Chapter 3: The Upgrade System Brings New Life, Racing Through the Rainy Night to Seek a Path to Survival

Chen Wen's order came down!

A brief cheer.

It was immediately replaced by urgent action.

No one questioned, no one hesitated.

The survival instinct and Chen Wen's newly established authority!

It let this small team burst out with astonishing efficiency.

"Quick! Take out all the food from the cellar and distribute it for everyone to carry!"

"Water skins! Fill all the water skins!"

"Take the torn burlap and grass mats, for warmth at night!"

Wang Ru became the on-site Commander, her voice urgent yet clear.

Commanding the women and children to gather everything they could carry.

Zhang Cheng then led a few half-grown youths, nimbly climbing up to the higher broken wall to keep watch.

They nervously watched the direction in which Hu Biao and the others disappeared.

Chen Wen seized the moment, found a slightly quiet corner, and sank his consciousness into his mind.

【Current Level: 1(102/100)】

【Experience maxed, upgrade?】

"Upgrade!"

Chen Wen chanted it without hesitation.

It was as if a cool spring flowed into his mind, followed by a weak warm current coursing through his limbs, dispelling much fatigue.

The system panel before his eyes flashed slightly, and the text information refreshed:

【Upgrade successful!】

【Cow Horse System】 Host: Chen Wen

Level: 2(2/500)

Current multiplier: 4x

Effect: Labor efficiency significantly increased, harvest doubled. Slightly boosts physical recovery speed.

Skill: None

Condition: Light injury (torn tiger mouth, old left shoulder injury unaffected), fatigue (being alleviated)

4x! Jumped directly from 2x to 4x!

Chen Wen's heart pounded a few times against his will.

He instinctively clenched his fist, feeling the soreness from overexertion quickly fading, a stronger force surging within his body.

He even had the illusion that if he faced that one-eyed dragon now, perhaps a single blow could end the fight.

Moreover, the WP required for upgrading became 500 points.

This means that future labor demands will be much greater.

But at the same time!

"The slight boost to physical recovery speed' new effect is, in this urgent need to flee, truly a timely aid."

"System... truly the greatest treasure in this chaotic world."

Chen Wen suppressed his excitement, his gaze firmer. He quickly rose and threw himself into the preparations for relocation.

He discovered that, when he was moving those miscellaneous items and grain bags,

It became much easier, and his speed increased considerably (efficiency boost).

He alone almost lifted the heaviest grain bag, leaving others gaping.

"Brother Wen... your strength seems to have grown again?"

Zhang Cheng slipped down from the wall, helped carry things, and couldn't help but exclaim.

"When fleeing, potential is forced out."

Chen Wen gave a vague reply, but in his heart he gained a more intuitive understanding of the 4x effect.

In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, all the portable items were ready.

Everyone's person was bulging with supplies, their expressions tense and panicked.

"Little Brother Chen, where should we go?"

Wang Ru looked at Chen Wen, everyone awaiting his decision.

Chen Wen's gaze swept over the deeper parts of Jiao Tu Zhen.

To the west and north are directions where Khitan scouts frequently operate.

The east has just been occupied by Hu Biao's gang...

The only choice seems to be heading south!

Head toward the more remote mountainous area.

"Go south into the mountains!"

Chen Wen said decisively.

"In the mountains it's easier to hide, and also easier to find water and a place to rest."

"Everyone stay close to me, don't fall behind!"

"Zhang Cheng, you scout ahead, watch for safety!"

"All right, Brother Wen!"

Zhang Cheng, having received the order, was like a nimble monkey.

He led the way into the ruined alleys on the south side.

This evacuation team, made up of the elderly, weak, women, and children, set off silently and swiftly.

Chen Wen walked at the rear, constantly vigilant behind them.

They had left their previous resting point less than half an hour ago.

The sky quickly darkened, low clouds hung heavy, and muffled thunder rumbled across the horizon.

"It's going to pour!"

Wang Ru looked up at the sky, worried.

Misfortunes never come singly; this rain, for them lacking food and clothing, was undoubtedly adding insult to injury.

Sure enough, large raindrops soon began to fall.

At first sparse, they quickly became as dense as a waterfall.

Rainwater washed the ashes from the ruins, gathering into muddy streams on the ground.

The roads instantly turned into impassable mud.

The team's progress slowed abruptly.

The elderly and children trudged through the mud, one step deep, one shallow, occasionally slipping and letting out stifled cries of pain.

Cold and fatigue began to gnaw at everyone.

Chen Wen was anxious.

He knew that Hu Biao's men might come after them in the rain, and they had to quickly put distance between themselves.

"Faster! A bit faster! Hold on!"

He continually whispered encouragement, at times supporting an old person about to fall.

At times he helped a woman lacking strength lift her bundle.

With four times the stamina and recovery speed, he became the only one in the group able to keep vigorous energy.

Just then, Zhang Cheng, who had been scouting ahead, ran back through the rain, his face wet with either rain or sweat.

His tone, however, carried a hint of excitement:

"Brother Wen! Ahead! Ahead there's a place!"

Everyone's spirits lifted, and following Zhang Cheng's indicated direction, they trudged onward with difficulty.

It was a compound built beside a small earthen slope on the edge of a town.

Compared to the surrounding houses, it was relatively intact, although more than half of its outer wall had collapsed.

Yet the main house's framework remained, and even over half of its roof was not completely burned, barely able to shelter from wind and rain!

For this group, exhausted and soaked to the skin, it was nothing short of a heaven-sent refuge!

"Quick! Get inside!"

Chen Wen hurriedly commanded everyone to hide in the relatively intact half-room.

Crammed into the narrow space, they were temporarily shielded from the icy rain.

Everyone let out a long sigh, slumped to the ground, panting heavily, grateful to have survived another ordeal.

Chen Wen counted the heads, confirming no one was missing, and felt somewhat relieved.

He looked out at the pouring rain outside, his brow still furrowed.

This rain temporarily trapped them, but it also held back any possible pursuers.

Now they had gained a precious chance to catch their breath.

While everyone rested, Chen Wen found a corner and summoned the system interface again.

After reaching level 2, the growth of WP indeed slowed considerably.

The recent journey's hardship and support seemed to have added only a few points.

"We need to find a way to 'labor'..."

He surveyed this temporary shelter.

Although the roof wasn't completely collapsed, it was leaking, the walls were drafty, and the floor was damp.

He stood up and began to work.

He broke apart the scattered broken furniture inside, gathering some relatively intact tiles.

He attempted to patch the largest leaks.

Without tools, he relied solely on his hands and brute strength.

【Repair labor: Diligence Points (WP)+0.5】【Repair labor: Diligence Points (WP)+0.5】

The system's notification sounded intermittently.

Although each increase in WP was small, little by little it adds up.

More importantly, with his fourfold efficiency, the repair work progressed swiftly, the leaking condition visibly improved, and the people inside felt much better.

Everyone watched his busy figure, their eyes full of gratitude and reliance.

Wang Ru took out a bundle of cloth that was barely dry.

From it she took a tiny bit of the previously hidden, powdered herbs and handed it to Chen Wen:

"Young Chen, stretch out your hand, I'll apply some medicine to prevent the wound from festering."

Chen Wen hesitated a moment, looking at the new abrasions and old wounds on his tiger's mouth and fingers, and did not refuse:

"Thanks, Aunt Wang."

The applied herb brought a hint of coolness.

Chen Wen watched the people huddling together for warmth, sharing bits of dry food.

The aspiration in his heart to 'end the chaotic age' suddenly became concrete!

——That's to let these people before us survive.

"Aunt Wang,"

Chen Wen lowered his voice, bringing up the past.

"Once the rain lets up, we still need to find a way to gather news. My mother and little sister……"

Wang Ru nodded, also speaking softly.

"I understand. Just now on the road, I quietly asked that elderly couple who later joined!"

"They fled from the outskirts north of Bian Liang, saying it was about half a month ago……"

"I indeed saw a group of Khitan soldiers escorting many women and children heading north."

"Inside…… there seemed to be a frail woman and a girl about ten years old."

"But it was far away, I couldn't see their faces clearly, so I can't be certain……"

Chen Wen's heart clenched sharply.

North! Khitan soldiers!

The frail woman!

The girl about ten years old!

Each word struck his heart like a hammer!

Although uncertain, this is at least a clue!

Mother is frail, little sister's age matches……

The possibility is great!

Hope and anxiety grew wildly in his heart at the same time.

He sprang to his feet and walked to the door.

Gazing at the northern sky where the rainstorm hung like a curtain, he clenched his fists tightly.

He didn't even notice the wound he had just medicated beginning to bleed again.

Mother, little sister, you must wait for me!

No matter how far, no matter how difficult, I will surely find you!

And before that, he must let himself and the people around him.

First, in this man-eating world, to survive better.

His gaze became extremely sharp.

This rainstorm won't be able to hold him for long.