Screams of panicked women and the piercing cries of children echoed from the pondside. Despair and terror spread across the lush green grassland, eventually staining it crimson.
The sudden arrival of the vagrant army shattered the former tranquility. They killed anyone in sight, as if these emaciated, barely clothed refugees were not of the same species, but mere livestock to be slaughtered at will.
In this moment, these self-proclaimed saviors who claimed to rescue the masses from suffering abandoned their humanity under harsh survival conditions, transforming into hellish demons more terrifying than wild beasts!
They slaughtered refugees weaker than themselves, and perhaps tonight, these “two-legged sheep” would become the main course in boiling earthen pots.
In Xu Yue’s eyes, they were no different from Du Long and his men.
The girl’s dark pupils clearly reflected the red gradually seeping from the grassland—a crimson hue that etched itself deeply into her heart, reminding her countless times in future hardships that this was the world’s true color.
A scorching wind brushed her cheeks as demons raised their butcher knives, one blade slicing a skeletal child in half.
Entrails, intestines, and that innocent face still numb with confusion, unable to react—
The girl blinked lightly, her pupils contracting violently as she fought against the dizziness brought by her body’s self-preservation instinct.
She bit her tongue hard, the sharp pain forcing her to witness everything.
Xu Yue had always known that avoiding problems couldn’t solve them—only facing fear directly could overcome it.
If she wanted to survive in this world, how could she let herself be intimidated by what she saw now?
Xu Yue shifted her stiff body, one arm hooking around her brother’s neck to reduce his burden.
Her other hand tightly gripped the heavy bedding larger than herself, struggling to toss it onto her brother’s back to avoid blocking their forward view.
The Xu family ran fastest, quickly leaving the vagrant army behind.
The soldiers watched the scattered figures fleeing into the distance, seemingly losing interest in pursuit. They coldly speculated that these escapees would either starve to death in a few days or become food for mountain beasts.
The family ran desperately, not daring to look back or stop.
Only when Wang Shi at the front noticed no more sounds of pursuit did Xu Dalan and Xu Da successively halt behind her.
“Is everyone alright?” Wang Shi gasped for breath, sighing in relief upon seeing all family members accounted for.
Xu Da, carrying the heaviest basket, was exhausted and wheezed while waving to indicate he was fine.
Xu Yue and her siblings also confirmed they were unharmed.
Seeing this, Wang Shi glanced at the setting sun and said gravely, “Night approaches. Let’s find shelter first.”
After a brief rest, the family continued forward.
They had now run from the forest’s depths to its opposite side, facing a steep downhill slope ahead.
With no pursuers behind, Wang Shi set Xu Erniang down to follow Xu Da while she hurried ahead to scout the path.
Finally, Wang Shi led her family along the ridge into a valley, stopping at a relatively flat area.
The sky had darkened, the sun’s last glimmer fading as it vanished completely, plunging the world into total blackness.
Xu Da set down the carrying basket, lit a torch, and planted it in the soil before beginning to take stock of their belongings.
The kitchen knife, used as a hidden weapon against the vagrant army, had been left behind in the rush—gone.
The firewood hatchet, the rabbit skins drying by the grass nest, and the two dressed pheasants were also missing.
So were two bamboo tubes they hadn’t had time to pack, along with five pairs of tree bark shoes he had painstakingly woven!
Thinking of those five pairs of shoes—the ones that had blistered his hands—now falling into the hands of the vagrant army for nothing, Xu Da felt a suffocating tightness in his chest, nearly choking on his breath.
But frustration aside, he reminded himself that their bedding and straw mats were safe, the most crucial supplies—water and taro—were with them, no one was lost, and everyone was wearing newly made tree bark shoes. With that, the knot in his chest loosened.
After running for so long, even the usually resilient Wang Shi, who never complained, was worn out. Sitting on a dry branch, she urged Xu Da to quickly start a fire and cook, so everyone could eat something.
Xu Da grumbled inwardly, I’m exhausted too—why don’t you cook and serve me?
Despite his silent griping, his hands moved deftly. He beckoned Xu Erniang to assist and instructed Xu Yue and her brother to gather firewood. Soon, the father and his three daughters had a fire blazing.
Then, all four turned their eyes toward Wang Shi.
Xu Yue asked, “Mother, where’s our pot?”
Wang Shi slapped her thigh. “Damn! The pot’s still by the pond!”
Xu Da hurriedly rummaged through the family’s belongings. Not only was the pot missing, but even those few chipped bowls were gone!
For a moment, five pairs of wide eyes exchanged glances in stunned silence.
Xu Da and Wang Shi had never truly grasped the importance of that old earthen pot and five broken bowls before.
When their youngest daughter had packed them into the basket earlier, they’d thought it would slow their escape.
Only now did they realize—these were the very tools they needed to eat!
They could live without the pots and bowls, but the pots and bowls couldn’t live without them!
“Let’s roast the food,” Xu Yue suggested timidly after a long silence.
As if released from a mute spell, the family nodded in unison, murmuring, “Mhm.”
Fortunately, the aroma of roasting meat soon lifted their spirits.
The five of them finished all the meat pieces Xu Da had retrieved from the pot at noon, leaving only sixty pounds of taro in the basket.
Just as the Xu family was quietly relieved at the sight of the taro, rustling sounds emerged from the woods nearby.
The family sprang to their feet, alert, praying it wasn’t the vagrant army.
A few furtive figures emerged from the trees—it was Wang Dayou and his wife, along with their two children.
“Brother Xu!” The Wang family approached with joyful surprise.
The Xu family breathed a collective sigh of relief, astonished that Wang Dayou and his wife had managed to escape.
After exchanging greetings, they learned that the Wang family had fled empty-handed, their two children already starving, their stomachs hollow. To maintain his “good brother” image, Xu Da reluctantly pulled out the remaining rice bran balls from the basket.
Wang Dayou’s eyes reddened, and he choked up, grasping Xu Da’s hand. “Thank you, thank you!”
Xu Da subtly withdrew his hand, discreetly shaking off the goosebumps rising on his back, and forced an awkward yet polite smile. “Let the children eat first. Don’t let them go hungry.”
Wang Dayou nodded gratefully and handed the bran ball to the child. While Xu Yue and her sister found the food nearly inedible, Wang Jia Danniang and her younger brother ate with evident satisfaction.
Just as everyone thought nothing more would happen, the story repeated itself—sounds once again emerged from the woods.