Chapter 5: Escape from the Broken Temple

Looking at the strange clothing before them, they wore a look of wonder.

The Down Jacket provided by the system is black, similar to ancient cotton coats, but on close inspection differences are visible. Don't underestimate it; it uses storm‑trooper fabric, which is waterproof and breathable, feeling soft, light, and very comfortable.

It fully meets the standards of a high‑altitude professional Down Jacket.

The inner filling is 95% gray goose down, thickened version, with strong cold resistance, high‑efficiency wind‑proof fabric, over 800 layers of thick down, a detachable hood, utility pockets, double placket, and space for essential food and supplies.

It has a tech temperature sensor that changes with body surface temperature. It is abrasion‑resistant, warm, wind‑proof; even if a flood comes and the temperature drops sharply, it gives her confidence to cope.

After receiving the Down Jacket, its functions automatically appear in their mind.

A system product, certainly extraordinary.

Nevertheless, some disguise is still needed.

"Wear the Down Jacket underneath, and put a simple shirt over it..."

Anyway, their current clothes are tattered and loose, so a Down Jacket fits them more than enough.

But she also reminds the two, not to wear it too thick, because once they go into water, excessive weight will hinder movement.

Five Down Jackets are quickly put on, and the bodies that were shivering rapidly warm up.

The Broken Temple drafts everywhere, and now it's a bitter winter; night temperatures are nearly zero degrees. They've been numb from the cold all the way, but once these magical garments are on, they quickly feel no cold!

"So warm!"

"So comfortable!"

The two carefully stroke the outside, as if they were handling a treasure.

"Don't move recklessly, be careful not to get hurt, Sixth Sister, follow me."

After soothing Brother, she brings Sixth Sister into the Broken Temple, waits for a incense stick to burn, treats her wound, and then the two emerge.

At this moment, the scent of millet already fills the Broken Temple.

Gurgle.

Their stomachs simultaneously start a hollow‑city ruse; although they had a bit of bread to fill them, these days of wind‑eating and sleeping exposed have left them without a hot meal. Now smelling the rice aroma, their hunger roars.

They use the soldiers' gear, with pots and bowls, fairly complete, but cooking porridge still consumed three bottles of Mineral Water, making Ning Shi feel a pang of sorrow.

Water is hard to find now, so any saving helps.

Soon the porridge is ready; the family of five sit around in the Broken Temple, holding bowls, drinking hot, thick millet porridge, almost shedding tears of happiness.

The silly younger brother wipes away tears secretly, still thinking his lost gold bean went unnoticed; Sixth Sister leans against Shen Qingquan and Ning Shi, sipping the porridge in small sips, her pale face finally gaining a hint of color.

The atmosphere is warm.

The family escaped from death; now being able to drink a bowl of hot porridge, nothing is happier.

……

Ten minutes later.

"Ding."

"Wheat is mature, harvest?"

Another ten minutes later.

"Ding, Sweet Potato is mature, harvest?"

In an instant, the system's prompt sounds echo in her mind one after another, and she hurriedly taps to confirm.

Soon the wheat and sweet potatoes are harvested.

"Ding, harvested ten jin of mature wheat, received 2.5 Gold Coins reward."

"Ding, harvested fifteen jin of mature sweet potatoes, received 2.5 Gold Coins reward."

Seeing the Gold Coins count rise again, her eyes lit up!

She spends another 1 Gold Coin to thresh and grind the wheat, ultimately obtaining:

Flour * 5 jin.

Sweet Potato * 15 jin.

Later she'll make the flour into mantou, the sweet potatoes will be fully steamed and stored in her system warehouse. That way, when hunger strikes, she can take them out anytime, convenient and effortless.

She checks the system and sees 88 Gold Coins remaining.

She ponders buying something later. Unfortunately, the Gold Coins are too few, limiting what she can purchase.

She plants another batch of sweet potatoes and wheat, harvests the mature ones, and says, "Mother, this is flour and sweet potatoes; later I'll make mantou from the flour, steam the sweet potatoes, and we'll eat them on the road."

"... Okay, Mother will help too.

"

Seeing her daughter suddenly produce items, she feels she should adapt quickly.

It was Shen Yuhuan's first time seeing older sister materialize items out of thin air; his mouth formed an 'O' shape in shock, then quickly turned into starry eyes.

Older sister truly is a little fairy!

"Older sister, I'll help too," Shen Qingci also says.

"Your body..."

"I can do it."

Seeing her determined face, she says nothing more, "Alright, we'll hurry and aim to finish within half an hour."

The sky brightens quickly.

They must prepare everything before the flood arrives.

……

When the first ray of light appears on the eastern horizon, Shen Qingquan's family inside the Broken Temple also readies to depart.

Stepping into the daylight, the family of five leaves the blood‑stained Broken Temple.

The corpses have been dealt with by Shen Juancheng, thrown into the pit behind the Broken Temple; their great swords were collected by Shen Qingquan, and they also obtained twenty‑three liang of silver, some dry rations, and water.

The weapons were stored by her in the system warehouse, and as for the dry rations and water, she divided them into five portions and, together with the bread, handed them out to them.

If… a few of them get scattered, at least we can manage for a few days.

The hot food was also stored by her in the warehouse; the warehouse keeps things fresh, so what goes in hot comes out hot.

She didn't tell them about the flood, lest they worry; but seeing her solemn expression, the few still sensed that something was wrong.

At that moment, the ground suddenly began to shake violently.

It was as if the earth were roaring.

They swayed left and right.

"What's happening?"

"Could it be… the earth dragon turning over?"

"Father, the Huxian Dam is within thirty li."

Her words made Shen Juancheng's expression change drastically! And recalling the terrain here…

"Bad! If the dam collapses, we'll be the first hit! Leave this place first!"

Indeed, the flood of the previous generation was caused by an earthquake that breached the Huxian Dam, which then flooded the Three cities! Tens of thousands of disaster victims suffered!

Their family was passing through Huxian County at the time, and they were also in trouble; they got separated in the flood, leading to the later tragedy.

Crack!

Suddenly a splitting sound was heard; they saw a huge fissure open in the ground ten meters away, and then a booming roar came from above—the mountain was sliding!

"Go this way!"

She led the way ahead, trying to head toward open ground; the area is surrounded by mountains, and the tremor could trigger landslides and falling rocks, so they must not go up the mountain now!

"Watch out for the rocks!"

A shout from Ning Shi came from beside them, and Shen Qingquan looked up to see a massive boulder hurling toward them!

Instinctively she threw herself over the nearest mother and younger sister; the stone grazed her scalp as it fell! With a bang, the ground split a huge crack!

"Mother! Qinger! Qingci!"

Shen Juancheng lost his voice; he carried Shen Yuhuan, and the situation left no time to react.

"Dad, we're okay."

Fortunately the three avoided the falling rock; she helped mother and Sixth sister up, and the three supported each other forward; seeing they were unharmed, he felt relieved.

"Hurry, go!"

Along the way, they finally encountered people, most of whom were also fleeing the disaster.

All around, rocks would fall intermittently, accompanied by landslides; people were constantly struck, screaming in agony! Some even fell straight into the fissures, disappearing in an instant.

Ning Shi and Shen Qingci's faces turned pale, their expressions anxious.? This book was first published on 17K Novel Network; read the official content at once!