Chapter 89: The Suffering of Leaving Home

The old man at home was already seventy-two, a rare high age in the current Panlong Wasteland. Hearing that the Baling Army had arrived again, Old Man Liu was determined not to leave this time, hugging the pillar tightly, wanting to die with the city. Liu Sanjiu and his wife tried to drag him away, but couldn't do anything about him, and finally had to part in tears from his father, taking his children to retreat eastward.

When Liu Sanjiu spoke of this, his eye sockets were red, and his face was covered in tears or rain. He knew very well that Old Man Liu knew he couldn't walk fast and didn't want to drag his son's family down in their escape.

Such tragedies of life and death were just common in the current refugee team; pull any household out, and they would have a belly full of bitterness and sour water.

At this time, Liu Sanjiu's son was also tired from walking and shouted for his father to carry him.

He was only ten years old, and having walked for several hours in the rain on the plain, he was already exhausted.

Liu Sanjiu was already carrying his daughter in his hands, and the small donkey was also bent under the weight of the luggage; he was afraid that if the child went up, it would crush the donkey.

He Lingchuan couldn't bear it. "I'll help you..." He originally wanted to help carry the child, but after a second thought, he picked up a large bag of luggage on the donkey's back. "... carry these, you put the child up."

Being too enthusiastic was like being a human trafficker. In this kind of refugee team, children getting lost or kidnapped wasn't strange.

The luggage he picked up only contained bedding and clothes, which were bulky, took up space, and weren't worth anything, so Liu Sanjiu immediately cast him an even more grateful look.

Being able to meet a good person while fleeing was truly burning high incense and accumulating great virtue.

People often came from behind, passing Liu Sanjiu's family to run forward. Fleeing from the disaster of war was actually similar to hiding from a tiger; as long as you could outrun your companions, the safety factor would greatly increase.

For this, civilians like Liu Sanjiu had no way; the current speed of travel was already at the limit.

Small groups of scouts often rushed from the east, going against the team.

The sight of the Great Wind Army gave everyone a trace of comfort.

Liu Sanjiu pointed at them and said to his little daughter, "These uncles will protect us. As long as we walk toward them, we will be safe!"

At this moment, an exclamation came from the front.

He Lingchuan looked up and saw an old man in his sixties sitting weakly on the ground, swaying twice, and falling headfirst. His wife sat on the mule's back, hurriedly getting off, and his son wanted to help his father up, but the latter had already fainted.

This son was in his forties, sallow and thin, and he himself was walking unsteadily. He wanted to carry his father on his back, but after taking two steps, he fell to the ground, splashing mud all over himself.

Other refugees watched silently and then walked past them without looking back.

Everyone in this team was unable to take care of themselves; where could they squeeze out extra strength to do good? Liu Sanjiu and his wife looked at each other, lowered their heads, and led the donkey past.

Just at this moment, three cavalrymen rushed near, and the leader stopped his horse and asked, "What's going on?"

"Military Lord, my father really can't walk anymore!" The man said with tears. "Please do a favor, please help!"

He Lingchuan was startled as soon as he looked up.

Thin eyebrows, long eyes, cold face—hey, wasn't this an old acquaintance?

Wasn't this the Great Wind Army commander who attacked the Black Water City army in the Panlong Wasteland City and was ordered by the Black Dragon to escort them out of the desert? It was just that at that time, he was a heroic spirit, possessing only ferocity, unable to speak, and didn't communicate with He Lingchuan at all; this time he was a living person, and this was also the first time He Lingchuan heard him speak.

However, He Lingchuan hurriedly lowered his head, because the commander's sharp gaze swept over immediately.

Although there was no communication, He Lingchuan had a deep impression of this guy's habit of stabbing people with a long spear without a word.

Fortunately, the crowd of refugees also surrounded them at this time, wanting to see how the Great Wind Army would solve it.

This commander withdrew his gaze, was silent for a while, and then said, "Throw away the cargo and help your father onto the mule."

The mule, besides carrying an old woman, was also carrying the household goods of this family of three. The man turned pale. "Military Lord, my mule is lame and can't carry two people. Can you spare a horse?"

The commander said, "Then throw away the wealth, help your father onto the mule, and you come to carry your mother."

The old woman stepped forward, grabbing the reins and crying loudly, "My old man can't walk anymore, please show mercy! You're not short of a horse; he's a life!"

Her white hair was sparse, soaked by the rain, sticking to her face in strands, looking so pitiful.

The commander's gaze swept across her face, then looked at the unconscious old man on the ground and the man full of pleading, his Adam's apple moving.

Bystanders could see that he was hesitating.

The man immediately knelt down and kowtowed to him several times. "Please show mercy, lend me a horse!" He repeated the plea four or five times like this.

The commander let out a long breath.

Just when He Lingchuan thought he would compromise, the commander pointed to a small hill not far away. "There's a cave on the mountain to hide from the rain. I can send someone to help your father go there to rest and come to pick him up in a day or two."

The man was stunned. "My father go to the mountain? That's also a dead end; what if the enemy chases?"

The old woman cried even louder, and he couldn't help but roar, "Mother, stop crying!"

"You can only gamble; make a decision now!" The commander said coldly. "In a day or two, when the enemy retreats, I will definitely send someone to patrol."

He waited in place for a few breaths, and seeing that the man still couldn't make up his mind, he shook the reins and prepared to leave.

"Wait, wait!" The man gritted his teeth. "I've decided, just... just send my father up the mountain; you guys come and help!"

The commander nodded slightly to his subordinates, and the latter immediately helped the old man onto the front of the saddle. The woman suddenly said, "Take me with you; I'll be with my old man!"

Her attitude was exceptionally firm, and the man mumbled twice without refuting.

So the cavalry took the old couple and rode toward the small hill seventy steps away.

The commander continued forward, not staying any longer.

The man stood in place and watched for a while, full of desolation, and then led the mule forward.

Now, of the family of three, only he was left.

Liu Sanjiu's wife said in a low voice, "This person is really pitiful, and that leader's heart is really hard. I thought the Great Wind Army was very good to us civilians."

Liu Sanjiu said dully, "They can't be good; who doesn't need help here?"

If the commander helped that old couple, other civilians would definitely swarm up to ask him for help:

Why help them and not us? Who isn't a refugee?

The mission of these soldiers wasn't rescue but cover and defense; if they were dragged here and couldn't go to the rear to meet them, it would instead bring trouble to the companions who were covering the rear! The wife was unhappy. "You're still speaking for them!"

"Now, who else can we speak for?" Liu Sanjiu smiled bitterly. "At least the Great Wind Army came to meet us, and we aren't Panlong City people anyway."

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 90 =====