Chapter 6: The Dam Breaks

At that moment, a horde of panicked refugees suddenly barreled toward them!

"Mother!"

"Father!"

They were instantly driven apart; the refugees, fleeing disaster, shoved and shoved each other, the sour and putrid odor piercing straight into their mouths and noses! Yet at that moment, several of them simply couldn't spare a thought for any of it!

She clutched tightly onto Mother and the Shen Family Sixth Miss; anyone who tried to get close was ruthlessly kicked down by her! Those with ill intent, hoping to take advantage of the chaos, met her icy gaze and instantly shivered!

But there were also those who were reckless!

They were all refugees, eyes already bloodshot from starvation, and some were enveloped in a foul, rotting stench. Their eyes were bloodshot, lips black, teeth yellow—clearly they had fed on human flesh!

"Qinger..."

Ning Shi trembled with fear, yet maternal instinct made her instinctively shield the daughters behind her.

"Mother, don't be afraid."

Seeing those reckless people charge forward, she shoved them behind her, drew the large sword she had previously collected, and swung it down!

"Ah!"

The person at the front had his neck sliced cleanly; he fell down in terror!

Swish! Another strike, this time she sliced a nearby man's ear off!

It was an official sword—its sharpness obvious!

Moreover, Shen Qingquan had never intended to show mercy; as soon as she engaged, it was a killing move!

But within moments, five or six people around her had collapsed!

The refugees now realized they'd met a tough opponent! Yet, eyeing the packs on their backs with greedy looks, they still refused to leave.

At this moment, Shen Juancheng arrived, carrying Shen Yuhuan on his back!

"Mother! Qinger, Ci'er! Are you all right?"

"We're fine, Father, don't worry..."

Shen Qingquan said, and while still bearing them, silently produced two large swords and handed them to the others.

Shen Juancheng understood, gripped the large sword tightly; though he had been a frail scholar in plain clothes and a silk scarf, at this moment he boldly positioned himself in front of them for his wife and children!

Shen Yuhuan planted one foot on the ground, also gripping his weapon tightly as he faced the refugees!

"Anyone who dares to step forward, I'll chop off his head and kick it like a ball!"

He shouted in the rough tone of the thugs they'd encountered along the way, his face fierce!

Although he was only fifteen or sixteen, the boy stood as upright as a pine; with the Cold Beam emanating from his large sword, many were still fooled.

Moreover, since Shen Qingquan had just slain five or six people in a row, they ultimately dared not fight any further, turning and scattering in flight!

The family of five finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Fortunately, these refugees still fear the knives we wield... Mother, the sword is too heavy for you. Take this for self‑defense."

Shen Qingquan slipped the system‑granted dagger into Ning Shi, who hurriedly shook her head, "Mother, no! Keep it!"

"I have a sword; later I'll clear the way ahead with Father, and there may be moments I can't watch over you. Keep this dagger and I'll be more at ease. If anyone tries to get close, stab them outright! No mercy."

"Mother, the child gave it to you; just take it."

She was still hesitating when Shen Juancheng spoke up directly.

"Then... alright."

She took it, carefully slipping it into her sleeve.

Shen Qingquan looked at the Shen Family Sixth Miss, "Later, Sister will find you a better one."

"Sister, I can use the sword."

Now she is no longer the delicate, helpless Shen Family Sixth Miss who would be slaughtered at will.

"Sister knows, but this sword can easily injure you if you're careless. Once we're safe, Sister will teach you a sword technique; then you can use it, okay?"

"Mm!"

"Alright! Let's go!"

The family set off again.

This time, armed, the refugees dared not approach casually.

The earth's tremor continued for a while, then ceased.

The cracked ground was a landscape of devastation.

All around were falling rocks, fissures, and corpses.

Wails and cries echoed across the fields.

It resembled a scene of hell.

Shen Qingquan stared at the scene, expressionless.

This is merely the tip of the chaotic world's iceberg; the true hell is far beyond this.

And to end this chaotic age, one must use an iron fist! A fleeting mercy is merely a band‑aid, not a cure! Ordinary people only invite trouble for themselves.

They dared not delay, quickly exiting the mountain hollow; in the distance, the silhouette of a city could be faintly seen!

"Father, we're entering the city! Perhaps Grandmother and the others will go there too!"

They had become separated from Grandmother's group a dozen li away, scattered by a band of marauders, with Grandmother's fate unknown. After shaking off the marauders, they came upon the Broken Temple.

After that, the scene was exactly what Shen Qingquan had just awakened to.

This city is a necessary waypoint for exile; Grandmother's party will surely go there!

"Good! Then let's hurry!"

No sooner had the words finished, a deafening boom rang out from the flat ground!

It sounded like thunder, exploding on the horizon.

That sound was far away, and it didn't come clearly.

But it made Shen Qingquan's expression change drastically!

"Not good! The dam has collapsed!"

……

Several miles away!

Huxian Dam!

The flood surged out all at once!

It rushed downstream, bearing anger and roar, flooding the land!

In an instant, mountains, trees, houses, shops, and people were all swept in!

The terrain here is mountainous and forested, but most are not lush; after years of disaster, the trees and vegetation have been almost completely destroyed by refugees! Where could resist the flood's onslaught?

The dam's collapse brought destruction and damage no less than earthquakes or volcanic eruptions!

Where it passed, rocks cracked and mudslides swept, as if it would destroy heaven and earth!

"Not good! The River God is angry!"

"The flood is coming! Run quickly!"

……

Shen Qingquan's family ran desperately; to save stamina, she threw all the things she was carrying into the system storage!

Rumble!

The huge noise behind grew nearer; Shen Qingci couldn't help but turn around, and then saw the mountain gorge they had just emerged from swallowed by a towering wave! In an instant, the mountain collapsed and the ground split.

She was so frightened her face turned white!

"Don't look back! Run!"

Shen Qingquan shouted sharply, clenching her teeth and using all her strength to run!

Whoosh!

The family ran panting heavily, and at that moment a droplet slid down from their foreheads!

Shen Qingquan reached out to wipe it—was it sweat?

No, it's... rain!

It actually started raining!

A leaky roof meets a night rain!

And it rains at this moment! After a dry half‑year with no rain, it finally pours just as the dam is breaching!

It's as if Heaven offers no way out!

But in a moment, the sky roared with heavy rain! People hadn't even time to rejoice at the sudden downpour, because the flood behind them had already arrived!

Countless people were swept in in an instant, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Those ahead, seeing this, could only flee even more desperately.

Shen Qingquan's family were all wounded, but now life hung in the balance, so they gritted their teeth and fled.

Shen Juancheng carried Shen Yuhuan, but his strength quickly ran out; Shen Qingci's face turned ashen, barely able to breathe. Their bodies were too weak; even after eating, they couldn't recover immediately.

"Hold on a little longer, we're almost there..."

Suddenly, with a thud, Ning Shi was tripped by something and fell to the ground; Shen Qingci hurried to help her!

"Mother, how are you?"

"I'm fine..."

Ning Shi stepped on a stone and sprained her foot; she couldn't stand up.

"Liu Mei! Come help father! Mother, I'll carry you!" Shen Qingquan strode forward, grabbed her and hoisted her onto her back!

And at this moment, the flood was less than ten li behind them!? This book's first release comes from 17K Novel Network; see the official content immediately!