Chapter 75 Chapter 75 [VIP]

Just then, mournful sobs echoed from behind. Bai Changqing turned and saw his grandparents, supporting each other, standing in the middle of the ruins. Grandpa's graying hair was matted with wall dust, and tears streamed down Grandma's wrinkled face. They stood there, like two old trees struck by lightning.

This place holds most of their lives, and every crack contains countless memories of mornings and evenings: the hard work of sowing in spring and harvesting in autumn, the leisure of enjoying the cool breeze in summer, and the warmth of sitting around the fire on winter nights. Now, only broken pieces remain, just like their shattered hearts.

Ning Zelan clutched her child tightly, Bai Yu snuggled up to her mother's side as they emerged from the crack in the basement. Initially, the excitement of surviving the ordeal was still evident on their faces, but as their eyes met the horrific scene before them, their smiles froze, and a deathly silence fell.

"What...what should we do?" Bai Yu's voice trembled and was so light that it almost disappeared into the air.

Bai He took a deep breath. The smell of damp earth, the bitter tang of cracking wood, and the faint scent of blood filled his chest, making him sick. He glanced at his family members as they emerged from the basement. Shock and bewilderment were written on each face. He knew that while the storm had passed, the real nightmare had just begun. Next, they would face a survival crisis even more terrifying than the wind and rain. But at least everyone was still alive, which was a blessing in disguise.

The family's carefully cared-for livestock were almost completely wiped out. The chickens and ducks, which had been slowly raised by scavenging for insects and roots in the woods in the dark, were either crushed to a bloody pulp by the collapsed shed, their feathers mingling with blood, a horrific sight, or swept away by the fierce wind, their fate uncertain. The cattle and sheep, whom they had cared for like children, now lay beneath the rubble, their bodies gradually turning cold. Only one pig, huddled in a corner, miraculously managed to survive thanks to its instinctive fear of death and a bit of luck. A newborn calf also survived the disaster, its mother cradling it tightly under her body. When they found it, its hind legs were broken and a faint whine emanated from its throat.

The second floor of the house completely collapsed, beams and pillars lying in disarray in the rubble, bricks and tiles shattered into dust, and clouds of dust rose. Although the side room on the first floor was fortunately spared, all the belongings inside were destroyed. The old woman walked into the side room tremblingly, looking at the empty house. The old items that had been treasured for many years, the family's clothing and bedding, were all destroyed. She could no longer hold on, and suddenly collapsed to the ground and burst into tears. Her shoulders shook violently, and she mumbled incoherently, "Our home is gone! Everything is gone, how can we live like this..." Her sobs were heartbreaking, and everyone present couldn't help but tear up. This was their home! Their only safe haven in this dark world. Chen Zhen suppressed her sadness and pain, helped her mother-in-law to her feet, and encouraged and comforted her.

Bai He and Su Xing also left the courtyard and looked outside, a chill running down their spines. The village's main road was utterly shattered. Branches blown down by the wind lay like giant thorns, scattered across the road. Branches like ferocious claws, tearing at the shattered sky. Small hills of broken wood and debris cut the once spacious main road into a maze. Nearby, many bamboos had been uprooted, their tangled roots like countless withered fingers, grasping futilely at the rain-soaked soil. The air was filled with the sour stench of rotting wood and the scent of rust. Every breath felt like swallowing gritty mud.

"We have to get home quickly," Su Xing's voice tightened. The two of them made their way through layers of obstacles and rushed home, thankful that the gate and walls they'd spent so much money on remained intact. But the sight inside, even with all their preparation, still left them heartbroken. This home, the one they'd poured so much effort into, the one they'd planned and envisioned, was now in ruins. The greenhouse, once the envy of the villagers, was now nothing but a twisted steel frame, its tempered glass completely shattered, its sharp shards gleaming coldly among the ruins. Even the wooden pigsty and cowshed were destroyed. The tiles on the small building's roof had long since vanished, and the second floor was a shattered mess, a mixture of water and all sorts of scraps.

"Da Hu! Da Hu!" The two men's shouts at the top of their lungs echoed in the empty yard, with only the whimpering sound of the wind blowing through the ruins in response.

Their hearts gradually sank. Da Hu was a responsible and intelligent dog. He knew Bai He had saved him, and he understood how hard it was to be treated well in this difficult world. On weekdays, he would react immediately to any disturbance at home, bravely stepping forward. Many people in the village had envied his family's wealth, and several conflicts had occurred. Da Hu had always been the first to rush to the front line, protecting the family, even when injured, and never flinched. He would never ignore his master's calls.

The more anxious Baihe is inside, the calmer his face becomes.

Suddenly, a dark figure leaped from the ruins! Hei Dou, his neck bristling, barked wildly at the collapsed backyard, his tail twitching nervously. Su Xing was delighted, thinking the police dog with a keen sense of smell must have discovered something. But a camphor tree had crashed down on the door and window, its twisted trunk blocking the entrance. Su Xing also tried to move the trunk, but his knuckles were numb from the shock, and the bark remained unmoved. "We need help..." Before he could finish his words, he caught a glimpse of Bai He's eyes narrowed in alertness.

Bai He's eyes scanned the surroundings like a hawk. After confirming that no one was around, he moved his mind, and the camphor tree that stretched across the doorway, along with the scattered bricks and debris, vanished into thin air in an instant, as if lifted up by an invisible giant hand. Su Xing's pupils also constricted. Although Bai He had never formally explained the space to him, he had also made no secret of his abnormality. The family's never-ending supply of dried fruit, the perpetually stocked warehouse, and the various rare and inaccessible supplies were all unspoken secrets between the two of them.

Su Xing didn't say much, simply holding Bai He's hand tightly as he followed Hei Dou into the house. The furniture was toppled over, but Hei Dou didn't stop, dashing madly towards the backyard. Hei Dou circled a pile of rubble, furiously digging at the mud with his front paws, unfazed by the blood seeping from his nails.

Su Xingye's heart sank suddenly, but he reacted very quickly and followed Bai He to quickly move away the gravel and rubble. Soon, a piece of gray-brown fur covered with mud was revealed from under the bricks.

It’s Dahu.

It was pinned sideways beneath a half-broken wall, its hind legs a bloody mess, congealed into a purple-black lump with mud. But its stout neck remained erect, its jaws tightly clenched on a sack of burlap—a faint glimpse of tightly packed dried meat at the opening, revealing half a bag of looted food. A fierceness still clung to its cloudy eyes, until it caught sight of Bai He's figure. That stubbornness suddenly faded, a faint whimper escaped its throat, and the cracked blood scabs at the corners of its mouth tore, sending new streaks of blood down its chin.

"Don't move," Su Xingye whispered, pulling out some hemostatic herbs from his backpack and applying them to Dahu's wound. He then fished out an anti-inflammatory pill and fed it to Dahu. Seeing the two of them take the dried meat he had kept for them, his tense body relaxed a little. He nuzzled Su Xingye's wrist, and the sob in his throat was as soft as a ball of cotton.

"Silly thing..." Bai He stroked the tuft of soft hair behind its ears, which he could never comb out. His fingertips could feel the trembling beneath its skin. He cursed softly, "Even after being injured like this, it's still thinking about this little bit of food."

After putting Da Hu in his kennel, Bai He quickly ran to his uncle's house. "Uncle! Auntie!" He rushed in, stepping on the broken tiles. He saw Auntie squatting in the rubble, clutching a large sack, gathering up anything of use. His uncle, along with his son-in-law and his relatives, were busy sorting out the cattle, sheep, and other livestock. The youngest, Sui Sui, was also busy, frantically sorting through the wet and dirty dried vegetables.

"Stop picking up the trash!" Bai He raised his voice, pointing in the direction of his home and shouting, "Move over to my place!"

Grandpa stood on the porch, leaning on a broken shoulder pole, his cloudy eyes bright. He looked into the distance. The northwest skyline was as black as ink. Faint cries and shouts rolled in on the wind, mixed with a few rough shouts - someone was taking advantage of the chaos to steal things.

"Listen to Tangyuan." Grandpa slammed the broken shoulder pole to the ground and said in a decisive voice, "Hurry up and pack your things. We're leaving now."

"God knows what kind of trouble will happen next! Every moment of delay will increase the risk! Hurry up."

The numerous dangerous conflicts in recent years had instilled in them a strong sense of crisis. Although reluctant to leave, they quickly gathered important food and tools and moved them back to Bai He's home.

After arranging the people and things, Professor Ning and Bai He organized people to set traps using various methods.

Then

"Ning Zelan." Bai He's gaze fell on the boy in front of him. The hardships of the past few years had worn away his childishness, and his features revealed a composure that belied his age. "I'll leave the family home to you. Take care of the household and take good care of grandpa and grandma."

He paused, his eyes glancing at the tightly closed courtyard gate before repeating, "No matter who's knocking, no matter what they say, don't open the door, and don't talk to them."

Ning Zelan looked at his serious face and nodded vigorously: "I understand, brother.

Bai He then turned to Hei Dou, who was squatting on the ground. The old dog seemed to have noticed something, his ears slightly erect, his tail occasionally sweeping the ground. The fur around his mouth had mostly turned white, like a layer of frost, but his eyes were still bright, revealing the alertness cultivated over many years.

"Keep an eye on Heidou," Bai He added. "If he growls at the gate or gets angry, grab your weapons."

Ning Zelan nodded vigorously: "Don't worry, brother, I will definitely take good care of the family and won't let anything happen to them."

Everything he has is here, and he would never let anyone in, even if he dies.

Bai He leaned over, his palm gently resting on the top of Hei Dou's head. The old dog rubbed his palm tenderly, a low whimpering in his throat as if in agreement. "Thank you for your hard work again, old friend." His voice softened, and his fingertips traced the rough skin behind Hei Dou's ear. "Guard this place until we come back."

Hei Dou seemed to understand, raised his head and barked at him. His voice was not loud, but it contained a reassuring confidence.

Bai He glanced at his family one last time, saying nothing more. He turned around, grabbed his weapons and backpacks with Su Xingye and his uncle, and resolutely opened the gate. The sound of wind and rain outside instantly rushed in, mixed with faint cries in the distance, like an invisible net, covering this crumbling world.