I'm involved in poverty alleviation in a primitive tribe.

And those children who were about her age, who ate the best food and learned the most skills, couldn't even beat her and would only call their own people to punish her.

"I want to become stronger! I want to protect my loved ones! I want to... live with dignity!"

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost a murmur.

Her head drooped even lower, tears welling up in her eyes, but she dared not let them fall.

She knew that in this place, tears meant nothing and might even be seen as a sign of weakness.

Weakness means being able to be bullied by others.

Jiang Ning sat there, gazing intently at Qiu's figure, her expression complex and unreadable.

Her fingers unconsciously rubbed the tabletop, her fingertips touching the cold stone, bringing a refreshing coolness.

Slaves, the slaves of the tribes were not simply servants; they were mostly prisoners from defeated tribes, former enemies.

Even she couldn't demand that these tribes release the slaves or forgive their enemies.

Their tribes may have once fought with the tribes of these slaves, their blood staining the land, and hatred buried deep in every inch of soil.

In the end, the losers became the most lowly beings, stripped of their dignity and freedom, forced to eke out a living like ants, or even become sacrifices.

Jiang Ning, like everyone else, once turned a blind eye to the existence of slaves.

They are the defeated, the enemies, the mortal foe; they are not worthy of sympathy.

If she had failed back then, she might be a slave of the Clam Tribe now, and there would be no Sky Wolf Tribe or Jiang Tribe.

But standing here now, listening to Qiu's heart-wrenching screams, a slight wavering arose in her heart.

She knew that Qiu's anger and resentment were not without reason.

Not all slaves were former enemies; they may have been ownerless or slaves of defeated tribes.

Most importantly, once enslaved, there is virtually no chance of redemption; their children and descendants will forever remain slaves.

"You were born in the Green Mantis tribe?"

"Yes."

Qiu came to her senses and fell into deep regret. She shouldn't have acted so impulsively. She could have tried to please the Green Mantis tribe. Maybe they would have given her a chance to become a warrior as a slave.

Such things are not uncommon. She firmly believes that she is no worse than anyone else, and that she can do it too, given the opportunity.

But now, everything is ruined.

If Jiang Wu punishes her in a fit of anger, she will be powerless to do anything about it. In the Jiang tribe, no one can defy Jiang Wu's will.

She calmed down and realized that no matter what, she couldn't let her mother be implicated.

"What mistake did your mother make?"

As fate would have it, Jiang Wu actually managed to ask about her mother.

Qiu was filled with fear and unease, and said hesitantly, "My mother came from a small tribe. That small tribe was attacked by a passing beast. Only some people escaped and became slaves of the Green Mantis tribe."

"How old are you?"

"fourteen."

Jiang Ning was startled. The little girl looked thin and small; she thought she was at most ten years old, but she was almost an adult.

She said no more.

Bai Ya stepped forward and, in the silence, snatched away Qiu, who was like a frightened bird.

Qiu didn't know what this meant, and dared not struggle, letting Baiya lead her away from the island in the middle of the lake.

Back in the tribe, Qiu was distracted and worked alongside everyone. After all, she was just a child, and not many people were watching her all the time. If she disappeared for a while, no one would notice.

Rong noticed something was wrong with her and pressed her for answers. Qiu didn't dare to say much and just said she was tired.

The night was deep, and moonlight streamed into the room through the simple window, illuminating Qiu's tired but sleepless face.

Her ears were filled with the sounds of snoring, and the air was thick with the smells of sweat and dust.

This was the place she could barely call a "bed" after arriving in Jiang's territory—a large communal sleeping area crammed with slaves. Although it was incredibly crowded, it was far better than her previous life.

Qiu turned her head to the side and looked at her mother beside her in the dim moonlight.

Mother's breathing was steady, her face was haggard but peaceful, as if she had become accustomed to this kind of life.

Qiu's thoughts were in turmoil, with various scenes from today constantly flashing through her mind. Should this matter just be left as it is?

From now on, everything will be alright, right?

For several days in a row, Qiu didn't receive any reprisals, and she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

But while she was working that day, she saw several powerful Green Mantis warriors talking to the Green Mantis people who were in charge of their group of slaves.

The green mantis probably rarely spoke to such a high-ranking warrior, and while bowing and scraping, he pointed in the direction of Qiu.

Qiu's heart sank, and the next moment, she saw those high-ranking warriors walking towards her.

People around whispered among themselves, speculating what mistake Qiu had made to warrant these important figures coming to see her personally.

Qiu, pale-faced, was led by those people to see the Green Mantis Witch, only to find that her mother was already waiting there.

The mother and daughter exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with the same fear and confusion.

Green Mantis Shaman stared at Qiu's face and scrutinized her carefully. She was just an ordinary slave, and he couldn't see anything special about her. So he said, "Shaman Jiang has decreed that any slave who has never been an enemy of the tribe and has no grudge against the tribe can pass the test and have the opportunity to become a warrior."

Qiu could hardly believe her ears. What?

She has the opportunity to become a soldier?

The Green Mantis Witch continued, "These slaves can also be redeemed through a points system to shed their slave status and truly join the tribe as members of the people."

Qiu was dumbfounded. Could she really escape her status as a slave?

It all happened so suddenly that her mind was in complete chaos, as if it were a dream.

"As for you." The Green Mantis Witch paused, causing Qiu's heart to leap into her throat, unsure of what fate awaited her next.

"Jiang Wu's battle pet is somewhat interested in you, so it specially ordered that you be transferred there to serve it."

Qiu's throat was dry, her lips trembled slightly, and after a long while she managed to squeeze out a sentence: "Yes, I will definitely do my best."

Green Mantis Witch nodded, not surprised by her answer, but emphasized in a more forceful tone: "Remember, that is Jiang Witch's treasure. If you are even slightly negligent, the consequences will be beyond your ability to bear."

Qiu's heart tightened suddenly, and she quickly lowered her head, saying respectfully, "Yes, I will do my best and will never dare to slack off in the slightest."

The Green Mantis Witch waved her hand, signaling that they could leave.

The mother and daughter left together. When Qiu turned to leave, her steps were still a little unsteady, as if she were walking on clouds.

Her heart was filled with questions and unease, but even more so with hope.