Chapter Twenty-Nine: Searching for the Air-Raid Shelter

“We’ll keep moving. Watch out for the muddy water on the ground.” Time had passed, and if they didn’t leave now, it would be impossible later.

At Mu Chen’s command, everyone exhaled deeply. Though none of them understood exactly what had just happened, the smell of decay hanging in the air and the black rain were clear signs that they had narrowly escaped something terrifying.

...

...

“They’re on the move! We need to follow them quickly!” Yang Zhijie shouted anxiously.

“...”

“Oh, my God...”

Moments before, they had watched the old woman vanish into the red mist like a puppet whose strings had been cut. No one dared utter a sound. Now, Yang Zhijie’s father collapsed to his knees, overcome with grief.

“What are we waiting for? Who knows if this cursed rain will fall again! Dad, pull yourself together! Grandma’s spirit in heaven surely wants us to move on quickly.” Yang Zhijie jumped up in his distress, nearly ready to run ahead and catch up with Mu Chen and the others himself.

“Dad...”

Yang Zhiying barely managed to speak; two streams of tears had already traced down her cheeks.

Silently, she helped her father up, gazing at the survivors behind her.

“We really have to leave now. This isn’t the time for sorrow—we have to survive...”

Of the twelve who set out, only seven remained. The Yang family was filled with bitter emotions.

As they pressed forward, sobs echoed along the path.

“What’s the point in crying?! If you want someone to blame, blame Mu Chen! He was so close—if he’d warned us sooner, none of this would have happened! His heart is truly cold!” Yang Zhijie said angrily.

His words stirred a flicker of anger in the eyes of the Yang family.

Yang Zhiying’s expression was complicated.

“Actually...” The words hovered on her lips, but she couldn’t bring herself to say them.

“Sigh...”

“Um... Where are we?” Yang Yang, who had been cradled in Third Uncle Yang’s arms, opened his eyes. His innocent voice eased the tension slightly.

“Yang Yang, you’re awake. Let Daddy take a look. Are you still feeling unwell?”

“My head’s so dizzy.”

Yang Yang looked around, his weak face full of confusion.

“Daddy, where did Grandma and Mommy go?”

“...”

“Daddy, answer me.”

Third Uncle Yang struggled to respond to his child’s question.

“Heh—pah!” Yang Zhijie spat thickly, irritation showing on his face, as if Yang Yang’s question had unsettled him.

“Why ask? Your mother and grandma were killed by bad people!”

“Waa... You’re lying, brother! Mommy and Grandma were still here just now... Waa...” Yang Yang’s cries grew louder, tugging at Third Uncle Yang’s heartstrings. After soothing him to no avail, he finally resorted to intimidation: “Stop crying, or the monster will come!”

Only then did Yang Yang quiet down.