The mountain forest was getting steeper. There were cliffs everywhere.
This place was also very far from Lin'an City. Bai Wutong looked down from the mountain and saw a dense group of refugees with their families. She reckoned that the soldiers would not have the time to catch them now, so she sneaked into the easier path.
One of them was armed with a dagger, the other with an axe. No one dared approach them.
It was almost autumn but the weather was still hot.
She did not feel cold as she walked through the crowd.
Bai Wutong took a few sips of water and handed the water pouch to Chu Tianbao.
Chu Tianbao gulped it down. The people around them swallowed their dry throats.
They hadn't had water in almost two days, and their lips were almost cracking.
On the road, it was harder to drink water than to eat rations.
A skinny old lady collapsed to the floor with a thud.
She croaked weakly, "Water, water…"
The young man with sunken cheeks hugged the old lady with red eyes. "Grandmother, we'll reach Beiyun City soon. If we find Uncle in the city, we'll have water to drink and porridge to eat. Hang in there…"
"I want water now… give me water…" The old lady reached out shakily, her eyes unfocused.
The people around them were used to it. It was too normal for people to die on the way to desert.
They glanced at it indifferently and looked away like the walking dead.
Huang Zhong suddenly thought of something. He put the old lady down and ran with all his strength. Before Bai Wutong could react, he knelt in front of them.
"Young Master, Miss, I can read and write. I was a scholar two years ago and worked as a accountant in town. Please, give me some water. I'm willing to sell myself into slavery and work for you!"
Chu Tianbao dared to drink so much water in one gulp, so there must still be water in his bag. As long as he could save his grandmother, Huang Zhong would do anything.
Afraid that Bai Wutong and Chu Tianbao would not agree, he kowtowed on the ground again and again, and his forehead was quickly stained with blood.
Afraid that Bai Wutong and the others would have concerns, he sat up and opened his bag to write the contract. "I'll write the contract now. You're my masters now."
Bai Wutong glanced at the dying old lady and thought of her grandmother. She removed another water pouch from her bag and poured out a bowl of water. "Take it."
Huang Zhong was overjoyed. Just as he picked up the water, the swaying refugees immediately turned into wild beasts and pounced over. Before they could touch Huang Zhong, they were all kicked out by Chu Tianbao.
Huang Zhong could not be bothered to thank him. He ran to the old lady's side.
The water was fed to the old lady's mouth. She stared with rheumy eyes, but they lost focus.
Huang Zhong's hand trembled as he checked the old lady's breathing. He immediately burst into tears. "Grandmother… Grandmother… Sob… Drink some water. There's water…"
Bai Wutong sighed helplessly. Humans were too insignificant in the face of disaster.
Now, it was just a little better than the apocalypse.
He was crying so hard that even God was affected.
"Rumble—"
A clap of thunder split the air. Dark clouds filled the sky. For a moment, it rained.
The refugees knelt on the ground, raised their hands, and shouted, "The heavens have opened their eyes!"
The rain hitting them and running into their mouths would buy them a few more days.
For many, the rain fell far, far too late.
The road was muddy from the storm. It was impossible to keep going.
It was almost dark, so Bai Wutong had no choice but to temporarily find a place to stay with Chu Tianbao.
Fortunately, they were in luck.
After walking downhill through the rain for a while, they saw an abandoned village.
This village was very big, and many refugees had already run into the houses in front.
Not wanting to squeeze with them, Bai Wutong took Chu Tianbao to the most secluded house.
There was no one in the house. Bai Wutong breathed a sigh of relief.
They were drenched, and so was the bag.
However, Bai Wutong took out dry clothes from her bag and handed them to Chu Tianbao. "Hurry up and change. Be careful not to get sick."
"Uh-uh."
Chu Tianbao quickly took off his clothes and put them on. He stole a glance at Bai Wutong, who was about to change her clothes.
Bai Wutong turned and dropped a cloak on his head. "Don't pull it off."
"Alright, wife."
After Bai Wutong was dressed, Chu Tianbao obediently put on his cloak and remained motionless.
Bai Wutong lifted the cloak and was caught off guard. She met with a pair of big smiling eyes.
Bai Wutong was stunned for a moment before her gaze quickly shifted to the ground.
There was some wood on the floor. She picked up a number and started a fire with a flint. She took out a small pot and filled it with clean water from the water pouch, ready to cook.
Chu Tianbao stirred the porridge with a spoon to prevent it from burning, while Bai Wutong baked the wet clothes.
Suddenly, the sound of approaching hooves in the rain came to a halt in front of the house.
Bai Wutong quickly stood up and put aside the porridge that was boiling. She gripped her axe and stood at the window to peep out.
It was still raining hard. A burly man, carrying a toddler on his back, tied his horse under the big locust tree in the yard.
Bai Wutong saw him take the child gently into his arms before she lowered the axe.
Lin Yue carried the child in one hand and raised his sword in the other. He knocked open the door domineeringly.
There was a bang.
The weakened child was shocked and began to wail.
The man ignored it. Instead, he examined Bai Wutong and Chu Tianbao in the room with wary eyes.
When his gaze landed on the porridge in the pot, his dark eyes flashed. He said to the guarded Bai Wutong, "Miss, sell me this pot of porridge!" His attitude was firm, as if he would snatch it if she didn't give it to him. However, he reached into his pocket and took out a banknote worth a hundred taels of silver and placed it in front of Bai Wutong.
It was a hundred taels of silver!
He was definitely a tycoon!
Anyway, she still had rice. She could cook another pot.
Bai Wutong carefully took the banknote. Lin Yue picked up the porridge and walked to a corner. He carried the crying child in front of him and prepared to feed him the porridge.
Lin Yue was clearly a novice. He held the porridge and stared at the child's open mouth.
Then his obvious pleading gaze fell on Bai Wutong's face.
He probably thought that women were born with ability to care for a child.
A trace of embarrassment flashed across his rough face. He lowered his voice and said to Bai Wutong, "Miss, can you help me feed Little Master?"
So he wasn't the father… Looking at the child's silk clothes and the horse in golden armor under the locust tree, their identities should be very extraordinary.
The moment Bai Wutong was stunned, Lin Yue stood up and took out another banknote worth 100 taels of silver. "Here." He even looked at her directly with an expression that said that she should help.
As expected of a rich man!
Bai Wutong raised her eyebrows, accepted the banknotes, and reached out to take the poor child.
At the same time, Lin Yue heaved a sigh of relief.