Practicing is easy when one has infinite skill points.

The arrival of Zhong Lin and his brother didn't stand out much. After all, many people were fleeing in similar ways. The only difference was that they weren't as disheveled or emaciated as the others.

Though Zhong Lin and Little Shi looked thin and frail, they were in far better shape than the gaunt, sallow-faced refugees.

Zhong Lin cautiously covered the sack of meat with some old clothes, giving Little Shi a subtle look.

Little Shi, sharp as ever, tilted his body to press the food sack beneath him.

Zhong Lin remembered a famous line from his past life: "In a famine, disaster victims stop being human. For a single bite of food, they'll do anything." These provisions were the lifeline for him and his brother—absolutely no one could take them.

Silently, Zhong Lin pushed the wheelbarrow forward, moving a bit faster than the others but not enough to draw attention.

Before he knew it, the refugees around him thinned out. A glance back showed he'd left them all behind. Still, he kept his pace, walking faster and faster.

Suddenly, a ragged figure burst out, lunging toward Little Shi—or more precisely, the sack beneath him—like a rabid dog pouncing on prey.

"Second Brother!"

Little Shi yelped, clinging tightly to the sack, refusing to let go.

At nearly the same moment, Zhong Lin yanked the woodcutting knife from his waist and slashed upward in a swift arc.

*Splurch!*

The knife, sharpened to a fine edge, sliced across the man's stomach, spilling a spray of blood.

"Ahh!"

A piercing scream rang out as the refugee collapsed, a long gash tearing across his abdomen, faintly revealing wriggling intestines.

Zhong Lin didn't strike again. Instead, he stepped forward, scooped Little Shi into his arms, and pointed the knife at the writhing figure on the ground, ready to act if needed.

The refugee wailed in agony, shocking the surrounding people into a terrified frenzy. They stumbled back in horror.

Now Zhong Lin could see the man clearly: a young refugee, not old, with sunken eyes and cracked lips—clearly starved for a long time.

Soon, the screams stopped. The young man lay still, motionless on the ground.

Already on the brink of starvation, a slash from Zhong Lin's knife sealed his fate—he couldn't possibly survive.

Zhong Lin's eyes narrowed as he scanned the crowd. Every refugee who met his gaze recoiled in fear, too scared to approach.

"Let's go!"

He placed Little Shi back on the wheelbarrow and strode past the crowd, moving swiftly.

Little Shi clutched the food sack tightly, baring his teeth at the surroundings like a protective little wolf pup—cute yet fierce.

"Young brother!"

Just as Zhong Lin stepped out of the crowd, a voice called from afar. A middle-aged man approached, cupping his hands in a polite greeting.

Zhong Lin sized him up discreetly. The man wore hemp clothing, had a rugged face with a scruffy beard, and carried a machete at his waist. His arms were noticeably thicker than average—clearly not a starving refugee.

Zhong Lin's right hand subtly gripped his woodcutting knife while his left brushed toward the leather pouch of stones.

"What's up?"

The middle-aged man noticed Zhong Lin's small movements. He spread his hands to show he meant no harm and smiled. "No need to be nervous, young brother. I'm Zhu Jie, from Zhu Family Town—not a refugee. My clansmen and I are heading to Heishan County to relocate. I saw you handle that situation just now and thought we could team up—help each other out. What do you say?"

Zhong Lin followed the man's gesture and looked behind him. In the distance, he saw four flatbed carts, each pulled by a yellow ox. The front and rear carts carried people, while the middle two bore four large wooden crates, with children and women sitting atop them.

Six men surrounded the carts, each armed with weapons—mostly hunting knives and bows.

Zhong Lin understood. These people were likely fleeing to Heishan County too, but they were better off than most—wealthy enough to avoid hunger and cold.

They probably approached him out of fear that desperate refugees might target them. An extra pair of hands meant extra strength.

Zhong Lin didn't know them and didn't want trouble. He declined outright, "Thanks for the offer, but no."

Seeing Zhong Lin refuse, Zhu Jie quickly pressed, "Don't say no yet, young brother. To reach Heishan County, you've got two more ridges to cross. The next one's got bandits—mountain thieves and rioters blocking the way. With just you and your little brother, it'll be hard to stay safe. I'm not making this up. There's a village back there, Funiu Village—everyone there was massacred by the bandits from that ridge. Not a soul survived."

Zhong Lin's gaze sharpened. Funiu Village? So that's what happened. His gut feeling yesterday had been spot on. No wonder the village was silent at dinnertime, with no sign of life—they'd all been killed.

"Young brother, why don't you—"

"No need. Goodbye."

Zhong Lin cut off the conversation, pushed the wheelbarrow, and left. Zhu Jie stood there, disappointed, before finally walking away with a helpless shrug.

Zhong Lin glanced at the departing man. Bandits were scary, sure, but these strangers weren't trustworthy either.

Joining them might offer some safety, but it could also turn him into cannon fodder. If it were just him, he might risk it and run if needed—but with Little Shi, that wasn't an option.

Shaking his head, Zhong Lin quickened his pace. After outpacing the refugees, he veered off into the woods beside the road, weaving quickly through the trees until he found a small slope to stop at.

"Here'll do. Shi, go gather firewood."

Zhong Lin expertly set up a cooking spot with stones, pulled some smoked meat and coarse rice from their pack, and poured water from the pouch into the pot.

He ignited some dry leaves, and Little Shi soon returned with twigs from the forest.

Before long, the meal was ready. The smoked meat's fat seeped into the rice, blending its salty savoriness and aroma with the rice's fragrance. It whetted their appetites, and the brothers dug in happily.

These past few days, they'd eaten meat with every meal. It wasn't exactly nutritious, but the oil kept them going. Both had started putting on a little weight—no longer as rail-thin as before.

After eating, they didn't set off right away. Zhong Lin had Little Shi keep watch while he napped. Two sleepless nights had left him severely sleep-deprived. If bandits really lay ahead, he'd need his wits about him to escape.

As they say, "When facing a tiger, you don't need to run fast enough to outpace it—just faster than the others."