Xu Da had always considered himself ruthless, but witnessing such brutality still sent a shiver down his spine.
“They’ve slaughtered the entire city,” Xu Da said grimly.
He turned to Wang Shi, expecting to see the same shock and compassion in her eyes.
However, Wang Shi had witnessed too many cruel wars—some even more savage and brutal than this.
In her eyes, there was only disgust!
She was a high-ranking general of the alliance, renowned for her military achievements and undefeated record. She was the pride of the entire galaxy, a commander deeply revered by the people.
Whenever war approached, the masses would call for their general, cheering that conflict would lead humanity to greater strength.
But the fervent public had no idea what real war looked like.
Their admiration stemmed only from seeing the outcome of victory.
They didn’t know that behind triumph lay slaughter, bloodshed, and the relentless trampling of human morality!
The seemingly invincible general they admired also feared war—even detested it!
Gazing down at Changyi County below the mountain, countless thoughts surged in Wang Shi’s heart, ultimately condensed into a soft sigh:
“If it weren’t for You Niang suddenly waking up this morning wanting to visit the old man next door, we might have become part of that carnage.”
The thought sent a chill down Xu Da’s spine as well.
In the past, he would have dismissed these ordinary people with contempt—crushing them with a single hand.
But now… it was better not to dwell on it!
He had disgraced his ancestors!
“We can’t stay here any longer. We need to go farther to find a way to survive.”
Wang Shi turned away from the smoke-filled Changyi below and strode back. “Let’s go.”
Suddenly remembering something, she turned back and warned, “If the children ask about the city, don’t say anything reckless.”
Xu Da frowned, his eyes questioning: Are those three really children? Do we need to be so careful protecting them?
Wang Shi stopped abruptly and turned to face Xu Da, her serious expression making it clear she wasn’t joking.
“If we’re going to be parents, we must act like parents. I don’t care what you were like before, but now, you are my husband, and they are my children. If you don’t want this role, you can leave right now.”
She wouldn’t kill him, but she also wouldn’t keep a selfish family member.
Since their rebirth days ago, Wang Shi had never spoken to Xu Da like this. She had assumed that, as an adult, he would understand his responsibilities.
That’s why she had tolerated his passive attitude earlier—because he had followed her out and shown some cooperation, she had shared the food and water she found with him.
But the situation in the city below had intensified her sense of survival pressure. If her so-called husband remained oblivious to reality, she wouldn’t hesitate to cast him aside and let him fend for himself!
Her resolve left Xu Da stunned for a long moment.
He recalled how he had once scorned her for what he considered “a woman’s soft-heartedness” when she knocked on doors to warn the villagers to flee.
But would a soft-hearted woman remain calm in the face of a city-wide massacre?
Would she even consider cutting her own husband loose?
“Children’s innocent hearts need protection. The slaughter of the city is too cruel—it shouldn’t taint their pure souls. I understand what to do. Don’t worry, my dear!”
After hesitating for less than two seconds, Xu Da immediately made his choice—he would be a loving old father.
Wang Shi fixed her dark eyes on him for a moment before revealing a satisfied smile, raising her hand to pat his shoulder.
“Husband, do your best. I believe you will be a good father and husband.”
A dignified Golden Core True Person—when had he ever been treated like this?
Xu Da flushed red, his dark and rough face full of “emotion.”
The couple returned together, and Xu Yue couldn’t help but feel that the atmosphere between her father and mother was a bit strange.
But before she could investigate, Wang Shi spoke up, urging them to continue their journey.
“Mother, what’s the situation at the foot of the mountain?” Xu Yue asked worriedly.
Wang Shi motioned for Xu Erniang to stop lying down and get up to continue walking, replying casually, “Not good. Changyi is completely off-limits now.”
“Has the vagrant army taken over Changyi?” Xu Erniang asked in confusion.
Wang Shi noticed that the straw sandals on Xu Erniang’s feet were coming loose and tried to fix them.
But straw sandals were inherently flimsy, and with the rough mountain paths, there wasn’t much Wang Shi could do to repair them. She could only manage to keep them from falling apart.
As for better shoes—that was nothing but a pipe dream!
When her mother didn’t answer her question, Xu Erniang turned to Xu Da. “Father?”
Wang Shi deliberately glanced at Xu Da, who, remembering his wife’s earlier reminder, gave his eldest daughter a reassuring smile.
“It’s alright. If we lose one home, we still have countless others. As long as we’re together as a family, that’s home.”
Xu Erniang: “…” Father, have you lost your mind?
Still, she understood that Changyi County was finished—even the shabby home she had once disliked was gone.
Was she sad?
Xu Erniang didn’t feel sadness, just a bit of confusion, unsure of where the future would lead.
Five faces stared at one another, the family’s mood sinking. Even Xu Dalan, who seemed to lack awareness, furrowed his brow and looked down at Xu Yue in his arms with a worried expression.
Xu Yue silently tightened her grip on her brother’s hand. She knew all too well that she was the weakest in the family. Without someone to rely on, she could easily be left behind.
As if sensing her unease, Wang Shi suddenly looked over. “You Niang, don’t be afraid. We’ll have a home again someday—a bigger, sturdier one.”
Xu Yue watched Wang Shi striding confidently at the front, her heart stirring with a sense of security.
So much so that when the group stopped by a cliff in the evening and a large green snake slithered toward her, flicking its tongue, Xu Yue’s instinctive reaction was to shout outside:
“Mother!!!”
Wang Shi, who had been chopping branches, jolted at the cry and immediately dropped the branches, rushing toward the cliff. In front of Xu Yue, she demonstrated what it meant to shatter a snake barehanded.
The sheer force of it stunned Xu Da, who arrived moments later, for what felt like a century!
Xu Dalan, whom Xu Yue had finally convinced to follow Wang Shi out to work, dashed in like the wind.
Seeing the green snake torn into pieces, his face paled. He scooped Xu Yue into his arms and refused to leave her side.
Xu Yue felt a bit awkward as her family gathered around, never expecting them to be so formidable.
“Little sister, are you alright?”
Xu Erniang, the slowest runner, was the last to arrive. She was the only one bold enough to challenge Xu Dalan, tugging at his arms in an attempt to pull her little sister into her own embrace for comfort.
As expected, Xu Dalan bared his teeth at Xu Erniang with a fierce “roar,” twisting his body to shield Xu Yue behind him and prevent her from touching Xu Yue.
The sibling rivalry over their younger sister played out once again. Wang Shi and Xu Da, having grown weary of the scene and knowing Xu Yue could handle her older siblings, turned away to continue gathering firewood.