped it back to Chu Tian.
Then, pulling Chu Tian along, she hurriedly continued on their way.
Dian Dian glanced back at Chu Tian, her tongue licking her cracked lips.
Chu Tian was stunned, thinking to himself: *Aren’t the people around here all from Old Yang’s clan?*
*Do people from the same clan really need to be so wary of each other?*
**[Ding… System Notification: Main Quest Triggered [Trial of the Blood King - Treacherous Hearts 1].]**
The sudden system prompt startled Chu Tian, and he quickly opened the mission panel.
As usual, there were no hints.
But… activating the main quest was already a great start!
He looked up at Dian Dian and her mother as they walked away.
After a few seconds, he shook his head and moved to the back of the group, beside Old Yang.
Unaware, since he hadn’t used his divine sense, Chu Tian didn’t notice that this scene had been observed by a young man in his twenties.
The young man’s gaze toward Chu Tian gleamed with greed.
Chu Tian hadn’t considered using his divine sense—not because he didn’t want to, but because he couldn’t.
He had received a system prompt: insufficient mental energy.
Chu Tian figured it was likely because his soul water had dried up.
As a result, he had temporarily lost that ability.
Through his conversation with Old Yang, Chu Tian gained some understanding of the Sea of Death.
The so-called Sea of Death referred to this desert.
This desert spanned tens of thousands of miles.
There were four cities: Hurricane City, Beast City, Clearwater City, and the Forgotten City.
Beast City was said to be the largest power in the Sea of Death, located in the southwest.
Hurricane City was the most mysterious, as it was rumored to be the only sect in the Sea of Death.
Its location was within the Eye of the Hurricane, at the very center of the Sea of Death.
Clearwater City, on the other hand, was in the east.
As its name suggested, it was said to be the place in the Sea of Death with the most abundant water supply.
Countless people yearned to go there, but only the most dominant figures in the Sea of Death could enter.
As for the Forgotten City, it was located in the north, where temperatures at night could plummet to minus forty or fifty degrees.
It was a lawless city, not a place ordinary people dared to venture.
After listening to Old Yang’s explanation, Chu Tian nodded. He wanted to ask why the Sea of Death was also called the Land of Exile.
But that might expose his identity, so he kept the question to himself.
The group continued moving forward.
Old Yang kept his eyes on the half-setting sun.
His expression grew grim.
Chu Tian asked, “What’s wrong?”
“We might not make it to our destination!” Old Yang replied.
With that, he quickened his pace to the front of the group, which consisted of over five hundred people.
Chu Tian followed at a distance.
Old Yang approached an elder, gesturing and talking for a while.
The elder nodded, and the entire group gradually came to a halt.
Chu Tian knew this elder was the clan leader of the tribe, named Tu Gang.
Almost everyone in the tribe shared the surname Tu.
Old Yang was an exception, and now Chu Tian was too.
After the group stopped, Old Yang directed everyone to start driving wooden stakes into the ground.
Chu Tian had noticed earlier that almost every man carried two stakes on their back.
Some of the stronger young men even carried five or six.
They had no transport vehicles; everything was carried on their backs.
A circle of stakes was driven into the ground, enclosing an area large enough for everyone to enter.
Then, the women took out hemp ropes and began weaving them between the stakes.
Chu Tian had to admit, their efficiency was impressive.
From driving the stakes to weaving the ropes into a makeshift wall, it took less than two hours.
The stakes weren’t very tall, about one meter seventy.
Then, they opened barrels and poured out an unknown liquid.
They splashed it on the ropes and stakes.
The smell was so pungent that Chu Tian wrinkled his nose.
It was a sharp, spicy odor.
“Haha… the smell’s bad, but it keeps the desert monsters away!” Old Yang said, noticing Chu Tian’s expression. He walked over and patted him on the shoulder.
After that, Old Yang turned to continue working.
Chu Tian, meanwhile, sat alone in a corner.
He felt out of place.
Watching the group, Chu Tian pondered.
He had been transported here to complete the Trial of the Blood King.
But what exactly was the trial?
So far, there were no clues.
He had inexplicably triggered a side quest, completed it, and received no rewards.
Now, triggering the main quest was somewhat reassuring. It seemed following this tribe was the right choice.
And then there was Old Yang—his identity was a mystery.
Such a powerful man, yet he was mingling with this small Tu Clan tribe.
Suddenly!
*Gurgle…* Chu Tian’s stomach growled.
Chu Tian froze.
This feeling of hunger was definitely not just a game.
“Big Brother…”
As he was lost in thought, a soft voice came from behind him.
Chu Tian turned and saw, not far away, near a pile of hemp ropes, Dian Dian crouching in the shadows, waving at him.
Chu Tian quietly moved over.
“What’s up, Dian Dian?” he asked.
Chu Tian was quite fond of this little girl. Though she was a bit dirty and her skin was dark, her big eyes showed her pure heart.
“Big Brother, Mommy told me to tell you to leave at dawn! Brother Er Gou told the clan leader you have water.”
“Mommy was called by the clan leader to answer questions! Please… don’t blame Mommy…”
As she spoke, she pleaded on her mother’s behalf.
This implied her mother had told the clan leader the truth.
Chu Tian’s expression turned cold.
Noticing his change, Dian Dian quickly added, “If Mommy didn’t tell, we’d be kicked out of… the tribe…”
Her voice grew quieter.
**[Ding… System Notification: Main Quest Triggered [Trial of the Blood King - Treacherous Hearts 1 - Decision]. Please make your choice: Trust / Do Not Trust!]**
Chu Tian realized his expression had scared the little girl.
He quickly softened his demeanor, took out a piece of chocolate and a bottle of mineral water, and handed them to her.
At the same time, he issued a command to the system: “Trust!”
**[Ding… System Notification: You chose ‘Trust.’ No changes to the quest progress. Continue.]**
Dian Dian looked at the water in Chu Tian’s hand but didn’t take it.
Her curious eyes, however, were fixed on the beautifully wrapped chocolate.
Chu Tian smiled, opened the wrapper, and held it to her mouth. “Eat it! Then hurry back.”
She hesitated, but the chocolate’s aroma was too tempting. She took a bite.
The silky texture melted in her mouth.
Dian Dian’s eyes widened. She grabbed the chocolate from Chu Tian and began eating eagerly.
Her expression was as if she had tasted the most delicious thing in the world.
Chu Tian rubbed her head and opened the water bottle, handing it to her. “Drink some water, don’t choke!”
Hiding behind the rope pile, Dian Dian licked her lips and took the bottle.
She took a small sip, hesitated, then handed it back to Chu Tian.
“Drink it… finish it. Big Brother has more!” Chu Tian said, his heart aching for no reason.
On Blue Star, there were people like this, living in places where water was scarce.
They treated water like a treasure, while others wasted it without a care.
Without experiencing it himself, Chu Tian couldn’t fully grasp the meaning of the slogan he often saw:
*“Saving water is cherishing life.”*
The actions of this seven- or eight-year-old girl deeply moved him.
“Really?” Dian Dian looked at him.
Chu Tian nodded firmly.
With his confirmation, her eyes lit up with excitement. She held the bottle and began drinking in big gulps.
When she had drunk half, she stopped.
“Saving it for Mommy?” Chu Tian guessed her intention.
“Drink it! I’ll give your mom some later if I get the chance. You can’t take it back anyway!” Chu Tian reassured her.
The little girl thought for a moment, then slowly drank the rest, bit by bit.
Finally, she poured the last drop into her mouth and licked the rim with her tongue.
Then she handed the bottle back to Chu Tian.
“Thank you, Big Brother. This is the happiest moment of Dian Dian’s life!”
Chu Tian rubbed her head and smiled. “You’re still young. Your life is just beginning!”
“Go back now, or your mom will worry.”
Watching Dian Dian crawl away cautiously, Chu Tian stood up and looked toward the center of the camp.
A cold smile crossed his mind: *Trying to make a move on me? Let’s see what you’ve got.*
Chu Tian knew that the so-called Clan Leader Tu and that Er Gou wouldn’t wait until dawn.
This night was bound to be anything but peaceful.