TSWPF -Chapter 100 Heartache

At the hour of Mao, Li Qingling and Liu Zhimou wanted to take advantage of the darkness before dawn to reach the cave where the food was stored.

As soon as they stepped out, they hadn’t gone far when Ah Huang and Ah Bai hurriedly ran back from outside, each biting the sleeves of the two and dragging them back inside.

Seeing this, both Li Qingling and Liu Zhimou felt a jolt in their hearts. They exchanged a glance and allowed Ah Huang and Ah Bai to pull them back into the cave.

Once inside, Li Qingling hugged Ah Huang, patting its big head. “Ah Huang, is it wild beasts coming or enemies? If it’s the first, hum once; if it’s the second, hum twice.” If there weren’t danger, Ah Huang and Ah Bai wouldn’t have risked dragging them back like this.

Ah Huang immediately let out two hums.

Hearing this, Li Qingling’s heart sank twice. She continued to ask if it was the soldiers of King Nanyan.

Ah Huang hummed twice again.

“Thank you, Ah Huang and Ah Bai,” Li Qingling said, rubbing Ah Huang’s head again. “You stay here, don’t go out again, okay?”

Looking up at her, Ah Huang let out a hum to show it wouldn’t leave.

After saying “good,” Li Qingling straightened up and exchanged a glance with Liu Zhimou. Together, they went to the cave entrance and slowly placed the wooden board they had made over it.

The board had been made from wood that An Dian had somehow obtained. Given the current situation, it was a huge help.

“Leave a little gap. I want to see what’s outside,” Li Qingling said with a serious face. She felt this time, the visitors were not friendly.

She wasn’t foolish enough to think King Nanyan’s soldiers would hunt at night. They were likely coming specifically for them.

But how had they discovered their location?

Liu Zhimou nodded and reminded her to be careful, then went to wake the old man.

The old man, roused by Liu Zhimou, mumbled in confusion, “What’s wrong?”

For the past few days, he hadn’t been able to sleep properly with Liu Zhihao there. Just as he was finally able to enjoy a good rest, he was woken again—he was slightly annoyed.

“Grandpa, wake up. The enemy has come.”

Upon hearing this, the old man snapped awake. He jumped up and calmly asked Liu Zhimou what had happened.

“Ah Huang and Ah Bai ran back to warn us. They said King Nanyan’s soldiers are here. Whether they’re coming for us or not, we need to be prepared.”

The old man nodded and told Liu Zhimou to wake the children while he prepared some medicine.

Among the herbs he collected yesterday, a few could be made into poison, which he prepared—just in case.

Liu Zhimou woke the children and quietly informed them of the approaching enemy, instructing them to stay put and remain silent.

After experiencing so many emergencies, the children were accustomed to this. They obediently nodded upon hearing Liu Zhimou’s instructions.

Satisfied, Liu Zhimou returned to Li Qingling and asked, “How is it?”

Li Qingling’s eyes were fixed outside. She whispered, “Not yet.”

Just as she said this, faint footsteps reached her ears.

“They’re here.”

She tightened her grip on her bow, her body tense, ready for battle.

Perhaps due to drinking the spiritual water regularly, even in the dark, her vision remained sharp. She could clearly see roughly twenty soldiers outside.

Her heart eased slightly—it was fewer than she had feared.

She had worried they might be swarming. If that were the case, they would truly be doomed.

Facing just over twenty, she could still fight desperately.

“Gou Dan, are those people really here? Don’t play tricks on us.”

“They’re definitely here. I saw them accidentally while hunting yesterday,” replied the soldier named Gou Dan. “Boss, I think there’s a cave where people might be living. They went in that direction.” He pointed toward the cave.

Indeed, they were coming for them. Their location had been exposed.

Hearing the soldiers outside, Li Qingling confirmed her suspicions. She pursed her lips and slowly raised her bow, ready to shoot anyone who dared approach.

One shot could serve as a deterrent.

“How many did you see exactly?”

“I only saw a few children. Not sure if there are adults inside. Even if there are, they’re ordinary people, nothing to fear,” Gou Dan said, scratching his mosquito-bitten face and slapping a mosquito dead.

“Go take a look. These mosquitoes are unbearable. The sooner it’s done, the sooner we can leave,” their leader muttered, shooing Gou Dan to check the cave.

Gou Dan, fed up with the mosquitoes, obeyed and headed toward the cave.

Li Qingling squinted, slowly drawing her bow. When Gou Dan was about ten steps from the cave, she shot an arrow at his head.

Gou Dan, thinking the cave housed ordinary people, was completely off guard and was struck down immediately.

His eyes were wide open as he fell, unwilling to accept death.

The remaining soldiers froze, shocked. “Such precise archery—can they really be ordinary people?”

The leader quickly ordered the rest to hide.

They hadn’t brought shields, only spears. They couldn’t even defend themselves properly now.

Before coming, Gou Dan had said there were only a few children inside—ordinary people. They had been overconfident, thinking shields weren’t needed. Yet…

“What kind of people are inside? Get out here now!” the leader shouted from behind a tree, angry. “I’ll count to three. If you don’t come out, I won’t hold back!”

After waiting and hearing nothing, he ground his teeth and started counting.

“One…” silence.

“Two…” still nothing. “Last chance, come out or don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

“Three…”

At that moment, an arrow whizzed past him. Luckily, he dodged quickly, or he would have ended up like Gou Dan.

“Damn, it backfired! Gou Dan messed this up.” The leader cursed, then sent someone to fetch more archers. He refused to believe they couldn’t overcome the people inside.

Li Qingling’s hands trembled slightly, her nerves stretched tight. She whispered to Liu Zhimou, “The soldiers outside are going back for reinforcements. Staying here will be dangerous.”

Although her arrow had shocked them, it wouldn’t hold for long, especially with more archers arriving.

“Then we leave now,” Liu Zhimou decided immediately.

He knew that relying solely on her was too risky. It was better to take a chance and escape.

Li Qingling bit her lip, glancing at the huddled children, and nodded resolutely.

If they fought, they might survive. If not, they would only be waiting for death.

“Are we leaving?” the old man asked, carrying the poison he had prepared. “How’s it outside?”

“I shot one. There are still over twenty outside. They’re bringing in archers. Once they arrive, we won’t be able to escape and will be trapped,” Li Qingling replied quickly.

The old man weighed the risks and nodded. “Then let’s go.” Better to leave than wait to die.

After deciding, they called the children over. Li Qingfeng hugged Li Qingning, tears in her eyes, but she didn’t dare cry. His voice trembled slightly. “Sister, are there many bad people outside?”

Li Qingling patted Li Qingning’s head and Li Qingfeng’s, wincing slightly. “Xiaofeng, are you a brave boy?”

“Yes,” Li Qingfeng straightened his back. He was a brave boy—he must protect his sisters, no fear allowed.

“Good. Once we’re out, don’t look back. Run as fast and as far as you can, understand?”

Li Qingfeng’s eyes reddened. He nodded, choking back tears.

Suppressing the lump in her throat, Li Qingling looked at the other children. “You too, understand?” She wanted all of them to escape.

The children wiped their tears and nodded.

Li Qingling picked up Li Qingning, kissed her cheek, and praised her. “Ningning, you’re wonderful—a good child. Don’t be afraid. Your siblings are here!” Then she handed her to the old man.

The old man hugged her tightly, wanting to speak but unable to, nodding instead.

Li Qingling thanked him, then took Liu Zhirou from Liu Zhiyan’s arms, kissed her cheek, praised her, and handed her to Liu Zhimou.

She looked Liu Zhimou in the eyes. “Take them out. I trust you can do it.”

“I don’t—”

“Zhimou, this is the best decision,” Li Qingling interrupted. “Ah Huang and Ah Bai and I will cover your escape.”

It was the best plan. Without cover, none of them would have made it.

“Listen to Ling’er, kid,” the old man urged.

Tears streamed down Liu Zhimou’s face. He closed his eyes tightly, endured the heartache, and nodded with effort.

Li Qingling hugged him tightly. She didn’t dare say anything else—she didn’t know if they would make it out alive. She let go.

Gently, she moved the wooden board aside and whispered instructions, “After we leave, sneak in the opposite direction.” Then she glanced at them once more, gritted her teeth, and strode out with Ah Huang and Ah Bai.