According to Qin Sui Ning and Zhou Shi’s original plan, they should have found a hidden place to enter the space while no one was watching.
Unfortunately, they had run into a group of people at the worst possible time, so that idea had to be abandoned.
Fortunately, they had a carriage to temporarily shield themselves, but the chestnut horse had no such protection.
Zhou Shi and Qin Sui Ning couldn’t bear to watch the horse be bitten by the swarming locusts, so they tore up a couple of old clothes from their bundle, preparing to swat the insects away.
It wasn’t very useful—just doing what they could and leaving the rest to fate.
“Haha, are these people seriously thinking they can hide in the forest and be fine?”
“What else can they do? It’s wilderness all around, where else can they hide?”
“But this locust swarm is massive. This stretch of forest will probably be stripped bare in less than half an hour…”
“I think hiding in the forest is even more dangerous. If they get desperate, those locusts might even eat them…”
…
At this moment, intermittent bullet comments appeared again, mostly mocking the idea of hiding in the forest.
Of course, Qin Sui Ning and Zhou Shi had the carriage as shelter—the ones being mocked were the other people.
The woman with the basket and the middle-aged man, who seemed to be a couple, were whispering among themselves.
In the blink of an eye, two of the four rough-looking men had already left, heading deeper into the forest.
The remaining two quickly opened their bundles and pulled out outer garments to cover their heads.
At least having some cloth protection was better than being directly swarmed and bitten.
“Um… big brother, can we discuss something?”
The woman pulled the man over and approached Zhou Shi with a smile.
“I see your carriage is quite big. How about letting us hide inside for a while? We’ll leave once the locusts are gone…”
The man also gave an honest-looking smile.
“We heard locusts can even eat people when they’re starving. We’re really scared…”
“Please, just help us this once…”
“Yes, big brother, you wouldn’t just watch us get bitten, right?”
The couple looked simple and honest, but their words came in a practiced stream.
Zhou Shi hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to agree.
Logically speaking, since they were all stranded travelers, helping out wouldn’t be a big deal.
“Uncle, Auntie, our carriage is already full of goods. We’re barely squeezing in ourselves, there’s no room for you.”
Qin Sui Ning would not repeat Zhou Shi’s soft-hearted mistake.
When traveling outside, it was better to mind one’s own business and protect oneself first.
Moreover, they had many secrets and couldn’t afford to interact too much with strangers.
“That’s right, we really can’t. We’ve brought too much stuff—we can’t let you suffer for it.”
Zhou Shi quickly followed up to refuse.
“You two should think of another way while the locusts haven’t arrived yet.”
Zhou Shi’s words were well-intentioned, but the woman did not appreciate them at all.
“Another way? This is the wilderness—what other way is there besides your carriage?”
Her face darkened.
“You’re really too heartless. It’s just a small favor, but you refuse. You have no humanity at all…”
The middle-aged man’s face also turned cold, and he quietly stepped closer to the carriage.
Qin Sui Ning noticed this and felt a chill in her heart.
Before this, she and Zhou Shi had only treated the couple as ordinary villagers.
Now, seeing their sudden change in attitude, things clearly weren’t so simple.
“We really have urgent matters and must leave now.”
Not wanting to argue, Qin Sui Ning decided immediately to leave the forest.
There were too many people here—it wasn’t safe.
Before the locust swarm arrived, they should move farther away and enter the space when no one was around.
Zhou Shi looked at Qin Sui Ning, and upon seeing her nod, she raised the whip.
“Please move aside. We’re leaving.”
But the couple blocked the carriage path immediately.
“Hehe… big brother, what a coincidence, we also have urgent matters. Why don’t you let us ride your carriage? We can pay you for it.”
The woman signaled the man.
The man quickly pulled out a handful of clinking copper coins.
“Right, we’ll pay. Just help us out and take us along.”
He reached forward, trying to press the coins into Zhou Shi’s hands.
“Sorry, it’s not convenient. Please take your money back.”
Zhou Shi awkwardly stepped aside.
“Not enough? I can add more.”
The man gritted his teeth and pulled out a piece of silver—about five taels.
“If you take us with you, all this money is yours.”
He refused to believe they wouldn’t be tempted.
“I said it’s not convenient. It has nothing to do with money.”
Zhou Shi now clearly felt something was wrong.
“I told you to move, or my hoe won’t recognize anyone!”
Qin Sui Ning climbed onto the carriage frame and raised her hoe, swinging it fiercely.
The couple was forced to step back.
Seizing the opportunity, Zhou Shi whipped the chestnut horse.
The carriage shot forward onto the road.
Only then did Qin Sui Ning glance back.
The couple, who had just been pleading humbly, now stared at them with venomous eyes.
The other four men also returned from the forest, said something briefly, and all disappeared deeper into the woods again.
The couple, seeing no other option, finally followed them in.
Qin Sui Ning didn’t care anymore.
She and Zhou Shi agreed they would next stop the carriage in a deserted place to avoid trouble.
Zhou Shi nodded in agreement.
Qin Sui Ning sat inside the carriage, hearing the constant crackling sounds as locusts smashed against the wooden frame outside.
The sound grew denser and more terrifying with every passing moment.