When word came that porridge was being handed out up ahead, the beggars in the ruined temple lit up. They grabbed their chipped bowls and swarmed toward the porridge stall.

Kang Xiao was among them, in rags, his hair hanging loose and wild.

Every other beggar was going for porridge. If he didn't, he'd stand out far too much.

What beggar wouldn't jump at free porridge?

So he followed the army of beggars to the porridge stall.

"Line up! Everybody get in line for your father! Anybody who starts trouble, don't blame your father's blade for not knowing who you are..."

A burly soldier stood with one hand on the hilt of the saber at his waist, bellowing.

Starving people will sometimes do things they never normally would, so at a time like this there's no being gentle with them. Someone has to keep them in line by fear.

One look at the fierce-faced soldier and the beggars lined up meekly and came forward one at a time for their porridge.

At last it was Kang Xiao's turn.

The soldier ladling the porridge slopped a scoop into Kang Xiao's chipped bowl and waved him off impatiently. "Next!"

Kang Xiao took his bowl and moved away quickly.

He stepped to one side and looked at the plain white porridge in the bowl. He swallowed hard.

These past few days living among the beggars had been miserable.

Seeing the other beggars slurping up their porridge like it was the best thing they'd ever tasted, he couldn't hold out either... Especially since a few beggars who'd already finished theirs were staring hard at the bowl in his hands.

Kang Xiao quickly raised the bowl and started gulping it down.

Beggars live by the law of the jungle too. The young and strong ones often rob the very young and the very old of whatever food they've begged.

Kang Xiao didn't even care that it was scalding. He downed the whole bowl in one go.

As the Eldest Prince of Nanyue and the man in charge of the Myriad Nations Society, he had always…