Go to hell.

After returning to the cave, Qin Xiaofan couldn't wait any longer. He went to the marketplace and bought an iron pot, then placed the wheat kernels inside to cook.

Soon enough, wisps of steam began rising from the pot. Qin Xiaofan lifted the lid and inhaled deeply; the sweet aroma of the wheat meal instantly filled the air. Ah… it smelled wonderful!

He scooped out a spoonful and tasted it. The rich fragrance flooded his mouth, and he was so moved he almost cried. All his effort had not been in vain.

Beside him, the severely wounded youth, Lu Xiaojin, lay on the ground while Xiaoyan tended him, wiping the blood from his face. At first, Lu Xiaojin groaned in pain, but soon he slipped into unconsciousness. His injuries were grave…

However, the boy possessed remarkable abilities—his powers included rapid self-healing from wounds. Qin Xiaofan knew that after a day or two of rest, the youth would be up again, full of life.

The scent of the wheat meal grew stronger. Everyone else in the cave stared hungrily at the iron pot, swallowing their saliva with longing. Wheat meal—the thing they had craved for so long, how they wished for just a taste…

"Want to eat?" Qin Xiaofan asked with a smile.

Immediately, everyone nodded wildly, nearly shaking their heads off, their eyes alight with hope. Yet in the next moment, those hopeful glimmers were crushed.

"Go eat dirt!" Qin Xiaofan's tone grew cold.

At once, shame swept over the group; they lowered their heads and dared not meet his gaze.

"Your slogans ring louder by the day, but when it’s time to act, you all become cowards. Is this all you’ve got? Not even as brave as a boy," Qin Xiaofan shook his head, refusing to deal with them any further.

Let them drool, he thought, perhaps they’ll remember this lesson.

"Huohuo, come try it—it's delicious," Qin Xiaofan called out to Xiaoyan. However, Xiaoyan remained beside Lu Xiaojin, unmoved, not even glancing at the wheat meal.

Qin Xiaofan set the spoon down and scratched his forehead. With a sigh, he said, "Huohuo, I know you’re angry with me. You think I was wrong, don’t you?"

Xiaoyan lowered his head in silence. After a long pause, he finally spoke, confusion in his voice:

"Brother Fan, I just don’t understand. Why did you wait until Lu Xiaojin fell before stepping in? Weren’t you afraid he’d be beaten to death…? He fought for you, after all. You could have stopped him…"

Qin Xiaofan fell silent, scratching his forehead again. Then he stood, paced back and forth, and waved the others out of the cave.

He stopped before Xiaoyan and spoke earnestly: "Huohuo, I know what you’re thinking, and I understand. But you can’t just look at the surface of things."

Xiaoyan gazed at Qin Xiaofan, waiting for his words.

Qin Xiaofan considered a moment, then continued: "If I’d stopped him after just a scratch, what would happen?

Something far worse than shouting slogans would emerge. Whenever I was around, they’d fight for me without hesitation, knowing I’d rescue them at the crucial moment—they’d only need to put on a show.

Some might even feign death after minor injuries.

More frightening still, there will be times when I’m not there. Would they still fight for me, unafraid of death?

Once that gap in their thinking opens, it’s hard to close again. That precedent cannot be set.

So I waited until Lu Xiaojin could fight no longer before intervening, to show them that when facing powerful enemies—when fighting for me—they must give everything, not pretend. Otherwise, they’ll die.

Only then can I see clearly who deserves nurturing, and who’s just a slacker."

Xiaoyan was silent for a long while after hearing this. He then protested, somewhat agitated: "But… but! Weren’t you afraid he’d be killed by Iron Fist King’s punches? What if he died?"

Qin Xiaofan was quiet. Then he patted Xiaoyan’s shoulder and said:

"Do you think he really fought for me? No, he fought for himself.

No one is foolish enough to die for someone else. As he said, he isn’t stupid—he simply wants a different future.

Such people are often called gamblers.

They wager their lives.

If they lose, it just means their luck ran out.

Fortunately, he won. He survived and set a positive example.

I admire his honesty. He wants a different future—so I’ll give him a brilliant one."

Xiaoyan was left speechless.

Qin Xiaofan smiled carelessly: "Actually, this isn’t something I should spell out, but since you want to know, I’ll tell you. Because I consider you a true friend."

Xiaoyan was stunned.

"Brother Fan, I…" He bit his lip, wanting to say something, but the words never came.

Qin Xiaofan smiled, crouched down, and looked at the wheat meal in the pot. "Enough with the sentimentality—come try it, before it gets cold."

…

The following days saw a large-scale revival of statues.

Qin Xiaofan’s plan was simple. Now that they had plenty of wheat seeds, they needed more hands to clear land and plant.

He was eager to see what rewards would come from completing the wheat field task.

Lu Xiaojin recovered quickly; within two days, his injuries disappeared entirely, and he was lively again, his smile radiant—a true youth.

Qin Xiaofan treated him generously. Every time he distributed Water of Civilization, he gave Lu Xiaojin enough for three people.

Each time, the others watched with envy, their jealousy plain on their faces, but no one dared complain. Everyone knew he had earned it—he’d fought for it with his life.

Iron Fist King Yishan performed his duties admirably. Though reluctant at first, he gradually adapted and even began cooperating on his own.

His childhood dream was to become an actor.

Whenever he used his acting skills to convince others, he felt a strange sense of accomplishment, and it brought some amusement to his otherwise dull task.

Whenever someone brought back new members, he’d hang from a tree and cry out pitifully, his voice full of tears, the picture of misery.

When someone recognized him as Iron Fist King Yishan, he’d speak to the newcomers with a dying man’s solemnity: "Never… never follow my example. Don’t provoke the boss, or you’ll suffer terribly."

Thus, the chances of new members causing trouble plummeted.

Qin Xiaofan was very pleased with Yishan’s work and even planned to pay him a wage.

With more people came crowding.

The cave was bursting with all kinds of people. Eventually, Qin Xiaofan had enough and drove a large batch outside.

Those without shelter had no choice but to build wooden houses for themselves.

The village swiftly expanded. They constructed four or five smooth roads, and over a hundred small wooden houses—what began as a tiny settlement had become a thriving large village.

Everything was gradually improving.