Under the bombardment of rockets, the bandits dared not approach any further and halted their attack in fear.

Seeing this, Old Lady Zhu hurriedly looked at her son and grandson and shouted in a low voice.

"Run!"

Upon hearing what Old Lady Zhu said, the four immediately put away their weapons and ran towards the slope.

Enraged by the gunpowder bombardment, the bandits, upon seeing that Old Lady Zhu and her family were planning to flee...

The scarred man pointed at the group and shouted angrily, "Quick, bring them back to me! I'm going to skin them alive!"

The bandits, already terrified, hesitated to act upon hearing the scarred man's words, and fearfully stepped forward to report.

"Boss, they have gunpowder that could kill people. Should we arrest the others first?"

"Stop talking nonsense, I only want these few. They dare to blow me up, they're asking for trouble."

The scarred boy angrily kicked the group of people who came to report a few times, then swung his knife at a nearby tree, roaring furiously.

The bandits, who had initially dared not act, all ran in fear toward Old Lady Zhu after seeing the scarred man lose his temper.

Grandma Zhu and the others had successfully climbed up the slope and quickly ran into the woods.

The forest on the slope was dense and the darkness made it impossible to tell which way was which.

Just as they were feeling bewildered, the voices of Liu and others came from not far away.

"Mother, come here quickly."

Hearing the sound, Old Lady Zhu looked over and saw Liu Shi, holding a tinderbox, standing not far from the bushes waving.

Behind her stood Sun and Tao, both looking tense.

"It's the eldest son's wife, hurry up!" After seeing the firelight, Old Mrs. Zhu hurriedly turned around to remind her two sons who were observing the surroundings.

After saying that, she hurriedly took Zhu Dabao and Zhu Xiaobao's hands and walked towards Liu's direction.

[Oh no, our location is about to be discovered! These bandits are after us!]

[Quickly throw stones at them and drive them away.]

Liu and the others hid in the bushes, watching the bandits running down the slope, and hurriedly reminded Zhu Haotian, who was crouching in front.

"Second brother, quickly turn off the tinderbox."

No sooner had they finished speaking than the bandits, who had already run down the slope, saw the light on the hillside. After exchanging a glance, the two hurriedly began to climb up the slope.

By the time Liu heard Zhu Haotian's voice, it was too late; the bandits had already climbed the slope.

In desperation, Old Lady Zhu had no choice but to remove her wrists and push her two grandsons toward Liu.

"Go find your mother quickly. I'm going to help your two uncles stop the bandits. You two should hide quickly."

"Mother, there are many stones here that can stop them from climbing up."

Before leaving, Liu pointed to the stone on the ground and reminded her mother-in-law in a low voice.

Upon hearing her daughter-in-law's suggestion, Old Lady Zhu hurriedly picked up a stone and threw it down the slope.

"Second brother, third brother, move the stones and throw them down."

Zhu Haotian originally intended to use rockets and gunpowder to stop the bandits, but upon seeing this, he hurriedly put down his weapon and picked up a boulder to smash it down the slope.

Zhu Chenfeng was puzzled by his mother's actions. He picked up a stone and threw it down the slope while asking her a question out of curiosity.

"Mother, wouldn't gunpowder and rockets be better? Why use giant stones?"

"Rockets and gunpowder will set the forest ablaze, trapping us inside. We'll use boulders to repel them first, then find a chance to escape."

Old Mrs. Zhu lay on the slope observing the bandits' situation. After discovering that more bandits had appeared behind the few bandits, she realized that...

She quickly turned around and picked up a huge rock, smashing it down the slope, shouting, "Hurry up and smash it, there are more and more people!"

Despite their tireless efforts to block the bandits with boulders, their sheer numbers made it impossible to withstand the bandits preparing to ascend the slope.

Just when they thought there was no chance, several figures appeared behind them. Liu, Sun, and Tao stood behind them, quickly lifting stones and throwing them down the slope.

Even Zhu Dabao and Zhu Xiaobao joined in. With more people joining, Zhu Haotian and Zhu Chenfeng finally had the opportunity to take out their crossbows and shoot at the people down the slope.

Under the combined attack of boulders and crossbow bolts, the bandits were forced to retreat in disarray, not daring to approach the slope even a step.

After discovering that the bandits had suffered heavy casualties, Old Lady Zhu hurriedly turned around and told everyone, "Take advantage of this time and hurry into the woods."

[Go to the cave! Run to the cave quickly! Once we're inside, everyone will be safe.]

This cave is where the time-traveling woman in the book hid from bandits, so it must be safe.

Xi Xi was extremely worried. Staring at her drowsy head, she propped her eyelids open and observed the surrounding situation.

Upon hearing her daughter's words, Liu hurriedly turned and walked towards the bushes, waving to the crowd while bending over.

"Mother, we've found a suitable cave to hide in. Come with us."

Seeing this, the others quickly packed up their crossbows and followed Liu into the bushes, bending over.

Once inside the bushes, everyone lost their bearings, including Liu Shi, who led them around in circles.

Tao noticed that Liu couldn't find her way back and looked at her mother-in-law with some anxiety.

"Mother, it's so dark in here, I doubt my sister-in-law will be able to find her way around."

Although Grandma Zhu was very flustered, she remained calm and composed, observing the situation behind her while gently comforting her daughter-in-law.

"It's alright. Those bandits suffered heavy casualties, so we have plenty of time to search slowly. Everyone, don't rush, calm down and search carefully."

[Mother, keep going, don't be afraid.]

After hearing her daughter's words, Liu took a deep breath and continued on her way, relying on her memory.

As time passed, they continued to move through the grass, with rustling sounds coming from behind them.

[Oh no, the bandits are following us.]

Upon noticing the sound behind her, Liu's previously composed heart instantly panicked. "What's that sound?"

When Grandma Zhu noticed that Liu was in a panic, she quickly stepped forward to comfort her, "Eldest daughter-in-law, don't panic. Think carefully about what features are around the path leading to the cave, what special plants or stones are there?"

Zhu Xixi waved her little hands anxiously and excitedly, furrowing her thin eyebrows, trying to attract her mother's attention.

"Mother, just keep walking along the grass and you'll see the cave."

[What should I do? Mother can't hear me. Mother, don't turn, keep going.]

Just as Zhu Xixi was feeling anxious and helpless because she couldn't express herself, Liu suddenly raised her head and excitedly turned to look at everyone.

"I remember now, everyone stay close."

Upon hearing this, Grandma Zhu smiled with satisfaction and turned to wave to her son and daughter-in-law.

"Hurry up and keep up."

Having finally found a way out, the group almost jogged after Liu, following her straight along the grass.

After passing through the bushes, the group indeed saw the entrance to the cave ahead.

Grandma Zhu quickly stood aside and gestured to her son and daughter-in-law to wave, "You two go in quickly, I'll find some branches to block the entrance."

"Mother, we've found the right place. You should come in with us."

When Liu turned around, she noticed that her mother-in-law had stayed behind, so she quickly reminded her in a low voice.