The two Sheng brothers brandished their hoes, while the old woman swung a kitchen knife. The encircling refugees, for the moment, dared not advance, only testing the edges with frantic gestures.
The standoff could only intimidate the enemy for a short while.
“Sister-in-law, first take the children and hide somewhere safe.” Song Jiaojiao flexed her wrists, her knuckles cracking audibly.
Her ex-husband had been an avid extreme sports enthusiast, so she had picked up many wilderness survival skills alongside him.
Boxing was one of them.
Later, when he died in an uninhabited region, she never imagined that these skills would first be put to use in ancient times, showcasing her prowess.
Song Jiaojiao grabbed a torch as thick as an arm, crouched low, and advanced toward the refugees. The flickering firelight cast shadows across her profile, alternating between light and dark, as sharp and imposing as a blade.
Mrs. Fang couldn’t help but feel a wave of retrospective fear. They had thought the unlucky girl from the Song family was a soft target, easy to manipulate. Once she had “cursed” the eldest brother to death, they could easily drive her away and seize the eldest branch’s grain.
Little did they know Song Jiaojiao was a tough nut to crack.
Fortunately, they hadn’t done anything too extreme.
Wait, that wasn’t entirely true—her husband had just snatched Song Jiaojiao’s vegetable porridge…
“Third brother, it’s up to you.” At the critical moment, Sheng Erlang once again dropped the ball, turning and ducking under the cart.
Sheng Sanlang felt like cursing.
A gap had opened in their defensive circle.
A perfect opportunity!
The first refugee lunged forward, followed by a second, a third… seven or eight people swarmed in a chaotic rush. Sweat poured down his back as he swung the hoe with all his might, shouting desperately, “Big brother, save me!”
In the past, as long as big brother was around, they could just hide behind him. Watching him effortlessly deal with these scum, they never felt grateful.
Only now, facing danger head-on, did he realize how difficult it must have been for his elder brother.
Just as Sheng Sanlang was drowning in despair and regret, someone from behind charged in, swinging a torch.
“Ahhh—”
The scorching torch struck exposed skin, and the refugees’ screams rose one after another.
Thick smoke billowed, and sparks flew everywhere.
The newcomer…
It was actually Song Jiaojiao!
Thanks to her petite frame, she nimbly dodged left and right in the darkness.
Her strikes were just a bit too ruthless, nine times out of ten hitting the opponents’ lower regions.
Sheng Sanlang instinctively tightened his legs.
“What are you standing around for? Fight!” Song Jiaojiao barked sharply, frustrated at his incompetence.
There was a commanding presence about her, reminiscent of his elder brother.
He jolted into action, mechanically swinging the hoe, belatedly thinking to himself: Damn it, why should I listen to this Song jinx?
The refugees had been starving for days. Though they appeared intimidating in numbers, they were essentially hollow shells.
Song Jiaojiao and Sheng Sanlang worked in seamless coordination. Several of the refugees were injured, and seeing the situation turn against them, they immediately redirected their assault toward the old woman.
“D-don’t come any closer.” Old Qian shut her eyes in terror, her legs already weak.
Just then, someone suddenly grabbed her arm. Turning back, she saw her eldest son sitting up from the cart, kicking a refugee and sending him tumbling several times on the ground.
Sheng Dalang was tall and imposing, his eyes gleaming with a cold light. He took the kitchen knife from his mother’s hand, the muscles in his arm bulging with sharp, defined lines.
The refugees were no match for him. In an instant, they all lay sprawled on the ground.
Moans and cries filled the air.
“Get lost.” Sheng Huaian narrowed his eyes, coldly uttering a single word from his thin lips.
Having not spoken for a long time, his voice was dry and hoarse, gritty like gravel, chilling as if it came from a ghost in hell.
Gulp. Everyone couldn’t help but swallow nervously.
The refugees fled in disarray.
The Sheng family, having survived the calamity, gathered around Sheng Huaian, weeping with joy.
“Thank the Bodhisattva for blessing us, my son has finally awakened.”
“Uncle is awake! No one will dare bully us anymore.”
“Big brother…”
Watching the jubilant Sheng family, Song Jiaojiao pursed her lips tightly, holding a stick as she stood aloof on the outskirts, silently observing her nominal husband.
In the original host’s memories, there were few descriptions of Sheng Huaian, at most just the phrase “innate divine strength.” Seeing the refugees fleeing in all directions made it clear that these four words were not unfounded.
At the same time.
Sheng Huaian was also the backbone of the entire Sheng family.
Song Jiaojiao pondered to herself: If she wanted to obtain her household registration through divorce, she would have to start with this man.
As if sensing something, Sheng Huaian suddenly turned his head. With his excellent eyesight, he could make out the figure standing slightly to the side in the faint firelight.
Not tall, almost emaciated to the point of losing shape, which made the eyes appear even larger and rounder, like a ghost.
It was him!
The one who had just tried to murder him!
The swollen, hard lump on his arm was the evidence.
His mind, just awakened, was in chaos. Unable to think deeply, Sheng Huaian closed his eyes for a moment before reopening them, his crimson phoenix eyes swirling with murderous intent. “Mother, who is he?”
Old Qian wiped away her tears and sobbed, “The daughter of the Song family, Song Jiaojiao. She is the wife I arranged for your luck-bringing marriage. Heaven has blessed us—my son has indeed awakened.”
Her?
Not him?
That was a girl!
“Luck-bringing marriage?” Sheng Huaian was stunned. In his muddled mind, he finally managed to recall such a person and couldn’t help but feel both amused and distressed.
The daughter of the Song family was ten years younger than him. Wasn’t this mistreating the young girl?
Moreover, the other party had ulterior motives.
Just as he was about to speak, a sudden surge of metallic sweetness spread up his throat, and his body swayed unsteadily. “Hurry, go.”
“Eldest son.” Old Qian was horrified and quickly helped him onto the cart.
With sharp eyes, Song Jiaojiao noticed that the wound on Sheng Huaian’s chest had reopened, staining it crimson. The heavy scent of blood instantly filled the air.
“Shh, keep your voices down.” Afraid of attracting refugees, she hurried forward, placing her index finger against her lips to signal everyone to quiet down.
“Let the children get on the cart and support your husband’s back to keep him in a sitting position. While the darkness makes it hard to see clearly, we can somewhat intimidate the refugees. We must escape quickly too.”
“Good idea.” Sheng Sanlang clapped in approval.
They immediately acted. Da Ya and her siblings held each other tightly, struggling to support Sheng Huaian, then covered him with a cloth.
The family dared not delay, pushing the cart in a frantic escape.
From afar, as if guided by some unseen force, Song Jiaojiao glanced back.
Everywhere, there were flames, wails, and shouts, completely tearing apart any shred of luck she had clung to in her heart.
Living in these turbulent times was fraught with danger—death could come at any moment.
She must strive to survive!
In the east, the morning sun slowly climbed over the mountain peaks, and the sky grew bright.
They had walked for who knew how long, and the screams behind them could no longer be heard. Everyone looked exhausted, mechanically moving forward on sheer willpower.
“Thud!”
Old Qian, her strength failing, collapsed straight to the ground.
“Mother.” Sheng Sanlang quickly set down the cart, turned his mother over, and tremblingly reached to check her breathing. Detecting a faint breath, his tense nerves relaxed, and he slumped to the ground.
Sheng Erlang asked helplessly, “Is Mother going to die? Big brother is unconscious again, the food has been stolen by the refugees… What should we do now?”
Upon hearing this, Da Ya and Da Niu, the two siblings, burst into loud wails, crying out, “We want Grandma!”
A single stone stirred up a thousand ripples.
After the harrowing escape of the previous night, the villagers on the road, overwhelmed by the emotional contagion, could no longer hold back their sobs and cries.
Some cursed the heavens in anger, others struck their children, and many were filled with regret and despair. The scene descended into chaos, a boiling pot of turmoil that frayed everyone’s nerves.
“We’ve all been ruined by that jinx, Song Jiaojiao.”