TSWPF -Chapter 93 Terror

The black-clad man stood just below the cave entrance. If he looked up, he would likely discover the cave.

Li Qingling’s heart was pounding wildly, and her hands gripping the bow were soaked with sweat.

Afraid of being noticed, she didn’t dare look outside and could only lower her gaze to focus on the bow.

She quietly drew a deep breath, slowly calming her racing heart. If it weren’t for the fear that she couldn’t defeat the other black-clad men, she really wanted to shoot the bow and kill the man right there, sparing herself from this constant terror that felt like it might give her a heart attack.

The black-clad man finished searching the area ahead. Seeing no one, he prepared to turn and look behind. Li Qingling couldn’t resist sneaking a glance and caught his movement—her heart leapt again.

Damn it, is she really about to be discovered?

At that moment, presumably the leader of the black-clad men called out, “Someone’s coming. Retreat…”

In an instant, several black-clad men disappeared without a trace.

Holding her breath, Li Qingling finally exhaled after seeing them leave.

She turned to the old man, who was pressing his lips together, and teased him softly with a smile, “Old man, why do you look even more scared than me?” Though his face remained relatively calm, his body was tense.

The old man glanced at her and snorted. “Being scared is normal. I still want to live a few more years, don’t want to die this early.” He glanced at her pale hand gripping the bow. “They’re gone now. You can relax.”

This little girl was only about ten, yet she could stay so composed—it was remarkable!

No wonder she could teach her younger siblings so well. No wonder she could survive so well in this disaster.

Over the past two days, he could see the household roles clearly: Liu Zhimou handled the interior, and Li Qingling managed the exterior. The two children cooperated well, keeping the small household afloat.

If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed anyone who said that the two children ran the house so well!

Li Qingling glared at the old man, put down her bow, shook her stiff hand, and wiped the cold sweat off her palm. “Didn’t you hear him say someone’s coming?” Her eyes shifted outside again. “The danger isn’t over yet!”

No sooner had she said this than a group of soldiers from the Southern Yan king appeared outside. They carried prey, clearly out hunting.

“Damn it, stuck in this godforsaken place, if you want a decent meal, you have to hunt it yourself. Damn frustrating.”

“In times like these, just having meat is lucky. Soon, forget meat—you might not even get porridge.”

“Why did the higher-ups station us on this desolate mountain? And they don’t say when we can leave?”

The soldiers grumbled loudly, scanning the surroundings. Seeing no prey, they ventured further into the mountains.

Li Qingling exhaled deeply once they left but worried about Ah Huang and Ah Bai, who had gone out to find food. If they ran into those soldiers, it would be disastrous—Ah Huang and Ah Bai wouldn’t stand a chance.

“Are… are those soldiers from the Southern Yan king?” the old man asked Li Qingling, frowning. “Have they been staying here in Song Mountain all this time?”

“Didn’t you see them when you came to Song Mountain?”

The old man shook his head. He had been collecting herbs in the deep mountains and hadn’t encountered the Southern Yan soldiers.

“If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t have run to this cave in the deep mountains,” Li Qingling sighed. “I was planning to return to the original cave in a couple of days to fetch some food, but now it seems impossible.”

Even though the soldiers had left, they might still linger in Song Mountain, and no one knew how long they’d stay.

Last time, a soldier almost discovered the cave. She didn’t know if he had returned to search for it again or taken the food stored there.

She worried the cave’s food might have been taken. If it was, what would the family eat?

Hearing this, the old man’s eyes lit up. “The cave still has food?”

He had thought they were out of food and was prepared to find something to fill his stomach himself.

Li Qingling chuckled at his gleaming eyes and said, “If you don’t work, who’ll feed you?”

With that, she picked up her bow and returned to Liu Zhimou, sitting right next to him without hesitation and leaning on his shoulder. Softly, she murmured, “All that tension earlier made my muscles ache.” She truly feared those black-clad men might return.

Liu Zhimou reached out and massaged her shoulders, helping her relax.

“You’ve worked hard.” He had been so scared inside that he hadn’t dared to breathe, let alone imagine her standing at the cave entrance.

Li Qingling exhaled comfortably, shaking her head with a smile. “Not hard at all.”

As long as their family was safe, she didn’t mind any hardship.

“Good girl, baby I…” Li Qingning finally spoke, crawling in front of Li Qingling in her babyish voice.

Li Qingling ruffled the little girl’s hair, smiling. “You’re really good. Keep being this well-behaved.” She was pleasantly surprised—she hadn’t expected Li Qingning to stay still and quiet so obediently.

Li Qingning giggled, showing her little teeth.

Seeing this, Liu Zhirou also crawled over, expressing with her eyes that she, too, wanted praise and affection.

Li Qingling complied, rubbing her head and complimenting her twice.

Satisfied, the two little ones ran back to play with their brothers.

Li Qingling reminded them, “The danger isn’t over yet. Don’t play or speak.”

The children nodded and covered their mouths.

“All right, I’ll go back to the cave entrance and keep watch,” Li Qingling said to Liu Zhimou with a smile, standing and heading back outside.

As soon as she reached the entrance, a few black-clad men appeared again, ghost-like. Her heart trembled in fear, but fortunately, she had ensured the children stayed silent, or they would have been exposed.

The men searched quickly again, found no one, and finally left completely.

“So cautious,” Li Qingling muttered.

The old man said, “These men are either shadows or assassins. Once they strike, it’s deadly. If they don’t kill someone, they won’t stop.” Who wanted Liu Zhihao dead?

Liu Zhihao was loyal and had blocked so many people’s paths—no wonder many wanted him dead.

Sigh… He really brought trouble back this time.

He only hoped Liu Zhihao would regain consciousness soon and leave, so he wouldn’t endanger the children further.

“When will the general wake up?” Li Qingling wondered. She felt he was like a ticking time bomb—dangerous to stay here, better for him to leave sooner.

The old man shrugged helplessly. “I really don’t know. He’s badly injured. Don’t know if he can wake up. It depends on his will to survive.”

Li Qingling sat heavily on the ground, waiting until the Southern Yan soldiers left the mountains before she could relax at the cave entrance.

Three days later, Liu Zhihao still showed no signs of waking. Li Qingling frowned at the old man. “Old man, he won’t… really not wake up, will he?” She looked closely at his face, feeling he resembled Liu Zhimou somewhat. “What’s his name?”

Hearing this, the old man’s heart skipped a beat. He felt a twinge of fear—had Li Qingling discovered something?

He wasn’t certain, just sensed the possibility.

“I don’t know if he’ll wake, but as a girl, you shouldn’t casually ask a man’s name,” the old man said, glaring at Li Qingling. “Go, go, don’t pry into these things—it won’t do you any good.” He tried to shoo her away like a pesky mosquito.

Li Qingling was annoyed, snorted, and turned to leave.

“Sister Xiaoling, there’s… no rice left.” At that moment, Xiao Xi hurried over and told Li Qingling.

“Completely gone?” She thought it would last a few more days.

Xiao Xi nervously twisted her fingers. “Just enough for this meal.” If only she had rationed earlier to save some for Rou Rou and Ning Ning to make porridge.

Li Qingling patted her shoulder. “Go cook the porridge. After we eat, I’ll carry more rice back.”

Xiao Xi nodded and went to cook.

“Girl, didn’t you say that cave was dangerous? How can you carry rice there?” The old man frowned at her plan.

“I have to check,” Li Qingling said calmly. “I can’t let my younger siblings go hungry.”

Understanding her reasoning, the old man sighed. “I’ll accompany you later.”

“Don’t bother…” Li Qingling eyed him disdainfully. “With your old bones, you’ll just slow me down. Stay here and watch the children.”

“Yeah, grandpa, stay with the kids. I’ll go with Xiaoling,” Liu Zhimou said with a smile. “If we all go, no one will watch the children.”

The old man glanced at them both, snorted, and turned away in displeasure. Too many looks at them hurt his eyes.

Liu Zhimou and Li Qingling exchanged a helpless smile. After finishing the porridge, they set off.

They sneaked back to the original cave. After observing the area for a while and seeing no one around, they quickly ran to the cave.

When Li Qingling reached for the stone at the entrance, it shifted from inside, and a head popped out, meeting hers.