It was early morning, and the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Chen Mo was awakened by hunger, and he was somewhat relieved that he could still wake up at all.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten, and he had no strength to dwell on it.

After waking his companion, the two of them resumed their journey in silence, speaking little.

They didn't know how far they had walked, but the world was still desolate. Yet, there were visible tracks of carriage wheels and horses' hooves on the yellow earth beneath their feet.

Seeing these marks, Chen Mo felt a surge of hope. This meant that there were people ahead, and the livestock had not been consumed, which in turn meant there was food to be found—and perhaps even a chance to survive!

He tried to speed up, but his body, barely holding on, wouldn't let him move any faster.

It was evident that the number of disaster victims around them was increasing. It was no longer like before, when they might walk an entire day without encountering a single person.

The other victims had evidently seen the wheel tracks too, and they, too, hoped there was a way to survive here. So they all began to gather.

Every now and then, a victim would collapse on the road, but no one paid them any mind. People just lowered their heads and kept moving forward.

Chen Mo found a large tree with plenty of sunlight and leaned against it to rest. He didn't dare to sit or lie down, fearing that once he did, he wouldn't have the strength to get back up.

He took out a blackened biscuit from his clothes, broke it in half, and handed a piece to his companion.

Even the crumbs that fell when he broke the biscuit, he carefully gathered into his palm and licked clean.

This was the last of their food. If they couldn't find more after eating it, they'd end up like the other victims—left to die by the roadside.

Once they finished eating the biscuit, Chen Mo didn't dare to stay idle for long. He urged his companion to continue walking.

Perhaps it was the food, or maybe the distant hope of survival, but the two of them walked faster now.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the outline of a town slowly came into view.

Chen Mo, whose brain had been numb for so many days, began to feel something human stir within him again.

Although the town was still a distance away, he could almost smell the aroma of food in the air.

The closer they got to the town, the fewer disaster victims they saw, which meant there was likely a chance of survival here.

Even if it meant selling themselves into slavery, it was better than starving to death.

Chen Mo searched through his tattered clothes, remembering he had a small sum of money.

When he had stripped the clothes off a dead body some days ago, he'd been lucky enough to find seventeen copper coins. Compared to the other penniless refugees, his situation was slightly better.

Seventeen copper coins might not be much, but it was enough to buy some food.

When they finally entered the town, the townspeople didn't seem surprised by their appearance. They were used to seeing disaster victims by now.

At first, they might have offered help, but as the number of refugees grew, they had no choice but to turn a blind eye.

After all, life was hard for everyone in this world.

"How much for a bowl of noodles?" Chen Mo asked when he came upon a noodle stall.

"A bowl of noodle soup is seven copper coins, and a pancake is three copper coins," the stall owner replied. Though Chen Mo was a refugee, the man didn't treat him with contempt and greeted him warmly.

"Two bowls of noodle soup and one pancake," Chen Mo said with a smile.

He was in a better mood now that food was within reach.

"Pay first," the owner said. It seemed that many disaster victims had eaten without paying before.

Chen Mo fumbled in his pockets, took out his copper coins, and handed them over. Immediately, the owner's demeanor became much friendlier.

"Okay, please take a seat."

Chen Mo picked a spot away from the other patrons.

He had been traveling and fleeing for months, so he had grown accustomed to the stench of his own body, but others might not be so tolerant.

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He waved for his companion to come over. They hadn't eaten anything in a long time, so they didn't have the energy for much conversation.

"I don't have any money," his companion said in a hoarse voice, coming over to sit beside Chen Mo.

They had been traveling together for some time now, relying on each other in their flight for survival.

It was a partnership forged out of necessity.

But now that they had found a way to survive, that alliance, which had been born of desperation, was no longer needed.

Food was precious. Every mouthful meant one more chance at survival.

"It's okay. Let's eat first," Chen Mo said, forcing a smile.

Both of them were on the brink of collapse. They had only made it this far by sheer willpower. If they didn't eat something soon, they wouldn't be able to last much longer.

Even if they ended up as slaves, if they were sold to the same master, they would still have some connection.

And if they weren't sold to the same master, well, at least they'd survived.

"Thank you," his companion said weakly, smiling, then sat down opposite Chen Mo.

Two bowls of hot noodle soup were quickly served.

The noodles were simple—just boiled in water with salt. There were no spices or extra ingredients.

Chen Mo couldn't describe its taste. To him, it was the most delicious thing he'd ever eaten.

After finishing one bowl of noodle soup, Chen Mo felt more alive. He ordered another bowl and took a freshly baked pancake to break off a piece for his companion, though his companion didn't want it.

Chen Mo didn't insist. He finished half the pancake with his noodle soup and tucked the rest away for later.

"Brother, is there any way to make a living in this town?" Chen Mo asked the stall owner, handing back his empty bowl with a smile.

The owner thought for a moment before responding, "To the east of the town, several wealthy families in Beihe County are recruiting slaves. You can go there and try your luck. Sixty miles east, in Qingmuji, the imperial court is recruiting soldiers. If you really can't make it, you can try there."

Chen Mo had arrived too late. The earlier refugees had already taken the better opportunities, leaving only two options: sell themselves into slavery or join the army—both of which were last resorts.

"Thank you, brother," Chen Mo said sincerely.

Under the rule of the Daqian dynasty, people were categorized into many different household registrations based on their work and status. Scholars held the highest rank, while slaves were at the bottom of the social ladder. Military households, though lowly, were still better than being a slave.

But in truth, soldiers had a worse life than slaves. Not only did they receive no pay, but they were also forced to work the land for their superiors, endure beatings from veteran soldiers, and in times of war, be used as cannon fodder.

There was an old saying in Daqian: "Better to be a slave than a soldier."

Being a slave meant you wouldn't be sent to fight on the battlefield.

And joining the army would mean walking another sixty miles and potentially dying along the way.

"There's a wealthy family in the east end of the town recruiting slaves. Let's go check it out," Chen Mo whispered to his companion, leaving out the option of joining the army.

"Okay," his companion said, offering a bitter smile. After eating, she felt a little more alive.

If given the choice, no one would want to be a slave. But without choice, slavery was better than starving.

The two of them walked slowly to the east of the town, where a few thatched huts had been set up, and about a dozen refugees squatted inside, resting.

"Are you here to sell yourselves?" A short, stout man approached them, sizing them up like merchandise.

"Yes," Chen Mo replied in a deep voice, trying to sound confident.

"Male or female?" the man asked, his voice cold.

The refugees who managed to make it here, whether male or female, were unkempt, emaciated, and their voices weak and hoarse. Without a closer look, you couldn't tell the difference.

"Male," Chen Mo answered.

"No men," the man said dismissively, waving his hand.

His companion hurriedly stepped forward and whispered, "I'm a woman."

"Madam Sun, come inspect these goods!" the man shouted toward a nearby carriage.

A tall, dark-skinned woman dressed in a gray flowered robe jumped down from the carriage.

"Which one's the woman?" Granny Sun asked with a sharp voice as she walked over to the two of them.

"I am," the companion said softly, stepping forward.

Granny Sun scrutinized her, her expression one of faint disdain. She reached out and touched her body carefully before nodding and saying, "Okay, come with me."

Chen Mo looked at his companion, unsure of what to say. He wanted to congratulate her, but he didn't know how.

What kind of world had this become, where selling oneself into slavery could be seen as a good thing?

"I didn't sell myself, he sold me!" the companion whispered.

"You're selling her?" Granny Sun glanced at Chen Mo.

Chen Mo remained silent. Though he'd been in this world long enough to know the difference, he also understood that selling yourself meant a life of permanent servitude.

Not much changed if he sold his companion—except that she might be redeemed later.

They had discussed this option before. If he sold her, it was under the pretext of being her husband. That way, he could receive some money.

Chen Mo received a document of sale from Granny Sun. He sold his companion, Zhao Yu, to the Liu family in Beihe County, receiving five copper coins.

"Here," Granny Sun counted out five copper coins and tossed them to him.

Chen Mo took the coins, counting them one by one.

For a person's life to be worth only five copper coins in a year of disaster... It was a harsh, bitter reality.

"Don't worry, you won't lose anything," Granny Sun said with a smile. The price for selling someone else was far less than selling them to herself, so she made a lot more money that way.

As for redemption? Well, whether or not Chen Mo could redeem her, Granny Sun would profit either way.

"Keep this document. If you somehow manage to gather twenty taels of silver to redeem her, come to the East Market in Beihe County to find me," Granny Sun added, before dragging Zhao Yu away.

"Please wait a moment, let us talk more." Chen Mo asked with a smile.

"Okay, but I'll just watch from the side, and don't even think about running away." Mrs. Sun was quite easy to talk to.

Although he wasn't worried that the two disaster victims who could hardly walk would be able to outrun him, he still threatened them out of habit.

"Take some of this money." Chen Mo separated the five strings of coins into three parts and stuffed them into Zhao Yu's pockets. He had sold his body before and knew that even if he had to sell his body, it was better to have some money on him.

"I don't need so much. You can take more." Zhao Yu took only one string of coins.

Although she had sold herself into slavery, at least she wouldn't starve to death. Without money, she would suffer at most.

But if Chen Mo had no money, he might really starve to death.

"Okay." Chen Mo didn't refuse any longer and divided the remaining money into three parts, hiding them close to his body.

"I don't need this anymore, you take it." Zhao Yu took the water bag she carried with her and handed it to Chen Mo. It was the only valuable thing on her.

"Okay." Chen Mo didn't refuse.

After taking the water bag, the two looked at each other in silence.

"Let's go." Zhao Yu grinned at him, then slowly turned and walked towards Granny Sun.

Chen Mo also forced a smile.

He now had only one way left:

Join the army!

End