71: Divine attributes manifest

The convoy continued forward. Aphrodite jumped down from the war chariot and ran to Shen Xiaochuan's side, pressing her face against his chest, her small hands tightly gripping the corner of his clothes. She didn't speak, nor did she tremble anymore.

Shen Xiaochuan looked down at her, gently picked her up, and walked toward the center of the crowd.

The soldiers opened the supply crates and took out the supplies one by one: compressed biscuits, canned food, blankets, and water purification tablets, distributing them to the survivors. Some people's hands were still trembling as they received the food, as if they couldn't believe it was real.

"You don't need to kneel before me," Shen Xiaochuan said, standing on a rock. "And don't call me a god. As long as you are alive, these things belong to you."

A young villager asked in a low voice, "Is there really nothing we need to do?"

Shen Xiaochuan shook his head. "As long as you are alive, these things are yours."

No one spoke. They held onto their distributed supplies tightly, as if afraid they would be snatched away.

In a corner, a child with a broken leg curled up in his mother's arms, his face pale. Shen Xiaochuan walked over and squatted down, lifting the blood-soaked cloth strips to check the wound. He took out sterile gauze and styptic powder from his backpack and personally bandaged the child.

The child gasped in pain, and the mother wanted to stop him but didn't dare move.

"He will survive." Shen Xiaochuan tied the last loop of the bandage. "Medical Team, follow up; change the dressing twice a day."

Just as he was about to stand up, he heard the sound of a cane tapping on the ground.

The old village chief, Darwin, came over leaning on a wooden stick. He had a scar on his face and walked with a limp. He stopped in front of Shen Xiaochuan, stared at him for a few seconds, and then slowly bowed.

His voice was low but firm: "We... are willing to go with you."

Then a second person came, and a third. Some walked out leaning against the walls, others knelt while carrying the wounded on their backs. They weren't kowtowing or surrendering; they were simply expressing gratitude.

Shen Xiaochuan did not tell them to stand up.

Carrying Aphrodite, he walked to where her mother was lying. The woman's eyes were still closed, and her breathing was steadier than before, but she had not yet woken up.

The Little Girl slid to the ground and ran over to hold her mother's hand.

"Can you save her?" She looked up at Shen Xiaochuan.

The surroundings fell silent instantly.

Shen Xiaochuan squatted down and placed his fingers on the woman's wrist. After closing his eyes for a moment, he spoke: "She hasn't died; she's just suffered a shock, and her mind is scattered."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a golden spirit fruit. The fruit was golden with patterns on its surface, shimmering in the sunlight.

He broke the fruit open and dripped the juice into the woman's mouth bit by bit.

As soon as the pulp entered her mouth, the woman's brow twitched, her lips trembled slightly, and a swallowing sound came from her throat.

Everyone held their breath.

Three seconds later, her eyelids began to flutter, and a few seconds after that, she slowly opened her eyes.

Her vision blurred for a moment before gradually focusing on Shen Xiaochuan's face.

"It's you..." her voice was very soft, "did you save us?"

Aphrodite lunged forward and hugged her neck, crying loudly.

"Mama! You're awake! You're finally awake!"

The woman raised her hand, tremblingly stroking her daughter's cheek. She looked at Shen Xiaochuan, tears falling.

"Thank you... thank you for saving my child."

Shen Xiaochuan nodded gently. "Rest well. You can't afford to get injured again on the road."

He stood up and ordered the Medical Team: "Prepare a stretcher; she needs an IV. Arrange a war chariot for this mother and daughter."

The soldiers immediately sprang into action.

Darwin walked to his side and handed over a crumpled piece of paper with both hands.

"This is the list of people in the village who can still move," he said. "Three hundred and twenty-seven people, including men, women, young, and old. I will register them clearly and do as you say."

Shen Xiaochuan took the paper and glanced at it. "I don't need your loyalty. I only want you to survive and tell others—there are those who will not abandon disaster victims."

Darwin nodded heavily.

When the sun reached its zenith, the search and rescue ended. A total of four thousand and three people were rescued, with seventy-nine seriously injured and over three hundred lightly injured. All remains were buried together, and the ruins of the houses were doused in oil and burned.

Shen Xiaochuan ordered the departure.

The group evacuated from the ruins, stretching for nearly two kilometers. In front was the Escort Team, in the middle were war chariots and ox carts carrying the wounded, and behind followed the villagers on foot. The flags unfurled, and the emblem of Skydome City fluttered in the wind.

Aphrodite and her mother sat in the second war chariot. The woman leaned against the side of the carriage, her face still pale, but her spirits had improved. She looked at the moving crowd outside the window and whispered, "We must follow him forever."

Her daughter snuggled against her shoulder, her gaze fixed on the figure riding a horse at the end of the line in the distance.

Shen Xiaochuan held the reins with one hand and lightly stroked the Gear Pendant on his chest with the other. He looked back at the long procession, his gaze sweeping over every face.

These people should have died last night.

Now, they have a tomorrow.

The warhorse trod over the scorched earth, its hoofbeats steady. The eastern horizon drew closer, and the sky grew brighter.

As the convoy moved, a soldier ran over to report: "Water has been found five kilometers ahead; people have been sent to clear it."

Shen Xiaochuan nodded. "Let the group take turns drinking water, with the wounded having priority."

The soldier took the order and left.

He looked up at the sky; the clouds split open, and sunlight spilled down, shining on the curtain of the war chariot. The wind blew up a corner, revealing the figures of the mother and daughter embracing inside.

Aphrodite suddenly lifted the curtain and waved at him.

He raised his hand in response.

The procession continued forward.

As the sun dipped in the west, Skydome City appeared on the horizon. The high walls, towers, and watchtowers were clearly visible. At the city gates, reception personnel were already lined up and waiting.

Shen Xiaochuan pulled the reins, ordering the group to approach slowly.

The Adjutant jogged forward: "The temporary camp is ready, with areas divided according to your requirements."

"Settle the wounded first," he said. "Distribute food and water immediately; don't wait until after entering the city to hand them out."

The Adjutant noted the command and turned to relay it.

Shen Xiaochuan jumped off his horse, walked to the war chariot, and lifted the curtain.

Aphrodite looked up at him, her eyes sparkling.

"Big Brother," she said.

He paused for a moment.

This wasn't the first time someone had called him that.

But this time, it felt different.

The city gates slowly opened, the sound of chains grinding echoing across the wilderness.

The first batch of villagers began to enter the outer city. Soldiers guided them toward the tent area, where hot soup and dry rations were already waiting.

Shen Xiaochuan remained where he was.

He watched those with staggering steps pass through the city gates one by one, watched them look back, watched them weep, and watched them support each other.

The old village chief, Darwin, walked to his side and handed him a new list.

"These are the people who can work," he said. "They want to repay you."

Shen Xiaochuan took the list and remained silent.

A child's laughter came from the distance. A five or six-year-old boy, holding half a loaf of bread, skipped toward his mother.

The wind blew the cooking smoke from the city into the sky.

He thrust his hand into his pocket, his fingertips touching the summoning interface of the Faith Mall. A second later, the System's notification sounded:

【faith points+1】

He touched the Gear Pendant on his chest again.

Under the city gates, Aphrodite's mother held her daughter, looking back at him as she walked.

Her lips moved slightly, as if she were saying something.

Shen Xiaochuan didn't hear clearly.

But he saw her bow slightly—a gentle movement, yet extremely earnest.