Chapter 5

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

The people who were in a hurry to escape were in a mess. Those who were looking for things and calling for their children were like a group of headless flies. Ji Shui Sheng frowned and looked over, as this was the reason why he was unwilling to rest.

Su Qing also looked at the messy crowd. Some were carrying poles, some were pushing carts, and some were carrying baskets on their backs. It looked like they were moving or fleeing.

However, these people were not like the average refugees, who were sallow and thin and their clothes were ragged. They were dressed neatly, and their skin and hair were very smooth.

Su Qing looked around again. This was a plain that was very close to the mountain, not at all the foot of the mountain where she had just fainted.

She asked little seven in a low voice, “Little seven, how far is it from peach mountain?”

“Ten li,” Little seven replied in a muffled voice. After hearing that she had fainted, she had actually walked ten miles away? Su Qing furrowed her brows. She had to go back.

“Sister, don’t get out of the car!”

Seeing that Su Qing was about to get out of the car, Ji Xiao Ying anxiously went over to pull her back.

Ji Shui Sheng was about to help the villagers pack their things when he heard his sister’s shout. He glanced at Su Qing but didn’t stop her. Since she was awake and wanted to leave, she could do so!

“I still have things to do.”

Su Qing thanked Ji Xiao Ying. She had been cold and heartless for a long time, so she couldn’t even say the words, “Thank you.”

Seeing that Su Qing was insistent on leaving, Ji Xiao Ying became anxious.

“Sister, the Earth Dragon is about to flip over. We have to leave quickly. If you have anything you need to do, you can leave when you’re safe.”

Hearing her words, Su Qing looked up at the sky. The clear sky was now covered with dark clouds, switching from day to night in an instant. Seeing that the sky had turned dark, the crowd panicked even more, crying and shouting.

A bolt of lightning struck down from the thick dark clouds, followed by thunder and lightning. A strong wind blew, and the earth shook violently, gravel from the mountain falling down like rain.

Su Qing quickly pulled Ji Xiao Ying towards an open area. The further away they were from the mountain, the safer they would be. As for the others, she had no interest in saving them.

“Brother! Brother!”

Ji Xiao Ying panicked when she couldn’t find Ji Shui Sheng.

She shouted loudly into the crowd that was running around, but she didn’t see her big brother. She was so anxious that she wanted to rush into the crowd to find him, but Su Qing held her back tightly.

After the earth quaked and the mountains trembled, it calmed down. The ground cracked and cracked, like a ferocious mouth waiting to devour people. The foot of the mountain was piled with gravel, and a few of the refugees were hit by the gravel and had their heads broken.

The men were busy saving people and packing things, while the water buffalo that pulled the carriage stomped uneasily and kept neighing. Uneasiness and fear enveloped the fleeing crowd; crying and shouting were everywhere, and it was a mess.

Thunder rumbled nonstop, like a drum that struck people’s hearts.

Su Qing ran further away with Ji Xiao Ying. The falling rocks did not hurt them, and the spot they were standing on did not have any cracks, so it was relatively safe.

“Brother! Sister Qiu Yue! Grandpa Qiu! Aunt Li! Where are you?!” Ji Xiaoying shouted at the crowd.

She wanted to rush over to help, but Su Qing held her back and ordered coldly, “There are still aftershocks. Stay here.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the ground began to shake violently again, even more so than before.

A large crack suddenly appeared under Ji Xiao Ying’s feet, and she fell in with a cry. Su Qing quickly caught her and pulled her up from the crack. She used so much force that her broken ribs hurt, letting out a muffled groan. However, she did not let go of Ji Xiaoying’s hand and held on to it tightly.

Even Su Qing found it strange. With her cold and emotionless personality, how could she put herself in danger to save a girl she had never met before?

Perhaps it was because of her pot of water? Perhaps it was her clean eyes? No matter what, she didn’t want this little girl to die.

With lingering fear, Ji Xiao Ying turned to look at the crack that could swallow a person, so deep that she could not see the bottom. If she fell in, she would be beyond saving.

She looked at Su Qing gratefully, “Sister, thank you for saving me.”

“Xiao Ying, are you alright?”

Ji Shui Sheng ran over in large strides. He had seen the scene of his sister falling into the crack in the ground and was scared out of his wits. Fortunately, that woman had saved his sister. Ji Shui Sheng looked at Su Qing gratefully. Seeing her clutching her ribs in pain, he thought of her injuries.

In order to repay her for saving his sister’s life, Ji Shui Sheng looked at Su Qing and solemnly promised, “Thank you for saving my sister. I will do my best to treat your injuries.”

Su Qing looked at him coldly, “No need. We’re even.”

When she looked at Ji Xiao Ying, her gaze was much gentler, not as cold as when she looked at Ji Shui Sheng.

“Little girl, we’ll meet again.”

Su Qing stood up and walked towards the peach blossom mountain. The pain in her ribs was unbearable. She walked with great difficulty and was even more anxious to get to the peach blossom mountain. She was not used to being in a weak state and could not bear it.

“Young lady, the mountain has collapsed. It’s very dangerous.”

Ji Shui Sheng saw Su Qing walking back and shouted at her. However, Su Qing didn’t turn back and continued to stagger forward.

A thunderclap rang out, shaking everyone’s hearts and minds, and the ground shook violently once again. Su Qing lost her balance and fell into a crack at the side. Ji Shui Sheng saw this and rushed over, pulling her out of the crack. Su Qing once again fell unconscious from the pain radiating from her wound.

When Ji Shui Sheng saw the unconscious Su Qing, he had no choice but to carry her back to his sister’s side. Ji Xiao Ying was scared out of her wits. When she saw that her big brother had saved that big sister, she hurriedly went over to help. Ji Shui Sheng placed Su Qing on the wooden cart and ordered his little sister, “Quickly, put on your straw cape and bamboo hat.”

His foster father had said that it would rain heavily after the Earth Dragon turned over, so everyone wore straw capes and bamboo hats when they escaped.

“Everyone, put on your straw rain capes. Let’s leave this place quickly.

“Da Niu, Yongkang. Go over and help.”

Ji Shui Sheng shouted at the chaotic crowd and ordered his two good brothers to help everyone put on their straw rain coats and pack their things. Those who were injured had to be simply bandaged.

After the chaos, the group hurried on their way again. This time, it was much more difficult than before. Facing the strong wind, it was difficult to move forward. The heavy rain came down at any time. Fortunately, everyone had brought waterproof tools. Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable. The old, the weak, the sick, and the disabled would definitely fall ill if they were drenched by the heavy rain.

Only one person didn’t wear a straw cape and a bamboo hat, which was Ji Shui Sheng. His straw cape and bamboo hat had been put on that woman by his younger sister.

After walking for a long time in the storm, the fear of death made people forget their fatigue. No one said that they were tired, and no one wanted to rest. Everyone just walked forward mechanically, getting up to continue after falling down. Everyone’s eyes were filled with fear and unease.

When they arrived at Yu City, the tragic scene they saw there made everyone even more afraid. The houses had collapsed, and even the gate tower on the city gate had collapsed. The big flag of Yu City had lost its former prestige in the muddy water.

The city was filled with cries as many people ran out of the city. More and more people were fleeing, but these refugees were not as well-prepared as Ji Shui Sheng and the others. They were basically empty-handed, drenched from the heavy rain.