Chapter 118: 118, Calamity and disease

The next morning, as Ren Xiaosu had anticipated, many people rose from the ground feeling utterly drained, their bodies wracked with a dull, persistent ache.

The price of their long journey and exposure to the chill had finally erupted; some, with sturdier constitutions, could withstand it, but a small fraction were beyond saving.

Ren Xiaosu observed that the muscle strength of the Barrier dwellers was not particularly robust, at least not like the vagrants in the settlements—even a woman like Xiao Yu could outmatch them.

At this moment, those who had warmed themselves by the bonfire the day before revealed their differences; even the students accompanying Jiang Wu seemed unharmed.

"Let us hurry," Ren Xiaosu rose, glancing around: "This place has become a plague zone; we must leave before we too are infected."

These people were beyond saving.

"Master, saving a life outweighs building seven levels of merit!" Chen Wuji exclaimed: "We cannot abandon them!"

"The Western Paradise lies ahead," Ren Xiaosu said as he walked: "I seek the Western Paradise to obtain the scriptures. Stay if you will."

Chen Wuji paused, then, after much deliberation, followed—protecting his master on the quest for the scriptures seemed a higher priority.

Seeing Chen Wuji catch up, Ren Xiaosu relaxed slightly; he truly feared the fool might attempt to rescue those hundreds.

How could they be saved?

Wang Fugui still had some antibiotics and medicine, but how much could one person carry? And that was Wang Fugui’s life savings—how could he freely distribute them to these people?

As they prepared to leave, Jiang Wu immediately rallied her students to follow; whatever Ren Xiaosu did, Jiang Wu and her students would mirror.

All gazed upon the ailing crowd, their hearts heavy, yet what could they do?

Some students, kinder by nature, urged Jiang Wu: "Teacher, let us stay and aid them."

Jiang Wu clenched her teeth, wrestling with the decision, then suddenly declared: "No. We must first preserve ourselves. Perhaps what I teach you now is flawed, but you must follow me."

The world had driven a gentle, kind teacher to this point, yet she harbored no regret.

"Keep close, no one strays," Jiang Wu instructed: "Recall the wild vegetables we ate yesterday—if we spot them by the roadside, gather them."

"But those wild vegetables were dreadful," a student muttered under their breath.

"No matter how foul, we eat them," Jiang Wu stated with iron resolve.

As Ren Xiaosu departed, the able-bodied refugees trailed after him, for they had no purpose left—only the instinct to follow a leader.

In the end, only the sick remained sprawled upon the earth.

At this juncture, Ren Xiaosu felt a flicker of doubt; he knew the wolf pack had trailed them all along, yet never attacked. Why? This crowd posed no threat to them—did their sheer numbers intimidate?

What of the test subjects? Ren Xiaosu hoped they had fled northward with the Qingshi Consortium, sparing him the burden of their threat.

Of course, if they had perished in the volcanic eruption, that would be ideal...

Ren Xiaosu still could not confirm the number of test subjects nor identify their creator.

He only understood: this world was far more intricate than he had imagined.

Now, as they walked, the refugees largely avoided Ren Xiaosu’s group.

He deliberately concealed his extraordinary abilities, for they were bound for Barrier 109—who knew how that place treated the gifted? Should it mirror Barrier 113, where the extraordinary were seized, danger loomed.

A new concern arose: Chen Wuji had exposed his own abilities, leaving Ren Xiaosu conflicted, forced to proceed cautiously.

Suddenly, Ren Xiaosu spotted an off-road vehicle ahead and chuckled—when the Qingshi Consortium passed, they had only three such vehicles and two military trucks, most now in disrepair.

Yesterday, they had glimpsed one off-road vehicle and one truck; now another lay abandoned midway. Ren Xiaosu suspected that if they hastened, they might encounter the Qingshi Consortium ahead...

After all, three broken vehicles could not carry so many—some must walk.

Perhaps Luo Lan had ordered soldiers to proceed on foot while he rode ahead in an off-road vehicle and a truck toward Barrier 109.

As dusk painted the sky, the refugee column ahead erupted into chaos, someone shouting: "Look!"

"It’s the Qingshi Consortium!" someone cried: "Seek their aid!"

"At last, we’ve joined the military!"

They never considered whether the combat unit wished to merge, instead surging forward like drowning men clutching at straws.

Hearing the commotion, Ren Xiaosu looked up and beheld, beneath the slanting sunset, Luo Lan leading hundreds of Qingshi Consortium soldiers seated in the orange-red glow...

How had this fat man reached here so swiftly... and why did Ren Xiaosu find his trousers odd? Upon closer inspection, they were stitched from two car seat covers!

At that moment, Luo Lan was directing soldiers to camp when he turned and nearly leapt in fright—behind him, a sea of people crowded closely!

He barked at the combat unit: "Quickly, those with firearms, ready them—prevent these refugees from storming our camp!"

The Qingshi Consortium’s combatants, well-trained, sprang into action at his command, the clatter of gun bolts echoing.

Seeing the refugees freeze, unsure, a middle-aged man shouted aloud: "Boss Luo, it’s me, Xiao Zhang from the Planning Department! You’ve seen me!"

Luo Lan spat and roared: "At your age, still calling yourself ‘Xiao Zhang’? How shameless! Back away, or we fire!"

The refugees dared not move; in this wilderness, the Qingshi Consortium cared not for identities—all non-allies were enemies.

Ren Xiaosu, hidden among the crowd, observed silently, hoping the Qingshi Consortium would avoid contact with the refugees—for they might now be hunting him, though he doubted these refugees had the strength for such schemes.

Many Qingshi soldiers bore bandages, clearly wounded during their escape from the Barrier.

Yet Ren Xiaosu marveled—Luo Lan had not abandoned his men to flee alone; this surprised him greatly.