Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!-Chapter 196: Crossing Mountains and Ridges

Everyone followed Cheng Xiaoxiao at a gallop, with the pursuing soldiers relentlessly chasing behind.

They dashed through dense forests, trod through shrubbery overgrown with weeds, arriving at the base of the mountain, and proceeded approximately 100 meters upwards along the mountain.

The scene ahead left everyone astonished.

At a spot two meters above the ground on the mountain’s surface, it seemed as if someone had forcefully cleaved a piece open with a giant axe, forming a deep cleft in the cliff. The rock protruding at the break near the mountain wall was just wide enough for a person to squeeze through sideways.

Seeing the pursuing soldiers closing in, Cheng Xiaoxiao jumped up without hesitation.

"Everyone, follow carefully; this is our only way to survive."

Tall men swallowed nervously, watching Xiaoxiao’s petite and nimble figure. Comparing themselves to their bulky bodies, they found it hard to admit.

Soon, children like Hu Yixiu and Tong Jie took the lead jumping up. Such a perilous place was extremely dangerous, a careless fall would mean death.

But having fled for so long, they had learned a lot; to survive in such a tough world, one must grow quickly and become useful to avoid being eliminated during escape, hence bravely climbed the cliff wall.

The helpless men behind could only tiptoe sideways, gripping the protruding rock on the cliff wall tightly with both hands, and carefully edged forward.

Upon reaching the cliff wall, Doctor Huang quickly and simply bandaged the wounded Cheng Yongkang, making sure any slow movement wouldn’t fracture the wound.

Cheng Yongkang asserted he was capable, considering no one could carry or support him on such a narrow cliff wall.

His brother was already dead; if he stayed weak, he would surely follow in his brother’s footsteps.

Meanwhile, Cheng Sicheng gradually regained consciousness under Doctor Huang’s antidote.

Their team split into groups of ten, each with a rope tied around their arms, so if someone accidentally fell, those ahead and behind could pull them up.

The pursuing soldiers hesitated to approach such a perilous place.

The leading squad leader, compelled to follow orders, resolutely said, "Continue the chase, anyone who retreats will face military punishment."

The soldiers dared not retreat and had to follow up the cliff wall.

Seeing this, everyone inwardly cursed, feeling these soldiers recklessly endangered their lives.

Indeed daring to come after them might cost them their lives.

During the journey, several timid men in their team, due to nervousness, were not steady on their feet, nearly falling into the cliff’s cleft, fortunately caught by those around pulling the rope.

The soldiers behind weren’t as fortunate; each acted independently while holding long spears or large knives, and an accidental misstep sent them plummeting, followed by agonizing screams tightening their hearts.

Soon schadenfreude arose; indeed, some fell. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Their curses were fulfilled.

Ha-ha!

Inwardly they chanted fiercely.

However, their hand movements were cautious, gripping the cliff wall tightly, and their feet treaded carefully on each spot ahead, fearing any unstable protrusion could cause a fall.

Cheng Xiaoxiao ahead wasn’t faring well either. She needed to avoid potentially collapsing stones, sweat trickling down her forehead.

Everyone was sandwiched between forests and mountains, with the dawn light barely penetrating, casting sporadic spots occasionally hitting their bodies.

The 1,500-meter journey seemed like a century, with each squeezing out a cold sweat from tension before finally arriving at the steep cliff with drained physical and mental strength.

Actually, by the time they reached 1,200 meters, the cleft had miraculously vanished. If not for Cheng Xiaoxiao’s warning, they would have definitely jumped down to walk on flat ground.

Everyone was puzzled; below appeared just humid, with some depressions having puddles, possibly wetting shoes and socks. Over two meters high wasn’t much for the men, yet warned by Cheng Xiaoxiao, they reluctantly dismissed the thought.

The cliff ahead was about five or six meters high, Cheng Xiaoxiao indicated for everyone to untie their ropes,

Now standing in a slightly spacious spot, they breathed a sigh of relief, staring at the large protruding stone, the smooth cliff wall rising at a 90-degree angle, realizing climbing it wasn’t easy.

"Uncle Beiniu, come over here." Cheng Xiaoxiao called.

Cheng Beiniu cautiously stepped over a few kids to Cheng Xiaoxiao’s side, "Xiao, what do you need me to do?"

Then, Cheng Xiaoxiao explained the plan, for such a height, most indeed couldn’t go up, but with rope assistance, it would be possible.

Cheng Beiniu nodded, took hold of one end of the rope, and ascended with a leap using inner strength.

As long as their people went up, the pursuing soldiers wouldn’t be able to chase.

At the rear, Cheng Dashan saw the cliff’s height, feeling tense about whether his father could manage since he still had to fend off the pursuing soldiers, withdrawing his thoughts to focus ahead.

Just as everyone collectively raised their heads, tensely watching Cheng Beiniu leap over the stone cliff, terrified cries echoed from behind.

It turned out the pursuing soldiers were within 300 meters, some having the same thought as earlier men, seeing no cleft, considered the flat ground quicker to catch up.

As a result, several soldiers who jumped down ended up soldered in the mud, evidently a swamp here.

Soldiers on the cliff wall attempted to pull their comrades up, sadly, the harder they struggled, the deeper they sank, soon submerged past their necks.

Only left to cry out fearfully.

The sudden change left everyone relieved they didn’t jump down after Cheng Xiaoxiao’s warning, or they themselves would have died.

Patting his racing heart, Cheng Jinzhao felt fortunate; he considered jumping down initially, but seeing others follow Xiaoxiao’s warning, reconsidered, or else he’d be the first jumper since the cliff was indeed tough, nearly failing to endure.

Within this great mountain lurked myriad traps, a careless move could fall into one; utterly dangerous.

At this moment, everyone from Qingshan Village shared a common thought: past experiences taught them listening to Xiao guaranteed avoiding mishaps.

See! Now, not just avoiding mishaps but they could lose their lives; henceforth, strictly following orders mattered, without any assuming decisions.

"Thank goodness Xiao foresaw this, otherwise trouble awaited us again," Huang Zhongyi exclaimed.

Cheng Sicheng showed a gentle smile, appearing proud.

"Xiaoxiao, from now on I’ll always listen to you—if you say east, I won’t go west; if you say catch ducks, I won’t chase chickens," Cheng Jinzhao earnestly promised.

Cheng Xiaoxiao’s lip twitched, thinking how silly this fellow could get.

Once Cheng Beiniu was up, he secured the rope tightly to the large stone, letting it down so others could ascend using it.