A young boy from the 1970s, separated from his family, fled famine and led his younger brother into

"don't want--!"

A hoarse yet extremely piercing scream ripped through the chaos in the dilapidated temple like a sharp blade!

That voice doesn't belong to Su Nianci.

It's a small stone!

The boy who had been silent all along, whom Su Nianci thought was suffering from stress-induced aphasia, actually spoke the moment he saw her in dire straits!

Su Weiqiang was also startled by the sudden scream, and his movement to grab Su Nianci stopped involuntarily.

In a battle between masters, victory or defeat can be decided in an instant!

Seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Su Nianci twisted her body to the side at an incredible angle, narrowly avoiding Su Weiqiang's fatal grab!

Without lingering in the fight, she used the force of her twisting body to shoot towards the small stone outside the temple gate like a cannonball!

"Walk!"

She grabbed the little stone's cold little hand and plunged into the vast, rain-soaked forest outside without looking back!

"Damn it! Chase after him!"

Su Weiqiang realized what was happening and flew into a rage. He didn't even bother to look at his companion who was lying in the rubble, seemingly dead. He took the other man with him and chased after them.

In the mountains and forests, another thrilling chase unfolds!

The mountain road was slippery and muddy after the rain, making it extremely difficult to walk.

Su Nianci, holding onto Xiao Shitou, ran desperately, stumbling along. Her lungs felt like they were about to explode, and the wound on her leg reopened due to the intense exercise, blood seeping through the cloth strips. Every step she took brought excruciating pain.

Little Stone was out of breath, his face pale, and he almost fell several times, but he gritted his teeth and, pulled by Su Nianci, desperately kept up.

The shouts and footsteps behind me grew closer and closer, like the urgent beat of a death knell.

"Stop right there! You can't escape!"

Su Weiqiang's voice was like a poisoned steel needle, piercing Su Nianci's nerves.

No! If this continues, they'll be caught up sooner or later!

Su Nianci's brain was working at lightning speed.

We must find a way to get rid of them!

Just then, she saw a fork in the road not far ahead. One path led to an open area at the foot of the mountain, while the other led to a steeper cliff.

Go to open areas where the view is better and you're more likely to be spotted.

Go to the cliff...

"Over here!"

She grabbed the little stone and rushed onto the path leading to the cliff without hesitation!

"Brother Qiang, they're running towards Broken Soul Cliff!" the man behind shouted.

"Trying to jump off a cliff? Not so easy! Chase after him!" Su Weiqiang obviously knew that road too, and ran even faster.

Su Nianci, holding Xiao Shitou's hand, ran wildly to the edge of the cliff.

Below is a valley tens of meters deep, shrouded in mist; a fall there would be certain death.

"No way out! Let's see where you run!" Su Weiqiang and the man blocked their retreat from the front and back, their faces contorted with malice as they approached step by step.

Su Nianci shielded the little stone behind her, her small body tense, her back to the bottomless abyss, coldly watching them.

"Uncle, do you really have to be so ruthless?"

"You little bitch, you still have the nerve to call me uncle?" Su Weiqiang panted heavily, his eyes bloodshot. "You've ruined my family, and you think you can run away? Today I'll break your legs and take you back! And this little bastard next to you, I'll sell them for money too!"

Su Nianci's heart sank to the bottom.

She knew that there was no reasoning with such a beast who had lost all humanity.

While confronting Su Weiqiang, she quickly glanced around out of the corner of her eye.

The cliff edge is covered with all kinds of vines and shrubs.

Her gaze was fixed on a thick, green vine hanging down from the cliff face!

The vines extended down to a protruding rock platform a few meters below.

Take a gamble!

"Little Stone, are you scared?" she asked in a low voice.

Little Stone gripped her clothes tightly, trembling with fear, but shook his head vigorously.

"Okay." Su-Nianci took a deep breath. "Hold me tight and close your eyes!"

Just a second before Su Weiqiang pounced on her, she grabbed the little stone, turned around abruptly, and leaped towards the vine without hesitation!

"This is insane!!"

Su Weiqiang and the man were terrified by her reckless act. When they rushed to the edge of the cliff and looked down, they only saw two small figures swing in the air and land on the rocky platform below in a very dangerous manner, before quickly disappearing into the dense forest on the other side.

"Damn it!" Su Weiqiang slammed his fist on the ground in anger. "Find a way down! We'll dig three feet into the ground and find them!"

……

On the other side, Su Nianci, having narrowly escaped death with Xiao Shitou, dared not linger. They wandered around the mountains for half a day until they were sure they had completely shaken off Su Weiqiang before daring to stop and catch their breath.

The two of them looked even more disheveled than beggars.

Su Nianci's leg wound reopened completely, and blood stained her trouser leg red. Xiao Shitou also had multiple abrasions, and both of them were covered in mud.

The worst part is that during the escape, that precious piece of cured meat has disappeared somewhere.

Now, they are truly out of ammunition and supplies.

Su Nianci leaned against a tree and smiled bitterly.

Fate really does play jokes on her.

"Sister...it hurts..."

The little stone in her arms tugged at her clothes, pointed to her bleeding leg, and her bright black eyes were filled with worry.

This was his second sentence.

Su Nianci felt a warmth in her heart for no reason. She patted Xiao Shitou's head and forced a smile: "It's nothing, just a minor injury."

She pulled out the last packet of herbs from her bosom, herbs that hadn't been sold on the black market.

This is the only thing of value she has left.

She tended to their wounds, then picked up the still somewhat weak Xiao Shi and headed down the mountain.

She had to leave the mountains as soon as possible and head to the county town. Only in a populated, large place would it be easier to hide herself and have a better chance of finding the way north.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, they finally emerged from the mountains and came to a dirt road leading to the county town.

The streets were deserted, with only a few pedestrians occasionally passing by, all in a hurry.

Su Nianci knew that it would be dark by the time they reached the county town on their short legs.

Just as she was getting extremely anxious, a "jingle" sound came from afar.

A cart with an old yellow ox harnessed to it slowly drove by.

The driver was an elderly man who looked to be in his fifties. He had dark skin and a face full of wrinkles, but his eyes were kind. The cart was loaded with tall hay.

Su Nianci's eyes lit up instantly!

The opportunity is coming!

Instead of crying and asking for help like other children, she carried the small stone on her back and went to meet them.

"Grandpa!" she called out in a clear voice.

The cart driver reined in his ox, looking at the two mud-covered children who had suddenly appeared with some surprise: "Hey, whose kids are these? Where are they going?"

"Grandpa, we want to go to the county town." Su Nianci looked up, her face neither humble nor arrogant, and said, "We don't have any money, but... I have this."

She opened her small hand, and in her palm lay a small handful of herbs that she had carefully cleaned.

"This is a bone-setting pill, most effective for treating rheumatic bone pain. Can I use it to exchange seats with you for a ride to the county town?"

Instead of using the name "Agrimony," she chose a more common and appealing name for older people.

The old man driving the carriage was stunned.

He looked down at the herbs in Su Nianci's hand, then at her calm eyes that weren't like a child's, and a hint of surprise flashed in her cloudy eyes.

He drives a carriage all year round, braving wind and rain, and does indeed suffer from some chronic leg pain.

"You little rascal... you can even recognize herbs?"

"My father taught me this," Su Nianci lied without batting an eye. "Sir, please give us a ride. We'll hide in the hay and won't cause you any trouble."

The old man who was driving the carriage fell silent.

Looking at the pitiful state of the two children, especially Su Nianci's bleeding leg wound, his heart finally softened.

"Sigh, never mind." He waved his hand, pushing the bunch of herbs back. "What's this talk of exchanging? Come on up! Hide it well, and if the person in charge asks on the way, don't make a sound!"

"Thank you, sir!"

Su Nianci was overjoyed. She quickly carried Xiao Shitou on her back and climbed onto the oxcart using both her hands and feet, burying the two of them deep in the warm and soft hay.

The oxcart started moving again with a creaking sound, slowly heading towards the county town.

Hidden in the gaps of the hay, Su Nianci watched the scenery outside recede into the distance, her heart filled with mixed emotions.