After a while, little Lila from the Silver Lantern Inn quietly entered the room carrying a tray. On it was a large bowl of warm porridge mixed with soft vegetables, fresh bread, a pitcher of clean water, and a small cup of honeyed milk. The five-year-old set it down gently on the bedside table without saying a word, her big eyes full of worry for the crying girl.
Suki's stomach growled loudly at the smell. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and began eating — at first slowly, then faster and faster, devouring everything on the tray like she hadn't eaten in months. When the last crumb was gone she drank the entire pitcher of water in big gulps. For a moment she looked almost peaceful… then the tears came again. She started sobbing harder than before, shoulders shaking.
Luo Feng gently wiped her face with a clean cloth. "You're safe now, Suki. I'm here."
He lifted her carefully into his arms and carried her back to the Adventurers Guild. Many powerful adventurers — A-rank and S-rank fighters who had answered the summons — were still gathered in the main hall, talking in low voices about the coming demon attacks. They all turned to watch as Luo Feng walked in with the small, tear-streaked girl in his arms.
He went straight to the healer's station.
"Please check her again," Luo Feng asked quietly.
The healer placed glowing hands on Suki once more. Soft green light flowed over her. After a minute the healer nodded.
"She is fine now. No more physical injuries, and her body has recovered its strength. The food and rest did the rest. She just needs time to heal inside."
But Suki was still crying, clinging tightly to Luo Feng's shirt.
Luo Feng sat down on a bench in a quieter corner of the hall, holding her on his lap. He stroked her tangled hair gently, his voice calm but full of quiet pain.
"Suki… please tell me what happened. Where is everyone? Where is Miya? Why were you alone on that horse for so long?"
Suki buried her face in his chest for a long moment, then lifted her head. Her small voice shook as she spoke, loud enough that the entire guild hall could hear.
"Big Brother Feng… the heroes came. The five heroes and the soldiers. They were running… running from a big demon general and lots of monsters. They ran straight into the village. They didn't fight… they pushed everyone aside and used the villagers as shields so the monsters would attack us instead. They ran through the village and escaped out the other side."
Her voice cracked.
"The monsters came in… they killed everyone. Mama… Papa… Kael… everyone. Houses fell and burned. People were torn apart. Miya… Big Sister Miya tied me to the horse. She said 'Follow Feng as fast as you can. You will be safe.' Then she slapped the horse and… and the monsters got her too."
Suki's tears fell like rain.
"I rode and rode… I only had the little food she gave me. After that I had nothing. The horse never stopped. I… I thought I would never see you again…"
The entire guild hall had fallen completely silent.
Every adventurer in the room — hardened warriors who had seen countless battles — stood frozen. Some gripped their weapons so tightly their knuckles turned white. Others stared at the floor, faces dark with fury.
Whispers began to spread like fire:
"The heroes used civilians as shields…?"
"They sacrificed an entire village to save themselves…?"
"Those blessed bastards…"
Anger rippled through the crowd. Several high-ranking adventurers looked ready to draw their weapons right there.
Luo Feng sat perfectly still, holding the crying little girl in his arms. His calm face had not changed… but his eyes had gone cold and dark, like the moment before a storm.
He gently stroked Suki's hair, his voice low and steady, though something dangerous stirred beneath it.
"I understand now."
The unblessed farmer from Churachandpur, who had once been thrown away by the Goddess herself, now held the last surviving member of his new family… while the heroes the Goddess had chosen were the ones who had destroyed everything he loved.
The guild hall remained deathly quiet, the weight of Suki's words hanging heavy in the air.