The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

"Hm?" Following behind Shi Niu, Lin Qian turned his head in curiosity and noticed another burly man hurrying toward them.

"It seems you're the Shi Meng that Shi Niu mentioned," Lin Qian said as he observed the man, noting the scars that covered his body. He sighed and added, "You've done well. The fact that this tribe has survived until now is thanks to your efforts."

Shi Meng, caught off guard by the praise, scratched his head and responded modestly, "You're too kind. Thank you for saving one of our tribe members earlier."

"We're all human, so there's no need for thanks," Lin Qian replied nonchalantly as he continued following Shi Niu, still taking in his surroundings.

Perhaps due to the harsh environment, the human race's situation in this small world was dire. Yet, in this Stone Tribe, Lin Qian saw only mutual help and cooperation—no signs of internal strife.

The people of the Stone Tribe seemed to have only one goal: to survive.

"Stay close. I'll need your help with something soon," Lin Qian said, casting a glance at Shi Meng.

"Help you with something?" Shi Meng asked, bewildered. What could this mysterious young man, with such terrifying strength, possibly need his help with? Even though he didn't fully understand, Shi Meng instinctively followed closely behind Lin Qian, trusting him despite not knowing why. Perhaps it was the young man's aura, so at odds with the world they lived in?

"Benefactor, that's the chief's house ahead. He should be inside," Shi Niu said as they arrived at the center of the Stone Tribe, pointing to a stone house in front of them.

Lin Qian followed Shi Niu's gesture and noticed that the chief's residence was no different from the other houses, equally simple and unadorned.

"You two stay here and wait for me. Once I've met with your chief, I'll come back and ask for your help with a few matters," Lin Qian instructed. Without waiting for their response, he stepped forward and entered the stone house.

The door, made from a few branches haphazardly tied together, creaked open to reveal a humble interior. On a simple stone table sat a few dishes of food that looked and smelled no better than pig slop. Despite this, several children were carefully eating the food, while an elderly man with a white beard watched over them kindly.

The sudden opening of the door drew the attention of everyone inside.

The children stared curiously at Lin Qian, a stranger who looked nothing like anyone they had ever seen. They then turned to the chief with questions.

"Chief Grandpa, who is he? Is he human like us?"

"He looks strange. Why isn't his face all dirty? Did he secretly use water to wash up?"

The children's innocent inquiries made the Stone Tribe's chief stare at Lin Qian in astonishment. "Are you from a larger tribe? No, that can't be. Even in our largest tribes, no one has enough water to clean themselves so thoroughly."

"You're the chief of this tribe?" Lin Qian asked, his gaze fixed on the elderly man.

The chief, still in shock, didn't immediately answer. After instructing the children to take their food and leave, he nodded and said, "Yes, I am Shi Yun, the chief of this tribe."

"You're a good chief," Lin Qian remarked after a moment of silence. He sat down across from Shi Yun and continued, "If I'm not mistaken, that food you gave the children was yours. You only took a few bites before giving the rest to them. Your living conditions are no different from the rest of the tribe, and you don't enjoy any special privileges."

Shi Yun frowned, warily eyeing Lin Qian. "What's your background? In any human tribe, any decent chief would prioritize the survival of their people."

"You don't need to be wary of me. I'm human, just like you," Lin Qian replied with a smile. With a wave of his hand, a steaming bowl of porridge and two plates of simple, yet appetizing, dishes appeared on the table.

"Chief Shi, have a good meal. We can talk afterward," Lin Qian said, gesturing toward the food. He noticed Shi Yun's breathing quicken at the sight of it.

"What? Can this be real?" Shi Meng's voice rang out in disbelief from outside the stone house.

Shi Niu had already explained to his friend everything that had transpired since they met Lin Qian, from their chance encounter to their return to the tribe.

Shi Meng held up the coat that Shi Niu had taken off earlier, marveling at its softness. "This fabric... I don't know what it's made of, but it's so warm."

He handed the coat back to Shi Niu, then turned his gaze toward the chief's house. "If what you said is true, where did he come from? Do humans really have such power?"

"Beyond this small world, the one we live in is just a leaf on a tree," Shi Yun muttered in the stone house, his mind reeling.

Lin Qian's words had shattered everything he thought he knew. Their world wasn't the entirety of existence. Humans were far more powerful than they had ever imagined, not the livestock that the Goblin and Giant races treated them as.

To Shi Yun, Lin Qian's words were almost incomprehensible—too wild for him to fully grasp. Yet, deep down, he believed them to be true. It was simple: the young man before him was clean, impeccably dressed, and had just given him a meal beyond his wildest dreams.

"Now do you understand who I am, Chief Shi?" Lin Qian asked with a smile as Shi Yun slowly came back to his senses.

Shi Yun, no longer wary, immediately tried to kneel in respect. However, before his knees could touch the ground, Lin Qian swiftly pulled him back to his feet.

Shi Yun was even more astonished by this act. Despite his age, he was still the strongest person in the Stone Tribe. Yet this young man had pulled him up with such ease, leaving him unable to resist.

"The survival problems of the Stone Tribe are trivial matters in my eyes. Leave it to me," Lin Qian said before Shi Yun could speak. "But I need to know—if there's suddenly an abundance of food, will your tribe remain orderly?"

Shi Yun quickly assured him, "Rest assured, sir. There won't be any issues. Everyone will maintain order."

Satisfied with the chief's response, Lin Qian nodded and stepped out of the stone house. He turned to Shi Meng and Shi Niu, who were waiting outside, and said, "Gather all the tribe members. Bring them to the fields."

"Yes, benefactor!" Shi Niu immediately understood what Lin Qian intended to do and excitedly agreed. Grabbing the still-bewildered Shi Meng by the arm, he hurried off to gather the others.